Savoring Life's Little Moments

2012-12-30T09:18:00.003-08:00

Puppy Chow.
My arch nemesis during this season.
Yep, I would find myself throwing a bowl of this yummy treat together at ten in the morning.
Don't judge.
When I mean I threw it together, I do mean I threw a little bit of this and little bit of that in a bowl.
There are recipes out there to follow, but I don't.
No need for that.
Ingredients include melted chocolate chips, peanut butter, rice chex, and powdered sugar.
It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Of course, some/all of these ingredients are gone, otherwise I would be in the kitchen making more.
I'm sure by the new year, I will make one more batch and savor it; without sharing.
But after that I need to cut myself off.
The jeans don't fit as well.
Loose fitting clothes aren't always acceptable (i.e. jammy pants and sweatshirts).
Plus, for some reason, I tend to only crave this around Christmas time.
The second Thanksgiving is over, it's puppy chow season.
While some think about trees and decor, I think about the first savory bite.
So yummy.

2012-12-28T16:43:00.002-08:00

Christmas Merriment

We enjoyed a fun filled, sweet, memory making season, as we celebrated with those we love. Even in the hustle and bustle of two trips to WI, a week of Ben gone, and some silly car problems. We were finally able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas home as a family. Just the four of us. It was relaxing. Laziness abounded. Movies were a constant. Lots of chocolate consumed. Perfection.

the girls slept by the tree on Christmas Eve

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus...the reason for the season

Hope you had just as much fun with those you love this Christmas!

2012-12-13T06:07:00.004-08:00

Christmas TREELAND

(Side Note: I really wish there was a font on here that sparkled. Sparkle should be a color too.

It is when you have two girls.)

GIRLS Trees...........................

Nana gave each of them a tree a couple years ago (it could be just last year)

They woke up bright and early on this particular morning.

Oh wait, that's EVERY morning.

And shouted "We get to put up our Christmas trees today!"

Oh the excitement.

Family Tree..................................

I love the fuzzy, grainy look of these photos.

.....................................................................................................

and

can't

forget

how

they

brought

it home....

2012-12-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Photo Shoot

I LOVE sending out Christmas cards.

For the last couple years, my mom will send me a deal on Groupon.

I'll tell her I'm in.

She'll get it.

And away we go.

Ben hinted at not sending Christmas cards this year.

I instantly called him scrooge.

Dismissed his comment.

And let my thoughts race from one photo idea to the next.

Ben eventually gets on board.

He even looks up the weather to see what day is best.

I feel a little rushed since we usually have them in hand by now.

And we still have to get a good picture.

The girls tend to freak out on picture days.

Not sure what it is that causes this response.

But, everyone is on edge.

I hate walking into a photo shoot situation,

(which is just our camera on a tripod with Ben running back and forth)

feeling like we have to fake the "happy family" smiles.

We went to the Forest Preserve near our house.

We figured we'd turn it into an adventure after we got the "perfect" shot.

Its very hard to capture this.

Especially with a distracted 2 1/2 year old.

We came close.

We love them.

They represent us well.

Here are a few...

We thought we would have to search for a spot to take these,

while avoiding hikers and dog walkers.

Nope.

We got out of the car.

Walked a few feet.

Then looked over to our left.

There it was.

The PERFECT spot.

Glowing, as if the Lord was saying "Here ya go!"

Love moments like that.

Our best ones are hidden away in a secret vault until after Christmas.

2012-12-03T06:27:00.002-08:00

One Star.

One camera.

One Mommy trying to capture a moment.

One Daddy.

Two girls to help put it on the tree.

No one got hurt.

Just lots of fun and laughter!

2012-11-15T06:52:00.001-08:00

Truth I Need.

(I read this is my devotional this morning.)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

"Approach problems with a light touch. When your mind moves toward a problem area, you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of Me. You pit yourself against the difficulty as if you had to conquer it immediately. Your mind gears up for battle, and your body becomes tense and anxious. Unless you achieve total victory, you feel defeated.

There is a better way. When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to Me. Talk with Me about it and look at it in the Light of My Presence. This puts some much-needed space between you and your concern, enabling you to see from My perspective. You will be surprised at the results. Some times you may even laugh at yourself for being so serious about something so insignificant."

Yep. I freak out over little things and big things.

I focus on them until I am rattled.

I dig myself into a pit.

My mind sways like ocean waves.

With all the unknowns, I need to focus on Him.

Praying it sinks in.

Steadying the waves.

2012-11-14T07:43:00.001-08:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2012-11-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

Our morning routine.

Wakeup. Hoping and praying the morning runs smoothly.

Sneak downstairs (if girls aren't in bed with me).

Make Coffee.

Grinder is so loud. Bound to wake someone up.

