Bunko, Dirty Santa, Food!

I haven't mentioned this on here before but I am part of a bunko group. We meet once a month to get our bunko on. It's a fun time! Good food, good fellowship, no kiddos! Every December we do a Christmas party and do an ornament dirty Santa. Lots of great taste when it comes to ornaments. I actually ended up leaving with the ornaments I brought!
Renee did a great job decorating for the night! Thanks for opening your house to us Renee!

He's Here!!!

It seems appropriate with the holiday season upon us to start teaching Ty and Micah what Christmas is really about. We have our tree up, gifts wrapped and under the tree, and it seems we are getting packages in the mail every day. It's easy to get caught up in all this excitement and not celebrate what this holiday is really for. It's not about the tree, the lights, the music, or the gifts. It's about THE birth. It's about HIM!
This year it seems like Ty and Micah are understanding what is going on. Today we started reading about the birth of Jesus in The Jesus Storybook Bible.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0310708257/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1354222514&sr=8-1&pi=SL75
This book is great! We have already read through several times. Its easy to read, easy to understand and every story points to Christ. It has great art work too. It's great for kids (and adults!). I highly recommend it to all of you. I even made it easy and added a link!
Today we read Luke 1-2, the nativity. It's an amazing story!

*warning, you may need a tissue!

Christmas Cheer

Every year we do a Christmas card. I was so excited to get my package in the mail today!! I also ordered a big copy for my wall! I am so excited!!

House Cleaning

Something about adding one more person to our family has made things crazy around here. She still pretty much sleeps all the time but I still can't catch up. Our house is always a disaster, I can barely get dinner on the table, and exercise is a joke. Sad part is, I work almost non stop.
I recently found (a friend posted It on facebook, thanks Kayla) this blog. http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2010/09/home-maintenance-schedule.html?m=1

It's a life saver. I honestly haven't kept up with it this week because I have been having sinus headaches, but this has really worked for me. It tells you exactly what you need to do each day to keep your house clean. It recommends 3 ten minute cleans a day and I find that if I have the boys clean up their toys during that time, it makes it easier for me. They have to learn to clean up after themselves at some point, right? Why not start now.
I just can't stress enough how much this has helped me. I mean, I was told by someone when I was crazy sick during my pregnancy with Averie that as long as my clothes were washed, who cares if they sit in a huge pile without being folded, but is it bad that she is 7 months old and I still do that? Old habits die hard, or new habits, or something...
The thing I love about this, besides the fact that I can keep up with my laundry and my floors get mopped and my tubs get scrubbed is that it gives me time to craft without feeling guilty. And if I want to sit during the kids nap and facebook or blog while watching a cheesy abc family Christmas movie I can!!! But I totally do NOT do that. That would be embarrassing.
Anyways, to wrap this up, hopefully this will help one of you the way it has helped me! Let me know if you try this and if you like it!!

Sweet Sally

You complete me. The simple things in life like having dessert and coffee at a local coffee shop is so relaxing. Just yummy treats and good fellowship with friends.

Practice take 2

Okay, so that did not do what I wanted it to!!
Looks like my pictures will all have to be at the bottom of the blog. Boo!!!

MIA

Surprise! I may be back. It has been crazy here but mostly my laptop broke. That is where my blogging action happens. Today I purchased my first smart phone, maybe blogging will happen again. This is pretty much a practice to see what happens. Don't think I am weird but I am going to post a few random photos too...just to see what happens and how this will work.

A Little of This, A Little of That

I have not blogged much lately, but I am not really sure why.  Not too much has been happening lately.  I figured I would just do a small recap on what was happening in our lives.  These will all be completely random and out of order.

1. Detergent.  I made laundry detergent!  This is something I have wanted to do for a long time and finally got a chance to do it!  Or should I say, I finally got Ian to stop being a Debbie Ian Downer and just let me do it!  His complaint was the smell.  He feels like he needs scented detergent.  I finally found a recipe that seemed to have a scent and according to the people that made it, a nice scent.  I bought the ingredients and got to work.  It was easy peasy.  Every one says that the hardest part is grating the soap.  It’s true.  The muscles in my hands were sore for days afterwards.  I have used it for about 20 loads and I am still not sure how I feel about it.  It’s for sure going to be tons cheaper.  It does have a nice smell.  You would think it wouldn’t when you are grating your citronella scented Zote soap.  It is just a light, clean scent.  So far I think it’s fine for the less dirty clothes, especially mine.  It has not been good for the boys shorts that have been peed in.  Especially if those shorts happen to have been in the laundry room for 2 or 3 days before being washed, not that that ever happens at our house. 

