Top of the Morning to Ya...

oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, oh what a beautiful morning, everything's going my way - Oaklahoma

So, this a.m. the kids decided to all get up way early. fun. I just made us scrambled eggs for breakfast and I am also having a v8. It is beautiful outside right now. Raining and dark and windy and feels exactly like fall. The Children and I are starting to discuss Halloween costumes. Ben says he wants to be a BAT , Isabelle says she wants to be GLINDA from Oz and I have no thoughts on Olivia yet. ugh...I have got to go....demands of the little people are out of control...

sleep, flies and other stuff

Setting the table: Here is a typical picture of what I use to set our table each night. standard white plates, silverware and misc. cloth napkins that I usually let the kids pick out. To my horror when I saw the picture I took, there was a fly on it! Made me sick. I hate flies with a passion, but I display it to you as is , because quite honestly, quite often there are flies in my kitchen! They land on us, they land on our food and they frustrate me to no end. I think they make their way in as my children leave the door open for decades. Never the less they are with us more than on occasion. I curse them and I kill them...but I guess they are still part of us as the fabric of our lives. I often wonder God's purpose for these evil annoying suckers...but I know there must be some wise beyond my comprehension reason for their existance.

I don't even remember why I took this pic. Must have been to document the never ending laundry that taunts me every single day. I truly don't mind laundry so much, it is dishes that can go to heck. They suck. I am so envious of all of you that have dishwashers. I used to have one, a long time ago...before I had kids and I didn't even appreciate it. Maybe my next house.

These are some beautiful signs that Isabelle made for our bedroom doors. They have been up for awhile and I keep forgetting to take them down...maybe I truly just want them up so I remember where to go.

See, I told you we have many bananas. Speaking of bananas, I have just started Olivia on them. She seems to love them. :) I just hope she doesnt turn into a monkey like the rest of them.

So, I spent my entire sunday in the children's room, cleaning, organizing, sorting and I am still not half way complete with the task. It is amazing how things accumulate. The best part is as I kissed them goodnight tonight, I did not step on legos. I can see the floor and it is quite pretty. We should have a smooth morning since the kids can now open their closets. I wish I was better at keeping up with their stuff, but I am not. I have good intentions and I keep working on it. We are all happier when things are neater but of course that comes back to the fact that there is only so much time in the day.

Livy monster is sleeping right next to me and I wonder if I will be able to transfer her to her bed without her waking up. Billy Joel is on my IPOD (the piano man) and I am having a lovely glass of wine (wine tastes better in the fall, and that is a fact and I know it is not offically fall yet, but I can feel it so it counts). Well time to clean up the kids bath stuff and hit the hay myself. I have a book waiting and that is a wonderful thing to know. I should take a shower...but not sure if I have enough energy for that task. Good night friends & family - I wish you well. :)

Sweet Dreams and God Bless.

Greetings on a Sunday Morning.

Isabelle just loves to leave me messages on the dry erase boards around the house. Her favorite thing is to ask me to write back and she gets so excited to find the response. :)

This is Isabelle on her way to church last Sunday. Yes, they let us in.

Ben just loves being a big brother to O. He is always helping me with her and asks if he can hold her all the time.

Here is one of Olivia's first reactions to her new rice cereal!

Here is an outtake from a photo shoot of what I tried to make a lovely photo of my 3 wonderful children...but quite honestly this is us and I should probably frame this one . haha

Misc. Whatevers:

• I believe that I will be spending my entire Sunday: Cleaning. How does this house get so messy so fast? Stepping on Legos is so fun, but I do believe it's time to make a change.
• I love love love this fall weather.
• Right now the garden is producing: watermelon, potatoes, misc. peppers and I do believe that may be it for now. I do wish we planted pumpkins. Oh well.
• We now have a new light fixture on the front porch which is completely amazing and wonderful. We have gone without an outside light since the siding was redone so this is super. We also got a brand new furnance installed this week, so we will be nice and warm these upcoming seasons....I still want new slippers though.
• The fish died. Ben responded "Cool!, can I watch you flush it down the toliet?"
• There are bananas in my house every single day. If you came to my house at anytime, I could offer you a banana. I have not made Banana bread in a long while.
• Olivia is waking. I am shocked she slept this late. Happy Sunday!

