Lost in Laundry

Surfside Beach, TX

2010-07-28T22:17:00.037-05:00

My children are delighting me this week. I'm adoring each of them, and easily appreciating all that makes them unique. What a splendid vacation.

Texas Born. Texas Bred.

2010-07-23T12:40:00.003-05:00

I think this Okie-born mom will have to break down and buy this kid a Texas Tech shirt. He's resorted to making his own!

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Easy as frozen pizza. Slightly tastier.

2010-07-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

For those nights you don't feel like cooking:

I know these products are down right offensive to many Southern cooks. Pre-breaded frozen chicken strips? Gasp! Mashed potatoes from a bag? Egad! And, perhaps worst of all, COUNTRY GRAVY from a MIX!!! The horrors!

My apologies to the Paula Deen's among you. The rest of you, bury the packages deep in the trash and give yourself a break one night this week!

Throw in a frozen cobbler and you'll have yourself a feast.

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Bean Bags

2010-07-19T07:00:00.007-05:00

Alternate Title: We've reached the point in our long summer days when I'm really stretching to find fun, cheap stuff for us to do together.

I couldn't figure out why the kids were so overly excited when I suggested that we make some bean bags. Then I figured out they thought I meant the big, floor-size bean bags that you sit it....but I didn't buy nearly that many beans. Sorry kids.

They picked out their favorite fabrics from my grandmother-donated stash (she gave me nearly 50 yards of random fabric!), helped me trace and cut out the squares, and after I sewed them together they used a funnel to filled them with beans.

(FYI: a 2 lb. bag of beans was enough for six bean bags.)

First they lined up some buckets for the obligatory bucket toss game. They assigned arbitrary points to each bucket, like 200, 750, and 1500. Unknowingly, they also assigned themselves some great math practice.

I witnessed a sweet sibling moment, when of their own accord the boys took pity on Lauryn not making any shots, and encouraged her to stand closer to the buckets. (That might not seem like a big deal, until you've grown accustomed to the normal cries of "No fair!" and "She crossed the line! She's cheating!")

Then they used chalk to create a target in the driveway, and played happily for a while longer.

So. Bean bags. Kinda fun.

Here's the boys' bean bags --- Lauryn had already hopelessly misplaced hers by the time I wanted to round them up for the photo shoot. Like mother like daughter!

Big Tent. Small Living Room.

2010-07-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

If I had just set up the tent, it would have entertained them about an hour.

If I would have just given them a package of 100 bendy straws, it would have entertained them about an hour.

But happily, the combination of the two, tent + bendy straws, kept them creating and playing together for an ENTIRE AFTERNOON! Some kind of awesome playtime math was happening, where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Or something like that.

New Favorite Snack

2010-07-13T13:53:00.006-05:00

I was introduced to this cereal when I found it in the pantry at my in-laws house. It's really good. I ate it every morning for a week at their house.

I got back home and bought my own box. I mixed it into a bowl of yogurt and have now found my new favorite afternoon snack. Mmmm, mmmm.

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DomestiCakes

2010-07-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you live in or around Lubbock, check out DomestiCakes!

DomestiCakes is owned and operated by my friend Candy. Jonathan and I have been raving about her cheesecakes for a couple of years now (seriously - the BEST cheesecake I've ever eaten), and now she's taking her amazing baking skills to the masses!

If you need a cake or dessert for your party or event, I encourage you to give DomestiCakes your business. Candy is a loving wife and devoted mom to four delightful kids; you couldn't ask for a better person to trust with your business. I'm proud of her for starting this new adventure, and wish her loads of success!

click image to enlarge

And really....isn't DomestiCakes the cutest name ever?!? So cute and creative! Great job Candy!

Flower Hair Clips

2010-07-10T18:56:00.001-05:00

Lauryn and I spent a fun, girly afternoon together. After a haircut (for her) and lunch, we went on a shopping expedition to find what we needed to make flower hair clips. A much requested item of late, as it's been reported that "all" her friends are wearing them.

After rejecting the price Hobby Lobby was charging for an artificial flower ($4 bucks for ONE individual flower? Ya gotta be kidding me), Lauryn and I ended up at Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree never lets me down!

