Thankful Thursday

1. Vacations - we leave sans kiddos on sunday headed for the "beach" - dubbed by the kiddos of course
2. Grandparents - i don't think we would survive without them
3. Technology - when it is all working
4. Patience - essential for potty training and dealing with three small children inside
5. Spray tanning - small joys I tell you.
6. Hot drinks when its freezing outside.
7. Quiet grocery shopping - a dead store at 8am I tell ya. my kiddos kept commenting on it too
8. Enjoy the Silence (great book on learning to listen to God)
9. Vicks & Kleenex
10. Projects that can my completed in one nap time
11. Clearance - something about that red tag i guess
12. Breast pump

So we leave in a few days to get some r & r with some great friends. It will be fun but those three littles will be missed greatly. Although they ask each morning if this is the day where we are gone and they get to go to grandmas. However, I think they might be excited to see us when we return but who knows. Just so thankful that they love their grandparents that much that they would rather be with them then us on a beach in 70 degree weather. Hello. Not a toss up for this momma. No offense to the parents.

Hoping to get a few blog posts scheduled for next week but if not well their will be a lot to catch up when we return but it will be fun to get away from reality and spend some time with my best friend and some of my best friends.

Definitely a blessing.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine. But a crushed spirit dries up the bones" Proverbs 17:22

Sage 10 months

I just looked down at the computer so excited that I was actually posting this on the the 27th, his actual birthday only to see that today is the 29th. Wow. I guess a fact for this sahm is that she never ever knows the date unless its a holiday, birthday or something.

Well Sage is officially 10 months. At least two days ago.

He's pretty much all boy. Enjoying a nice bout of wrestling with the boys, playing football, pushing cars, knocking down blocks.

He loves to be part of the action. He doesn't miss much. 

As of late, he spends a good majority of his day like this. Notice my leg. He has been known to pull a pant leg so hard that he has depantzed me at the kitchen sink a time or two. Of course, not super difficult for this sweat wearing momma. In fact, Shadd asked me today after showering if I was going to get dressed or just wear jammies all day. Oh dear. 

He continues to smile like crazy. Loves to play games like hide and seek, peek-a-boo, and chase. He continues to take a few steps here and there and I have sworn that while we are gone next week he will start officially walking. Wouldn't that be my luck. He still cruises furniture but now takes a couple steps by himself in between things. He also free stands a lot lately so he is really close. I keep reminding him to slow down but he keeps looking around like "I gotta get going to keep up with these guys".

Other than that..pretty much same old stuff. Easy as pie to go to sleep. Loves to nap. Loves to nurse & eat just about anything.

Hard to think he will be celebrating the big day soon. Crazy how fast the time flys.

My Table

Well this is a long time coming...so those of you who have been patiently waiting well I'm finally uploading some pics of my finished table.

To set the stage...I hated our old table. Counter height for small children was less than ideal and then cushions on the chairs well I recovered them and we tried plastic covers for a while but my kids are just plain messy. So I was uber thankful when the hubs said I could sell it. Yeah for craigslist and then nicest couple from Brazil (they live in Johnston, if I remember right). They were incredible and I was super happy to see an investment from the early stages of married life go to someone who will love it too. Does any one else get kinda emotionally attached to random things?

Anyways...I have always wanted a large farmhouse style table. Like the ones in Restoration Hardware (way to hard to swallow those prices), Pottery Barn, World Market. So when I saw some plans on ana-white.com. Of course, I attempted to ask the hubs to make one for me but he was a little busy with the house and well not super excited about it. He did make my bathroom vanity though (I will try to post that one shortly too) so I will give him the credit he is do.

So then I had the brilliant idea of asking my brother if he would like to make me one. He loves to dabble in random things, which I love, so he was eager to help me out. He located some wood from a guy in Peru (the town not the country) and they were going out of business so he got a smoking deal on some nice wood. Most of the plans called for 2*4s and such but all my builder friends steered me to some nicer would. Of course, I know appreciate it.

So I gave my bro some pics for inspiration. He made a treated table and benches for my momma in the meantime and then he made me this...

He kept it pretty rough, which I love. It looks old and like it has so much character. Amazing what a few knots, different stains and random objects for distressing can do.

It came unfinished...I think those pics are on my phone, whoops.

