So long 2012

Even though i have been an inconsistent blogger this year I can hardly pass up the chance to recap 2012.

2012 has been a roller coaster.

January 1st I think we were still celebrating Bills recent job offer to the Washington state patrol forensics lab (ouch, this still hurts my heart to talk about)

Miriam enjoyed her wonderful school and teachers at MPCA. I still miss them incredibly!

Liam grew and changed. He has always been a pretty happy boy.

I blogged for a few more months with Rachel at peach state moms blog. (another thing that rather hurts my heart.) We worked out in my living room and she and Mary took us to the zoo. My daughter was rambunctious.  I was frazzled. What a great time.

We got to be around for the preschools spring concert. So darling. We took home a treasure trove of art.

We meet with realtors and start talking putting the house on the market.  My uncle Greg came to help us get packed up or rather cleaned up since we had a company move us. what an experience.  We had a couple of goodbye parties with our great friends. We rented a bounce house for Miriams friends.

I flew with two babies across the country. lucky me.  my uncle and hubby drive for 3.5 days with two cats across the country. lucky them.

My grandparents welcome us into their home happily. It's an interesting 4 months with them.  I love having the extra help. they love having the grandbabies.  I loved the church congregation we attended while there.  Miriam gets the opportunity to finish the preschool year at the same preschool I attended. Another spring concert. More great teachers. Liam starts crawling and cutting teeth. His favorite game is chase the baby!

Our house in Georgia sells! It is shockingly not a short sale. There are many bumps in the road but the thing closes!

We immediately close on a home in or new town where my husband job is located. It is very different from our other home. Lots of character and good quality.

Fall is difficult with lots of sickness!
Liam takes his first steps alone on his birthday! He is so determined that night to do it all by himself!

But good with lots of family. We visit them. My mom comes to see us. Her business goes under that same weekend.

Things start to look down at Bills job. At the end of October they tell him they are letting him go.  We are heartbroken.

Thanksgiving! I'm so happy to spend it in Seattle again. Then to Tri Cities for a second one. But I have a very difficult time feeling very thankful.

Bill keeps filing for unemployment and applying for jobs. Keeps following up with one promising interview.

My Dad comes to visit our house
(I have to say about having my parents visit... I love having a helper. Everyone should have an extra one when they have small children.)

We come to Tri cities to celebrate Christmas and ago Bill can help his mother who has had cancer for four years. Difficult. She is glad he is here though.

Tomorrow, new years game night party with my best friend! Possibly one of the best things about moving back across the country!

Sayanara 2012!

Chistmas Elf

This year, the few days before Christmas I was a busy little elf.

 

 I was trying to think of something to give my neices on a limited budget so I decided to make the reindeer hats from Repeat Crafter Me (since I already had most of the yarn).  But, I had also picked up some black yarn with the intent of using it to make kitty hats for Rochelles twins (and my daughter who was very insistant on the orange yarn, but wants a black cat...?).  But then i started thinking, I should make them two different hats!  I asked my SIL snowman or penguin.  I got an "either!" and somehow or another...ended up making both!  And...I'm still not done with the reindeer.  But it just needs the finishing peices, which is generally my least favorite part of doing a hat, which I can't explain, it just is.

 

 

While in the midst of two hats, my BIL (who my SIL and i were still trying to figure out a gift for) said something about wanting to crochet so he could make a scarf.  Ding ding ding!

 

 

 

My SILs husband almost kept this scarf for himself, so he now has a hat in this same color (Lion Brand Homespun Thick and Quick in Herb Garden.  Our new favorite color) So yeah for Christmas!  And a mildly developed talent that allows me to give nice gifts on a budget!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Happy Birthday my MIL!

Only 15 more days until Christmas!

Some beautiful white powder is brushing the ground outside.  And it's been there since yesterday! Something we didn't see in our four years in Georgia. It's beautiful.  But I am a cold wimp. 

We did bundle up and go make a snowman when we had lots of sticky snow.

 Giant orange marshmellow.  That's me

Other things going on around here.

Job hunt.

Knitting and crochet.  Maybe I'll try to sell something from my etsy profile :)

Lots of "computer time" (cold wimp)

Family visits!  Yay!  I need a live in parent.  As long as they do dishes, help fold laundry and occasionally cook. I will provide a bed.

Bah humbug to you Thanksgiving!

Is anyone else getting bombarded by 22 days of thankful on Facebook? Of course you are!

For the first time though, looking at 100 thankful posts a day just makes me want to throw up! It used to be fun to skim. This year though...

I'm sure it's mostly a matter of jealousy. And I don't want to hear about all of your great jobs, loving husbands, and perfect children alright?

I know in my mind that notwithstanding a few struggles we have had 9 years together of many blessings and prosperity. I know that. It's just a matter of staying....dare I say...thankful for those things in the face of a confusing future.

The other day I decided to get out my scripture journal again and make a new goal of study. Since I won't be buying myself a names of Christ journal from the red headed hostess this year I decided to just to the study in my homemade journal.

