Rowan

We didn't forget Rowan's birthday this year! Really! We have just been so busy and I decided to throw the two boys a party together this time. I don't know if that will happen now with everyone coming down with the stomach bug. They may have to settle for us taking them out to eat and maybe a movie. It's kinda sad. It will be the first year ever that we haven't thrown them a party.

Well, here he is, my big seven-year-old boy! Can you believe it? SEVEN

1. What is your favorite color? blue
2. What is your favorite toy? legos
3. What is  your favorite stuffed animal? armadillo
4. What is your favorite thing to sleep with? my lion
5. What is your favorite fruit? pears
6. What is your favorite cereal? granola
7. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cinnamon toast, with like the swirly in the middle
8. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pizza
9. What is your favorite dessert? ice cream
10. What is your favorite drink? soda
11. What do you want to eat for your birthday dinner? eggs, bacon, waffles
12. What is your favorite animal? snake
13. What is your favorite book? Harry & Horsie
14. What is your favorite song? Our God is an Awesome God
15. What is your favorite game? MegaMind DS game
16. What is your favorite t.v. show? I Love Lucy
17. What is your favorite movie? Despicable Me 2
18. What is your favorite thing to do outside? build snow forts
19. Who is your best friend? Jude
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a toy maker

Rowan is still a fairly passive child. He loves to spend time at home. Alone. That being said, he does really enjoy playing with other kids and he loves to ham it up in a crowd. Rowan is learning to read this year and is improving greatly. Math seems to come quite naturally to him. He played soccer last spring and can't wait to start up again this coming year.

The biggest highlight of Rowan's year was that on September 2, 2013, he accepted Jesus as his Saviour.

We could not be more pleased with this boy. To say we love him would be a gross understatement.

Merry Christmas

...a day late.

A Few of My Favorite Things

These are the things that I'm "crushing on", if you will.

1. Vitamix

 

 

Oh the things I could blend...

These are so expensive but I must admit that I would truly love to have one. My blender is on the fritz & from what I've seen & heard, these are the best.

 

2. Lindor Truffles

 

 

Who doesn't love these? Jay usually gets me the tiny little bag that contains 3 of these beauties every year for my stocking. There are so many flavors that I haven't even tried them all. So far I have to say my favorite is probably the dark chocolate.

 

3. Le Creuset Spatulas

 

 

These are awesome. I only have the small one on the far left but I would be thrilled to find my stocking filled with the rest of these. Maybe even double of some sizes. They are pretty spendy as far as spatulas go but the one I have is the best spatula I have ever owned.

 

4. This Bedding from West Elm.

 

 

I love the slate grey color. Put together with some white crocheted pillows and a white throw it would be just the look I want for our bedroom. There is similar bedding on Amazon for about half the price.

 

5. Faux Fur Stockings

 

 

I just got these yesterday! I have to say, I totally dig them. They are bigger than I pictured and better quality. Each one is lined with the softest material. I didn't have them personalized because I thought  a glittered monogram hanging with each one would be more my style. I hung them up the second they came and I can't wait to fill them. (Not sure what they cost now but I got them on clearance.)

 

6. Hand Warmers

 

These are a favorite of all 4 of my kiddos. They swiped some from the UPS fill-a-truck drive and  played with them all day. Then Jay's mom sent this pack to split between the boys for their birthdays. It's a great stocking stuffer for just about anyone. I wouldn't mind having some myself. Throw in some of the boot warmers and I'd be one happy girl this winter.

 

7. Snow boots

 

 

There are so many options out there but I think these are cute as far as snow boots go. I honestly would enjoy anything that was comfortable & kept my feet dry. I haven't owned snow boots since before I was married. I know, I live in North Idaho. I guess I'm just used to it and since my trudging up Mom & Dad's driveway days are over, I just haven't felt the need to spend the money. But I would really love a quality pair of boots so that I could go outside with the kids for longer than 10 minutes. And not get frostbite.