Yep, there are the sweet little footsteps on the stairs.

Will they greet me with happy smiles or a hazy look in their eyes (indicating grumpiness)?

Get breakfast on the table.

Cereal again.

Make coffee while girls chat about their dreams.

Make Emma's lunch.

Clean up Norah after breakfast attacked her.

She wears both a bib and towel for her lap.

Or an apron.

Rush the girls upstairs to get ready.

Lay Emma's clothes on bed.

Encourage Emma to change out of pj's.

Encourage Norah to read books.

I get ready.

Look into room, encourage Emma again to stay on task.

Put on makeup. It helps me feel more civilized.

Look into room again, no longer in the encouraging mood.

She's still in her jammies.

Frustration starts to settle (if it hasn't already)

She's been tardy so many times.

Mommy guilt sinks in.

I didn't want to yell.

Girls brushing teeth.

Pushing each other off stool in bathroom.

One of them is crying. Emma

One of them is yelling. Norah

Give kisses. Say your sorry. Don't push. Be nice. You're alright.

All these fly out of my mouth to hurry them along.

Finally we get downstairs.

I run up and down a couple more times in search of socks, shoes, diapers, blankies, toys, etc.

Anything to get out of the house NOW.

Girls line up at the door.

We are ready to leave.

(I have an alarm set on my phone letting us know when we need to be out the door.)
It helps.
Some times.

Throw a few "Girls stop fighting", diaper being changed, hair combed (unfortunately not every morning), and stuff thrown in back pack. This is usually how we operate in the morning. I'm happy to say that the last three mornings have gone smoother. Less chaos. Getting out the door sooner. With more ease.

2012-11-07T11:15:00.005-08:00

A FEW of My Favorite Things

2012-10-29T19:26:00.001-07:00

FINDING JOY

I came across these humorous photos of Norah from 2 summers ago....ENJOY!

To quote my sister-n-law..."Oh, fatty baby!"

I remember this day perfectly.

I was shocked and amazed how she went to town on these grapes.

No choking.

No branches spit out of her mouth.

She knew what she wanted.

And no one was getting in her way.

She's always been our choking hazard.

Only with food.

Lately, we cheer her on with the phrase "Almost there".

Which means don't you dare take another bite until that food is chewed and swallowed.

She even starts cheering herself on.

It's a pride thing for her.

You can tell when she swallows.

She gives the biggest grin.

Then takes another bite.

oh, how I love her.

2012-10-22T09:49:00.002-07:00

Finding Joy

What to do when dishes are calling and the remains from the weekend are begging to be picked up? Blog of course. Avoid the mess. It's a wonderful rainy Monday. Although, I may have dreaded the rain last week. And it might get that way again this week. I am fine with it today. It's not bothering me this morning. It encourages me to make myself another cup of coffee. Which sad to say, our coffee pot decided not to work this morning at 5:30am, making the waking up process a little longer. Oh well. My husband, who is obsessed with many different kinds of coffee apparatuses, simply said "Use the French Press or the pour over." Simple for him indeed. For me, I have mastered the coffee bean to water ratio in the coffee pot, not in any of the other contraptions. So I'll put my best effort into mastering those as well. My cheap side says "NO" to buying a new coffee pot right now. So I will learn. Hey, it'll make me a better person, right?!

Here are a few simple fun pictures from our weekend

We made Rockets, played for hours in the backyard, and finished it off with celebrating a precious friends' birthday!

2012-10-19T18:07:00.001-07:00

Its been raining for 3 days straight. I like rain. I do. However, it has left me in the funk of sorts. Its left me feeling damp to the core. I turn up the heat, but nothing gets the chill from my bones. Lying in bed under layers of covers help tremendously. Can't do that with two little ones running around. Emma's been out of school for the last two days. I still feel like I haven't seen her. As a mom, I hate that feeling. My daughter is changing and I'm missing it because life is busy. It gets to me. I just want to wrap her in my arms and hold her all day long. She would think I'm weird. Time just keeps going. I cling desperately for more. The past few weeks have been hard. Her and I seem to be at odds. She gives me attitude and I shrivel up a little inside. It hurts. When it hurts, I get an attitude too. The wall goes up so quickly. She won't be able to hurt me again, which of course is untrue. I know this happens with moms and daughters. Not yet though, right?! I want the short time I have with her to be a treasure. It feels like a fight. We'll get into a rhythm I'm sure. In the meantime, I feel a little lost. My pessimistic side rears its ugly head. Lies are thrown at me. Another fight to see past the hard.

2012-10-17T07:40:00.002-07:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2012-10-11T17:08:00.002-07:00

Thankful Thursday

My sweet sister-n-law does Thankful Thursday posts every once and awhile.

I love them.

It's a good check on where the heart and mind are throughout the week.

