buona vita

Turning over a new pillow.

2012-01-31T09:02:00.001-06:00

My kids have issues. I love them dearly, but sometimes I wonder how these 3 kids with their different issues were all put in my care by God. Here's the short list: Club Foot {check}, Lactose intolerance {check}, Celiac {check}, Sleeping disorder {check}. Not all of these affect all three, but they all affect me. I haven't blogged much about the Landen's club foot because we've done all the treatment necessary for now. We're required to visit Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) annually for him. Cecilia is my Celiac and we visit her GI specialist every few months at CMH as well. Talia's been seen at CMH for GI stuff but nothing really big. Until yesterday when her boycott of sleep for nearly 18months finally landed us at CMH for a sleep study consultation and sleep psychiatrist.

I really wish I had been keeping a journal of her sleep patterns for the last 2 years, but I didn't so my sleep deprived memory is what we have to go one. She slept well as a baby. Around the 7/8 months mark, she stopped sleeping well and started waking up for a 3 am feeding again. She wasn't nursing any longer and her pediatrician said she woke up to eat simply because I got up and fed her. She screamed for hours. Ferber was wrong for this particular child. I started waking to keep her company during the night, catching a few hours here and there before the other kids woke up. Soon I began pulling more all nighters than I could handle. We moved, changed jobs and towns. I started stressing because my soon to be 2 year old was still awake consistently though out the night for 5 or more nights a week. We started to shorten her nap times to just one 45min nap a day. She has always had an excellent bedtime routine, Sleep at 8pm, wake between 6:30-7am. Except more and more it was common for her to be awake from 2am-5am as well. We started .5 mg of melatonin. NOTHING. Eventually worked up to 3mg nightly of Melatonin. Still no change. Occasionally, she falls asleep in the car or at dinner. But not often. Finally, I call my pediatrician and BEG for a sleep study. He sends us to CMH. And here we are. nearly 2 years after the first problem began.

The appointment yesterday was wonderful. It was long, intense and eye opening. It was also frustrating. We are looking at first availability for a sleep study in May 2012! I plan to stalk the cancellation list until then.
The pyschiartrist gave me a beginning plan for fixing the learned behavior that has come with whatever medical issue we are facing. #1 No more Talia in MY bed. (i thought easier said than done) #2 No giving in. EVER.

If you weren't sure, Luke and I are not into co-sleep parenting. I have nothing personally against this method, I just don't sleep well with anyone besides Luke and I in our bed. It causes our relationship to be more strained and we really don't need any extra strain! This is actually good for us because our doctor seems to be super against it as well for many reasons (not all I am sure I agree with) but the good news is for whatever reason we are all on the same page for Talia's sleeping!

So, here goes nothing- "Project: GET TALIA SOME SLEEP" starts NOW!

Angry Birds: The Birthday Party

2012-01-17T12:50:00.003-06:00

When my soon-to-be 7 year old asked for an Ipod Touch for his birthday, I knew we were in for it. After a long afternoon of reasoning with him and trying to figure out why exactly he wanted an ipod touch, we came to the conclusion it was all about the angry birds. I finally said, "babe, you're not getting an ipod touch". He starred at me for a bit until I saw his eyes light up with an idea, "Mom, what about an Angry Birds birthday?" I was super excited because I knew it would be a very creative party! He loved the party and I hope you find some good ideas to use for an angry birds party of your very own!

The main objective for the party was to be able to play Angry Birds in our living room and involve more than one person at a time. My husband and son decided we needed a real set of angry birds to play in the house. (It's January- no one wants to be outside!) The boys really wanted the game to be enormous. I have no idea why but when it came down to it, we needed a more manageable size.

Here's what we came up with:

We used the golf balls in a standard sling shot as the birds and shot them into small bottles painted green for the pigs. Used small boxes to create the platforms.

PIGS:

I had just purchased a 12 pack of Naked Juice (10oz bottles) at Costco.

We painted them green, drew faces and glued them to the bottles.

BIRDS:

I bought 60 plastic white golf balls at Walmart. It was about $5. I painted them the colors of the birds (which was time consuming and they chipped easily- wish I could have found plastic golf balls in colors!)

