Feb-April happenings

Well time does really fly around here. I am starting to agree with the statement "your kids are the age of  oldest child". We rarely have a dull moment around here.  We are excited to turning the corner on the weather front. Its kind of at the point were every few days we get a really great warm day. In March we kept super busy. Girl Scouts always keeps me (and my family) on our toes. March was our big booth sales, which this was our first year doing that. The girls seemed to really enjoy it. I, as the leader, enjoy that the girls are actually selling. There are some more rules about girl scouts then when I was a kid, they do not promote going door to door anymore.

March also brought St Patrick's day in which we made our traditional corn beef and cabbage. We also made some rainbows, which is fun. These past few months we have been lacking in the craft department. Mostly, because E is beat after school. She is like a train reck most days, we just need to have a cool down time. Also I have added a few things to help her improve her writing skills. She also started piano this past year so she practices often. She has been managing her time pretty well, but still needs so reminders. I made a little reminder sheet for her which has worked out well for her. Also R always wants to get right to playing with E when she comes home. That has been a bit challenging.

April has been going by quickly. First off Easter, the most amazing time of year. I just love the newness  that Easter brings. That we are all saved through what Jesus did for us, if we choose to accept him. It always amazing me the persecution  he went through to save us, the people being hurtful, physical pain,  doubt of his disciples...but he still loved us so much to go through all of it for you and me. Its like every hurtful thing I can think of, he went through at some point for me. Its amazing. Here we are getting hung up on our little hurts and he went through hurts we will most likely never have to endure. It really puts things into perspective for me.

For Easter my daughter and I had some fun making treats. We made these cheese cake cookies. Super simple to make the link is here:http://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/2014/04/02/fruit-cheesecake-sugar-cookie-cups/. We also made some chocolate covered peeps, which was a lot of fun and even more simple.  I recently got a double broiler which was nice for melting the chocolate. So much better I believe. I have done the microwave it works ok if you stir constantly. Also dipping the sticks in the chocolate to have the peeps stay on the sticks helped a lot. My kids hard a ton of fun with it.

April also has brought some yard work, birthday parties, girl scout field trips, projects at home, 5k for brain cancer, baby showers, a wake, a visit from lifelong friends, lots of meal making for those in need around me, PADS ending, bible studies finishing up, good bye parties of good friends that are moving soon.
 Currently I am finishing up a bible study at my home, we did The Best Yes. I really have enjoyed it. The most important thing I have picked up from it, and I have blogged about respecting peoples no's here: http://motherhoodandtheinbetween.blogspot.com/2014/06/no-means-no.html , is not to delay your No answers, respect others No's and not to answer right away (pray first) but as soon as you know the answer respond.

Last weekend my neighbors and I threw a bird themed shower for a wonderful couple that we have become great friend with, they adopted a little girl. The shower bird themed. It was just perfect I believe, I just love the way we all worked together. I was in charge of the favors, I made these bird seed favors. Very easy to make, the directions are here: http://www.pinkpistachio.com/homemade-birdfeeder/. Others did a bird themed trivia game, a sign in sheet and the S and our craft was making a block set for the family.


Early in the year I finished up a study at my church on Gideon with Pricilla Shier, I really enjoyed. Right now we are finishing up a study called "Conversation Piece" It really has challenged me to be more intentional with my speech. I have loved it, I recommend it.

We are also finishing up AWANA in May  that my whole family attends, AWANA has a been a blessing to my whole family. Seeing my children's spiritual growth through AWANA and other sources has been amazing. I have gained some great relationships through AWANA and the children that are impacted. They are really writing God's word in their hearts.  I really see God working through this ministry.

May is going to bring some slow down with the end of school. We are all looking forward to some summer plans we have coming up, swim lessons, swimming, camps, VBS, camping, visiting family. It will be a fun filled summer.

Happenings...

Its been a long while since I have blogged. So here is a bit of a update.