Then I used this sunbleached gray colored stain I picked up at Menards. Along with some random Jacobean and Ebony that I had laying around. Then finished with dark and clear minwax finishing paste and a few coats of wipe on Poly.

It is the dead of winter and I was finishing it in the garage so the wood has since expanded a bit and I have some cracking where I filled in some putty so I will have to do a little work to the big, heavy guy this summer when it is nice out again but oh well. In the meantime we are loving it.

Plus the chairs I finally twisted D's arm to get form world market. With coupon we saved a bunch and

waterpop

Its tough to get this little "BIG" guy to stop long enough to smile. But the other day I caught one. Well a red one, I guess. He spent the nap time hanging with me because he rarely naps these days any more. And while I enjoyed a soda well he enjoyed a waterpop. A what? Well they dubbed small sized gatorade "waterpop" as they could be located in the water/pop fridge at Frama and Papa's house. Love the phrase and I hope it never ceases (even though I know it will).

Thankful Thursday

1. Ells is using the potty! Mostly successes.
2. Sage's love for his daddy. He makes a bee line to him when he gets home from work
3. My father-in-law. He raised an incredible son and I am ever grateful for the character he instilled in him. He celebrates the big 60 today! Happy Birthday!
4. New recipes
5. Cheap homemade starbucks frap especially when the nearest Starbucks is 15 minutes away.
6. the bond of believers
7. Saturday night dinner with friends. Thanks for making the trek Ports!
8. Amazing messages from Pastor S.
9. A day with my momma
10. New Ipad Apps - Thanks Tracy
11. A clean mopped floor
12. More balance and less running (thanks to two older kiddos who play well and the craziness running with 3 brings)
13. Cold crisp air
14. new music


I thought I would leave you with this...Its my newest favorite new song.

The Great I Am

Funny. I heard about it on another blog awhile back. Then they played it on KLove and then sung it at church. Each time I feel more and more in love. Definitely a favorite. Itunes purchase for sure!

Miss Mo turns One

A couple weekends ago we got to go to p-town and celebrate my niece's first birthday. It was worth the drive for an amazing dinner whipped up by my sis, plus some yummy cupcakes and her hubs slaved away in the garage for and produced amaZing homemade ice cream. What a treat in the dead of winter!       Uncle N really put a good dew on it and I would say it tasted better than the hubs. But don't tell him I said that. He really thinks he owns the homemade ice cream world! 

The birthday girl got to open presents with the help of all her older cousins and her daddy. She loved it. 

 For a little fun, we got her this little car. Of course its been a crowd favorite at our house so I figured she might enjoy it. D put it together because I mean what 1 year old wants to unwrap a box. No way. A car rolled out is way way cooler. Uncle N can thank D later for that one. However, the new toy did spark a little jealousy among some of the young ones.

The party was fabulously decorated, of course. We are sisters and there is nothing we love more than throwing a perfect party with all the trimmings. I didn't get a picture but Kels spent an uber amount of time making a kids dining table to die for. The each had a personalized dry erase place mat for coloring and cute centerpieces of licorice ropes. Definitely a reason we love to craft together I guess. It looked fab! 

Someone looks excited about the cake, uh? However she didn't devour it because she ate a huge plate of spaghetti an hour before. Still the expression is priceless. 

All the cousins. Well minus the two in the womb. Quite the crew. 

Instagram...

Secretly in love with Instagram...

Easy peasy to edit and capture just the quick everydays. I know I'm suppose to use my photoshop to do that but maybe when I sleep all night and have moments of down time. Til then.

Our latest...

Sager loves to push cars around. Total Boy

Mom Sick = Intrim Babysitter Uncle J

Enjoying the brisk air

Cozy Coupe...Loves her knit hat from D's Aunt Kris

One day He will want to ride his bike I pray.

Bath Time

The Peanuts

Thankful Thursday

1. Friend play dates (traveling all the way from Ankeny)
2. God's work
3. The Smiths - they are raising money to go to Zambia full time (Wow, amazing stuff)
4. How easy Sage lays down for nap and bedtime. I had rockers before so he is a blessing this way
5. Super coupons from Fareway
6. Early bedtimes
7. Random movie nights in the middle of the week
8. The Hubs (best giver I know)
9. A walk to get the mail
10. Pretend play - "the doc is in"

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.

Isaiah 43:7

Glitter snowflakes

After you put away the Christmas decor...the house feels a little drab. Expecially a new house that doesn't have much on the walls because the mommy wants each nail hole she puts in to old the perfect piece. So it might take a while.