Interested in making your own detergent?  Here is the link:  http://www.howdoesshe.com/cheaper-and-better-diy-laundry-detergent

2. Potty training.  The never ending process of potty training.  They are actually doing really, really well.  I mostly don’t even have to ask them if they have to go, they just go on their own.  But they refuse to pull their pants up on their own and if they feel the need to poop in the floor…they do it.  Ok, so that only happened once, but I am traumatized!  We still haven’t picked up the nerve to let them go many places with no diapers but we have been using undies with the plastic things over them.  Those seem to be too much like diapers though and they will still pee in those, especially if they start having too much fun and forget to go to the bathroom.   Oh well, hopefully they won’t be 5 and having this problem. 

3. Story Time.  I have started taking the boys to story time at the library.  They LOVE it!  The woman that reads stories is really fun.  She is a great story teller and even plays the guitar and sings songs.  Ty and Micah will participate some but mostly they are just the young awkward kids watching all the other kids.  Now that I think about it, they have been some of the youngest ones there on the days we have been.  Maybe it’s not so weird now.  But they do enjoy it, especially 2 weeks ago because it was about fish.  I enjoy it because it gets us out of the house for a bit and I can see how much fun they are having.  Plus, we go to the park after so they can play in the fountain.  

4. The Big TV.  The last 2 weeks I have taken them to the theater to see a movie.  1 day a week they play an old cartoon for $2 per person.  That includes admission, 1 small drink and 1 small popcorn.  $6 for all 3 of us to see a movie plus each have a snack.  EXCELLENT! I will be honest, I just go for the cheap popcorn.  AND the time with my boys! :)  We always get a sitter for Miss Averie and then we go out for our movie date.  It really is the best.  I love that there is a point that they just want to snuggle in with me to finish the movie.  I love that they call it The Big TV.   It’s just so fun!!

5. Averie.  Have I already said that she is the sweetest baby ever?? I could just kiss her forever!  She really is just so precious! She is so content and pretty easy!  We just adore her! Lets see…she is still sleeping 12 hours at night.  Still has 3 naps a day.  We are in the process of taking her up to 5oz of formula.  We did it today and she seemed even more content if that is possible.  She has started holding her giraffe toy.  It’s really, really cute!  I can tell she likes it.  She gets an amused look on her face when we squeak it at her.  I just love that baby! 

6. Baby Food.  Okay, so this hasn’t started yet, but it will soon! I haven’t decided when yet, but we are thinking we are going to start baby food soon.  She will be 4 months old in just 2 weeks.  I said from the beginning that I was NOT going to start her on baby food till she was close to 6 months old.  We started the boys at 4 months and it was just a lot of extra work that didn’t even seem to be making a difference in the eating/ sleeping habits.  They already slept great also, so I am not sure what I expected.  I can’t help it though! I am just so excited to see how she responds to each food!  I think the only reason at this point that I don’t want to give it to her, is just keeping her a “baby” longer.  It feels like that once she is having food then she is no longer teeny tiny!  I am already about to clean out her 0 to 3 month clothes.  It makes me SO sad to even begin to think about doing that!  So starting food is the next step in that direction.  Boo!

7.  Tupperware/Pampered Chef.  I had 5 pieces of Tupperware that had cracks and Ian was threatening to toss them if I didn’t do something about them soon.  I FINALLY contacted a consultant and had them replaced.  You really wouldn’t believe how excited I am to get those back.  I guess that means I am getting old! ha!  I also had a pampered chef party this past week.  It was fun! I appreciate all of you that bought something and helped out my party!  Maybe someday I can do the same for you.

*******UPDATE*******

So, I forgot to  publish this blog, so it has been sitting for 2 weeks. Maybe more.  I decided to go ahead and publish it, since I spent time on it but thought I would update it some.