A good chance to get "back on track".

This morning, I sat in a haze of exhaustion.

Watching the clock tick by.

Wondering if I had energy enough to run out and grab a cup of coffee.

Unfortunately, the pot I had made wasn't cutting it.

And, of course, we ran out of milk.

Instead of putting on another pot, and running to the store for milk, I opted for someone else to make me a cup.

What better place than Caribou.

I love their cups.

I raided some piggy banks.

Oh yeah, we do that.

My addiction to coffee is evident.

When we got back, Norah said she wanted to play with her bank.

So, as I was sitting and watching her play (happens often), I was thankful for the gift that just keeps giving.

She got this sweet gift from her Oma a couple Christmas' ago.

She doesn't care how much is in it.

Just cares that she can take the coins in and out.

I'm thankful it helps get us through mornings/afternoons where I can't seem to think or function.

Happy THURSDAY!

2012-10-08T10:58:00.003-07:00

A Hike in the Woods

2012-10-04T16:43:00.002-07:00

Slow down.

Stop thinking about the next thing.

Why are you rushing?

You are rushing through these precious sweet moments I’m giving you.

Your kids want you.

Sit with them.

Relax on the couch.

Stop walking around.

Watch the movie.

Sit on your butt for more than 2 seconds without thinking of the list.

Oh the list.

It sneaks its ugly head up again.

You give it too much attention.

Your work project is done.

Rest.

Enjoy.

Smile.

Laugh.

Be patient.

Love.

This week has flown by. I need this weekend to enjoy things I forgot to this week.

2012-10-03T06:38:00.002-07:00

I love watching her.

2012-10-01T11:00:00.001-07:00

Ode to Monday

It is indeed a Monday. My body is tired. My mind is wandering. My house is a mess. I have a general crabbiness about me. I loved this weekend. I love most weekends. Mondays are my "hangover" days. The joy of the weekend is washing off and the "get back to work" feeling is slowly creeping in. Mondays make me a little lethargic. Usually I have to throw myself back into routine. No more lazy morning cartoons. No more cups and cups of coffee and sitting on the couch. Monday's are liking jumping into a cold shower. Nothing cozy about that.

Current state of my house

And, no, I'm not sitting on the clean side of the room.

Every where you look seems to be messy.

Every room has stuff all over the floor, begging for a place to belong.

But, hey, there are no funky smells.

So there's a win.

2012-09-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Weekend

This weekend I'm looking forward to...
1. Fall in Wisconsin. Cool breezes. Changing leaves. Bonfires. Cedarburg.
2. Visiting with family.
3. Taking time to sit and enjoy. Bonfire is definitely in order. Repeating this ensures it happening.
4. Squeezing my youngest. Haven't seen her since Tuesday night.
5. Absolutely loving that my whole family will be in the same place.

2012-09-26T04:56:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-09-25T06:24:00.001-07:00

The infamous basket of laundry.
Never seems to get put away.
Its been moved around the same room for about 3 weeks now.
To put it away means saying Goodbye to a season.
All of these clothes are labeled 3T.
Little Miss skipped a whole size in clothes.
Not okay with that.
Good thing they are Fall clothes. Fall makes me happy.
Never got to pull out the 2T.
Not sure where any of it is right now.
But you can bet I would have searched furiously if I thought she'd fit into any of it.
So long summer dresses and 24 months.
Hello 3T.
You will be worn by a crazy, energetic little lady.
She will wear you down, turn you different colors, and tear you up.
Enjoy!

2012-09-23T17:53:00.002-07:00

A Little Babble about a Cup.

Whenever I get a Caribou drink, I find it really hard to throw away the cup. Have you seen these cups? The whole theme is “Life is short. Stay awake for it.” Yes, I do see the correlation to caffeine. Most mornings I do need the jolt that caffeine offers to stay awake and get through. But, all the sweet things written on this cup, make it hard to throw away. This one says “Tear Jerkers, Chocolate Breakfast, Hula Hooping, Grilling, bonfires, smores, looking into a loved ones eyes, etc” All these moments (and so many more) are definitely ones I want to be awake for. I think, no I know, its hard for me to do. To stop all the busyness, and actually sit still long enough to enjoy my children playing…actually playing, not fighting. To listen to their sweet laughter. To answer the question that is asked every night at dinner (started by Emma and now followed by Norah) “What was your favorite part of the day?” Usually the answer is “Right now. This.” Some times its because I didn’t “rest” or “stay awake” for other moments of the day. It seems silly to write a post about a cup, but its so much more to me, in this journey I am on. The way God wants to get my attention. He gives me such sweet moments throughout the day. A fresh fall breeze. Sun shining through the trees casting shadows as I walk on a path. My chubby daughters cheeks that I just can’t get enough of these days because I know they will fade away as she gets older. I was given this book for Christmas last year. I never finished it, but really need to. It’s about being thankful to God for all the sweet moments/gifts He gives us daily. The author gives a challenge of writing them down. There are times I’ve taken up this challenge, and it has brought blessing. A sweet spirit of God being with me throughout the mundane, or what I would consider the mundane of my day. It helps me pick up my camera and capture these moments with my family and friends. To look at life through a lens. And some times, I need to put my camera down if it becomes more a distraction. And in the end, its more than just a cup that jolts my thinking back into place, its about cherishing this crazy journey called life that I get to be on.

