Deals

Here's a fun little thing from T.O. I just sat down for a rest. He decides he is hungry but there is apparently a fly in there. I really didn't want to get up to attempt to kill a fly. I told him that if the fly landed on his nose I woulf give him all the chocolate in the house. TO then said "then you can't make chocolate chip cookies". true. Do he countered with "if he lands on my nose can you make chocolate chip cookies?". yes, buddy. yes. ☺️ parenting win.

So much has changed but yet still the same

 I recently remembered this good ol' blog. With Instagram, I think the world has forgotten the existence of blogs but to my surprise many of the blogs I used to follow are still updating their blogs. So, apparently the blog world still exists.  I have been taking my blogs and putting them in a word document since it like a journal.  As I was doing this, I found a comment I made about Pinterest being blogs on steroids. So, what does that make Instagram?  

Anyway, I find myself longing (probably not the right word) to share life but Instagram doesn't seem to be the best place for me and then I remembered how I enjoyed blogging. Only a handful of family and friends saw it and it was fun to have a place to share. 

However, I have been reading some blogs from 2011 and 2012 and few others in between.  Things that stand out to me: I shared quite a bit...maybe more journal worthy than blog worthy, I seemed bored and lacked purpose and was trying to find things to create purpose in my days with one child, Boo was apparently a handful...really she still is 😁, how overwhelmed I was with littles, how much I have stayed the same and how much I have changed. 

One post talked about shows I liked to watch. I commented that I was not a funny person but recognize my need to laugh. I was surprised to see that I said that back in 2011 or 2012 because I felt like it was something I learned about myself in the last few years-but I guess I re-learned that.  GG and I watch a show most nights since about 2020. We find a show that will make us laugh. I have found this is a hard thing to do. Comedy shows like to be laced with inappropriate topics.  I still pine for a show that I loved but decided it had too much from one of the characters that wasn't good for our home but the rest of the characters were so much fun.  Currently, we are watching Modern Family. Laugh guarantee. A few topics may be more grown-up content but not too bad. Boo hears us laughing and has caught a few parts of the episodes. She wanted to stay up one night and watch one with me. It happened to be about the kids walking in on their parents. 💀😁. It was hilarious to watch it with her and she was so uncomfortable but led to some conversation with her. I am hoping in the end it will be chalked up to a win and not a scarring experience. 

One way that I have changed is that crafting does not make it's way into my life nearly as much as it did then. But that is probably part of the trends. Back then it felt like DIY was the thing-thanks to Pinterest. Now I feel like the creative outlet for me is home-improvement-thanks to Instagram reels. Not that I do much in that area, but it is what takes up that space. 

I also like to think I am not so nearly overwhelmed. At least I hope I am not, since my littles aren't quite so little. I definitely have my moments but it's not daily. Looking back, after reading some of the posts, those days are hard, special, fun and beautiful but it is not for the faint of heart or the lonely of heart. People. I needed people then. Truth, I need people now too. As shy as I can be and definitely was, I am extroverted. People give me energy. I love to be connected to people and to feel included. 

Another theme of my blog seemed to be talking about budgets. It hasn't changed much. But that is that because it is so engrained into my way of thinking? We were on a teacher salary. We probably have at 3x that income but it's funny how as your income increases so does your expectations of what is a need instead of a want. This month my goal is to have a no spend month-only the necessities. But can I include my more expensive $$ face care products that I hope go on sale for Valentine's Day because It's almost gone? To justify myself, I did try some from Target and my face didn't like it. So, necessity? 😉Hehe. 

I was surprised to see a post about a books. I didn't know I read much then. And it would have been a physical book. There was definitely a time I didn't feel like it could read books- too many kids knocking them out of my hands or too tired. I have found audiobooks and I love it. I started audiobooks in 2023. Last year I listened to over 50 books. I have also learned to love non-fiction. I loved the idea of them but without a deadline-I couldn't read them. I would just fall asleep.  

