Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
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A while back I made my top ten “nesting” list. While I didn’t call it nesting at the time, I’m pretty certain that is what I should call it. Literally overnight, I went from very blase to complete nester. Seriously, if I could spend all day, every day, preparing for Baby Boy’s arrival I would. Anyways, I’ve been chipping away at my list. Last night, after weeks of pestering kindly asking only once, Jonathan hung my purse hook.
Already I’m loving it. Knowing that my purse is out of reach from little hands and not cluttering the counter or floor has given me this sense of accomplishment. Despite the fact that the only effort I put forth was buying the hook. Still, it has been checked off the list.
I am nearly done with painting Baby Boy’s changing table. I’ve hit a small snag with the weather. Since I’m painting outside {too ensure maximum air circulation}, the temperature has too be below 90. Seems easy, right? Well, since yesterday’s high was 111* and it was 90* by 9am, I’m working with limited time. I’ve been trying to get out there by 7:30am, but then my morning gets thrown off. For now, his changing table stands in our backyard, almost completed, collecting leaves.
What fun projects have you done lately?
South Padre Trip, Jonathan’s Birthday and More Vacation Time – Friday Joy
Posted on: August 26, 2011
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Last weekend we drove down to South Padre Island, Texas. While our trip had been planned for a while, I hadn’t told many people just because I wanted it to feel more like a getaway. Granted no trip with a 3-yo and 2-yo will really feel like a getaway, it was still very nice sitting back on the beach with our only worry being what time we eat.
Beautiful, huh?
The girls had a blast. When we first arrived, we had several hours before our hotel check in. We went straight to the beach {without swimsuits} and this is what happened ::
Completely clothed, the girls jumped right on into the water. They loved having the waves crash over them and digging their little toes into the sand. I’m certain it is a memory that will stay with them for years.
Jonathan’s birthday is tomorrow. While he said he doesn’t want to do anything major, we do have some fun events planned. This morning we’re headed for Marble Falls, Texas to visit the Southern Living Idea Home. While that might not sound as awesome as it is, you should totally check out their virtual tour. Then you’ll understand. Tonight we’re going to see musician David Rameriz perform. It’s a live recording of his next album, so will be doubly good. Saturday I have some neat little surprises for him {did you read that Jonny?}.
Our family still has the entire weekend and Monday with Jonathan at home. It’s been so nice and relaxing just being at the house with no real agenda and extra family time.
What are your Friday Joys?
Julia’s First Day of Preschool
Posted on: August 25, 2011
- In: Life
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Yesterday was Julia’s first day of preschool outside of our home. We’ve been “homeschooling” since last year. After taking off for the summer, we started back again at the beginning of August. But this week, Julia started preschool at a local church. Technically, it’s a mother’s day out program, but they offer lesson plans and curriculum for the students. Julia will be going Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-2. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will continue her “schooling” at home.
I have to admit, I’m really excited for this new adventure for Julia {and our family}. Our family has really been exploring how homeschooling will look for us and doing something along the lines of a homeschooling co-op. With Julia’s preschool, we are getting our first taste of what a co-op could act as for us. Her preschool follows after Wee Learn, which incorporates biblical foundations through play centered activities. Every class has a verse of the day that the teachers focus on. We have the schedule through September and will be using those verses at home to help Julia with memorization.
While it’s very exciting, it’s still emotional. Hannah spent most of the day ask for Julia {quote “I want my sister!”}. When we picked Julia up, Hannah started crying. Julia ran up to her and showered her with hugs and kisses. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing together {and I should note, there was much less sibling fighting than usual – which is a major plus}. Jonathan was with us to drop Julia off and pick her up. He kept asking me while we were dropping her off if I was going to cry. I did get a pretty good lump in my throat, but managed to not shed any tears. However, when we talked about it through out the day, I did get sad. Not because I think this isn’t a great opportunity for Julia, but because I just missed my baby. We have her daily schedule hanging on our fridge, and it was comforting having an idea of what she was doing throughout the day.
Have your kids, or you, started back to school this week?
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Unplug and Refresh
Posted on: August 20, 2011
- In: Life
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Jonathan and I decided that in order to take full advantage of his time off, we’re going to unplug for the next several days. In my mind that seems really easy, but when I realize just how much Jonathan and I are both on our computers/phones, I’m thinking this might be a challenge. 😉
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend/week!