The sling shot was purchased through Oriental Trading.

They were about $1.25 a piece and also become part of the gift bag.

The second game was a pinata. These are a tradition for our kid's parties so I made two, one for his friends party and one for his family party. You can read more about making these here

Cupcakes:

I made my own cupcake toppers by grabbing a picture from pixmule and adding conversation bubbles to say "Happy 7Th Birthday, Landen"

(This is OKAY to do because I received permission from the artist- YOU MUST SEEK PERMISSION)

I printed, cut and taped them to plastic toothpicks.

Goodie Bags

(blue paper bags from $1 store with red bird glued on front)

Slingshot (punch balloons for the younger kids)
3 "birds" to shoot
~~Angry Birds Fruit Snacks (walmart)~~ Gushers. WM sold out the week of the party and hasn't gotten them back in yet :( I searched EVERYWHERE for them.
candy they filled themselves from the pinata

gift from Aunt Ashley & Uncle Sam

Angry Birds Pinata tutorial

2012-01-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

I posted this picture to facebook last week and friends immediately begged me to "pin" it to pinterest. So, I did but I decided I needed a tutorial to go with the pin! So, if you are visiting me from Pinterest, Welcome! And if you are just interested in learning to make any pinata, I will teach you!

Homemade Pinata Tutorial

Supplies:
newspaper
paste
paint brush or sponge
balloons
paper hole punch
string or ribbon
paint, markers, paper, crepe paper, tp roll, small balloons, etc to decorate pinata

Preperation:

cut newspaper into 1inch by 10inch strips

choose your balloon shape & size; I used a punch balloon (round) for the Angry Birds and a regular large balloon for Pinkalicious.

mix your modge podge, make paper mache paste, or my diy pinata paste (equal parts water and glue).
Create a space where your pinata can be made and left to dry without being bothered by small hands

Create!:

step one: blow up balloon to desired size

step two: mix your paste of choice. I like to use the diy pinata paste because I can mix a lot and keep it in an air tight container for the next project.

step three: Prep your balloon - for the Angry Bird pinata I used the punch balloon. I had to tape down the extra material where you tie a rubber band on to make it smooth. It doesn't have to be perfect!

step four: paint the paste onto the back side of your newspaper strip. Place it on the balloon. repeat this step over lapping the strips until the entire balloon is covered. Leave a small opening around the balloon tie to stuff candy in. Ensure all seams are properly wet and stuck down.

step five: Leave it alone for a few hours until hard and dry. With regular balloons, you can wait up to 24 hours. However, with punch balloons, they tend to shrink quickly. I wouldn't wait longer than 8-12 hours.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have 3-4 layers of newspaper strips covering the balloon.

step six: Paint the pinata all over one solid color. Obviously, for Pinkalicous I did a skin tone and for the angry birds I did the color of bird my son had chosen.

Step seven: Decorate! For pink, I made the mistake of drawing right on her. My pinata didn't turn out the way I wanted but I couldn't change that much at that point. With the angry birds, I free hand drew their facial features on white paper and used the diy pinata paste to glue them to the pinata. (If you aren't confident in your drawing abilities, print the facial features off a website like pixmule) For the black bird, I used the tp roll to make his "horn" and for the red bird I used small balloons to give the fuller look to his top feathers and crepe paper for his black tail.

gluing down face

look just below black's horn to see hole opening,
Red's balloon "feathers" cover his opening.

balloon deflating

balloons out

step eight: deflate balloon and fill with candy. Use paper hole punch to make a string holder and start whacking!

pinterest version

Finished Product

As you can see, the final finished black bird looks a little different than the pin I posted. I did touch up painting to the actual pinata as I felt was needed. It's just very hard to draw and paint the actual design on the pinata.

REMEMBER! It doesn't have to be perfect! There are tons of flaws on mine the important thing is that your kid gets the pinata he likes without you spending way to much money!

If you have any questions, leave a comment and your reply email address!

