Keeping it real

If I know you are coming to my house I will clean it for you least you think I don't clean.  And truth be told, generally speaking, most of the time, the stuff in this house is some what in place at the end of the day.  However, there are certain moments in the day when life happens all of a sudden and unplanned or the people just don't keep up.  Here is a picture to show what I mean.  Kind of reminds me of those pictures in my kids magazines that say "How many things are wrong with this picture?"

1. Me trying to hang up some herbs to dry.
2. Husband things this is a great time to grab the camera.
3. Huge box of Ben and Jerry's that Jeremy found for $5.99.  Yes, this is wrong, in a good sort of way.
4. Why didn't I at least close the dishwasher door before moving to the next task.  Fly lady and Marcia Ramsland would be so unimpressed with me.
5. Someone didn't edited this photo before posting it on her blog.
6. Secondly, I wonder why she even posted this picture in the first place.
7. This is life and I'm living it.  

In other news, I made Pioneer Woman's jalapeno poppers one night for Jeremy.  Lovely, and I mean amazingly lovely.  

Thankful

A friend recently introduced me to this blog.  Check out Ann's blog.  Tonight was the first chance I had to check it out.  I only looked at the site for a few minutes, but I will be back.  Thankfulness is so important and yet often hard to find in our home.  So I am going to combine my need to blog with my need to be thankful.  Here are a few things I am thankful for tonight:

-Friends and family
-A friend blessed us with tickets to Dutch Wonderland. Her family wasn't going to be able to use them so she gave them to us.  We took the kids last Saturday.  Wow, what a place!  The kids loved it and we were so humbly blessed to be able to spend a day together as a family because of the generosity of a friend.  I forgot to take our smaller point and shoot camera and we decided after we were there that taking the D90 along and letting it sit in a stroller while we took rides might not be a great idea.  So, I'm thankful for the memories in my heart.
-Last year for pastor appreciation month some friends gave us a gift card and offered to watch our children while we went on a date.  Would you believe it has taken us a whole year to make it happen!!  Pathetic!  We went on our date this past Wednesday evening.  I'm thankful for great friends who know how hard it is to raise children and nurture a marriage at the same time.
-Thankful that even though we drove a  mini van on our date and I found a pacifier in my purse I still know I'm married to the man God planned for me.
-I'm thankful for two dates in one week! We don't get to "date" much, but this week Jeremy and I went out twice.  A couple from church saw the movie "Courageous" several weeks ago.  They were so impressed with the movie that Friday night the babysat for any couples that wanted to go see the movie.  What an amazing movie.
-I'm thankful for emotions that let me feel other's pain and joy
-I'm thankful for the fall camping trip we did this weekend.  I'm also thankful for a warm house. (yes, those two belong together!)  More on the camping trip later.
-I'm thankful for my children...

Pinterest

I've recently become addicted to aware of Pinterest.  So many cool things.  Just for the record I've found some not so cool stuff too. :(  Anyway here is what I've come here to say:

I shall soon start two knew boards.  They shall be be called:

WHY?
 &
YES, BUT

Hello? Do you hear what I'm saying?  

She is Clothed in Strength and Dignity.

This girl is full of charm.  I love her smile and her giggles will bring out the sun on a cloudy day.  I am continually amazed at how much she mimics me.  If I'm working at the counter she's pushing a chair over to "help".  If I'm doing dishes she is right there, on a chair beside me making a mess.  If I'm baking she's there, trying to eat anything I'm working with stirring and mixing whatever she can get close too.  I pulled out the kitchen aid this morning and she immediately tried to attach one of  beaters.  

If I'm folding clothes, she's folding clothes. Tonight she asked for fingernail polish.  No, she didn't really ask since she still doesn't say many words, but she motioned to her hands and feet and then pointed to the drawer and I knew what she wanted.  (and I wonder why the girl doesn't talk!) Now she has bright pink toes and finger nails with a few smears on her feet and hands.

She's girl, and I like that about her.  Very much.

Tonight I was exercising and she was right there beside me in her diaper and wearing a pink bow in her hair. She was dancing and trying to do the moves.  I thought it was cute.  Then I remembered:

More is CAUGHT than TAUGHT

and then I was sober because I realized that this beautiful little girl is watching and listening to everything I say and do.  It won't be long before she will understand "I need to lose some weight" or "I don't have anything to wear that fits!"  She'll learn so much from the tone of my voice, the missing smile on my face.  She'll know what my "real" is and she'll probably mimic it.  