Exercise was apparently something I have done forever but I am sure in 2011 I was doing Richard Simmons and Denise Austin.  😁. I have grown leaps and bounds. Literally, I use a rebounder. hehe. I think it was around the birth of baby number 2 that exercise became a daily part of life. Then, somewhere around baby #4 Daily burn was a part of my life and I loved that so much-it made my exercise much more well-rounded. Then in 2023 DB ended and I found Michelle Briehler. Strength became a bigger part of my exercise-not that I go to the gym and lift weights, but I use much heavier weights than I ever had, and I am stronger than I have ever been. I am hoping that is why my body is not as thin as it once was.   Overall, same but changed-for the better. 

What is Christmas

I have been getting ready for a book group that I am hosting about the Man Who Invented Christmas, referring to Charles Dickens and his "Christmas Carol". This idea about Christmas being invented is a bit of a paradigm shift. Christmas is something we have always done. It has something my family has always done. It's tradition! While it has been something in the making for 1600 years, it has been evolving and changing. It's hard to imagine it being as a time that was used for very different purposes than to celebrate Christ or doing good. I have already been trying to shed some of the culture-especially when it comes to Santa Claus but after watching/reading a few articles about the origins of Christmas and why we shouldn't celebrate Christmas makes me feel cautious about my celebrations. With all of the symbols and gift giving having its roots in paganism makes me question why we do what we do. I do believe we can attach the symbols to what ever fits our celebration-since it is us who decides what they mean. Religion is very heavy on the use of symbols so the fact that they may be the same symbols used by pagans doesn't mean they can't have different meanings or references.
So really, as I ponder the different decorations and activities we do, as long as it points to Christ, then celebrating Christmas is a very honorable thing to do.
One thing I can't quite tell how to relate entirely to Christ and the most distracting to the focus of Christ is gift giving. I know, there is the idea of being charitable, showing love and appreciation, spreading joy through gifts but there is so much of it that isn't just that. So much pressure, time, hunting for deals, selfishness even in the buying of the gifts with the deals they offer if you buy a certain thing. It's so hard to be genuine in the gift giving. When it comes to gift giving outside of my immediate family it also becomes harder and often feels more of an obligation. Is it just me?

I like this quote:
 "I have always thought of Christmas time as...the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys." The holiday "has done me good and will do me good; and I say, God bless it."

My hope for this Christmas season and future seasons is that I can peal away the pieces of Christmas that don't bring light, joy and increase my love and devotion for the Savior.

To be thankful

All I have to do is look at my Instagram posts or my blog posts through the years to remember what I am thankful for and feel immense joy to have the life that I am living. And then there are the million other things in between.

Today a few things that are on my mind:

I am thankful for the spirit which whispers to me simple ways to improve. If anyone but the Spirit told me to change, I fear I am too proud. And the words of the Spirit seem to stay with me longer so that I can remember to change. For example, we all have parenting struggles (at least I sure hope we do and I am not alone!). As I was having a particular rough day with one of my children, I wanted nothing but to have space and run errands by myself after dinner. But as I sat at the dinner table facing my inner turmoil, I remember something the spirit whispered to me not too long before as I had pondered and prayed how to be a better mother to this particular child, "spend 15 minutes with her". So I invited her along to run errands with me. Nothing fun but we walked, held hands and talked. It is something I need to remember everyday.

I am thankful for the opportunity to see tithing as sacrifice. So many times I pay it and think nothing of it. But as I have found myself wanting more and feeling like it was something out of our budget, the thought came, "Man, if we didn't pay tithing we could afford it." A scary temptation. However, it is a sacrifice that has and will continue to bring the blessings of heaven.  Yesterday, I listened to a talk "Becoming a Disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ" by Elder Hales from 2017. He said people practiced what he called "selective obedience" and the line that stuck out to me "They gave alms to the poor but offered only heir excess--what they did not need for themselves." I don't know this sacrifice. I don't know how to give what I don't need. Anyway, I'm glad I could see an opportunity of a way I can and have sacrificed as I learn to give more freely.

I am thankful for life. I feel that I am recognizing the mortality of the people around me. A sister in my ward was diagnosed with cancer-She has an amazing fighting spirit. A brother in my ward passed away last night- GG was there in the hospital with their family. A few days ago, they probably had no idea anything big was going to happen. Facebook fills my feed with the struggles of my friends. At stake conference last week, I looked around and saw a number of gray haired and older people.  I realized these were my friends parents. Another generation is raising up and another moving to another season of life. I'm in the middle right now but it won't be long before I am that older generation. How does time and life seem to slip by like a dream?