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Jonathan has off today. And all next week. {*happy dance*} While we have some fun things planned for our family, we are mostly using the time to relax and enjoy the first vacation we’ve had in much, much too long. Just having Jonathan home is a treat in of itself. Any other shenanigans our family windup in will be bonus.
Today marks 29 weeks of my pregnancy with Baby Boy. I’ve been really struggling lately with some self-esteem issues. You know, those same ones that make me think my body dictates my worth. While I still have several more weeks left before Baby Boy arrives, I’ve reached the number I wanted to finish on. When I weighed myself this week, I took it all in. What does that number mean? What does it really say about me? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And while I really, really would like not to gain a near-fifty pounds with Baby Boy, like I did with both girls, if I do, I do. At the end of it all, will it matter? Most likely not. And for what it’s worth, my eating habits and exercising is far better this go round than the last two, which is the main focus. So, perhaps I’m just a pregnancy weight gainer. If that means I win the prize of a beautiful, healthy baby at the end, bring it.
Here are some fun belly shots we took this morning ::
I think the second picture gives a bit more justice to the baby belly. And when Baby Boy moves just right, I have the most predominant outie I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty awesome if you ask me.
I’m off to enjoy the laziness that is our first day of vacation.
What’s your Friday joy?
On Becoming a Vegetarian
Posted on: August 18, 2011
- In: Life
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I’ve flirted with vegetarianism since high school. By flirting, I mean, I’d try it out for a while but never fully commit. Over the last few years I’ve given it a lot of consideration. However, Jonathan loves meat and doesn’t find a meal to be complete without chicken/beef/fish. We’ve made some compromises over time with having vegetarian meals throughout the week, but they weren’t always the biggest hits. A few weeks back, I told Jonathan I wanted to go forward to being vegetarian but wasn’t asking him to come along. Just me. Then I got Eating Animals from Kelsey, to help me better explore vegetarianism. I’ll continue making meals with meat for the family, while I cut out my own. I’m turning into Lisa Simpson; a sole vegetarian in a family of meat eaters.
Currently, I’ve cut meat out of two of my days. I don’t eat any meat at breakfast, lunch or dinner on those days. I’m trying to plan what days to cut out based on how easy it will be to make a vegetarian option for dinner. Meat and pasta? Then I make it a no meat day, since I can easily make a vegetarian option. Fried chicken? Well, I’m southern, so of course I will be eating chicken. By September, I want to be eating 3 days of exclusively vegetarian meals.
I’m giving myself to the end of the year to have a mostly vegetarian diet. Mostly vegetarian because I will continue to eat fish. I’m sure some vegetarians out there will immediately tell me fish is meat and therefore I’m not actually vegetarian. True, true. However, I have some pretty strong feelings about eating fish over other meats. I won’t expound in this post, but will answer any questions someone might have.
Surprisingly, throughout my pregnancy I’ve seen just how easily you can become vegetarian without the sacrifice of vital nutrients. Most people immediately think that meat is their only option for high protein, but that’s really not true. Between beans, yogurt, milk and cheese alone, you open yourself to a huge world of high protein foods. Add in whole grains and in one snack, I can knock back 15 grams+ of protein. Pretty great if you ask me.
I’ve decided to take baby steps toward becoming vegetarian so that my body doesn’t kick into fight or flight and I stand a better chance of making the transition smoother and long lasting. Here’s to becoming a vegetarian!
Are you vegetarian? Or have you ever tried being vegetarian? Do you have any great recipes to pass along?
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
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One thing I am most grateful for in my girls is that they are good eaters. For having a 2yo and 3yo, we have very few “food fights”. Sure, the occasional issue arises, but mostly they are willing eaters of any thing I make. While I am far from a short order cook {my policy is, if you don’t like what I made, don’t eat}, I do struggle with lunch.
Right before lunch my girls are clawing my eyes out they are so hungry. But as soon as their plates are on the table, it’s like they’ve become complete monkeys. They pick at their favorite foods. Julia tells me her belly hurts. Hannah is off chasing Jack. Lunch takes an hour. It’s like our own “hour lunch break”. Though it’s not nearly as relaxing as my hour lunch break before I had kids.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try something new. I sectioned off their lunch into a muffin tin. I had read a few years back about how Michelle, at Muffin Tin Mom, put her kids’ food in muffin tins to make it more exciting. Talk about a food revolution. I don’t know what it is about eating out of a muffin tin, but my girls love it. Perhaps it’s all the choices they get {and that they get to decide on their second helping option}. Perhaps they like that it’s unconventional and new. Whatever the case, lunches are going so smoothly {well, to be honest, they aren’t always smooth, but smoother}.
