Keepin' It Real

Back in January Matt and I purchased these really neat cubical storage units available at Lowes for the kids room (you can also get them at Target). We bought a 9 cube unit, a 6 cube unit, a book shelf , and these fabric drawers. It wasn't cheap and of course they were on sale the week before we bought them but boy has it been a great investment! I love them, the kids love them, and yes there is peace on earth! First of all the bright colored drawers go well with the room, there is plenty of space for everything, and the kids like to put their toys in the cubbies. You say yeah right, her kids pick up. Darn right I get the kids to pick up and they are great little helpers as well as mess makers.

Here is a before photo. *gasp* Hey I'm just keepin' it real...

About twice a week I let the kids do what I call "free play". Generally in the mornings when I am trying to get the toilets scrubbed or the floors done or eat bon-bons on the couch while watcing Days of Our Lives I let them run amuck and play with whatever their little hearts desire. They usually desire to simply make a mess. When I am done with my part of the chores then I go in and assess the damage. As you can see from the picture above the girls are usually pretty proud of their mess and the shocked look on mommy’s face that so much mess can be made in a matter of an hour.

Then mommy announce it's time to clean up. In order to make it fun we set the timer and challenge ourselves to tidy up as fast as we can. It’s great incentive for them. We also sing a song we learned from the kids show Little Bill. I won't bore you with the details. But ~ in a matter of 5 minutes or less (they are getting really good) the room looks like this again!

And everything is right with the world again.

Jesus has a little lamb

Abby was helping me fold laundry yesterday. Her job was to put the kitchen dishcloths and towels away in the proper drawer in the kitchen. She got a bit distracted with one of my flour-sack towels. She ran into the living room where Matt was working on something and said “Look Daddy, I look like Jesus”. He looked down from his ladder to find the white towel draped around her head. He laughed and told her to go show her Mommy. So she ran over to me and told me the same thing as Matt was yelling to go get the camera. By this time Bree wanted to join in the fun so she grabbed a flour-sack towel too. I am always more than happy to snap off some pictures of my cuties so here they are.

After I took the photos. Bree and Abby start singing a song:

Jesus has a little lamb
Little lamb
Little lamb
Jesus has a little lamb
Her fleece is white as snow.

They told us they learned the song in Sunday school. God has certainly blessed us with two precious angels. My goodness how they make us so happy! Thank you Lord for our sweet little lambs.

Here's to family

Over the weekend were got to visit with my Uncle David and Aunt Helen who are visiting from snowy Colorado. It was such a blessing to have family over for lunch. I love being with my family and of course eating. I really love eating. I know you all really like pictures…so do I…but Aunt Helen does NOT. Nope, no way! So even though I got to snap some super cute pictures of them with the kids I have promised not to post them to the blog. It’s killing me...just killing me! However, she is a computer genius and she threatened to do very, very, VERY bad things to my computer, my dear old computer, my window to the outside world, if I shared the goods. So maybe a recipe will appease my blog audience of 3 or 4. It’s a favorite of mine and it’s a breeze to make. Oh did I mention it is just about my all time favorite dessert? Next to peach pie anyway. Just ask my friend Sooze.

Enjoy and goodbye.

Gardening? Perhaps...

Okay, the temperatures here in hick-ville are not on my side on this debate so it might be a little premature to start thinking about my garden. But I can’t help it; the bug has officially entered my bloodstream. Suddenly, I lie awake at night, twiddling my hair and trying to wake up my sweety-peachy by placing my frozen hiney on his backside, all I can think about is which tomato varieties I’m going to plant, where should the garden be placed, and how many square feet can I convince Matt to let me have. And where are the garden hoses we bought last year? Oh yeah Oli ate them. Babe? Will you get me a load of dirt from Marks yard? I’ll be your best friend. This year I’m growing a lot of carrots. I could use some dump cake right now. Should I get up? It’s cold and the wind is blowing. Matt is snoring. What was that noise? I’m steering clear of okra this year…

This was my mind at 3:21 this morning.

