This is the worst day EVER!

There's a new phrase that floats around this house lately...

Any time Jenna is really upset about something, she does a girly growl, clenches her fist, and yells, "THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER!"

Pretty sure we are on WORST DAY #87 now...wonder which one really WAS.

Picture a day Challenge--260

6:58 p.m...Early bedtime anyone?

It's 6:58 p.m.

I am sitting in my pj's, eating a white chip macadamia nut cookie, sitting near a pile of warm laundry...and best of all, my kids are asleep.

Our nap timing was bazerk today, and they were ALL EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. It's also test week...which makes for long days and evenings alone. Let's just say that everyone was fed, bathed, and eating our almost nightly bowl of popcorn by 6:00 p.m. :)

My sweet little Spencer is showing me that he is going to be just like his brother. Gonna be into anything he can get his little hands on. :) Our craft cupboard is babylocked...and today it just didn't get shut tight.

It wasn't until I was snuggling Spencer this afternoon when I realized his face was COVERED in glitter. I couldn't figure out where it came from...until I saw this...

But at the end of the day there are no more messes. No more glitter. No whining, or crying, or fighting. Just peace and quiet...and it's kinda nice. :)

And speaking of the end of things...

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS MONTH IS OVER? Hello!!! GONE, just like that!
I find myself doing a double take sometimes, wondering how life passes so quickly. I guess it isn't just about life passing so quickly, it is about needing moments to evaluate where I am at, what my goals are, and how I can better myself. This morning, I found myself feeling emotionally stuck between a rock and a hard place--just wondering WHAT I was feeling, why, and how I could feel PEACE again.

During morning naps, I locked myself in my room and had myself a good ol' cry-it-out prayer. It has been a long time since I feel like I have talked to my Heavenly Father that way--so honest and real--pouring my heart and soul out while tears ran down my cheeks. I knelt there pleading for forgiveness, expressing my love for so many blessings, sharing all my feelings of inadequacy and frustration.

I felt so much relief.

And through the day, I have seen changes and felt lifted. I really feel my plea to be able to "get it together" was answered...at least for today. My house is cleaner, I felt more patience with my children, and was able to put aside all the turmoil from this housing situation.

How our Heavenly Father KNOWS US! He knew my need for prayer. REAL PRAYER. I felt so healed in those few minutes alone. I just wish I didn't put off this kind of comfort and relief until I am at my breaking point. And I wish I didn't allow my prayers to feel empty more often than not. All stuff to think about...to ponder...and to change.

Serious issues...

My kids have serious issues...Remember when I said Kaden wouldn't sleep without 18 million things in bed? Here's proof:
And Jenna seems to have caught on to this crazy lifestyle. She even tied her My little Pony up to her bed right next to her...and notice the dump truck with the baby...and the backpack...and the sippy...and who knows what else!? :)

Serious, serious issues. :)

Other serious issues I have: housing. I feel like we are at a standstill. There isn't much we can do right this second and it's frustrating. I have gone to look at several places in several neighborhoods and it has been a rude awakening as to what types of people live where. :) I actually hate that feeling. SO MUCH of me wants to just accept that there are good people in every neighborhood--regardless of age, job occupation, color, or gender. But as I sat on the porch of one house today, waiting for the landlords to come show it to me, I honestly felt fearful. Watching a couple teens with their baggy jeans and long chains walk by, and the run down cars driving past gave me the heebie-jeebies. It all just made me wonder...wonder how safe it was. I wish I didn't wonder. I wish I didn't feel judgemental for feeling how I felt.

It HAS kind of been interesting to go check out all these places. Kind of like my own version of the show "House Hunters". And actually tonight, I found the DREAM rental. I mean, DREAM DREAM DREAM rental. ABOVE and beyond what I could have EVER expected. We are just seeing if all the details will really work out...I am doubting though. Trying not to get my hopes up too high, because this would be more than I could have EVER asked for! --thinking happy thoughts--but knowing at the same time that things might not work out.

--Sigh--wish I had never driven past that darn gem in the first place! Then I wouldn't know what I could be MISSING! :)

And after all this stressing, looking, and blogging, I am exhausted. Wait, don't I say this EVERY night? It's true...plain ol' tired.

Signing off...for hopefully a good 8 hour sleep.

Picture a day Challenge--259

I am thinking that after we move, we will be ditching the toys and keeping the boxes. HOURS were spent climbing in and out of these today... :)

Muscles

Can I please sit out the next day of my life? Can I find myself snuggled in bed sleeping till I can't keep my eyes closed one more second...because right now I don't know if I can keep them OPEN one more seond.

