How I Do It

I am often asked, "how do you do it?", how do I find the time to do the things I love, to sew, knit, crochet, bake, all while parenting my 3 kids.
I have no secret abilities, I can not fly around the world, make it spin backwards and give myself more time in the day (yep... superheros reign all my thoughts!), but I do have a few tricks that make my life a bit easier and allow me to find time to do the things I enjoy in addition to raising a family.

1. I stay home. While being a full time mom is no easy task it does mean that I don't need to come home from a long day dealing with other peoples problems, feed my family, deal with any possible family dramas, clean the house, tuck my kids into bed, do laundry, and then find the energy or desire to work on something other then my dreams. I can easily find a minute or two during the day to sew a quilt panel, knit or crochet a row of something or glue down some pictures in a photo journal. I can bake at 10am instead of 10pm and clean up at noon instead of midnight. While my day is still only 24 hours, how I spend those hours are a bit more flexible then they would be if I worked outside the home.

2. I set goals and I plan. We've established at this point that I am an over planner but in this case I think that is one of my strengths. I set out weekly goals (sew ___ quilt squares, finish the cowl I've been working on, decide on pictures for the journals etc) and then I plan how and when I will work on these goals so I will be successful in completing them.

3. I follow a schedule. This could probably be tied into my planning, but our family is pretty well based around schedules. After I had Zac I realized how important it was/is for my sanity to work off a schedule. I realize scheduling isn't for everyone, believe me plenty of people have teased me about it, but I need to know that at 1:30pm each day I will get a break due to nap time; or if everyone is grumpy at 3pm it could be because I forgot snack. Knowing what to expect everyday also allows for me to plan some crafty intervention times during a nap time or at the table while the kids eat their lunches/snack.

4. I prioritize. Everyone has priorities in life, creating and loving my family are mine and I will always allow/find time to do those things. Having a spotless kitchen or a tidy living room are usually not a priority for me, while we do tidy our house, I will always opt to "wait until tomorrow" to wash that pot or clean up after the kids if it allows me 10-20 minutes extra in front of my sewing machine, reading a book with my kids or alone with my mister.

5. I keep all my supplies out and easily accessible. It is so much easier to find 5-10 minutes to work on something and if I am going to spend those 5-10 minutes pulling out all my scrapbooking/journaling supplies then it's not going to get done. If I keep all my stuff in say a basket or on a shelf that I only need to pluck something off of, then when I find the time to work on a project I will work on the project, not getting ready to work on it.

6. I married a very supportive guy. My mister really is an awesome man and he knows that I need time to create, food or items, to be happy. He will almost always watch the kids to allow me a few minutes to finish something I'm working on, or get to a point that I am happy to leave it for a few hours. He's just as proud once I finish a project as I am, not sure I could ask for more.

There you have it. No tricks, no special powers - that's how I do it.

Another's Words

I think sometimes, someone else can just "say it better". I have wanted to write a wonderful post about how it feels to be a mother, to me. About how full my heart feels every time I look at my little ones and how much it breaks to hear them cry. How overwhelming it can be and how joyous it can be.
That said, I'm not always good with words... especially the heartfelt ones.
Jess wrote this post last week and it's everything I want to say... right down to the smiling nursing baby!

Leaning on Him

"For I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

I am a planner. I plan to a fault and when things start to fall through or not go according to plan my world tends to get a little shaken and I am often overwhelmed. Leaning on the verse above as I watch plans fall through and try to just "go with the flow". God has plans for us, and they are good, I just need to be patient and wait for Him to show us what those are... now... to work on being patient...

Coffee or Tea

What's in your cup, coffee or tea?

People always ask if you are a tea drinker or a coffee drinker. I've decided that without a doubt I am both. Is that allowed?
I drink coffee in the morning, because I need the extra help most mornings, and tea most of the afternoon/evening... so I suppose I could say I drink both, but mostly tea...
I am so excited to start a new adventure with loose leaf tea. I've discovered David's Tea and can not wait to try every flavor they have to offer. I mean seriously, Pumpkin Chai, Banana Nut, Root Beer Float, Amaretto, Pink Flamingo, Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait, Birthday Cake not to mention Mother's Little Helper!
Mmmm...
So what do you drink? Coffee or Tea?

Musical Monday: Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait

It's Monday... again... already...
Our weekend was interesting. I'm not sure I would say it was good, but then it wasn't all bad either... We let the boys watch The Avengers after a lot of begging and it made their lives. They really really enjoyed it despite my concerns that they would find parts too scary.

Eli has taken temper tantrums to a whole new level and Zac has become increasingly needy. We expected a few set backs or changes once Charlotte was introduced and I'm thinking that's what these new attitudes represent. My mister had a work related fancy dinner on Saturday night that left me home alone with the three of them over bed time and I succeeded (!) and then had some glorious time to myself. We also came to terms with a few potential disappointments coming up in life.
We've had better weekends and yet we've had worse, so who am I to complain...

Now... on to the music...
I feel like I have spent the last few years hearing about Mumford and Sons everytime I turn around... and yet, I had never actually heard them. This weekend I decided to hit up You Tube to try and see what the big deal was.
You'll have to travel to hear this one by clicking here, but I think it's safe to say I can't believe I waited so long to hear these wonders!

