Mommy turns 34...So Far, So Good

My hams playing dress up:

Nothing is sweeter than my family singing to me, and Felicity prepping to blow out my candles:

A good way to end the day in the library:

10 Things Your Mon Never Told You:

Happy (early) Birthday to Me

Hockey & boxing are my favorite sports. So when Dave got free tickets from a coworker, we got a babysitter, enjoyed some Chinese, hit up an Irish pub, then took in some hockey. Loved it!  Only thing better would have been if they won. Final score 2-3, but it was a fun game to watch.  (The girls had their first slumber party at their cousins.)

I Love Our New Church

I miss our old church, but our new one is awesome, too. One of the bands uses drums with modern music. Here Felicity is playing in the holy water. (She says she's only touching, but she "touches" it up to her elbow sometimes!) Very warm. Very welcoming. 

My 1st GF Apple Pie

Kelly's Pickles

A Beautiful Day to Bake

Happy pineapple-zucchini muffin day! 

Ok so it's not a day, but I'm celebrating buying a chest freezer today by making something to put in it. Now to get a deer! ;)

 

Apples, Apples, Apples: wine crisp, state fair, & red baron.

We've picked this tree over & over again. This little red baron is a generous little fella. 

I love how they grow in clusters. 

My view of my apple catchers. Felicity always snitches one. 

A little cinnamon and here come the apple chips. 

Amazing: 22 apples fit into a Tupperware container and 21 apples don't even fill this jar.

I'm hoping to learn how to make apple cider and apple vinegar out of the peelings. We'll see!

On this date: 10/11/2015 80*+

Whiter Whites

Has it come to this? I'm blogging about laundry? Yes. My girlfriend recommended I use this after complaining I wanted whiter whites w/o using bleach. Just 2 drops in a few oz of water in the softener cycle works wonders. Love this bluing!!

Fall Gardening

Greenhouses have everything 40% off in the fall. Since we have 3 beautiful apple trees and one sad, lonely plum tree I purchased a plum tree. Plum trees need to pollinate one another and they need different breeds to do so. 

We also planted 3 raspberry bushes, 4 blueberry, and 6 everbearing strawberry plants. My little helpers love to dig in the dirt. 

Our apple trees are: wine crisp, state fair, & Red Baron. And they produce in that order, which is cool bc then we don't get dumped on with apples. My fav is the wine crisp because they are blood red with soft flesh and super sweet flavor. 

Potato Play Toy

For some reason Fizz finds my 10# sack of potatoes fun. She drags them around the house then tries to put them in a box. I'm going to be known as the mom who gave her kid potatoes to play with as a toddler.  "We was so poor we played with  potatoes. And we loved it!"

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Motherhood is the hardest job I've ever had in my life. Granted I haven't lived that long, but I've had many jobs. At least the rest I could quit, not that I did but there was always an out. 

I love my kids, I do. But I can definitely understand why mom used to tell me that great grandma would sometimes pull her apron over her head (in the middle of her kitchen) and have some quiet time to herself to pray. She had 9 or so kids. I have 2. And the 4 yo is in school 3x/wk. 

In transitioning from full time therapist to full time SAH (stay at home) I find myself doubting my capabilities. Am I good enough? At work they give you employee reviews, raises, atta boys, & the families and patients pour praises on you for the good work you have done...even when you remind them it was the patient that did the hard work. You SEE that you are doing well.  Motherhood doesn't give these atta boys, unless you look for them. They're in my daughter tying her own shoes, cleaning up her dishes, feeding her fish, learning independence. It's in my baby's toilet training, booboos healed with magic mommy kisses, nighttime snuggles, or asking for "one more" when you sing them their goodnight song. 

I'm doing a good job, the best I can. I'm reading a motherhood book by Dr. Meg Meeker ... When I take time out for me. And she drills it home to take care of ourselves ... have girl friends. Which is slowly coming for me moving to a new town.  

Until then I will continue the nighttime snuggles, reread the recent library books, sweep the many crumbs off the floor, play kickball in the back yard, & keep looking for the descreet atta moms. God keeps reminding me to be a servant to all. 

Lake Bemidji State Park

Moo! Trunk Show

Felicity & I went to our library and met the author & illustrator or the book "Moo!" They even did a puppet show & signed books afterwards. The library gave us a free copy the day before at the library reading circle. Poor Elizabeth was in school, but is getting a kick out of the book. The place was packed. This is their 58/59 library tours. Lots of free-bes & lots of fun!  My busy-body even stayed still to soak it all in today. 

Innocence

This is a while back but I still want to journal the memory:

The girls and I were in the van. I was parked and someone had sent me a pic of my dad, a beautiful one I hadn't seen in a while. Elizabeth is watching me from her seat. I zoom in on the picture and take a pic of it w/ my smart phone. Well when I do this the phone makes the camera "flash" noise. Elizabeth asks me what I'm taking a picture of. Out of ignorance I tell her quickly, "my dad". I'll never forget how she then snaps to attention and starts looking through every window of the van to catch a glimpse of me dad. "Where is he?" She asks hurriedly.  "Oh honey, I'm just taking a picture of a picture on my phone." And I show her. She sits back, obviously disappointed, as am I. For there are no more pictures, no more hugs, no more laughs around the fire pit...until we meet again. 

#2 is in Her Big Girl Bed for 1 Wk Now!

Pretending to sleep when be woken in the wee morning hours. 

The crib all disassembled and ready for removal. My baby is growing up too fast.

Elizabeth's First homework

E's first homework was actually mine as the teacher asked the parents 10 questions as well as asking for a narrative on the back about something about your child. 

So I ask E what she wants to be when she grows up. This changes often but today she said, "a mom". Awe ;)

Then I ask her what makes her special. She says, "that Jesus loves me." AWE!!

My Oldest's First Day of School

Little sis wanted to photo bomb 

Tying her shoes all by herself!

She doesn't like me calling her my baby so this is my Oldest's first day of pre K. 

She will go MWFs all day. At first she was nervous but them at the end of the day asked when she could go back again. 

Wow! This past 4 years just flew by!!

Nighttime Routine

Felicity loves making a game out of having her shirt pulled off. Otherwise the process is torture to her. So I finally caught her as "Sister Felicity" as her neckhole pulls her face up. 

I'm currently listening to the little munchkin lie in her bed counting to 20 & kicking the bed rail when she is supposed to be going to sleep. 3 nights ago we pulled the side off of her crib so now it's a toddler bed. 

The days are long, but the years are short.