Halloween was a fun time. My daughter just loves dressing up and seeing all our neighbors. It was very cold this year. But she was set on getting a ton of candy, which she did.  My husband was a trooper and took her all over. My 2 year old and I did a bit and ended up coming back. He was not so into the cold. We spent a lot of time in September/ October visiting apple/pumpkin farms. Its one of our favorite family fall traditions. Fall is my very favorite season, and I just love the excitement of my kids when we do these things.  Apple cider, warm doughnuts and crisp apples...thinking about this is getting me excited for next fall.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful. My daughter and I  did all sorts of projects. cooking, crafts.  For Thanksgiving my parents came to visit. My husband and my Dad worked on some projects, we were thrilled to get some work done. My mom and I spent about 2 days getting our Thanksgiving dinner together. I was so thrilled to have them and my uncle/cousin come over for dinner.  Soon after Thanksgiving we got to celebrate my beautiful grandma in Laws birthday. Such a sweet occasion. Christmas was wonderful. My daughters love language is quality time (not unlike me) and she had all sorts of ideas with Christmas crafts, baking and gingerbread houses...which ended up falling apart. For some reason this is just one thing I can not master. But out of love of my daughter I do it each year.  The Christmas season is so joyful. I also made many gifts this year, boot toppers, chalk boards and silver trays, body scrub, soup jars and ornaments of course. My daughter, Mom and I made these beautiful nativity sets for Christmas too.

We had so many fun thing we do such as caroling with the girl scouts, holiday walk in our town filled with fun activities, a huge extended family Christmas party (that I vow each year to brush up on my holiday trivia and forget too), and a very fun cookie decorating/craft christmas party at my home with the girl scouts.  On Christmas eve we headed to my in laws early in lou of a storm that ended up not happening and spent the day there and on Christmas. Getting there early aloud us to see my sister in laws lovely new home. We had our 2nd annual day in our PJs. I just love being home on Christmas and taking it easy. Afterward we had a my favorite week of the year, The week between Christmas and New Years, my husband takes the week off and we stay home, go out to eat, take it easy after all the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

January was a rough month for me, I am a leader of many things such a bible study I hold at my home, AWANA leader, Girl Scout leader and active in my daughters class. Besides being a leader I am in other things such as Coffee break (bible study at my church), a titus 2 mentoring program through my church, ABF and a mom's group GEMS.  I ended up getting very sick for about 3 weeks.  I had to cancel or pull through a lot of things. Throughout the month I was just praying I would get better for our upcoming vacation to visit my parents/grandma and disney trip. Luckily I felt much better just a few days before we left and we had an amazing trip.

Superbowl sunday we had a blizzard which was beautiful, cold and dangerous. I love all the seasons, and I love a good snow day at home. We ended up still having friends over for the Superbowl.  I am not a huge sport person. I can appreciate it though. A lot of times I end up just knitting or doing a project when its on.  Anyway I did not do as much food as I usually do since we were getting geared up for our upcoming trip. But I ended up liking the low key-ness of it. I seem to over do parties sometimes since I just love planning parties, cooking and hosting any event really.

Which bring me pretty much up to date. My parents recently moved to Florida by the ocean. We have been going on a disney vacation about every other year or so since we became parents. This was our 4th trip in 6 years. This was our first trip driving the 18.5 hours to Florida. It was such a better experience then flying and having our car etc. I dreaded this drive for a very long time, but my kids were AMAZING. I have a 6 year old and a 2.5 year old. Anyway on the way there we drove it in 2 days and on the way home we did it in one day. We were forced to do so due to upcoming weather but it went well.  My kids were tired since we left at 5am and from the long trip so they napped a lot. We were in Florida for 8 days and disney for 4 days.  I will post about what worked for us in Disney and in the car.  Having a trip with grandparents was priceless! The memories that were made were so special. When I was a child my grandparents went on vacation with us or took just  the grandkids on vacation. Those are some of my most prized memories. Being able to have my kids have those memories with their grandparents brings me such joy.

Yes we were in Florida for Valentines Day, which was nice because the hubby and I got to have a little date without having to pay for a babysitter. It was a bit brisk that day but we ended up eating by the water for lunch, hitting up an art festival and just walking by the water. It was lovely to have that time as a couple (thanks Mom and Dad).  Especially after a busy week of Disney World and visiting family. I would have to say one of my favorite things has always been spending time with my grandma. She is my last living grandparent. As a child/teen I would always love a visit from my grandparents. She has always been a early riser, although I am not a morning person, I would get up super early to just chat with her. So spending this time with her was so meaningful. Especially since I lost my grandfather last year, it really made me see the importance of time. Isn't that the thing we are all wanting, more time. For me, it has always been real genuine quality time I crave with those I love. I think I had that with her and my parents.