I am thankful for my ability to exercise. I love it. It feels good to be stronger. It feels good to do something I don't think I can or even want to in the moment. It is wonderful practice for life.

I am thankful for food. I am thankful for comfort, security, love and belonging.

I am thankful for 4 children who call me mom.

I am thankful for a wonderful, devoted and serving husband.

I am thankful for my upbringing and the sacrifices my parents had to raise a family. They gave up a lot to have as many children as they did.

I am thankful so many things. It's easy to feel thankful. The real test is to BE thankful, to act thankful. To be so thankful, that I would give even in my want.

Happy Thanksgiving!

years

okay, just a quick note (I make no promises).

I know I have been away from my blog for a long time now and have only made a post or two in the last several years. I happened to look at the side bar of my blog at blogs I used to follow. Do you remember the NieNie Dialogues/diary(?? something like that).  I clicked on it, not realizing she still blogged while in my absence from the blog world. Her post had her 18 year old daughter!! Shut the front door! Her kids were all little, moving into a nice big house as Utah bloggers do and now she has an almost adult.
It makes me sick. Why do the years fly by so quickly. Right now, I have two children pulling on a cord of a disco light fighting on who will plug it in, neither willing to give in and to reach the same goal of dancing with the lights--this is why the years have to fly by quickly or we might not make it.  But this stage in our lives will be gone so quickly. I find it hard to even remember day to day life when Boo was little.  And it 10 years I look back it will all seem to be a dream. And then where will we be? I realize I am no longer 27 and I should start accepting my age and my body, while stronger does not look like a 27 year old anymore.  And that the idea of being a grandma, yes I just said grandma, is not a completely outlandish idea for my future-it is a little but not completely.

Making progress

I was driving home from the Y and I somehow the thought of my old blog  came to mind. I could barely recall the web address, thankfully I remembered the original blog name and found my most current one.
I feel like I am more of a complete person when write and share my life. I have been sporadically writing in a journal but I never look at it and its not nearly as fun to look at without pictures.  So I am once again going to attempt to blog again. Out of curiosity, is there anyone who isn't a professional blogger out there still?

So what to share?
I have been a member of the Y for a year and a half and I can say I have improved my running, mostly in the last 11 months, from a slightly 9 something minute down to 8  1/2 minute mile. Yay! Still working on running for longer. Slowly but surely. I can at least say I don't hate it and that I don't  feel like my heart is going to race right out of me.
We are contemplating finding a bigger house. We found we like but there a few things holding us back. Until we ready we went into full get the house ready to sell mode. I am tired. Its amazing what you can get rid of when you arw trying to declutter the appearance of your home while making it liveable. I was amazed how games made it into at least 4 different  places, toys and books in so many rooms and places. Marie kondo is onto something when she  says to organize by like things versus by room. Huge difference in assessing what you have. And it makes a huge difference it how your house looks and feels.

And because pictures make things fun here are a few:

 Our kitchen update

 A little gem from our come follow me lesson the other night. It came from a scripture in Hebrews. Not letting our testimony become slippery and holding tight to the word of God so that we don't slip when hard times come...dad got an arm workout. 😁

 Ta-ta for now.

After Pregnancy

It's been one week since I've been pregnant and it feels so freeing despite the slow return of my body. I feel like the tummy pouch went down faster but I am older and even last time my doctor said I would need a tummy tuck. I hope *hope* I can avoid having a pouch or surgery.

My ankles have almost returned...still a little swollen but not swollen. I get weird little puffs on the inside of my ankles when I'm pregnant (reflexology says that's your uterus, so it makes sense). My fingers and toes are fatter..sadly I don't think they are swollen either. That just might be fat. I can't get my wedding ring on.

I'm finally starting to get nursing neck and shoulders. Ughh. I know I'll get stronger or if I just have better posture while nursing I'll be fine. But I exercised, I use that term incredibly loosely, I moved my body and arms around just loose them up...more of an active stretch??? I don't know if I can hold out until 6 weeks to exercise. I'm proud to say that I exercised the day Baby L was born...once again it was an easy quick one given time and motivation that day.