Teacher Gifts ~ New School Year!

We truly love and treasure our teachers for not only the hard work that they do, but for the heart and spirit that they share with the children every day. When I leave my children at school, I know that they are in the best possible hands and I am so grateful. My friend Sally shared with me this great idea she found online, and as soon as I saw it , I fell in love and had to make these cute boxes right away! No rules, just decorate anyway that you want and put anything in the compartments. I think my favorite insert was the chocolate of course! Speaking of school...we are running late for our day already...must get everyone up, fed, dressed , packed and out the door!

Tonight thoughts of misc:

• I am too lazy to find my camera cord and download my newest pictures.
• Seems like I am always the one who is left to change the toliet paper roll.
• Sometimes I wish my dog had 4 legs.
• I believe Isabelle could talk for 24 hours straight without even a sip of water.
• I love taking pictures of my children.
• Olivia must be starting the teething process. Drool and chewing is of plenty.
• I dread taking Ben to church. He climbs the pews and usually announces things loudly like: I have to poo or I don't want those people to sit behind me (whom are right behind us as he says it). Today he added to his routine: instead of gently shaking hands during the share of peace, he decided to slap the out reached hands very hard. (The Priest usually slaps the kids high fives, so I think that is where this thought entered his little noggin as the proper way to greet people in church). God help us.
• man, I am tired.
• I wanted to scrapbook this weekend. Sunday is over and I still didn't get to it at all.
• I wish I had some chocolate milk. oh well. water is just as good right?
• Just got Olivia to sleep in bed and I hear her awake again. I think she misses me.
• I love this fall weather but I fear that it is leaving us already.
• Confession - there were fruit flies in my car this week because I left a banana peel in it. I guess it's time to clean the car. Yeah, I really should do that.
• I love Olivia's chubby chubby baby legs.
• Goodnight.

Happy Friday

It is a Happy Friday because my baby girl is smiling, got my workout over with early, the weather is beautiful fall like (my favorite), had an awesome lunch out with a dear friend, did a little shopping and I still have a little time to spare before picking up the children...what to do? what to do? Have a wonderful day!

Chicken Run

(a photo of some chickens on a friend's farm)

A journey of a thousand miles, starts with a single step...and that is how I am feeling lately. There is so much that I want to accomplish and this is just the beginning of many things and I know that I have to be patient and take things one day at a time, one step at a time. Eventually, some day, some how...I'll get there. Each day seems to escape so quickly without most of my list done, but at least I knock a few things off it and at least that is something. My throat is killing me. I don't know if it's seasonal allergies or what...but, I couldn't even read to the kids last night. Yesterday I tried a cardio kickboxing class at the gym and it was hard, but good. I'm sort of afraid to go back, but I just might. This morning I did the treadmill. Now, I can move on with the rest of my day :). Last night I told Ben he couldn't leave the table without eating his brussels sprouts and I felt like a true mom. hehe. I keep secretly wishing that the fish would die, so I would have more counter space. Ben came into our room in the middle of the night and told me that he couldn't sleep in his bed because a baby chicken kept biting his feet, so I let him sleep in our bed...I was too tired to debate that one. Last night as Isabelle was doing her homework and having major pencil problems we got on the subject of where pencils came from. Isabelle said she knows paper is from trees so where are pencils from? Ben answered: God makes the pencils, duh! I'm tired, maybe I can talk Ben and Olivia into taking a nap...just maybe.

Alfresco.

Alfresco - is a fancy word for eating outside. It took me reading a Fancy Nancy book with the kids to realize this term. All my life I never even considered what this word meant, but now I know. I think it might be my new favorite word. hey, so and so, why don't you take that darn watermelon and eat it Alfresco since it's too messy to eat in the house. Yes, you and all the juice and seeds must go Alfresco! now I mean it! post haste, little one, scadattle. yes, I like this word.

