6/19/2011

It is wedding season.

Last week we got to celebrate the wedding of our neighbor and friend to the love of her life. I felt so honored to be included in their celebration. It was a beautiful beginning to a hopefully wonderful life.  Last night we got to celebrate the wedding of an old neighbor of mine who I also used to tutor. It is hard to believe that the smart little girl I used to help with schoolwork is old enough to get married. It is crazy how fast time flies by. It made me feel old. LOL Their wedding was also beautiful. They also had  Korean Tea Ceremony which was awesome seeing. It was something I had never experienced before and was very grateful to be able to do so. At the end of the ceremony the groom had to pick up his bride and run around the room with her. ♥

This Wednesday will be my 10 year Anniversary! You want to talk about time flying? It feels like just yesterday we were checking out reception venues and I was picking out my dress.  I still haven't figured out exactly what makes a marriage last. I guess it would be understanding, communication (which I sometimes am not so good at), and honesty. That can be said for any relationship whether a marriage or friendship. I am blessed to have married my best friend. He is truly a great person. He works his ass off at two different jobs and puts up with my crazy self just so I can stay home with our children. I am grateful that he realizes the importance to me to be here for them. I love him more than I did the day we said our vows, though some days I wouldn't mind giving him a kick. LOL All kidding aside, I wish the new couples a lifetime of happiness.

More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.  ~Doug Larson

6/17/2011

Something I have come to realize about our house.

I don't mind that it is so small. Sure there are times that it drives me batty and when I wished that we had more room or even a yard, but the kids don't seem to mind. Honestly, most nights I find the three older ones in the same room and sometimes same bed sleeping. I remember my Mom used to say the "Love grows best in little houses" and I couldn't agree more. Back in 1994 a country singer named Doug Stone had a hit called Little Houses and no truer song was wrote about this subject. Link to the Lyrics ~Click here to see the full lyrics for the song.

Here is the chorus
But you know, love grows best in little houses, 
With fewer walls to separate,
Where you eat and sleep so close together.
You can't help but communicate, 
Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.
Love grows best, in houses just like this.




Sure, some days I feel like The Little Old Woman who lived in a Shoe, but I wouldn't trade it, that is not today. LOL

6/15/2011

31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way

This is an ebook I recently got and I really like it. It is not your average cleaning your house book, I was even able to download a calendar of things to do every day.  Not only is it about having a cleaner house, but looking into the reasons of why we want/need a cleaner home. First day is to sit and write the reasons why you want your home clean. Pretty straightforward, but it really does make one think. Sure, 98% of the world likes to live in a clean home. I know I do, but I also focused on why. When my house is a wreck, I feel like a wreck also. It brings my mood down and makes for one crabby mom. I don't invite people over or let the kids have friends over because I don't ever feel like it is clean enough for guests. I need to learn to just let go and be happy with the way it is . After all as Phyllis Diller once so eloquently put it, "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." That is such a true statement. (In case you don't know who that is, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Diller)
Kids also learn a lot more by watching you than hearing you. So if they see a mom who does the bare minimum, they too will do the bare minimum. I see their point, how can I nag at my kids to keep their room clean when mine is a disaster too? So I got my list and my supplies I needed. 


Day 2 is to Clean out and scrub down the refrigerator and freezer. Try using 2 tablespoons of baking soda per 1 quart hot water to wash interiors. It took a while since I was battling yet another migraine, but I was able to complete it. I even took before and after pictures. 


Day 2 took a few hours and 2 garbage bags full of expired & stale foods. Unfortunately, the rest of the house got a little messy while I was other wise occupied, but I swear to you that when it started to feel overwhelming I opened those doors and smiled. It is amazing how something like a clean fridge can make you feel better. 


So I encourgae you to get the Ebook if you are looking for a cleaner home and a cleaner mind/spirit. :) Here is the link to purchase your own copy. http://31daystoclean.com/

Outside Before

After
Yes, we have a big jar of suckers. Like I said, not above bribery. LOL


Freezer Before. It had turned into a shove stuff in & quickly close it freezer. 



After! I even used plastic boxes to organize it.







Fridge Before, you never know what is lurking in the crisper......



After! Yes, that is a ton of chocloate milk containers. They were donated to us by my hubby's school. :)













Ta-da!!!!

6/13/2011

My latest creations.

Last weekend we celebrated the upcoming birth of a new family member. I will have a new niece by the end of July. Yay! So of course, I had to get busy with my sewing machine. Oh, did I mentioned I had to have it fixed/spruced up and it cost me $78! Ouch, but a lot cheaper than a new machine of the same type would have cost me.  I made burp rage, which I sure wish I new how to make when my kids were babies. I loved the way they came out. I also made a pink and brown quilt. It is a good thing I am so excited about a new niece or I may have just kept it myself. LOL It turned out much bigger than a regular baby quilt. As a matter of fact, It completely covered Lauren's toddler bed. 






Stack of burp rags.   I made 6. 




The blanket! 



I added a cute stitch around the edge of the quilt. 

I bought a diaper bag and then proceeded to fill it up with fun baby accessories. 

The kids even each picked out a special gift. 



I wanted to let you know where I got the instructions for the burp rags. How to make those cute burp rags. :)