Reduce Reuse Recycle

2012-01-10T10:01:00.004-06:00

I know, I am the last person on earth to start recycling. It was easy for me in Lee's Summit. You put the stuff in a bin and the trash company came and picked it up and sorted it all out for you. In the burg, it's a new world. So, I am jumping in with both feet. My recycling adventure is beginning to save money on my trash. When we first moved here, we were taking our trash to the market (where my husband works) every few days. But then, we would forget, it would pile up and we gave up. We got trash service.

I have been completely shocked at the amount of trash our family produces. We usually have 6-7 kitchen size trash bags a week. Sometimes more if I have been reorganizing or cleaning a lot. That is one 13 gallon size bag a day! This past week I really paid attention to all the things I threw in the trash that could be gathered for the recycling center. I was amazed and it seemed we could cut our trash bags to 2-3 per week easily. My recycling friends took me out to the center last night to show me how it's divided up. The Johnson County Board of Services Sheltered Workshop runs the recycling center.

View Larger Map

They accept:

Paper
Plastic bags (including Wilmar sacks)
Plastics #2-#7
Tin
Aluminum
Cardboard

Did you know?!

17 trees saved can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!

An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover over 50 acres of space -- that's almost 40 football fields. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it.

A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.

We used Ripple Glass frequently in Lee's Summit. They do not currently offer a Warrensburg drop off but here is a list of current locations to find the nearest one to you. I emailed Ripple Glass and begged them to bring a drop site to the burg. You should email them too!

Ripple takes any color without sorting too! Sweet! I am hoping to make a better impact on our world in 2012. Will you help me?

did you know facts found at: http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html

a new year, a new cookie.

2011-12-30T13:13:00.003-06:00

Here's to 2011. You brought many adventures both good and bad. Thank you for leaving us peacefully. And to 2012- no matter what resolutions we forget, weight we lose or gain, promises we break or goals we achieve- please be kind, forgiving and wonderful.

And here's to my new cookie recipe- I can say without a doubt that you will be kind, forgiving and wonderful.

I came across this "healthy cookie recipe" while I was looking for a healthier snack choice for the new year gatherings. They are AH-MAY-ZING. And while they aren't a stalk of celery, they are a healthier choice. I followed the recipe precisely with one exception. I used Gluten-Free flour instead of whole wheat. BUT I know either way they would be good. yummmmm.

Happy New Year!

Per cookie: 99 calories; 5 g fat ( 2 g sat , 2 g mono ); 11 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 64 mg sodium; 55 mg potassium.

2011-12-25T10:15:00.000-06:00

Christmas Stripe Ribbons Christmas

Make a statement with personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Gifts of Christmas

2011-12-19T10:37:00.000-06:00

My mindset is so stuck on gifts. I plan most the year what I want to buy my kids for Christmas. I've blogged before about how we don't really over do it. But is that enough? Does not over doing Christmas gifts make an impact or change? It helps my kids understand that we don't have all the money in the world to buy them every item they want but is that the real message I am trying to get at? I think the real message I want them to have is to be truly thankful, grateful for the gifts they receive. To give to those who aren't as lucky and bless others the way we've been blessed by many. I read a blog today about a family who doesn't buy any gifts for themselves. Only for others. They shop places like compassion.com & samaritanspurse.org. Did you know I could buy a chicken for the price of a dvd? A whole chicken. A chicken that can lay eggs, provide food, income and fertilizer for a family in poverty. A dvd wouldn't give me all that, only a few laughs. I am amazed. And I want to start a new tradition in our family - giving something like a chicken, a goat, milk, garden seeds, mosquito nets. I am in awe of the simplistic needs others have when I am worried about buying video games and toys for my own children.

blues

2011-12-09T11:45:00.000-06:00

Preface: I wrote this earlier in the week with the intention of it never going live. I am ashamed of the dramatic realness this has on my life. But, I truly believe there is a reason I am going through this. And if part of that reason is to use my words to help others, then I will. This might come as a shock to some of you. Others will unfortunately understand all to well. I love you all and that is why I write about my personal experiences. Please don't judge me and I won't judge you either. Let's take away the power that depression has over us, our loved ones and this world.