Lack of sleep and lots of stress is totally catching up to me. Am plain exhausted...

And so, since I can hardly think straight, I have a funny to share courtesy of our sweet little inquiring mind: Jenna.

Having one bathroom makes it tight sometimes when we are getting ready in the morning. A few days ago, Brandon had gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed when Jenna ran through the house needing to use the potty. He was about to put his shirt on when she barged in-- Stopping mid-run, shde pointed to his chest and said "what are those daddy?" Misunderstanding exactly which body part she was pointing at, Brandon stood tall and proudly replied "muscles" (though, he used some way intense medical terminology along with it...)

Jenna processed that new information, thought for a minute and then turned to me, standing at the bathroom door. Very matter of factly, she replied "well, daddy, mommy has BIG muscles"!

Picture a day Challenge--258

Lots and lots of paintin' the past few days...finger paintin', picture paintin', and some inevitable body paintin'. :)

Picture a day Challenge--257

I know I have posted several of these little setups before, but this one cracked me up today too...Kaden wanted this juice SO BAD that he bit through the top and sucked all the juice out, even without the straw. :) All with toys in hand...

The past few days...

My emotions have been all over the place...

Basically, it's been a crazy and emotional few days. Just getting over the shock of knowing we are moving, and then trying to get so many details figured out. Still a long way to go on figuring out all the nitty gritty, but I am feeling much more optimistic about things in general. So, I finally am getting the time to hurry and update!

Thursday we got to go to Solon to see a sister missionary who served in this area, as well as her new companion. We took a tasty picnic lunch and visited while we ate.

My side note to the picture below: My hair is TERRIBLE. It HAS to go. Seriously. It's driving me BONKERS. I just wish I knew WHAT to do with it...how short to cut it...what style to do. Maybe I will go bald...oh wait, then Brandon would accuse me of trying to copy him. Hmmm...that idea is out the window. :) jk

After the sisters left, we stayed to play at the AWESOME park there. While we were playing, I noticed a smell coming from one of my offspring. THE smell, actually. You know which one I'm talkin' about...


I dreaded discovering which of the boys had filled their pants. I quickly realized that not only had KADEN filled his diaper, but his entire pair of shorts. And to top it off, he left a lovely rim of brown stuff all along the bottom of his shirt. Being the COMPLETELY PREPARED mom that I am, I didn't HAVE any extra clothes.


So he went without. We got lots of stares. Lots of comments. Some people sure do think they know everything... :) Are we awesome or what?

Here is Jenna sporting another new bow from my friend Marnie,,,so cute!
Jenna makes friends EVERYWHERE! I love my little social butterfly!!
I am ashamed to say that for the first time during my WHOLE photo a day challenge, I didn't take a single picture on Friday. Not one. I was so stressed...and my mind not in the right place. But had I done so, it would have been of my baggy, sleepless eyes from staying up all night pondering the "what to do's" of our moving situation. I would have had pictures of the WIDE-EYED landlord who watched me unload not one, not two, but all three of my small children as we went looking at the house he had for rent. And I would have had pictures of my terribly messy house.

....not much picture-worthy that day, huh?

UNTIL evening. We went to look at another house...one I think it going to work out!! I did get to meet up with a friend I met at the library a few months ago. She invited me to a purse party and I thought it would at least be fun to go visit. And it was fun! We didn't buy anything...but we chatted about all sorts of funny things way into the night! I was EXHAUSTED when I came home.

And being SO exhausted, you would think I would have slept...but no. Brandon and I stayed up talking and talking and planning what we would do if this new house worked out. We're talking SO MUCH MORE SPACE than we have right now. And did I mention it has a PLAY ROOM area in the basement!?!? It's like manna from heaven! So it was WAAAAAYYY late by the time we fell asleep...only to be waken up by the little Spencer guy an hour later.

It was a long night...

VERY long night.

That takes us to today. After a relief society encrichment activity, Brandon went to study and I went to work in the kitchen...cleaning out the fridge, organizing things, and precooking some meals. I grilled up some lemon pepper and some garlic herb chicken breasts to freeze for later meals...

