MADE....

I've been on a sewing kick lately...

I love kicks like this. :)

I made a really cute little skirt for Jenna the other day from an online tutorial (so no real pattern involved)--I was so excited for her to wear it, and had her try it on while I was measuring her waist. That's when I discovered that what others may see as a size 5/6 in length is really a size or two shorter than what I see as appropriate...

BUMMER.

So I went back to the drawing board, cut up some new fabric, lengthened everything, and started sewing. It wasn't until I got to doing the waist (again) that I realized I had lengthened everything unnecessarily--and could have just done that to two pieces and had it look right. So, long story short, I had to last minute alter the entire top--which changed the look I was aiming for. HUUUUUGE bummer. (I am positive this makes ZERO sense to anyone who has made it to the end of this paragraph and I sound like a rambling fool! :)

But at least, at this point, it was a decent length. :)

Will go back at it again--new fabric, the right mental notes as to what I need to lengthen...

And hopefully it will turn out right this time! In the meantime, we've got the "icecream" skirt, for your viewing pleasure. :)

And if you're interested in making your own ruffled skirt, you can see the tutorial here: http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/photos/ruffled_skirts_tutorial/index.html

Wondering how?

Last night I slept terrible...horrible...no good...and practically not at all.

I tossed and turned, I had restless legs, and I was completely exhausted at sunrise...

Brandon let me try to go back to bed to get some sleep, which I think I did for a short while, but eventually I heard the morning "normals"...

squeals, pitter patter running on the hardwood floors, stomping on the hardwood floor, yelling, the inevitable morning meltdowns, girlie drama, slammed doors...

I laid there in bed for a few minutes...listening...and tearing up.

I have 4 more days until I face this chaos all by myself...till I have to be up and going, no matter how little sleep I got...no matter how grumpy I am...

I laid in bed wondering how...how will I have the strength to make it through the next lonely months? Will I be able to keep my cool, calm my crazy messed up pregnancy hormones, and help the kids adjust during this very different time for us? Am I really strong enough?

When I look at the situation, I want to crumble up in a big ball on the floor and cry a puddle of tears. I will miss Brandon...miss him so much. And I will miss him for so many different reasons.

I know, in reality, that somehow the next months will fly by--and everyone will survive without being too damaged by my poor single mothering skills...And I know that in the next couple months we will have adjusted to things, and have a routine down...I know it. Deep down in my core, I do.

And yet, it doesn't make the courage come to me any easier.

Because dang it, I am scared.

I know people do this every day....I know for some this is no big deal...and for those reasons I feel silly for feeling like such a ninny about what lies ahead.

I guess it's just me--and needing to really rely on the arm of the Savior--which I know is outstretched to me and waiting for me to take hold. I know with Him, and through Him all things are possible...ALL things...even living alone while being 7/8 months pregnant and dealing with 3 crazy kids. :)

Deep breath....

And maybe a good night's sleep tonight...to help tomorrow feel more calm and clear.

Time out for Women--my weekend getaway!

It's been a few days since I have blogged--but with good reason! :)

On Friday, I met up with a group of friends and we went to Pittsburgh to take part in the Time Out For Women conference--sponsored by Deseret Book.

I spent that morning getting ready to go--packing my stuff and running to the store for a few things. I laid Spencer down for a nap, and finished up a few last minute things before everyone came and we loaded up.

I was taking a bag out, and Spencer met me at the bedroom door, covered in red mush--a.k.a. strawberry vomit.

He and Kaden had inhaled over a pound of strawberries at lunch, and somehow that didn't sit well with him... (ya think??) I was concerned that maybe everyone would be getting this nasty bug that's been going around...

Doesn't something like that ALWAYS happen when you're getting ready to go somewhere or do something really rare??

At any rate, turns out that it was no bug--just a case of strawberry overload. :) WHEW.

We caught some traffic on our way out, and then saw about 2 billion cops on the way. Really, the turnpike has some serious watchful eyes! :)

YAY for an overnight trip--GIRLS only--

I have looked forward to this for a long time now, and am so happy I was able to go.

We checked into our hotel and then met up with my sister Esther at Olive Garden, for a quick bite before the Friday night conference. Yummy stuff all around--and I was wishful that my full tummy would go away so I could eat more. :) IT WAS GOOD.

We went over to the conference center and settled in for an evening of speakers and music--

The topic of the conference was INFINITE HOPE...

