thankful

I always say I'm going to keep this short, but it never seems to work.

So November is the month when every actually remembers that they are supposed to be thankful.  It's no secret that we live in a culture of greed and selfishness.  I know I'm not perfect and I complain more than I should, but I honestly do try to focus on the good things.  And to be truly thankful for them.  And trying desperately to raise my kids that way, too.

I annoys me so much that people turn beautiful things- and things they thought they wanted so badly- into things that they cant ever stop complaining about.  ie. If you wanted to be a stay at home mom and wanted to have lots of babies, then why is so hard to not post 12 separate FB status updates about how much you hate everything about your life?  Stop.   God gave you healthy adorable kids.  Sleeping or not, teething and screaming their heads off or not, this is what you ASKED for.  At least consider being thankful for it.

ok. Back to the point.  And I think about this a lot.  Being thankful for the little things.  Not just the "oh I'm so thankful that my husband has a job"  (which I REALLY am!) but the simple "Thank you, God, for Larry the squirrel that lives in our yard that we get to see (and chase) everyday."

oh- AND- when people are being thankful, are they thanking the One who gave it to them?  or are they just saying "well I like this"... I'm pretty sure most people, even Christians, fall into that second one.

So we discovered that using our old dryer full time (using it to dry every load all the way) (minus Jesse's t-shirts and jeans) was costing us about $200 a month. YIKES. so I stopped using it so much.  I started hanging as much as I could inside while it was still cold and then just using it for littler things and towels, etc.  Once it got warm out, I started hanging EVERYTHING on the line outside.  I got a lot of laundry done this summer!  And I dont think I complained about it at all.  Sure it takes more time to hang things on the line than just throw them in the dryer and turn it on.  But I love being outside.  My kids love being outside.  And they had to come out everytime I did it- and then we would stay out to play for a while, too.  The sun bleaches stains off clothes- and diapers.  they smell soooo good when they are dried outside.  Plus, it saves a ton of money! 

Now that it's getting colder and we had a while of so much rain, we had to get creative. Jesse got me some clothes racks and we put them in the room with the woodstove.  We dont really use that room so they arent in anyone's way.  We have a normal drying rack for little things and we are good to go.  As of this Tuesday, I am 'allowed' to use the dryer for little bits at a time (I might have cheated and tallied up about an hour over a few weeks).  Since there is no wind inside, things are just not as soft.  And I do laundry every single day- except most Sundays- and sometimes more than one load.  So if things are *quite* dried all the way by the time I need to hang another one, I can throw them in the dryer.  10 minutes is the max I'm hoping to use per load.  Because even if I'm using it for an hour a week, that's still less than it would take to get one load straight from the washer dry. 

Back to the original point. again.

I am thankful that God gave us a home where we have room for a clothes line.  And a sun to dry them.  I am thankful for a husband who is willing to help me find ways to save money on things most people dont think about.   And our wood burning stove that helps suck the moisture out of clothes faster.  And I am thankful that we have a dryer that works, even as old as it is, so I can fluff our socks and towels when they are mostly dry.

We have struggles every day, but God has blessed us with an amazing life.  We have family all around us that love us and support us.  Even if they think we're (/I'm) crazy sometimes.  I love making plans for the future for our whole family and absolutely cannot wait for things to actually be able to happen.

God has placed some amazing people in the leadership of our church.  They seem to be more aware of what is really going on than other churches and are actually doing something about it.  They really strive for what God wants in a church instead of just what it has become.  And for this I am so thankful.

In the community group that I go to on Sunday nights, we are focused on Parenting.  I am thankful that we all feel comfortable enough to be able to share our struggles with parenting and with life with one another.  There is no fear of being judged and we all know that we are being prayed for regularly.  It's like a really awesome support group.  And we can laugh together.  There are serious times, but there are times when we are all just cracking up, too.  I love it!  I am thankful for this group that I am in.  And for each person who is there each week.  And for the meals we have together once a month. 

Sometimes when I think about these things I actually get the sense of being overwhelmed with joy.  I certainly dont deserve any of it.  But God still like to drop little blessings onto us all the time. He's so nice.

ok.  Time change this weekend messes everyone up.  I got a nap today, but not much sleep last night, so I'm still tired and getting a headache for the first time at night in a long time.  Hopefully I will try to remember to post more about the things that I am truly feeling thankful for.  Right now I need to be thankful for my dishwasher and shower and then my bed.  And flannel sheets! 

Some quick thoughts before I start the day for real

I have been able to keep up with the kitchen and I'm super proud of myself.

The kids' rooms are mostly clean (except dressers) and I know it's not going to stay that way for long, but it's nice while it lasts. 

I cleaned off my dresser.  Which is also a big deal. And it's been a few days and it's STILL clean. Will it last? I really hope so!