We came back from our awesome trip Sunday about midnight. My daughter and husband still had Monday off and we spent the day getting things back to normal, unpacking, getting our dog etc. I loved our vacation, and I so needed a break from the norm of cooking, housework etc..but one thing that is so true is that there is no place like home.

DIY:Fake water vases

I was at HomeGoods the other day. I picked up one of those fake water plants, thinking this is cute decoration..maybe I will get it....the price SHOCKED me...$180.00 for a vase with fake water!! At HomeGoods which is suppose to be inexpensive. I got to thinking, I could make that and so I have!!

Here is what you need:

Vase--use one on hand, but a craft store, get a the dollar store, check thrift stores--few dollars

Quick Water $7 (12.99 with 40% off coup from Michael's)

Flowers 4 dollars for a bunch (with 25% off coup)

Wire cutters (had a home)

The process: 

Get supplies together

cut flowers to make them the length you would like

Cut leaves to make them as or not as not "leafy" as you would like

Mix quick water according the the directions--the two bottles together in a plastic bowl (please READ directions)- STIR SLOWLY (I used a old yogurt tub to mix in and squeezed in in the middle to keep it from going on the sides like the directions said..just toss the yogurt container afterward)

postion flowers and let set for 8-10 hours

And there you have it for less then 10-20 dollars (depending on your vase).

Enjoy and have some chocolate :)

Putting the Spouse First

Hello all, today is a cool October day here in the Chicagoland area. We even had a few snow flurries this morning. I know may will not like it...but I LOVE this weather. I just love the cozy warmness of my home, warm drinks, good company of family coming to visit. Its my favorite kind of day.

This morning as my husband watched the news and drank a cup of coffee gearing up for the day. We watched a segment about parents who put their Children above their spouses. Of course they had a panel of "experts" that weighed in on the study that showed that it was not healthy for the family and leads to divorce.  Of course no mention of God came in the segment, but here are my thoughts on the matter.

My belief is that I structure my priorities as like this: 1. God 2. Husband 3. Kids then everything else. I truly believe that when you love God more then anything everything else really comes naturally. This being said I still want to be intentional about making my husband a bigger priority then my children. Sigh, I probably lost a lot of you over this last statement, but please here me out.

When we love God with all our heart, soul and do not lean on our own understanding(luke 10:27/Deuteronomy 6:4)....we learn to love something that is bigger then us. We learn to love unconditionally. First we need to make that choice to move on to loving our husbands.  Next when we love our husbands. When we love someone that is not perfect and that is flawed (like we all are).  Putting your husband first sounds like you are saying you love your children less, it is the complete opposite.

I believe that showing that love to our husband teaches our children how to love unconditionally and that they will not get everything they want. Which leads me to my next point..many parents think that love means giving children whatever they want, signing them up for everything, having them in every activity, driving them all over the place, giving them all the time you would have with your husband, having them be the best at everything and striving to make them above average. When we do this what are we teaching our children? We are teaching them that they should have everything they want without waiting/working for it (which is why many young adults are in debt), that they should have something to do constantly, that they are the number one priority and their happiness is above others, that they have to be great at every thing, and  that other things/people are more important then marriage (which leads to divorce). These are just some things that are being taught without anything being said.

This is not what I want my children to think about when they think about my love for them and my love for my husband. I want my kids to see that through loving God and my husband that I am a person that they can talk to, that they can come to in times of need, that they can fail and I will be there, that they can talk to me at about anything with a loving/open heart..these are just some of the attributes I want my kids to learn about love.

Here are some ways I feel like prioritize my husband:
1. I let him lead the family and back him up (with discipline, explanations, rules etc)
2. We have alone time when are kids are home and tell them its our alone time
3. We are affectionate around our kids
4. I honor his wishes
5. I cook his favorite meals even if my kids do not like them
6. I praise him in front of my children and others
7. I make eye contact with him in all situations (eye contact can do wonders :)

I know its the road less traveled, but I really and truly believe that it is best for the family unit as a whole.