This is precisely the time of year I force myself to start thinking about my garden, because I’ve watched my most amazing mother-in-law tend her garden for the last 3 years here in the hills of nowhere. But then I wait too long, and by the first week of May I still haven’t planted my tomatoes. As a result, I wind up watching my in-laws reap the fresh goodness of the land (thank goodness they share).

And usually I thank myself for my chronic procrastination. Because I know while it can be an exciting experience, it’s also a huge responsibility. There’s daily, unrelenting work to keep the weeds and varmints...AKA Oli knocked back, pest control...AKA Oli, watering (which, in July and August, has to begin early in the morning), and of course—harvesting the fruits of your labor (the ones Oli or the twins didn’t get) so they don’t wither and waste on the plants.

Wait a minute…WHY do I want a garden so much?

Oh, yeah. I remember: it’s because I have fond memories of tending garden next to my mom as a child. Growing up in the country proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, next to marriage and motherhood and the fun I have writing for my blog every day (erh, every once in a while).

In addition to continuing to chronicle the progress in raising two wild and crazy chinobillies and our adventures in life, I might be starting a Gardening journal shortly (might is the operative word here. Sometimes I forget five minutes into the future). This is not for you experienced vegetable gardeners or farmers (though you might get a kick out of watching a rookie at work), but for those of you who have a fire in your belly to grow a tomato or a squash or two…but don’t know where to start…neither do I. I have dreams of building simple (very simple) raised vegetable beds, playing in the warm soil, experiencing life through the eyes of my kids and maybe even reaping the rewards. We might even start a compost heap or two, just for kicks. HA! At least the kids are on board!

Now, where did that dear husband of mine go? Oh honey...
Love,
Jenn the Crazy Gardening Dreamer

Uncle "Gosh"

My dad got to come home from the hospital today. What a relief it is to know he is on the road to recovery albeit a very long road to recovery. Please continue to pray for his healing and for his new walk with the Lord. And pray for my mom as well.

The girls with their Uncle "Gosh"

Josh and me

Josh and my mom

And we can't forget Buster.

Rejoice Rejoice

Well it’s been eight days since I received the call every daddy’s girl dreads. The call that her dad had a massive heart attack and no one knows if he is going to survive. Praise God daddy did survive and will likely be home by the end of the week. We’ve had a prayer chain a mile long praying for him…both for his health and for his salvation. Well, the Lord heard our prayers and he answered them too! The most exciting thing thus far is my father has accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior tonight. This is so exciting for me! I am in tears as I write this note to all of you. My dad will not be left behind ~ he has accepted Christ and he’s forgiven. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the day that both of my parents are now believers. I pray you all too will know that there is hope for your loved ones you are praying for and waiting for them to receive Christ.
I want to this document with all of you because I think it might be helpful to remember these things. I was given this sheet in a new believers class I took 15 years ago. I love to pull it out and meditate on these verses every once in a while. Tonight sounds like a good night to do so.

In Christ I Am
Accepted, Secure, Significant
I Am Accepted

I am a child of God: John 1:12

I am Jesus' chosen friend: John 15:15

I am holy and acceptable to God (justified): Romans 5:1

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him: 1 Corinthian 3:16

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
I am a part of Christ's Body, part of His family: 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a saint, a holy one: Ephesians 1:1
I have been adopted as Christ's child: Ephesians 1:5

I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins: Colossians 1:14
I am complete in Christ: Colossians 2:10

I Am Secure

I am free forever from punishment: Romans 8:1,2

I am sure all things work together for good: Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemning charges against me: Romans 8:31

I cannot be separated from the love of God: Romans 8:35

I am hidden with Christ in God: Colossians 3:3

I am sure that the good work God has started in me will be finished: Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven with the rest of God's family: Ephesians 2:19

