It comes to an end...

Well, the 30 day blog-a-thon end winding down. Counting today, I have blogged on 24 out of 30 days. Not bad. I'll take it!

What I have learned:

1. I blog purely to share the funny things my kids do and say with my friends and family. I am not blogging to make money, generate a lot of hits, or for any other type of gain.

2. I often get trapped by feeling like I need to include a picture in every blogpost. This thinking tends to limit my blogging. I've learned I do not need to always include a picture, but they are nice!

3. I will not likely jump at any opportunity to attend one of the many blogger conferences - my time is precious and its just not something I want to devote a lot of time to.

4. I have a lot of stories that I do want to tell through the blog. I brianstormed a list of things to write about and after a month of consistent blogging, there are still a lot of stories left on that list.

5. Blogging is a great way to share stories, but also to reconnect with friends. My blog is a place to share triumphs, joys and even some failures. Why failures? Well, someone out there is finding a way to make it work and if we all share what makes it work - we might learn something!

6. I am still searching for that magic pill to do it all - be a good Child of God, Mom, Wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, employee, housekeeper, chef, blogger and artist. If anyone finds it - please let me know!

My Crafty Shortcomings

Sorry. Life has gotten in the way of keeping up with the blog challenge! I’m only about 5 days behind. Maybe there is still some hope for catching up?

I was inspired today by another blogger participating in the 30 day blogging challenge, The Vosberg View. Jill talks about how she feels like a failure as a mother because she is not crafty (and has little desire to be) then goes on to discuss how she overcame that by inventing a fun and definitely crafty scavenger hunt for her and her son. (BTW, would LOVE to see pictures of the finished product!) As I read the post, I was forced to think about my own craftiness and my shortcomings in that regard.

I’m quite the opposite of Jill. I am quite crafty and I want to be crafty. In fact, others might even say I’m talented in that regard. I love to put colors and textures together. I love to create whether it be with my hands and scrapbook paper, or with images on my computer, or even with fabric (MHS quilt club, anyone???). I have a laundry room of shelves that is chock full of scrapbooking supplies (my true crafty passion), a hard drive full of photos and journals full of page layout ideas, sketches, and journaling. I love to make gifts for my friends and family because homemade gifts truly come from the heart. I get my creative side from my Mom, without a doubt.

I can wander for hours through Archiver’s, Joanne Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby is my favorite for their amazing prices and for the endless inspiration that I find in their stores! Then there are the local scrapbook stores here in the Med City – again, I could fill up my cart and empty my pocket book in a hurry. Michaels – not so much. I just do not find that store inspiring. Sorry fans of Michael’s – I am spoiled by Hobby Lobby!

So, how am I a failure in my craftiness?

I rarely make time to celebrate and honor my craftiness. My scrapbooks are not even close to current. The pictures frames on the walls at home – do not contain pictures of Cameron. I just haven’t gotten around to it. I MUST get on that soon before he recognizes this and ends up on a shrink’s couch with a complex caused by this. He is nearly two and will begin to notice this shortcoming VERY soon! I have piles of half completed projects on my craft desk. I have endless lists of craft related things I want to do. I rarely find time to plan and do creative projects with Madison and Cameron (although Madison loves to do “praw-jects!”!).  I feel my spirit being pulled towards all things creative and then I feel let down because I simply cannot find the time. Sadly, that let-down can sometimes border on resentment.

There are noses to wipe, diapers to change, boo-boo’s to kiss, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, floors to scrub, dogs to feed and bathe, husband to spend time with, bills to pay, and investments to make. There are a million things that seem to require my attention more than my need to create.

And I can feel something missing in my soul as a result.

After a weekend of crafting, or even an evening of it, I always feel so much better. It is like the feeling of peace that you get after leaving Worship at Church. Like my soul has been filled and my spirit renewed.

So, my blogging friends, I ask all of you; how do you find the time to do the things that renew your spirit? Which of the spinning plates do you let fall to do those things, whether it be craftiness, spending time with those that you love, or pursuing other things that you enjoy?

What gives?

Since last January, I have been in the habit of getting up at 5am for a good walk/run on the treadmill. 

I have often professed my love for watching Netflix instant download movies on my laptop while on the treadmill.  Lord knows, its hard to stay on those things without a distraction!

Once spring came around and the sun was up at 5am, I abondoned the treadmill for an outdoor run/walk  with the dog.  I loved it.

As the summer wore on, however, I was tired.  Too tired for the 5am workouts.  I abandoned the workouts in favor of an extra hour of sleep and tried to walk the dog at least a couple times each week.  Some weeks, I succeeded.  Some weeks, I failed.

Now that summer is winding down and I have a winter cruise to look forward to, I vowed to get back to the 5am workouts at least 3 times this week.  Monday and Tuesday, I wasn't so successful.  The snooze alarm was my friend. 