Today is GG's first full day back at work. It was wonderful having him home. He was the ideal husband and father that week. He cleaned, he bathed, he entertained, he shopped, he was patient and the list could go on. It was simply the best. I could spend my time taking care of Baby L and taking care of my body's needs. The first day home was perfect in that I could nap when he napped and just hold and adore him. I know paternity leave doesn't technically exist for his work, but he took the time off anyway. I felt a little selfish but was lovely.

Little Miss #3, has come up with some new techniques this morning. The other girls were off playing, L was crying and I was trying to figure out how to soothe him . I had put a show in for her but she decided she wanted attention from me so she came over and started "hitting" (super soft) me and laughing. Oh golly. Then at lunch time, he was still crying, Little Miss #3 was angrily crying, I was trying to make lunch one handed and meet the requests of everyone. It was a chaotic few minutes and only the beginning.

Well, here's to a smooth adjustment phase!! OH Heaven help us! :)

Doing something right?

So sometimes my kids are handfuls and can be difficult.  Little Miss #3 and her 2 year old independence had been rough. But then there are moments that make you feel like maybe you are doing something right. She came up to get diapers and wipes so dad could change her. I helped her since we had to put them up high (she has decided to help herself to her own diaper changes....fear and tremble.) But as I handed them to her she turned back at me and said s cute little "thank you" that made me we might be doing okay.  

Just a wishin' and a hopin'

I was so hoping today was going to be the day for little man to come. But he sure didn't. Ah well. Induction date is set for next week ...unfortunately at 5:30 in the morning! seriously?! I'd rather go into labor in the middle of the night than be scheduled for 5:30. But whatever. Hopefully we don't make it to that date. I can't decide if I'm more ready for a break from my other kids for a day or two or to finally be done being pregnant.

I'm still not sure I know what I'm getting into. Here is a picture that I took that I sent to Victory when I found out I was pregnant....the feeling is about the same today as it was that day.

I'm going to be so outnumbered at home. Little Miss #3 has hit the terrible twos in full swing and I can't even deal with it.  Little Miss #2 has always thrown tantrums but thankfully they seem even more petty than LM#3's tantrums and I can just let her cry even though its annoying. And Little Miss #2 is always picking on Boo. And Boo likes to do as she pleases or I have to ask her a billion times to do something. Ignoring me is her thing. And add a baby that will want to nurse, be held and need diaper changes. And hopefully I will want to cuddle and adore like I have my past babies to the point I don't want to be interrupted for frustrating things. I just want to soak it up.

Is that weird? That I fear that I won't have the same attachment that I have felt towards my girls? The idea of a baby boy seems so weird to me....I don't know why. I think I was a little worried or unsure how things would go with Boo, but after that I knew I just wanted to snuggle those sweet baby cheeks. Maybe it's because I have never experienced it with a boy so I'm unsure. I don't tend to fawn too much over other's babies and fawning over a baby boy is new territory.

Here is a picture of me at 37 weeks:

I'm still holding out hope that I'll go early this time...I haven't before but still worth hoping for?
'

losing sleep and mommy daughter dates

The last several nights, for whatever reason I have woken up in the middle of the night and have had a hard time getting back to sleep. Tonight, I woke up because I mistakenly left the thermostat higher because it had been constantly running trying to keep it at a lower temp and freezing out my family.  Once awake my mind starts thinking. And tonight I was thinking about what happens if my phone won't charge again (it got some water on it during water day with the cousins today, I'm hoping it will dry out to actually recognize it is plugged in). So I woke up and tried to see if it would and it will not yet. So then I spent the last half hour emailing myself pictures.  And trying to figure out my passwords to my accounts. I realize that because of my phone which keeps me logged in I have not memory of what my passwords are. kinda annoying.

One of the things I've wanted to do before baby comes was take the girls on a date. It was fun to see the anticipation and excitement in each of them. I came up with the date ideas since it had to be free or cheap (due to crazy car bills this month and the anticipation of upcoming hospital bills...I feel like I'm swimming which since I don't swim feels like drowning a bit).  I first took her to get a donut and register the van while she ate it (not exciting but killing two birds with one stone right?)

