Jumping Right In...

Almost a year since I was here. Hmmm...so much was going on, I just could focus time, energy, or mental concentration on this blog. It has been a tough year with one thing and another, but I mostly feel like we've come out on the other side. Nothing life shattering, just life jarring. Through it all I've realized I need to call on God much more, and spend time daily in prayer...well, multiple times daily.
I know, DUH.
Lately I've been feeling the need to come back--to share, to connect, to release...

So, my goal for today is to put up a new header...thankfully it is NOT Spring 2010.

I'm ready for a new beginning.

Right Now

Right now...

I'm sitting at the computer, drinking coffee, listening to instrumental Christmas music on Pandora, enjoying my quiet morning house as the sun comes up on a snowy world.
Only one of my four children is awake...and he is quietly watching Little Bear while he drinks his morning milk.
Wait...a happy squeal from the little one's room...my one year old daughter is now awake. I'll let her play in her crib for a couple of minutes.

Today...
There will be a Christmas, oops, I mean a Holiday party at school for my two oldest. Sending cranberry muffins and candy canes.
So, at home we will have our own little party with our little 3 year-old friend, who I care for during the day, my 2 1/2 year-old son, and my one year old daughter. I am thinking...mini cupcakes to sprinkle and a Christmas story...if I have the chance, maybe I'll whip up some sugar cookie dough for Christmas shapes and frosting and sprinkles...but as I write this I think the mini cupcakes will be much easier and just as fun.

A few minutes later...
Well, three out of four children are now up and our little friend is here. Little one year old miss is eating fist-fulls of scrambled eggs, two others are squabbling (as usual), and one is back to his milk and Little Bear...time for me to get us all going.

June Joys

... dapples of sunlight on dimples...




...shady hats...

...strawberry rhubarb pie...

...baby quail...

...and don't forget...

school's out

cherries

roses

peonies

farmer's markets

days at the beach

lazy afternoons

picnics

cricket song

sleeping with open windows

~ah, so many things to love about June...

Then, we also have Father's Day and my son's second birthday...

Lots going on around here. Parties to plan, gardening to attempt, children to feed and occupy...I'm currently trying to map out a summer schedule and activities that will accommodate four children with a wide range of ages, interests, personalities, and capabilities; as well as a mommy who would really like everyone to be happy and sweet and peaceful all the time...I know, I'm dreaming here, but June is such a dreamy month, don't you think?

Come on, tell me what you love about June...I really want to know!

Doves

In my visions of my dream house there have always been doves, living in a dovecote, in a courtyard. You see, in a book I once read the family had a dovecote. For some reason, this resonated with me. This was peacefulness and serenity right in your own back yard. Later, I came across more imaginary homes with doves in the courtyard.

Well, sometimes dreams do come true. I don't actually have a dovecote, but I do have doves. Wild mourning doves. A pair of them are nesting somewhere around our property. As it happens they like to hang out in our courtyard! I've even seen two younger doves; offspring, I suppose. And I hear their cooing all the time. I love it. Especially when I am waking up in the morning, sunlight filtering through my blinds...so peaceful. I love how God can surprise us with wonderful little blessings like that!

Someday, maybe I'll even have a dovecote, (like the one above!), for our doves.

I just realized that this post would work for Chatting at the Sky's Tuesdays Unwrapped! Head on over there for more simple gifts!

Feeling the Sun

It's shaping up to be a warm weekend and even warmer week ahead! Hooray!

Here are some sunny fun plans for the next few days:

Make Ice necklaces with the kids...what a fun idea!

Garden, garden, garden...till, plant, weed...I feel so behind in this area, now is the time to catch up.

Make kites, blow bubbles, go on a hike...have a picnic or BBQ.

Maybe a little tree climbin'...

And I can't forget to just spend some time sitting, with my eyes closed, feeling the sun on my face.

Have a great weekend!

Thoughts

I've had so many thoughts or ideas that I've wanted to post about lately, but life has kept me from actually getting to sit down and formulate my thoughts into posts. It's hard to concentrate with a three month-old, a twenty month-old, and a 10 year old at home everyday. (I started homeschooling my daughter a couple of weeks ago.) Then add the fact that my six year-old has been having a hard time lately with behavior and such, well, blogging has been on the back burner. And that's o.k. This blog will be here when I do have the time. Like today.

So, in between feeding everyone and doing a load of laundry here and there, I've been able to spruce up my blog's look for spring. Yeah!

