Playing Catch Up

Honestly I haven't blogged in forever and I haven't even missed it, but as I've got a few minutes of down time... the kids are in bed, the hubby is at a Royals game. I've just finished some amazing Pinterest projects with my 2 favs and now it's time to just catch up with the blogger world!

So, Summer has flown by! School starts up again in 2 weeks and it just doesn't seem possible! Where does the time go... I think back to just a few blinks ago when I had the girls home all to myself day after day and I couldn't wait for school to start for Zoe and now that we are 2 years past that point I wish the early years back some days! We rush rush rush for them to grow up and then are surprised when they do!

Something else that just makes time fly by is www.pinterest.com if you are not fimiliar with this, BEWARE! yes, the projects are soo fun and soo easy and have made some great projects for me and the girls on slow days, but the time spent on there can sometimes be too much! So set a timer and check it out! As for me here are some of my recent and fav projects!

 By Me

 By Zoe

Feet prints are Lexi's!

Here are some more of my favs!

 This Jute wrapped V with satin removable flowers turned out beautifully, not sure it was worth the 2 hours it took to wrap, but still I Love it!!

This Chore Chart has changed my whole world! Yes, it took me just as long to be trained and do the training, but sitting in a freshly dusted and cleaned house makes it well worth it!

These cupcakes were made for a very special Katie Ford, 1st Grade teacher's first surprise birthday party ever!

And who knew cocktail drink umbrellas can double as a door wreath! Love this so much I bought some little grape vine wreaths to make into mini wreaths as Christmas gifts this year! Can't wait!!

So other then that, we've been fishing, Taught Zoe to ride her bike without training wheels, swimming lessons, gone to KC for a couple weekend getaways with the fam, Visited a few zoo's (including Wichita) and just generally had a lazy summer! It's been wonderful, now if only the weather would stop being above 100 degrees we could do more outside!  Though I can't complain too much as I've been so productive inside! Enjoy!

Heather

Lexi Turns 4!

So, I know I'm about 2 weeks late... ok, more like 2 1/2 weeks late with this blog, but considering I haven't even blogged since January I'd say I'm doing ok.

Lexi turned 4 on a beautiful Tuesday in March! I love this girl! She's is beautiful inside and out and I often find myself referring to her in my head as our little Paul, Our little Encourager. She's always one with a nice word and is quite the cheerleader, even over such little things. I can't tell you the times she's complimented me on my mac n cheese- please note it comes from a box : )

She is a joy to have around the house and is so affectionate and loving (ok, well the terrible 3's were that, but I just like to overlook that phase with her) and will sometimes just stop what she's doing to just give us hugs, granted I find this annoying when I'm elbow deep in dishwater, but considering our first is NOT a touchy person I am trying to take every advantage of this stage as possible!

It was beautiful out despite the 30 mph wind gusts! We spent some time at the park with some good friends of Lexi's and mine and then opened some presents at home and then went out for Chinese where Lexi spent the whole meal asleep on the booth seat : (. Though she did finally wake up at the end of the meal to partake a little of her bday dinner! Poor thing all tuckered out after her day! Then she woke up with the mention of cake and ice cream and good friends to come over- Ally Grandma and Ally Grandpa.... called such as they are the best of neighbors that live out behind our house across the Ally! Of course they've recently moved and for that we are sad as they've been here for so much in fact they even saw Lexi take her first steps, but still they are Ally Grandma and Grandpa, they just live 2 blocks away instead of 2 jumps away. I can write thousands 0f words here, but really a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few thousands of words with pictures.

What to blog about....

Hmmm... well I'm trying to be more consistant about blogging this year, but I also want it to mean something when I do. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could actually use this forum as a way to touch people's lives? I have a friend and I LOVE her blog! It touches me quite often, weather it's my funny bone or a little conviction it's always good! If you want to read it go here. She's great to follow!

Anyways... as I'm looking out the window at our first skiff of snow all year and thinking of inspiration to strike I guess I will just tell you what's been happening here! We made it through the holidays! We had a great time and then on to the next one, well the next one that I don't have to plan that is... Patrick started asking me what I wanted to do for my birthday.... this occasion is 4 months away.... why the early start you ask? Well, it's a big birthday... the BIG 3-0! Wow! So to me a birthday is just another day, maybe if I'm lucky one I don't have to cook dinner on, but still it's just another day, just another number, just another year! So, why should this year be any different? Well, for me it's not! It's still just another day, just another number, just another year! But my husband has somehow got it in his head that I need a big deal made, but alas I'm at a loss, so readers, please help, how did you all celebrate your 3oth birthday? How have you always wanted to celebrate your 30th if you aren't there yet? Though I find it funny the he focuses on that as I start to consider what to do for the girls' birthdays. We make them special, but we aren't one to throw these big elaborate parties, and I'm thinking with all the invites that Zoe gets from classmates we are the only parents out there not spending tons of money on birthday parties thrown at local places, such as Going Bonkers (where you really do Go Bonkers as a short amount of time with all that noise), or the latest is a Gymnastic party! Fun idea, but my daughter is not athletic, brillant at school, but so lacking in the coodination arena, poor thing, only has me to thank for that : ) And all costly! I think the cheapest party place we've found is about $100. So, that seems a little much for me for a 4 or 7 year olds birthday party. I mean, how will we do the big 16 if we spend all this money now? So, I am open for cheaper suggestions here too. Though last year we let Zoe have her best friend over for a few hours for a special dinner and movie and that was fun! Maybe we'll do that this year too... only maybe 2 friends? We'll see. I am just glad I have 3 months before that too. So for now I'll enjoy just being, not being busy and not being stressed but just being!