Baby Food: Little Miss Cutie has started waking up around 7ish lately so we started her on rice cereal.  For the first 3 days, it helped. Not so much after that.  Maybe she is going through a growth spurt?? Who knows!  Anyways, if it’s not going to help maybe I will push it off a little longer. 

The King Is Coming VBS 2012

I can write a blog about VBS a month later, right?  It’s my blog, I can do what I want to.  So, I was SO excited for Ty and Micah to go to VBS this year.  I just knew they would love it!  First day, Micah refused to go to class, so he spent the whole morning with me.  I was asked to serve snacks, so I was going to be there anyway.  Averie spent the week being spoiled held in nursery by our sweet friend Hannah.   I know that both boys loved going because it was all they talked about at home.  I was shocked at  how fast they learned the songs and bible verse.  It was precious hearing them sing those songs every evening or hearing them quote their verse.  Even a month later as we drive down the road one of them will start singing “I don’t want to be a goat”.

Thirty

I am officially 30!  I have been for a few weeks, but I am just now getting around to this blog.  The day started fine.  We woke up and I took the boys to their first day of VBS.  I was so excited for them to go this year.  I just knew they would love it!  I think Ty did.  I am sure Micah did too since he came home every day singing the songs and saying his bible verse, but the first day I will just say that he stayed with me.  I was in charge of serving snacks this year so I was going to be there, but he stayed with me the whole time.   I was a little disappointed, mostly for him because I knew the fun he was missing out on.  He didn’t seem to mind though. 

After VBS Micah said that he wanted to see his daddy.  I knew it was nap time, but thought “it’s my birthday, why not??!!” Since it is a 20 minute drive to his work, I knew they would probably nap there and back.  I am really glad that I went.  It was a busy day, but it kept my mind off the fact that Ian wasn’t planning a birthday party for me.  I knew he wasn’t planning one because I would have known some how.  I would have noticed something.  I had already tried to bring up the issue the night before and he barley even talked about it.  I mentioned that maybe we should have a friend eat with us at my favorite restaurant.  The place that Ian hates to eat at, but will for my birthday.  He pretty much blew me off though and said “sure, I guess that’s fine, if it’s what you want to do.”  I was seriously on the verge of tears every     time I thought about it.  Only because I was thinking that this day wasn’t important to Ian.  It was just another birthday for him.   I even texted my sister on the way to the restaurant to say “I will plan my own party for my 40th birthday because Ian doesn’t even care!”

Including me, Ian, and our 3 kids, there were 35 people there. I think that number is correct, I honestly don’t  want to go back and count.  30 people that Ian contacted and invited to my party that he had planned for me.  Have I said how much I hate surprise parties???  It was very sweet of Ian, I even apologized for being so sulky all evening. It really was a great night getting to visit with all of my friends that came.  It really meant a lot that so many people showed up! 

Something that was funny to me was the fact that I had seen so many of those people that very morning and none of them had wished me happy birthday because they said they were scared they would give the party away.

Too bad most of the pictures turned out terrible. My hand were shaking from being so shocked and nervous, I didn’t even think to fix the white balance!

3 Months Old

Today we celebrate our sweet baby girl turning 3 months old.  She is just the most precious addition to our family.  I can now say that she is finally sleeping 12 hours straight at night.  Whew! Wasn’t sure that was going to happen.   It’s nice to get the extra sleep…however, the boys have started waking up early. Any time before 8am is early.  Too early.

To celebrate turning 3 months, Averie decided to mark the day by rolling from her stomach to back. yay! I was excited, but it made it almost impossible to get a picture of her on her stomach.  She has now rolled from stomach to back and from back to stomach. Good for her and her core muscles. Ha! 

Maybe we can celebrate tonight with cake. Ty and Micah would LOVE that!

Here are some new pictures of our cutie that I took today…

Oh! Great is Our God!

I know I have said it over and over, we are SO blessed to have Averie.  Last Sunday we had family over to celebrate Averie’s baptism.  We were so glad to spend the day with family and so glad that all that could make it came. 

I personally was excited that Averie would be baptized in our new church.  I know it didn’t matter where it happened, but this church is something we have been praying for for years now.  Thankfully the church was finished just after Averie was born, so it worked out perfectly.