And I discovered that you can freeze CELERY--I am sure most of you probably already know this, but it was news to me! I am a TOTAL freezer advocate...I freeze just about EVERYTHING. But as I was looking at this entire bag of celery today, I realized it was going to go bad before I used it all. I hate that they make you buy SO much! So, the freezer crossed my mind and I raced to the computer to see if others had done this...which they had. I also learned a helpful tidbit I thought I would pass along. I read several places that if you want to keep your celery crisp, you should wrap it in TIN FOIL and it will last 3 weeks!

But if you want to freeze for soups or casseroles, you just wash it really well, cut it up, put it on a cookie sheet and freeze for about 12 hours. Once the pieces are frozen, put it in a freezer ziplock bag. (freezing after washing helps the pieces not stick together when you bag and freeze them!)




FABULOUS, right??? I have seriously wasted SO MUCH celery in years past...waste no longer. :) I am officially converted to the way of the freezer celery.

And now that I have officially written the LONGEST and most BOOOOOORING post, I shall sign off for the night. Hopefully somethin' fun and exciting for tomorrow!

Just curious

I have a new poll...

This may sound strange, but I am wondering how many of you ever leave your kids alone in the bathtub while they are bathing. Do you stay the entire bathtime, no matter what? Do you put them in and stay close enough to hear and see in, and just check in every few minutes while they play?

Really wondering...go to my poll and let me know! :)

Picture a day Challenge--256

On the 256th day of my photo a day challenge, my perfect record was broken. I didn't pick up my camera on time today...too much going on, too much on my mind.

But this is a picture of a garbage can at the park the other day...so it's gonna have to do! :)

Scared stiff...

It was the best of times and the worst of times...

Ever find yourself starting to feel comfy cozy in life and then something up and throws you through a complete loop and you feel like you're doing everything you can to just hold on to a teency piece of sanity??

Yep, that would be me. That would be my life right this very second on this very day.

I will spare you all the details, but the short of it is that it looks to us like we will be changing addresses in the next 6-7 weeks. WEEKS. This is SUCH the unexpected...such a twist in the plans we had made.

There is so much more involved...it just makes my head spin thinking of it all.

It is so overwhelming. But at the same time, I just know the the BIGGEST part of every trial in life is turning it all over to the Lord and knowing that the plan He has in store is far better than a plan we could make ourself.

Must. Let. Go. Of. The. Need. For. Control....

If you know of a house for rent in the greater Cleveland area, please pass it my way! :)

The journey...

Today, I knew deep in my core, that motherhood is where I should be at this exact time in my life.

It didn't hit me as I was trudging through the store with little feet smooshing my fresh grapes, or when Jenna was screaming that she wanted to play longer, or even when Kaden took my full glass of ice water and dumped it all over the table.

But that sweet feeling of peaceful reassurance came as I tucked the kids in bed...as I carried Jenna like she was driving a car so she could steer me to her bed, and as I snuggled Spencer's soft cheeks before laying him down. It came as I kissed each of Kaden's stuffed animals at least 4 times before he giggled and smiled at me and then snuggled in with all 14 of them while drifting off to dreamland.

In that very minute, my heart felt so full. So grateful. All the other frustrations I'd felt went away and I knew I was meant to be a mother. Not just any mother, but THEIR mother. That every day I have with them, as hectic and overwhelming as it can be, is part of the journey that we share together.

And tonight I'm sure glad we're on that journey together...

Picture a day Challenge--255

Playground fun..

Heaven

What a good, long day...

This morning after Jenna went off to preschool, I took the boys for playgroup at the park. We had a lot of fun--me, sitting and chatting and the boys off exploring the playground goodies. Spencer loves to play on the playground too and will often crawl up on the jungle gym himself. I had been watching him and knew he was in a safe spot, but as I saw him get closer to an open ledge I raced over just in case. As I got close to him he quickly stood up and lost his balance, tumbling over the ledge and to the ground and good 4-5 feet down.

I felt terrible.

I didn't want to overreact--so I held him tight and we comforted him with a sippy and cheerios (thanks to everyone else who was prepared!) No bumps, bruises, or scrapes. He went back to being okay...just really cautious. Am sure glad we didn't have an emergency room visit today!

We stayed for a good hour and a half until we had to go pick Jenna up again. After the boys had naps, we met up with our friends (who Jenna had been playing with--thanks Karie for keeping her today!) and went to a "new" park.

We are always going to parks we have never been to. It really is true. And every day when Jenna asks, I tell her we are going to a "new" park.

She thinks that is the actual name now...of all parks. :)

I love that part of the adventure of living here. Always something new and exciting.