Today was different.  Today, I got up, got my workout clothes on, grabbed my laptop and ran to the office and my treadmill.  As soon as I closed the door, Cameron started crying.  I waited a minute or two hoping that he would stop.  No luck.  I went to his room and tried to comfort him.  No luck. 

This kid was up for the day.  There was no turning back.  And no 5am workout for me. 

Crap.

Out of the mouths of Babes

In a recent conversation with Madison:

Madison: Mommy, you need to buy me some new dress up dresses. 
Mommy: you have like 6 dress up dresses, why do you need more?
Madison: They are all too big and they become BOOB DRESSES.  Really, Mommy, they do.
Mommy (a bit shocked): What exactly is a boob dress?

Bible Milestone Event

When Madison was baptized, we made a promise before God, our family, and our church family that we would place the Word of God in Madison's hands. 

On Sunday, we were able to do just that!  You might wonder why we have waited until Madison was nearly 5 to give her her first Bible.  Well, we waited because our wonderful Church, Bethel Lutheran, gives children a special Bible Bag in their first year of Sunday School and a beginner Bible when they enter their second year of Sunday School. They also receive an Adventure Bible when they enter 3rd grade and a Bible when they enter confirmation class. 

Madison made her first Bible Milestone event this year and received her Bible yesterday in a special service.  Up until this time, we have read stories from my Children's Bible that was given to me by my Grandparents.  She has always enjoyed the stories, but they are longer and more in depth than the stories in her new Beginner's Bible.  This new Bible is perfect for her!

She was asking and asking about when she would get her Bible in church for the two weeks leading up to the service!  She was definitely excited about it.  As a part of the service, we also got to take part in the music time that Madison experiences during Sunday School.  (At our Church, Madison is in class while we attend worship, so we never get to see what her music time is like.)  She was excited to sing her songs with us and the songs are definitely more fun than I remember singing in my own Sunday School class!

We are truly blessed to have a Church home that is so focused on helping us fulfill our baptism promises and that makes it so much fun for the kids to accept God into their hearts!

The right shoes

Will complete any outfit!

Chicken Wings

Last night at dinner Madison was telling me about fall. 

Madison: Mommy, its fall and if you go outside without long sleeves on, you get chicken things on your arms!

Mommy: Chicken things?  Like feathers?

Madison: No, chicken things.

Mommy: You mean chicken wings? How would your arms turn in to chicken wings?

Madison: Mommy, chicken things!  They are bumps that you get on your arms whwn you are cold!

Mommy:  Oh - that kind of chicken thing.  Do you mean goose bumps?

Madison: Oh yea!  You get goose bumps!

Lost and found

Last Sunday, the sermon in church was about lost and found.  I wish I had my Church bulletin, so I could site the exact scripture.  The scripture talked about how when we lose something as insignificant as a coin, we search and search until we find it.  Upon finding it, we are overjoyed and want to share our joy with others.  The same is true of God.  He is search and searching for us, like lost sheep.  When we walk in to His house, He is overjoyed. 

Pastor Wahl also told a story about a woman who unexpectedly lost her mother.  The woman always wore a charm bracelet that had been a gift from her Mom.  It helped her feel connected to the Mom that she lost.  One cold, winter day the woman trudged in to her workplace, pulled off her coat and gloves only to discover that she had lost the charm bracelet.  She instantly felt like she was losing her mom all over again.  She looked and looked to no avail.

Months later, a maintenence worker at the hospital where she worked found  her bracelet in a melting snowbank and returned it to the woman.  She was overjoyed.  It felt as if her Mom, or perhaps God, was speaking to her. 

The story made me think back to the previous week, when I too lost something special to me.  It was a single teardrop shaped opal earring.  The pair was my very first pair of "nice" earrings given to me by my Mom and Dad shortly after I had my ears pierced.  I had them pierced at the beginning of the seventh grade, and they were the first pair of earrings to go in my ears after removing the starters. 

I have had them for a very very long time and I wear them often.

Were they expensive or valuable?  Probably not.  But to me there were very valuable.  They were special because they were a gift from two people that time and distance often separate me from.  They helped me to feel a connection. 

I too felt like the woman in Pastor Wahl's story.  She felt like she lost someone special to her.  And thats how I felt two weeks ago when Madison said "Mommy, you're only wearing one earring" and I discovered it was missing.

Like the woman, I searched and searched.  I checked the carpet at home, my clothes, my jackets.  All in hopes that the earring had gotten stuck in them.  My search proved fruitless.

Like the woman, I was sad and certain that I would never again see the earring.  I felt a great loss and wondered what I would do with the lone mate to the missing earring. 

Yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder if God was speaking to me through Pastor Wahl's sermon last Sunday. There were so many similiarities between the woman's story and the loss of my earring.  The woman's bracelet was found by a kind and thoughtful maintenence worker at the hospital where she works.  In the medical facility where I work, a kind and thoughtful maintenance worker found my special earring while vacuuming my office on Wednesday night and left it where I would easily find it today.

You can imagine my surprise and joy at finding the earring sitting right there on my desk!  I wanted to call my friends and shout "I found my earring!"  I felt like I imagine God must feel when he finds us.

I am still convinced that God is trying to talk to me.  I am listening, but I'm not yet sure what He is trying to tell me.    

So cute

The only thing cuter than this......

Is this.

Nine years ago today

And I would do it all over again.

I scream, you scream; we all scream for ice cream!

No Mamma, I did not take an ice cream cone without asking.

What would make you think that?

Want some?

Uh - sorry.  Too late.

Flip Flop Fun

Madison had her first sleepover last Friday - with her sweet friend, Molly.  We ate Pizza for dinner.  Ice cream for desert, watched a movie and made a fun flip flop project!

I bought plain cheap flip flops, bright pink ribbon, pink scrapbooking flowers and bling.  I poked a small hole in the top of the strap and we adhered the flowers with a brad.  Then we wrapped the ribbon around the straps, mostly to cover the back of the brad, so it wouldn't rub on the feet.  Then we added bling. 

The bling didn't last long - but it was still fun!

They turned out so cute, I just might have to make a pair for myself!  It was a very fun and inexpensive project for the girls! 

First Day of Sunday School

Today was the first day of Sunday School.  This bad mom, however, did not bring her camera this time!  The pictures are from last year! 

We never have to worry about our sweet girl being shy or apprehensive.  Today, just like on her first day last year, she quickly found her room and shooed us away to attend services.  She would be just fine on her own! 

Today she came home singing "this is the day!"  When I tried to finish the verse of an old favorite, she was shocked that I knew the song she learned in Sunday School.  She said I couldn't have possibly learned that very same song when I was in Sunday School, we MUST have sang it in church.

This is the day that the Lord hath made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it! 

Missing you

Two years ago today, you went to rest in the arms of Jesus.  I still miss you every single day. I love you, Grandma 'Doon.

Encouraging the Elmo Obsession

I love adding fuel to the fire!  Cameron was so excited to get a new Elmo backpack! 

Happy Birthday, Mason

My first nephew turns 5 today!  Happy Birthday Mason! 

Mason at age 3

Mason at age 2

Mason at Age 4

Madison (2 weeks) and Mason (7 weeks)

Mommy, I had a dream

On Memorial Day, Madison woke me up by saying, "Mommy, I had a dream last night that I borrowed a girl's bike and could ride without training wheels."

I thought back to the previous day's exciting milestone and said "That was not a dream, Madison.  You can ride a bike with no training wheels."

She didn't quite believe me.

Even when I showed her the training wheels that Daddy had removed from her bike - sitting there on the kitchen counter in the camper. 

"See, Madison.  Your training wheels aren't on your bike anymore.  You don't need them."

She didn't believe me and had to run out and try for herself!

Now, she is constantly saying "I can ride a bike without training wheels!"  Just in case the rest of us forget....

Growing up too fast!

First - ACK - I missed my post yesterday.  I had it all planned, but did not feel well and just never got to it.  I'll post twice today to make up for that.

My baby girl is growing up way to fast for me!  At just four years old (5 in October!) she hit an important milestone over the Holiday weekend - and both Mike and I missed it! 

Madison learned how to ride her bike without training wheels! 

How do parents, especially Father's, miss this?  Aren't they supposed to run behind, holding the seat until they are ready for you to let go?  And aren't we supposed to be unwilling to let go? 

Madison has two bikes - one at home that is way too small for her and a larger hand-me down at the camper.  We told her that she couldn't get a new bike for home until she learned to ride without training wheels.  She was supposed to practice at the camper this summer while Mike gradually raised the training wheels higher.  After an incident with an exploding rear tire, Madison was a little reluctant to practice.  This weekend, however, was different.  She wanted to practice but was really struggling to keep the bike balanced.  She just wanted those training wheels off and Daddy was just not willing to take that step yet.  (his equivalent to holding on to the seat!)

Madison has never been one to be held back.  Since it was a Holiday weekend, there were a lot of weekenders in the park last weekend.  Madison befriended a little girl.  The two of them were riding their bikes back and forth between the weekender site and our permanent site - checking in with their Mom's every few minutes.  I was sitting around the campfire with friends and Mike was taking care of the boat at the time.  On one trip to the weekender site, Madison spotted the girl's sister's bike that didn't have training wheels on it and asked if she could try out the bike.

Madison jumped on the bike and that was it!  No training wheels, no Daddy holding the seat and running behind, no Mommy snapping pictures and taking flip videos.  None. 

