It's coming!

A much anticipated holiday is coming. Who is ready? "Not I," said the turkey. Not I," said the noodles. "Not I," said the house. Nor I! I've been trying to follow a cleaning schedule this week. Now looking back, I have done well, but it may have been quite pointless in light of the holiday! We are having everyone over, and I don't really have a head count yet! So, what does that mean. I guess it means that I'll have to buy paper plates after all!
My brother's family might not all come, which is a total of 5. It might just be him and a child or two. My husband's brother may or may not come. They may or may not bring someone. So how do you plan for that? I know we'll have plenty of food; it might not be their favorite thing though!
And the house, well it's pretty picked up, but there are a few projects that I wanted done for the holiday. If I stopped typing now, they still wouldn't get done! I really wanted my bathroom wallpaper stripped and the bathroom painted. My thought is even if I stripped off all the wallpaper, I might have some drywall issues. Skim coat of dry wall mud will take more time than I really have right now considering that getting someone to do that could take weeks around here! Painting I know could be done in one or two days. All that being said, I think that I'll at least try to make it my goal for Christmas!
Now, it seems that everyone is getting ready for Christmas. Everywhere you turn there are twinkling lights, live Santas walking around, and I'm reading on FB that many people are getting out their decorations. Why, oh why is everyone looking so forward to Christmas this year? It is a joyous time. I love the lights, the trees, the nativity. I, too, would love to start getting ready, but one holiday at a time. The day after Thanksgiving, we'll be setting up our Christmas stuff. And by we, of course, I mean me and my children! Should be interesting now that Lucy is mobile. Landon is more helpful, and I am sure that Noah could be too! It'll be fun! I don't doubt that.
Be Merry!

Long time, no blog.

I haven't blogged in awhile. I wish the days could be longer. It seems that we are all so busy. Life is busy.
I was looking around tonight and noticed that we were all downstairs relaxing together. It was the first time in a long, long time that dishes or something didn't come first. Tomorrow we have a free day or mostly free day. I am absolutely thrilled. I can hardly wait to do much of nothing.

Blessed

I am extremely blessed. I have a husband who adores me. Three great kids. Although tonight Noah was an absolute handful. He is awesome. We have this huge home, and right now I am not even utilizing the closets to their full capability. I am sure that in a few years I'll wonder what happened to all of my things! We have a vehicle that runs good, and we all fit in it with ease. I could go on and on, but why oh why is that not enough? I really want more. I want more clothes. I want more shoes. I want a better van or SUV. I want, want, want. And I feel really bad about that. There are times when I'm fine, but right now I wish I had more money. I wish that things didn't cost so much and that clothes never faded, shoes never hurt my feet, and cars never increased in mileage. Wouldn't that be great! The only way these things could happen is if I never wore the clothes, never walked anywhere, and never drove. That'll be the day! So for now, I'll just pretend that I am extremely well off when I go shopping and I can afford to buy anything I want, because when I have money to buy clothes, I either can't find what I am looking for or nothing fits quite right! :)

Domestic Engineer

The whole idea behind my title for my page was that - while some people like to be called stay-at-home moms, I don't do a whole lot of "staying at home!" Also, it sounds like all I am is a full-time mom. Well, the women that work are still moms. Whether you have a job (that you get paid for!) or not, when you're a mom you're a mom. It doesn't end. They don't just not need you anymore. There's puke! There's bloody lips and chipped teeth! There are trips to the dentist and the doctor and someone has to take the kids there!
I recently applied for a job (that I would get paid for!), and I didn't get it. I have many thoughts about why I didn't get it, but the truth of the matter is that I didn't get the job. God and I were tight through the whole process. There wasn't a day that went by without us having many conversations about family and the job and the whole time he gave me patience in the waiting. I was doing great until I found out that I didn't get it. I had a pretty good attitude about the whole process. Once I found out that I didn't get it, I was bummed to say the least. When I finally get the letter telling me that I really didn't get the job; I lost it. I was spewing out the mouth and saying horrible things. I wish I could take those things back, but I can't. I wish that I could erase a conversation that I had with someone about the whole ordeal. It doesn't happen!
But if I had gotten the job, my title for this blog would have changed completely! To me, the term "domestic engineer" is all encompassing for the many things that we "stay at home" moms do! And then throw in the volunteer things that I participate in, and I am quite a busy lady! But I say that I am in training because I am not completely successful at it. There are days when the dinner isn't on the table right at 6:00 or 6:30. There are many times that I am ironing shirts right before we leave to go to church. There are baths that are missed! There are floors that are dirty. The van has tons of bugs on it. It could be vacuumed out.
So, while I do a lot of things, there are even more things that could be done more effectively! And I know that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Cheap 2

I love talking about what I find for next to nothing or some great deal that I get. I forgot to write about the last couple of deals I got. I got a t-shirt from old navy at a sale for 50 cents. It looks brand new. My sister thought it was! Gotta love that! I also bought Landon a Polo sweater for 50 cents. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, and it's not even faded in the least. Now that's what I call a deal!

It's finally fall!

