Full Plate Living

Signs of Life

2015-05-28T13:35:00.001-04:00

I'm coming out of my blogging drought to share something on my heart. This is just an outlet for me to share my thoughts and release them out into the world as a sort of healing exercise for myself, not a preachy, I-know-it-all post.

I've been surrounded by death lately. It seems we go through series of events in different stages of life. You know, the wedding-every-weekend stage where it seems all our friends are getting married, so our calendars fill up with wedding season fun. Then comes the baby shower blitz. We become very familiar with the popular baby items in our price range and should probably just buy them in bulk so we can dole them out at upcoming showers.

But this next stage I didn't see coming. No one told me about the which-marriage-is-on-the-chopping-block-next stage. It seems my age group (mid-30's) has entered the divorce stage. Marriage is under attack in a way I've never known. And it just feels like, sadly, my age group is accepting this as a stage of life. My heart is burdened by the hate and hurt so many are dealing and struggling with daily.

This is where I've got to get something off my chest. Dear friend struggling in marriage: there is new life where you may only see death. Stay with me for a moment...

I bought two topiary trees for planters on either side of my garage. They were $20 each. I really didn't want to spend $40 on plants, but I knew it was an investment. You see, these plants were not annuals but perennials. For years I had chosen plants with colorful foliage and flowers that only last a season. (...if that long. I teasingly started to refer to the planters as the "Pots of Death" as they seemed to be cursed, and whatever plant I chose was doomed to a crispy and premature death. It was as if I could hear the plants screaming, "Not me! Not me!" as I took them home from the store knowing their fate was sealed upon my purchase.)

But this year, I decided to think long-term and invest in some plants that would last year after year. Determined to take good care of them, I invested the $40 and planted the topiaries proudly. Then the last frost of the year came two days later. *Sigh* One plant seemed unscathed...but the other showed signs of damage. Oh dear.

I still watered them both thinking two or three times a week would suffice. But I noticed neither was flourishing, in fact, the frost-bitten one was not looking good at all. Not only were the leaves on the frost-bitten side all brown and dropping, but the whole thing was losing leaves. I increased my watering to a daily routine and noticed improvement on the healthy plant but was sad to see the distressed plant deteriorate into a leafless, dried up stick. I lost all hope when I tried trimming a few twigs hoping to see signs of life...just a little green under the brown was all I hoped for. But alas. I deemed it dead as a doornail. Now I had mismatched pots, but I decided to leave it until I could find a replacement plant...unfortunately, the store was sold out, so I couldn't get a new one. So, the dead plant stayed as I thought through options.

My mom visited sometime later, and I lamented about my mismatched pots and one dead plant. She said, "Don't give up yet. See if it can come back. Sometimes it just takes time." I would look for a replacement each time I walked through the garden section but they never did get those same plants in again. But, following my mother's encouragement, I went ahead and watered the dead plant since I was watering the plant next to it. That's when I began to notice the dried up, stick of a plant had a few spots of green appear. Long story short, that plant was not dead. I deemed it over and done for...no hope. I gave it time (what I deemed long enough) to come back. I was ready to throw it out! What if I had?

I realize that is how many feel about marriage. They look for any green under the surface and really look hard for signs of life. You may really feel like you've done all you can! But it appears hopeless and impossible. Friend, let me tell you...sometimes you can't see life, but it's there. Don't give up on your commitment just because it looks futile to your eyes. You might be giving up right before a time of flourishing.

Can you believe that the plant I just KNEW was dead is now covered in new growth? The photo above is of the actual plant the day this was posted. And even better, it is in better shape than the other plant that had no damage. Did you get that? ...the plant I almost threw out because I had given up, is now healthier than the other plant that did not experience trauma. I cannot believe it. There are still scars and areas of damage, but the new growth is greener and larger and fuller than the other plant. And it looks better everyday. That is when it struck me: we may give up on love and by so doing be missing out on the biggest blessings and strongest earthly relationship we could ever know. Hang in there. You committed to better or worse. You have to go through the "worse" part to experience the "better."

Now, I know I'm opening the page up to bitter and ugly "you don't know what I've been through" comments, and I'm not claiming to know. This is just my space to share some hope to those in hard times. I do know what it feels like to have a heart hardened by anger, annoyance and all those other feelings that build up when sharing a life with another. I know marriage is hard. We all do. But I also know my God is a giver of new life. I just wanted to breathe some hope of new life to someone who feels like they are facing an impossible choice of living in a disappointing and unfulfilling marriage or "starting over" as the world would have you believe. Don't give up before your greatest happiness can bloom.

This post is for those looking to leave their marriage covenant. I know marriage is between two people and I hope this does not place undue conviction on any who have endured divorce even though they fought for their marriage but the spouse left them.

Please share your encouragement and stories of hope to those of us who need to hear them. (This is my blog, and I will only publish uplifting and encouraging comments I deem of value to the purpose of encouraging healthy marriages.)

School 2014

2014-09-05T08:50:00.001-04:00

Big things are happening in the Trapnell household. August means back to school in Georgia, and that means we have our first official elementary student! Anderson started Kindergarten and is loving it! He is doing so well, and he makes us so proud! So far, he favorite subject is PE and favorite lunch is pizza. Yesterday was extra special as both fell on the same day. :) We are thankful for his preschool teacher who prepared him so well for this year of Kindergarten. He is taking all the newness and challenges in stride. We're so excited for his bright future!

I highly recommend choosing a spot to take photos in each year. It's fun to see them change over the years and how they grow compared to their surroundings.

In other big news, Connor started pre-school for the first time in September. See, it's a BIG year at the Trapnell house! :) He is only going half-days, twice a week. And he is a little more timid at drop-off time than Anderson ever was, but his teacher assures me he is doing well and enjoying the day. I can believe it as evidenced by his beaming smile at pick-up time. :)

Mickey Mouse in the House - Connor Turns 2

2014-07-08T14:35:00.001-04:00

These have been the quickest two years of my life! It has been such an amazing joy to have our sweet Connorman in our family. Can't imagine life without him. He brings a sense of humor to everyday life. He keeps me laughing! I see the "terrible" twos (and even terriblier threes) coming in for a crash landing, but he has been such an easy-going, fun-loving, love-giving addition to our lives.