I started with the name Redeemer.  I may not have felt very thankful this month.  But at the end (or rather the middle, since I'm not done) of this study I have felt very thankful for Jesus Christ and His role as Redeemer.  He has redeemed me, bought me back, restored rights, recovered me from being separated from God and paid the price both for iniquity and hurt. 

 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be ^aforgiven thee.

 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

 7 Why doth this man thus speak ^ablasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

 10 But that ye may know that the ^aSon of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

 11 I say unto thee, ^aArise, and take up thy ^bbed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:5-11 KGV)

Christ takes care of our eternal soul, the  most important things.  Even so, He can care for the less important things too.

Mr. Monster

I love my little monster man! This age is one of the best. 

He loves dogs! He gets so excited when he sees our friends dog.  He stomps his feet as quick as he can and squeals. I love how he stomps his feet. He does it when I vacuum too, but he seems to be afraid of that!

Gave the tinkerbell DVD a big baby kiss.

Is a moms monster. He is very attached to mommy.

Will grab your hand and lead you exactly where he needs you. He's very good at taking you exactly where he would like.

He's started signing eat/drink by putting his hand to his mouth

It pours...

Funny, when I wrote my last post I really thought maybe that was the lowest we would get.  It felt amazing, by the way, to have my friends offer so much support here (and the link I posted on facebook).  I was reminded that being a mom is stinking hard some days.  Having other little people depend on you for everything, rely on you for their comfort, sustenance AND entertainment is exhausting.  Many of us have lived our lives up to motherhood with a considerable amount of personal space and time to ourselves.  It's just a huge and constant adjustment. 

Anyway, thank you.

Now let me tell you...the next two days were better.  My son got better - a.k.a. no fever.  The doctor I saw on Monday knew what was happening, and said a few days would take care of the rest. 

But if I thought my life was going to get much easier, I was very very wrong.

So, on Halloween, my husband was told he was losing his job.  I won't even elaborate much on what or why.  I could go on and on I'm sure.  I'm pretty ticked.  We moved back across the country.  We spent buckets of money selling our other house.  We felt like it was meant to be.  Although not without flaws, God paved the way for us to move closer to our family members.  We were able to sell our house.  It wasn't a short sale.  We planned on staying with this job for the rest of our lives.  Seriously.  We bought another house.

I asked for this didn't I?  Didn't I say I would make the sacrifice of a lower salary to move near to our family.  Now as I sit here, with nothing to speak of by way of savings (we just moved and sold/bought another house.  we are still recovering) and a job that ends in 3 more days, I can't help but wonder what I was thinking. 

What was I thinking??  And I can't help but pine after my life in the other state.  The one I had finally found a good school for my daughter and made some good friends.  I had finally made a place there... This is what I came back for?  I love my friends and family very much.  But today I feel like I would rather live in the other state with a good JOB.  We could live super simple and fly back here like 4 times a year couldn't we?

So, I think it may be awhile before I under-estimate the value of finances in my decision making.  Although, truth be told, we thought we would be secure enough.  We were wrong, but there it is. 

Day from a firey place

"Don't let a bad day trick you into thinking you have a bad life."

I'm horrible at this.  Today was a pretty good example.  Last night at about 9pm we took my daughter to a friends house so we could take our son (105.5 degree fever) to the ER.  It was a short visit all in all, we were home by midnight with a lower fever and not much to do about it. Little monster finally went to bed at 2am in our bed.  Mark this because it seems to be the beginning of the last 24hours - "I will not sleep unless you are near me."  He slept fitfully but woke up fever free.  Our daughter came home in the a.m.  was happy for about 10 minutes until she started having a meltdown.  About not wanting to watch Tinkerbell.  So I took her temperature (slightly up) and then made her go to bed.

Since about the middle of the day, our little guy has been screaming his head off.  I walk away from him, he cries.  He tries to walk somewhere and falls down, he cries.  He doesn't like where he is, he cries.  Daddy left, he cries.  Daddy came back and is holding me, but Mommy isn't holding me, he cries.  But poor guy has a cough and diarrhea/raw bottom so I know everything just feels wrong.

  At about 7:30p.m.  I left the house.  So while I was driving around, I was pretty pessimistic..  Life since we moved into our house has stunk (dumbing down the language for ya)...  I hate motherhood...  Whose bright idea was it to stay home with kids anyway?...  I hate church.  I hate working Weight Watchers here. (A few choice thoughts about my husbands new-er place of employment) This move was a horrible idea.

I'm not an optimistic person.  there I said it.  That is, I am not a naturally optimistic person.  I hated everything about this day.  I wanted to lock my children in their rooms and walk out the door.  Today, I needed the above saying.  Because it was horrible.  And I know, it's been a long few days and I have a sick little boy.  But I've had it with sick (someone in this house has been sick for 8 of 9 weeks) and frankly, I've had it with crying.

I'm trying not to think the absolutist statements above.  Because we don't have a bad life.  It has been a hard season.  And I don't know where this end of it is going to leave us.  But that is okay.  As long as I don't chuck all hope into a black pit.

