First time mom, again.

Why did it take seven weeks with the new baby to remember exactly what I already went through with the first baby?  My anxieties have been high with Charlotte as if I haven't ever had a baby before.  The other day I think I finally relaxed a little and just enjoyed my babies.  I posted on Facebook that some days are just for holding babies and playing with toddlers...and the house could wait.  Before that though here are some of my anxieties.

She has acid reflux.
She wasn't sleeping at night.
She has really bad baby acne.
We are involved in more church functions and I don't want to let anyone down.
I have another child that is four and NEEDS my attention.
My husband still needs clean white T-Shirts.
My house is cluttered and someone is coming over.
My coupon pile is out of control and my budget needs me to organize it.
Noah hasn't been to story hour with Mommie in weeks.
I can't go anywhere with Charlotte in the car seat that she hates and screams in the entire time.
Noah is having potty training issues again.

I have been thinking everything (with my high expectations) still needs to be perfect.

The house must be clean.
My son cannot just sit and watch TV when I am tired.
I need to figure out how to console Charlotte.
I need to have dinner on time and with every food group.
I have to put on mascara every day.
If Charlotte is crying she is dying, so I must hold her ALL day.
I should be doing my chores or something other than resting on the couch while both kids nap.
My husband works so hard, I can't ask him to put away the clothes I folded today.
My husband works so hard, I can't ask him to clean up the kitchen while I nurse.
My husband works so hard, I can't ask him to ... this list goes on and on.  I am blessed with a husband that actually taught me it was okay to say what I needed so I could focus on Charlotte's needs.
I should be doing my chores or something other than resting on the couch while both kids nap.

I then remembered an article I had read by a blogging mom that I follow.  You can read it HERE.  I also had an ah-ha moment when my mom asked how I was and I said, "Tired."  She matter of factually said, "Well, you should be."  She was right.  That was the reality, why think I shouldn't be?

In the spirit of that article I will give my thought of the day.  Perfection is overrated and love in action is underrated.  Christ loves us, imperfections and all.  He knows there will be days we are tired, he knows there are days we won't come to him with "clean t-shirts".  He knows there are days we won't have an entirely "clean house".

I love being a mom, imperfections and all.  Why was I thinking I wasn't perfect...for now?

A light bulb!!

Today, as I lie on the floor after finishing Yoga for Abs (I must needs strengthen my back again after this last little baby, and oddly enough the Abs DVD does it) I looked up to the ceiling (i before e, except after c, my brain is thinking while I type).  A couple different thoughts ran through my head at that moment.

"Wow!  We need to repaint the ceiling!" 

"There are a few cobwebs up there!" 

"Those plant hooks have been there since we moved in, and we haven't EVER used them!" 

Last, but not least my eyes settled on one object.  THE HIDEOUS LIGHT FIXTURE!  I have hated that fixture since we moved in (oh, yes....that was almost 6 years ago).  It is ruining the fantastic relaxed feeling that I have right now.  It has had a crack in it since we moved in.  Why haven't I tried to replace it with anything?  So, in my love of all things PINTEREST....I went on a search.  Here are a few photos that I like.  I probably should narrow it down.

Source: shadesoflight.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

Source: thediyshowoff.blogspot.com via Sophia on Pinterest

Source: remodelista.com via April on Pinterest

Source: horchow.com via April on Pinterest

Source: homedepot.com via April on Pinterest

And...as I searched I found one that I would LOVE for the kitchen at some point!

 

Source: etsy.com via April on Pinterest

Well, I suppose now I need to go and finish being productive sorting out my coupons. 

Getting Ready for Baby

I also have been working on getting Noah's room ready to also accept little baby girl.  I want him to feel like I am doing as much for him as for the little one, so we took on a small little SUPER HERO project.  :)   Dollar Store picture frames, pictures printed out on card stock from the internet and a little spray paint (actually, in this case was just white primer) ...

 It was such a sunny day and with Noah's help (meaning he was staying busy swinging)...

Soon we will see them hung on the wall.  :)

Also,  let's just say my husband's favorite phrase right now is, "Nesting Much?!"  :)  So, yes...I have been re-organizing pretty much everything in this house.  The kitchen was this last week and I decided this time to take pictures.  I probably should have taken pictures of all the other projects I have been working on re-organizing as well!  :) 

Noah has been enjoying all of the open spaces my re-organizing has created...he has created his "headquarters" in quite a few cabinets.  Apparently one of them is now the sleeping bunk for his fire crew. 