And even though by the end of the evening I was BEAT, I still felt the beginning of that spiritual recharge that I have needed SO BADLY!

Our cheap hotel with a drunken singles dance going on, fruit loop treats, and tidbits of Legally Blond were highlights of our few minutes before hitting the sack...

Saturday morning we got ready and headed out--ready for a full day.

There were some really great speakers--and some things were said that I really needed to hear. We got to listen to Hilary Weeks, whose music I love, and during our lunch break we got to explore a little bit of downtown Pittsburgh and find a little lunch grill where we filled our bellies. :)

When the conference was over, we parted ways with my sister, who was heading a different direction. It's nice to be able to meet up once in a while, since we're at least on the same side of the country! :) And I am glad she got to get away too...it was fun!

If there were two words to describe our group at that point in the day, it would be:

LOW-ENERGY!

Holy moly, are we getting old or what?!

But a trip to Pittsburgh would just not be complete without a stop at Ikea, no matter how exhausted we were..

I only wished that my legs and back weren't so tired that I had to test out multiple couches, chairs, and beds...

And I only wish that I had some zing left in me. Ikea is such a fun store...

but I felt SO un-fun. :)

We managed to make it through, pick up a few things, and head to their little cafe for dinner before heading home.

We had a lot of good laughs on the way home...some very, very funny stories...(shhhh....yes, ladies, your secrets are safe with me! LOL) But I was happy to get home to Brandon and some sleeping kiddos...

Crawling into my own bed, with my soft sheets, was like heaven... :) And seeing the kids the next day felt like Christmas morning. It was fun to be away for a little bit...to eat out and only carry a bag for me...to not have spills to clean up and fights to break up, or dishes to do.

And it was nice to be away from the people I love--because it helped me feel like I could go back and somehow appreciate all the things I was so happy to escape for a day or two. :)

I feel spiritually recharged (which I am sure will increase even more once I can catch up on my sleep!) and have some really good thoughts to go on...to think about...and things I want to change and improve about myself, my relationship with God, and my family.

It was SUCH the weekend I needed...

THANK you to Dina, Crystal, Roni, and Esther for going--and making it so much fun.

And thank you to the people who helped make this possible for me...you know who you are. :)

The color red and other things that make a day great...

Today was one of those days....where the sun rises extra nice...and the world seems to treat you well...and you can just feel in your bones that things are going to be great.

Gosh it felt good!

I actually started out my morning bright and early at my Dr.'s office--7: 40 on the dot for my glucose test. This is something I have been dreading...blech! But it was relatively painless--chugged it down in record time (for me at least) and results came in clear this afternoon. Diabetes free...yay!

Also faced the dreaded weigh-in...Dr. says as of 28 weeks I am at 11 pounds weight gain for this pregnancy. SO excited about that...

Drove out of my super close parking spot (because let's be honest, nobody else goes to the Dr. that early in the morning)...and headed home be-bopping to some tunes and smiling at the sunshine pouring through my windows!

Got to pick up some great deals today...which ALWAYS makes me super happy...and I just have to share...(if you mind, you can skip over...I know this is probably boring!)

Our waffle maker broke a couple years ago, and from then on, I have only had one we got for free on freecycle.org that actually just makes waffle stix. Great for the kids...but dang it, sometimes I want my big ol' Belgian waffle! :)

So I was SUPER happy to see that they had a rotating waffle maker on a one day sale at Kohls...and I picked up this bad boy for Brandon to give me for mother's day. Laughing as I type that...but really now, I can't justify buying it just because...so I will make his gift giving easier. :) Right?

I have wanted one of these forever...FOREVER! Every time we stay at a hotel, I get giddy about making waffles...I just love it...perfectly cooked waffles every single time. And the best part is the flipping it over! LOVE IT! :)

Anyhow, calming myself now...promise. More exciting than the free entertainment that will come with owning this beauty, is the fact that it was only $9.99--normally $49.99...

Still giddy about this... :)

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Then while at Walmart this afternoon, I walked by a clearance aisle...and saw this...
A super neat-o high tech humidifier...

...which is something we actually don't even own...

...which is something we have been trying to find...for cheap.

HUGE blessing! Regular price? $42...

My price... $8.40!

I honestly about danced out of that store!

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Also, today came the first part of a deal order I placed yesterday...