So why not make some snowflakes. Our first few - FLOPS. I guess this momma forgot how to fold the paper perfectly. Thanks to a quick tutorial from Martha Stewart though we were back in business.


Beautiful.

I even let them break out the glitter. Bold Move.

Now the mantel. Its a start but I'm working on it. Thoughts on the owl? He was a gold color, now spray painted a pristine white. I have dubbed him "little hoot". However the hubs not so thrilled with my $1 find at Kohls clearance aisle.

Snow...Inside...What?

So the other day... I said, "Lets do something crazy?"

"Like what?" was the reply I got.

"Like bring the snow inside....I wonder what will happen"

We hypothesized and then got down to business just playing.

Cups of water and a little food coloring added to the excitement, of course.

I believe this might be mid-sneeze, whoops

First Haircut

Since mom's attempt didn't go so hot. We needed to call in our resident barber. He lives a few minutes away but was available one evening for a couple of buzzes. So Sage was up first. Tried not to go too short. Red, fine hair is tough...

Sage did awesome. No fear of the sound. Just wanted to help.

Amazing tool we were using there uh? The power of a tape measure. He looks so grown up. Of course, I ran off to get the bath going and never snapped an after. You get the picture though.

Blows my mind when I think that the Lord blessed me (of all people) with two beautiful red heads. Never would have guessed that in a million years.

Shaddy's hair was getting really long and he promised not to cry but he spent a good time screaming and crying. No pictures this time. One of these days we will get it. Papa stays strong and pushes on though. He's free too. Wow. What a deal!

Your Majesty

Sometimes we hear this from across the room....


"Drum Roll"....

"Presenting Prince Shadd or Princess Ellsyn"

Maybe a bit to much Cinderella watching in our house or a few too many dress up clothes. But nonetheless priceless.

One day Shadd will be a bit embarrassed by the picture but till then let their imaginations run wild.

Thankful Thursday

Wow. These little guys are sneaking up on me.

Well two more family members down with stomach flu. Ells got sick in the middle of the night on Tuesday and D followed suit Wed afternoon. Lets just say the adults got a far worse case. The littles bounced right back to full speed within 12 hours or but the bigs, well they mopped around a tad longer. We did enjoy the new Bourne movie during nap time yesterday. Random. Yes. But exactly what the doctor ordered.

So Thankful Thursday got tossed on the back burner again this week. To be honest I kinda forgot it was even Friday today.

1. Beautiful weather
2. Walks to the park
3. Collective mail - we have to walk down the block to get it now - kinda a great afternoon adventure out
4. Sagers new snowsuit
5. Date night to Kohls with sis
6. The specific requests for random songs from the back row of the van
7. The stomach flu has run its course
8. Green grass under that snow
9. The vast free tutorials on the internet - how would I figure out photoshop with out you?
10. Gorgeous flowers - thanks Hoodjers
11. Quiet mornings with God
12. Working out with D
13. Redbox
14. Sleep filled nights
15. Snuggle time with any of my babies
16. How they dubbed throwing up "spitting up"
17. Homemade crafts
18. Spray Paint
19. Old Things

Sage = 9 months

We went to Sager's 9mo appt the other day. With the holidays and such it seems like he just grew up overnight. I think the reality of the fact that he's going to be turning one soon as really started to hit. Maybe it has to do with the new year or that my niece just turned one but it can't really be happening. My little guy can't already be close to a toddler. 

He is getting big...

Stats: 

21lbs 13oz  - 80%

29 inches - 40%

head circumference - 100% (crazy cuz I don't think his head looks big but whatever)

Sleep: Better but still lately getting up in the night at least once. I know this momma should really let him cry it out but it literally takes me a few minutes and its not too often that the other two sleep all night in their beds either without migrating to our room - thankfully the floor or asking me to change a wet diaper (another post but Ells has got me stumped thats for sure). 

Eating: Still nursing 5 or 6 times a day. And pretty much eating everything I put in front of him at anytime. He is a rare beast when it comes to food. Still doesn't mind being fed by a spoon but loves to scarf up finger foods too. He doesn't seem to object to anything as long as he is feeling okay.

New Stunts:

Crawling up on all fours, finally. A lot faster too

Mastered crawling up the stairs. Lucky for me I was ready.

Crusing back and forth between furniture. 