So, today I really kicked butt on home chores. I went through endless papers and wondered to myself time and time again, why the hell did I save this? no purpose, no point , makes no sense , yet it remains in a pile of clutter. Two garabage bags later (yes seriously, that's how bad it was), I am pretty much paper clutter caught up. Also got a good amount of laundry and dishes done as well. See what a little air conditioning can do for a person? gives a whole new energy of productivity. It's amazing.

Tonight the kids and I danced in the kitchen, it was so fun. we spinned and giggled, hopped and jumped, twisted and pulled to some wonderful music. what a joy. If only I remembered to do this with them more often. :)

So the report of my first Zumba class: I LOVED it. I truly truly loved it. It was exactly what I expected and more. It was fun and it was such an amazing work out. It was hard work, but it was good work. It felt so right to be there. Sure, I don't know what the hell I am doing, but it doesn't matter. It truly does not matter. I know there will be more Zumba in my future and I cannot wait!

Yesterday was a horrible day as far as: my poor little baby girl. Olivia cried almost the entire time she was awake. I held her 80% of my day. She was miserable and I have no clue what was wrong with her. Usually no matter what I can settle her and make her happy. Nothing was working. I was a little scared, but I prayed and I prayed and I prayed that she would feel better and that I would know what to do to make her better. Well, she slept through the night and woke up mostly good in the a.m. Not as happy as usual, but I got some smiles and that is something that I sorely missed from the day before. She seems o.k. There was no temperature. We think she possibly could have some allergies that were really bothering her? I know my throat hurts like heck, Noah's allergies are bothering him....so maybe. maybe her tummy hurt ....I honestly still don't have a clue, I just know that she is better now and I am so thankful.

Tomorrow starts another school week. Kids are cleaned, planned (clothes) and packed, they just need to be fed in the a.m. and pushed out the door. :). Goodnight family & friends. May your resting thoughts be light and may your dreams be lovely.

sat. early a.m.

Good Morning! The Children happily survived their 1st week of school...and so did I! It was a good beginning and we are all looking forward to what's coming up next. Isabelle says she can't wait to get homework because she loves homework (I will enjoy this attitude while it lasts and hope it does last as long as possible). Her favorite part of friday was : everything! Ben's favorite parts of his Friday were: Being read the story No Gavin (while I discovered was actually No, David) and also getting a popsicle.

I hope we have some very hot days coming up...now that the house air conditioning is working! (just in time for fall). I have decided that red grapes are way better than green grapes and thats the truth....and I wonder if that's why I like red wines way better than whites? I've realized lately that I have not been paying attention or noticing the birds lately. I wonder if they are still abundent as usual or if I have just pushed them back in my brain. I think I am out of birdseed and that has been the sudden drop in the flying society or maybe its because we have curtains now so I don't look outside as often as easily... So, Im feeding the baby, drinking coffee and then off to my 1st Zumba class!

stealing a few...

moments as Olivia finally went down for a nap and I don't have to pick Isabelle and Ben up from school yet. It is amazing how good a shower feels after you have really earned one. There are only 2 fresh farm eggs left in my house...just enough to make a meatloafish type dinner tonight. Sure you are thinking...it's not really meatloaf season at the moment is it? Well, it is for me since I have all the right ingredients and there is no way I am trucking to the store for anything else. If it was up to me, I would have a bowl of cherrios (honey nut), but it's my job to feed these people and they may be expecting a little more. Of course, I would have to find my kitchen counters first, before I could whip up the evening meal...yes, my kitchen is that big of a unorganized disaster at the moment. oh well, that will change soon...and then it will be messed again. I am so excited about something I bought for Olivia today (at Kmart), it is a fun mirror that goes in the crib or stands on its own and she LOVE LOVE LOVES it. She giggles and talks to herself. So, good call on my part. The only reason I bought it today was because it was NOT on sale. If that doesnt make sense let me explain. Everytime Ive thought about getting this mirror it has been on a buy one item and get a second item half off.....well...I didnt want a second item around equal value so I refused to buy it. It just ticked me off. I was not going to be forced to buy a second item. So there. Yes, I paid full price, but I did not buy something extra that I didn't want just because they offered it that way so there. ugh, pretty soon I will have to find my shoes and hopefully not wake the baby as I transfer her to the bus (what the kids call my vehicle). It is not yellow if you were wondering. I wish I could take a nap to be quite honest, but it's not in the cards for me today, as willy wonka once said, too much time, too little to do, scratch that, reverse. oh and as fate would have it, I hear the call of the wild already....so I guess I don't have to worry about waking her. Happy Friday!