Here are a few Connor facts:
Favorite color: yellow or "ell-oh" (everything is yellow as his first guess when playing the "what color" game)
Favorite character: Mickey Mouse or "mee mouse" (although it's quickly becoming Lightning McQueen or "Teen")
He LOVES to wear flip flops or "bop bops."
He still refuses to say his own name. When asked what his name is, he proudly exclaims, "ME!" with a smile.

(I just used boxed chocolate cake mix and icing to make cupcakes. I cut the corner out of a ziploc bag and piped the icing in a spiral on top then added two mini oreos as ears. I hotglued buttons on the cupcake liner. Not perfect, but fun and yummy!)

We celebrated our fun-filled two years with Connor with a small gathering at the house with family and a few friends. It was a blast as Connor really enjoyed his "parttee"and all the decorations with "mee mouse."

We had popcorn and watched a short, classic Mickey cartoon "Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip" (under Mickey and the Beanstalk on Netflix).

Sweet friends made our party so much fun!

He had a BLAST!

The whole group:

His bubble machine gift was put to use right away! It was fun but they accidentally dumped all the bubble solution out after a few minutes.

Baseball and playing with the new soccer goal!

Here are some parties from years past:
Anderson Turns 2
Connor Turns 1

Craft Fail of the Year Award - My Oversized Ruler Growth Chart

2014-06-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

This is supposed to be a post about the super-cute oversized ruler growth chart I made with my own two crafty hands. But, alas, this story does not have a happy ending.

I'll start off with what went right.

I had pinned several versions of DIY growth charts that look like oversized rulers and have been wanting to make my own for a couple of years. I finally got the feeling that the boys might be taller than me by the time I got around to it, so with my youngest's two-year birthday coming up next weekend, I decided I better hurry up and get it done!

I gathered the supplies I needed.
- a whitewood pine board about 5.5 inches x 6.5 feet (it was the one with the most similar proportions to an actual ruler)
- two black sharpie markers - a wide tip and a fine tip
- wood conditioner - This was the first time I used this product before staining, and I think it did make a little difference in how well the stain covered the board.
- wood stain - I had a can of a weathered grey color, so I just used that. A brown or oak color would be more true to an actual ruler, but I still loved how the grey turned out for use in my home.
- sand paper just to use between staining and if you want to distress the edges a bit
- tape measure
- T-square
- spray on clear coat protectant

I conditioned the board and added two coats of stain. So far, so good!

I used my tape measure and the fine tip sharpie to make small tick marks at one inch intervals up the left side of the board. Then, I used my T-square to make the permanent ruler lines with the wide tip sharpie. At each foot interval, I made the mark 2 inches, each quarter foot was a 1.5 inch mark with 1 inch marks in between.

I printed out numbers to trace onto the board. I chose Century Schoolbook (one of my faves!) because the numeral 5 makes my heart go pitter-pat. Sad, but true.

I printed them out about 3 inches tall. I kind of wish I made them a smidge smaller but it still turned out super cute.

All you have to do is cut out a square rather close to each number, and use a pencil to trace the number where you want it to go. Be aware the grain of the wood may make it difficult to trace at some places. The pencil will want to follow the grain, but just lift up and start again.

I used my T-square to line up on the shorter mark right before the mark for each foot measurement and put the top of the number about 1/2 and inch from the end of the mark. Wherever you decide to put your numbers, just keep them all consistent.

After tracing the number in pencil, remove the paper and you will see a faint impression on the board. It helps if you are near a bright window or have a light source off to the side for you to see the impression better. Then use a fine tip sharpie to trace the impression and fill it in.

So easy (just time consuming), so cute, and sooooo should've stopped there. Because this is where it gets ugly. I debated using a clear coat on it. It doesn't really need it. It looks so good. I should just hang it up. It's good to go. Ah, I might wish I had put a clear coat on it years from now. I might as well do it now while I'm working on it.

How?!?! Why?!?! The tragedy!

Let's just say, I saw the words gloss and protective and thought I was good to go. I could blame it on the two busy boys who were ready to go while I was trying to shop at the hardware store. But really, how did I not figure out I had purchased WHITE SPRAY PAINT instead of a clear coat sealant? I'll never really know because it seems so obvious.

I even read the directions on the can before using it...I could blame Rustoleum because they put the directions for each step in the process on the can...including the clear coat step, so that didn't help me figure out my blunder. Even while I was spraying the product it did not dawn on me that I was in fact using WHITE SPRAY PAINT! Here is a little re-play of my thoughts as this tragedy unfolded (you can kind of see the change of thoughts going up each foot of the board):

1 foot mark - Oh my, why is this coming out white? It must come out white so you can see the coverage before it dries clear.

2 foot mark - Geez, they really shouldn't make this spray white. Someone might think this is actually white spray paint.

3 foot mark - Oh my goodness, this is white spray paint.

4 foot mark - No. No way. Surely this is just a clear coat. It'll dry clear.

5 foot mark - @)#*$)#($&#)*$ This IS WHITE SPRAY PAINT!!!!

6 foot mark - Well, I might as well finish what I started. I cannot believe this. Kill me now.

For future reference, clear coat spray actually has a clear cap. Now I know.

I'm hoping to sand this sucker down and see if it will look distressed, chippy, weathered white and totally on purpose. Wish me luck.

Have you had any super crafting fails? No, just me? Great. Just direct me to the application for Ultimate Craft Fail of the Year so I can start filling it out. I've been laughing about this all afternoon. Guess I have to laugh to keep from crying!

***Update 6.29.14***
Look what a little (ok, a lot) of sanding with coarse sandpaper and a few layers of actual clear coat (hallelujah) looks like:

Yay! My 3.5 foot model likes it, too! :)

Changing Perspectives

2014-05-30T14:21:00.000-04:00

I just helped my 5-year-old download nearly 1500 photos from his Fisher Price digital camera. I love his enthusiasm for photography. Might have something to do with seeing his momma constantly taking pics. He's had his own camera for a few years now, and after the big download this morning, we are enjoying a walk through memory lane.

I love seeing things (all 1467 of them) from his perspective. (Keep in mind these are not cropped or edited in any way except for professional airbrushing on the pictures of me. I wish.)