"Don't let a bad day/week/season, trick you into thinking you have a bad life."

I am trying.

Mom bloggers

Recently, I've been missing my blog.  Remember those days when I had one child who napped four hours a day? and I whittled away my time blogging along with cleaning.  well those days are long past me.  the four hours of naps and everything I did during them! cleaning? scripture study? clean room of the day? laundry? ha!

My now two children commandeer my time.  Neither of them naps very well.  I've limited my screen time to once morning and evening.  And wait, what have I been doing? Reading mom blogs and looking at pinterest? sheesh. I've missed the opportunity to document my sons first year!

Well here we go again. Instead of reading about others, I'm getting back to us.  Attempt 50 at returning to my blog!

I guess it wasn't totally a wash

 Today was a difficult day.  My baby cried at me for most of the day.  I must have heard "I'm thirsty!" 100 times.  I had a zillion phone calls to make and things to do.  My kids lost my Stargate Atlantis Season 5 disc 1 disc.  I am not happy.  I did have some things to be thankful for though.

Our house across the country closed today! We are officially homeless!

My daughter cracked me up.  I was turning the car on the way to meet Daddy at the park and she said,  "That was a nice left turn mom.  Now we go down the hill. Weeeee!"

My son says words like "Look!" --> "Wook!" and "Ball" --->  Ba..Ba..Ba..Ba (ball, ball, ball, ball) and I think I heard "Out" today.  I also discovered why he keeps trying to dive out the other side of his car seat every time I put him in the car.  He's been trying to get Daddy's big piece of ratan!  Of course!  Like Daddy he loves to carry around a big stick!  Why didn't I notice that before??

August Word of the Month: Patience

So, at the beginning of the year I asked my facebook friends what word they would choose to focus on for the year.  There were so many good words that I decided I was going to pick 12 and have a word of the month.  In hindsight, I think next year I will go with one word of the year.  It's hard to really study and focus in and think about what you are trying to BE in only a month. 

That said, it's amazing how drawing 12 words out of a hat and writing them in my planner has often fit with my life all year.  In case you didn't think God was in the details!

Last month was Valient and honestly, I felt good.  I finished up my Book of Mormon study, things were getting ready to close on the house we were trying to sell, I was feeling pretty good!

The end of the month sort of set me up for August.  House didn't close on time.  Had a mad dash to find car titles and get our cars registered in our new state. Our old state is still sending me notices about our car registration. ( I am hoping in the next week to have most of this sorted.) In fact, we're still waiting for the house to close.  Today I found out it will probably be delayed for the 3rd time.  So we have to delay closing on a new home here.  I had to get a new lawn care guy, because the kid I paid to do our lawn flaked.   I had to buy new tires.  I found out I need new brakes and shocks - probably in the next month. My husbands computer needs a new fan. 

So Patience is coming into play.  All I can think of is Psalms 46:10, Be still and know that I am God
This is what comes into my mind when I want to rip out my hair and scream.  All I have to do is my best and trust Him and all these things will work together for good.

Hiatus

Hello friends!  I know I keep taking a hiatus.  The truth is I think of lots of things to blog about during the week but forget about them by evening, or run out of time, or frankly, spend time on something else! 
Last month I finished a 40 day book of Mormon reading challenge.  I finished it on time but it took some focus!   Recently I was keeping a weight watchers blog, but that too has somewhat fallen by the wayside.  This months word is patience.  I find I need it!  As I sit around waiting for our houses to close,  I still feel like life is on hold.  I also need increased patience with this stay at home parent venture.
What are you up to these days?

Year 10 here we go...

We just celebrated our 9th wedding anniverary.  It seems really strange.  I mean - our anniversary was great!  We just went to Avengers and Red Robin - without children! 

But I'm kind of freaking out.  9 years.  I'll be 30 soon.  All of a sudden, I think about our parents in their mid to late 50's and I think...that's not very old!  60 is NOT OLD PEOPLE!  Well...maybe a little old. 

I've thought 30 is no big deal for the longest time.  But here I am bugging out about it.  I was driving by myself a few months ago and I had a freak out moment.  My youth!  Oh my goodness I'm never going to be in my 20's again!  Then I remember all the people that have said 30's are great.  And I'll try to let it go.  But apparently I freak out a little on the days leading up to milestone birthdays!.

So, happy anniversary honey!

Nostalgia

I've been here at the grandparents for over 60 days. We've settled into something of a groove, and notwithstanding the fact I miss my own bed, things are going very well here.

The part that is fun for me is watching my daughter, and occasionally one of her buddies, run around doing things I have stored away in my memory box from childhood.

Running circles through the living room and hallway, running back and forth through the sheets on the line, playing in front of the mirror in the hallway, picking rhubarb out of the backyard, "helping" grandpa with the garden, walking to the nearby park, etc.