This time of year is hard. Wait, what am I saying? Every day for the last few years has been hard. Experiencing tragic deaths, hardships, frustrations and feeling alone on top of depression is hard. Why does my mind make these experiences harder to deal with than others. Or do I make them harder on myself? There has been a lot of talk about the disease depression lately. One of the most loved weathermen in Kansas City took his own life a couple weeks ago. The news station is promoting services and begging others who struggle with depression to find the help they desperately need. I don't have insurance. I don't have the money to get the medication I desperately need. I am trying to learn how to cope without meds, but it scares me. I took up smoking a few months ago to deal with the overwhelming feelings, give myself something to look forward to, think about instead of the awful looming feeling. It actually helped a lot. I wasn't having panic attacks. I didn't feel like my back was a sheet of glass ready to crack. I was relaxed, I was calm. I was spending too much money. My daughters were telling me my breath had smoke in it. My heart broke.
I quit 2 days ago and sense then, my panic attacks have taken over, my depression has soared and last night I hit a pretty rough bottom. I have so much to look forward to. My brother is marrying a beautiful, smart, sweet girl this weekend. Christmas is coming and I can't wait to see the smiles on my kids faces. My son will turn 7 in one month. I try to think about people who passed away before we would want them to and how their families lives would be different if they were still here. How could I make the choice to do that to my family? I can't. I'd like to think I am not that selfish, but I think it's more along the lines of "What would they think of me".
Depression is ugly, dark and real. It is a disease. And I know many people do not understand the demon it leaves inside or how someone could take their own life. It's this constant war between life and death and it honestly doesn't have a lot to do with circumstances or frustrations. It's like waking up every single morning fighting to stay alive. Fighting against the thoughts, the lies, the emotion in your mind. The truths don't seem as powerful as the lies. The lies put you in a place where you can't crawl out. And then comes the circumstantial. Your family member dies, your financial life is in ruin, or you simply don't feel loved or like you are a good person and the lie tells you those people will have a more simple, beautiful life without you.

But that is not the end of the story for me. Last night, my husband and I had a real conversation about these struggles. We usually glaze over it. But last night, I asked him to give me one reason I should want to live. I thought he would say, the kids, me, your friends, your family . . . he didn't. He said "Jesus shed his blood. He already took his own life so that you could have life." It was the last response I expected and it made the most impact on me. I just wrote a post about Jesus' birth. About the true meaning of Christmas. But the whole reason Jesus was born, was to die. To take away my sins, to take away these thoughts, to take away the lies and replace them with promises. If he promised to come to earth as a baby just to die for me, how could those other promises not be true?
Promises like this one:

Psalm 107:13-16

¹³ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress.
¹⁴He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
   and burst their bonds apart.
¹⁵ Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!
¹⁶For he shatters the doors of bronze
   and cuts in two the bars of iron.

English Standard Version (ESV)

This doesn't take away the feelings, the lies, the pain. But it does give me hope. And I am hoping after covering my life in these promises- they will eventually give me peace.

After I finished this, a friend posted this video to facebook. I sat there and cried and cried.

A very frugal Christmas

2011-12-06T10:33:00.001-06:00

A few friends posted this article this morning, which is right in line with something that has really been bothering me as a mom. I am seriously so frustrated with families who buy a ton of crap for their kids just for it to end up in a toy box never seen again, broken or lost. I know many people in our generation grew up getting a million things for Christmas, oh and we went to midnight mass on Christmas Eve too to balance it all out. Why do Christians feel the need to live on the fence at Christmastime? We want to have one foot in consumerism and one foot in "the true meaning of the season". I have no problem with buying your kids things they want or need for Christmas. But I do have a problem with raising kids to think Jesus's birth is about them getting a million things they didn't even know existed.
Luke and I don't do everything right, not even close. But thankfully, we're on the same page about buying our kids stuff for Christmas. My family never went crazy for Christmas, but I have no doubt that my parents were probably stretched thinner than they should have been one time or another. I even recall a Christmas where the expectations I had didn't align with what I received. I was sad, but I knew better at that age to show my parents and I knew that life isn't fair and just because my friends got something did not mean I needed it. Luke's family has never had an emphasis on gifts for birthdays or Christmas. So, for him, he does want to give the kids some but not over do it at all. I think he feels like he gained more by not receiving many gifts because he appreciated the smaller items he did get. These experiences coupled with our tight budget is how we landed on how we handle Christmas gifts. First of all, we set a clear, achievable budget. This year, it was $150. Roughly, $30 per person. Are you laughing? Me too. Secondly, we like to get 3 gifts for each of the kids. It helps incorporate the story of the 3 wise-men and also, keeps us to our budget and sanity. Lastly, we try to do homemade, inexpensive things for teachers, bus drivers, family & friends.