 

8. Bare Escentuals Foundation

Girls, this stuff rocks. My winter color is medium beige. In the summer I need something darker. I love that you get decent coverage but it doesn't feel heavy or caked like liquid foundation tends to do to me. I recommend purchasing wide awake & their mineral veil as well. The wide awake is great for under eye circles or blemishes and the mineral veil gives your skin a nice naturally blended look. The best part is that my skin seems to get clearer(except currently for some weird reason) and it lasts me for about 3 or 4 months.

 

9. More Makeup

 

 

More from Bare Escentuals. This kit is called "city lights" and I have been eyeing it for a while. It is currently on sale. Yippee! Their holiday sets have been my favorites for eyes & lips(not a big lip person. makes me feel claustrophobic.). I do not care for their mascara. Not sure if its because they only have black & I use brown, or if it's their mascara brush, but I am not a fan.

 

10. Caramel Brulee Latte from Starbucks

 

 

I have had a couple of these this season and they are yummy. Trying to cut out sugar & carbs right now so I haven't been indulging but when you need a treat, these are a great option. I am generally a peppermint mocha or a chai tea sort of gal but these were nice for a change.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: I know this may seem very materialistic of me but I do have to say that I honestly do not care what I get for Christmas. In fact, I would be okay with receiving no gifts. I really would. Although I do love me a good gift, in my opinion, it is more fun to find gifts for others to enjoy. I am not the best gift giver. I readily admit that I am not the most thoughtful and I don't often come up with the best gift, but I do thoroughly enjoy trying. Please don't think me greedy, just wanted to share some things I enjoy and maybe give others ideas for those on their list. It's not too late!

Right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Christmas Tree

We did actually decorate the tree we cut down. I didn't get very many pictures. Attaching hooks to ornaments & making sure they don't get broken is a full time job with 4 kiddos so it makes it very difficult to photograph the process. We do have a few & I hope to take some more once we have the gifts wrapped & under the tree.(Rhett prevents us from putting them out too soon. He's curious to say the least.)

 

 

The Best Day...

Thirteen years today.

That is how long ago I met my husband.

We don't really celebrate the anniversary of the day we first met.
At the time it didn't really seem that significant.
But thirteen years later we know.
We know it was the start of a dramatic change in our lives.
I think often of the fact that I wanted to stay home that night.
And it's true that we probably would have met eventually.
But what if we hadn't?

I would not have known how being loved by him would change me.
I would not have met his family.
His brother's wife would not be one of my best friends. I would have never even met her.
I most likely wouldn't have traveled so many places.
I may have married another or never married at all.
There are at least 4 people who would never have existed. And at least one less in Heaven.
If I had married I would most likely be divorced. Let's face it, who else would put up with me?*wink*

Life would have been very different if I had not met him that night 13 years ago.

So I will celebrate in my heart. I will thank the Lord above. I will praise him for that night every day.

Because you can only meet the most wonderful man on Earth once in a lifetime.

Gift Giving

It happens every year.

The overwhelming task of finding the perfect gifts for each person on our list.

I am not one who buys gifts because it is expected of me. I buy them because I truly want to. I do. I think gifts must be my love language because I enjoy giving them as much or more than receiving them. But I'll admit, the task can be rather daunting at Christmastime. With four kiddos, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces & nephews, and our spouse, it gets really expensive even when  you are spending frugally.

A couple of years ago we decided that we will no longer purchase gifts for siblings or parents. It was a family decision. My parents, siblings, and I all got together and decided that it was just too much to get a gift for every.single.person. So, my parents don't buy us gifts but focus on the grandkids instead. We have never purchased gifts for Jay's side of the family as it is so large & they all live far away. Half of them don't celebrate Christmas anyhow.

I am fine with this arrangement. It lessens the stress that comes with so much money going out. The only thing is, the kids get really spoiled. We tried to get them only one gift plus stocking stuffers the year before last. That did not work. They had things that they'd been needing and things that we really wanted to get them. Last year we tried to just be really selective but it still wound up being a lot of stuff. It was around last Christmas that I ran into this idea on the internet.