PAPER...lots and lots of paper...

I ended up with 2 CASES of printer paper, with free overnight shipping, for UNDER $10 PER CASE...tax included.

We did a deal similar to this almost 3 years ago and are finally running out--so it was perfect timing! :)

You can get in on it the details here: http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/ (and scroll down until you see the Hammermill paper)

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But one of the happiest things that happened today, was colored red...and came in the form of a new grill.

If you know us, you know we love to grill. LOVE it. And we do it lots. My old grill was coming of age...if ya know what I mean. It was tired from lots of use...and I was itching for something new.

This was far from a reality, really...until I saw that Walmart has a deal right now on their grills and patio sets (until April 30). And any set or gas grill you buy will give you a $50 gift card back.

My interest peaked...

I looked and looked, and searched reviews and looked some more...

But the color red caught my eye. Red...oh red...it makes me SO happy.

And grilling makes me happy...

And $50 off a grill makes me even happier...

And suddenly I realized I had some other gift cards from promotions I had done, and we had already set up a fund for a new grill that had money from stuff we had sold, and when all was said and done, I will have not paid a single dime out of pocket for my new toy...

So shiny...clean...and smokin' hot! :)

We had to break her in--threw on some steaks and had corn on the cob, baked potatoes and biscuits for dinner...completed with some oreo shakes afterwards.

Yummy dinner + new grill + color red = super duper happy.

I know it seems like my happy day was all about buying things--I promise there was more to it than that. I just really love the thrill of a deal...and how sometimes, things just WORK OUT...not a lotta kinks...

I think we all need days like that sometimes.

I sure did.

I have to say, however, that my absolute FAVORITE part of the day was at bedtime. Purchases aside, barbecue grill cleaned and stored...just me and my little girl, snuggling in her bed and reading a story.

It is one of my favorites.

I read, and tears fell down my face through the whole book. They always do. And I don't even know that I understand exactly why.

But I do know that as I read tonight, I saw myself as this tree--at least in relation to my kids. I would give and give and give anything I had--even though, like the tree, it can't always be material goods or exactly what they want....I would give whatever I had to offer over and over to make them happy....because that makes ME happy.

And I will always long for them to return...even when they are growing up, and finding love, and busy with family...even when they grow old...and I grow even older. I will always long for a part of them to come back to me...to swing from my branches, so to speak...and to be so happy like we are together...and as a family.

That may not be the right analogy, or what the book was even written for...but tonight that's what I felt for me...that's what brought those raw emotions and tear-streaked cheeks.

Unconditional love...

And feeling truly blessed for a wonderful, wonderful day...

Tiny seeds...

For Family Night on Monday, we took our little free planters we made at Lowe's the other day, and filled them with good old fashioned dirt, and planted flowers. The kids were SO excited about this...(although, judging by their "after" pics with their planter boxes, Kaden looks like he was given heavy doses of allergy medicine, Jenna was staring off into space and thinking some smug thought about something, and Spencer was more interested in his ring pop than getting a picture...sometimes pics of everyone together just don't work out).





A few things I realized though...

1- AFTER planting the flowers, I realized the package said not to plant until mid July.

.....It is mid APRIL.

2- I have nowhere to put these beauties where they won't be touched 30 times a day by little hands so that they CAN try to grow.

So, for now, we've got seeds...they're planted...and we will see if we can get SOMETHING to grow...even if it means I end up running to Walmart and buying some already grown flowers to put in. Can't let these kiddos down...right?

Why is it???

Why is it that....

--People only come to my house when you have lunch left out, paper strewn all over, a filthy floor, and dishes...oh dishes...piled in the sink?

--My bathroom only needs to be used by a guest when it smells like an outhouse (thanks to 2 little potty using boys)

--The only times I get to school after the drop off lane has closed, forcing me to walk my child to the door, are the days where you I am dressed in bright pink pajama pants and a nasty looking t-shirt with no bra on...

--Dinner always has SOMETHING go wrong....only when I am cooking for company.

--On the days I have a letter to mail, the mailman comes SUPER early.

--The mornings I can sleep in, the kids wake me up early...but often the days I get up early, they need me to wake them up.

--Nobody ever calls me...until I lay down for a nap.

Just curious...why?? :)

What are the "ironics" in your life??

Ball games and barbecues

On Thursday Brandon and I were able to go to our first ever Indians game at Progressive Field...

