Family Fun Night

Well, around here we try our best to always make Friday nights "Family Fun Night." And last night was no exception. Ever since we moved to this house I have wanted to build a firepit in our backyard so we could have regular family campfires. There is something magical about sitting around a fire and just being with one another. Some good conversation, some songs, some yummy food, and some silence. Delightful.
I have always had fond memories of camping campfires from when I was a child with my family, and my friends as I got older. And also very fond memories of big ole' bonfires from summer camp. There is just something magical about these times and I wanted them to be a regular part of our family's lifestyle, not just when we co camping.
So with the "windfall" of new firewood this autumn, we decided that this was as good a time as any to go ahead and build the pit. We needed to get permits, or so we thought. So we called the city and we spoke with city officials and even the Fire Marshall and we were surprised by their feedback: not only was it perfectly legal to have a firepit in your back yard, but you don't even need a permit of any kind. The Fire Marshall simply said, "Use your common sense, be safe, and have fun."
Wow. Just one more example of us putting something off because we think it will be so much more difficult to accomplish!
So, yesterday Tim was off work and we did a whole lot of outside work including but not limited to: painting parts of the house, cleaning off the porch & deck and then power-washing the entire area and even scrubbing the vinyl siding with Oxy Clean to get the green scum off! And then we built our fire pit.

And here are some pics of our amazingly fun Family Fun Night. (This one will be repeated many times in the future!)

My Beloved wrestling up some grub!

Happy.

The kiddos enjoying some chips & dip - a family fave!

Daddy & the young ones.

The little ones exploring the dark yard.

Gathering sticks for the fire.

If I have said it once....

Y'all THIS is HILARIOUS! I laughed so hard I cried. Okay, maybe the crying is just something I do easily, but still.



See, wasn't that SO funny!

It's about time

I don't own a watch. I don't really care for how they look on my arm. I have only owned a few watches in my lifetime and most of them I only wore for short periods of time. Part of the problem is that I have sensitive skin which reacts to anything synthetic like plated jewelery. Yes, that's right folks, even my skin only likes REAL bling! While I don't care for watches, you may. So go ahead and check out Luminox watches

It's about time!

Seriously Awesome Playdough & a haircut

Y'all, I have been trying out homemade play dough recipes for about 3 days now and I wanted to share one with you that is positively fool-proof! I found it here. It is THE perfect play dough recipe! And at the end of this post I will show you a picture of my brand new hair-do! It is super-short (for me, that is!)

I just whipped up a batch and the kids are already playing with it - it took one bowl & about 3 minutes to make & another 5 to cool enough to be played with - in which time I had it resting on wax paper and I washed up the bowl! It is the perfect consistency, as well, not too sticky or anything! I am so thrilled!

Recipe:

2 cups flour
1.5 cups salt
1 Tbsp cream of tartar

2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup of oil

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Pour boiling water and oil over dry ingredients and mix well.

When cool enough, kneed until smooth.

This makes a nice big batch of white dough.

If you would like a vary your dough, add food coloring to the water BEFORE you pour into dry.
Or, add a package of unsweetened Kool-aid powder to dry, BEFORE adding water.
Also, you can add in craft glitter which looks very pretty in white dough.


Alright, here is the picture of my brand new haircut. For me, this is very drastic. It has been about 8 inches past my shoulders for the past several years and chopping it just wasn't in my plan. But I like it. I do. Most days. I am happy to have a haircut that makes me perhaps look a tad older? More polished? That was the intent, although the outcome is questionable. Okay, enough stalling, here are the pics:

WFMW- Bins for each month

I have these bins, in the attic (which is why I cannot take a picture for you), and they are all labeled by Month. One for January, February, March, etc. Inside each bin is a stash of month/season specific goodies like home decorations, napkins, partyware, tee shirts, hair bows, socks, dishes.
For example, the October bin that will be coming down from the attic this week has in it:

Halloween Costume props/make-up/wigs
Halloween themed stuff I bought on clearance last year like socks, paper plates, and kiddie cups
Fall Decorations & Door Hanger (Happy Harvest or something!!)
A list of "things to do in October" in our area
Coloring pages/books for kids