I feel like my life needs a little sprucing up as well. A spring cleaning. Just like my house. (In fact, a little house cleaning, or gutting, would probably help my mood as well.)

Hmm....please excuse the scatter-brained feel of this post. My thoughts are all over the place; it's hard to organize them neatly for some reason. I guess I'll just go with it!

Anyway, I was feeling the other day the need for a disengaging, a disconnecting, an unplugging from this crazy, swiftly tilting world. So, I came up with a list. I love lists. I wrote it in my journal. My journal that has three sections that I designated as Children, Household, and Life. I like having a place to jot down ideas, plans, and wishes--usually in the form of lists.

So, here is my list to help me Revitalize, Rejuvenate, and Reinvent my life this spring.

Watch less T.V. (Duh)

Less computer time

Get outside more: walks, play, garden, swing, run, explore, breathe

Read real books!

Read the Bible more

Write real letters to people

Draw/color/paint--create

Make do with what I have as much as I can

Cook from scratch as much as possible without going totally Little House on the Prairie

Grow food:

I'm planning on growing a variety of veggies in this back courtyard:

Shop at thrift stores

Listen to music

Walk to church

Use less chemicals

Raise chickens

Get rid of clutter

Walk or ride bikes to the farmer's market

Create family traditions throughout the seasons of the year

Be charitable

Focus on the good

Live in the now

Cherish little moments

Enjoy my children

This is an abrupt ending, but it's been a few hours since I began this post. I had to leave it for awhile to feed the baby, make dinner, change diapers, put on jamies, sing night-night songs, kiss foreheads, feed the baby again...now I'm going to go eat angel food cake with strawberry sauce from my lovely neighbor.

Hopefully, I'll be back soon with better formulated thoughts. Or I can give you my list for Ways to Like My House More Without Spending Big Money.

Oh! My one year blogging anniversary is coming up. I need to think of a way to celebrate. Stay tuned...

Have a great week!

One of Those Days

Yesterday: mice in the house, mommy with a bad cold, sisters fighting, baby crying, toddler fussing, dog poo tracked in, dogs fighting, blood all over dogs, girls worried, MICE IN OUR HOUSE, science fair project-already over due, dinner to be made, dishes to be done...aaahhhh, the chaos, the horror...mommy about to lose it, big time...


........cough, hacking, cough........


And then...


Daddy comes home...miraculously everything calms down, everyone is happy...and he brings mouse traps!

Hooray for Daddy!!

Back from a Blogging Break

An unintentional break. Christmas, kids, and a trip to see family, and Facebook have all kept me away. But now, two kids are at school, a toddler is napping in his crib, and a 7 week old baby girl is snoozing in her swing (love that swing!). So instead of putting away Christmas stuff, instead of doing the never ending laundry, instead of taking a nap myself, I made a cup of coffee, grabbed a couple of cookies from the tin and sat down at the computer.

So much has happened since I last posted. Here's a run-down:

Shopped for and wrapped a gazillion presents.

Hosted Christmas Eve dinner and made a ham for the first time.

Packed for myself and four children for a 7 day trip to our old home town.

Survived a 2 1/2 hour flight with four children by myself. Yes, I survived.

Spent a week in the snowy north (see photos below) battling bad roads, but having a great time visiting family and friends, enjoying my mother cooking for me, and generally being spoiled.

Survived a 2 1/2 hour flight with four children by myself. Again.

Kissed the pavement when we landed. Just kidding. Felt overwhelming relief while my husband drove us home from the airport in our roomy, comfy suburban.

Celebrated my 36th birthday.

Started putting away Christmas stuff, not finished yet.

Started de-cluttering and cleaning the house. Also not finished.

Got hooked on Facebook. Connected with some old friends.

Well, better stop there. Just the highlights of the past couple of weeks. Now, check out my photos of the snow!! I took them from the car on the way to the airport after realizing I hadn't taken a single picture of the record breaking, obnoxious, yet beautiful snow. By the time I left, they must have gotten 3 feet or more. The area I visited had storm after storm, and they are still getting more. I wonder if anyone can guess where I went. It made the national news more than once.

Happy New Year everyone! I'm already looking ahead to spring and gardening since it's so warm here today. Probably a little premature, but it's never to early to start planning!

A Nice Day

I had a nice day today. Let me list for you just what made it so nice:

My son's sweet and silly smiles as he ate his breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(I'm not sure why he was so happy at meal times today!)