The kids ran and pretended and got really, really dirty. It was wonderful. Spencer stayed pretty close to me, until he discovered the bleachers. And then, my friends, he seemed to forget his a.m. incident and was back being the daredevil that takes my breath away just watching him go!

This is our little friend Jaden. He and Jenna are such good little friends!

BONK!

Kaden the barefoot climber and park player...
And for all of you wondering, this is a sampling of the bows Marnie made. They are simply ADORABLE!
And to make up for my binge eating / moody cravings last night, my dinner tonight consisted of a fine turkey sandwich, baked lays, and fresh fruit (okay, okay...there was a big dollop of Carmel fruit dip with it...and it was DIVINE!) The kids asked for lunchables when we were at the store picking up a few picnic items, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. Easy, cheap, and did I mention easy?

We have had THE BEST weather. I mean, THE BEST. Mid-high 70's, sunny every day. For MANY, MANY days now.

Heaven. I am pretty sure this is what it is like. This weather, this food. And 3 whole hours playin' at the park with these sweet kids.

Would you like fries with that moodswing?

I don't know if it's because I put on a clean shirt for the first time today at 7:30 p.m. or if it's because I never did get makeup on my face, or because I was feeling totally misunderstood, but tonight I was MOODY...MOODAY...MOODEEE...However you want to say it. I was that.

And with that moodiness came a serious craving for sweet and salty...you know, mixed.

I happened to be out and about running an errand. Into the Arby's drive-thru I went, ready to thrust my dollar bills through the tiny window and get my prized sweet treat. With orange dream milkshake in hand, I was on my way...or at least out of the parking lot.

That's when I saw it, gleaming golden in the form of arches. FRIES. McDonalds fries. I needed them, right that minute.

Pathetic, I know.

I pulled in and got my fries, and drove off into the dark night. Cranking up the radio, I listened to sad love songs while sipping my shake in between bites of perfect greasy goodness fresh out of the fryer.

I contemplated WHY on earth I was sipping a million calories and eating my heart attack from a sack. Why could a crazy moodswing take me to 2 different fast food places within 4.6 minutes.

I guess it's just one of those things. It's a wonder why I can't crave some asparagus and some crazy organic grass smoothie...why, oh why?

And why I always hit this kind of dietary road block on the night the Biggest Loser is on TV?? :)

What's the craziest craving you have ever had and what extent did you go to get it?

Picture a day Challenge--254

My pantless cutie...

Picture a day Challenge--254

My sweet package that totally made my day! Thank you Marnie again...

Your nightly smorgasbord

So many random bits tonight...

Is it a bad sign when the first day of fall starts off with a total blowout in the bathtub, complete with emptying every bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash INTO the poopy water, with an assortment of toilet paper on top?

I was honestly thinking so...

But by lunch, Spencer was asleep and after not hearing much noise for a while, I found Jenna laying her her bed asking to go to sleep. GLORY, GLORY, SING PRAISES OF JOY! It was a nice, quiet time. Kaden gathered all his little people and hid behind the couch playing for a long while, until I settled him in for a nap as well.

I spent lots of time today searching and planning for our upcoming trip...chatting with my sister-in-law and getting so excited for our joint adventure to Niagra Falls and Palmyra, NY the end of October. We can't wait!

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.....I realized yesterday that our dresser looks like it is vomiting all its' contents. Brandon and I share a whoppin' 5 drawers in an upright dresser. FIVE DRAWERS. Even after hanging most our stuff, it still feels like our drawers are FULL. Today I went in search of a dresser. Made an important self-discovery...I am CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP. :) There is a big part of me that doesn't want to buy a NEW dresser in our price range because it would essentially be disposable...you know, press board, put it together yourself, etc. And it just seems a lot of money to put into something like that when I HOPE in a few years we can actually buy something we want and that will last.

I have been looking on Craigslist--ebay--all sorts of places. But really, the selection is pretty sad. And just like I don't want to put our money into a new piece of junk, I don't want to put it into a really old piece of junk either. :) There's some really expensive old pieces of junk out there (disguised with words like "VINTAGE")...FYI.

So I dragged my kids all over town today...discount stores, closeout places, secondhand stores...they did great. But I came home empty-handed. Just waiting for the right piece...that I am expecting to find at a ridiculously low price. :) Wish me much luck.

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Tonight we had a family home evening lesson about animals and the creation. After talking for a few minutes Brandon asked Jenna, "So, where did the animals come from?" Jenna replied, "the barn".