3 years of living here and we have never been able to go--either because they were night games and we had to get the kids in bed, or because we didn't have a sitter, or because the timing was all wrong.

So it was SO exciting when the opportunity popped up to go to an afternoon game with super cheap tickets...Brandon's class was cancelled, Jenna was at school, and we were lucky enough to find a sitter for the boys *THANK YOU CRYSTAL!!**

And it just so happened that this stroke of luck happened on one of the most GORGEOUS days! Mid 80's with sunshine and clear blue skies. PERFECT day for a ball game.

There is just something so exciting about being at a ball game...
The excitment in the air--the dedicated fans--the perfect green striped that cover the field...and the beautiful velvety dirt that trims it. And I have yet to start in on the smells...mmm....the peanuts and popcorn and fresh roasted hot dogs...

Because it was a daytime game, the seats were plentiful....

And after what started as a pretty slow game for the most part, things heated up in the 8th inning, and the Rangers handed over several plays--leading the Tribe to victory!

It was such a fun experience--and especially a fun date!

After picking up all the kids, we went home to enjoy the rest of the afternoon sunshine...which included a joint barbecue with Travis, Jenny, and Grace--mmmm...

When I think back, there are few days that can top one with perfect weather, a mid-day getaway, great company, and food on the grill....

This was definitely one for the books! :)

Build a box... :)

We love the Lowe's free build and grow clinics--they are so fun, and clearly free--and it has provided us with an exciting one on one activity with the kids. But yesterday we all went as a family to build little flower boxes.

I just LOVE the little aprons...the mini hammers...the intense curiousity from the kids as they focus on their little project. I just wanted to squeeze them all in one big jumbled hug--they were that darn cute! :) So, I may be biased...I AM the mom. But still....

With planter boxes made, we are ready to fill them up! I picked up some fill dirt at the store, and we have plants we got for free from the family expo last weekend...which I hope will make a fun family night tomorrow... :)

Juicy Rewards deal!

Remember how I told you about those Tropicana Juicy rewards a few weeks ago?? Well, if you logged in and got your free points for signing up, or have been collecting them all along, there is a great deal going on TODAY ONLY! Log in and redeem 2 points for a Fandango Deal of the Day: buy one movie ticket on Fandango.com, get one free!

Head to Tropicana.com to redeem your points and receive your promo code. You don't have to see a movie TODAY, so this would be valid through June 16th if you choose to wait and see a movie later. Keep in mind though that you at least need to redeem your points TODAY for this promotion to be valid. :)

NEW things...

Just had to share a couple new things I tried lately that just tickled me pink...suited my fancy....were the bees knees (and every other funny thing you could say about something you liked!!)

First....a new recipe. This is not a low calorie concoction...be aware. :) But heaven in a cupcake wrapper is how I think of this....

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH CUPCAKE. Yes, not just a chocolate chip cupcake...but fully loaded with egg-free cookie dough in the center. oh yum. Got the recipe from here. And you can rest assured this is making it's way to my recipe blog pronto. mmmm.....

Made these, passed them out to everyone who would voluntarily take them from me...and ate only one. Scout's honor...only ONE. But I enjoyed every second of it.

The other new thing I tried this week was making Pork Chops. It is shameful to admit that in the almost 7 years of marriage I have NEVER even purchased a pork chop--because quite frankly they're not on my my top 1,000 things I like to eat. I don't know what it is...but pork chops = EWWW in my book.

This would be fine if I weren't married to someone who happens to LIKE pork chops.

The other day my mom mentioned that they were having pork chops and the works for dinner, and Brandon casually mentioned he was heading over there for dinner (you know...heading over, like running across the street--except that the "street" we live across from each other is more like MANY streets and 2,000 miles on top of that. :)

That's when I knew I HAD to take some action, put aside some tastebuds, and make the poor guy some pork chops.

I put out a call for help--and my facebook friends TOTALLY came through with some 30 recipes to try. Ya, we have pork chop options for a good long time! And while I had planned on using one to get the pork chop party started, while I was at the store picking up some stuff, I ran across this...

HOW TOTALLY WONDERFUL IS THIS!?!?!

There was a whole aisle of perfectly measured spices with a recipe on the back for a complete dish--some were mexican dishes, some were chicken, some were...well, can't remember. But there were lots. And my eye caught hold of the word pork chops--so my hand grabbed it right off the shelf.