There are some things she has yet to do. I remember going under the branches of the big pine out front to the trunk and then climbing as high as I dared. We have yet to clean off the ping pong table downstairs ( when did that mess happen? ) Sitting at the piano playing nonsense songs for hours. Also, going out on the canoe would help complete the experience.

My kiddo is making her own memories. She plays pool ( sort of ) and bocce ball and plays in the big cardboard house that grandpa made. She plays in the tire swing and the the "bear cave" behind the couch.

Today we're going to go jump on the mini trampoline. And maybe later, we'll help grandma make cookies.

Hey!

My poor neglected personal blog.

It has been a busy couple of months for us.  We  moved across the country, my husband started a new job.  We moved in with my grandparents.  Monkey went to another preschool.  We got involved with Mothers Day, raised money for a St. Jude Trike a Thon, visited family in the Tri-Cities.  Got an offer on our house in the south, dealt with all the hoopla that comes with getting an offer on the house. We bought our first house as a foreclosure so I wasn't used to all the back and forth that can happen on an offer.  I got a new calling in our brand new - although temporary- ward of relief society teacher.  We started house hunting in the area.  Keep the prayers coming on our house.  We are hoping it will close so we can move into another one!

Our children are growing like little weeds.   Monster has two bottom teeth, with two top ones poking through.  He can army crawl around  like a champ and even occasionally gets up and crawls on his knees.  It was fun to watch him get on his hands and kness and rock back and forth for a while.  He goes from tummy to sitting wtih no problem.  He keeps trying to pull up to his feet.  We are completely doomed!  He had a little weight hiccup for several months.  But he gained 1.4 pounds between 7.5-8.5 months.  We were all happy with that, then he put on almost 2 pounds in 2 weeks!  Woo hoo!

Monkey is a big girl.  I'm really happy with that way she uses words and her imagination for play.  Her current favorite book is Dazzle the Dinosaur followed by In a People House and occasionally My Birthday, Jesus' Birthday.  Her favorite friend is Brynwyn and her cousin Lyla.  She loves being 4 and likes to do everything in fours.

I can't believe June will be over tomorrow.  My word of the month was Attitude... I didn't think about it much.  :)

Thank You

Facebook is great on days like today for gathering gratitude from all of your friends and remembering the ultimate sacrifice. I like this picture because it's a reminder that it's okay to have a nice weekend, but that we should always remember those who have given up their weekends so we could have them.
I dedicate this quick tribute to all the other wives that know what it's like to ask your 27 year old spouse where they would want to be buried, or lived with fears hidden in the back of your mind, wondering if two Marines are one morning going to be on your doorstep. But especially to those who have had live through these realities and the loved ones they lost, thank you.

May: Organize

I had no idea how Organize was going to fit into my month of May.  I'd just packed most of my belongings into a truck (okay, most of my belongings were packed for me - which was AWESOME - it's too bad they won't be delivering and unpacking) and moved myself back across the country.  So in early April I thought...what on earth will I have to Organize!?  Not to long after I arrived at my grandparents I figured it out..

I need to organize ME!

I need to organize my thoughts, my papers, my children and especially MY TIME!

I still have important papers and a family to organize.  A house for sale. Preschool, doctor appointments, work changes.   How to keep up with my daily stuff and help my grandparents with the house!   It's been evolving over time, and I haven't figured out the best system yet in my finite space.  But yes, May has needed to be Organized.

As a side note:  I haven't written about my 'word of the month' nearly as much as I intended to.  I intended to ready and study and leave quotes and experiences.  All I can really say is this.  Each month I've come into the word.  I've had expectations, and existing thoughts about what the word would be all about.  And each month I have come to realize that the word can be about something completely different.  It's amazing.  And probably inspired!

Pictures in words

Today was one of those days that I wished I had a camera imbedded in my eyes. Not for the gigantic fits my daughter threw when she found out she couldn't have the window seat, or the couple that got up and changed seats so they wouldn't be behind us. Those need a delete button.
But running around with her in my grandparents backyard, with real grass, trying to teach her to do a cartwheel for the first time. Laying down on a blanket in the grass with my little boy, great grandpa lying in the grass next to us. Little man smiling his big smile at everyone.
They were perfect , beautiful moments of life thrown into a very messy day. Pictures in my mind I don't want to forget.

Artsy project

I'm busy trying to move, but here is how Monsters nursery letters turned out.  They were supposed to be on foam squares.  But then I needed to stretch the fabric.  So I went to Michaels (and Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabric, but Michaels was the only one that had these) to get stretcher bars (and quilters tacks).  They only had 2 on clearance.  I needed 16.  Did I mention they are on clearance?  So in the end, I had to use cheap embroidery hoops.

I fully intended to hang them on the wall, just to enjoy them for a few days.  But it seemed silly to put 4 new holes in my wall for three days.  So I put them on the desk like this.

And now they are packed along with most of the rest of my stuff.  But I have proof of their existence.

Night all!