Like his view through the backseat window:

And his height difference:

Things he finds interesting:

And cars, lots of cars:

And quite a few artsy shots:

Some especially flattering shots:

A handful of selfies:

Even a Tiger selfie:

I have a feeling one day I'll treasure the shots from daily life:

But these are the ones that melted my heart:

Amid all the blurry, unrecognizable images were slices of life. I love that. It's great to give your child a creative outlet. Find out how he or she likes to express themselves. Give them the tools to create. You might just be able to get a look from their perspective.

10 Years New - The Daily Wedding Gift

2014-05-28T15:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Anniversary to my One and Only, always and forever!

We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary last week. That means all of our towels, sheets, dishes and small appliances are also 10 years old. :) Why haven't card companies and department stores created a new "holiday" for the 10 year anniversary? We could totally use another shower to spruce up the place, especially now that we have kids to spend on, too. It should totally be a thing. Right?

Well, even though all our wedding gifts have gotten older and older, there is one thing that is new each and everyday. Our love. As I was contemplating the age of our washing machine the other day as it whined and whizzed through the spin cycle, I realized that we got it as a wedding gift. I'm so grateful it is still washing and working well...it's just old. A little rust around the bleach dispenser and grime in all the cracks tells it's age. I've about worn it out! I got to thinking about all our relationship has been through (thankfully, nothing sorid or Lifetime movie-worthy) and wondered if our love shows its age. (Deep thoughts for in the laundry room, I know.)

I then realized our love is not 10 years old...or even 14 years old if I include dating years. (Oh, how I love the dating years!) Our love is new everyday. I choose to love him every morning when I get up. And, thank the Lord, he chooses to love me everyday, too.

You see, I'm not the same person he married 10 years ago. I've been a grumpy and ungrateful person more than I care to acknowledge.

He still chose to love me even when it was hard to like me.

It's not easy, but the intentional choice to love makes our relationship even stronger and sweeter with age. I think this past year has been the best of our life together...and of all time, in my book. And I couldn't say that for each and every year of our marriage. But I couldn't help but think about how our short little weekend anniversary trip was even better than our honeymoon. We know each other, but we change everyday. We appreciate each other, and we support each other in our weakness. How sweet it is.

Choose love in your marriage. Make it new everyday even when it seems your spouse may not be as accepting of that gift as you would like. It is your wedding gift to each other for as long as you both shall live.

(I encourage you to watch the move "Fireproof" with your spouse to celebrate the gift of new love everyday. They don't know me from Adam, but I just like their movie and wanted to share it with you!)

Surprise Box Ideas

2014-05-20T17:25:00.000-04:00

How's your summer going? So far my Summer Schedule is a hit (it's only day 2, but it's the small victories, am I right?). Small amount of whining is to be expected, but my major bonus is that I've gotten soooo much done the past two days. I know when and where things are supposed to happen, and things really do get done that way. None of my regular procrastination problems when I have a schedule to follow!

Another perk of my Summer Schedule has been my transition of an afternoon nap for my toddler and the quiet box time for my soon-to-be Kindergartener. I decided to call them "Surprise Boxes" since its something new everyday and it is a surprise to him what he'll be getting. I figured it would go over better with him than a "Quiet Box." I get a giggle each day when he cheers for his Surprise Box. :)

Here's more details on how I've set-up this time for my big boy. I had some of those fabric-type, square bins from Walmart in his play room. So, I just added a tag with the day of the week to the handle for him to pull out when the time comes each day. I reorganized the bins to have a bit of a theme each day, so it's also been helpful in organizing the playroom! Here's a peek at the bins for this week.

M - A huge pile of Matchbox cars with a a road mat (similar to this) and a small play garage.

T - His supply box from pre-K (kid scissors, crayons, pencils), a spiral notebook, stickers, transparent tape and a Spiderman activity book that came in his Happy Meal a few days before. (This was a huge hit mostly because of the tape. He was so excited to be able to have his own tape dispenser to use as he wanted.) :)

W - No Surprise Box time as we had a day at the GA Aquarium

Th - A box full of characters of all kinds. Lots of Happy Meal toys, power rangers, batman, dinosaurs and ninja turtle figurines.

F - Trains of all kinds. And a paper train station/railway map that came with a Thomas book he received as a gift.

Of course, he won't have something new each and everyday. But I'll mix things up and get some Dollar Store toys to toss in here and there for an extra "surprise" for him to get excited about. :)

Some other ideas I've had for future boxes are a puzzle theme, cooking utensil theme and a building/blocks theme.

Some tips that seemed to have helped as he gets in the groove of some alone time. (This is a slight challenge as he has always been a kid who wants to be around someone and talking and wanting feedback on everything he does.) I set up a "fort" from his quilt between his bed and a side table for him to play under. It gave him a safe spot to set up and not feel overwhelmed by the empty room. I also found the longest running CD I could find (a 72 minute classical music lullaby album) and told him he could quietly come downstairs when it was finished playing. He then spends some time with me one on one or plays some educational apps on my phone.

I'd love to hear from you! Let me know how your summer is starting off and if you have an ideas for Surprise Boxes...I'd love to hear from you!

Saving Summer (A Schedule)

2014-05-16T09:04:00.002-04:00

Goodbye, School Days. Hello, Summer!

Who's ready for the long days of Summer? If you're like me, it actually strikes fear in your heart to think about filling the days with productive (whine-limiting) activities. So, I thought I'd share an example and some of the thoughts behind this set-up to give you ideas on what will work for your family. Don't fear the freedom of summer! :)

Breakfast - something to give them lasting energy for a great start to the day!

Get Dressed/Brush Teeth/Make-up Beds - Just a little structure to help the transition when school starts back. After breakfast, it's time to get dressed (and they'll be ready to go to school when time comes).

TV/Exercise - My kids LOVE TV... a little too much. Setting a time (no more than an hour in this case) helps me to have the power to say "no" to the requests for just "one more show" (because that will happen). And I will use this time to exercise, shower and get ready for the day!

Snack - Hungry boys can't make it until lunch without a snack.