Madison breathlessly ran up to me saying "I can ride a bike with no training wheels, come watch me!"

Daddy returned a few minutes later and he was instructed to remove those training wheels. 

Madison has not stopped smiling since - she is so proud of herself and she can't wait to go shopping for her new bike!

Reactions to Elmo - Compare and Contrast

Although I am probably damaging my kids for life, I LOVE to compare their personalities, reactions, and the things they do.  It must be fun because, while these two looked excatly alike as babies (right down to the crazy hair!), they are complete opposites.

Madison = drama queen
Cameron = Easy going, laid back, go with the flow.

See what I mean? 

Cameron has recently discovered a love for books (more on that in another post!).  Through that love for books, he has come to know Elmo and has become obsessed.  O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D.  He suddenly loves everything Elmo.

So, in an effort to provide him with toys featuring the character he loves, I have been scouring our house for Elmo related stuff.  I spied the tenth anniversary Tickle Me Elmo on a shelf.  You know the one...each time you press his belly,  his giggles get progressively cuter.  You can't help but smile  as you hear him giggle, especially when he turns over on his stomach and pounds the floor with his hand.  

Next time you're in a bad mood?  Drag out the tenth anniversary Tickle Me Elmo.  It will brighten you day for far less money than retail therapy, alcohol therapy, or the real kind of therapy that involves, well therapists.

So, I dusted off the Tickle Me Elmo and raided Mike's battery stash.  I proudly set Tickle Me Elmo down in front of Cameron and eagerly awaited his  reaction.

He pointed to Elmo.  "Mel-Mo," he said.

Oh this is gonna be good, I thought.

I remembered Madison's reaction when she received him for Christmas.  I think she was just over a year old....

We had searched high and low for this Elmo - he was THE toy that Christmas.  A friend finally found him at a Toy's 'R Us in South Dakota.  He was the last present for Madison to open.

As she got the wrapping tore off, she SQUEALED the moment that she saw the first hint of red fur.

SQUEALED.  It was complete and utter delight.

It was the reaction that every parent hopes for when they give their child a gift.

I don't know why I thought it would be the same with Cameron.  Because Cameron is NOTHING like his sister.

Cameron was standing next to me, as I sat on the floor.

I reached across and tickled that adorable fuzzy red belly. 

Elmo started to giggle.  He giggled until he fell to the floor, sat up again, and leaned forward to stand up.

As I am watching Elmo and giggling to myself, Cameron is FREAKING out.  The kid clamored into my lap and proceeded to climb up my chest, grabbing me around my neck and head and trying to climb farther.  All in an effort to escape the crazed furry red Elmo.

"No Mel-Mo," he sobbed as he stuck his finger in his mouth and drooled.  "No Mel-Mo!"

He looked a little like this picture...

So what did I do?  I kept tickling Tickle Me Elmo, of course.  Because we all know it gets funnier each time.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Grandma!  We love you.

Time out!

Time out.

Is no fun.

Until....

It's time for hugs from Daddy.

60 lb dog?

When we adopted Windsor from Small Dog Rescue of MN, they told us he would not be a small dog.  They warned us that he would easily be a 60 lb dog!  Of course, when he was just a puppy, it was hard to tell.  I kept telling everyone that he was so short, I did not see a 60 lb dog in him!   

And it turns out that I was right.  At nine months of age, Windsor stands about calf-high!  He is very short and long.  He is the PERFECT size for a house dog!  He is pretty solid and weighs close to 30 pounds but he is no where near 60 lbs! 

Windsor falls somewhere between sweet pup and gremlin.  One minute, he is cute and cuddly and the next, he is evil.  By evil, I mean he jumps up on people and small children, he eats plants (and trees!), he cannot tell the difference between his chew toys and the kid's toys.  Oh...and he still sometimes poops on my floor.  See what I mean?  Part Gremlin.  

Although I could do without the poop, I'm not sure how we'd get by without Windsor! 

Blog-a-thon Day 2 Summer Checklist

Chase my little brother, run from my big sister.

Check.

Become terrified of the Santa Claus wearing black crocs and duct taped boots.

Check.

Run through the sprinkler.

Check.

Ride side-car with my big sis.

Check.

Finish the summer reading list.

Not quite.

Go on a High Seas Expedition at Bethel's Vacation Bible School.

Check.

Catch some rays.

Check.

Catch some fish. And blow some bubbles.

Check and Check.

Mow the lawn.

Check.

Blog-a-thon Day 1.

Happy birthday to my brother, Tyler! Both of these pictures are of him with sweet Madison. When did she get so big??

I honestly believe that Little Madison has more hair than Tyler does in this picture!

Ty - I hope you have a fabulous day! Happy Birthday.