Scrubbing the kitchen counters and sink with warm, soapy, water infused with lavender oil. (The lavender actually makes this chore fun, and my kitchen still smells like lavender.)

Homemade pumpkin bread and muffins. To snack on all day.
(Yum.)

Picking up two cheerful girls from school.
(I am so glad they like it.)

Fried potatoes and chicken-apple-gouda sausage for dinner.
(Love this sausage, thanks, Sarah!)

Playing outside in the evening sun.
(Isn't it gorgeous?)

The Cake

My cousin Sarah told me about a good site for birthday cakes. I found the cute beehive cake and bee cupcake ideas there.

So, the frosting on the cake got a little wild, but you probably can't tell. Overall, I was happy with the results.

And, more importantly, my little man was happy with how it tasted.

Ahh...home

We had a great time in Nevada, but it is always good to be home. We drove all night Monday and arrived at 8am Tuesday morning. It was already 80 degrees, and our house was a disaster since we took off the day after the baby's birthday party, but it was still wonderful. So I've been trying to unpack, put the house back in order, survive the heat (no A/C), as well as all the regular day to day duties of a wife and mother. Yesterday we took a break from all this and headed up to my grandma's lake cabin. It was great, if a little chaotic. It sure is a different experience now that I'm a mother. It's a lot more work, for one. And constant vigilance with a one-year-old in tow. It was still fun, though. Picture one grandma, one great-grandma, three mommies, one aunt, one dad, and thirteen children ranging from one to seventeen. Oh, don't forget the PILES of gear. Wow. The beach was so full of beach bags, life jackets, floaties, sunscreen, towels, and more, that there wasn't a lot of room left for relaxing. But everyone had a good time, and Grandma Jo was loving having the cabin full and cooking her chili and cornbread for all of us.

Now I just need to get the house back in order and be ready to enjoy the Fourth. We will probably spend the day at my mom's lake place, and then come home to watch the city

fireworks display from the comfort of our own backyard. We have front row seats.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

One Year Ago

On this day one year ago, I spent the day doing a bit of nesting.
First, I worked on painting my daughters' room (we had just moved them downstairs). I remember squatting in the window well, in 80+ degrees, hot sunshine, painting the window frame, thinking "This better not make me go into labor." It was my due date, and I had a lot to do.
Next, I set up the slip-n-slide, again in 80+ degree sun. More squatting.
Then, I swept and mopped the baby's room.
Then, I hauled the crib pieces up from the basement and put it together in the baby's room.
Later, I finished painting the bedroom and somehow managed to get pink paint on my big belly.
Then, of course I had to set up my girls' bed so they could sleep.

So, is it any wonder that my water broke that night, while singing the girls to sleep?

The nurses all thought I was having a girl when they saw the pink paint on my belly. (Yeah, no time for a shower.)
That was the least of my worries, though, when my son's heart rate dropped twice, before I was barely even settled in my room.
So, after an emergency c-section, my son was born at 12:48 am on June 21st.

And now, one year later, my son is one of the biggest joys of my life.
It was quite a day.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, June 16, 2008

Outside my window...blue skies, sunshine, blooming peonies

I am thinking...about my son's first birthday party this weekend

I am thankful for...my sweet children

From the kitchen...left-over strawberry rhubarb pie

I am wearing...khaki linen Capri's, white tee, brown flip-flops, pony tail

I am creating...summer plans and schedules

I am going...to the lake

I am reading..."Martha Stewart Living" and Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart

I am hoping...for sunshine on Saturday

I am hearing...my son yelling out the front door, at birds, perhaps?

Around the house...laundry, pack for lake day, water veggies

One of my favorite things...fresh cherries!

A few plans for the rest of the week...cousin to stay, birthday party prep

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

My newly set-up vinaigrette making station. Trying to get myself to eat more salads.

For more Simple Woman's Daybook entries, visit The Simple Woman.

Have a beautiful day!

Father's Day

We had such a great day. Finally, the weather has been improving, and yesterday was the best day so far. Blue skies, sunshine, not windy.
We spent the day at my sister's with my dad. She lives above a lake on some wooded property, so the setting was just perfect. The kids ran around, dug for worms, jumped in the sprinkler, and had a great time. The babies (her daughter is one month older than my son-who will be one this Saturday!) played with the ice in the drink bucket, crawled and toddled around, and sat on laps. The dads relaxed, joked, talked truck, and enjoyed themselves. My sister and I prepared the meal (with the exception of the yummy ribs, which her husband was in charge of), ran after kids, and chit-chatted. We all had a great time.