Well, here's to a happy day, staying warm wherever you are!

Christmas Passed

I am sitting and replaying all the beautiful memories from the past few days celebrating CHRISTmas with my family! It was so great! There are so many memorable moments but I think the one that has affected me the most was just sitting at the in-laws as so many prayed and thanked God for the reason for the celebration! The fact that God did love us, Does love us, enough to send us His son- in the form of a babe, born in the lowliest of places....a stinky, dirty, cold barn! Wow! The savior of the world and there was no room for Him to be born in any inns in town. Don't you think people would have JUMPED at the chance to be the birthplace of the savior of the world, to have housed Jesus, had they known then what we know now? Yet, we know who He is and we have the chance today to still house Jesus in our hearts and yet, I am just as guilty as anyone of not jumping at the chance to be a house for my Savior. Yes, He does live inside but I find myself thinking that sometimes it's not so different from the place He was born....stinky, dirty and cold. Yet, still He came! I think of the wonder of what that truly means for me still today and then I think wow! That was amazing, but even more amazing then a babe, a Savior of the world being born of a virgin, is that this is just the beginning of the story! Wow! That's the part that still gets me! Yes, He came as a babe, born of a virgin, in a stable, but then He grew to a Man, unjustly charged and then hung on a cross and placed in a tomb... but though that is amazing that's still not the most amazing part! Wait for it..... The most amazing part of the story, the end of the beginning is that 3 days later when the tomb was opened IT WAS EMPTY! I thank God this Christmas as I reflect on how the story started and the amazing miracle in itself of the birth of this amazing child, but I truly can't help but revel in the Hope of the end of the story! I thank God that the tomb was empty!
May you live today and always with the beautiful hope of Jesus born of a virgin but Raised from the dead by God the Father! Be so thankful that He still knocks looking for a place to stay in your heart! Jump for joy that the Savior of the world is looking to be housed inside of you and then thank Him for his unending patience and love for us! Each one of us that He did all this for!
Merry CHRISTmas 2011

Christmas Card Tree

Over the years we've gotten all these cards for Christmas and I've struggled with where to put them and how to display them. So I've been looking for some ideas online- cheap as I spend enough at Christmas I don't want to spend more on a card holder no matter how cute it is and this is the one I'm going with.

Of course this probably wouldn't have worked 8 years ago when we were getting about 50 cards in the mail, but a sign of the times, we are down to about 15 cards this year so this is perfect for it! How do you display your cards?

If you need some good ideas check out this site here for some fun ones!

Laugh of the day

For the laugh of the day check out this blog! It's a riot!!

Happy Wednesday!

Fellow Mom

Hi

I just read this wonderful quote from a good friends blog and was truly touched by the words. As a stay at home mom I definately feel guilty at times... for not bringing in any money (especially at Christmas time), for not doing something with my day other then laundry, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, refereeing and then fit in the occasional teaching moment. Some days I just don't feel productive, ya know like a productive member of society, but this helped me so much with some of that guilt!

"Our First and Primary Mission Field is our Children! God values our children.
Jesus became indignant when the disciples didn't embrace the worth of children in God's expanding kingdom (Mark 10:13-16). God tells us that children are his blessing to us (PS. 127:3). and He places great importance on our teaching our children to love and serve Him (Deut. 6:7-9).

Don't feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years. your availability, sensitivity, affection, and unhurried attention are irreplaceable.

There are no neutral moments in a young child's life. Someone is going to be influencing your children, inculcating values and imprinting standards on their impressionable young minds. Let it be you!

Accept your calling from God to serve your family. As a mother, you are helping to shape the souls of your children for Christ and ultimately influence the world. Your children are your gift for the future."
- Jani Ortlund
(To read more from her just click on her name and go to her article.)

Wow! What a thought! Someone IS going to be influencing our children, weather it's the tv, the computer, friends at school or even random pictures they will see- it all has an impact! So, this year let this be your goal during the busy holiday season that can be filled with stress and impatience and use this time as a teachable moment for each "gift" you are preparing for the future.