3 bunches of artificial flowers = $3.00
8 metal hair clips at Michael's (FYI: find them in the ribbon aisle) = $2.00

First I popped a flower off its stem, then pulled out the green plastic thingie in the center holding it together. Like such:

Then I cut some fabric the length of the hair clip and hot glued it on:

The fabric isn't seen; it gets covered up by the flower, and gives the flower more to stick to:

Then I just hot glued the petals onto the fabric, layer by layer. Easy and quick.

Here we are, modeling our lovely creations!

So cute!

I should have purchased some small fake jewels for the center of the flowers. But I forgot, so we used a button on one, and a clear stone on another. Still cute.

I have a lot of flowers left -- if your little girl receives a gift from me anytime soon, it will be decorated with a flower hair clip! Wouldn't these be cute clipped on a gift bag, or used as a bow on a package?

Alkalines, Acids and Beakers. Oh my.

2010-07-07T07:00:00.005-05:00

In the 5th grade, I got a "C" - in science. This, my first "C" ever, was because I was never able to build a correct complex circuit thingie that would light up that darn little light bulb.

Inductor with battery light bulb tutorial

Reading the directions now, I see that it's not that difficult. In retrospect, my failing this project was likely due to spending my time talking to my friends in my lab group, rather than concentrating on the task at hand.

Regardless, that C in science in 5th grade set me on a course of avoiding science classes whenever possible. After taking the required biology in 10th grade, I never again graced the inside of a science classroom. Amen and Hallelujah.

Alas....Ryan loves science! He names it as his favorite subject in school. His Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Michael bought him a chemistry set for his *birthday, and he's had fun learning the basics of alkalines, acids, and the various fizzing, bubbling, color-changing reactions between them . We've already sailed well beyond the limits of my chemistry knowledge, and now we're learning together.

click image to enlarge

I told his Aunt Stephanie that any gift that comes with safety glasses, and no less than 18 safety notices on every page of the Experiment Guide is sure to be a hit!

*I think a science kit is a great item to add to your metal list of birthday gifts to buy for the 8 - 10 year old set. Such a hard age to buy for!

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I have found the limit of my motherly "self-sacrifice."

2010-07-05T11:09:00.001-05:00

Like most moms, I give the best of the food servings to my kids.

I take the burned chicken. I take the bruised apple. I take the broken cookie. I have witnessed this phenomenon in other moms, so I know it's universal.

However, there is a limit to my altruism.

The biggest, gooiest, cinnamon roll with the most icing - that baby goes on mama's plate! Every time.

This post inspired by a delightful morning of cinnamon rolls and freshly squeezed orange juice, enjoyed outside in lawn chairs on a beautiful summer morning.

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Celebrating Dad.

2010-06-17T15:05:00.002-05:00

The kids and I will be out of town visiting family in Oklahoma this weekend.....

So we're celebrating Father's Day Early!

The kids made a fabulous, colorful banner that runs the length of our living room wall:

Amazing what they can do with some watercolor, yarn, and tape. They want to leave it up until Sunday, "so Daddy will know we're thinking of him even thought we're not here."

Jonathan is a great Dad. I really can't overstate his love and devotion to his family; none of us are left with even a teeny bit of doubt that we're the most important thing in his life. He's enamored with us and lets us know!

Happy (early!) Father's Day Jonathan!

There's only one other man on the planet who's loved me longer than Jonathan has (and finds me nearly as charming), and I'll get to see him this weekend! Love you Grandpa, and Happy Father's Day to you too!

"putting my face on"

2010-06-15T10:13:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure where I picked up that phrase, but that's what I've always called my make-up application process. Example:

"Are you ready to go?"

"No. Give me a minute to put my face on."

Anyhow - I have a couple more product suggestions for you. A few weeks ago I recommended Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara, and I still love it. My hearty endorsement still stands.

This is my new favorite product:

Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for eyes.

Find it at your neighborhood drug store for under $10 bucks. The "3-in-1" product name is because it's a concealer, as well as eye cream and spf 20. But the part I really like is that it's a great concealer! Covers some serious tired-mama dark circles.

Here's what prompted the sharing of this product with you: One day this week I was struggling with allergies, and my right eye was continually watering. At the end of the day I looked in the mirror and thought,

"Holy Cow! When did I get punched in the face!?!"