That kind of day

Today:

1. We had a great morning!
2. Liam barely napped
3. I realized I only have two weeks left here
4. Miriam had a meltdown in Target
5. We played in a fake tent
6. I love my gym!  I'm really going to miss it!
7. I had an, oh my goodness I'm going to be 30, what has happened to my youth!, moment
8. And here I am
9. Perfectly content to sit down and watch Stargate Atlantis. 
10. So I guess it's okay that my youth is gone.

April: Gratitude

I think this would have been a very good fit for November, right??  But looking at how things are going it is in the right place.

Back in July, before my husband came home from a deployment, he was told there was a job opening in a lab back "home."  He contacted the lab that day, but was told within a few days that they had closed the job listing and were looking at several applicants.  But the man at the lab promised to let him know if they opened the job back up.

I prayed about it at the time (before we knew the job was closed).  We had hoped to stay here a little longer, maybe have another deployment, maybe knock out some student loan debt.  But everyone has issues with a deployment.  Hubby has issues, I have issues, kids have issues...and we were pregnant with #2!  Not to mention we have some aging and sick family members that we don't see very often.   So, back in July, I told God that I was willing to give up the financial benefit we would have from staying here, not to deal with these problems any more.  But that He was going to have to make it happen.

And that was that.

Those of you that know us, know what has happened since.  The job opened again in September, to our surprise.  We interviewed in October, we were offered the job before Christmas.  A few other bumps and bruises, and we are in fact moving back across the country.

And I should be thankful.

After all, we were given what we asked for, right?

"Are you excited to move home?"  I'm getting asked this a lot.

The thing is this.  Dealing with a horrible housing market, and talking to realtors who think we'll sell for 5K less then we paid for this house at the most - say: short sale - this is only some of the stress I feel about finances because of this move.

This is my situation.  We got what we asked for.  But I don't think I had any clue what I was really asking for.

Which is why I think it is a good thing April's word focus is Gratitude.

Siblings

In the last couple weeks/ few days Liam is making little leaps and bounds. It's funny the things you notice all of a sudden. 

The other night Miriam and I were playing, running around the living room and up and down the hallway.  He used to just watch us (he's quite the watcher) happily.  But he started to get a bit fussy.  I picked him up and faced him toward the world and kept playing with Miriam.  And he was SO happy.  He laughed and waved his arms and had a wonderful time "playing" with his big sister.   I have a feeling that as soon as he can crawl, he is going to follow her EVERYWHERE.  I wonder how she's going to take that!

Tonight, I was feeding Liam in our rocking chair in his room and she came in to say goodnight.  She brought him a blanket, and put his sheep pillow in his bed for him  (I moved it before he went in there, but it was so cute).  She was so sweet taking care of her "baby"  She usually insists on giving him a kiss on the head too. 

They are so incredibly cute!

March: Balance

Since today is the last day of March, I thought I should post something about my monthly word :)
Well...I thought a few times about how my word was balance...but I didn't do a whole lot of study or thinking about it.  I was mildly consumed thinking about our move.  Consumed...isn't this the opposite of balance?
You would think so I guess, but all sorts of things were going on in March.

I was still simplifying (or: taking 12 boxes to goodwill) and I finally got some help with my kids so I could clean up the house in a big way.  This was great for me and for the last 3 weeks I've had a really clean kitchen and kept up with the dishes in the sink.  Unfortunately, today they are piled back up.  I don't think we are going to list our house for sale until after we actually leave it, so this has become less critical.  But I really enjoyed the spring cleaning being finished, because I spent less time overall cleaning every evening and therefore felt more, that's right, balanced

I cut back on work, actually fed the missionaries one night, and went to an SCA meeting.  I had a sewing afternoon.

When I was working on Simplify (and reading Organized Simplicity) she talks about making a list.  One is all of the things you'd like to be doing.  Read a book, play with your kids, write a letter, whatever they are.  Then she said to make a list of all of the things you actually do every day.  Work on it until you are sick of it.  EVERYTHING.  Get up, eat breakfast, change a diaper, feed others, take a shower, dress everyone and on and on.  Then she talks about cutting back on things that are unnecessary.  Obviously you are not going to NOT change diapers, but maybe, in making your list, you realized that you watch 2 hours of television a day.  And television is not on your 'I wish I was doing this list'  So you can decide to cut it out, or a least, cut it back.  Maybe watch a favorite show.

This is probably my long term goal for being Balanced and being Simplified. To fit in a few more things that I enjoy.   But, tomorrow is April which starts the month of:  Gratitude. 

Sneak Peak

The reason this blog is called 'Mollys' Misadventures is because long ago my husband and I decided I have a 'twin'.  She is the one who says what she is actually thinking.

So here you go

On Peach State Moms Blog, I've made Felt Puppets (all patterned and stitched by hand by the way) and Photo Blocks and have never gotten so much as a 'hey howdy hey'

My partner sews some ribbon to a clip and gets a 'Nice you crafty girl'  Yeah, Molly doesn't handle stuff like that very well. (PS I love you my partner.  Our readers...ok I guess I like them too. After all one of them could be READING THIS right now.  Gotta reign Molly in somewhere.)