A few Christmas crafts...

 I was frugal this year and made a lot of the presents for Christmas and thought I would post a few pictures of the things that I made.  Thank you to Pinterest for having so many fun ideas!  Thank you to God for giving me a minimal amount of creative talent and a love for it.  It was really fun to see an idea come to fruition. 

Homemade Christmas Cards for my Card Trading Ladies!

Stove top Potpourri - Orange, Lemon, Cinnamon Sticks, Cloves, Bay Leaf.

Menu Board - Cookie Sheet, Scrapbook Paper, Mod Podge and Magnets!

Jewelry Stand - Candlestick, Plate, Jelly Dish and E-6000 glue!

Key Cabinet - That's my dad and me at a much younger age!  :)

Scripture Boards - Post your memory verses for the week/month to either the clip, magnet board or cork board...use stickies or 3x5 index cards. 

Montessori Style Teaching

I really want to be able to teach Noah at home the way that he was learning before when he was at Koala Kids daycare.  A lot of the methods that they used there appealed to me.  So, I went online to see what I could find about sensory bins and activities that were life application activities, playing that was learning, etc.  I did a lot of research yesterday and a lot of the methods fall under montessori style learning/teaching.  I found a great website that I will be frequenting quite often (see HERE) and from there ping ponged all over the internet.  I learned so much in a matter of 2 hours (see, not all time on the internet is wasted) and I now probably need to find a way to use my excitement properly.

Today, we went to quite a few garage sales, and after reading about all the methods yesterday, the world of things opened up to me.  I found "sorting trays", fake money, a cash box, small stones, blocks, marbles, a pencil sharpener, and so much more.  I only spent $20 total (that included a small desk and a Mickey Mouse that Noah found) and we have such a good start!  I will have to definitely start honing in what our first "lessons" will be and I will need to arrange a "classroom".

I am putting this picture in here to bring up the question he asked..."Mom, are these humans, and what tray do they go in?!"

He did SO very good at sorting.  He was excited, I was proud.

Enjoy the pictures of all our fun finds and then I will post what type of kits or bins we make out of them.  I look forward to sharing our journey as part of this blog.  We will also have to find ways to make God a large focus as we learn.  More research will be needed.  :)

I conquered MOST of the Homemade pizza!

Well, I have made a few homemade pizzas that ended up like cardboard in the past - take out tasted better.  However, after a little research and  thanks to the recipes that others have shared online (love the internet), we ate a great pizza!  It was fun to make and yummy to eat!

I am sharing the recipes I found below and also few pictures of my triumph over the homemade pizza!

First, the bread dough was made in the bread maker (got to love that doing the work!)  It has such a fresh flavor to it, full of herbs and olive oil.  I found this recipe HERE.

Best Bread-maker Pizza Dough

1 1/3 cups water     

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon honey

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons cornmeal

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Directions:

1 Add ingredients to machine in order listed above.

2 Set to "Dough" mode (Mine has a pizza dough mode that takes less time.)

3 Once completed, place in greased pan to rise about 20-30 min, and split in half.

4 Put in Ziploc bags, stack flat to be used as needed. i.e.: parties or occasions. When needed slap on a cornmeal/floured surface, roll flat, and hand spin - GOOD FOR 2 DAY'S

5 Add light layer of sauce and pre-bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes.

6 Remove from oven and add toppings of your choice.

7 Bake in oven at 400 degrees until done (approx. 20 min, depending upon topping thickness).

Then the sauce was made.  I loved the taste of the olive oil in the sauce.  I found this recipe HERE.

Ingredients

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

Directions

1. Mix together the tomato paste, water, and olive oil. Mix well. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste, oregano, basil, and rosemary. Mix well and let stand several hours to let flavors blend. No cooking necessary, just spread on dough

Then we piled on our toppings - after second thought we MIGHT have put on a little too much cheese?  :)  Who can say no to fresh MOZZA - YuM!

 

So yummy that there were only 2 small pieces left!!!

Redesign, Rethink, Renew

I am redesigning this blog, rethinking what it's purpose should be, renewing my committment to writing in it.  I am going to writing it as a Christian, God fearing mom who is faithful, frugal, and committed to feeding her family well.  I have recently decided to start cooking in more of a meal planning mind frame rather than the last minute panic at 5 pm as I come home from work.  Sometimes the rush of getting something that is fairly homemade, good for family and fulfilling takes ownership of the night and I don't get to spend time with my son or I get frustrated with him as I try to do the opposite - please my boys with food.  So, the last week and a half have been my own adventure as I tried to plan ahead and have dinner be a little simpler on the household. 