I can find grace and mercy in times of need: Hebrews 4:16

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me: 1 John 5:18

I Am Significant

I am salt and light for everyone around me: Matthew 5:13,14

I'm a part of the true vine, joined to Christ & able to produce much fruit: John 15:1,5

I am hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit: John 15:16

I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ: Acts 1:8

I am a temple where the Holy Spirit lives: 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 6:19

I am a peace with God and He has given me the work of making peace between Himself and other people: 2 Corinthians 5:

I am God's co-worker: 2 Corinthians 6:1

I am seated with Christ in heaven: Ephesians 2:6

I am God's building project, His handiwork, created to do His work: Ephesians 2:10

I am able to do all things through Christ who give me strength: Philippians 4:13

Rejoicing in Him!
Jenn

16 years

Matt and I started dating (officially...as in he asked me if I wanted to start dating him...as if that wasn't what we had been doing since December of 1992 but ok...) on February 13, 1993. This song was sung at our wedding by our good friend and Matt's lifelong friend Keith Levin. The picture was taken 16 years ago in May of 1993. I loved my swimmers legs back then. Nothin' but muscle baby; 16 years later nothin' but cottage cheese.
That should weed out all the lurkers on this blog.
This post is dedicated to my one and only Sweety, Peachy, Pumpkin Pie.
I love you because you:
1) make me laugh
2) work hard to provide for me and the kids
3) always compliment my cooking
4) tell me I look beautiful, even when I don’t
5) support me in everything I do
6) take an interest in the things I enjoy
7) are a true gentleman
8) make it possible for me to stay home with the children
9) fix all the stuff that breaks
10) are always willing to make a chocolate run for me even if its 11:00 at night
11) are very very VERY patient
12) never complain when the house is a mess
13) understand when I don’t get the laundry done, and you run out of socks and underwear
14) changed your fair share of poopy diapers
15) tolerate me even though I am incredibly hard to live with
16) worry about my health and happiness
17) put my needs before your own
18) stick up for me
19) gave me the kind of life I always wanted
20) care about being a good father
21) love God
22) don’t gawk at other women
23) keep your heart at home
24) take pride in my accomplishments
25) are responsible with money, so I don’t have to worry about it
26) don’t spend all weekend watching sports
27) love your children and spend time with them
28) keep the yard looking beautiful at all times
29) dream big dreams with me
30) know what’s really important
31) aren’t afraid to cry in front of me
32) buy feminine products for me without complaint
33) taught me to love to play games with your family
34) like the way I make potato salad
35) are unbelievably smart and industrious
36) don’t know how handsome you are
37) listen to me when I rant and rave and complain
38) still take my breath away when you kiss me. After all these years.
39) still think my body is beautiful even though it’s not
40) hold my feet in your lap while we watch TV
41) think deeply about things
42) have a genuine desire to help people in need
43) willingly do the disgusting tasks, like picking up dog poo, and cleaning up the pukes when the kids get sick

44) still have boyish enthusiasm for things like monster movies and forts in the back yard
45) eat whatever I put in front of you, without comment or complaint
46) don’t allow the kids to be disrespectful of me
47) are kind to and considerate of my parents
48) make a real effort to be a person who pleases God
49) still give me butterflies in my stomach when you walk into a room
50) are the perfect husband for me

I love you baby and I'm so glad you are mine

Baby it’s cold out side!

The Good Lord made yesterday just for Abby & Bree and most likely all children under 4 feet 2 inches. It was a day full of fun and adventure and new experiences…which lead to a very tired and grumpy mommy at the end of the day…but that is another post entirely. So did all you chinobillies enjoy the snow? I did…for 4 minutes…the girls did much-much better. (Josh, if you are reading this you might want to cover your eyes during this next segment. I know you get way more snow than we do up there in Washington and I hear you saying suck it up I do, I really do. As your older sister I say, give me some grace.)

Our back patio where just last week we were basking in the sun and enjoying 65 degree weather.

