Ballet

How much fun is it to have a little girl?? Earlier today I was thinking, how did I get so lucky?? So much fun to watch her be who she is and try new things. I wanted to enroll her in a class, but of course as everything else it takes money! The THPRD (our local rec centers) offer a ton of different classes and at $5 a piece its a killer deal. Though you have to pay for them altogether at once its a bit more to have to do at once, so I sold a bunch of random things and it pretty much paid for it, woohoo!!

Addison is trying out ballet for the first time. It’s been fun and crazy. Trying to keep her engaged sometimes is interesting, but she loves dancing and doing her positions. She can name a few of them and do them on her own, its adorable!!

Here are some pics and video’s (darn videos didn’t want to load, will repost those later!) of all the fun!

Trying Out Her Outfit, So In Love With It!!!

 

Warm Up Oufit, Waiting For Class To Start

Scarf Time, Woohoo!!

 

 

Does This Make My Butt Look Big?? hahaha

 

Long Long Overdue Post

As usual I am behind. I am vowing to select one a day each week to actually blog on here, hope that will help me make it happen!! I started another blog as well (weird I know) of my love for food, so feel free to check that out too! http://www.delishandthensome.wordpress.com

So in catching you up, here are a few pics!

Took time to sip coffee and write out my new years resolutions!

My 22 month old beauty!! Her hair is getting oh so long and her smiles light up a room. She is posing in her new robe from Christmas!

My handsome almost 5 year old at a PJ and Cookie Decorating Christmas Party!

My amazing hubby took a $17 cabinet and turned it into a beautiful Pantry. All apart of our kitchen remodel that is happening little by little!! My little organizing heart went nuts. Still needs the pull out drawers and some shelves put in, but for now it will do 🙂

The outside of the new pantry. Daniel and Papa John designed and built it!

That’s just a little of what is going on around here! Happy New Year!

 

PreK and Room Change Up

The time has finally come, felt like he would stay my little boy forever (oh and he still is). But he is 4.5 and we decided it was time for him to start his journey into school. We didn’t do Preschool last year as we didn’t feel like he needed it and it costs money so figure we would wait. We chose Faith Bible for a few reasons. #1 it enforces what we believe in and does it with a Christian spin compared to a regular class. #2 its 4 blocks away from us.. woohoo!! #3 it was reasonably priced. Put those altogether and its meant to be. Justice is super excited and we are for him too. I don’t think I will be too emotional tomorrow, but it is crazy to think my little man is growing up and changing. I am looking forward to having some special playdates with Addi and getting a few things done around the house while he is in school. We plan to walk most days to and from, but once the weather changes we will go for the long minute drive 🙂 

He had his orientation last week and I took a few pictures so I could capture this special time! 

My silly boy

Ready for school!

Playing in his classroom

 

Found his name and sitting down at his desk

Picking out his prize for completely his I Spy Game (where everything was located in his classroom)

Tis the time for new things at home too. We went to a new friends for a playdate long ago and they had a house almost identical to ours. They had their master room and then 2 other rooms, one for their kids and a playroom. I was inspired and jealous. At that time putting our kids in one room wasn’t a good idea. Now that Addison is 1.5 (or 18 months that sounds younger!) we are putting the kids together. That meant we have to change up both their themes and find something that would be gender neutral. So I sold all their stuff on a swap page or craigslist and bought stuff from the Craigslist and Ikea to make things happen! Its still all very much a work in progress. We kinda just went in full force, but in hindsight planning it all out, making purchases and getting it all ready first would be nice. I hate phases in projects. When I have an idea, I want it done right then and complete. When things are scattered and unorganized I get as bit cranky (poor hubby). Things don’t have to be perfect but at least organized chaos is good. So within a week Daniel ripped off Justice’s closet doors and put in a desk, file cabinets and a shelf that he got from work all for FREE!!! We moved the big toys into the playroom, got the kids in the room together and slowly are decorating that as we make it all work. Keep in mind this is just getting everything in place, we want to repaint the playroom, add some decor, decorate the office space and make the whole room jive and be pretty. But for now its all where it needs to be! 

No pictures of their room yet as it looks horrible.. but here are 2 snapshots of a project I have wanted to do since I saw the ideas on Etsy and Pinterest! 

 

Parenting, not for the weak

Man alive, could being a parent being any harder!? I am sure when we get into the teenage years I am going to think the toddler years were a piece of cake. Every season has its own challenges. But lately I feel discouraged, overwhelmed, stressed out, and just plain crazy. I am sure there are quite a few reasons behind all of those issues. A few things right off the bat I need to do is to pray more, aloud with my children in the morning and at night with my husband. Also try to let the little things go and not sweat the small stuff.. which isn’t easy for me at all. I read something last night a friend pinned on Pinterest and it really made me stop and think and changed the way I approached things today. This is what it said…

http://pinterest.com/pin/212161832416665019/

Also I remembered that back in the day the hubby and I figured out our love languages and I found out they had a kid version. Seems like a great idea, a way to learn more about my kiddos and how to show them love the way they need it. My library has it so I will check it out there, or you can buy it on amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/The-5-Love-Languages-Children/dp/0802403476/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345753901&sr=8-1&keywords=5+love+languages+for+kids