Then I realized that the concealer under that right eye had simply been removed as my eye watered all day long and I wiped away the tears. My right eye was showcasing my tired-mama dark circle, and the left side was being nicely concealed with this product. Huge difference.

This next product isn't for your face, but rather for legs that haven't seen the sun yet this season:

Neutrogena Build-a-Tan

I've always been terrified of self-tanning lotion. It came to popularity when I was in Jr. High, and my memory is of girls walking the halls with horrible, streaky orange legs. The fear of looking like an oompa loompa has always scared me away.

But this year I decided I give it a try and I've been happily surprised with this product. You can "control your shade"; the directions say "sheer color builds from a healthy glow to a deeper tan with each application." I only use it once every 4 or 5 days. (I'm not really going for a "deep tan" look; I just don't want my legs to match the color of raw chicken.) No streaks, easy to apply, and dries quickly. Less than $10 bucks at your local drugstore.

Who else has product recommendations to share?

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Discrepancy.

2010-06-11T06:00:00.005-05:00

Moms get it. It's hard to describe to anyone not blessed to be in that particular club. But we get it. The natural discrepancy that happens in the love between moms and their children. The peaceful knowledge that my kids will never, ever feel the intense and all-encompassing love for me that I feel for them. Of course they love me, yes, (on my good days, adore me even!); but they won't even begin to comprehend that THIS particular brand of fierce and devoted love even exists...until they have their own children.

Their first week of Kindergarten, I think of them every day, all day. I know they don't think of me beyond the first few nervous minutes. As it should be.

I know when they go on their first date, I'll bite my nails, pray fervently that they act wisely, and think of them constantly until I hear they've arrived safely back home. And during those first dates, they won't think of me once. As it should be.

When they grow up and leave the nest, I know the emotion of that season will nearly consume me. I'll fret about what my home and heart will be like without them under my roof. I'll think about them daily as they navigate real life without me. And except for those rare moments of homesickness on particularly hard days, they won't give home (or mom) more than an occasional passing thought. As it should be.

Even now when I watch them receive awards or reach exciting milestones, they have no way of knowing the ridiculous, embarrassing, tear-inducing pride I feel in them. No way they can understand how my heart swells with more emotion and pride in them, than anything I ever felt when receiving accolades for myself. They don't know, and wouldn't understand if I tried to explain it. They don't think about the pride I'm feeling in them; in fact, beyond catching my eye and giving me a grin, they don't think about me at all in those moments. As it should be.

It's so strange to reflect on my own childhood, through the lens I now have as a parent. To think about my Mom sitting in the audience all those many times, watching me have my "moments". Countless awards assemblies, talent shows, plays, graduations....Of course I knew she was proud of me, but there is no way I could have really understood her pride and love back then as I understand it now.

How ironic that when we tell our kids "I love you", that they won't (indeed, can't) truly know what we mean by those three little words until years later. When they've told their own kids. When they've loved in that way that only a parent can.

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It's the following video that inspired these thoughts, and has me feeling so reflective. If you are a parent, please watch it. (The part where she talks about the gallon of milk made me start bawling uncontrollably. Watch it and let me know when the tears start for you!)

ht: Strategic Dads

The Fabulous Miss E

2010-06-03T16:18:00.001-05:00

Allow me to introduce my adorable two month old niece, Miss Elizabeth Faye! I do believe she's waving at you: "Hello! Please feel free to ooh, ahhh, and otherwise adore me!"

I made Elizabeth some bibs and matching burp cloths, and her mom was kind enough to pose her in each and every one of them and send me pictures. Warms my ever-loving Auntie heart. Can't wait to get my hands on this Oklahoma-dwelling baby girl! Just a few more weeks until we get to meet her.

Isn't she a sweet baby to happily tolerate all those "wardrobe (bib) changes"?

Equally adorable big brother Connor had to get in on the posing-for-the-camera action.

Such cuties! I hope to persuade their parents to bring them to West Texas for a visit sometime this year! (Grandparents can bring them too. Whoever is willing!)

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Girls: Cooties, or Not? It's a split decision.

2010-06-02T10:19:00.002-05:00

Last week Ryan had a birthday party.

As 11 eight-year-old boys were sitting around my table eating chocolate cake and ice cream, Jonathan teased,

"Where are all the girls? We should have invited the girls to this party!!!"

