The doorbell and the sewing lesson...

Doorbell.

Such a simple word. Such an innovative way to let you know when people are at your, well, door. Everyone has one. Everyone uses one. Yes you could knock and many do, but over a house of three little princess, at any given time a knock might be too quiet, but a doorbell will let you know when friend, neighbor, or pesky sales person is at your door.

We didn't have a doorbell, we have that intercom system that was ALL the rage about 20 years ago!! It was the thing to have, the best of the best. Well the best is now in one hit wonders hall of fame! Anyhow our "doorbell" is hooked up to one of those, that doesn't work.

Finally hubby and I decided to put in the doorbell that you can just plug into the wall. HOW COOL! Love it, now we can hear when someone is at the door.

Well after the last few times, I have decided that I am no longer a huge fan of this invention, the doorbell, at least for the moment. I have learned that it is inevitable that when you are trying to put a tired baby to sleep, someone will come to your door and want to visit with you, therefore pressing that little button. And there it went, DING DONG.

Pretend you aren't home! DING DONG... Darnit! Don't you know no one is home? Think think think, will them away! Oh well guess my van in the drive is a dead giveaway!

Finally. Gone. Now that I have answered the door to the well meaning neighbor and finally got baby down it is time for my sewing lesson. I wasn't aware I was in need of another lesson so close to my last. My last being last night! I discovered when a dear friend came to help me learn to put together my dress for my sweet lil girl...that I cut the "marking" on the fold! Creating a hole right in the middle of the dress. (And when I went to again buy some more replacement fabric the lady at the store chuckled and suggested she keep it up there with my name pinned to it. Ouch.)

Super Cute Fabric hu?

So more to learn...I go to stitch a bit today and the thread decided to get wound up into the machine some how, I have NO idea how! So after having a staring contest with the machine, willing the tread to come out on its own I figured I needed to be smarter than a heap of plastic! I went and got the arch enemy, a screwdriver, and took the bugger apart. AND I DID IT! I figured it out on my own, not even help from YouTube!!!

The lesson continued as I called my mom and texted that dear friend in half panic attacks every time I can't figure out what the dumb instructions are directing me to do. But I did it! I have a bodice done and a skirt ready to be finished. Sooooo here is to hoping that Murphy's law doesn't come into effect tomorrow!!

Instincts

No humor here today, at least not right now. I am too tired, but I learned a lesson last night.

One that I think I have to relearn every time, so I am assuming you, especially if you are a mom, have to teach yourself over and over as well.

It is you are MOM! You need to trust your instincts! Don't doubt who you are, who God made you to be. So many times we are afraid of what others will think. Even in the wee hours of the night, while holding a screaming baby you wonder, "will they look at me and wonder if this mom just can't handle her baby if she cries"? Sometimes we give into that self doubt and don't follow what our gut tells us.

I almost made that mistake last night. My poor Kbean was screaming, and as I have previously mentioned she has the pitch of an opera singer. So when well past her bed time she was singing this tone, I wondered if she was just being a fussy one year old. Almost listened to my outer voices telling me to just live with it. But I followed my gut/heart and the poor lil thing has ear infections in both ears.

No wonder she was screaming!

Lesson to learn:

God made each and every one of you a mother because he TRUSTED you with HIS children. He believes in you and the abilities He has graced you with. He gave each one of us different "specialties" to take care of our children, and then gave us the perfect children to go with those abilities. Never doubt who you are as a mom. Never doubt your instincts. He gave them to you for a reason. By doubting what you feel is right, you are doubting what He has told you that you are fit to do on this earth. You are doubting His creation. You!

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."
Psalm 139:13

This bible verse includes your instincts!

So take with you the comfort in knowing that you are the BEST possible mom for your child/children and there really is no better mother. Whatever you do, even when you make a mistake, you are precious in His sight, and theirs!!


James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Need to bust a gut?

I have the way for you to do it and it isn't like you think? Or if it is I am amazed there is someone out there just like me! Go now, run, get this book, "Rhyming Dust Bunnies" Make these guys your secret place, your guilty secret...

Ok so well I have a ton more I could blog about, and you might be more interested in, but after the day, wait, WEEK I've had I need to go mindless. I mean I have had enough of the baby boogs for a while. My poor KK Bean fell pretty darn sick with what started as a cough and ended as her not being able to breathe and a high fever. Which then resulted in needing to be cared for, translation, held, all night long. So what do you get when you cross two parents with one baby that is sick? Total nothingness!!

Anyhow, like I said I probably won't make a whole lot of sense here so I best get to the point before I loose you!

I was at the book fair with my girls today at Alia's school and told Lissy she could pick a book, but as I was browsing waiting for her, I stumbled upon a gem that made me laugh out loud right there in the isle. I haven't done that to a children's book, well probably since I was a child myself! Or darn close to it! Reminds me of the joy we should feel when in the presence of our lil ones!