So because I was undecided where my most recent awesome-ness would get the most attention ( apparently Molly needs words of affirmation), I'm back giving you some crafty love.  

Here is your sneak peak.  Amazing what you can do with some basic sewing know how (HA! Did I just say sewing and know-how in the same sentence?) and tinkering around

This is less of a sneak peak then a HEY! Look at this!

There is my little dude!

I'll be back with the finished project...hopefully soon.

In the meantime, if you'd like to hear more from Molly, I'm pretty sure she is stewing about some house/housing market related stuff right now.  Let me know, I'll turn her loose!

A Joyful Remembrance

In the last couple of months I've had the opportunity to share with you some little details about my great-grandfather and my grandfather on their birthdays. 

This time I am writing to share with you a little bit about the life of my great grandmother, who passed away at 96 this last weekend.  She is my last great grandparent to leave the earth, I was very blessed to have her in my life for so long.  She was one of the great grandmothers that I was closer to.

I've mentioned her before in this post.  And I think it really sums things up (from a great-grandchild perspective).  She was very pleasant and kind, but also very realistic and straightforward.  She and my great grandfather were married fairly young, they had five children, one of which they lost when he was very young (5, I believe).  They spent their young adulthood taking care of their family.  I think my great grandpa worked a job during the day and the theater at night. 

I know my great grandma loved great grandpa very much.  We were talking once about a man that had died young (50's) and she said to me, "I know I felt robbed when your grandpa died (of prostate cancer, about a month after I was born) in his 70's!"  My grandmother says her mom always felt like great grandpa was a gift from God to her.  It makes me think she must be very happy to be with him now!

I went to her home in North Dakota as a girl, but I don't remember much about it except that it took so long to drive across Montana.  I do remember her coming to visit my grandparents once a year until about 9 years ago.  In fact, her last visit to the pacific northwest was the year Bill and I got married.  She was visiting when we announced our engagement I believe.  I think she was very happy about that.  I remember having good chats with her during these visits.  She and my grandmother taught me to knit when I was a young girl.  I could get out some needles and do a knit stitch quite easily at 21, even though I hadn't done it since....well, since they had taught me probably. (Interestingly, I started knitting again in 2010 and am finally starting to get somewhere with it. All those things I could have learned so much earlier!)  I believe she also taught me to embroider, and gave me a pillow case set to do.  I finished them but honestly don't know where they went!

 For our wedding she sent a set of dishtowels she had embroidered herself.  I love them!  I've had a hard time over the last 8 years using them - although I'm sure she would want me to! But I want them to last FOREVER.

About 18 months ago, I took my daughter (then almost 3) on a train ride to North Dakota and met up with my grandparents and a couple of Uncles for great grandmothers 95th birthday.  My great aunt Edie fed us (and fed and fed us. Yum.) and sheltered us for the week.  We all got together on her birthday for cake.  Luckily she shared a balloon with Miriam.

I'll admit I was really rooting for one more train trip and one more birthday party, but it's okay.  I'm glad I took the time when I did, and I'm glad for the many ways she blessed our lives.

Liam: 5 months

A couple of weeks late!

Around 5 months our baby boy:

• Started grasping things with his hands
• Started switching from hand to hand
• Started trying to "feed" himself a.k.a. grab his spoon.  (Miriam did this from the first time I fed her cereal.  I thought Liam was so cute because for almost the last month he would just sit and let me spoon cereal into his mouth.  It was like, "Yum mommy, keep it coming."  But now he tries to hold his spoon)
• Can roll from tummy to back and occasionally side to tummy but doesn't care to do it much
• Holds a rattle in his right hand and waves his arm up and down.  It's funny.  Only with his right hand. Gotta watch out the rattle isn't too big and bulky, he wacks himself in the head.

Those are the big ones.  He's really getting better control over his arms.  He still falls right over if you try to get him to sit on his own.  Doesn't scoot much at all.  I think Miriam scooted all over, but Liam seems pretty content just to hang out.  That is to say, he wants you to hang out with him, not that he's content by himself.  The car is getting better, and he loves to talk to the baby in the mirror in the car.

Likes to pet kitty/attempt to grab fistfuls of fur.  Our cat likes this, purrs and comes back for more.  I don't get it.  He's just not that smart.  But very patient.

Simplicity ongoing

 "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."  Hans Hofmann

I found the above quote in my book I mentioned before - Organized Simplicity.  I'm enjoying the book, but I've gotten into the part that is actually cleaning and decluttering your house in a drastic sort of way.  And I don't feel like I can do it - with two very young children in tow - and a regular life to lead.  So I'm trying to do a section at a time.  And mostly, I'm trying to stop beating myself up about the dishes and laundry.  I have to clothe and feed them.  And every day they will make dirty dishes and clothing. 

Anyway, the one declutter project I did finish was my digital declutter.  And I can say - things I am interested in speak more often when the things I am not are gone.  It will be an on-going process to keep it decluttered.  But I like it!