He made that same kind of joke last year, and it was met with a resounding "NO!!!" from every boy at the table.

Oh how a year changes things.

This year, about half the boys booed and yelled no...while the other half cheered a hearty approval at the notion of having girls at the party!

Not only that...the conversation then turned to which girls they would like to invite, which girls they would not like to invite, and why. (In the opinion of 8 year old boys, "talking too much" seems to be the number one undesirable trait in girls, by the way.)

My Ryan didn't contribute much to the conversation. Neither a boo nor a cheer. He just sat listening with a smile on his face.

School's Out! School's Out!

2010-05-27T08:09:00.002-05:00

It's official! Summer is here! The awards assemblies and end of year parties are all happily behind us.

As of today, Dylan has finished Kindergarten, Ryan has completed 2nd grade, and they now consider themselves a 1st and 3rd grader with all the rights and privileges therein.

I predict a summer of playing in the sprinkler, camping out on the trampoline, and consuming large quantities of watermelon and lemonade.

In celebration of this school year coming to an end, I'm writing today on Prize31.com: A Letter to My Kindergarten Graduate

May your summer be full of giggles and laughter, and low on "Tell her to quit looking at me." (Already heard that one at breakfast.)

ABC's and Scripture Memorization

2010-05-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

click to enlarge

We made these ABC scripture books to give out to all the preschoolers and parents at our most recent Trinity Church StoryTime.

All the scriptures were taken from this website; except they didn't have a scripture listed for the letter "X", so I had to get a little creative.

If you don't have to make 25 of these like I did, I would suggest making it a project to do with your kids! Make it hand-written rather than typed. Let your preschoolers write the letters, then look up the scriptures together before you write them down. Or for older kids, give them the job of choosing which scripture they'd like to use with each letter!

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Kidsplace

2010-05-18T06:00:00.004-05:00

If you attend Trinity Church, consider becoming a Small Group leader for Elementary Kidsplace!

We're looking for new leaders to work each week with a group of 10-12 kids at either the 10:00 or 11:30 service. We're asking for a one school year commitment - from August to May. (With your summer off and two weeks off at Christmas!)

How's it work?

1st thru 5th grade students and the small group leaders all attend the Kidsplace worship experience together. Hear an engaging lesson, see a skit, sing praise and worship songs, and participate in other crazy fun stuff as a large group.

Following the large group gathering, the kids break up into small groups. 10-12 kids will meet with the same leader each week for approximately 20 minutes. This will be a time for the small group leader to lead the kids in a discussion about what they learned (discussion questions and/or activity ideas provided!), pray with and for the kids, and invest in the life of a child!

At the end of the school year, you can decide if you would like to make another school year commitment.

It's small amount of time with a huge return! Asking a 1st grader how a spelling test went....telling a 5th grader you thought about them and prayed for them through the week....celebrating a soccer win with a 3rd grader....giving a needed hug and smile to a 2nd grader having a tough week. Easy. But so important.

Email kidsplace@trinitytoday.com to get signed up!

Tick Tock Kids. Tick Tock.

2010-05-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

Our kids have chores that are "have-to", and other jobs around the house that are "get-to"; meaning if they do the jobs with a good attitude they get paid. Usually a quarter. *The chores are constants, and the jobs are handed out arbitrarily, or sometimes when they ask "Is there anything I can do to earn a quarter?" (My middle child is quite the laborer. He asks nearly daily.) For something really toxic and/or hazardous, like cleaning out and vacuuming my van, they get a bit more than a quarter. I think last time I paid $.80. My generosity is astounding.

My new favorite parenting trick:

"Okay guys!!! You know your chores HAVE to be done. They will get done one way or another. Usually you do your chores without payment, but since I'm feeling charitable if you can work together, be kind, cooperate, and finish in less than 10 minutes it will mean a quarter for each of you. If you don't work together and don't get finished in 10 minutes, you'll still do the chores but you won't get paid. NOW GO!"

I like to watch them scurry. It's also fun to see the younger two kids default to soldier status, taking and obeying orders from their big brother, the Cleaning General. Amazing what they'll tolerate when a quarter is at stake!