K- Josh you can open your eyes now! :)

MeMa came to the house to baby-sit while I went to the doctor in the morning. I was a bit worried about her coming to baby-sit for me due to the weather so I told the girls that MeMa might not be able to come. To which Abigail replied “No mama, she’s comin’; she weely (really) misses me”.

Then we were off to Mrs. Darlene’s story-time/Valentines party at the library. The girls had been living for this day since LAST Tuesday so we couldn’t miss it. I only slid through 1 stop sign trying to get them there thank goodness! What chaos, what fun, what a stressful hour, what memories! Mrs. Darlene sang songs, read stories; we played games, exchanged valentines, and ate Sugar Cookies.

The kids are about to sing songs.

The kids during Mrs. Darlene's story.

Games...

And more games...

And MORE games!

After the library fiasco, I mean party, I carted the kids home to build a snowman (as promised). Note to mothers be careful what you promise. You know that doctors appointment I just mentioned? Yeah it was a follow up appointment for a back injury from a couple of Sundays ago. And ok I forgot how heavy snow is. Hence the very poor engineering of our chinobilly snowman. While, I was trying to regain an upright position and not cry in front of the children I let them decorate the snowman. Didn’t they do a great job?

I’m questioning the placement of the pom-poms. Bree said they were for her boo-boos (which is what she calls her boobies). And the dish gloves are just in case she has to do the dishes. I’ll blame that one on her father and I promise I'll have a little talk with him on that one!

2 hours later the poor gals head fell off!

Abby

Bree

Abby making snow angels.

Dear Lord may I be so bold as to request for snow accumulation only on Saturdays and Sundays when daddy is home to build snowmen? I will be forever grateful. Amen.

Of play dates, and friends and Chinese Noodle Salad

Last Wednesday I invited my friend Debby and her brood over for lunch and a play date. Debby and I have been friends forever ~ and my kids adore her kids, especially her daughter Alyssa. The weather was gorgeous, I have a bad case of spring fever, and the kids needed to burn off some energy so it sounded like a perfect day for something different. Let me just say we had a great time. The kids played together (can you hear the angels rejoicing?)

Yes, I have proof that they DID indeed PLAY together.

Levi was feeling a bit shy. Maybe because he was the only boy.

Well the playing together part only lasts so long with my dear girl Abby.

And Deb and I got to visit for 5 minutes before the kids became hungry. Then we made PB&J's for the kids and Deb and I had yummy Chinese Noodle Salad, a recipe that my friend Jen Morse gave to me. Then my friend Kris popped in and we all got to visit a bit longer while all the kids ran amuck. We had a total of 10 children in our backyard and there wasn't a singe fight or tear shed. Hallelujah! Pure bliss I tell you! Here is the recipe for the Chinese Noodle Salad ~ posted with permission. Enjoy!

PS. If you click on the picture you should be able to actually read the recipe or you can download your very own copy here! Thanks Jen Morse for sharing the yummy goodness!

She. (Part 2)

1. She IS that cool.
2. Her favorite song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
3. She can operate the dvd player by herself.
4. She says library time with Ms. Darlene “rocks”.
5. She loves her puppy, Oliver...only sometimes.
6. She’s her daddy’s “stinkbug”.
7. She likes to call people on the phone ~ when mommy is not in the room.
8. She hates any kind of shadows in her room so she makes us keep a light on at night.
9. Every single baby doll she owns is currently named Baby JJ (after our friends new baby).
10. She says Grammy and Poppy live in Big City (from the TV show Oswald)
11. She said she was taking her babies shopping the other day and she meant it. She went to the refrigerator and took out the eggs, coffee, ketchup and every single apple before I caught on to her.
12. She's really sensitive and it takes her a L-O-N-G time to warm up to others.
13. She tells her daddy she’s had a rough day every time he calls on the phone even if she is having a really good day.
14. She gives the BEST hugs in the whole world, seriously, and is always generous with saying “I love you mamma!”

I love you more Peaches!