"The average woman today, I believe, would do well to appraise her interests, evaluate the activities in which she is engages, and then take steps to simplify her life, putting things of first importance first, placing emphasis where the rewards will be greatest and most enduring, and ridding herself of the less rewarding activites." Belle S Spafford (Daughters in My Kingdom)

This is the next piece I suppose.  I don't want to be involved in a lot of things I don't care about or really have time for or that are not important.  A few years ago I "quit" scrapbooking.   I started cleaning out my scrapbook supplies and giving away extra papers.  I finished our wedding scrapbook and my husbands Marine scrapbook.  The only scrapbook I still work on is one that holds our childrens portraits.  So when I get a new portrait, I put it in the frame and move the old one to the scrapbook.  This works great for me and keeps the cost of scrapbooking (both in money and space) to a minimum.  I put all other pictures in a regular album and that works for me.  I'm not saying you should give up scrapbooking if that is your creative outlet.  I'm just saying hobbies don't have to be huge and consuming to be satisfying.

I am still working on evaluating my activities.  Another on-going project.


"Let us simplify our lives a little.  Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship  - the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace."  Dieter F Uchtdorf (Of Things That Matter Most,  Ensign Nov 2010)

The reason I looked forward to Simplify so much is I'd gotten tired of feeling the choas in myself.  With little children things get a little messy - and that's ok!  It was the choas in myself that becomes hard to bear.  As much as I don't like it I know that outer order contributes to inner calm.  I know it doesn't have to be (nor will it ever be!) perfect order.  But I know it helps ME.  I hope that as I continue to evaluate my activities, my possessions, and my spaces I will be able to make room for things that are important to me and my family.  I want us to be able to be involved in things that are important to us and to be available to others!

I learned that Simplify could have been my word for the year.  I'm not finished with it.  So I hope to let it go hand in hand with the word for March:  BALANCE

Star Wars episode 1 party

So Star Wars episode 1 was released in 3D a couple weekends ago.  We did not actually go to the movie (our experience with 3D movies so far = not worth it!) but we did go meet up with the 501st Legion who were dressed up and putting on events at a local theatre.  Miriam was obsessed with Darth Maul - otherwise known as "Spikey" and looked for him everywhere.  Still, I thought she was going to run for it, rather than take this picture.

 Um what, you want me to stand with these people?

 They had face painting and Miriam wanted a droid.  a.k.a. blue guy on her face

Bill wanted this picture so he could say a Jawa tried to run off with his Droid.  :)

And here is our little Jedi fighting the evil forces.  It was a lot of fun!  They had pod racing on Kinect for people could try and a giant Lego puzzle of the movie poster for people to help put together. 

What I'm doing here

Last night I found myself thinking, "What was the original purpose of this blog?"

Well, it was to keep me occupied during bed rest.
It was to journal my experience in pregnancy and beyond
It was to journal period. Somewhere I could be myself (but if I were to be honest I still check myself fairly heavily at times).
Later, it was to keep up with family members on the other side of the country
It was somewhere to have a creative outlet for an art that I've never been good enough to be paid for.

Did you know that when I was a child I wanted to be an author?

I'm not sure when this disappeared, but I suspect it was sometime around middle school when I got obsessed with friends and boys and being cool.  Or something like that.

This last 8 months (2 years maybe) I've been on again off again.  Distracted with life and launching Peach State Moms Blog.  In a couple of weeks though this will be my only blog again!  I've been thinking about what I want it to be.

I really don't want to be swallowed up in social media and I don't want to be 'distracted' from my life.  Does it matter how many people are reading THIS blog?  Most of you are friends and family anyway.  And that's perfect.

So I find that my original purposes for this blog still work today.

Here is to rededicating my purpose!  

A Quick Message From Your Author

Right now, Simplify in my home looks like a gigantic mess.  Maybe not gigantic.  Because "simplify" happens to co-inside with "getting ready to move"  things look even crazier than normal as I am trying to purge stuff, live regular life, still adjust to two children, etc.  It looks like we may not have to pack ourselves up, but I am still packing stuff as I try to determine what is going to stay and what will go.  I'm already set up with several donation boxes. 
But soon I hope to have some thoughts about this months word, and the progress we've made.  I now return you to your regularly scheduled reading.

Febuary Focus: Simplicity

Simplify!

This is one of the words I was looking forward to! I couldn't wait to get here because I felt like I needed it so badly!  I haven't felt able to keep up with the things I have to do daily (dishes, laundry) let alone do anything else!  So I've been feeling the need to simplify what is around me.

At the beginning of the month I started reading a book called Organized Simplicity (see also www.simplemom.net).  I'm enjoying it!  We've had talks about our family purpose.  I'm thinking about my own personal top 10 priorities.  When I have priorities and purpose, I don't need to do things that don't fit!

More thoughts are coming about Simplicity this month but for now, I'll just say - I've started unsubscribing from email newsletters and removing lots of pages from my facebook likes.  It feels good to work on the digital clutter!