I simply sit back and watch their feverish cooperative cleaning, randomly yelling out the time left on the clock. Not a bad way to spend 10 minutes.

* Many thanks to my friends Cheri and Anne for helping me fine tune the allowance procedures. I had tried chores charts and other systems in the past, and let's be honest - there's no way I was going to keep up with a chart. This system my friends shared works for me because I get to live in the moment! The unpaid chores (bedrooms, playroom, bathroom) the kids know they are to do after school before any TV time. The paid jobs I just give out randomly. "Hey Ryan, I need you to vacuum. Good job. Here's your quarter." Boom! Done! "Hey Lauryn. Please wipe off the table. Good job. Enjoy this ten cents." Moving on with my life! No charts to check! "Hey Dylan, I need you to windex and wipe down the front and back glass doors. Nice. Here's your quarter." So easy!

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Bright Sunshiny Days

2010-05-13T17:29:00.001-05:00

Summer is my favorite. True summer has not fully arrived yet, I know, but I'm making the most of each sunny day. If I could find a magic swimsuit that instantly makes me look tan and 20 lbs lighter, summer would be even better. But I digress.

Oh warm weather. Such fun times accompany your sunshiny rays:

Baseball

Warm weather baseball is fun. Way better than cold weather baseball. We've had both this season - give me heat over cold any day.

But win or lose, hot or cold, it's fun for me based solely on how adorable my boys look.

Picnics

Summer means picnics outside with my favorite people.

Picnics now accommodated by the new and much loved picnic table I just got for mother's day.

Summertime desserts. Yum.

Fishing

In Lubbock, fishing amounts to pulling perch out of playa lakes. Still fun.

The sprinkler! Love the sprinkler.

Make the most of these warm days. May I suggest a little sprinkler-action in your life soon.

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It's worth watching again: It's Mo. With an M.

2010-05-12T08:11:00.000-05:00

My father-in-law just left Lubbock after visiting for a few days. He made a special trip just to watch the boys play baseball. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law didn't get to make the trip; and though the kids loved seeing their Papaw, their Mo was dearly missed.

So to let her know her absence was felt and we were thinking of her, I would like to again post my favorite video of all time.

June 14th 2008 - Lauryn is two years old, and has an unfortunate "h" for "m" substitution when she says her grandma's nickname, Mo.

We'll see you soon Susan! Aren't you glad Lauryn outgrew that particular articulation error?

Fun Kid Food

2010-05-01T19:35:00.002-05:00

The boys had some friends over last night, and we made Biscuit Pizzas. They're easy, fun, the preparation kills some time and the cries of "We're bored!", and after all the culinary excitement their dinner is prepared. What more could you ask for really? (A pizza delivery guy, I guess. No fun in that though.)

Please enjoy this photo tutorial!!! Also, a tutorial for this meal is ridiculous!!!

I feel I must share with you the reason for the raucous laughter happening during Step 3:

E: "I have to get a new butt."

Ryan: "A new butt? Why!?!?"

E: "Because my old one has a crack in it."

I only let the boys make three each. What was I thinking? They needed about three times that many. Luckily I had bought biscuits aplenty so we went back and made another batch.

I now admit to you that this is my second post about biscuit pizzas. (If you click that link, posted right after we moved here, please note how much my kids have changed since we moved to Lubbock!) I'm either running out of material or I'm too impressed by biscuit pizzas.

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Falling in love.

2010-04-27T17:25:00.003-05:00

Falling in love.

It is rather well named, that whole process. "Falling in love."

Falling into his arms. Falling into his gaze. Falling into his affection.

Much like literally falling, there's really not much to it, this "falling in love". Not much work, that is. If you fall off the edge of a mountain, once you take that first step, there's not much left for you to do but.....fall. And when you fall in love with someone, there's not much you have to do beyond taking that first big, scary, hesitant step of acknowledging the general idea that "Umm....I think you're incredible....beautiful even, inside and out...." and then hoping the feeling is returned. After that first nervous step, there's not much to do but just....fall. Not much work involved.

And just like I imagine a free fall must feel.......exhilarating and free......so feels falling in love. The realization that someone on this planet gets you. Really sees you. Instinctively knows your heart before you've fully revealed it. Knows your strengths before even you do. Dreams your dreams with you, and somehow reshapes them and gives them clarity until it's no longer "my" dream or "your" dream but "ours." Exhilarating.