2012-09-20T07:08:00.004-07:00

SIMPLE Honesty.

Life right now.

Things are hard. We've been frustrated lately. We're getting through. Trying not to succumb to hopeless thinking. We're fighting to stay "awake" to the little moments of joy. Pushing through our desire to sit it all out right now.

Monday was a HUGE God day (isn't every day, even if we can't see Him), Ben had a horrible headache. A friend and I prayed, and then I got a text from Ben saying his headache was gone. Amen. Another friend shared their need for a check to come in the mail, otherwise bills weren't going to get paid. She got home; a check was in the mail. Another Amen. Other friends had their third little one, despite what looked like complications. She's healthy and beautiful and doing great! We need these sweet God moments in the midst of life right now. We're thankful for them.

I think I grind my teeth at night. They hurt! I've had dreams of not being able to bite down correctly. Makes me think I am actually trying to close my mouth all night long. Yikes! I've been waking up with my jaw clenched.

Trying to figure out potty training. Norah's gone several times on the potty. Not ready for cold turkey panties yet. I'm not ready for the clean up.

Emma loves school. She does ask me about homeschooling though. I just remind her it wouldn't be watching cartoons all day.
She's been interested in what she's going to be when she grows up. Today, she told me she no longer wants to be a Vet, but would like to be a farmer. After I told her that farmers get dirty (she thought farmers dressed fancy like cowgirls), she told me she's going to stick with being a Vet or working with animals actually. The whole giving shots to animals makes her sad.

___________________________________________________________________

Emma turned 6 since the last time I wrote anything. She's Sweet. Lovely. Beautiful.

2012-08-30T17:35:00.004-07:00

The First Day of Kindergarten

It has come and gone. Today was her second day. Getting past the first day was hard. Well, it was really only hard getting through the drop off part.

All morning getting ready, I had it together. I even thought for a second that I might not cry at all. That only lasted a minute. I don’t like crying in public, so I had to pep talk myself into being okay if it should happen. Wow did it ever!

As we pulled into school, I saw my husband greeting us enthusiastically. Arms flailing with excitement type of greeting. I’m so glad Emma was able to see him before her day began. However in retrospect, for me, I really needed him to avoid eye contact and ignore us. Even run into the woods and hide. All these things are unacceptable in his job description. I don’t know why it hit me so hard, but it did. We parked. Walked up the parking ramp and the tears came flowing down. With every step it seemed to get worse. Then there would be a moment of composure; this did not last long. I was a HOT MESS. I had no saving grace, but to keep walking past dozens of people with tears in my eyes and holding back an ugly cry face. I saw friends, they asked how I was doing. Of course in that state you can only nod your head. No words are coming out with that would make any sense. Have you ever been in a hallway that seemed never ending? That was the hallway we had to walk down to get her to the classroom door. It was crowded and overwhelming. I wish we would have been late. But being late on the first day is not cool. We walked up to her locker. I tried instructing Emma through broken words about where I was putting stuff. She looked at me like I was half out of my mind. She grabbed her lunch box and walked right into the class. No kiss or hug. What a big girl. If only mommy could act her age. She had a great day After Norah and I left the building, I was having a much better day as well.

______________________________________________________________________

of all things, that day a bee got in the house. Seriously, the nerve in my state of vulnerability.

2012-08-29T07:46:00.004-07:00

Prepping for the BIG Day

24 pencils sharpened

Mommy was a slacker and didn't turn these in at Meet the Teacher Day.

Shoes Bought

1 pair for Gym class

1 pair for every day...school life

Package received from Tanti and Uncle Jobbie.
They can't always celebrate milestones in person.
They put forth the effort and make our children feel special.

Necklace purchased

As soon as I read the dress code for school and it said simple jewelry, I knew I needed to get her a necklace. I had a different idea of the one we would buy, but I did say she could pick it out. Which she did remind me of when we were at the store. I was thinking of some thing with a butterfly. She's spreading her wings into a new domain. Nope. She wanted this one. I asked her how this reminded her of our family, in which she replied "Well, it has two ears; one for you, and one for daddy". Just can't argue with that logic.

Uniform outfit ready to go