I'm still behind on dishes and laundry (let alone thinking about the big move - sheesh) but I'm trying to remind myself that step by step I can journey to a simpler existence (I'm one of those people that wants to BE THERE ALREADY). And if I don't make it by April the movers are going to pack up all my stuff and haul it across the country anyway.

Switching Gears

I like this word of the month business.  That said, I've been ready to move onto February's word for a week already.

I enjoyed those little moments that I had to stop and tell myself  "Be here.  Be here right now.  Put away the iPod, the computer, put away your other thoughts and just play!"

Still, I think it comes with the territory of mommy-hood that you are thinking of several things at once.  Those moments may not have lasted as long as I intended them to.  But what can I say?  I have about 100 million things to do.  And my family was a priority most of the time. Still, my mental health has to be a priority too!

I felt good about the things I learned this month, my changing definition of the word present and how it applied to my life.  And I noticed things.  I noticed that my little guy was watching my mouth move when I talk.  I got to enjoy his laughs whenever he sees his big sister (he LOVES her).  I heard as my daughter finally started to voice the things she is thinking.  I sat on the couch and got to visit with my husband when he got home from work.  We probably didn't do it nearly enough, but on the days we did I thought it helped us catch up.

Now I'm DONE with being present.  Alright, not forever.  But I am SO ready to move on!  Any guesses for February's word of the month?

Being Real

I ran into an article on the Huffington Post the other day, that completely (or often) describes my thoughts about parenthood in the trenches. 

People that are constantly saying on their blogs -  "I love being a parent! My kids are so great!" Without ever saying "Dude, this is really hard."  occasionally annoy me. 

Maybe this is just because I want to know there are people out there that struggle being optimistic like me.  Anyway...

I've got nothing against being nice, being positive and I'm always trying to be MORE optimistic, more happy.  But I also feel a good deal of relief being REAL sometimes.

This article made me look at my January word of being Present and laugh a little bit.  And I realized I might have being viewing this word as an attempt to "Hey!  Enjoy every moment Maggie!  Remember how all the old ladies tell you to enjoy every moment??" But after reading this article, I realized that if I can enjoy the moment and be present just once or twice a day (In the article she talks about Kairos moments.  Those.) that I am doing just fine. 

This article called Don't Carpe Diem is seriously worth the read.  I hope you'll follow the link.

I do think I am going to write myself a letter (to be opened in 10 years.  Then I'll re-do it for 20 years) because I sometimes think of small snipets I want myself to remember.  I want myself to remember what it was REALLY like having small children at home.  I want people with small children to be able to visit my house and not worry about breakable junk on my bookshelf.  I'll save a small box of toys.  Things like that.

What would you want to remember after your kids get older?  So that we arn't those crazy people saying "aww.  Are you enjoying EVERY moment?"

Being Present

Well, I've found out very quickly that I am not very good at this particular focus.  Turns out, I possibly could focus on being present ALL YEAR long.  Perhaps I will continue to focus on this. 

My mind is often all over the place.  Particularly right now when I am waiting for some specific things to happen so I can "move forward"  

Two times this week I was playing with my daughter during her room time and I specifically had to tell myself to focus on what we were doing, to just play and enjoy.  I was happy I did it.  It's not easy for me.  My mind might wander, especially when we repeat play.  But I tried and felt much more fulfilled for doing it that way.

I've also totally messed it up.  Today we were taking a walk and she wanted to go into one cul-de-sac and I did not.   Honestly, I was frustrated most of the walk because I was having to push her bike (while she walked).  The worst part was I knew that I was missing out of the simple pleasure of walking on a nice day.  I don't know why it's hard to push that stuff aside sometimes!

I'd been a little disappointed I have been unable to find many quotes that go along with being present.  Not that I've had much time to look!  Tonight I was reading Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdoft I happened upon something that fit.  (There are many good thoughts in this talk, this is just one of them)

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.  They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives.  These are they who are truly happy."

Word of the Month: Present

 So I asked my friends on facebook what word they would choose if they were choosing a word to focus on this year - instead of making a resolution.  It was fun to hear what people thought.  But I actually asked this question because I didn't think I could come up with just one word for the year, so I came up with a word of the month.   I picked twelve words, drew them out of a hat and wrote them in my planner for January, February and so on.  Of course, I can't find my planner at the moment (maybe this months word should have been organize, but what can I do, it was random) but I know that my word for the month is:  Present

In the future I hope to have a little bit more information for you about the word of the month, some good quotes and stuff.  Life is a little hectic right now so today I'll just tell you why I chose this word.

Present - as in aware, living in the moment, appreciating what is happening in your life right now, feeling your emotions, instead of running through your day.

I choose this word to focus on this month to remind myself to enjoy what is happening right now, and more particularly the people in my life and what is happening with them NOW.  Honestly, three days in, I can't say I am getting very far, though I am trying to PAY ATTENTION and not do several things at once.  This means a lot of staying off my ipod so I'm not surfing the web and playing a game with my daughter.  

Any good thoughts about being Present?