There are a few things to consider at this house.   Monday is free night.  Tuesday is Grandma & Grandpa night where Noah gets to go visit and play with both his grandparents and his cousins.  Wednesday night is church.  Thursday is free night.  Friday is Reformers Unanimous - Mike and I started going as it is also a discipleship class and we would like to give back if we can as well.  We didn't always make the best choices and now that we are making much better choices perhaps we can help inspire others through making the right choices with God.  Saturday is free.  Sunday is church in the morning and the evening. 

Dinner last night was beef enchiladas - which have never been made in this house.  The beef I picked up on sale 2 weeks ago, stocked up, and froze.  The enchilada sauce at a sale a few months back.  The tortillas I did not get on sale - but should have!  :)  The cheese I had gotten on sale a month or two ago, it was a shredded Kraft Mexican mix and I had frozen it. The cream cheese (yes, I know...not traditional) I did get on sale.  It turned out so yummy that we will be incorporating it into our meal planning.  I served them with Lipton Spanish Rice (also purchased on sale) and on a bed of lettuce, topped with sour cream.  Here is the recipe:

Three Cheese Beef Enchiladas (thanks to http://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/)

 

• 1 1/2 cups shredded jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 ounces of cream cheese softened (I know that this is not authentic but it made them really creamy and good)
• 1 19 ounce can of red enchilada sauce
• 2 cups of cooked ground beef
• 8 to 10 flour tortillas

Combine 1 cup of jack cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, cream cheese, 3/4 cup (or so) of enchilada sauce, and beef. Mix until well combined. Pour about 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce into a 9×13 pan and spread it around. Than place about 1/4 cup of filling into each tortilla shell ( I just guessed on the amount here, it may have been 1/3 cup). Roll up and place in pan. Pour remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until heated through.

 

 Over the next few days I will post the other meals that we had that worked out so well.  Thank goodness for the internet and all the ladies that are willing to share their triumphs in the kitchen.  GOD BLESS!

 

SAVING...

COUPONS! COUPONS! COUPONS!

I have learned so much about saving money and I can't wait to just buy all my groceries for $20! For now I have saved a good percent of my grocery bills and it's exhilarating! Yesterday I bought 2 Bic Soleil Razors, 1 Shick Power razor, 1 toothpaste, 1 hair product, and 1 bag of chips all for $4!! How amazing is that! It takes a little bit of work, but it is so worth it!

I am going to post my pictures soon of my savings! I bet you all can't wait!

Hope...

I started writing this at work on Friday morning in order to send home and paste in here, but am late in posting it...so here is to Friday morning.

The sun is so bright this morning and it gives me hope for the spring. Hope for planting a garden and having grass in my backyard. Hope for a deck to sit on and drink coffee in the morning if I wanted to. Hope that I can watch Noah play in the yard in the afternoon with the dogs. Hope that I will actually use the apples off of my apple tree next fall in a pie or make applesauce. Hope that I can enjoy what God gave us to enjoy and work hard like we were meant to work to make what he gave us beautiful. I have HOPE this morning and that is a good feeling.

Simpler Life a sign of the times?

Today the wind and snow are literally blowing SIDEWAYS! Olivia – You had better be happy out there in the sun!

So, I read an article about a couple that decides to leave the LA style and life and moved to Oregon. They are working on his parent’s farm and living in an Airstream trailer. Here is the link to the story if you are interested. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/02/26/economy.survivor.farm/index.html. I find it interesting, inspiring, and am almost envious at the same time. What would it be like to start over and not have all the bills…could we live in a smaller home without sacrificing too much quality, and could we do that now that we have a child? I don’t know…I really don’t think that Mike could. No offense to my husband or anything but I do not think he could live out of a trailer…or wait a second, maybe that is what he would love to do. Sometimes I feel like I am living up to the expectations of others and not just living how I would like to live, and I know that there are times he feels the same way…what would it be like to again just sit at a coffee shop with a cigarette and a book/paper? The idea is appealing because it used to be so relaxing, but the reality is that I wouldn’t sit there and smoke because now that I quit I know what life is like without it.