Outing - Having a change of scenery does wonders. Planning something fun to fill the time will create fun summer memories. After all, this is summer break and we need to have FUN! This would be a great time to add in a few group play dates sprinkled in throughout the summer. I'm planning some themed days for little ones to work on paperwork (gotta keep those pencils in hand to stay prepared for school), crafts, games and fieldtrips. So far a "beach day", strawberry picking and bug theme are all on my list. I'll be adding more to my Pinterest board here:
http://www.pinterest.com/fullplatedesign/summer-2014-kid-activities/

Lunch - Gotta plan for some fast, easy and filling meals. Don't let the menu sneak up on me...keeping my kids from eating PB&J every. single. day. is the goal. Visit my Lunch Munch Pinterest page for some ideas.
http://www.pinterest.com/fullplatedesign/lunch-munch/

Outside Play - My guys love to play outside! This is the one part of this schedule I'm not thrilled with...outside time in the peak heat of the day? But it's the only place I could fit it and I'm planning on lots of water play (i.e. here's a bucket of water and some old paintbrushes), sunscreen and our sandbox is in the shade, so maybe this is possible. Check out my little ones Pinterest page for some more ideas on how to fill time and for inevitable rainy days.
http://www.pinterest.com/fullplatedesign/little-ones/

Snack - What can get them inside to transition to quiet/nap time? Snack time! And it's a way to stave off those "when's dinner" whines...at least a little bit.

Quiet Box/Nap - When my toddler starts preschool, he won't have a morning nap time, so summer is a good time to practice an afternoon nap in the schedule. If you have an older kiddo (meaning napless), quiet boxes might be a good option. It gives the kid some time alone, without sibling(s) interrupting their groove and might, possibly (with the smallest bit of hope) end up in a short nap for them, too! Totally not my idea. Read more about it here:
http://teachingmama.org/quiet-time-boxes/
I decided to call them Surprise Boxes (aiming to get a little more buy-in from my 5-year-old). He actually gets excited about this time of day now to see what surprise he will get. :) Read some of my ideas on what to use in surprise boxes here.

Chores - Take some time to pick up before dinner and have the little ones help with one chosen chore of the day to give them a little responsibility and ownership in housework.

TV/Cook Time - Allow another hour or less slot for TV so I can get dinner going. (Updated: I recently had a friend share that this idea was a lifesaver for her! No little ones pulling on you at the stove or whining at your feet while prepping dinner? Yes, please!)

Dinner - Time to eat and talk about the day with Daddy. Don't take this time for granted! Hopefully the house will be mostly cleaned up since we had "chore time" late in the day, so we can spend some time outside on a walk or playing before bath after dinner.

Bath/Bed - Keeping a routine before bed will help the kids fall asleep easier and you can enjoy more rested kids the next day...because you get to do it allllll over again!

(Disclaimer: I KNOW a perfect schedule is impossible and my Pinterest pages are ridiculously idealistic, but I need to be armed with ideas to feel ready for these long summer days. It's all about having some ideas and being flexible for what comes my way. In no way should it make you (or me) feel inadequate. I'm not going to be able to stick to this all day everyday, and I won't be fixing crab-shaped sandwiches and caterpillar snack plates each and everyday. But it will be nice to do a few of these ideas that come together and make it the best summer ever!)

Dr. Seuss Birthday Par-tay

2013-07-03T16:15:00.002-04:00

It's about to get all Seussical up in here. Yes, the Seuss is on the loose. I went a little crazy for my baby's 1st birthday. It was so much fun, and as you all know, he didn't really care one bit. Although for a few minutes he was amused by the paper balls I hung from the ceiling. But it made for a joyous celebration of the first year of a precious life and helped get some cute photos, too.

I focused on getting items I could use again. It was lucky that all the July 4th stuff was out at the stores, because that fit right in with the red, white and blue Seuss theme. So, I'll be breaking these things back out each summer, year after year, and it's sure to make me smile. Here's a peek of our fun day!

Nothin's cheaper than using items you already have for fun decor!

Color photos and Dr. Seuss quotes were added to the table with some flowers from the yard. Don't you love these Big Daddy hydrangeas? Gorg. Also, the tray came from Michael's Craft Store 50% off! The table cloth on the island came from Target.

The menu was BBQ sliders, chicken salad sandwiches, chips, green eggs and ham (preztel sticks with a white candy melt and green m&m), biggle balls (trix cereal), "one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" (rainbow goldfish crackers), m&ms (well, those left over from the green m&m picking) and moose juice (equal parts of blue fruit punch and lemonade mixed) and other beverages.

Of course, we had cake and ice cream for dessert. I just used two boxes of classic white cake mix (Shhhh! Don't tell anybody.) I made four layers: one white, two blue and one red. I was going to layer the red and blue together and then use the white one for the smash cake. But the red turned out very pink, so I chunked that one and just layered the blue and white together. I then had time to go pick up a small cake at Walmart for the smash cake. If I didn't get to the store in time, I would've just used a slice of cake, I guess. No biggie. (I'm not a first-time parent anymore...can you tell?) And I found some fun mini-pinwheels at Michael's Craft Store for the topper.

I made a super easy photo display with some leftover ribbon over a door and some Dr. Seuss quotes. (I didn't fact check the quotes to confirm their authenticity. They could've been as legit as the Abe Lincoln quote about the internet.)

I also made the red, white and blue ribbon garlands. The longer one will be making reappearances each July. The other one got icing smeared all over it, so it didn't make it to the re-use pile.

Most importantly, my little guy had fun! He just enjoyed the company and fun presents! Gosh, I love him to death.

Thoughts on Motherhood

2013-05-13T16:58:00.000-04:00

There have been a few surprises that have come with motherhood. I expected to be tired for the first year or so, and I knew I was most likely going to experience a love I had never known. I did not know the extreme to which other emotions would creep into my life. Here are a few feelings I did not expect.

1) Total and utter embarrassment: Yes, that was my child with the ear-piercing squeal in Chick-fil-a that made everyone look our way just in time to witness the launch of a bowl of dry Cheerios into the air scattering everywhere...including into a lady's nice, hot bowl of chicken noodle soup two tables over. Sorry about that. Where's a hole I can crawl into?

2) Fear: I'm scared at least 33% of the day. I never knew how scary the world could be until I introduced a child, my heart walking around outside of my body, into it.

I'm scared about immediate things...is that knife I was using earlier too close to the edge of the counter where my child can reach it? I better go back in the kitchen to check instead of going to the bathroom which I've needed to do for the past hour and a half but keep getting sidetracked so I haven't been able to go yet. I hold my breath as he learns to ride a bike. I can't look if he feels "brave" and wants to try the rock wall on the playground by himself. I'll support whatever constructive activity he chooses, but Lord help me if it's a high contact sport or if he develops a love of speed and wants to get into racing of any kind.