My love story began at 15 years old. Not an age that comes with experience or any real wisdom, but it was love nonetheless, I assure you. I would argue my naivety and youth and my never-broken, fully in tact and unscathed heart made me fall particularly hard.

I look back on that time with a sweet nostalgia. I wouldn't trade falling in love with Jonathan for anything in the world. It's a time I look forward to telling my kids about, when they have an interest in such things.

But as I think back on that happy time, that sweet "falling in love" time....it really doesn't compare to living out that love in real life. Having a marriage filled with passion and love requires respect and consideration and selflessness. Consistently giving and receiving those things doesn't feel very much like falling. No, not nearly so easy as falling. Instead of falling off the mountain, often it feels like climbing up.

Those feelings of "He really sees me", those are still there. But at some point you realize that being seen, being known, means he knows your weakness as well as your strength. You realize that there's no hiding your imperfections. When your heart is revealed, the unlovely is seen right along with the lovely. The trials and frustrations that marriage inevitably bring reveal your weaknesses whether or not you're ready to acknowledge them. You can hide anger or hurt or pride or selfishness from many people, but not from a spouse. And that loss of control can be maddening.

It's hard work - yes. To learn to consider another over yourself. To freely accept love when you least deserve it, because that's when you most need it. To give up the right to hold grudges. To learn to give someone the benefit of the doubt. To be quick to listen and slow to speak. It's work, certainly. But work that yields such sweet rewards.

So yeah....for me....climbing a mountain is a good metaphor. Because climbing in itself isn't bad. People do climb mountains you know. They do it for fun even. They do it on purpose. With purpose. A goal in mind. Maybe for some people love comes easily, and never requires any more effort than falling off a mountain. For me, it takes a bit more work than than.

But it's not bad work. It's a mountain climbing kind of work:

Treading lightly when required. Being careful about where you take that next step. Holding on with an unrelenting grip with the wind blows. Committing to making it to the top no matter how difficult it seems sometimes. Knowing that your strength will be tested and proven.

I'm learning than an impasse isn't a reason to get discouraged. It's a chance to work even harder to get beyond that impasse, knowing the perspective I'll gain on the other side will be sweet.

I know I'm blessed beyond measure that I have a partner in this adventure who is just as committed to the climb as I am. I recognize there are women and men who, sadly, get abandoned mid-climb. So I don't take it lightly, his commitment, and I don't take it for granted.

We're having fun on this adventure, that's for sure. In the middle of the work and the effort and sometimes even the exhaustion, we stop to enjoy how far we've come. To be grateful we have someone with whom to share the beautiful view.

SpringTime! Perfect time for fun family pics!

2010-04-21T17:44:00.003-05:00

I know you'll love the photography of my friend Danielle of Jubilee Photography!

Danielle has been a close friend of mine since we were wee little sprouts finding trouble in the neighborhood we grew up in together. She is a talented photographer who is building a client base in Lubbock, and I expect great things for her company! I'm excited to help her get the word out about her photography business.

I would recommend her based on her skill and professionalism, but in addition to those things you can't beat her prices. A flat fee of $100 provides a 2 hour outdoor photo shoot at the location of your choosing (a consult with the photographer is available if a location recommendation is needed); following your session you will receive a CD containing the edited images from your photo shoot. The high-quality images will then be yours to download, share, and print as you wish!

The photography shoot...the editing....the electronic images....all for $100 bucks. Call and schedule with her! Go on. Do it. You know you want to.

You can see the rest of our photo shoot by clicking here!

Danielle is also currently scheduling Senior Portrait Sessions.

Danielle offers her $100 dollar deal (detailed above) for Sr. Portraits and Maternity Portraits as well. You can visit her website for more examples of her great work. (Seriously - $100 dollars for Sr. Portraits??? That's a crazy, crazy good deal. Please pass on the word to friends with HS age kids!)

Remember: You can visit her website for more of her portfolio.

I just realized why I'm not crazy about my new haircut.

2010-04-20T13:15:00.002-05:00

I look like my favorite childhood fictional character. I feel like Ramona!

Oh well. It'll grow.

Maybe I'll go for a Harriet the Spy look next......

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