I had noticed Boo has been interested in convertibles this entire summer, always pointing them out as they drove by.  I had thought I would do a test drive of one but I didn't wan the liability, so we just asked the guy at a nice used car shop to let her sit in one. The first one she picks out was this lovely from 1990...just because it said "Indy" on it (she is way into the Lego Indiana Jones game right now).

 He didn't want to take the top down off that since it was too hard but he did on this much nicer one since it only required a button. It was fun to hear her tell GG that she couldn't keep from smiling while she was there looking at them.

Since sitting in a car didn't take very long I asked if she wanted to look around for back to school stuff, she decided she wanted to walk around the mall. She found Claire's and thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the toys and girly stuff there. 

I came home and took Little Miss out. We had to passes for a train ride at the zoo from a game we played at the zoo back in March before our membership expired. She was pretty excited about it. Apparently she does not remember riding on it last year but I'm pretty sure she got to do it at least once. 

 (This peacock wander up to us as we waited for the train ride. It was kinda fun...when my camera clicked the peacock kinda seemed surprised like we would, "did you just take a picture of me?" )

 (jumped up on the zoo sign for a picture...why not ?  I guess)

We then went to the library to pick up the video game we failed to get the disk from the front desk when we checked out the previous day and then got ice cream....the longest icecream eating known to man. goodness. 

I have some pretty awesome kids. Each with their strengths and weaknesses. Love them!

I'm BAACCKKKKKK

Do I dare start blogging again? As my due date for little boy approaches, I was trying to figure out when my actual due date was with little miss #3 (Funny how the details start to blur with each child, eh?) I couldn't find the info on facebook (go me for not posting too many personal details there), so I came here and found the info I wanted and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed being able to look back at our lives. And now that I finally don't have a gimp computer that needs to be hooked up to the TV to be used which eventually lost its ability to connect to the internet, I actually have a real option of blogging again.

I feel like I have been so far out of the blog world and once I got on my blog I realized others are STILL using blogs! However since it's been so long since I've posted I'd be surprised if any of my old blog friends even see my posts. But really, as it was from mostly the beginning, its for me.

SOOOOOOOO.....where does one start when they have been absent for a year and half? First, maybe a mental note to myself...I have been journaling since January in a real notebook... (with paper and pen..truly legit and with much more details in our lives than I would share on a blog...sounds juicy huh? ) :)  so, Self, start there if I need more details for the last six months at least, the rest of the year that I was absent remains with ever more apparent poor memory. :(

We took a hospital tour since this new doctor we are seeing only delivers at this particular hospital. The kids actually enjoyed it. And GG and I were pleasantly surprised at the news that this hospital, as of this month, now has a mommy plus one meal like our old hospital (this was a big downside to this hospital compared to the one we have delivered our other babes at). So big plus for GG-he loves free food. :) However, I left the hospital feelings sad? or maybe anxious ? Not sure. As much as I am totally DONE being pregnant, I'm don't feel prepared for this delivery, or 4 children. AHHH! Heaven help us.

I have seen a couple stories of women who have died after giving birth for whatever reason. I have my fears. This pregnancy has given me odd symptoms, the doctors chalk it up lack of water, increased blood flow whatever but what if its something really serious? Paranoia, I know. The endless what if's of childbirth.

This pregnancy was unexpected but at the same time, I knew there was another. I remember walking around a store and had all three kids but I felt like I was missing one. (it must have been when Little miss #3 was still strapped into the cart because now we are a circus walking around the store).  It was a clear feeling that I still feel today and feel like this pregnancy was to be despite maybe not being super ready for it.

It has taken me so much longer to get ready for this baby. We STILL don't have a name. So serious suggestions welcome....if anyone is reading this.  I did wash the car seat...still have to put it together. Need to wash clothes (probably redundantly, my neighbor so generously passed on her baby boy clothes from her little boy who is 9 months old. SO GRATEFUL!) We did rearrange the room so that the pack n' play will fit in our room where he will reside until Little miss #3 outgrows the crib. Need to buy diapers. I bought stuff to make boy burp clothes instead of using pink ones on him. :) I guess writing this there really isn't more to do, it's just odd. I feel like, especially with the first there is obviously so much more to do but there isn't tons to do for a 4th child. Finding a name is probably the biggest challenge.