Call me crazy, but I just HAD to buy it, if for no other reason that to bring it home and celebrate the ingenuity that went into making this cute little packet.

No added salts and preservatives...just perfectly measured portions of spices and the directions for making your own perfect pork chop. (can't you imagine how perfect this would be if you were going on a trip but were able to have a kitchen where you were staying? Or going in a camper on vacation? So you didn't have to bring ALL your spices with you???)

So...this became the recipe we used for our first pork chop party...

I worried...would the kids like it...would Brandon like it...how the heck should a pork chop look when it's done?? Was this a mistake??

It wasn't. The kids CLEANED THEIR PLATES off. They LOVED the new white meat...

Brandon loved the white meat.

And that made me happiest of all.

During this pregnancy ... part 2

I don't know why, but I have been thinking about the post I wrote 2 months ago, telling all my pregnancy likes, dislikes, feelings, etc.

I think it started when I ran across a loaf of banana bread in my freezer--and I just couldn't make myself get it out to eat.

See, 2 months ago, I would have given my left kidney for banana bread basically every day of the week. :) The same goes for rootbeer floats and baby carrots. :)

This pregnancy has been funny, in a way...so very different from my previous ones in many ways. It's really interesting to see the similarities and differences go head to head.

Thought I would do a little update on where I am at now...just over 27 weeks...

Likes...

-Dipping wheat thins in cottage cheese. mmmmmm....
-Eating fruit in cottage cheese....
-Eating cottage cheese with anything really. :)
-hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon
-biscuits and gravy
-hot turkey sub
-minestrone soup
-(don't gag at this one...it's the truth). Cup o' noodles--cooked and then let sit for 10 minutes, so the noodles are good and thick, and then eaten with those mini oyster crackers.
-swedish fish...

Dislikes...

-cereal...I try to eat it, but I get so nautious if that's my breakfast. To snack on, it's okay. To eat as a meal, not okay.
- vanilla ice cream...actually most any ice cream that I have bought and had sit in our freezer for any amount of time. Psychological, sure. :) But true. Every time I have bought it for the past couple months, I realize after having it a few times that I don't care for the flavor--it's really weird.
- still can't get myself to love syrup in the morning...can handle it once in a rare while, but it's not on my list of likes...


Feeling???

Off and on, I go through spurts of being exhausted, not sleeping well, etc. And then I will go through times of being totally fine. I am feeling more achy though...that heavy weight that just sits there and makes you uncomfortable at times. Having issues with dry, cracked heels...which is painful when combined with minor swelling of the feet if I have been up doing stuff for long periods of time, which let's face it, happens.

But overall, I have only gained 10 pounds so far...(which is a HUGE difference from previous pregnancies). And I don't feel too huge...yet.

The baby moves a lot--not as wild as the other kids did, but I feel it. Hoping this somehow means for a mellow child. :)

Hard to believe this pregnancy is just cruising by SO DARN FAST!

Thoughts at 5 a.m.

It's raining outside. The wind is howling and the pitter patter hitting our window is loud and threatening.

I awoke to what sounded like a tin can band...with the panicked feeling that I had not made sure all the kids toys and bikes were put in the garage last night...and feeling anxious that our garbage was spilling all over the place since it's sitting out at the curb...

ALL stuff I cannot control at this very second...yet my mind could not let go of.

So I am awake. Thinking. Not nearly as emotional as I was while writing my 3 a.m. post, but have stuff on my mind nonetheless.

I think one of the great things about blogging is that you can get it all out there---you can share how you feel. And that feels good. But one of the worst things about blogging is that very same thing...that you can get it all out there...share how you feel...and be so very misunderstood.

I have wanted to make an addendum to my 3 a.m. post from a few weeks ago...because after being approached by a few people (outside of comments) I wonder if I just didn't explain myself in the way I was trying to.

This can be an impossible thing to do--to write in a way that everyone will interpret the same way...and to get all my jumbled, emotional thoughts out exactly how I want.

So here's my best attempt at clearing up the situation.

My self image issues are not just a thing of weight.

Yes, I am unhappy with my body--but that has been the case for basically as long as I can remember...even back in my elementary school days. Back when there WASN'T necessarily a reason to feel that way.

I think what I have pinpointed since writing what I did, is that at the times I start to let myself think "hey, I might just look okay today..." or start to get that inkling of feeling good about myself, I see myself in a picture and my positive thoughts are deflated.