The March bin:
Shamrock Door hanger
All our Irish tees (we have a a lot)
Any Irish decorations we have
Irish cds
Coloring pages & other random kids stuff found on clearance after St. Patty's day last year


So you see, these bins have a serious function when it comes to being organized and knowing where your "themed" stuff all is whenever you need it. They also seriously cut down on clutter in our cabinets because the things we use once a year do not need to be accessible in the everyday!! It is a central location and all organized by month. As the month approaches, we get both bins down (right now we are getting down September & October so we can put September stuff away and put out October stuff).

This is also a great way to be able to shop those seasonal clearance racks because you will have a logical, non-cluttered place to store it until next year!! Not that I will be doing any of that shopping over the next month due to our 30 Days of Nothing plan!!

It works for me!!
Head on over to Shannon's and share what works for you!

Go wireless

There are moments on my afternoons off that I would love to just curl up in bed and read blogs for hours on end. I love being in my bed when the house is completely still and silent, with a hot steaming cup of tea and perhaps some of my best bloggy-reading to keep me company. But that would necessitate that I own a wireless router and alas, at this time, we do not. Great Christmas idea, yes?

Are you in?

So, I have had several of you email me or leave a comment to tell me that you & your family are joining us for this October's 30 Days of Nothing and can I just say....I am so blessed by you. Blessed and encouraged.

We have been fighting the temptation to go to Sam's to stock up in an "end-of-the-world-is-near" sorta way.... yeah, that's the temptation. Because what if, half way through the month, I run out of oh, idunno, Baileys or boxed wine, or chips n' salsa, or tape.... what if I run out of tape?!?! Lol! (This is me making fun of myself, I am not seriously worried about running out of tape....promise)

I said we have been fighting the temptation. Yup, and winning thus far. Praised be God!

You wanna know what I think I am going to miss the most? Target clearance kiosks. I am addicted to them. You can get anything for super cheap and it is such a bargain - and a great way to build up your gift closet, your pantry or your linen closet. Ugh I will miss browsing aimlessly through Tarjay boutique. Because I am not going to go back for THIRTY DAYS. You heard me right... I am fasting COMPLETELY from Target for the entire month. I am just itching thinking about it which is obviously a clear sign that this is an appropriate sacrifice for me. It will take His grace to turn this sacrifice into some sort of spiritual fruit. Come Lord Jesus.

Okay, so are you praying about it? Do you and your family want to join us on some level? If so, please check out the original post here. And then please sign up on the linky below so that we can all come visit your blog and read about your plan. I think what we'll do is have sign-ups begin between now and October 1st. And then each Monday I will do a weekly update on how we are doing and you can do the same linking up here!! Make sense? One post now to commit to doing it linked below, and then update us each week on your progress!!

30 Days of Nothing

I am sure you have heard of this. It is a fast, it is a pilgrimage, it is a return to simpler times, it is a retreat.

We are gearing up towards doing this...starting next month. We get paid at the beginning of the month and we will buy our food needed and then we will hunker down and begin our family retreat: 30 days of Nothing.

We have started already in some ways. Simplifying life, that is. We got rid of our microwave because we were getting ready to buy a new one, and then something strange happened. I started to love not having one. There was something delightful about the simplicity of our kitchen and the sacrifice it took to re-heat leftovers, or a quick meal for my husband in the evening. We have noticed it, we have missed it, it has affected us, for certain. But it has been liberating and quietly delightful as well! I simply smile each time I go to "nuke" something, and I thank God that I am a stay-at-home mom who really does have the time to slow things down and do them the "old-fashioned way". There is something mysteriously comforting in the knowing that simply giving up our microwave for a while is helping us to eat more healthily.

So, we will continue on without a microwave for quite some time. And as October approaches, we will begin our 30 Days of Nothing. Throughout the month, we will take opportunities to go whole days without one thing or another: electricity, running water, meat, etc. We are attempting to simplify our lives, to enter into what it is like to truly go without for so many around the world, to instill gratitude for all we do have in ourselves and our children, to get some priorities back in place, and to most of all rely on God's provision in our lives.