Reading it again tonight I was laughing as we went along. I is the simplest of books, yet so darn stinking cute! I highly suggest getting it!!! If you need a pick me up just hide in your drawer and pull it out every time you feel like pouting like a tantruming toddler! It is bound to make you forget exactly what you were upset with in the first place!

Its about these poor lil dust bunnies who rhyme, but one lil guy just doesn't seem to get it right. But in the end it was he who turned out to be the smartest lil dust speck of all! You'll laugh as you hear them scold poor dust bunny #4, and you'll start to put the puzzle together that this lil guy is trying to tell you!

Let me know if you read this one! Really, I would love your opinion!!!

Flight #10

Ahh flight # 10....well 10 for Alyssa, 12 for Alia, and 16 for Kaelyn (not including "connection" flights) I guess I could consider myself lucky that nothing crazy has ever happened on these excursions that have become the "norm" for my kids.


However flight #10 is not included in that number...

The day started out bright and fun, ending our vacation with family and friends in WI. It was gloomy, but the girls were having fun riding with grandpa in his "orange truck" and just having an easy going morning.

All that was about to change as we were loaded up in the car and headed down the road to the airport, a few minutes behind, but nothing to fret over. That is until my mother in law calls to inform us that I left the baby blanket there, something I desperately need for the flight. Ok turn around go back and pick it up, no biggie.

Progress about 45 minutes, Alia constantly asking, "when are we at the airport", and now hitting some road construction. GPS telling us of short delays, ok don't panic yet. Another delay, and another.....

Flight takes of at 2:20, ETA to the airport 1:28. Hmmmm this could be a problem, especially considering we have to park in short term parking, check in, check our bags, and get our circus through security.

Fast forward, Brandon drops me off at the door to wait for him to park, in the meantime I discover the baby smells a little off, so I go to change her diaper right there in the airport doorway to find that she has once again blown completely out. Ok time to open the HUGE suitcase to find a suitable pair of pants and change this screaming lil girl. Problem averted.

Until the next one.

We safely make it through security and down to our gate as we hear chuckles at the two lil girls running with backpacks on as big as they are. Seated and take off. All is well. This flight should be just like all the rest. The girls travel SO good for us.

WRONG. Ahh what one half hour can do to a set of parental nerves! Half way in KKbean decides that she is fussy, so I go to get out a squeeze baby food. Dear Hubby asks what I want done with it and I respond, "open it so I can give it to KK." He then hands the fussy munchkin the full bag of orange squeeze food.

Upon grabbing it, like all babies do, she did with all her might and the fountain of orange goo that shot out was comparable to the Bilagio hotels famous water show. Seeing this bright display she decided to look up at it, which, "what goes up must come down" promptly happened, all over her face, (In her eyes I might add) and the rest on her shirt, legs and my shirt and pants!
Now any of you who know the Kbean know that she has a pitch of an opera singer when she screams, add a tinge of pain from the orange goo, and you have a pitch that could break windows. My stomach turned as I see all the patrons around us wiggle and readjust in their seats as my darling breaks their eardrums. 5 seconds seems like an eternity as hubby goes to get paper towels.

Ok baby clean and quiet and happy. We are again on our way...or are we? Alyssa not intending to, decided to dump a whole glass of water in her lap...mind you we have 6 some hours left of travel. So she yells out with a shriek and her poor sister has to help wipe her lap down and sop up the lake in her seat.

Wait that isn't it yet...

Now I had been watching the Bean "do some business" but swore after the mess I saw earlier I had nothing to worry about. Wrong! I looked down and yep there it was bubbling up. I whisper to hubby QUICK get MORE paper towels (now people behind us had to begin wondering what the heck was going on, we went through about a tree worth of paper!) So I attempt to catch it, and run, the best you can on a plane, to the bathroom to place my already agitated baby on the changing table. Now if you don't like changing tables, let me tell you, one that moves is NOT going to make you happier. Thankfully the back is where the jets are and I don't think anyone heard her, or they might have questioned if I was hurting the poor child.

Back to my seat, I learned that the girls broke a set of earphones and later learned our flight connection had been delayed a few hours.

Finally, 20 minutes before landing all three of my angels fell asleep. Oh what a precious sight!






What a trip.

I can proudly announce though, that we made the rest of the trip with out any action.

So all I can leave you with is, if you think you have it all together...think again, disaster strikes when you least expect it.

At least you get a good chuckle today. :)

EASY, Freezie, Puppy Chow

OK so I have had a lot of people who were surprised that you can freeze puppy chow...
I had made it for my daughters birthday and froze an extra bag for needs when the kids need a snack and I had no warning.. It has worked great!My family has even grown to love it straight out of the freezer! So here is the recipe I used and it lasts, thaws, turns out WONDERFUL. YUM! Make a bag for yourself for the freezer while you are at it :) 


You will need:

• 9 cups Chocolate Chex
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup (creamy) peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Now to make the stuff

• Put cereal in large bowl.
• Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Pour over Chex cereal, scoop into a large plastic ziplock freezer bag, sprinkle with powdered sugar and shake well to coat. (I personally put half the mix in, half the powdered sugar, then rest of the mix and rest of the sugar and shake, THEN I actually transfer to another plastic bag, just dump, so it is "cleaner")
• Place plastic bag in freezer to let cool. Keep in freezer until ready to serve, however long that may be :).