The kids' bathroom sink was leaking in a way that we couldnt tell from the way normal people would tell.  We just knew that when there was a big storm it started leaking into the hall downstairs.  Only after the hurricane was done and everything else was drying up, this spot was still leaking.  It looks TERRIBLE.  Thankfully my dad figured it out and now the hot water is cut off from there (and the bathroom downstairs and the washing machine).  Thank goodness for lots of bathrooms so we can still take hot showers until we have money to fix this!

Speaking of money.  We have none again. NONE.  Jesse got his car fixed and now I have to talk him into letting me buy enough to pack Alex lunch for the first 3 days of school until his next check clears. Boo for being poor.  Yay for a garden that keeps on giving.  It's saving us tons of money!

Actually most of my garden is done.  But we still have lots of tomatoes coming in and green peppers (they are SLOW growing, did you know?) and green beans.  Turns out- hurricane rain is great for green beans! hahaha We've gotten tons this week!  There are a few pumpkins that I dont know what to do with and some carrots that are not that great.  I mean- they look good.  But they dont taste good.  So I think we wont do carrots next year. We didnt get any corn because of the stupid stinkbugs that ate them all.  That makes me sad.  We'll still try again next year with those though!  So I have been freezing a lot and I made a batch of yummy salsa to freeze and eat. Yum yum.  So excited to make more with the next big picking of tomatoes!

Next year I'm going to can for real.

For real.

I'm taking Alex on a date today to get him some things for school.  He doesnt need- or even want- many clothes, so we're going to get probably just something new for the first day.  And if we have any money left over (because I only have a little bit to take with us!)  we'll see if we can get him a backpack.  But first- lunch.  Because what's a date without eating out?  I'll be thanking my Mary Kay customers for today since that's where this money is coming from. :)
Oh- I'm hoping by the time Christmas comes around he will actually be needing new clothes- because right now all his size 5 stuff still fits.  So if you want to get him some 6 that would be great. 

Danica, on the other hand, is actually needing to move up to the next size.  There was once a day- or really like the first 3 years- that I never thought that her age and size would match up.  We've been collecting bigger clothes for her since the beginning, and would always joke about how what we already had would last her til she was 8.  But next week while Alex is at school we're switching everything over to 4T.  It's going to be an exciting day.  And she has LOTS of cute stuff, so it's going to be fun!  (thanks Grandma for getting most of it!)  Having lots of cute stuff makes the switching of wardrobes a lot less of a chore.  But it's still not my favorite. 

Well.  My coffee is about gone so I should probably get moving on the day.  Gotta get the dishes done and the laundry out on the line before my fabulous cousins come to watch the littles while Alex and I are out.  Yay yay :)

What if I actually typed out what I blog in my head?

I've been thinking a lot about a lot of things.

I had a whole post about people who complain.  What's the point and can they please stop.

But just in my head.

It's a good one though so maybe I'll do it eventually, but tonight is not the night. 

Things in my head right now:

The kids had to have a lot of discipline this evening.  I hate it, but they have to learn, right?

They have to learn to be nice and not hit and scream and throw things at each other.

They have to learn to not throw a tantrum and not throw things when it's time to do something they dont want to do (clean up the living room, etc)

They have to learn to pick on or off- I dont care- but we cant keep playing with the lights until someone has a seizure.

They WILL learn to obey the first time. They will.

OK.  Other things.

I'm a bad housekeeper.  It's no secret.  I've tried everything I can on my own to figure out how to fix this problem.  Living here a year has taught Jesse that it's in my DNA to be a mess, but that doesnt give me any excuses to not try harder to fix it. 

So I talk to people and read a lot blog things at night.  And so I go to bed with all this inspiration and motivation but I cant ever seem to turn it into reality during the day.   So collecting little bits of things, I have figured out a good start.  I'm going to keep my kitchen clean. 

Ok.  First- this is a goal always, I was just failing at it always.  Second- this is a way bigger deal than you would think.  Especially for someone like me.

So I started with the sink, inspired by a blog suggested by my sister Kath.  To keep the sink clean and shiny, I have to make sure there are no dishes.  Which means I have to empty the dishwasher when it's clean so I can reload it to get the dishes out of the sink and off the counter.  All of them.

It's been a week.  I'm pretty proud of myself.