I was going to have a picture of me at 37 weeks (tomorrow) but by the time I got done cooking dinner my outfit was dirty so maybe at 38 weeks..or 41 weeks.  (I have to mentally prepare myself for the fact I will likely go over) .

Sorry this was more journal-ish than bloggish but ahh well, I'll get back in the swing of things!

Goals

I have had lots of thoughts in my head of what I want to happen this year.
1. After a lot of pondering and teaching a lesson in Relief Society, I have decided that while I can't control my two year old, despite my best efforts, I don't have to walk out of the battle with her not liking myself as a parent. I want more peace in my home and heart. It doesn't mean all the battles will disappear  but I can still walk out of the battle with peace knowing I am working with her the best I can and as closely as the Savior would.  I will pick my battles and help my children recognize how the can have more peaceful resolutions to their battles. I want my home to be a place where my children want to be and where others are comfortable being.
2. Ponderizing. The term for poneeding the scriptures. I haven't done well with it but I want it happening in my home. I want myself and children to have scriptures in their heart and minds. As Elder Scott, called the scriptures he memorized, "dear friends" . Should I be in struggle,  I not only want my kids to have happy memories to fill and warm their hearts. I want the scriptures to come to their mind and guide them.
3. By December I want to fit back into a skirt I bought and wore before sweet missy took residence in my body. I hope that is generous enough of time, it's a little over a year of exercising but I feel like my tummy isn't budging.
So yep, my list of things I want to work on.

Love

I love it when my siblings send an ornament with a story or scripture.  As I pull out my ornament and hang it up I get to have a little spiritual moment.  My kids are getting old enough I can pause and teach them the meaning of some of these ornaments.  

This ornament,  I'm sure not made by my sister but given by her is one such ornament. 

As I look at my tree, as I said before,  I am filled with love and joy for my family. But as this ornament reminds me, that the tree represents the love of God. He offers the fruit of His tree so that we can be filled with His love and joy. 

Christmas in a Nutshell

I had a dream the other night that I went on another date with a past boyfriend that I haven't seen since we broke up. I wanted things to work out so bad but at the same time I had sooo many red flags telling me that I was not going to be happy with  him. Anyway, in this dream I forgave him and went to something that felt like a ward party but it was McDonald's  (which was supposed to be novelty). During our dinner two flighty girls who lived by him came up and sat at the table and they had a flirty-ditzy annoying conversation.  After a few minutes I got up had a few awesome parting words and I woke up. I woke up so thankful for my awesome husband.  The night before the dream, I had sat admiring him as he held our sweet babe in the light of the Christmas tree. It was one of those moments that your heart swells with gratitude, joy and with a prayer that it will last.

The beautiful thing is that even though things do change and there are difficulties in life we do get to hang on forever. The beauty of the season is in our Savior. That He lived. He died. AND lives again. And we can be together with Him and our families as we covenant to live like him.

Christmas in a Nutshell

(From brother#2 it's Christ in a walnut shell. Cute.)

O Christmas tree!

I'm sitting here listening to Christmas music, admiring my Christmas tree. I love my Christmas tree.

My tree is filled with ornaments have been made/given by my siblings. Every year at least a few of us have exchanged ornaments. Some of these ornaments have stories or reasons why I love them. I know that I have to be realistic and admit that with three little ones some of these ornaments may not get to last forever. So I thought I should document these ornaments so I can always remember them and continue to feel joy in my family and in Christmas.
So over the next few weeks I may be posting a few of my favorites.

Today's ornament was one of the first exchanged. It brings me so much joy everytime I look at it.

Isn't he so cute? My brother sent this. I think it came as a great surprise to me to that my brother was so crafty. It was during his divorce, so I knew it came 100% from him. I just feel like there is so much love in this ornament.  It's the happiest elf I have ever seen.

This girl

Ever since boo was little,  good byes have never been a big deal. I barely could get a wave or a verbal good bye from her when I dropped her off at preschool.  I always half-wished I got more as I watched other kids hug and kiss their moms  goodbye. But I also knew it just wasn't who Boo was. She has always been so excited for school and being around friends that the temporary separation wasn't a big deal.
But lately when i've dropping her off at school, I get a hug, a kiss and/or blown kiss with an "I love you mom". Ahhhhh. It tickles my heart.
I've also started to say a little prayer for her most days as I watch her walk into school. I like that special little prayer just for her. I hope I can keep that up.

