From the monthly archives:

January 2010

New Month, New Week, New Goals

January 31, 2010

February is here. I am happy to say I’ve finally put away all our Christmas decor and while it isn’t completely conquered, I have tamed the laundry beast and gotten somewhat of a grip on the house chores and school work.

For now

So, with this new month, I’ve set some goals for some things I’d like to get done around the house. And thanks to two different blogging friends, I have some accountability and inspiration. Thanks Andrea and Becky!!

Andrea is hosting a sew along. She’s been posting some adorable dresses and pants with pockets and all sorts of cute things she whips up in her “spare time.” I typically look at them, drool, and think, “if only” and “perhaps I should forward the link to my SIL or my mom, people who actually use their sewing machines!” But, then she introduced this concept of a sew along and I was intrigued.

This is her plan:

Week 1: Know your machine- This is for absolute beginners and for those who haven’t sewed in a while. This will require that you have a machine (yours or borrowed), the manual, some scrap fabric, scissors, a seam ripper, and thread.

Week 2: Gather your supplies- We’ll discuss pattern selection, notions, fabric, and tools. I’ll have suggestions for a few different patterns (adult and child) but you are free to use whatever pattern you want. Don’t be afraid to make something for yourself! I’ll be teaching using a basic dress pattern with a zipper.

Week 3: Cutting out your fabric- Learn about measuring and selecting the correct size as well as nap and grain and other fabric terms. You’ll also learn what all the symbols on a pattern are, how to prep your fabric, and how to cut out the pattern. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to show you.

Week 4: Begin sewing! We’ll take the plunge together and begin sewing. We’ll discuss the seam ripper and how to follow the pattern directions. We’ll learn about the different ways to finish seams as well as how to understitch, overstitch and other necessary garment sewing stitches.

Week 5: Finish it up! We’ll talk about zippers, buttons and hemming. The fun stuff! That’s right you’ll have a finished garment by the first week of March!

I know she talks about garments, but I have been wanting new curtains in our master bathroom for 6 years now, so I am starting there. (plus, no zippers are involved in the making of curtains)! And now that my husband is almost finished fixing the plumbing in our bathroom, we’ve made a goal to have our bathroom fully usable and even nicely decorated by the end of the month!

These were here when we moved and I have never liked them. Nor have I liked the fact that the rod sticks out inches beyond the window… that too shall be fixed by months end.

As if tackling a sewing project isn’t a big enough goal, I’ve also decided to join in Becky’s WOW Carnival. I’ve done this before…. remember when I finally got to weeding my flower beds last spring?… I owe it all to Becky. Basically, you set a goal for a project you’ve been wanting to get to, but keep putting on the back burner, and you tackle it within one week. This week I’d like to tackle our 2009 Family Scrapbook. (because truthfully, I want to get to our 2007 and 2008 books as well before baby number 4 arrives to the circus in a few months). I plan to make it digitally using shutterfly.com I am not sure if doing the whole book in one week is too lofty of a goal, perhaps I should say this week I’d like to organize all the pictures for our 2009 scrapbook. But, I am going to aim for getting a good chunk of the book done this week, and I’ll check in with you later this week to fill you in on the progress. Here’s hoping I make such great progress that I keep on scrapping 2 yrs more of memories!!

Feeling inspired? Feel free to join me in either or both endeavors. Becky is even offering a Starbucks gift card to one lucky WOW participant this week. Non bloggers are still welcome to participate, just leave her a comment letting her know your joining in the fun! And for those of you who have more talent and comfort than I do with a sewing machine, you may want to consider checking out Andrea’s other carnival.

I’d definitely appreciate the encouragement and support as I take on these two tasks. I promise to post updates on the progress.

{ 7 comments }

Old School E-mail

January 27, 2010

in Circus Shots, kids art work, siblings

My oldest two have gotten into the habit of “e-mailing” each other at the beginning of nap time. And by e-mailing they really mean they are drawing pictures and writing messages back and forth to each other. We’ve worked out a system in which they are allowed to e-mail for the first 30 minutes of nap time. Then, they have to have quiet time in separate rooms for the remaining hour and a half.

I have become a huge fan of the e-mailing time. It is quite precious as a mom to hear them whisper and slipping messages to each other under their doors. It is the most peaceful, argument free time of my day. And sometimes I permit the e-mail time to extend past the designated 30 minute time slot.

These e-mails are not paper less however and quite a lot of drawings and messages are created each week. I simply can not save them all as we’d be drowning in paper trails.