I recently read Beth Moore's book So Long Insecurity.  I am determined to keep fighting the battle of insecurity because a little someone is watching me.  She sure is precious and she has a beautiful smile and my would you look at the style potential!  

I love you Miss Callie! 

Note the footballs on her gloves. :)  

This is a typical first morning look.  The nuk, the bear,  the messy hair, and yes even the smile. Part of the reason she's smiling on this picture is because her big brother got her up and he of course allowed her to bring the nuk and bear out to the living room instead of making her put it back in her crib.  

Mothering and the need to remember

Some days I just kind stink at being a mom.  To say I hope I'm not alone would imply that I hope other mothers out there aren't doing a great job of mothering each and every day.  I don't mean that when I say "I hope I'm not alone".

If you're reading this blog you know I love my family.  It's just been one of those day. Enough said.

Sometimes on days like this it's good for me to remember the good moments and remind myself that I do somethings right and tomorrow is another new day with no mistakes in it.  (enter emotionally charge music of Anne of Green Gables -I'm feeling better already)

One of the things on our "summer to do list" was a picnic at our local state park.  It was a beautiful evening.  The kids loved it and Jeremy and I did too.  There's just something about sitting by a stream (or in a stream) and listening to the water and the trees that just feels right and relieves stress.  Yes, this is a good memory of a time when I did something good with my family and they loved it.  Yes, I will remember this day...

Picnic -simple for sure.  

Boys

Callie's trying to throw stones like Jeremy.  Can you see the boys in the background?  

Daddy's girl

These are some of the pictures from our evening.  What you don't see is the wet, soaking children, with big smiles.  Or the river Jeremy rerouted, or that happy feeling in my heart.

Tomorrow I shall get up and start again.

Nathan is 4!

Last month Nathan turned 4.  I somhow thought he would just always be my toddler.  I don't know why I felt that way, but I realized recently that I did.  He's not a toddler anymore.  He's getting tall and has lost his baby chub for sure.

Nathan is a contented child unless his brother is picking on him or he's tired.  He is very quick to flash a smile and has a great sense of humor. 

Nathan is the one in our family that makes Callie laugh the quickest.  Those two have an interesting relationship and I think they will continue to grow closer.

Nathan is Isaiah's younger brother.  I don't know how else to discribe their relationship.  They often fight, but just as often they play great together.  He likes to do, wear and eat whatever Isaiah is doing, wearing or eating.  Sometimes this is received well and other times not so well. :)

Nathan can often be heard saying "When I grow up I want to do ___ with my Daddy!"

Nathan is full of hugs and kisses.  It's hard not to just squeeze him sometimes.  He just seems to call out for it.

Nathan, you bring much love and laughter to our family.  We love you!

We had just returned home from Thunder Bay 2 days before Nate's birthday.  We scheduled the party for later that week, but we couldn't pass up an oppurtunity to celebrate right on the day as well.  Nuggets, fries, brownies and smoothies.  I'm sure there were some vegetables too, but I can't remember them. :(

Enjoying his new Lego set.

The party cake.  Not a great picture I realize.  It's upposed to be  a pool or a beach.  We couldn't really decide so it's a bit of both.  It's decorated with cool whip, candy (used to make lawn chairs, beach towels, inner tubes, surf boards) and teddy grams.  He seemed to like it and it was a lot easier than decorating with frosting.

Waiting for gifts I think

Uncle Hans, Aunt Angela and cousin Natalie bought Nate a fish.  He was very impressed and loved it!  Sadly it died within 24 hours.  I'm wondering if someone might have fed him a little cake when no one was watching.  These kind of things seem to happen sometimes when Nate is around. :)

Happy Birthday Nathan!

More...

After I hire someone to clean and do our laundry maybe I'll also hire someone to blog for me.  I feel I can't blog unless it is all posted in order.  So I'll blame the long silences on being way behind.  In order to get back on track I am going to finish posted about Thunder Bay TODAY!  

More food on the back porch

One of the wonderful things about Thunder Bay are all their amazing parks.  And the fact that you get some sweatshirt weather in August!

The Big Slide.  The trick to this slide is sitting on wax paper.   It's a blast.

This is what happens when you sit on wax paper,  and put wax paper under your feet.  All while holding onto your daughter.  

I recently read a book on insecurity.  I post this picture to prove to myself that I am secure enough to show this to the world.  Something like that.

A favorite picture from the trip

I think they are soldiers.  or something 

3 Generations.  2 of us are happy to be part of this family.  The other one just wants to pick the flowers.