Now- it doesnt always stay this way because we often collect more dirty dishes while the dishwasher is running.  But it's easier to organize them when there isnt extra stuff on the counter (because I have taken care of that now too!) and it the sink it empty and clean.  So. I move onto the stove.  And making sure that it's wiped clean at least once a day.  I havent taken the burners off to clean them for real yet, but I plan to eventually.  Right now there are more important things to worry about.  Keeping that looking nice and keeping the chest freezer clean.  I often use it as more counter space since as big as our kitchen is, there isnt a lot of usable counter space.  Keeping that clean.  And then making sure the floor is swept.  This one is more annoying because of all the toys that seem to make their way into the kitchen every day, but it's happening. There is a wooden counter that always seems to collect EVERYTHING.  That is going to be the hardest things to keep organized.  But I had it clean for real at least 3 days this week, so that is promising, too.  Since things dont get so out of control once they are clean for real a few times, I have time to do other little projects in the kitchen- like clean the microwave.  I collect little things on top since it's one of the few places that is convenient that the little ones cant reach still. But it looks GOOD now :)

And I've been able to keep the living room floor looking good, the dining room table is cleared except for the big vase of roses Jesse got me on Thursday. Aww.  They are giant and beautiful and it's been a LONG time since he got me flowers so I am still super excited about them.

Oh- and the bedrooms got done last week, too. 

I kind of rocked last week.

So.  This week.  Trying to keep myself motivated will not be so hard.  Trying to not get ahead of myself and try to get too much done without losing control of what I've already done... hmmm. 

Things that NEED to be done this week:  the bathrooms.  The server in the dining room.  The hall (which isnt too bad since it hasnt been that long since it's been paid attention to).  The goal is the same as the kitchen. Once I get them clean, I need to maintain and not get lazy again.  But.  I still need to make sure the kitchen stays clean.

I. can. do. this.

We also need to dig up our potatoes and work more on the garden.

But that's fun.

And I have a MK meeting tomorrow night and one of these days I need to take out and reorganize all my MK supplies for parties and facials.  I'm dreading reorganizing all my 'business' things up in the guest room.  Things like that will probably have to wait until school starts again.  There are a lot of projects that have to wait until school starts.  Mostly because the routine is good and I have more uninterrupted nap time :)

So while I'm striving to become a better person and a better housekeeper, I have found myself becoming addicted to caffeine and I hate that.  Hate caffeine and how addictable it is.  HATE all the bad bad bad things is does to your body over time. LOVE the taste that caffeinated things have. Yummmm.  The most I'm drinking is 1/2 caff coffee.. and only cup a day (or a can of Coke if for some reason the coffee is happening) but I can tell when I dont have it. Hate. 

But progress is more likely to stick if made in baby steps, right?  So I will learn to keep my house clean.  I'm expecting this to take a few months before I can say that I am truly successful and can make it habit without relapsing. Then I will work on my small but frustrating caffeine addiction. 

Oh- once school starts I plan on trying to work out, too.  Because not breastfeeding anymore, but still eating like I am, is also doing unappreciated things. 

And we eat pretty healthily a good majority of the time.  You know- besides the mass amounts of Oreos and little spoonfuls of frosting every once in a while. ok really the frosting is because it's the only sweet stuff in the house right now. 

So there you have it.  Another post with no pictures because I have not dumped them off my phone all summer.  But a real post about real things. I think anyways.  Maybe with all the changes I'm making I'll eventually have time to do this on a more regular basis again. 

Now wouldnt that be somethin'?

Pictures? what?

So I had a facial scheduled for yesterday.  Got everything cleaned up. Put th

e kids down for a nap and got ready and set up. 15 mintues after her appointment time I called... she had totally forgotten.  Reschedule for today. Clean again. Get cute.  Tuck midgets in for a nap. get a text. Nope. not today either.  So in the last 2 hours of beautiful quietness (not silence but close enough) I made a few productive phone calls and watched some youtube videos from facebook and read some funny articles.  I should have been blogging!  Or mopping the kitchen.  You can clearly se

e which one won once I thought of these- after 2 hours.

AND I have pictures!  Will Xanga let me post them is the question.

hmmmm. what happened to the picture button?

Oh hey. I figured it out. 
it's not quite as quiet here though. 

Ok.  So A couple weeks ag

o we decided that it was time for a cut.  The next day my parents wanted to take the kids to lunch, so I thought I would hitch a ride and go do it while they ate.  I didnt tell them the whole plan.  Mwahah

aha

Anyways.  12 inches shorter- and a sweet donation to Locks of Love.  I dont love it. I didnt think I would. I'm not a hige fan of short hair on myself.  But that's okay.  it went to a fantastic cause and my neck hurts a little less all the time.  My hair is THICK so it weighs A LOT.  But still- let the growing back begin!

This pic is from before Jesse's interview for his cur

rent job.  yes. he got it.  People love him. The job is for Men In Black.

Oh wait.  no. This is the Ripley's Believe it or not photo.  It's a normal sized person standing on a normal sized chair. yeah yeah

After all the Easter-y festivities, Alex got to go on his first motorcycle ride with my brother.  They just rode around the property- not on the road.  Because he's 5.  He had a great time.  It may or may not have ended well because they hit a chunk of chunky dirt. But Alex is ready to do it again. I'll let him when there is a chance.