Join me if you like. Beginning October 1st, I invite you to join me in a 30 day fast from consumerism. Click here to sign up.

For 30 days, my family will buy nothing except our basic necessities. No clothes or books. No movies, no trips to the ice cream parlor. No paper, or pictures, or magazines. No fancy hair gel or take-and-bake pizza. Lattes? Nope. Nothing except what it takes to live. During that month, I will journal our experiences.

I'd like to try and identify with some of the "least" (economically) of the world. We will try and live without electricity for a day; eat only rice for a day. Perhaps the family will sleep together in one room for a night - on the floor; or walk six miles one day - the distance some African women walk daily to get clean water.

The goal of this month-long fast is to break the grip of materialism in our hearts and minds. We want to live in gratitude, not discontent; and we want to live with awareness of the great responsibility our affluence has laid on our shoulders.

I encourage you to pray about participating in this challenge. For those of you who are interested, take the next 9 days to pray about the parameters. Decide as a family what are your necessities and what you will give up. You can participate as much or as little as you feel led.

(the above passage was adapted with permission from www.30daysofnothing.blogspot.com)

At the very least, check back here often beginning October 1st to see how we are doing on our 30 Days of Nothing and to discover small ways you can simplify your own life.

Taste & Trust

So, today my devotional in God Calling spoke volumes to me... perhaps it will bless you as well?

'O taste and see that the Lord is good.' Psalm 34:8

He is good. Trust in Him. Know that all is well. Say, "God is good. God is good. God is good." Just leave in His Hands the present and the future, knowing only that He is good. He can bring order out of chaos, good out of evil, peace out of turmoil. God is good.
I and My Father are One. One in desire to do good. For God to do good to His children is for Him to share His goodness with them. God is good, anxious to share His goodness, and good things, with you, and He will do this.
Trust and be not afraid.

Twice the Work?

I was watching one of those home improvement shows where they show you the potential a home you are looking to buy might have with certain, shall we say, "renovations". One of the suggestions on this show was an outdoor kitchen. That's great and all, but seriously, I cannot imagine having a whole 2nd kitchen to clean!!!

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Happy Fall

Why, oh why are they still doing this in my backyard. It is just.so.wrong.

Sigh.

Technorati

Hey, does anyone use this Technorati thing? And if so, what for??

Technorati Profile

Another Dyson!!

All I can say is....wow. You must go here and enter. GO NOW!!

A tip for you

Here’s a tip for all you parents who like to watch Oprah or Ellen or any of those other “on a first name basis” daytime shows while you fold the 37th load of laundry. When the kiddos saunter in the room and you just cannot bear to skip the segment where Ms. Winfrey confronts the Goldmans or whatever, just hit the mute button and up pop those awesome closed captioning subtitles and you can just read the dialogue! It’s great. (And I am sure this is exactly what the creators of said technology had in mind. Ahem. )


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daggumm technology

My sister & brother-in-law recently purchased one of those fancy flat panel televisions, and can I just say….Wow. Those things are awesome. Truly. If you have never watched anything on one of those puppies, you may be saying, as I was, a tv is a tv is a tv. Not true my friend, not at all true. It was such a delight watching tv on that sucker I could barely look away. Neveryoumind that the tv was the size of a small vehicle, but I digress. Good stuff they are making these days, good stuff. And can I just quote an old friend, “What WILL they come up with next?????”



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Some people's children

So yesterday we had a huge garage sale (very successful, thank you for asking) and about half way through the morning a lady comes by and asks if we have any costume jewelry. No, no we don’t, sorry, we say. And she gave us such a look of disdain, you’d have thought we were selling soiled diapers and bags of trash! It was the most absurd thing! I get that some folks are collectors of certain items, but come on y’all. Come on.

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Hardwork

If you followed our kitchen re-do at all, you know first hand how difficult it can be to simply reface your cabinets. I cannot imagine gutting & starting over all by ourselves! Anyways, one of the key factors in the refacing, was updating our cabinet hardware. If you plan on updating the paint on your cabinets, be prepared to take on the task of measuring and remeasuring for your spankin’ new hardware as well!