This year, I was able to get some amazing deals with Walmart Layaway, price matches & black friday! I don't want to blow the Christmas surprises, but we stayed within our budget, and got the kids 3 things each the asked for including Lego's, ds games & fur real friends. Here's how we did this: Luke and I looked through the walmart christmas catalog and online to find the gifts we wanted to get the kids. We started a Walmart Layaway plan and we put 5% down. Then, we found price matches like mad. Walmart allows you to price match your layaway! When we would see something on our list for cheaper, we'd stop by layaway. I went black friday evening and price matched best buy, NFM, target & walmart's own BFAD's. I also saved up all the gift cards where you have $1.03 left on them and bought stocking stuffers (dvds & tag books) with that priced match for Black Friday, of course. The awesome thing about the layaway is at any time you can put one or more things back. So, there is not that feeling of I.O.U.

We stuck to our budget. We're not hurting for money this month and everything is bought, paid for and wrapped. What a blessing to unwrap gifts Christmas morning without the looming credit card bill racking up in your head. And further more, what a gift to teach your children the importance of Jesus' birth while following his principles for financial living along the way.

I have been working on a homemade Advent calendar for the kids. They have had a blast helping me put it together and reading the verses. I want them to know why we celebrate Christmas. During the fourth century, the Roman Empire was full of pagan worship to the sun gods. They burned a massive bon fire to give the god of sun strength during the winter solstice. Church leaders attempted to be missional by marrying the winter solstice celebration with a celebration of Jesus' birth. "Today we find ourselves left with a bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that characterizes our modern celebration of Christmas." - John MacArthur
You see, from the beginning there has been this struggle between the lavish gifts, food, excitement and honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. This is not anything new. Our choice lies in whether or not we will stay true to the beliefs we have through out the entire year or just when it's convienient.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Thirty

2011-11-30T11:17:00.001-06:00

Today, I am thankful for my baby k'tan. My baby is 2 years old and it's still her favorite place to be when she needs some extra mommy cuddles. In fact, I am typing this blog with her strapped in, fever and all. I love time saving devices and this one is the tops. She will still nap through a walmart trip, stay close to me at the zoo or just free up my arms for dishes, cleaning. LOVE my baby k'tan!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Nine

2011-11-29T11:07:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for a wonderful washer and dryer. For the last 7 years, I used laundromats and a set of 30 year old washer/dryer off craigslist. I usually had to rewash and dry things 2-3 times. I HAD to do laundry every day to keep up with out family of 5. Yesterday, I did 8 loads. And had it all put away before 4pm. How amazing! Totally thankful for proper working machines and the time it frees up for me to hang out and cuddle with my cuties.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty- Eight

2011-11-28T15:36:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for a warm, great running car so we can still see the pediatrician we LOVE in Lee's Summit. Sure it's a drive, but does your Dr give your kids popsicles? Yeah, didn't think so!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Seven

2011-11-27T15:31:00.002-06:00

Today, I am thankful for the small amount of family time we get. Luke works an intense schedule so Sunday evenings are the only time we get to spend as a family. Feeling so blessed to sit at the table all 5 of us and eat homemade pizza together. Then running off to the movies to see The Muppets. So fun!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Six

2011-11-26T10:49:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for lazy saturdays. Warm cocoa, snacks, pajamas, christmas movies and cuddles. PERFECT.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Five

2011-11-25T12:05:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for the craziness that is Black Friday. I am not one of those insane shoppers, but I did manage to finish all my shopping, have a fun experience with my mom, brother, and sister in law (to-be), and only spend $30! Totally worth it! And yes, I am thankful for all I have, but I think its smart to buy stuff when they are super cheap. I didn't buy anything I wasn't planning on buying so, I really did save big!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Four