But, from time to time I set aside some gems that I simply can’t part with. Some for sentimental reasons, some because I am impressed with the art work, some because they just make me smile, and serve as momentos of days gone by.

Here are a few recent ones my son drew for his sister.

I loved this one because it was obvious, to me, upon seeing it who he drew. Can you identify the princess he drew for his sister?

Then there is Dora’s mom. This one gave me quite a startle. It was one of the original e-mails he drew months ago. I had no idea Dora’s mother was so heavily endowed!

I know I have mentioned baby Eli here before. Eli is one of my children’s cousin’s and he is adored here at the circus. In fact, both girls have renamed their baby dolls Eli. And my son has taken on the roll of Eli’s dad.

Here is a picture my son drew of my daughter when she had baby Eli at the hospital.

On the left side, you’ll notice the doctor and my son holding baby Eli. Then there is my daughter on the hospital bed in the middle. And lastly there is my daughter holding baby Eli.

I greatly enjoy seeing the drawings my son makes for his sister. I never know what he’ll come up with next.

Isn’t it funny they call this e-mailing instead of letter writing? Sign of the times, I suppose.

{ 10 comments }

Preparing for the Stomach Flu

January 26, 2010

in Works For Me Wednesday

The other night as we were driving home from out of town friends, our youngest complained that her belly didn’t feel good. A few minutes later I heard a cough and knew instantly what it meant.

We pulled over and began clean up. For once I was thankful for our less than clean minivan as it provided numerous things for us to use as barf bags and clean up rags for the remaining hour drive home.

Once home, we got her clothes in the wash and got the kiddos ready for bed.

Scott and I began preparations with militaristic regime and efficiency. We instantly had the kids get all of their beloved stuffed animals and blankets off of their beds. Each kid was allowed to sleep with one blanket and their washable lovey. I wanted to limit the amount of laundry that would need done if the inevitable occurred. We convinced my son not to sleep on the top bunk. We gave each kid a bowl “just in case” and we braced ourselves for a long night ahead.

My poor little girl was sick most of the night. She went from every 10 minutes to every 30. Finally at around 4:30 her misery seemed to end and I was able to go back to sleep for a few more hours, while Scott got ready to go to the airport for a day long business trip.

Once the kids were awake, I took things slowly. I let my daughter drink water, but only sips in 10 minute increments. I’ve learned the hard way that if you let them gulp down too much water on an empty stomach, they only throw it all up again.

I set a timer and each time it went off she was allowed to take another sip. After an hour or two of this, with her holding it down, I let her drink more. Once it seemed that she was able to keep down the water, and after much begging for food, I let her eat some toast and dry cereal.

So far so good.

As for the others, I was pretty convinced they could fall at any time, so I did my best to prepare for it. I scrubbed down the bathroom and washed all the linens from the night before. I let them eat, but kept the menu bland and didn’t allow them to have dairy.

The biggest risk with the stomach bug is dehydration. So, I did my best to keep the kids and I hydrated incase we were to fall next. I made a chart with each of our names on top. I told them we’d each get a sticker for every glass of water drunk that day.

This worked perfectly for my competitively driven children. All it took was seeing their sibling get a sticker to induce the other child to quickly drink his or her glass. By day’s end my son had drank 6 glasses of water and my daughter had drank 5.

This worked so well, I am thinking of having a water chart up every day to help remind us to stay hydrated!

It’s been over 48 hrs since my daughter first showed signs of being sick. As I type this, Scott is working to put the car seat back together after we took it apart to wash the straps and liners. (What a royal pain those car seats are)!

Much to my great surprise, no one else has showed any signs of being sick. I am thinking if we wake tomorrow with an event free night, then we are in the clear.

I don’t think any of our preparations prevented the rest of us from getting sick. Though we did wash our hangs after every time we touched her and kept the sanitizer close at hand. I was also very careful to keep my hands away from my face.

I do, think however, think that if we had gotten sick, our preparations would have proved useful. Being prepared worked for me this week.

{ 10 comments }

All About Me

January 26, 2010

in Darndest Things

One thing my husband and I try to stress to our kids is that life is not all about them. We love them dearly, and pour much of our time, love, energy and attention out onto them. But, because we love them, we also try to teach them that life does not revolve around them.

We are a family of 5 soon to be 6. So, in a lot of ways this is a lesson that is taught early on out of practicality. We just can’t meet everyone’s needs all the time right when they think they should be met. Sometimes you have to wait. And sometimes you have to go to places and events that you may not want to go to. But, if you cry and throw a tantrum about either, you will calmly be told, “I am sorry you are disappointed and don’t like this, but life is not all about you.”