Taken a few steps and diving forward between D & I

Can stand by himself for a few seconds

Starting to hold his own sippy cup

Loves to dance

Favorite song: We ready (ISU Coach walks out to it) and Thunder - Thank you Daddy for these random favorites

Loves to laugh and tease his brother and sister

Likes to be in the thick of things

Likes to be tickled 

Favorite toy: monster truck of shadd's (loves to push it around) or balls

Must have his blanket nuzzled up by his face for nap or bedtime

Great helper with the laundry and the dishwasher

Me plus 3

Since I tend to be the one holding the camera most days...

The hubs snapped one for me the other day.

The BIG 3.0.

So I had every intention of posting my 30 thankfuls in honor of my big day last Thursday. However I spent my day with the stomach flu. Not exactly how I wanted to ring in the new decade of my life thats for sure. But we all grew a bit closer and chalked it up to new experience for our children to see their mommy pretty much unavailable and d did a little more deep cleaning than he had ever experienced, i believe.

But here we are now Monday afternoon and only Shaddy got sick on Saturday so either we made it through with 2 out of 5 or the otthers will eventually follow suit. A weird bug thats for sure.

Finally feeling better I will now get to that list of 30. Wow. A lot has happened in those 30 years and with each year I feel even further blessed.

Thankful Thursday (30th birthday edition)...in no particular order of course

1.  God - my Savior & Creator - my walk has changed a lot since I made that decision to follow Christ at 4 but I can only hope it continues to mold and change into exactly the relationship God desires.

2. My Dad: hardest worker out there, come to your rescue in a second, handiest person i know, best Papa hands down - plays forever and patience never ends

3. My Momma: my appreciation and love deepens each year as I experience motherhood. Best advice giver, listener & knows exactly how to parent me (yep. I still need it)

4. My siblings: things have changed as we start to parent alongside one another but we still long for a good hard fought competitive game or can chat and laugh until the wee hours of the morning.

5. The Hubs: I knew you were the one almost 15 years ago. I just thank the Lord for orchestrating all the little details.

6. My gifts: all precious three of them (so far)

7. My whole family - it meant so much to have them all around to celebrate my day on New Years, thankfully.

8. My job: it may not be glamourous or even highly regarded by many but i think its the best one out there. Some day my kiddos will thank me just I thank my mom.

9. Our house - its fun to start new - you know broaden the horizon
10. Starbucks, especially gift cards
11. New stuff
12. Online tutorials - making anyone knowledgeable and everyone able to give it a shot
13. Birthday messages via facebook, text, call, video, etc
14. Our small town (a errand literally can take 5 minutes)
15. All the randoms that happen to us that D and I can spend time laughing over later. - like frozen dead cat (not ours or anyones we know) in our window well.
16. P90x
17. Coed volleyball (we won, whoop)
18. My husband's competitive nature
19. Projects
20. Silence - starting to practice this
21. My new camera lens
22. Space (like to put away Christmas presents and stuff, you know?)
23. Friends
24. Dance parties in the living room and even in front of the picture window in Ells bedroom
25. Shadd's love for school
26. The constant hum of chatter
27. All my needs are met abundantly
28. Play dates
29. Bible Study
30. 30 years of life here on this earth

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

Santa Arrived

Totally out of order I know but I can't forget our Christmas...

Santa Arrived

He ate his snacks. No cookies around this place. But he seemed to be pleased.

He left a note and some presents.

We were pumped. (next time I will use my big lens to try and capture those expressions up close)

We opened stockings. Ells was somewhat satisfied with Sages. I had to point her to the stocking with the E. Lack of sleep and excitement I guess.

Peppermint sticks and Rollie Pollies. Can life get any better?

Ells and her bitty baby. Thanks to my Aunt Mary for her sewing talents. Maybe next year I will attempt that one. The Rollie Pollies took me enough time.

Of course, Spiderman is big this year. And Captain America for Ells. Don't ask me why. Plus some dress up stuff. I am sure I can blog about the outfits they will come up with. 

Everybody loved Sagers gift. However it has seemed to lose its thunder.

Then my gift. Precious. My little boy thought of me. He bought me beautiful "diamond" earrings from the jewelry store "Shopko".  I haven't stopped wearing them since. He's complimented me a few times. Not sure where he gets it but he will win some girls heart someday. Til then he's mine.

And of course the aftermath!