Don't Give Up on Me!

Disney Store shopping Spree with Grandma! Lucky Ducky Kids!
Visiting Uncle Al at the Chicago Fire House that he works at.

Ben Celebrating Turning FOUR (4) !

1st day of school for my munchins. Isabelle in 2nd grade and Ben in 3 full day preschool.

Beautiful Olivia approx. 4 months of age...or so.

So, thanks for not giving up on me. I have not updated in awhile. Im a slacker. A blogger neglector. Yes, it's true I didn't even consider updating for such a time because the end of summer was truly non stop overwhelming. But, I now do see a light at the horizon....a beacon of hope that time, although may not be abundent, may be at least...enough. enough to breathe again and maybe clean and organize a bit as well. We ended our summer with a vacation, 2 birthdays, a trip to chicago for a week, a family wedding shower....and visiting family at our home for a week. It was all truly wonderful!!!!! But it was nonstop. It was so good to see and bee with so many special people these last few weeks of summer, from the bottom of my heart to the top of my soul , I am so grateful. Old friends, new friends and many special family members... these moments are truly cherished. I thank everyone who hosted and welcomed us, I thank everyone who came to be with us. How treasured and blessed are we? I truly realize in the moments in which smiles, laughter and even tears are shared. Anyway...School has started and it is about time (jK..yet a tad bit serious). Routine is good. very very good and I am looking forward to everything that comes along with school. The uniforms, the packing lunches, the earlier bedtimes, the homework...bring it on ! Olivia is as follows: at 4 months she was 14 lbs. I can start cereal at anytime now. I am waitng for a quiet, peaceful moment when it is just her and I and the new grub. I think that is the best introduction to such a change....verses the kids bouncing her and screaming in her ear..cheering her on...... a silent experience will be much better accepted I am sure. Livy is now making so many noises and smiles, etc. She is grabbing her feet all the time which is adorable and she is such a joy. The biggest new for me that I have to report is that we finally joined a local gym that has child care. I can't tell you how much this means to me and how long I have waited for such an opportunity. I was trying to walk with the kids/stroller in the park as much as possible this summer, but that didnt go very far with the extreme heat and much rains. Now, I have a wonderful opportunity to work out child free and it is amazing. I have been going as much as I can within the child care limits and my schedule and althoguh I have just begun, I already feel so much better in so many ways. My energy level, my belief and hope in myself....it has been hard work, but good work. I know I have a long way to go to feel great, but I am on the path and I am taking it one day at a time. I most look forward to my first Zumba class! Schedule wise, I have not been able to attend one yet, but hopefully soon...and I have a feeling I am going to love it. Other news with me is that of course I cannot do it all, I can't keep the kids straight , the house clean and everything else on my agenda without something suffering...because there is only so much time in the day...so I have decied to close my Etsy store once again. Although this saddens me beyond belief, I knw that is the thing that must go. I am going to still try and paint and do other art as I cant and I hope when I get a handle on things, that I can focus some energies to those passions but for now....my kids, home and health are my priority. Art and creatiivity will have to wait and that's o.k. Also, social time for the most part will have to be on hold as well. I need to focus and take care of things. I pray for strength and direction as I go about my upcoming days. So, I have rambled...and I'm sure I have much more to say, and I know I have more detailed updates to give, but for now, I have to put some clothes in the dryer , some dishes away and a baby to bed. So goodnight family and friends. Thank you for putting up with me and loving me through it all. :)

update

Hi All - I have recieved some concerns (hehe) that there have been no updates in a bit, please rest assured my loyals...that all is good. The end of the summer wrap up and beginning of school is starting to take place and it has been so much to do every day. Very soon I will have some updates that will include the kids birthdays, a week away visiting friends & family, our newest adventures....and other super stuff.