Our menu:

Barbecued Ribs
Cedar Plank Salmon
Corn on the Cob
Baked Beans
Watermelon
Strawberry Lemonade

and for dessert:

Grasshopper Pie
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (with vanilla ice cream, of course)

It was all simple, messy, and so good.
I wish I had pictures of our day. I guess I was too busy chasing kids, applying bug repellent and sunscreen, and eating!

And now for another day in the sun...we are off to my mom's lake place for the day!
I just love summer.

Summer Lists

I love lists. I love getting all the ideas and thoughts that swirl around in my head into nice, neat, orderly lists. As I've been waiting for real summer weather to arrive (come on, it's been cold and rainy for a week), I have created pages of them. Thought I would share some. (I don't know about you, but I also love reading other peoples lists.)

Summer Reading List:
(sorry, I don't have the time to link all of them)

For me:

Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by ??

Mittenstrings for God by Katrina Kenison

Gift from the Sea (again) by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott

(If I have the time, I'm sure I'll add to the list)

For the girls:

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Pipi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren

The Worry Week by Anne Lindbergh

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

And-one of the Boxcar Children books, a summery one, and I'm trying to find something by Enid Blyton, because I keep seeing her name pop up and the books sound great.

Summer Kitchen:

Clean thoroughly
Organize cupboards
Grow herbs in windowsill
Stock baskets with fruit
Stock freezer with kid-friendly ice-packs and homemade popsicles
Set up a vinaigrette making station on counter with vinegars, olive oil, shallots, garlic, and lemons
Get grill ready: clean, refill tank
Set out juicer and blender

Summer Car:

Clean (!)
Stock with:
-hand wipes
-paper napkins
-snacks: granola bars, fruit bars, graham crackers
-band aids and alcohol wipes

Store in back:
-big blanket
-stroller
-extra diapers
-beach bag with towels and life jackets
-toys and games for long trips

Summer Outings:

beach (at a local lake)

Grama's lake cabin (That's Grama Jo, above, with my five year old)

my mom's lake house (I know, aren't we lucky!)

parks

Riverfront Park (has rides, a carousel, large fountain to run through)

walks
play days at friends' houses
berry picking at local farms
free children's movie mornings (at a local theater)

Summer stuff to do @ home:

be outside as much as possible
make playdough
crafts
read (together and alone)
paint outside
make a tent in the backyard
tend the garden
water table
mud pies
barbecues and s'mores
run through the sprinkler
ride bikes

Okay, now I'm excited, yet exhausted. I need to go curl up with a book. But a dirty house awaits...
Lists are nice, but they don't really get anything done!

Nice Things

Baby is sleeping.
Girls are at school.
Husband is at work.

The house is actually quiet. I can hear the hum of the fridge and the clacking of the keyboard; oh, and a few birds chirping.

It's so nice.

I just ate my third breakfast, so my tummy is actually full; not a common occurrence these days.
My dishes are not quite done, but they're close.
It's a grey day, but not raining, and it's supposed to be in the 80's starting tomorrow and all weekend.

I have a veggie garden to plant. It's going to be in containers, because we have a bit of a marmot problem. They seem to think it's ok to run all over our backyard and eat whatever they fancy. I'm not taking any chances. My veggies are going to grow in containers on our back deck. I've already planted sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots, and a tomato plant. I have eggplant seedlings to transplant, tomato seeds planted indoors, and a few more seed packets to deal with. I think this kind of garden will be better for me this summer anyway. Much less maintenance to worry about.

Oh, another nice thing: on Monday, I had an ultrasound and got to see "belly baby"! (Trying to differentiate between baby in utero and baby who is currently still referred to as "the baby" by his sisters.) It was amazing to see this little life, only an inch and a half long, but looking very baby-like, kicking and moving its arms. So cool! This is early to have an ultrasound, but my midwife wanted to find out how far along I really was since I'll be having another c-section. Baby looked fine, and due date stays the same--Thanksgiving Day! But we'll schedule the section for a week or so earlier.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying their own "nice things" today.
I'm off to plant some more seeds, or do my dishes...or play with my baby boy who I hear waking up as I type.

Have a great day!