Let’s get back to the story. Living on a farm (always wanted to do that), cleaning out the stalls (always envisioned myself doing that) and getting to spend time away from all the electronic devices (oh, to have my husband back.) I could grow my own garden and we would have farm fresh eggs…Noah could just go out and play in the mud whenever he wanted to and I would spray him off with a hose. The dogs…wow….the dogs would just be in dog heaven. This sort of sounds like when we lived in the trailer in the country when I was little…chasing frogs and water snakes. I know…it sounds…charming, doesn’t it?

Could you do it? For those of you reading my blog, answer back. Let me know your thoughts. Read the article.

GOOD MORNING!

I have been scolded enough into posting! Apparently people actually come to this page to R E A D it...who knew? I have been updating Noah's page much more frequently (www.noahzirraadventures.blogspot.com) and not so much this page. I just realized though that I have not updated this since December. A lot has happened since then. We traveled to Fort Meade, MD and went and saw Washington, D.C. and we had a great time with Mike's parents for Christmas! We came back and Noah has now celebrated his very first birthday! Hard to believe that he is actually a year old, that a year ago I gave birth to him and just how grown up he already is. Everyone always says to cherish the moments because they go so fast, and I feel I have cherished the moments and it has still gone fast!!!

You may be asking, well April ... enough about that, but what is your update?! Well, I think being a mom keeps you very busy and other than truly enjoying my time with Noah there is no big update. :) I would however say that I have been a little annoyed at people in general these days and the lack of respect that people have for each other. I have been annoyed that at 32 (yes, I turned one year older) I still have to play childish high school games with people to even get along. I have been on this kick where I have felt like it was ridiculous that I should have to even cater to the emotional insecurities of other people. Then, this last Wednesday at church we ran across I Corinthians 13. It is a chapter on Charity. Most of the newer versions of the Bible have changed the word to "love" rather than as it was truly translated in the King James Version as Charity. Charity is by definition "love in action." After reading that I am reminded that no matter the circumstances, emotional states, age differences, and general frustrations of others I am to be charitable. I don't always have to like everyone, but I am commanded to love them as a person, and to love them would mean that I also act in a kind and loving manner. So, if you all must know I am trying to put aside my instant human reaction to just say to everyone, "Grow Up!" and I am trying to live the right and be a loving, kind and charitable person. The person that I have always thought I was and should be, but have been struggling with as of late.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY everyone and remember that it isn't only enough to love but also to show that love through your actions.

YUMMY...

Try this recipe out! Mike and I found it while we were looking for low carb recipes and will use it forever.

Chicken Casserole Verde

INGREDIENTS

4 cups cooked chicken -- shredded or cubed
2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 tablespoon minced green onions
Can of green enchilada sauce
4 ounce can chopped green chiles
6 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
4 green onions, chopped (this is just to sprinkle on top)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees while you grease a full size baking pan and put the chicken in it.
2. Add the taco seasoning and mix the chicken around in it to coat.
3. Mix cream cheese with the onions/chives and green sauce in a medium bowl. Stir in the chiles.
4. Pour sauce evenly over chicken and top with the cheese.
5. Bake for 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with green onions.

Makes 6-8 servings.

NUTRITION

The original recipe poster was kind enough to include this:
Per 1/6 recipe: 432 Calories; 29g Fat; 38g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs
Per 1/8 recipe: 324 Calories; 22g Fat; 28g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 3g Net Carbs

And then....well....

Well, for the past three days I have thought diligently about posting and then ... well... life. I wanted to share a recipe or two and try to take pictures...and then...well...I forgot. We made a cake for my sister's birthday; a wonderful, beautiful, creative cake and then....well...we forgot to take a picture to put it on my blog. Tomorrow when I wake up I am going to work on the cure for my "and then...well..."

Part of that cure involves baby proofing the house. Any ideas anyone for all the things that have collected over the years that kids shouldn't touch and what to do with them? I don't want to keep telling Noah, "No, no...not Noah's!" I mean really the kid is going to start thinking he is in the wrong house.