Spooktacular

Since Halloween fell on a Saturday, and apparently not tired of party planning yet, I thought we had to make Halloween a little more exciting. Halloween is not my favorite holiday but there are so many fun things to do. I decided to through together a little party, not really little but not big enough to invite all that I wanted to. I think those who came had fun but i think I learned a few things:
1. Make it longer, it was too short for me to sit and talk to anyone.
2. Either make it all at activities and not a meal, or start off with the meal so that i can enjoy the party.
3. do it on the years that we aren't doing a birthday party for Boo
4. just keep having fun. We are creating memories for our kids. I stopped for a minute one day why I care about that and why that is important. We want them to remember childhood as a happy time. we want them to remember our love for them and that we have fun together. And it is our memories that will bring a smile and warmth in our hearts when life gets hard our sad.
Anyway here's the party

Fairy god mother and Doc McStuffins

 My neighbor brought this craft and it was perfect, the kids LOVED it.

 The food table beginning to get full of all the yummy treats people brought

  Wrap your daddy up like a mummy:

 Donuts on a string

 so fun, so messy

 We also had other games they could play at their leisure: Spider tag (basically line tag),  black cat alley but it was really a spiderweb obstacle course that ran between our fence and behind the shed and trampoline, we had the jumping spider nest (trampoline), Witches hat ring toss, and bat flying races. 

 Ready to trick or treat:

 well Documented to help out those memory keeping skills. :)

Tea Party

I had fun putting together this party. I went a little crazy but had fun. Part of the fun in the party planning is doing it as simply and cheaply as I can but keeping it pretty awesome. The hard part of doing it cheaply means that I have to take more time creating and baking instead of buying it all put together for me. Say the pinata. I could easily bought a pinata. but it is incredibly cheap to make just takes time.

Or the paper banner and pinwheel decorations. Takes time but so cheap. The other part of keeping it cheap is that even 25 cents adds up pretty fast.

The tissue paper flowers were used for decorations and we used them for their fancy headbands they wore for the tea party.

I have no idea I spent or how many hours I put into putting this party together for my dear Boo. But I loved doing it for her and she loved it. Now, I am anxiously awaiting to have another tea party. And I really really want another petit four....plenty of work but so so yummy.

 We played musical chairs and sugar cube drop relay game (no pic of that one though)

 The lovely ladies:

This picture makes me happy, Boo's face makes it all worth the work!

Love this girl!

Squishy

So obviously I have a post baby body and I am totally okay with it. I'm okay with little miss calling my tummy squishy all the time ( don't love her pushing on it however. ) I know my body has paid a price for my sweet babes and that's okay.  I will exercise and feel good about my body.

But when you go in for the post-baby check and your doctor checks your tummy and states " you have a lot of loose skin. You're going to need a tummy tuck.".

Say what?!! Who says that, especially so soon. I wasn't concerned.  And in fact i'm pretty sure it's normal.

I'm glad i'm happy enough with my body and confident that I can exercise and know my body will be fine in a few months (or many months). Otherwise that could have really hit my self esteem.  Goodness. Her statement comes to mind often but I just roll my eyes and laugh it off.

All worth it. If my squishy tummy doesn't go away. I hope I can wear it like a badge of honor, being a mother of my 3 wonderful girls.

Wanna be farmers

GG had the day off yesterday,  ya you heard me right. :) happens once in a blue moon that he has no church or work stuff going on... ( I really don't know how rare blue moons are, but it may be more rare than a blue moon).

Anyway we decided to go and pick a pumpkin ...and raspberries and apples, just a few for the fun of it. I wish  that we picked more and either froze them or made yummy food with them. Oh well. Harvesting the fruit makes me want to have a big garden but them there is the planting and making them grow thing....

 They also had a few other fall activities.

Will we go back there for picking pumpkins instead of the big Halloween pumpkin patches in the future? don't know. I liked it but boo remembers the other patches and she wasn't as thrilled, I don't think. But I liked the simplicity, the price and the produce.