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Ugh

Well, it is official. October 31st is coming. You cannot step into any store without being bombarded with skulls, goblins, and gore. Whatever happened to cute pumpkin costumes, creative characters, and animal masks? Good thing my kids want to be Mary & St. Michael the Archangel. Heck, Timmy even gets to carry a foam sword! He thinks he’s died and gone to heaven! (no pun intended) Join me, won’t you in a push to bring back the Halloween that is safe, wholesome, and fun rather than scary, offensive and traumatic.

hi, my name is

Boxes

I was at a prayer meeting tonight and as I was standing praising God, arms outstretched to receive more of Him, I envisioned my heart as a tiny room bursting at the seams with boxes. BOXES!?!?!? Of all shapes and sizes, themselves bursting at the seams. They were scattered everywhere so that there was little space in the room to maneuver or even see out the windows! Then it became clear that these boxes were labeled. "Zachary" "Dad" "Finances" "Fertility" "Weight" "Shame" "Sins" "Anger" "Fear" "Grief"

I knew He was asking me to lay each and every box at the foot of His cross. To "clean out my heart" as it were. So I obediently tried to bring Him the first box. But I couldn't walk away from it. I could not leave it there with Him. It's not that I don't trust Him or want to be rid of the contents!! No, I simply felt compelled to sit, the way you do when you are going through an old box you find in the attic, and to sift through the contents of it with Him. I realized that with the emotional events in my life I tend to pack them up into a box to be dealt with later. I pull them out occasionally to peek at the contents and then I put them ALL back away in storage rather than pulling out the box and truly purging the contents for once and for all! So, I have a bunch of boxes to go through. It's going to be painful.

I started tonight with the box labeled "Zachary". Sitting in that church tonight I journaled for quite some time about my anger.

I am angry.
I am angry that the young girl lied to us.
I am angry that she put us through this ordeal.
I am angry that she faked a pregnancy to get a boyfriend back and then couldn't own up to it and lied again and again to us, promising US a baby. To our FACES!
I am angry that she took advantage of our kindness and our compassion.
I am angry that she accepted gifts of maternity clothes from us.
I am angry that she let us take her to nice, expensive lunches, insisting that she get a good meal for her & the baby.
I am angry that she faked an ultrasound picture and emailed it to us.
I am angry that she got to know us so well and had such power over us.
I am angry that she told us that Zachary had died.
I am angry that she hasn't apologized.
I am angry.

There's more in the box, for certain. But this is a big one.

I prayed fervently tonight that God would heal me of my anger towards this young woman. Won't you pray with me? I know I am "supposed" to forgive her but that can only come after my healing I think. Or is that that through forgiving her I am healed even further, perhaps both... please pray with me that my heart will soften, the anger will be healed and eventually I can forgive.

Branson or Bust

***Edited to add: I neglected to mention that we already have our "Fall Family Getaway" planned. We are heading to Chi-town (thanks for some of the info, Ria!) for the marathon weekend and a much needed outoftowner with our kiddos!! It will be a brief weekend but wonderfully fun all the same!

The trip in question below is for November/December AND we have an underlying goal of visiting every state as a family before we start doing lots of repeat trips!!


So we are planning a little family getaway and while many people around here head to Branson this time of year, I think the jury is still out on where we will go. Granted, heading to the Ozarks has it's advantages: great shopping, Silver Dollar City, down-home cooking, and the beautiful scenery!! It's still definitely in the running for our winter family vacay!! The criteria are simple: it must be no more than a 6 hour drive from St. Louis, and have lots of family-friendly, budget-minded things to do! Any suggestions??

Mother's Day Out

Today is the first day of Timmy's Mother's Day Out program. We decided not to enroll Emma in it full-time and just have it as a drop in location for the occasional time I need to have a full day to myself (doctor's appointments, car stuff, whatever).
So we took Timmy to school today and he was the ONLY BOY. UGH!!!! That is so frustrating to me!! He needs other little boys to play with so bad, it is aggravating that he was the only boy in his class. I hope there are more boys on Thursday!