I'm scared about the future...what if my decision to keep my child in part-time, private pre-k rather than a full-time public pre-k hinders his progress when he starts school next year? What if the money I'm saving for college isn't enough? What if my child doesn't have skills he needs to avoid being kidnapped or escape a fire...or what if I introduce those subjects into his little life too early and give him an unhealthy fear of the world? What if? Those "what ifs" get me every time.

There's a nagging fear no matter what I do or don't do. I fear that no matter what I do, something out of my control will cause my child harm. Which brings me to another topic...

3) Loss of Control: And I'm not talking loss of control over bodily functions that comes with having a child. (What? Too far? Sorry.) I'm talking about loss of control over life. Of course, I guide and direct this impressionable human being, and he's my responsibility. But he has a mind of his own. Sometimes it's hard to let him make his own choices. And I cannot, no matter how hard I try, make him do the right thing. See item #1 above.

4) Exhaustion: Like I mentioned earlier, I knew being tired would come with motherhood. What I didn't know was that I would never feel rested again. At first, it's that the baby's days and nights are mixed up. Then he's teething and will cry in the middle of the night until comforted. Then comes the joy of being independent of the crib, so he can come into your room any time of the night for a little pow-wow. And then we make it through baby world and toddlerhood, so maybe I can get a little sleep. Ahhh, it's daylight but the house is quiet so I can go back to sleep...um, why can't I go back to sleep? Great. My body has adjusted and now I CAN'T sleep-in under these warm, cozy blankets that should lull me back to dreamland. Nope. I'm in motherhood now. Maybe I'll sleep when my kids are in college...but I have a feeling I'll be up at dawn worrying about whatever trouble they may be getting into. So forgive me if I seem a little forgetful or I haven't washed my hair today. I'm tired.

5) Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: Of course I knew I'd be caring for a helpless little baby and I'd be making choices for him. And I figured there would be big decisions to agonize over. But what I didn't know was how overwhelming and constant daily decisions would be: oatmeal or whole-wheat toast for breakfast? Should I put the baby in the swing or the jumper while I fold laundry (knowing full well he's going to scream the whole time regardless of where I put him)? Long pants or shorts today? Is he pulling at his ear...maybe I should take him to the doctor? And then the tables turn and he starts making his own choices. Oh boy. See number 3 above.

6) Pride: I've experienced pride a few times in my life. When I made all A's in school. When I earned a spot on the flag corp in college and then won an award for my hard work that season. When I got that coveted job offer. But my, oh my, I'd never experienced the gut-busting, button-popping pride of seeing my child succeed. And it's not like he's done anything amazing. (He's only 4.) But I've never been so proud as when I've seen him help another child on the playground when others turn away or used his manners when he didn't know I was looking or when he knew the answer to a question in school after we'd studied at home.

And I know I'm not alone. A fellow mom mentioned how she had to hold back an "ugly cry" as she watched her elementary-age son do well in a school-wide spelling bee. Before having kids I'd have been like, what? But now, I get it. I soooooo get it. Lord help me if my child ever wins a Nobel Prize or gets elected as President. I'm likely to explode.

Emotions are really amplified as a mother, so I should mention the JOY of being a mother. There's nothing like it! I'm so grateful to be a mommy, and I'd be remiss not to mention how I handle the good and the bad that comes with the title of Mom. A peace that passes all understanding only comes from Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I need that peace many times throughout the day when experiencing embarrassment, loss of control and especially the fear I feel for my child. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, generosity comes from the Lord. I need Him more than ever! Thank you Lord for the blessing of motherhood and for giving me the tools to be a success! Can you relate? What are some motherhood surprises you've experienced?

2013 Word of the Year: Edit

2013-01-02T14:04:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! We're off to a weird start. At 4:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, as my handsome hubby was upstairs consoling our 6 month old who had started crying, I heard a strange sound from our basement. Turns out our furnace went kaput. Great. 2012 was a year of two expensive hospitalizations (me having a baby and my oldest boy with leg issues over the Thanksgiving holiday), we also bought a new air conditioner. Then, right after Christmas expenses, we will start off the new year by fixing a furnace. Now, I'm not complaining too loudly as I am grateful we are able to pay for everything from our savings we have added to since getting married 8 years ago. And I know things could be worse...much worse. It is just stressful that our savings that have taken years to squirrel away can be forked out so quickly. It's kind of a "what will happen next" paranoia nagging at me.

It is funny (funny/strange...not funny/ha ha) that we had just clicked the "Pay" button online to pay off our car in total on Dec. 31. We were so excited to have no car payments for the first time in our marriage! And then, 12 hours later, we have another major expense come up. Ugh. We bundled up for the day and night on Jan. 1 since it was a holiday and didn't want to pay any extra for an emergency/holiday call. So, I'm sitting here during naptime on Jan 2., bundled up waiting on the heater guy who is coming over this afternoon to diagnose the problem. I'm crossing my fingers for a fast and cheap fix!

All this leads up to my word of the year: Edit. I had actually already chosen this word a few days before this furnace fiasco. (I keep picturing the Dad from "A Christmas Story" cursing away in the basement as smoke billows from the vents while he tinkers with the finicky furnace.) But it just fits in so nicely with our desire to save for these kind of unexpected emergency expenses.

Last year, my resolution was to not have any dirty dishes left out when going to bed. As you may know, I really loathe doing the dishes after cooking. I feel like the day should be over, and I should be able to put my feet up for a moment of quiet after the boys are in bed instead of scrubbing pots and pans at the sink. And I did pretty well with that resolution. I can count on my two hands how many times I skipped doing dishes which is pretty good considering there are 365 days in a year. And it was nice to not face a sink full of crap first thing in the morning, so I'll keep that good habit up.

But this year, I feel more like focusing on a word to encompass many aspects in my life. The word "Edit" came to mind because I want to only hold on to things that add value. I want to weed out distractions that take away from the important things like family and faith:

Less social media, TV, reading, movies, bubble baths (oh, how I hate to say it!), etc.
More playtime, crafting, walks, dates, and just listening to my boys thoughts and questions.

I also can apply this word to physical things:

Less shopping, clothes, food, home decor, etc.
More saving, cleanliness, resourcefulness, space, room to breathe.