Back to Normal

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. We had a nice quiet day, since I was exhausted after my daughter's slumber party on Friday and birthday party on Saturday. How did I get roped into allowing TWO parties? I was 8 months pregnant last year and did the same thing. This year I am 11 weeks pregnant with hypothyroidism (is that a word?). I was so tired on Saturday evening that I just burst out crying. Not as bad as last year when (on Mother's Day no less) I got so upset that I sent my girls to bed without bedtime songs (which we sing EVERY night, except that one), and proceeded to scrub the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. At eight weeks pregnant, crying all the while. My poor, sweet husband, between checking on the girls, got down and helped me scrub!

Well. This year wasn't so dramatic. I was really tired, though. I told my daughter that she will have to pick one party from now on. I'm tired of being tired and cranky on Mother's Day. At least next year I won't be pregnant. Well, I think I won't be! At the rate I'm going...

We did have a good day, anyway. My husband puttered around the house all day doing laundry, dishes (3 or 4 loads), vacuuming under beds!!! and all sorts of odds and ends. It was so sweet. Then we went to dinner. No kitchen floor scrubbing this year.

No matter how quiet or dramatic, I'm so thankful to be celebrating Mother's Day. Only a few years ago, I felt forlorn and sad, longing for my own sweet babies, longing to be a mommy. The Lord has certainly taken care of that desire of my heart!

Busy, busy, busy...

This is going to be a big fat busy weekend. My oldest daughter turns 10 on Sunday. Ten! She is almost as tall as me, now (not that I'm all that tall at a mere five-one, but still). She was such a tiny little sprite when she came to me at 6. Well, ever since the first birthday party I gave her (when I thought it was the only one I would have with her) the parties have been kinda big. Some how we were talked into having a slumber party and a separate birthday party, every year.
So, Friday is the slumber party, at which the girls will pretty much have to entertain themselves. Not that they want me interfering anyway. My girl is great at keeping her friends having fun.
Then, after a late night of ten year-old antics, the girls have to get up and go to a parade that my daughter is in. Thankfully my good friend volunteered to take them, while I stay home a prepare for party number two. This year's theme is Secret Agents, complete with training exercises and a crime to solve that takes them around the world. Well, hopefully it takes them around the world. I have yet to plan those specific details. The agents will have to decipher codes, solve riddles, and collect evidence to capture the Mr. Bad Guy. I think it will be great, I just have to sit down and actually write out the mystery and clues and what not. No worries. I work better under pressure. Last year, we did a treasure hunt that I came up with the morning of the party. Yep, procrastination fires up my creativity.
Then, of course Sunday is Mother's Day, and the actual birthday date. She is so excited that her birthday is on Mother's Day this year. For some reason, she thinks that is so cool. It's sweet really. Maybe this means she won't try to make be breakfast in bed. The thought is sweet, and she is getting much better at cooking. She can finally make more than toast. But, it's really hard for me to lay in bed, waiting, when everyone else needs me. Maybe we will go out to breakfast this year.
Better be off...I have groceries to get, a family to feed...a crime to plan. A mother's to-do list never ends.

So Nice

I'm sitting at my computer right now (obviously), taking a quick snack break after spending some time weeding in the sunshine. I can hear the Ice Cream Truck and a Lawn Mower and Birds Chirping.

Now, what is more spring-like and wonderful than that?

Well, maybe lots of things. But still. It's nice.

Finally (sigh)

From February to May.

What a difference. I love watching spring gently unfold. Sometimes I wish it would just burst forth, but I appreciate it more when it happens slowly. Spring is so much sweeter after a hard, dark winter, too. I've lived in places where the seasons are less defined--Oregon, and even more so, Hawaii. And springtime wasn't such a wonderful, delightful event. It was just more of the same--green and rainy in Oregon, and green and warm in Hawaii. Here, though, especially after our extra long winter, with so much snow, spring really is a reawakening, a rebirth, joy after mourning. It makes me wonder if people who suffer more in life can also experience more joy. I don't believe that God causes suffering, but did He make it work this way, knowing we would suffer? Isn't there a Chinese proverb about the larger the jar of suffering, the more joy it can hold? I'll have to try and look that up. Anyway, spring is finally here in my corner of the world, and it could not be more welcome. I think we will be spending as much time as possible outside today, basking in sunshine and drinking in the green beauty around us.

One more photo: I just love the delicate green laceyness of the leaves and buds that trees are clothed with in early spring. (Now I sound like Anne Shirley!)