 I LOVE it!

I cannot remember where I first saw it but this lady explains it really well on her blog.

It's perfect. You see, with two of the kids having birthdays right at Christmas as well, this will really help to narrow down the gift-giving options for us.

Each kid gets 4 gifts:

1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

It will make me put more thought into what we buy them. Because they only get one for each category. Plus it will free up some of the other things for their birthdays. It will help the gifts to be more meaningful. And it will keep the cost down.

At least, that's what I'm hoping...

Waste Not; Want Not.

Whilst decorating for Christmas, I began to notice a common theme in my home.

* I have a lot of stuff I don't like & I have a lot of stuff I don't use.

So, in an effort to purge our home rather than our bank account, I have decided that it is time I repurpose, repair, or regift many of my belongings. I have a lot of craft supplies that I rarely use these days & those should come in quite handy. The plan is to make as much of the stuff I have into something I truly enjoy. The rest will have to find a home elsewhere. Of course, there are always sentimental items that aren't particularly your favorite, but you can't bear to part with them. I also plan to find a way to put those items to use if possible.

Another thing I've noticed is that I need to find a way to display photos of our family. The living room is sort of an 'awkward' space and it is difficult to display them there. Our hallway could be a really nice place to display them but I'm not sure if I can commit to decorating my hallway. I like the blank/clean feel of it the way it is. I know, I'm boring.

The Hunt

Yesterday, we met with Mom & Dad & Tess at the Christmas tree farm just a hop, skip, & jump from our place. Often I will stay home with the little ones and Jay & the older ones go choose a perfect tree. This year I opted to go with and I'm so glad I did. We had a great time!

Floaties

 

Avril did not care for the 'floatie" in her bath the other night.

She started hollering for me and when I went in there, Rhett had already climbed into her bath, fully clothed. Nevermind that he had just gotten out of his own bath.

Monet Sounds Prettier than Picaso

Avril worked diligently on her drawings all morning. She is doing a wonderful job drawing pictures and writing her letters. And she has found the world of color recently. Gone are the days of entire pages being colored completely pink. This girl is all about the colors of the rainbow these days.

 

See....

 

And she even displayed them so beautifully on her closet door.

 

 

 

 

With GLUE!

 

 

 

Thank the Lord for children's glue. It's washable.

And wash it she did!

 

 

I couldn't bear to really get after her. She was just so proud of it.

And some of her pictures tore when we pulled them down.

But she didn't get upset, she just went to happily scrubbing.

And she got it all off too.

 

A Little Bit of Summer

Huckleberries are sort of a summer signature in North Idaho. After all, it just wouldn't be summer without them. And after two years of huckleberry neglect, we went picking this year. Thanks to our freezer, we get to enjoy a little bit of summer all winter.

Being the native Idahoan that he is, Rhett was happy to demonstrate:

 

As long as eating is involved, this kiddo is game. He even showed off by double-fisting it a few times.

 

These photos may not be much from a photography standpoint but in the eyes of this momma, they are something to be treasured.

(and inspiration to get better at using my camera again!)

 

the year

I have been feeling the burden for so long. The burden to be that mom & wife.

The wife who helps her husband before he asks instead of sighing and rolling her eyes after he asks. Twice. The wife who greets him with a smile instead of a scowl & cross words. The wife who keeps the house tidy instead of vegging out on the couch. The wife who plans & cooks healthy meals instead of scrambling just to throw something resembling food on the table. The wife who responds softly to his stress instead of lashing out from her own stress. The wife who loves him more than herself.

To be the mom who opens her arms to her children in the morning instead of growling at them to leave her be. The mom who does crafts with her children instead of snapping at them for cutting up paper. The mom who shows her children how to clean rather than get stressed about the constant mess. The mom who giggles, & laughs, & plays on the floor versus talking on the phone. The mom who plans ahead & patiently helps her children out the door instead of snarling at them because she's late. The mom who gently corrects wrongdoing instead of lashing out in anger & frustration. The mom who is attentive to her children instead of trying to occupy them in order to be alone. The mom who loves her children more than herself.