This day was a great reminder of how much we need Jesus, that we can only be saved through  Him and our trust in God’s covenant promise for Averie’s Salvation.

Our prayer for all 3 of our children is that they would all follow Christ.  That there would never be a day that they walked with out Him. 

Ready To Get My Craft On

I feel like now that Averie is almost 10 weeks old and is on a schedule, I am ready to start crafting occasionally.  Things are definitely less crazy around here.  I am even about to start working on Saturdays again soon.  Anyways, I am not really sure which projects that I plan to do, but I am excited about it. 

I did start a BIG project last summer and plan to finish it this summer.  I got the crazy idea to paint my bedroom furniture.  I actually can’t remember if it was my idea or Rebekah’s idea.  Either way, I am 100% sure she sent me a picture that I fell in love with.  So I can blame this on her, correct??  I started sanding my night stand like a crazy woman and never finished it.  I later found out that I had sanded it WAY too much, I only needed to rough it up a bit.  Oh well, since I am painting and not staining, that should not be an issue.  This is going to be a big project. Especially if I do all the pieces.  There is a headboard, 2 nightstands, a dresser, and an armoire.  That is a decision I still haven’t made.  I know I plan to do the dresser and 2 night stands since they will stay in my room, but right now the armoire is in Averie’s room and I would personally like to get rid of it.  I would also like to get rid of the head board.  I have never, ever liked this head board and have a “plan” to replace it.  I keep thinking that when I get rid of this set though, that I will get more money for it if I keep the pieces together.  That would also require making them all the same color.  I am not concerned with the headboard, but that will include the armoire.  More work for me.  I really am excited about this project though. 

Another project in the future may include trying to make more space in a  tiny kitchen.  I have ideas. 

Stay tuned about my painting furniture plans.  I bought the brushes tonight. I am serious about this.  I hope to get started next week.  Maybe I can get one piece done a week.  That’s a good goal, right??

Fathers Day

Happy Father’s Day Ian!  God has really blessed me to have Ian as a husband, to have Ian as a father to my babies.  I love him so much and he really is the best.  I hope someday Ty, Micah, and Averie know just how blessed they are too.

Here are the pictures I tried to take for Ian.  I wanted him to have updated pictures for his desk at work.  It was a horrible experience.  I will not do this again without someone’s help.  Or at least until Averie can sit up alone.  No one wanted to hold her.  She was the only one that was happy, probably because she was being held by her brother.  It worked out better to do individual pictures.

$16.00

I am really, really excited that it is time for yard sales again!  Have I mentioned how much I love going??  If anyone ever needs a buddy to go, I am volunteering!  I am not hard core like some people I know, but I do like to look around to see what I can find.  I usually try to have an idea of what I want to find at sales so I am not just buying a bunch of stuff that I won’t use.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that I won’t buy something that’s not on my list.  Some times I find those things, some times I don’t.  Like last year, I looked and looked for a  cozy coupe for the boys.  I found one or 2 but they were usually more than I wanted to pay.  I found one for $20 dollars on lsn, but by the time I emailed the lady, it was gone. Boo!  I was so excited when I went to my first neighborhood sale this year and I found one for $10!!! It looked almost brand new! A lot nicer than the $20 one I found last year. 

This year I will be looking for an umbrella stroller .  One that does NOT have Winnie the Pooh on it! I found 2 this weekend, both had pooh bear on it.  I was bummed!

I will also be looking for picture frames for the boys room, larger clothes for all the kids, toys, and books. Not really any big items this year. 

I found some really good deals on Saturday.  This is what I bought:

Most of this was 50 cents each.  Books were 25 cents each.  I also bought a pair of ralph lauren jeans, childrens place khaki pants, and childrens place cargo shorts all for the boys.   Most of the girls clothes  were Old Navy and Childrens Place.  All were in very good condition.  All for $16 dollars.  I was very excited! I knew that Averie’s wardrobe started tapering off at 9 months, so I planned to look for 12 month clothes.  I know that may seem crazy to some of you to buy that much in advance, but if you have kids, you know that they grow in to those big sizes way too fast!  I think Ian was just glad I didn’t come home with toys!