School Bound

It's official... I have a kid in school.

It's also official... I am so not cool with it! 

I have debated for quite some time about homeschool vs public schooling my kids. I realize the stigma that comes along with home schooling, as I've investigated everything I have heard many unwanted opinions on the matter, but truthfully that doesn't phase me. Unfortunately introducing a schooling schedule to a 4 year old, while trying to entertain a 3 year old all while balancing a newborn... didn't seem like a recipe for success in the beginning.

So for now, I am forced to accept that public school is what's right for our family, right now, and we can reevaluate in the future.

I will admit to him having a wonderful teacher though, which he is very excited about, and a very small class (6 kids or so?), which I am very excited about.

For now... while I am not over joyed with anything to do with the process... I'm in the process of being ok with it... ask me again in a month...

August

I can not believe there is only one more day left in August! Where on earth did the month go?

That said, August was an accomplishment filled month.
I managed to:
Drink my weight in Ice Caps
Made a rag doll for the bean
Tackled my "mend" pile (except for the button sewing part)
Completed 2 books, and started 3 others
Drank water daily (not 8 glasses though... have you ever tried to do that while a person is squishing your bladder? not pleasant my friend... not pleasant...)
Made a rag quilt
Packed my hospital bag
Found the perfect recipe for chocolate cake, from scratch
Made my first mini book
Played in the water
Repurposed an old baby blanket into a new one
Made a mushy bunny
Made some exciting life decisions
Discovered that it is way more comfortable to sleep on the couch then my bed at the moment...

and that's really only naming a few. I still have a giant list of things I'd like to accomplish before this little miss arrives but I am accepting that not everything may be completed. I have the determination though that over the next few weeks I will craft myself silly, read myself into a coma and possibly clean... the cleaning is not high on the list though...

My Boys

Do you ever wander through your photos on the computer and find some wonderful gems you simply can't remember taking, or possibly seeing?
I did that just the other day and found two of my current most favourite pictures of my boys.

Zac is preparing to start school in a few short weeks and I really can't accept the idea... he still seems like such a sweet little boy to me that it melts my heart thinking of releasing him to the world.


While Eli is, quite frankly, a challenge. If it weren't for his chubby little cheeks and hilarious sayings I can honestly say this kid would drive me loopy.

I can't help but look at my two sweet boys and wonder what this little bean will look like when she comes out. The time is nearing and we are getting so excited to see her little face and count all her perfect fingers and toes!

A jumble of words for your Thursday reading but what can I say... my head is a jumble of thoughts...

Parenting

Parenting is a hard and thankless job.

I think as parents/mothers we tend to set intensely high standards and expectations that no one can live up to, especially ourselves.

I have a list of expectations for myself as a mother.

I know the kind of mother I want to be and the mother I want my boys to remember and I often feel I fall short of the high bar I have set.

I love my boys an indescribable amount, as I'm sure any parent will say about their kids, but man-oh man, can they be pains!

We are currently really struggling with Eli.

He can be a difficult and strong willed child, which makes discipline so hard.

My boys are pretty much exact opposites which makes life interesting, but also chaotic. 

What worked for Zac never works for Eli and vice versa.

They have worn me into the ground the last few weeks. 

Neither of them are listening and discipline has become a lost art. It seems nothing I do works, they just refuse to listen.

I'm hoping it's just a phase... and if it is I'm getting impatient waiting for it to end...

All these doubting thoughts about my ability to parent have made me wonder, as parents are we ever really satisfied with the job we are doing? Do we ever do enough?

And if we do, will we ever see it?

**pictures are from a visit to a fire station with my father in law, they had such fun!**

Christmas Quiz

I feel like this could be a tad late on the draw, but I tend to celebrate Christmas until the new year...
(idea from this lovely lady).

Christmas Quiz

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg Nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? wrap them of course!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? colored on the tree, white on the house

4. Do you hang mistletoe? haven't yet, but plan to in the future

5. When do you put your decorations up? Always the weekend after Zac's birthday (Nov. 30), this year December 3

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? stuffing

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The year I looked out my window and saw a blue light (we hung blue lights on our house) and was convinced Rhoudolph had a blue nose and everyone else had it wrong.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't know the year, but i know I faked it for a couple extra to keep the feeling alive for my parents.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? usually one, this year we didn't though.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? colored lights a few balls and bells and mostly plush stuffy ornaments, I can't wait for the year that I can have a grown up tree!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? LOVE it!!!!

12. Can you ice skate? not with any kind of talent/balance

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? last year my mister bought me a little red note book. That's the only one that stands out in my mind...

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Remembering why we celebrate & the food.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I don't play favorites, I like them all!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Our Jesus Birthday Cake and singing happy birthday to Jesus.

17. What tops your tree? A star

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? giving is fun, I love putting all kinds of thought into gifts and usually start thinking about ideas in the summer. That said, I don't shy away from the receiving either!

19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Yummy!

20. Favorite Christmas show? The Grinch, both the cartoon and the Jim Carey version.

21. Saddest Christmas song? The one about the shoes... and "momma meet(ing) Jesus tonight"... makes me cry everytime...

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Oh Come Oh Come Emanuel would be my fave traditional one... Satna Baby is a bit more of a modern choice...