Hopefully between the article, book and lots of prayer I will see the changes start in me and trickle down to my kids! Guess I best get my act together 🙂

Relaxing in God

Our church sends out occasional emails, our Pastor write alot of them and they are all great! Today’s email was just amazing and spoke right to the core of my heart. It encouraged and challenged me, I had to forward it on to our home group just in case some of them didn’t get it or didn’t take time to read it yet. For a second I wanted to feel shame and guilt, I am such a doer its sometimes hard for me to understand that its not by performance. I good at relaxing that’s for sure. I love to be busy but I have plenty of lazy moments and days! But I am not relaxing in God like I should in any area of my life. Something I need to work on for sure!! Enjoy the message below!

from the desk of Pastor Jess

 

Our vacation is coming to a close. It has been awesome, restful, and refreshing. What a joy that I have spent time with the best woman in the world; thank You, Jesus.

I am so looking forward to this weekend, spending time with the people we love so dearly. What a weekend it will be.

We have spent a summer, on purpose, resting. We closed down so many things we usually do to give everyone a rest. I hope you have filled your schedule with a time to relax this summer.

Every once in a while I notice that people relax but not in God, and when this happens a kind of spiritual falling takes place.

I have wondered, what causes people to fall spiritually over the years?

Usually, I have discovered, people don’t know they have fallen spiritually until their children are in a crisis they don’t seem to have an answer for. Further, their marriage is stressed, their debt accumulates, and fatigue increases. Finally, they find more exhilaration away from God, so they miss devotion time, church attendance, fellowship connections, and giving opportunities, and they do so without giving much notice.

If they are students, their grades slide for no apparent reason; if they are an employee, evaluations plummet; if an employer, their business hits a tailspin they have no answer for.

Inwardly they are without vision, spiritual hope, mental energy, and emotional joy. They have not been aware of their slow dip into their back-sliding condition until catastrophe finally emerges leaving them hopeless.

Beware of Things that Make for a Decline … 

First, Personal Time in Christ’s Presence Is Neglected.

A couple of days and a few Sundays go by, and time with Jesus is absent; all the while the mind pretends all is steady.

“The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3 ESV

Second, Personal Time with Other Believers Is Neglected.

It is foolish to imagine that we can live apart from the encouragement of others. I cannot see myself accurately. I obsess over weaknesses and magnify the mountains; others give me Christ’s courage to see something much different.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

Third, Personal Time for Margins Is Neglected.

When a life is consumed with what doesn’t matter and neglects what does it is because the mind and heart has become consumed with an imaginary sense of urgency.

“…  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16 ESV

Take time to relax as you finish out your summer, but above all become really good at relaxing your life in Christ.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalms 23:1-2 ESV

Pastor Jess Strickland

Oh How I love Labels

Being organized, efficient and on top of things makes me function so much better and oh so very happy. I have made little changes over the last few years on how I organize “stuff” and now that we have 2 kids we of course have more “stuff!” I bought a labeler a couple of years ago and thought I had won the jackpot and was “”super swank” (if you can name who says that I will buy you a coffee!). Since blogs have came about there are so many fun organizing ones to get inspired from. So now I think my skinny white labels with boring black writing are not even cool at all, I mean hello its 2012 who does those kind anymore?? It’s time I got with the times. 

So I found some really cool big round labels, Avery 22807, had an image in my head and thought well how do I create this?? Luckily this out of practice with Microsoft girl still had a few tricks up her sleeve from my glory days before kids and working at Windermere as a Branch Administrator/Tech #2. I should give my smart husband credit too, he helped! I used an auto shape form and blew it up big and changed the wideness of the line, colors and such and came up with a lablel I loved. I was able to change up the colors for the different bins and room colors that I had. 

So when the kids were napping today I finished a bunch of random labeling projects I had, some I had forgotten about and new bins I had. Was so much darn fun! So humor me and scroll down and look at my pics 🙂 Thanks for being loyal friends and getting excited and maybe even laughing at me a little bit too, its okay! 

Fall Comfort Food

Each season comes with fun and wonderful recipes. While I am enjoying summer, grilling, and freshness sometimes I crave more hearty and comfort filled meal. Just ran into a few yummy looking recipes on Pinterest and can’t wait to try them!! Click on the pic to get the recipe! 

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese is wonderful and simple, but twisting it up to put the cheese in the soup would be amazing! 

Tomato Soup with Mozzarella Balls (IMO the cheese needs to be more toasted and browned!)

Chicken Pot Pie is great, but elevated with Puff Pastry as the dough would be taking it from boring to sensational!! 

Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

I love a good meatball and these look like they would be just perfect on top of a plate of delicious Spaghetti! 

Meat + Cheese, need I say more!?

Anyone else soo hungry right now, cause I am!!!! 

Update on Kiddos

Once again I fall behind sharing pics and info on the kiddos. Bad Blogger I am! To make up for it here are a few pics I spontaneously took of the kids on Sunday (Gma politely said it was time for a new pic of the grandkids, I figured I should make that happen!)