This is Thanksgiving and I have to talk about things I am thankful for...what kind of person would I be if I didn't post something at all? I am thankful for my husband (even when I'm not), and I am thankful for my son. I am thankful to have family to go and spend time with...family that is disjointed at times but has so much fun together. I love that my family respects each other and cares for one another. I am thankful for my inlaws. I am thankful for mashed potatoes and rolls with gravy. I am thankful for my laptop! I am thankful for friends...I am thankful for a soft bed...and speaking of bed I am going to sleep. GOOD NIGHT ALL and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving Placemats

So today we made Happy Thanksgiving place mats to send off to Mike's parents in Ft. Meade, Maryland and to give to my mom here in Idaho Falls. It was fun...it would have been more fun had the baby not been teething and a little cranky right when we decided to be in the middle of it, but none the less it was fun. It was really neat to see the finished results. I used my CRICUT machine to cut out letters and the leaves. It was the Doodletype cartridge. We then used clear contact paper and construction paper. I can honestly say that I think that Mike's turned out the best! Well, I am now off to bed only to be awaken by the teething monster in probably like an hour. :) I love being a mom!!!

Yesterday's blog....wrote it at work...

I am writing this blog while I am at work, but will have to actually post it later on tonight. I just have to get this out while I am thinking about it. I just returned from voting at the Senior Citizen Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The women in there that were volunteering were elderly and as Mike and I sat there re-registering (we did register at the fair, but think it didn’t get sent in) we were razzing each other about remembering our old addresses. Mike was saying he wasn’t as high maintenance as me and I stuck my tongue out at him. I realized just how special those little moments are when the lady across the table said, “I don’t have anyone to argue with like that, I just argue with myself sometimes and it has been that way for years.” She was laughing as she said it and then the other lady agreed with her. I asked if they had pets and they both said that they didn’t. I am certain at some point they had someone to go home and fight with or stick their tongue out at. Those moments are special! Don’t take them for granted. Don’t waste them away. Fighting, crying, laughing, screaming, whispering, or just talking in brief moments ARE special and will never be replicated again. They may be mimicked, but never quite the same.

The other reason I am writing right now is that I just returned from voting at the Senior Citizen Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho! VOTING! This is a historic race and I was just a part of history. I JUST WAS a PART of HISTORY! No matter who you voted for you are a part of history this time around. I am so excited that I just had to write about it. Who wouldn’t take part and use the gift that we have as Americans to freely cast a vote for the person that we want to see in the office of PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES! It’s a right that people have fought and died for, people have marched for and petitioned for.

In Obama’s speech on February 10, 2007 he stated how I feel right now and I am going to change it a little bit to come from my heart.

We all made this journey to vote today for a reason. It's humbling and exciting, but in our hearts I know we didn’t come here just to vote Obama, we came here because we believe in what this country can be. In the face of war, we believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, we believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut us out, that's told us to settle, that's divided us for too long, we believe we can be one people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union.

I believe in change. The last time I respected a president was when I was little and probably only because of my dad talking about him. It was President Reagan. Since that time it has seemed that the presidency has been a joke! I want a man in office that I can respect, that drives a passion in me, that makes me believe that I am a part of a bigger event in this country. I don’t want someone that wavers back and forth, I want someone that stands firm for what they believe and fights for the majority of the American people.

What is me today...

This was on Melissa's post so I thought that I should fill it out too...

1. Where is your cell phone? Have no idea where I left it...
2. Where is your significant other? In the basement playing video games
3. Your hair color? Colored brown and blond
4. Your mother? Is a wise owl...always watching, always pulls through
5. Your Father? The man I respect more than anyone
6. Your favorite thing? Watching my son learn everything for the first time.
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember dreaming.
8. Your dream/goal? To travel and learn another language and have a baby girl.
9. The room you're in? Living room
10. Your hobby? Oh, if I had time...painting, refinishing, scrapping, etc...
11. Your fear? Losing my family
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Teaching people about God and farming...
13. Where were you last night? At home watching stupid Indiana Jones
14. What you're not? Hmmm....
15. One of your wish list items? A garden
16. Where you grew up? Idaho and New York
17. The last thing you did? Nursed by baby to bed
18. What are you wearing? Still in work clothes
19. Your T.V? All My Children
20. Your pet? Three (Kobe, Madeline, and Ms. Fynn Grey)
21. Your computer? Laptop Apple
22. Your mood? Tired and pensive
23. Missing someone? My sister
24. Your Car? Messy!!
25. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
26. Favorite Store? Barnes and Noble, Downeast Outfitters, and The Container Store
27. Your Summer? Not long enough...
28. Love someone? My husband and my family
29. Favorite color? Blue and Green
30. Last time you laughed? Today - at Noah.
31. Last time you cried? Last week

Cooking without White Flour...