2011-11-24T08:27:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Today, I am thankful that both our families have Thanksgiving in Lee's Summit. I can't imagine having to choose which family we spent the holiday with. Luke's grandma actually lives pretty close to my mom and dad, so even though we don't live there anymore, we only have to make one trip to see everyone we love!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Three

2011-11-23T08:27:00.000-06:00

Today, I am so very thankful for television. I know it sounds lame but my favorite shows are really how I get through the week! I love that on Tuesday nights, Luke, Sam & I watch Sons of Anarchy together. It's a great beginning of the week pick me up and I really enjoy getting to spend time with my husband and his brother.

Wednesday nights are ABC nights . . . uh HELLO, Modern Family! And Thursday's are multi-channel watching . . . Thankful for TIVO!!!

I am thankful for the small things that break up my week and make me a little happy!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-Two

2011-11-22T13:07:00.002-06:00

Today, I am so thankful that my parents moved to Lee's Summit when I was 4. It really changed my life and I am so thankful for the experiences I had growing up. Most of the people I have written about this month wouldn't have been in my life if I didn't grow up in LS. Lee's Summit gets ragged on like most "hometowns"- everyone is rich, stuck up and exactly that same. We've all said it but it isn't true. There are big beautiful homes, smaller homes, apartment buildings, wealthy, poor and people living the image but there are real, loving, amazing people too. There are beautiful parks, a super cool downtown area, wonderful schools. I loved living there. We're close to Kansas City and get to use all of it's awesome amenities, KC ZOO, Crown Center, Power & Light, Sprint Center, the stadiums. Right in LS there is awesome shopping, mini golf, bowling, skating, coffee shops, theater, Downtown Days, Octoberfest, Longview Mansion There are so many awesome opportunities for entertainment, shopping & relaxation that I totally took for granted until moving away. If you're living there, have lived there your whole life or not, I urge you to not take one single day you are able to experience this city for granted! It's a wonderful place!

taken from lstourism.com

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-One

2011-11-21T09:11:00.000-06:00

Today, I am so very thankful that it is a short school week! I miss Landen! I love having him home and lately, he's been going up to the market to work on the weekends and I feel like I haven't gotten much time with him! So very excited to sleep in Wednesday morning instead of rushing him out the door! I remember a friend of mine telling me that when all the other moms seemed happy to send their kids back to school after summer break, she was sad. I didn't have kids or a husband then and I will never forget how that changed my perspective. So, here's to everyone out there that gets a short work/school week! Make the most of it!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty

2011-11-20T12:41:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for wisdom. I don't feel as though I have a lot of it. But, the last 7 years of parenting has taught me a few things.

As much as you think you are doing the right thing for your kid, so does that mom who you think has it all wrong. Don't judge, lest ye be judged.
Not every situation is black and white. And your children aren't either. Just because one thing worked for one of my kids, doesn't mean it's worked for the other two.
"Before I had kids I had 12 theories on bringing up children; Now I have 12 kids and no theories" I first read this quote as it hung in my Aunt Libby's kitchen. She does have 12 kids and she is an awesome mom and she doesn't have all the answers. This is actually a quote adapted from John Wilmot- and it is so true!

Today, as you've probably read on my fb page, I had an awful trip to walmart with kids in tow and a judge-mental mother scolding me. Many of you said you were proud of me for my reaction and that you might not have done the same. All I know is that I want to do the best for my kids and I try not to judge other parents. I can't say I would have reacted this way in years past, and that is why I am most thankful to God for granting me wisdom to understand when to be offended and stand up for something and when to smile and walk away.

oh, and check out my cuties with Santa!

Thank YOU, Amy Lee Photography!

We love you!