It really didn't feel like it the past couple of days. Our inside thermostat read 84 yesterday and 82 today. Side note, if we would have had air growing up our mother would have been nicer to us! But anyway, it's been really warm the past couple of days. Tonight it was perfect so we went outside after dinner and raked a pile of leaves. You know, Landon could jump in a pile of 20 leaves and be absolutely thrilled with that. He just loves the "idea" of jumping in a pile of leaves! But I'm all about trying to get it as big as possible.
The other day, I started a craft project with Noah consisting of finding leaves and gluing them onto a piece of paper that is cone shaped. Then it's time to look for acorns and fill the cone. Well, our leaves wouldn't really stay glued on, but upon inspection tonight quite a few of them are holding on, maybe for a temporary ride, but a ride nonetheless. We finished the project and sat it out on the table on the front porch. We'll see if anyone notices our attempt. And by anyone, I wasn't really referring to the squirrels, but that is quite possible. They love our trees. We love watching them. Maybe they'll come up to the table, have a seat and eat dinner! It happened with the popcorn last week on the back step!

Heavy Heart

I know that I am loved by God. I know that I am wonderfully made. I know that my husband adores me. When I am around certain groups of people, I simply feel like I don't measure up. I wish that all those material things that I say don't matter really didn't when I am around these people. I am tired of mentally comparing myself. I can hardly stand it. I don't want to feel this way. What can I do to change that?

Noah's Nose

Yep, Noah's nose had two raisins in it last week! He stuffed them up there while I was driving to his grandparents. They were going to babysit for the kids while we went to a banquet. Of course, I first spend 10 minutes trying to get them out! I couldn't see them in his nose and he could breathe so I left. A while later I got a text from Ed saying that he had sneezed them out while eating dinner. I was relieved.

When it first happened though, I have to say I didn't know whether to cry, laugh, or scream. It was so crazy.

But all is well in Noah land!

400 Facebook Friends

Just wondering why I have 400 facebook friends, but I never have anyone to hang out with other than my sisters and my husband! It's amazing to me that so many people want to "ADD" me. I wish that these people were not called "Friends." I wish they were called "acquintances!" That's really what they are! They are people that I know of, once knew, or heard of! They aren't my real friends! I don't know how many real friends I have, but it's not 400!

I do feel popular though! 400 FRIENDS! Now, I think I'll have to go for 500.

Cheap

I'll admit that I love a good deal! It excites me! Today I had a garage sale. A lady was looking at this red dress which I wore while I was pregnant with Lucy. It's not a maternity dress, but it was roomy. Now that I am not pregnant, I can't wear it anymore because I think it makes me look pregnant. Well, this lady said to me, "Oh, this is quite different." I'm thinking, yeah, that's why I bought it! She says, "Well, could you go any lower?" I walk over, and I knew that I had $5 on it. I said, "Oh, sure. I'll take $4." She reaches into her purse and pulls out a $5 bill. Seriously, I think to myself. Some people! I just couldn't believe the nerve that this lady had.

I would never do that.

Manners, please!

Yesterday I took all three of my children to the doctor's office. Only one of them was/is sick, but I decided to brave through the experience. I could go on and on about wait times and general receptionist behaviors, but I won't. The funniest part of the entire experience occured when we left!
I called my husband to talk to him about the appointment and how "sick" our son is. He is not that sick! While I am driving down the bypass at 70 mph talking on my cell phone, they start yelling at me.
"Mom, you need to apologize."
"Mom, you need to apologize to Landon."
"Mom, why did you do that?"
Of course, I am completely confused. I finished my conversation, and they repeated themselves.
"What did I do? Why do I need to apologize?" I ask.
"You made Landon's tissue fall by driving so fast," Noah says.
Landon chimes in, "Yeah, Mom, you were driving to fast and my tissue fell off the holder. You need to apologize."
I respond, "I am sorry Landon, for making your tissue fall off."

Seriously; it took everything I had to not bust out laughing. I could have objected. Children should not yell at their moms. They should be more respectful. But, I have obviously had an impact on my children. When someone wrongs another, there should be an apology. While the situation seemed trivial, I do believe they are learning about respect. (In some small way albeit.)

It was good for a smile, anyway!

Author

Today I had the privilege to accompany Hannah Stahlhut to the local elementary schools. It was a great experience for me. Not only did it get me out of the house, but I got to learn about some new people. I got to spend time with another friend. I was able to visit with a few local 5th graders. And I realized how much I miss the classroom.

Hannah is an amazing 18 year old girl. She has written the book Journey to the Homeland. It is geared toward 4-6 grade, but I have to say that I really enjoyed reading it! It was quite entertaining. And I am amazed to discover that she wrote the book in only 15 days.

I am in the Psi Iota Xi sorority. We received a rotating grant. With that grant and other money that we have raised through the sale of our cheese balls we were able to provide the students with the book completely free of charge. The teachers were able to incorporate the book into their curriculum. We worked a gal who developed some of the curriculum and accelerated reader tests. The students then wrote an essay regarding what could happen next. We provided prize bags for them for writing these essays. Then we had Hannah come and talk to the kids about the book. There was time for a question/answer period. Then the students were able to get the book signed by Hannah.

All in all, it was just a great day!

Training . . .

Noah, my 3 year old, is potty trained, more or less. I made potty training him my New Year's Resolution. I, honestly, have to say that I think the key to potty training is never putting the diapers back on. It can be inconvenient. It can be messing. It is worth it!

However, there are days when I wouldn't mind wiping the poop off of his butt and throwing the diaper away. These are the days when the poop lands on the bathroom floor. These are the days when the poop is in his underwear, and basically anywhere it shouldn't be.

I couldn't possibly say how many times I've been called into the bathroom for assistance. I will say that until recently I can't remember wiping my 4 year old at all. He has been potty trained for a year and a half, and it seems he never needed my help until recently. I know this isn't true, but it sure seems that way! I know that this too share pass, but for right now it seems to make up most of my days at home with my boys!

"Mooooommmm! Come wipe my butt!"