One of the great things about muffin tin meals, is that it makes me focus on giving Julia and Hannah well-rounded meals. Meats, dairy, veggies, fruits and some carbs. Plus, when the pantry gets low right before grocery store days, having a muffin tin really stretches my imagination on the food front.
What ways do you switch up lunch time? Do you have picky eaters or willing eaters?
Visit Kristen at We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday.
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Summer isn’t over until September 23. That means 38 more days of summer. Summer. My least favorite season. Ever. And my dislike has nothing to do with being pregnant during my first Texas summer in 7 years {though, it certainly isn’t winning any points}. Or that I’ve never been a fan of triple digit numbers when it comes to weather. I just don’t like being hot. Ever.
And while many people take signs of browning leaves and grass, such as this
as impending autumn weather, here in Texas you’d be wrong. That’s how our grass has looked since June.
As my friends across social media fill my screen with tales of cool weather and leaving their windows open, my heart misses autumn and Iowa. Because Iowa knew how to give a proper fall. And fall is my favorite season. Ever.
1. Pumpkin Patches – I love picking out larger-than-my-head pumpkins. There’s something so fun and festive about pumpkins.
2. Apple Orchards – Ahhh… Wilson’s Orchard. How I will miss you and your wonderfulness this fall.
3. Crisp Nights – I love needing to pull on a cardigan at 8 o’clock in the evening because of a fresh crispness in the air. Love. It.
4. Fire Pits – And with crisp nights always comes fire pits. Long conversations with Jonathan and friends while the girls sleep. Simply heaven.
5. Open Windows – Windows wide open filling the house with a coolness and reprieve of summer.
6. Leaves Change Color – There’s something awesome about seeing leaves become golden before the fall to the ground. It’s just so peaceful.
7. Geese Migration – This might seem funny, but I love watching geese migrate. And we lived near a pond in Iowa, so I always got to see them make their flight South.
8. Pumpkin Spice Latte – I can’t think of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and not think of fall. And I can’t think of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and not think of my sweet friend Katie and our mornings spent chatting while our kiddos played {sad/missing you face}
9. Rain – A cool rain that might chill you or make you shut those open windows. At this point, I’d love any rain. Any.
10. Newness – For most people, they think of spring as new. Not me. I have always seen fall as new. New school year. New chapters in life. And this year, new baby. Fall in my mind always equals something new and exciting.
What’s your favorite season?
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
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The last two weeks, I’ve been getting up early to start my day off right. The first day the girls slept till their normal time of 6:30/6:45. Every day since, they woke up within 10 minutes of me. Sigh.
But even with the added company to my wish-it-were-silent mornings, it’s been really good for me to start my morning off early. These early mornings have allowed me to take my time, rather than feeling rushed and overwhelmed. And so I can sit down and leisurely drink my coffee, check my emails and enjoy what the day presents.
What’s your Friday Joy? Do you enjoy early mornings and leisurely sipping your coffee?
Flexing My Crafty Skills
Posted on: August 11, 2011
- In: Life
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Since making my braided headband, I’ve been trying to really flex my crafty muscles. Be it in the kitchen or something for the house, I am keeping an eye out for what will be a fun little project or adventure.
Recently on Pinterest, I came across this cute idea of turning an unused picture frame into a dry erase board.
The original idea for the board is to be used as a to-do list or menu. I already have a menu/to-do list board, but still really love this idea. I thought it would be really cute as a message board for the girls in their room.
Being the non-scrapbooker, I had no cute paper on hand {which is what the site suggests using}, but I did/do have cute fabric. And I scored double that the fabric goes with the girls’ color scheme.
We always ask the girls “How much do we love you?” and it is met with the reply “too, too much.” I thought it only appropriate to have that as our first message on the board. The fun part is, as the girls get older and start writing, we can turn it into a real “message board” and write notes to each other.
It was super easy to make and allowed me to try something new with low risk {helping me build those crafty muscles!}.
What crafty things have you done lately?
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
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