With this in mind, I thought it was so funny the other day when my almost four year old said to me quite out of the blue, “Mom, ya know, I wish life was all about me.” I wanted to chuckle, b/c like I said it was totally out of the blue… it wasn’t like a few minutes prior we had discussed this. In fact, I think she was sitting on the potty, truth be told.

I love her honesty. Truthfully, don’t we all wish the same thing? I know even in my roles as wife and mom, selfishness creeps in poisons my attitude and outlook. I often need to remind myself that life is not about me.

All that being said, she is quite excited about her birthday in a few weeks. Because birthdays at the circus are a big deal and they are a day when things get to be all about you. (Within reason of course as my son quickly pointed out the other day, even on your birthday it’s really all about God, not you).

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Look Who’s a Big Girl Now!!

January 22, 2010

in Motherhood, growing up

That’s right after her total regression back to diapers in August (after a completely embarrassing trip to the grocery store which involved my wiping pee up off of the floor–twice, the shopping cart, not to mention our groceries….I thought I would never leave the house with her in underwear again) but after Christmas we decided to give the ol potty train a try once more. My mom told her at Christmas it could be her New Years resolution. To which she replied in her sing songy voice, “resolution? I don’t have any resolutions!”

She was ready this time. We’ve been accident free during the day for several weeks now and this week we took the plunge and starting putting her to bed in her underwear.

It’s official folks…after 5.5 years…the circus is diaper free (for 4 months anyway).

{ 10 comments }

The Inner Struggle

January 21, 2010

in Keeping it Real

January has been hard for me. We have our Christmas decorations down, but still not put away. There is a underlying sense of clutter and chaos lurking around the circus, rather than the clean slate, fresh start of a new year. I long for a good, deep clean to get things in order, top to bottom and help me to feel on top of things once again. But, it seems each day I am pulled by the more immediate needs of the day… sick kids… volunteering at school, entertaining guests, New Years cards (never got to the Christmas cards, did print New Years cards and really wanted them mailed before Feb), and school work. At the end of the day, I am working on dinner and cleaning up dinner and then this pregnant momma has no energy to tackle the deep cleaning… or to be honest, even the laundry for that matter. And so, I plop myself down on the couch and watch some of Lost season 5 with my hubby, before retiring to bed, hopeful that tomorrow will find me with more time and more energy.

This morning, I had had it. One can only turn her head on the mess so many times. I was eager to dive in and take control of the house. Win it back from the evil clutter monster and rid myself of the stress.

But it was Bible Study day.

And thus began the inner struggle.

If I go to Bible study, we’ll be gone for 2 hrs, the key 2 hrs of the day when the kids play nice and I can usually accomplish something. I’ll come home and it’ll be time for lunch, then naps, then school, then dinner prep. And another day will go by with the couch overflowing with laundry to be folded, the hallway filled with clothes to be washed, and bedrooms strewn with toys.

Every day of the week it has been something. Monday, my turn to volunteer at the tutorial… out of the house till 2, Tuesday… our day at home… I made a dent in things, even got the ~~Christmas~~ New Years cards ready to go out, but then the afternoon was spent with baths, and a visit to two friends homes. Wednesday I dropped my son off at school, took my daughter to gymnastics, did a quick grocery store run, then headed home to unload groceries, make lunch, and go back to pick my son up. Tomorrow morning we have to go to the pediatrician to get my daughter’s stitches out and Saturday and Sunday are booked solid with plans.

All of these things are good things, but when will I tackle my house?

So, I really didn’t want to go to Bible Study and I told my husband. I wanted to stay home, let the kids play while I cleaned and then do schoolwork in the afternoon. But I knew that was not a good reason to skip. I knew I should want to go to Bible study. And my kids learn so much from their classes. Am I going to really choose cleaning house over the spiritual development of my family?

I really wanted to.

But, alas, we got dressed, fought over brushing hair, found shoes, and scrambled to the van to scrape the windshield and arrive 20 min late to Bible study. I sent my husband this e-mail as I raced out the door.

Subject: leaving for bsf

  with grouchy kids, stressed mom, and a messy house...

pray for my attitude.

love, me

I’ll be honest. I typically do not put in all the time and effort required to full glean from my Bible study. All too often, I am merely warming the seat. And when it comes time for the lecture on the passage… I quite often mentally check out as I think of the tasks awaiting me at home.