I had to take a picture of how Tristan came out to wait for the bus.  And of course Alex needed one of him, too.  Danica didnt come out that day.

This is how Tristan came out for the bus. I just love this kid.

This is just hilarious.  This kid LOVES steak.  Danica also LOVES steak.  Like if you were to come over and bring steak, they will be your best friend forever.  Danica just couldn't reach it from her seat, so she couldnt have this funny picture. 

He LOVES steak. I have to say it again because I dont think you understand yet how much.  Oddly enough, Alex does not like it. huh.  Sometimes we're nice and grill other things for him. Mostly I buy steak for the 2 smallest people who live here. And it's hilarious.

Ok. Well I have officially run out of time this afternoon. Because I did nothing real for 2 hours. It was awesome.  Also awesome- family dinner tonight- yay!

So I was feeling inspired to post a few pictures because it has been SOOOO long. But the most recent ones I can find from here are from October.  And everyone looks so different these days. 

To get my Perfect/Power Start for Mary Kay, I had to do 30 faces in the first 30 days.  But then I realized I didnt really know 30 girls.  But thanks to a few that I do know, I'm at 29 by day 26 (yesterday) and I have one more facial scheduled for tomorrow!  I think I will go back and visit my neighbor's work again, they all seem to like MaryKay, but dont really have a consultant. Yay!  And I can only do a few people at a time since it's a daycare.  But I feel like that is where I'm going to be able to get the real client base of people I dont really know (yet!).  I'm pretty excited!

Jesse got a new job and starts on Monday!  His "vacation" was a full month.  It was fun having him home and getting things done, but it certainly doesnt help the bank account!  He's sad "vacation" wasnt longer, but realizes that he does need to work.  We're praying he likes it!

Alex has been enjoying his Spring Break this week.  He's been counting the days multiple times a day.  I'm actually really glad that Jesse could be home this week, too.   A whole week of the whole family.  love love love.  It's going to be so quiet when things get back to 'normal'!  I wont be 'working' so much with MaryKay (mostly because I wont be able to since I wont have a car again and I'll have to work around Jesse's schedule) and Jesse and Alex will both be gone again.  It's going to be w.e.i.rd.

Danica got a new mattress, thanks to my almost-sister-in-law, and it is giant.  I should measure how high the crazy things actually is.  I'm REALLY glad she doesnt fall out of bed.  When we first put it together, I wanted to put the guard rail up for her, but then realized that it wouldnt even stick above the side!  She's like the princess and the pea now! haha!  It's a super nice set, and we really had no idea how old her other mattress was.  I'm hoping this will help her allergy-like symptoms at least a little bit.  (her seasonal allergy tests came back negative about a year ago, but she seems to always have a runny nose, etc.)

Tristan is 17 months now!  We're almost done nursing.  I'm bummed.  He's handling it pretty well most of the time.  Last week we cut out naps and this week we only nursed every other night for bed.  I have a week left and then I have to be done.  Jesse wanted me to go cold-turkey, but since I refused (for so many reasons!) this was our compromise.  Anyways, he's been sleeping a little better most of the time, too.  Wednesday night I wasnt here to put him to bed, so he was up for a while right when I was finally able to go to bed (at 1am) but other than that, he's been doing much better.  He's working on his first set of molars- on top.  Both at the same time, of course, and both popping through and going back in, of course.  This poor kid just has the worst time with getting his teeth out.  He's still pretty happy.  And eating a TON.  I dont know how many fruit bars he eats a day!  He snacks on green beans a lot, too, and cant get enough broccoli when I make it. He also eats- with milk and a spoon!- a full bowl of either Kix or Cheerios every day for breakfast.  And drinks the milk once the last piece is gone.  It's so funny because the older 2 really weren't big breakfast eater until Alex started school... Tristan does not mess around!

My cousins LOVE to watch our kids.  Jesse thinks they're crazy, but I think I was the same way!  I always loved babysitting and did a ton of it.  So they decided that they needed to come over during Spring break, so Jesse and I were able to go on a date last night.  Yay!  I love being able to spend time with just him.  I know he's been around all the time for a month, but normal life still goes on, and we were always home together.  It was nice that we could do this before the norm sets back in.  And it's also nice to remember that our anniversary is in a few weeks so maybe we can do it again!

The centipedes are back and I HATE THEM.  HATE.  I HATE CENTIPEDES. 

The weather is only nice enough to plant my garden while we have other things already planned.  The days that would have been perfect for us are no good weatherwise.  Like today- we had no real plans (which hasnt happened in a LONG time- mostly because of my 30 faces) but it was so cold and cloudy and it was supposed to rain- though I dont think it did til later.  But still.  I dont want to have to bundle everyone up to work on the garden. 

I think my nails are just about dry enough to finally go to bed.  I'll try to remember to have Jesse show me where he stashed the pictures on my computer so I can actually post them! Good night!