Have you lately?

When is the last time you sat down? No I don't mean getting off your feet for two minutes to eat dinner, or to even watch a much deserved TV show.

I mean when is the last time you stopped and looked around. What do you see?

I'm guessing you probably see a cluttered or messy house/living room/kitchen. You may see dishes to do, laundry that needs to be done, bills to be paid, you may see a calendar telling you a homework assignment is due in two days, or you may see a schedule that keeps you on your toes.

But have you looked past that? If you are like most, if you are like me, you most likely have not.

I just went to lay down Lissy Cakes for her nap. I decided, since the baby was sleeping, that I would lay in Alia's bed with her for two songs. As I took a breath in, I could smell her clean sweet hair, I pulled her little body a bit closer to me, and I am reminded...she turns 4 Wednesday. Four. Where has the time gone?

Yes some of it has provided some memorable times, like playing, vacations, giggles and smiles, hugs, excitement. Maybe even a few tantrums of memorable status. However, most of that time, my time, my time with her, has gone to the above mentioned.

We are so programed to worry about what we think others want to see, by what we think a good standard of living is, that we forget to slow down and see our children, yes our children! We see them every day, yet we don't see them, see them as God sees us, a one and only. They will not be like this for long, and when it is gone, it is gone.

Each stage of life is wonderful, however we need take a time out to stop and appreciate each one as it comes, revel in the miracle of life, revel in the miracle that God has given us to care for on this earth.

While there is something to be said about de-cluttering, keeping sanity, healthy living, learning, schedules and life in general, there is also moderation. Everything with in reason. Anything can become a new god to us, anything, even a healthy lifestyle. I am not saying don't be healthy, but I am saying that healthy also mean taking time out. And taking it often!

Is it really worth it to have all that you think you desire, only to find out you miss the little mis-pronounced words, the super snugly hugs, the "mommy will you play horses with me?", the "what is?", the fascination at a new learned objective, the dances, and the all around little giggles of a tiny life?

Yes I have stopped dead in my tracks today to play dolls and horses, and to lay with my beautiful daughter. The one that God decided I was destine to mother. The one God trusted her emotional, physical and overall well being with.

So from now on I am going to try to press pause, and press it often, (it won't wear out you know!) forget all the cleaning that won't go to the grave with me and cherish my beautiful daughters first!

Mourning...X2

I'll just outright and say it. I resent my life right now. Do I actually mean it, no, I guess not. Do I feel it? Absolutely!

I am writing this, but no one really reads it that I know of, so why am I writing? Therapeutic, I guess.

I know all the logical reasons why I shouldn't feel as I do. But come on, does that really change anything? No not really.

I feel so lost right now. I have absolutely no identity. I am mourning, in my own way right now, the loss of Brandon's grandma. I wasn't close with her, per say, but she was part of my life. She was a comfortable familiar. Every fall I felt this, visiting their place, the girls giving her a hug and playing with her toys, and the piece of Easter or holiday candy that they would get upon leaving. It was comfort. So as her funeral is today, I am sad.

I am mourning for another reason too however. I am not there. Is it selfish? I'm not sure. But I am really struggling with this. I am the ONLY family member/spouse not there. And that bothers me. I have been a part of this family for 11 years, and I feel like the girlfriend who really doesn't have any place being there.

No I am here with the kids. That is all my identity is. That is the other loss I am mourning. The loss of my identity. I have no idea what it is. I don't know if it ever existed. I mean, hubby goes to work, I stay at home with the kids. Hubby goes on business trips, I stay at home with the kids. Hubby talks to people at church, I don't really talk to anyone, or if it is, it is "how did the baby sleep". Now it is hubby goes home to be with family in a time of need. Where am I? Yep I am here with the kids.

Hubby has a purpose, he has people telling him they need him, and he has done a job well done. He talks and shares and laughs with co workers. Does he struggle at times? Yes. Is work hard at times? Yes. But he has a life, a life that defines who he is. A life outside of me and the children. He feels purpose. He sees results. He has fun and things to talk about other than us.

I know my identify is in Christ. But the worldly side of me says even that I am not sure about. Again because my every move is about the children; school, feeding, fun, play, dance, exercises, homework, friends, clothing, sleep...and the list goes on.

I don't even have my house, I mean how can I show who I am when I don't even have a couch to sit on? My life is in ruins and I do not currently see the light at the end of the tunnel of boxes!

Yep my identity is in laundry, dinner, school, homework, fights, crying, diapers, baby food, dirty dishes, in general, cleaning messes.

So here I sit. Alone, while the whole family mourns together. All of them but me.