But today, today, God had a message for me. I know he wanted me there. The sermon (for lack of better word) had me. I could totally relate it to a situation in my life. And I was convicted of my lack of faith in this area. I was presented with an opportunity for growth and even for encouraging someone else in my life, and I would have totally missed it, if I had stayed home to clean. And even though none of me wanted to go this morning, and my reasons for going weren’t holy or devout, God still mercifully spoke His message to me today. The Holy Spirit touched my heart and gave me a word of hope and encouragement. One I would have missed to stay home with grouchy kids and a messy house.

{ 8 comments }

What’s Something You Know About?

January 19, 2010

in Motherhood

My son always has tons of questions about the world around him and the way things work. Most of the time, I am at a loss as to how to answer these questions. For example, the other day he wanted to know about signals and how we could see them. As in, radio signals or cell phone signals. He wondered if they were like infrared light and could only be seen with special glasses or if we can’t see them at all. I had no clue and suggested he bring the topic up with his dad b/c, “Daddy knows a lot about signals and things like that.” I’ll be honest… quite often, I have to suggest he bring his question to Daddy b/c Daddy knows a lot about that subject. Like how e-mails make it from our computer to Daddy’s work….or infrared light making the remote tell the tv to turn on…and countless other things.

So, I found it particularly endearing the other night when the two of us were driving to catechism and he says, “Mom, what’s something you know about that Daddy doesn’t?” I had to think a minute b/c to be honest, I think Scott is quite a bit smarter than I am b/c he has spent his life questioning things and finding out how things work and why they work. But, here was my 5 year old seeking me out, to find out what he could ask me about that I would know the answer to. It totally warmed my heart. So, I said, “Well, I know a little about cooking and Daddy doesn’t.” “Tell me about cooking, Mom,” “What do you know?” Hmm… how does one answer such an open ended question. For some reason, I started telling him about cooking things from scratch over using a mix. I told him with a boxed mix, you typically just add a few ingredients, but when you cook from scratch you have to basically make the mix. It often takes more work, but typically it tastes better than a mix. We talked about cookies and brownies and how we don’t make brownies that often. (I am more a sucker for chocolate chip cookies than brownies).

2 days later I was looking around the kitchen to make a dessert to take to our friend’s house for dinner. I found a recipe for mint chocolate brownies on the back of the mint chocolate chip bag. As the kids and I began to bake them, my son said, “Hey, is this baking from scratch?” Indeed it was.

I love that my son wanted to take the time to learn from me and and get to know more about my interests and “expertise.” And I loved how he recalled that conversation a few days later. It was one of those bonding moments, that I want to savor.

{ 10 comments }

What’s Cooking at the Circus

January 17, 2010

in Meals, cooking, videos, recipes

I have found that by planning my meals for the month, I can drastically reduce our families grocery spending. It takes time and a whole lot of effort though. And to be honest the past several months I wasn’t so good about it. But, then Scott and I sat down and took a look at our spending. And we realized that we needed to be a whole lot better about sticking to our budget.

And so, the first thing I did at the beginning of the month is sit down with google calendar and plan out my meals. I made my grocery list based on this meal plan. Then I took a trip to Walmart to stock up on a months worth of groceries. I kid you not three separate people looked at me and my overflowing cart and one actually laughed at it.

Some may think planning your meals out for a month isn’t flexible enough. Basically, it is a rough estimate. I can still switch things up a bit, but I know that aside from milk and produce, I have everything I need for the months worth of meals. If I want to switch the meal from the 13 to the 27th, there is not rule saying I can’t. And I don’t have to wrack my tired brain at 5:00 each day trying to figure out what we’re having for dinner.

We’re half way through the month and so far we’re on pace for sticking with the January grocery budget! So, I thought I’d share what’s working for us at the circus as well as our meal plan for the week.

Sunday- breakfast for dinner: waffles

Monday- lasagna, rolls, green beans

Tuesday- dinner at a friends house, I’m bringing dessert… any suggestions? I am trying to make something without having to go out and buy any new ingredients…otherwise, I’d totally make this. Anyone have a yummy desert recipe I can make with ingredients you have on hand around the house?

Wednesday- Sarah’s Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup, home made rolls

Thursday- I am going out for a girls night with my SIL and good friend… we’re eating at Chipotle, then watching this movie, and enjoying some “Gilmore Girls style” junk food.

The fam, however, will be eating pepperoni bread, applesauce, and corn.