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Nineteen

2011-11-19T11:39:00.000-06:00

Since we moved here in July, I haven't ever been home alone. Not once ever. Yesterday, my allergies were killing me and by evening, I had a full blown migraine. The kids had destroyed the house, unfolded all the laundry and dishes were piling up but I couldn't stand for 5 mins let alone clean. Luke came and picked up the kids. I heard the door shut and this crazy feeling came over me. I was all alone. I didn't have to worry about anyone else. I could shut off all the lights, tvs, toys and just sit here in silence. It took 15mins for me to pass out. I didn't budge until 7:30am this morning. 12 hours of sleep. WOW. I feel much better but when I got up to make breakfast, I realized Luke had cleaned the house, did the dishes, everything. So blessed and thankful for that much needed rest and for a husband who will work a long day and come home to a disaster without complaining.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Eighteen

2011-11-18T13:32:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for God. I have chosen to put my faith in him and I don't ever regret that. He walks by my side, He knows me by name. He loves me unconditionally, He challenges me, He makes me a better wife, mom, daughter, sister. Through out all the financial hardships, relationship difficulties, God has promised to be there for me.
Hebrews 13:5

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I know not everyone understands or has accepted this faith- but for me, I couldn't live with out Him.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Seventeen

2011-11-17T13:12:00.000-06:00

"Cousins are the first friends we have as children. No one will ever understand your crazy family like cousins do"

There are all kinds of quotes about family and cousins going around facebook posts these days. I love this one because it is so true. I love all my cousins and I am so thankful for every one of them. I am especially thankful for my Kent cousins and it's not hard to see why.

These cousins are special, they are more like siblings.

We have loved together, cried (alot) together, been through the crap, been on top together, we talk crap on each other, we defend each other, we drunk dial in the middle of the night, we hurt each other, we laugh, we love, we party, we get crazy, we have fun together.

I don't get to see them all as much as I would like, but when we walk into the Kent garage, it's like we have haven't missed a moment together. They love my kids like nieces and nephews and I love theirs too.

I wouldn't be who I am without the love and acceptance of these amazing people. They are my bloodline, they are my lifeline and they make me proud to call myself a Kent.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day fifteen

2011-11-15T09:38:00.000-06:00

Today, I am thankful for the 5 senses I am blessed with. There are so many beautiful things God has created and I am so thankful to be able to hear, see, touch, smell, and taste. I am overwhelmed by senses.
I hear my kids whining. I see the clean laundry in piles, I touch sticky cups, I smell diapers needing to be changed, I taste the dinners I have ruined. These things drive me nuts daily. But what if I couldn't do any of those things? These might be frustrating but the fact that I can do these things means I also get to hear beautiful music my husband and other talented musicians create, I see beautiful artwork from God and other talented artists, I feel my warm, comfy flannel sheets, I smell delicious smells in my Scentsy pot, I taste amazing creations from friends with the talent of cooking and baking. My senses create such mood-altering emotions for me. I am so thankful for the good and the bad. I am thankful I don't have to go through life not experiencing these beautiful gifts from God.

30 days of Thankfulness: Day Fourteen

2011-11-14T15:25:00.000-06:00

Today, I am so very thankful for my sister, sister-in-laws, brother and brother-in-laws. God has blessed me with a wonderful extended family and I am so thankful for the role each of them plays in my life!

Anna, you are such an awesome little sister. You love so deeply and have so much creativity.

Alex, I am so proud of the person you have grown up to be. I love spending time with you, cheering you on and just venting with you.

Tina, I am so happy that you and my brother are getting married in a month! You have been so sweet, loving and caring and I can't picture a better spouse for my brother!

Donnie & Julie, Although we rarely see each other, I am so thankful for the love and encouragement you shower on Luke and I.
Kathi & Barry, you are the most amazing hosts! I am so thankful for the time we get to spend with you and how you listen without judgement and encourage me! Thank you!
Samantha & Dan, Thank you for always being there to help us out and for organizing LoChiano events!
Missy & Jimmie, I have loved watching you two fall in love. I love how you have so much fun together! You guys remind me what it's like to not sweat the small stuff.
Sam & Ashley, I don't know what I would do without you two. Your family means so much to ours and I am so thankful for all the love you have for us. Ashley, you are always there for me and it means a lot to have someone else understand my point of view.
Liz & Seth, Thank you for always being there to help us with the kids. Liz, I especially treasure being able to pray and visit with you- such a blessing to my life.
Lucy & Stuart, I am glad you guys were able to move back to KC. You both have such a heart for others and are willing to do whatever they need.