I have spent years watching other women, online, in person, on television & movies, in books, be that woman. I have envied them and longed to be them. But lately the longing has changed. It's becoming a realization, a whisper in my heart.

You can be. With me, all things are possible.

And it's true. I can be that wife & mom. I know it won't be perfect. And it certainly won't be easy. But in my own way, with the gifts God has given me & the beautiful family He has shared with me, one day at a time, I can be her.

I was talking with a friend the other day and she suggested that I give it one year. That I just commit to putting everything else on hold and completely invest in & attend to my family and see what happens. And the more the idea settled into my mind and the more I pondered & prayed, the more I wanted it. I want that year. I want the freedom to not volunteer for anything extra, to stop obsessing about my weight, to ignore my telephone, and to put my family first. To invest wholeheartedly.

So I'm taking that year. It may be 2 or 3 or 30 in the end but I'm going to start with one. One year. Expect to see less of me on Pinterest & Facebook. Expect to hear less from me on the phone. Expect me to say no a lot. And expect to see more of the family here on the blog (after the kids are sleeping of course).

Now I'm not saying that I'll never take a break or do anything extra, I'm just saying that my family is going to come first. I know God will give me the strength & wisdom and I hope others will hold me accountable. It's going to be a challenge. And it's going to be worth it!

This is the year.

Time marches on

I did something tonight that I've never done.

Tonight I packed away my babies burp cloths for the last time.

Oh, I've packed them away before. But tonight was different. Tonight I knew I would not take them out and use them again.

It seems a small thing, to pack away stained and dirty cloths. But as I began folding them a sadness I've never felt before rolled in. I took each one and smoothed out the wrinkles, my hands caressing the yellow stains. I brought them to my face and felt them & smelled them. Then one by one I put them in a box.

Is it weird that I feel so sentimental about some 9-year-old rags? Maybe. But as they went into the box I remembered. Four years. Four entire years of my life have been spent with one of those rags over my shoulder. A year for each of my children. Nursing. Wiping their faces. Patting and bouncing them on my shoulder. Morning, day, and night. Each child has added their stains to those icky old cloths. Each child has fallen asleep on those cloths, chewed on those cloths, and burped on those cloths.

A younger version of myself could not wait to pack them away and be done with them for a while. Mother of a one-year-old boy with so many better things to do than clean up baby spit up. Eager for the next phase. Eager for them to grow.

Perhaps I will pass them on and some new, young mother will use them to wipe her sweet newborn's face. Perhaps she will wrinkle her nose in disgust and throw them away. After all, who would want a dirty old rag?

But it was not some dirty old rags that I tucked away in some box.

Tonight, I tucked away my babes.

Eternal

"In about fifty years(give or take a couple of decades), no one will remember you. Everyone you know will be dead. Certainly no one will care what job you had, what car you drove, what school you attended, or what clothes you wore."...


                                                                                                                 ~Francis Chan
                                                                                                                   Crazy Love



"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."


                                                                                                                    ~God
                                                                                                                       Holy Bible
                                                                                                                       Deuteronomy 6:6-7


It is true. In 100 years or less, I will not be remembered. My life will vanish like a vapor. Even my children & grandchildren will be mostly dead. Anyone that I had direct contact with, will have passed on. Gone from this life. Most of my earthly possessions will have turned to dust with rot & decay.

And it's okay. It's not about me.

It's about Him. All of it. My worth, or lack thereof, is of little to no consequence. My only purpose is to know Him & glorify Him. To make Him known to my children and those I meet in this life. To share what He has shown us, given to us. To share what will be ours if we answer His calling.

I want these verses to penetrate our household. I want to live them out. To teach my children & grandchildren what it's all about. I don't want Him to be part of our lives, I want Him to be the source & reason for our lives. So that when I am gone, when I am forgotten, He isn't. It's okay if they forget who I was. As long as they never forget who He is.