I feel convicted on waste and clutter in my life. This is where the saving for emergencies comes in. If I really ask myself if purchases will add value to my life rather than just adding to the clutter, I can spend a lot less. And if I edit out some of my and my children's overflowing closets, will that lead to a more manageable laundry situation? I can't wait to find other ways to edit out the negative and choose to hold onto the positive this year.

Do you have a word of the year? Or have any ideas on ways to edit out the bad and focus on the good this coming year?

What's on the Menu Monday? Cheeseburger Zucchini Pie

2012-08-13T08:09:00.000-04:00

This is something new to add to your menu if you're looking for a light summer meal or if you need a way to use some overabundant bounty from your garden. I love zucchini in savory dishes like the Calabacitos recipe I shared last year seen here. And this is another take on the savory squash. This dish reminds me of an easy quiche, even though there are only 2 eggs in it. Try it served with a side salad or fresh tomatoes straight from the garden.

Cheeseburger Zucchini Pie

3/4 lb. ground beef

1 small onion chopped (or less to taste)

1 medium zucchini, shredded

salt and pepper

1 cup shredded cheese (your choice, italian blend is great but anything on hand will work)

1/2 cup heart-healthy biscuit mix (such as Bisquick)

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Heat oven to 400. Spray pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Brown ground beef. Drain, then stir in onion and zucchini over medium-high heat for 6 minutes stirring occasionally. Season well with salt and pepper. Spread beef mixture in pie plate. Sprinkle cheese on top. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the biscuit mix, milk and eggs until smooth. Pour over beef mixture. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 to 10 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges to serve.

My Big Boy's Zoom Room

2012-08-06T06:53:00.000-04:00

I promised you a peek at my big boy's room that was updated from the (slightly girly, eek!) nursery he started out in. Well, here it is. He loves it, as do I!

I'll be adding a post on the pallet art soon! See the version in the nursery here.

Zoom Pallet Art - Custom made

Traffic Canvas - Target

Bed - Antique (my mom's growing up!)

Blue quilt - Target

Red Car Pillow - Target

Quilted Pillow Sham - Pottery Barn Kids

Solid Pillows - Walmart

Linking up to: Jennifer Rizzo Inspired Living

My Happy Place

2012-08-02T09:38:00.000-04:00

Well, the title of this post may be stretching it a bit... But I really am enjoying the long nights and countless diaper changes as much as possible in this cheery nursery. A comfy room just makes late night snuggle time with my sweet baby boy that much better.

Most of this decor is being reused from my first baby's nursery. It was intended to be gender neutral as we didn't find out whether we were having a boy or a girl. Some may argue it is a little on the girly side (and of course, I would end up with two boys!), but it doesn't bother us at all. I chose pieces that make me happy and that can be reused in other ways when it is time to update to the toddler bed and a more big boy motif.

I'll share my firstborn big boy's room in my next post. It was an easy transition from this neutral look.

The new additions to this room are the glider-rocker with ottoman and the pallet artwork my husband and I made for above the changing table. I'll also do a post soon on how to make your own.

Sunburst Mirror - Target

Convertable Crib - Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory

Custom Mother and Baby Bird Canvases - Painted by my Mother

Tree Lamp and Shade - Pottery Barn Kids

Crib Bumper Pad and Bird Accent Pillow - Pottery Barn Kids

Glider-Rocker with Ottoman - Buy-Buy Baby

Linking up to:

What I've Been Up To...

2012-07-20T16:57:00.001-04:00

This little bundle of sweet baby love decided to come a week early! Thanks for your patience while I get accustomed to being the mommy of a family of four and keep this teeny, tiny human alive.

I am once again reminded of the great sacrifice of motherhood and being the sole provider for a helpless baby. Even through the exhaustion, I really am enjoying having a baby in the house again. This is a time where I learn my limits and am in awe of what I'm capable of while nursing a baby (pretty much every hour!) and caring for an extremely excited-to-be-a-big-brother three-year-old. Blessings beyond belief!

Now, off to get a nap...hopefully.

What's on the Menu Monday? Breakfast Burritos

2012-06-25T14:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of my stock-up-for-baby recipes. I wanted something satisfying and ready-to-go for breakfast after those pending up-all-nighters with baby. So this is what I came up with from that handy Pinterest site. (Geez, this post is a treasure trove of hyphened phrases.)

I did half the recipe. Just wanted to make sure I liked it before committing to consuming 36 of those suckers. I got 16 out of the half recipe, so that is a pretty good stockpile I think.

I had one for lunch the morning I made them fresh and it was good! Very filling. I think they are a little meat-heavy, so the recipe below is what I am going to try next go round. I'm cutting back on the sausage and adding a few eggs. My hubby has had one from frozen for breakfast since, but I haven't tried one from frozen yet. He said the tortilla got a little soggy during the warm up. I have a possible fix for that below in my revised recipe. I'll update when I try one. Although, my opinion may be biased at that point...just about anything will taste good when starving and desperate for something easy with a newborn in the house.

The original recipe (that I halved) can be found here. Below is what I'll try on my next go-round to make it more to my taste.

Frozen Breakfast Burritos

1 lb. bacon, diced

1/2 lb. breakfast sausage, browned (I used the pre-cooked and crumbled Jimmy Dean)

1/2 small bag of frozen peppers and onions (I used the tri-color peppers and onion mix for nice color)

15 eggs

16-20 flour tortillas (burrito size)

4-6 oz. shredded cheddar

Chop up the bacon then brown in skillet (the pre-chopping is a good opportunity to remove some of the fat, so you really don't end up using a whole pound of bacon). Drain grease and set cooked bacon aside on a paper towel lined plate. If not buying the pre-cooked crumbled sausage, brown and drain sausage and set aside on power towel lined plate. Chop up the frozen peppers and onions and cook in same skillet until slightly softened. Mix eggs while veggies are cooking. (Original recipe had a great tip to use a blender for that large quantity of eggs. It worked really well!) Add eggs to the slightly cooked peppers and onions and scramble as normal until cooked to your liking (but don't over cook because they will cook a little longer while you add the other ingredients). Add meats back to the pan. Turn off the heat and sprinkle cheese over the top. Allow to melt about 5 minutes. Warm your tortillas according to package directions to keep them from cracking. Fill (approx. 1/2 cup) and roll them up. (Tip: Use a casserole dish to keep them rolled nicely as you fill them all up.) Wrap each one in saran wrap and put in a freezer safe zip-loc bag. Label and put expiration date as 2-3 months out.