Mike has been on this diet (mimicking the south beach diet) where you attempt to cut out as many carbs as possible and eat very healthy. I have since been trying to find ways to still make things I used to and not use the things I used to. CONFUSING, right?! So, tonight I attempted to make these muffins with flax seed meal...big mistake they were gross. So, now as I type the second attempt at a muffin is cooling. I made the muffins this time with almond and coconut flour...hopefully they will taste better than the last attempt. I might even make these into a strawberry shortcake if I like the recipe. So far we have tried almond pancakes, flaxseed crackers with parmesan, and biscuits made with egg and coconut flour (those tasted good...sort of like a bisquit scrambled egg!) I will keep you updated on the many attempts of low carb baking. I am sure that I will have many more...it is a lot of fun to experiment!

Ugghhh...second part of this post is that I have to dress up for stupid Halloween tomorrow. Yes, I said tomorrow (which isn't even Halloween) which is when my work does their dress up day. The highlight of the day (well there are truly two) is that my husband will be wearing a mullet and my son will be dressed like a tiger! Too much fun...Wish me luck!

Noah - Almost Walking

Good Morning to all...and I do mean morning because Mr. Noah does not know what a weekend is any different than what a weekday is. I am sure anyone that is a mom reading this knows what I mean when I say I dream of the days of sleeping in. To those that don't have children yet - don't. Okay, so we know I am joking...but just be aware that you will never sleep in again. Even when your husband says that he will get up with the baby...you will still be listening to see if he is doing everything right. Enough about that.

Noah is about to walk. He has taken random little steps by himself when he doesn't realize I let go, but not enough to say he is walking. He moves so quickly along the edges of things and cannot be trusted in the basement because if you turn around for a second he is up the stairs in a flash. He then turns around and tries to come down them face first...sliding.

He is also now trying to feed himself. We will be feeding him the cereal and his little stubby hand reaches out for the spoon...so cute! Until...he won't let go of the spoon and slams his whole fist into the bowl of rice cereal. It's like he is creating a paper mache casing for himself...that is how it dries! :)

I will try to post some pictures on here of his eating exploits especially for G'ma and Gi after we go to the kids maze today at the U-Pick barn.

I see a monkey!

Finding old friends and making new ones...I suppose it is a natural cycle of life, but often just feels awkward. I was talking to my husband's friends girlfriend (yes, a mouthful) last night and we were talking about the friends that you find, rarely, that understand the good and the bad of you. They love you unconditionally and they are willing to share their truths as well without judging you. Then you have the friends with whom you truly enjoy their company and yet you couldn't just sit and talk about the craving you had last night for a margarita and so you had one.

Basically, what I am saying is that everyone is human. We entered this life innocent and somewhere along the way let life take us in. By allowing that to happen we EXPERIENCED...crazy, happy, wicked, sexy, delightful, tantalizing, troubling, aching, pensive, unchartered, loving, tripping...etc. Once experiencing any and all of those things you don't just return to innocence. You may attempt to return and you may ask God for forgiveness, that however does not mean that you no longer ever dream, wish, long for those same things. It wouldn't be human to say that all things of your former life just disappear...believe you me...don't I wish. There is a quote by Malcom de Chazal that says, "Monkeys are superior to men in this: When a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey."

I say that we work to be true, honest, loving, kind and the best person that we can be with God's help, but realize that we are human. We will make mistakes, we will fall down and we all need the friends that notice that a listening ear and an outheld hand are our binding agents. I choose to see a monkey.

Painting Over Faults to see Amazing Potential...

When you look at something and see all the faults, dings and black marks, what makes some be able to see the potential and others to walk away? We have been painting my sisters new house and by new house I mean new to her and quite old in many other ways. The basement was so destroyed - dirty carpet, walls paneled in the seventies or eighties, and a cement floor with dings and paint splattered on it. We have been painting it bit by bit and as we leave for a minute to catch a breath of fresh air and return it slowly becomes a whole new place. Tonight we made it to painting the floor and it's a beautiful new basement. Not only does it become a cleansed, brand new basement...it becomes her new home, her way. Not scary, dirty, destroyed, but fresh colorful and full of potential. She didn't walk away. She saw the potential and is taking that opportunity in her hands and not letting go. She isn't only taking the opportunity, but doing something about it. She isn't just walking past it and dreaming of what it could be. She is making it what she wants it to be...she is taking the potential she saw and making it the dream. Isn't it amazing what can happen when you look past the faults and see the beauty?