This is a picture of the blanket and pillow I made my boy for his big first day of MDO. He doesn't really nap anymore, and has a particular attachment to his "big blanket" (comforter) and I wasn't about to send that!! So, I thought I would make him one and he LOVES it!! Hopefully this means he will be obedient and actually lay down to rest at rest time!!


And just so you don't think I am favoring one child over the other....



Yup, I made one for Emma, too! I figured she could use it some mornings after we take Timmy to MDO. We plan on taking long walks at the lake at least once a week so as it gets colder, this will certainly keep her cozy in the stroller! Other days, she can use it to snuggle by the fire while I get read to her from Anne of Green Gables which we started this week!!

I am looking forward to this time. It will be blessed.

If a tree falls in the woods....

does anyone hear it?

How 'bout my backyard???


Nope, we didn't hear a thing - and it happened RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR BEDROOM WINDOW!!!

What woke me was the beeping of our alarm system that always happens when we lose power. So I get up and I go turn it off, and then head to the kitchen to check out the fridge contents - all still frozen, whew. Then I glance out the window and see the sight above. WOWZERS!!! "Um, honey, " I whisper to my Beloved, " You may want to get up and come look at this..."

So the crews have been here all morning. Apparently it is an old tree on city property that is behind my neighbor's yard, and this morning it literally split in two and came toppling down. My neighbor's fence and shed we destroyed. Other than that, no major damage. If the other half of the tree falls the other direction, it will likely land on my neighbor's house. That.would.be.bad.

The falling of the tree brought with it all of the power lines. So we have been without power intermittently throughout the morning. The one that goes to our house was not affected but they keep having to turn it off in order to service the poll-to-poll lines that are down. It's on now so I hope this is it. But if history is any indicator, I am not starting any projects that involve power....

A wedding....

....the bride & groom...

...a flower girl and Emma comparing painted nails...

...the bride and my two lovelies....

...our family after the ceremony...

...me and my Beloved...

Fun Stuff

Saw this one-word meme and had to play along!!!


1. Where is your cell phone? dunno
2. Your husband? brave
3. Your hair? ponytail
4. Your mother? Canada
5. Your father? heaven
7. Your dream last night? absent
8. Your favorite drink? starbucks
9. Your dream car? Jeep
10. The room you're in? family
11. Your ex? Non-existent
12. Your fears? irrational
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Me!
14. Who did you hang out with last night? Beloved
15. What you're not? Ambivalent
16. Muffins? Cinnamon
17. One of your wish list items? Dishwasher
18. Where you grew up? Edmonton
19. The last thing you did? Dishes
20. What are you wearing? Sweats
21. Your TV? Off
22. Your pet? Non-existent
23. Your computer? invaluable
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? good
26. Missing? pregnancy
27. What are you thinking about right now? pregnancy
28. Your car? minivan
29. Your work? mama
30. Your summer? ending
31. Your relationship status? forever
32. Tomorrow? cooler
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? saturday
35. School? grateful
36. Who's tagged for this? anyone!

Autumn

There are certain things in life that bring me a special kind of joy: the crisp smell of an approaching Autumn, the prospect of an apple-picking adventure already on the calendar, and the sights and smells at a high school football game. While it may not be Tennessee Football, I sure do love the traditions surrounding high school football - especially at my husband's alma mater! In just a few weeks we will be in the throes of a busy and exciting fall season! I am SO looking forward to it!!



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On the water

There is something I just love about boating. I love being on the open water, I love the speed and rush that I get when we go splashing past slower boats. I love idling in the calm waters soaking up the sun. I love the food and bevvies we bring on board. I love the way my hair smells after a day on the water. I would love to own a boat one day. Honey, let's put that on the list, mkay? Seriously, for now, I am happy to just rent a boat a couple of times a year and spend the entire day on the water with my family. I think next year we are going to rent a houseboat for a weekend - doesn't that sound FUN???




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