Happy 7th Birthday Isabelle!

Happy 7th Birthday my sweet Isabelle Claire.

Field of Dreams

"This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that was once good, and it could be good again. Oh people will come. People will most definitely come" - from the movie field of dreams. ..and yes we came. As part of our Iowa trip, we decided to stop here for Ben mostly. Well as you can see from this picture Ben was too upset to be happy after he realized that we didn't bring his glove/ball/bat and he couldn't go play on the field. He was also upset that he couldn't get a jersey from the gift shop. I wish he could have been happy while we were there, but I understand his disappointment. He is just a little boy who wanted to play ball. :) Although it is only a movie set, there was honestly something beautiful and magical when we pulled up to this place. Everything clean and crisp, safe and happy (well besides Ben). There is definetly something special going on there. :)

IOWA...where the cool people go.

Isabelle picked a magic 8 ball from the Toy Store. We got to listen to her ask it questions for the remainder of the trip. We were forced to ask it questions too. Quite often we got the same replies....weird.

Ben choose this as his Toy from the toy shop. He told us he was a Knight of the Square table.

When we got to our first hotel, ben couldn't wait to unload his cars back pack and properly hang up his wardrobe. He really got inside of his task.

The kids were thrilled that the hotel left us a little package on the bed that included a sleeping mask, ear plugs and room scent mist.

The husband was on vacation this week so we decided to skip to my lou to Iowa for a short & sweet family getaway. Sure, not the most exciting place on earth...but a quick, not too far road trip escape for a few days...just the 5 of us. We visited Cedar Rapids, Amana Colonies and swung by Field of Dreams on the way home. The time went fast but was very much needed. We dined at new and fun places (every place we went the kids told the waitress, this is the best food ever!), got to see a lot of handcrafted items and even saw some real edible crickets in the chocolate shop. Noah and I got to do some wine tasting and we met some really nice and interesting people while we were out and about. Ben flirted with all the elderly and Isabelle danced and spinned all along the way. Olivia just went with the flow (really what choice did she have?). Some moments I remember from this trip, the good the bad the ugly: Ben accidently biting his finger instead of his lunch while in maid-rite, Ben telling the waitress that we went on vacation to get away from the dog, Isabelle thinking we must be in Ireland as we passed the Mississippi river, Isabelle thinking it must be salty water because she is sure she saw a shark, Ben getting excited when we went in a jewerly shop and announcing that he wanted to buy his wife a pair of earrings, the kids not knowing what a record is...and I think that is about it at the moment because I have some more pics to post!

My baby love...

Babies grow in a blink of an eye. Seasons fly by. Once upon a time, there was time. Yes, our moments are fleeting...and no, we don't always savor them....but we must breathe them, be IN them and believe in them, for they are ours and they are us. I am so Blessed and in Love with so much in this life. I don't always appreciate or see all that I have...but I try. I try to remember what matters and what does not. I try to keep going when I want to quit. I seek to laugh and find joy in everyday even though sometimes it is challenging to say the least. This life is hard. No one promised it to be easy. There is alot we can be mad, angry and sad about...but I hope that I keep remembering to choose what to focus on, who to think about and how to be. I like this road that I walk upon. I hope I leave some footprints behind, pick many flowers along the way and see all of the sunshine up ahead...The livy monster is crabby as I type so I must go. I will try and update our latest happenings very soon. (I have a few recipes and thoughts and photos to share). :)

Preschool praise

This is Ben (cubs shirt) having fun at vacation bible school last night.

What a difference a day makes.