To eat: unwrap one burrito. Put on microwave safe plate. Cover with paper towel sprinkled with a little water and heat 1 minute on both sides. Serve with tabasco or salsa. (Original recipe says to cover with the saran wrap that was on the frozen burrito, but that causes them to be a little soggy. Try the paper towel instead.)

What's on the Menu Monday? Summer Strawberry Fields Salad

2012-06-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Isn't this salad gorgeous?!? This momma has been craving fresh fruit something serious. And when I saw the recipe for Strawberry Fields Salad on MyRecipes from Southern Living, I knew it had to be a part of a small cookout I was hosting for our favorite neighbors. The sweet fruit, tender greens, crunchy pecans and the kick of fresh basil from the garden will make this a repeat recipe for sure!

I omitted the green tomatoes and feta cheese out of convenience. And instead of the mixed greens, I used one red and one green head of baby boston lettuces. So feel free to make this one your own, too! I used this recipe for the Lemon Poppyseed dressing.

Here is the recipe guaranteed to satisfy salad and fruit lovers this summer!

Strawberry Fields Salad

4 large nectarines, cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges
3/4 cup Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
1 (10-oz.) package gourmet mixed salad greens or your choice of lettuce
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1 (3.5-oz.) package roasted glazed pecan pieces
Preparation
1. Toss nectarines with 1/4 cup Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing.
2. Layer gourmet mixed salad greens, nectarines, strawberries, and next 4 ingredients in a large glass bowl. Serve immediately, or cover and chill up to 8 hours. Toss salad with remaining 1/2 cup dressing just before serving.

Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
2/3 cup light olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 teaspoons finely chopped onions
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Process 2/3 cup light olive oil and remaining ingredients in a blender until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week; serve at room temperature.

Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil

2012-06-13T14:13:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick, easy homemade gift idea. This is the hostess gift I gave at my recent baby shower, and they seemed to really appreciate the homemade touch!

These cost a little less than $7 each. I found the oil bottles at Walmart along with a large bottle of extra virgin olive oil. I had the rosemary on-hand from my garden. I also had the ribbon in my stash and just cut notecards in half to add the custom message to each bottle.

Give it a try for an occasion you have coming up. These would work great as hostess gifts, teacher gifts, to welcome a new neighbor and more!

I followed this process from eHow.com:

1 - Cut one sprig of rosemary per bottle. Clean and dry your rosemary. Wash the herbs with a slightly damp washcloth and set them aside to dry. You don't want any water on the rosemary because the salts in the water will break down the herbs.

2 - Warm your olive oil. Pour your olive oil into a small sauce pan and heat it over a low flame until it is warm. The warming process should take just a few minutes. Remember, you want the olive oil to be warm--not hot. High temperatures destroy the healthy properties in olive oil.

3 - Put your rosemary into a bottle or jar that holds 1 pint. Remember that a little bit of rosemary goes a long way, so there is no need to stuff the bottle full of this herb.

4 - Pour the warm olive oil into the bottle. Put the bottle aside to cool. Seal the bottle with a lid or a cork. Set the bottle in a dry, cool place with no direct sunlight for at least one week.

5 - Decide whether you want to strain the rosemary out of the oil. Many people leave the rosemary leaves in the oil for a decorative touch. If you prefer to strain the olive oil, however, simply pour the oil through a strainer into a clean jar or bottle. You now have finished infusing olive oil with rosemary.

6 - Enjoy your rosemary-infused olive oil. (I noted this following statement on the gift card so they would have ideas about how to enjoy the gift.) This oil is perfect for drizzling on salads and fresh bread. You can use the oil to flavor potatoes and pasta dishes. You can also try marinating chicken and fish in the oil for a little extra flavor.

Be sure you note the expiration date on your gift! Homemade oil doesn't keep as long as processed oil. Use your rosemary-infused olive oil within two months so it doesn't spoil.

What's on the Menu Monday? Classic Pound Cake

2012-06-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is a tough one. Many people already have a go-to pound cake recipe. But I thought I'd go ahead and share mine.

This is the one I grew up with, and I typically think others are "missing something" when I try other versions. I think what sets this one apart is the really dense, moist cake with a special crust along the top that is my favorite part. And the almond extract gives it that extra special something.

Classic Pound Cake

3 sticks butter, softened

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups plain flour

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp almond extract

Grease and flour bundt pan. Mix softened butter and sugar well. Add eggs one at a time mixing in between and after 3 eggs, add flour then last three eggs. Add vanilla and almond extract. Mix well. Pour in a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes on center rack.

What's on the Menu Monday? Ham Skillet Salad

2012-05-27T19:36:00.001-04:00

Today I'm sharing one of my secret weapons. It's an easy, feel-good meal that adds some much needed variety to my plain chicken or beef menu. It is a warm potato salad with the hearty addition of ham and cheese.

This go-to dish is pulled from a cookbook given as a wedding present from the mother of one of my college room mates. The cookbook is filled with highlights and notes which are very helpful when selecting a recipe to try. Her personal notes make the cookbook one of my favorites.

Give this one a try as it is noted with "Super! Great for leftovers." in the margin.

Ham Skillet Salad

1/4 c. chopped green onions

1/4 c. chopped green pepper (optional)

2 c. diced cooked ham

1 Tbsp. oil

3 or 4 medium potatoes, diced and cooked (3 c.)

1/4 tsp salt

dash of pepper

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, diced

Cook onions, pepper, ham and oil until meat is browned in frypan. Add potatoes, salt, pepper and mayo. Heat and mix lightly. Stir in cheese and heat until cheese begins to melt. Makes 4 servings.

Notes: I omit the green pepper as my family doesn't really care for them. You can usually find diced or cubed ham packaged in the refrigerated section with the whole hams or ham steaks. You can use any type of potato, but red new potatoes are nice because you don't have to peel them. Make sure you don't overcook your potatoes so they will hold their form when mixed with the other ingredients. I don't add quite as much cheese because it seems to make the dish a little oily as it melts down.