Guess you had to be there...it was hilarious.

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Now, how do I know it actually IS going to be a great fall season? Because this afternoon I opened my door to find a package sitting there. I opened this box to find it packed full of GORGEOUS bows. A fellow blogger/friend heard my plea for bow-making help until I really catch on...I was TOTALLY blown away! She is working on a website to sell her bows, and I am telling you all here and now, you will ALL want to buy them--they are AMAZING! I'm thinking a giveaway will be in order too...just to help thank her for her generosity! So sweet Marnie, thank you a million times over for all your awesome pieces. You are SO talented and I can't wait to help pass on that talent to so many bow-challenged moms out there (like me).

Stay tuned my friend...this will be a real treat, I guarantee!

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Sigh...and that about wraps up my first day of fall...more fun pics tomorrow. Got to scoot myself to bed earlier than I have the past few nights. :)

Picture a day Challenge--253

Poor, sleepy guy. Up most of the night with our teething, hurting Spencer...

Thanks Brandon, for the good night's rest... :)

What else?

What else happened this weekend?? I feel like we have been running all weekend...even though we really haven't. :)

--cleaned up
--went to a Pampered Chef party...HOW do you decide what you get?!!? Too many choices!
--errands...
--Was in charge of a chili cookoff / pie contest / talent show at church. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY there.
--off for a quick grocery store trip late in the evening after everything was cleaned up...
--sleep....

Today we had church, cleaned up and spent the afternoon barbecuing and visiting with some friends...was really a good Sunday. I don't know why the weekends have to fly....

But I am optimistic it will be a good week...

And hopefully the next few weeks will fly like the weekends seem to.

You see, October brings us visitors....my sister Esther is bringing her new baby, and then my awesome sister-in-law and her kids are coming from Texas (oh ya, and her husband too....jk!)

I. CAN'T. WAIT!

Hurry October...come soon.

But please father time, please just don't let my kids grow too fast in the process.

Friday Night Fun

I am finally getting a chance to catch my breath and write about our weekend!

Friday, after our internet was installed, we were greeted with a big surprise...

DADDY CAME HOME EARLY!

A self-appointed half day was just what he WE needed...

We had some coupons for free pizzas--nothing beats free! So, we picked up our pizzas and went to a local park, hidden away in a quiet neighborhood. We almost always have this park to ourselves when we go. I felt like that's what we needed that night...just to run and play and enjoy our own little family.

I told Brandon this week that it is getting harder and harder to take pictures when I have the kids by myself. It's true! Spencer is more and more mobile and Kaden WAY too daring. I have often been snapping pictures at the park for a few minutes when I suddenly see him on top of the monkey bars or hanging from the rings on the jungle gym several feet up in the air. Scares the daylights out of me! So, needless to say, photo ops have decreased...

....the whole point of saying all that was to say that I was SO happy Brandon was there to help keep an eye on the kids so I could be trigger happy! The lighting was really great for silhouettes...I definitely need to work on this technique, but it was really fun to practice.

Here's proof I was there...

And speaking of sand...Spencer sure does enjoy it. I mean, really....really enjoys it. HANDFULS, in fact. I'm pretty sure it clogged him right up because he definitely had a harder time pushin' stuff out the next day. :)
And speakin' of Spencer...is he not getting to be such a big boy?! I cannot believe what a sweet little guy he is. But I also cannot believe how much he is growing and changing!! I look at these pictures and see my little baby disappearing before my eyes...

Hunkering....a favorite pastime of this dad and son...

Room for two?
These are some of my favorite pictures...mainly because everyone was having such a fun time. Even Brandon, who went down the slide too. He's a kid at heart...

Just a little bit of B.A. (bad attitude) as the night went on. Nothing that a hug from dad on the park bench couldn't take care of...
We really had such a wonderful night...it was refreshing in a sense. The kids love nothing more than to be free to frolick and play, and to do so with their daddy is the icing on the cake! And I must admit, times like these take me to that place of happiness and appreciation...for families, my husband, and for Friday night fun.

It's been so long...

Can you believe that it's been so long since I actually got to post at night in my own house, that I actually FORGOT I could?!?!

And now it's late, and I am beat...but I have a few good posts for tomorrow!

Night...

Picture a day Challenge--252

I was so captivated by this little "weed" popping up through the bark. It was such VIVID color amidst the gray landscape...and I just thought it was so beautiful!

Picture a day Challenge--251