This is the same flower that I took a picture of the other day and put in my last post. Today, the kids and I found this butterfly on it. We chased it around the yard a bit and watched it flutter about nearby for quite awhile. Small little treasures. :). When I wrote my last post, I was feeling so overwhelmed, yet I was hopeful. I prayed for some peace and I got it. Although I didn't get too much done on my list today (and my coffee table is a mess once again), we had fun and delighted in the day for the most part. We made paper projects and played pretend, we laughed and sang. It was a nice day. :) Tomorrow, I will attempt to tackle the must dos and should haves, but I needed today.

These are some fun journals that I have made in the past, but I changed up my design a little bit. I used to glue the binding and have a slightly different covering, but now I decided to thread/sew instead. I like this better. I love these kind of books. I use them for all sorts of different things: kids quotes, to do lists, creative ideas, misc. musings. The covers are made of 2 4x6 photographs. The inside pages are misc. whatever I have around the house (notebook, graph, copy, cardstock, patterned, ledger, etc.).

Time to get the Ice Cream out... now, go catch some lightening bugs & GoOd nIgHt!

Coffee Table Chaos

A Summer Flower. :)
My Coffee Table this Sunday. - A wonderful example of the chaos of the 5 people living here. - And I wonder why it took all Monday to "straighten up" and I didn't even really get to the actual cleaning part. ugh, clutter and messes like this make me nuts, but it's something I have to just accept at times and let it be these days...at least for a little while. There is only so much time in the day. Once upon a time there was time....not so much anymore.

Garden Tomatoes

Vegetable Thief - will now be pushing up daisies courtesy of our German Shepherd.

Ben "The Ball Player"

**...**Random Musings **...**
Back to my Sunday Coffee Table...that kind of mess truly drives me crazy....but, I feel like that is a perfect representative of my days lately. They are not relaxing summer days (for me)...they feel kind of crazy, stressed, ovewhelmed, humid, unproductive....I just can't seem to get a handle on things like I truly desire to. I know I need to simplify and cut things out because there truly just is not enough time. I have to decide on my priorities, get organized and try to focus...but I am having a hard time doing that. I need to breathe. So, today is a new day. A fresh start. I know that I don't have to get all things done, but I need to get some. I know that I am in control of my day and I can set a plan and try my best to do what I can and what I can't that's o.k. too. I want to enjoy the rest of this season and most importantly, I want the kids to have a wonderful summer. I truly believe that they are, but I need to make sure that they keep getting what they need along with extra....meaning, I remember my childhood summers as almost feeling magical. The simple things like catching lightening bugs and chasing the ice cream truck, sleepovers and swimming, staying up late and exploring the great outdoors...oh Yes, I do believe in those childhood summers.
Home Front News: Our fish is still alive, I am planning a simple party for the kids birthdays. Must work on invites. I love that school supplies are out. One of very my favorite things to buy. I need to start planning the baby's baptism, hoping for October. Hope Isabelle's dress will fit Olivia at that point, but probably not. I am excited about the favors I am going to make for an upcoming family wedding shower. I miss Aunt Mary since she has been in reHab. Ben can write his name really well now. I rented "True Blood" first couple episodes in hopes that I get to watch it before it's due back. It looks rainy out. I love the rain. There's something comforting about it. I hope I can steal some time to do a little scrapbook or bookbinding/journal making somewhere in this day. k, the demands of the day are starting, wish me luck.

Another Painting..Do You Believe?

12" x 12" Stretched Canvas - Acrylic
This painting was so fun to create, but it's not finished yet! It is waiting to be personalized. I am selling this as a custom wall art. The person who purchases it just tells me what they want written in the cloud...a name, a word, a short saying...the SKY is the limit with this one. :)

Ugh, I feel sick, this heat is truly making me ill. I need a pina colada (or 2) to cool off. I think that might do the trick. This morning Noah went to FARMER & FEET (according to Ben) and got the kids some baseball/softball equipment. Ben has not put down his bat all day and Isabelle can't believe that her daddy found her a pink and purple glove with glitter to boot. We are having steaks on the grill, sweet potatoes and green beans for the evening meal. Since I have been painting, I have tons of cleaning house to do...I really don't know where to start so maybe I should just Let It Be as some guys once sang. Stay cool my friends.