Linked up to:

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2012-05-23T15:46:00.000-04:00

Our boy's first ballgame experience: We now have a baseball fan on our hands! He was in awe of the stadium, field and the players.

Be sure to check out any local minor league ballparks in your area. They tend to be very family friendly and make for some magical memories for little ones!

We visited Fluor Field in Greenville, SC home of the Greenville Drive. They were playing the Rome (GA) Braves from our home state. A good time was had by all!

Add a visit to a minor league field to your summer bucket list!

What's on the Menu Monday? Blueberry Danish

2012-05-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

This is a versatile recipe that can be made quickly for breakfast, brunch, snack or dessert. The fresh berries are great in the summer. They get so juicy from baking. These can be a (big) finger food for gatherings as well. It is a keeper!

'Blueberry Danish'

Adapted from source: Kraft Foods Blueberry Cheese Rolls

1 pkg. (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, softened

2-3 Tbsp. sugar

1/2-3/4 cup fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 375. Unroll dough into four rectangles; firmly press perforations together to seal.
Combine cream cheese and sugar (for breakfast the lesser amount of sugar may be fine, up the sugar if you want a sweeter version for dessert); spread onto dough rectangles to within 1/2 inch of edges. Top evenly with blueberries. Bring opposite corners of rectangles together; press together to seal. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 11 to 13 min. or until golden brown.

Tape Resist Art

2012-05-16T06:30:00.000-04:00

You know that extra canvas I had leftover from my whale art project? Well, I put it to good use as an afternoon activity for my three-year-old.

I had seen the tape resist art technique on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I used three strips of plain, ol' masking tape to block off the shape of a cross. To add some interest, I left the strips in the middle of each line longer. I propped up the canvas on a tissue box over some newspapers, gave my boy a sponge brush and three different color blue acrylic paints along with a spot of white on a paper plate and let him at it!

He seemed to have fun. I had to fill in some white areas he left blank since I wanted the only white on the finished product to be under the tape. But he mostly did it himself. I let it dry a little. This was a step I wasn't sure about...should the paint dry before removing the tape? I got impatient and removed the tape while it was still wet. You can see a smudge on the left arm of the cross where some wet paint smeared. Maybe you should let it dry. Let me know if you try it, so I can know better next time!

I like how the paints blended together to make a sort of stained glass appearance.

Give this a try if you're looking for a fun activity to add some color to your walls, too!

Linked up to:
'

Potty Training Things to Remember

2012-05-09T15:53:00.002-04:00

I will thank myself for this post in another two years or so! These are things that I don't want to forget for when it is time to potty train baby boy #2. Here are my takeaways from the week from you-know-where I described in an earlier post called Potty Training 101. Of course, all kids are different, so what worked this time might not work again, but this can be a reference so I don't have to start from square one!

- Get a potty that is comfortable. Really...would YOU like sitting still on an oversized frog when trying something new like going poo for the first time without a diaper? Get a low seat with handles so their little legs won't fall asleep from hanging off the pot at at weird angle. My little man seemed to like the My Little Potty by Bright Starts. He sat there during many a story time to get the deed done. I bought two kinds of potties (one for upstairs and one for downstairs) and I could tell a huge difference in which one he felt comfortable on. The one he didn't like didn't have a secure feeling back and was higher, so his legs looked uncomfortable. We used the one he was comfortable on until he got the hang of it, then he was good to go with the other one and even the "big potty" after his confidence grew.

- Never penalize them for going potty. Meaning, even if it is two minutes before they are supposed to come inside from playing and they ask to go potty, don't tell them they can't go back out since they are already inside. Give them that two (or more if they actually prevent an accident) minutes to go back out. If they ever get the idea that by going potty, they lose out on fun, it may be the beginning of a backslide into more accidents.

- Go for the gusto! I liked the cold-turkey method of just going for wearing undies since I was able to dedicate a week at home to the training. Even though it was a terribly tough week, I think it was effective in leaving the diapers behind (no pun intended). I know if I allowed diapers while trying to encourage him to go potty, he and I would have used it as a crutch and he still would probably not be potty trained!

- Be consistent. Although some flexibility is needed to adapt to what the child responds well to, it is important to stick your guns on certain things. Don't give up! Keep carrying them to the potty when they have to go (if they won't use their own two feet to get there) and don't give in to diapers! Something that worked for my first boy was to have him sit to go #1 and #2. That way, it was less stress for him and we progressed to standing for #1 over the next few months. And boy did that make public restroom much easier to take. I hated the sitting stage in a dirty bathroom!!!

Okay, Future-Self - In two years (give or take) from this post, you'll be facing this challenge yet again. You can do it! It is hard, but this too shall pass! Oh, and I hope you have lost all the baby weight and are motivated to stay in shape like your Current Self has set a goal to do. :)

Here's to the future - and learning from past experience!

Whale of a Project

2012-05-08T16:27:00.001-04:00

This is an easy fix to a boring, blank wall in any kid's space. Try your own version to add some fun to a kid's area you need to fill!

Supplies:
2 blank canvas two-packs (Walmart)
4 acrylic paint colors (three background colors and a foreground color)
paint brush
imagination!

I used three of the four canvases to make a custom triptych for a wall beside a vanity in my baby boy's bathroom. (I had one canvas left over...another project in the works!)

Using a pencil to freehand the shapes on each canvas, I then just filled in the background color making sure to paint around the edges to the back of the canvas. (You could print out the picture you like, cut it out and trace it if you aren't confident in drawing freehand.) Then all I had to do was go back and fill in the white shapes to make it look more finished and to cover up any pencil marks showing.

Here is a close up to show the slight texture I created with my brush strokes:

I had to add little sawtooth picture hangers to the back to make them hangable (if that's a word).

They adds lots of fun to the room! I had debated adding a phrase to the middle panel but decided against it. Here are some ideas in case you would like to add text to yours!

"It is whale with my soul."

"Salvation comes from the Lord. Jonah 2:9"

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1"

Other themes you could try include:

Dinosaur - brontosaurus with body on bottom, neck in the middle and the head on top

Airplane - a cloud on the bottom with a dashed line "loop-de-loop" in the middle panel and the airplane on top

Flowers - Tulips and other flowers at different heights with the leaves on bottom, stems in the middle and blooms on top

Let me know if you give this fun project a try!

Linked up to:

and Beneath My Heart