It is almost that there is a diconnect between what my eye sees, what the camera sees, and how I feel inside. Which view is real? Is it the one where I MIGHT look okay? Is it the one where I am caught in time looking like a hideous beast? (okay...a little dramatic...yes. :) But you get the point, right?

I just don't know what the truth is...how people are seeing me...how I should really see myself. And that's really frustrating. Not because I want the world to see me as perfect, but because I want to know what is real.

The other day, after much encouraging, I actually DID take a belly shot.I woke up that morning and got dressed, and I looked in the mirror and thought, "ya know, today I look alright. This shirt seems pretty flattering--I am going to take this picture!" I used the self timer...because I felt absolutely ridiculous asking anyone else to take a shot of me...didn't want the uncomfortable attention there.

I took 50-60 shots.

And every single time, I went back and was completely disgusted with how the camera was catching me...it was not even remotely close to the person I saw in the mirror that morning. And I vowed to never wear that shirt AGAIN.

I deleted every single picture.

I felt defeated...

And at times like that, it feels like everyone else always looks good! Their self portraits and snapshots always come out flattering and beautiful...it feels as though they walk around me day after day without this heavy burden of a tainted body image I carry.

Yet I know, after writing what I did last time and talking to who I have, that this is not true.

I know this because the people who I personally esteem as beautiful, are some of the very people who have said they struggle with some of these same things...



And as I thought about it after writing last time, I wanted to make it very clear that it's not about being big or small...that's not what determines who I aspire to be like, not one bit. I just find myself surrounded by people who are beautiful, and have that confidence I wish I had--and it just so happens that many of them are thin. I realized though, that size doesn't matter to me as far as beauty goes, except for myself. I could stand right next to someone my same size and think they are gorgeous! I could be jealous...wish I could look like them...heck, this could even be my twin (if I actually had one...) What I was getting at is that I have set a different, and unachievable standard for MYSELF and how I SEE myself.

I let other people be beautiful in my eyes, despite what flaws they feel they have.

BUT when it comes to looking at myself the same way, there is no room for mistakes. And so I find I fall flat on my face...compensating and laughing at myself over my flaws, trying to make light of the very things I hate about me...

And I think it's time to try to learn how to be more gentle with myself...

How though...how do you do this? How do you take a beaten and battered body image and heal it after years of mistreatment? How do you make it all okay again?

I guess it's time to find out...

Spring Break...part 2...

We've had a BUSY spring break...but a good one. It was nice to not be running back and forth taking Jenna to school, and have our days to be together--just doing whatever we decided we wanted to do. :)

So here is my rundown of how the rest of the break went...

We had decided that we would go out to eat one time during spring break. My original plan was to go out for breakfast, but we wanted Brandon to come to, and the only time it was working out was for us to go for dinner.

So we went and had breakfast for dinner at Bob Evans...mmm...looove that place!
On Thursday, Jenna informed me it was her doll's birthday--(actually this doll has had several supposed birthdays lately...but this, she insisted, was the real deal). So we went with it...we wrapped some toys to give her as presents and pulled out all the stops with a few hostess cupcakes, topped with a candle...

Each person got to "help" her doll open a present, and Jenna was SO excited to help her doll blow out the candle. It was actually a really funny time...
Friday was a rainy day...so we stayed inside and just relaxed. It was low key...and nice. In the evening we had homemade pizza and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakuel...was a cute show, though it has left us singing a particular song over and over and over and over. :)

Oh, and can you tell we HATE olives?? lol




On Saturday we all went as a family to Akron to their family expo at the mall, where we were able to see Buddy the dinosaur from Dinosaur Train, as well as Miss Rosa from PBS. This will mean nothing to you if you have no small children around--but if you do, you'll know this was a big deal! :)

We wandered to all the fun booths, did crafts and colored, made fun projects, got stickers and coloring books galore, and then sat down to eat lunch while we listened to Miss Rosa do her story time and movin' and groovin' with us.

Good times, good times...

And after relaxing in the afternoon, blowing bubbles in the backyard and then watching a movie, we met up with Jenny and Travis and had a marshmallow roast in the backyard.

The kids were HILARIOUS. They all wanted to roast and roast and roast...but then they would pawn their sticky ball of goodness off to someone else...namely Brandon. And then they were back for more. :) They did roast enough to partake of some S'Mores though...