Friday- chicken pot pie (or as my kids call it… vegetable pie…they are excited b/c it is sure to make their ears taste disgusting)

Saturday- French toast, sausage

You can check out org junkie for more menu planning ideas.

{ 7 comments }

Undergoing the Change

January 15, 2010

in Weekend Thoughts

Sometimes the music in my car radio really serves as nothing more than background noise to the chattering or squabbling going on in the back seat and the to do lists and other random thoughts going on in my brain.

One day though something about the lyrics caused me to take pause and listen. I turned the radio up and even though I’ve heard the song countless times before, I listened to it for the first time.

It was called “The Change” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff’s all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself

What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that’s showing
I’m undergoing the change, yeah
I’m undergoing the change

Well I’ve got this way of thinking that comes so naturally
Where I believe the whole world is revolving around me
And I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day
‘Cause if God’s Spirit lives inside of me, yeah

I’m gonna live life differently
I’m gonna have the change
I’m gonna have the difference
I’m gonna have the grace
I’m gonna have forgiveness
I’m gonna live a life that’s showing
I’m undergoing the change

It made me think about the way we as Christians portray ourselves to the world around us. So often we are concerned with letting everyone know we are Christians and making sure we look like “good” Christians. But, I can’t help but think that if we spent our time and energy living our lives as Christ did, then they would be able to tell without us having to tell them. They could see God’s work in our lives by our actions. It is my prayer that those I encounter in my life would notice the change taking place in my life. And that then I would be “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)

What are you thinking about this week? Why not use your last post of the week to highlight something a bit "deeper" then the average “Momblog” fair? I’d love to read your thoughts. Please feel free to write and link up a “thoughtful” post below. You can write a new post or link up one you wrote earlier in the week. Please include a link back to here in your post.

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You Choose the Caption

January 15, 2010

in Circus Shots

Didn’t take many pics around the circus this week, but when I downloaded pics off of my camera this afternoon, I stumbled across this gem from last week.

Please help me pick a title. My brain is a bit mushy this Friday afternoon. Winning caption gets put at the top of my post! I know that’s an honor your all scrambling to achieve, so please… tell me your thoughts and brighten this circus mom’s day with some comment love!

And while your thinking, I’ll throw this one in for giggles as well.

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Thankful Thursday

January 14, 2010

in family

This morning I woke to sounds of my daughter coughing…I stumbled into her room to comfort her and set up her nebulizer, thinking to myself that at least I had gotten 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Then my eyes focused a bit more and I took a second look at the clock. It was 6:15, not 1:15!

We slept through the night! I felt much like a new mom the morning after her baby makes it all night without a feeling! Instantly rejuvenated with the mere knowledge that I had a full night of sleep!

More exciting that a full night of rest was the realization that the girls had made it through the night without any major coughing episodes. My middle child, who struggles with asthma and was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday (that’s right she tackled stitches and pneumonia in the same week) had gone 11 hrs without needing a breathing treatment! As I put the medicine in her nebulizer and set her up, I couldn’t wait to e-mail Scott and tell him our good news. Scott’s been away on a business trip for the past few days, sadly leaving me alone for the long nights of sickness.

But God is so good. I have truly felt the prayers of friends and family who prayed for healing and stamina and strength. And today, I am focusing on the many, many things I have to give thanks for this Thursday morning.

a good night of sleep for all of us
Scott comes home today
good doctors
medicine
drive thru pharmacies
the fact that we’ve been able to manage my daughter’s asthma this sickness without her having an asthma attack or needing to use the strong medicine reserved for when she’s really struggling
our cell phone which allows Scott to make and e-mail little video greetings to the kids—they love these and watch them over and over, making the separation much easier
our cell phone which allows me to e-mail and call Scott to keep him filled in on the events at home—making the separation much easier
did I mention Daddy comes home today??
for the first time in 4 days, both girls woke with no temperatures!
for the first time in 4 days the girls slept through the night
God’s strength and stamina
the fact that I wasn’t sick this week and having to care for sick kids while feeling sick
the baby I feel kicking around in my belly
the fact that my son wasn’t sick this week as well

Today, I feel blessed and cared for and so thankful. Sure we still have some “cough-es” as the girls call them and my youngest is still quite drippy and a tad whiny, but, we are on the mend… rounding a corner here at the circus. And I praise God for His care for us this week. With all that is going on in the world, the fact that our creator God cares about me and my little family is overwhelming and I just have to say thanks.

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

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