Keeping it Real! (I thought I would try to get one of him holding her and she WAS NOT in the mood for it as you can tell!)

Mommy’s Sweethearts (not sure what was up with her expression, no she wasn’t pooping!)

Brother + Sister = Best Friends for Life (saved the best pic for last!!)

 

Justice, the big 4, wow I can hardly believe it. Tall and handsome like Daddy. Sleeps a good 11ish hours at night, still naps most days (or quiet time play in his room if not sleepy enough) wearing 4&5 T clothes. Loves food and has a big appetite already (puts down 3 waffles, I am in huge trouble when he hits his teens!) He is full of life and keeps me on my toes. He is expressive, loud, friendly, outgoing and the best big brother. Loves dates that Mommy and Daddy take him on. Every weekend he gets crazy excited that Daddy is home for 2 days (the weekend) he so loves having him at home, its a count down most weeks till Daddies days off. He is in such a great playful imaginative age, the stories he makes up are a roit and so silly. Prays with passion for people and has a great love for Jesus and is a big fan of his church. He is a major snuggler still, which is so great. He loves all things firefighter, police, construction worker and sometimes combines them all. Super excited to start preschool at Faith Bible School this fall and learn all life has to offer. 

Addison, my little “Momma” as I call her (along with girlfriend, sister, Addi Girl, princess, the list goes on) 16 months now which is crazy. Time if flying way to fast with having #2. I really want to start completely over (minus the whole hip ordeal) and get to savor it again! She is in 18 month clothes, long legs (thrilled she got daddys and not mine!) not too skinny and not too chubby, just right! Sleeps 12 hours at night, dropped the morning nap and takes a nice long nap in the afternoon 2-3 hours. Huge love for food and loves to eat my Thai, Mexican and Chinese food. She is social too like brother, waves at random people at the store and has to be strapped down or will climb out of the cart these days, goodness. Loves to dance, play with brother, loves to give big loves when Daddy comes home. Loves the bath tub and splashing around in water and loves to be pushed on the swing. Can do a few tricks on command, like “cheesy smile.” Still a huge Mommy’s girl, will cry when left with someone else but gets over it quite fast. Started going back to church nursery recently and is enjoying meeting new friends! Still a crawler due to her brace but hoping that changes as soon as its off, which should be soon Lord willing! Huge talker and loves to sign too, which is great for figuring out what she is wanting or needing. 

Enjoying our summer and looking forward to going on vacation this upcoming weekend and will be sure to take lots of pictures and come back with a followup vacation blog, I promise!! 

Make This NOW!!!

I found a recipe on Pinterest that I could hardly wait to prepare. Made sure I had all the ingredients that I needed on my grocery store list (had most of them on hand!) and then invited a friend over for a playdate that involved lunch! So I prepped the main salad earlier today and then made the dressing tonight. I just had to taste it altogether so I made myself a small bowl.. Oh It Was Heavenly!!! The flavors are all so Thai, refreshing and great flavors!!! Make this at your earliest convenience, you won’t regret it!! 

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/06/thai-crunch-chicken-salad/

(Because I can’t follow a recipe to save my life, I didn’t do edamame or green onions, but did red onion and red bell pepper. I didn’t mess with the dressing!)

Beautiful 5 minutes of my day

The kids are napping and I have plenty to do but usually just sit on the couch with the computer or a show… I know not the best use of my time. It’s such a debate to be relaxed and rest a bit while the kids are or tackle projects. But today I did some of both, probably the best option right!?? So here I was cleaning away and had some pumpin’ worship music going and a song came on and just felt very moved and full of God’s presence. I thought oh I should I should just stop and take a minute to worship, but no I am cleaning and I can just worship and continue on. But in that split second thought.. NO, I am going to stop and just soak in God’s love, kneel down and raise my hands. BEST 5 MINUTES OF MY DAY FOR SURE!!!  I was able to just be filled with thankfulness, praise, adoration, a little extra grace and patience for the dayand just beyond grateful. It’s easy to go about my day, say a prayer here and there, hope to read my Bible (most of the time not, something I am trying harder to make happen, which is just my own stupidity) but not really stop and just let God’s presence overtake my day. Boy, I am so glad I did today. It was just a random thing and just what I needed. A few friends were on my heart that are going through a rough time and was able to pray for them. Seriously maybe 5 minutes but it felt like much longer and just more beautiful than I can put words to. Going to have to try this more often.

In other random heartfelt things.. my friend Klyn had a blog post the other day that was beautiful and very thought provoking. Here is part of it, but go check it out here to read it all! Made me stop and think, I need to not be so quick to judge others when they don’t have the same morals, priorities, or goals that I have!!

Everybody always thinks what they’re doing is important or they wouldn’t be doing it. But just because it’s a priority for them doesn’t mean it has to be for you, does it?…. But what if it’s a good thing? The world is FULL of good things…. But (that) doesn’t mean.. you have to do every single good thing that comes along, does it?

excerpt taken “Somebody Else’s Priorities” by Raquelle Sheen

Next post I will post some pics of the kids and what they are up too 🙂