...and for good measure, we actually got a picture of all of us...I'm working on that...slowly, but surely...

I can hardly believe school starts again tomorrow...

The break is over...

Our days are back to early mornings and rushing here and there...of doing stuff during the days without Jenna...

and while there is a part of me that's ready for it, there's a part of me that wishes every day of the year were spring break. :)

It's the first time around for all of us...

I have pictures to post and stuff to update, but tonight I just need to write an impression I had today.

We had a decent morning...and then out of nowhere came little Miss mood swing, taking over Jenna's little body. HOLY MOLY can that girl cause a scene!

There are times when I am talking to her, trying to work through whatever her issue is, and I start to just get more and more ANGRY that I am talking to an almost 6 year old little girl, and yet I feel like she is listening and ACTING like a 2 year old. It's frustrating. Especially when it's over something little like not getting the first cheesestick at lunch, or supposedly not remembering the line I had just asked the boys repeat to ask for something nicely at lunch...and then when I give her a chance to make it right, she sits in silence. Yet, the second I turn to walk away, the bellowing starts and she pleads for ONE MORE CHANCE.

oh that girl can play that stubborn card well. :)

I yelled. I myself got in a "mood"...and all of a sudden I felt mad about everything.

After a while of getting myself worked up over this mood swing, we finally sat down together to have a heart to heart. I laid it out in simple terms. I told her how badly I wanted us to have a great day together. We talked about her choices, and how reacting to certain things so quickly was making it impossible to enjoy our time together.

We talked about some things she could do when she started to feel upset, instead of cranking up the tears or yelling...

and then it hit me. I was here, mentoring her through the very thing I had just failed at...

I had reacted instantly to her reacting to everyone and everything else...

I could and SHOULD take my own advice...take a 10 second breather...look away for a few minutes to calm down...etc.

So often I expect that my kids KNOW what's right and wrong all the time...they HAVE to. They KNOW how to act and feel and respond. We have told them...How could they not? Yet, in reality, how COULD they when I myself still struggle with some of those very things. I suppose that no matter how old we are, this is still our first time being in certain circumstances, feeling certain things, dealing with certain people, etc.

I snuggled her close as we finished our talk...and I realized, this life is so full of learning experiences. Once we think we have something down, we are faced with yet another challenge, that we can't handle the same way as before. It's a life of new tests, with no answer key.

And most important, it's the first time around for all of us...

(edited to note: This is not to say I condone bad behavior...it's not that at all! It's more that I realized I could be a little more understanding and expect less perfection...since they are standards I can't seem to meet myself...)

Names, part 2. And what we've been up to!

May I just say, in reference to my names post, YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO DELIVER!

WOW! I was blown away at all the great suggestions...

Have been mulling it over all afternoon. I am sure we will figure something out...something!

One other name we really like is Jace. That was actually in the running when we were looking at names for Spencer. But I insisted on 2 syllables back then. Now, it seems to work...but Brandon isn't sold 100%.

So, we will stare at this beautiful list you all have contributed to! LOVE IT! And a huge thank you to the people who commented for the first time! What an HONOR!! It seriously made my day! :)

Aside from name hunting, we have been having some Spring Break fun...weather in the high 70's-80's...sunshine...sprinklers...sandbox...popsicles...swimsuits...sunscreen...the works. Seriously has felt like summer.

Am pretty sure it will be a rude awakening to the kids when we can't just haul out the water stuff anymore once we get back to regular spring like weather. :)

But for now, we are soaking it all in...

As I was sorting through the hundreds of pictures I took so far this week, I got to realizing that so many look the same. Playing in the water. Splashing. Running. Smiling. So I am trying to condense this in to one little post. :)

So yes, we've been playing outside...

And visiting castles...


Exploring...hiking...and having picnics...


We've been coloring and painting and playing with Mr. Potato Head and blocks.

We've had whining and fighting and then working things out.

We've been imaging and pretending..

We've been in shorts and sandals, every day...

And did I mention we've been playing outside in the water pretty much every single day??

It's been fun, but busy...a different busy, however, than the normal running to school and back, picking up, running home, etc. The weather man said it was supposed to rain tomorrow. I am hoping so. I could use a day where we have a reason to have to stay inside all day and rest and relax...perhaps in PJ's...

Please, pray for rain. :)