Let's get organized

Happy fall!!! This is my favorite season. Warm drinks, cool air, soup, knitting...some of my favorite things. I also seem to get in a organization mood in the beginning of each season. 

I do not know about you but I just hate paper flow of disorganization!  I have tried many different system. Now that my daughter is in school, we get so many paper items. So I decided to try a new system. I love it so far, I have NO loose papers on my counter any longer.  I modeled off of this great post from the nest effect: http://www.thenesteffect.com/2011/10/october-project-conquer-paper-clutter.html

Here is what you need 

File folder box

hanging file folders

Print out of your monthly night time activities/tape

folders

Pouch

Super simple. Just make your tabs...if your interested in my tabs they:

Incoming mail

Outgoing mail

To file

Bills

reciepts

coupons

Grocery ads

recipes

Family members names

School work

Church/faith

After I made my tabs, I printed out a calendar on Word just putting in our monthly night time/weekend plans.  I taped the plans to my box, so it is easily seen by all.

Next for my coupons I used 2 folder. I use to coupon a lot more then I do now. But I still like to keep/use the ones I get. I put both folders inside the hanging coupon folder for easy access.

In one folder it is for retail stores. One side is for FREE items/rewards/vouchers and the other side is for any coupons I get in the mail.

the next folder is for resturants/actitivy coupons

-one on each side.

Lastly I put a pouch in for loose coupons, I use to be way more into couponing....now i just have a few here and there I do not want to loose. 

DIY hand painted sign

I have been wanting to make a DIY painted sign for years! Not sure why it took so long...must be the little ones running around and sheer exhaustion during nap time with lack of sleep. But I finally got the chance. This is a super easy project and may even go on my wish to sell one of these days when I get myself together and get a etsy shop going....Anyway here is the how too...

Need:

Long Board, this one was about eight feet (really whatever size thin board that will fit your space, it was bought at home depot)

White or off white paint

Paint markers, I used black

Print out in the type of font/size you want (I just made in on word)

Scissors

Pen or Pencil

Steady hand

backing (bought at home depot)

The process:

1.Paint board the color you would like.

2. Let dry completely (couple hours..great time to have a warm drink and grab some quiet time)

3. print out your saying mine says "In Christ alone my hope is found"

4. Tape saying to board

5. Trace works hard with pen/pencil to get a indentation

6. in GREAT light (and in my case without my 2 year old around, he would definitely want to grab everything) use your markers to color the words in carefully

7. put a backing on the board

8. hang it up and admire your great work

painting my board

Paper taped to my board

all done on..great to move inside on a table to paint the words..make sure you have AMAZING lighting for this project...good sunny day

Calling All Pickle Lovers: Refrigerator Pickles

A few years back I made some awesome pickles while my daughter was in school. She has been wanting to make pickles with me for quite some time. This past weekend we finally had a mommy/daughter date and made pickles. I made them a bit differently..so we made DELICIOUS refrigerator pickles. I did it this way is because I didn't trust that my 6 year old would not contaminate the jars and I thought 3-6 months might be a long time for her to wait to try them out. Honestly I love these better then the ones I made with the whole canning processes.

Here is the recipe I used... I adapted it from: redefined mom

Ingredients:

pickle cucumbers, the little guys (I had about 4 pounds for 8 jars)

Seasonings: (to put in each jar)

ground pepper- about a teaspoon (eye ball it)
dash of red pepper depending on the heat you want
Fresh dill, big pinch for each jar
fresh minced garlic depending on how many you make about 1/2 clove per jar

Brine: (makes 6-8 jars)

6 tablespoons Kosher Salt
4 Tablespoons  Sugar
2.5 cups distilled white vinegar.
4 cups cold water

The process:

1. cut pickle cucumbers how you like pickles. We did spears.
2. add seasonings above to each jar
3. make brine by first combining all brine ingredients except the water
4. stir the brine until sugar/salt  is dissolved
5. add water, give it a few stirs
6. pour into jars
7. close jars, shake them a bit (after closed of course)
8. put in fridge for about 24 hours
9. keep refrigerated





They stay good up to 1 month. These are so good I doubt they will make 2 weeks in my house.

Enjoy!!!