Shutterfly Fan: Helping to Spread the Love

Stationery card

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It is not a secret. I am a huge fan of Shutterfly. Each year a huge majority of presents to Aunts & Uncles, parents, grandparents, etc. are from Shutterfly. I have a family share site (yes mom I know it needs updating) and Jackie has a family share site (her's needs updating too). I love to order prints, calendars, mugs, magnets, and have been eyeing up the canvas print and the throw blanket. How neat would it be to have a blanket with your favorite photo of all time for each of the kids?

Why am I sharing this? Not a normal blog topic. Yeah. I know. But you know I like taking pictures and so does Jackie. Here is where we get the majority of them printed. I also took the plunge and ordered Christmas cards this year and got 10 FREE. I can't send them to everyone so I thought I would share it here as well. Isn't it lovely?

Special thanks to Jen & Byron for taking the awesome family photos of us. I feel just a little bit trendier now and sometimes that is OK. Why would you like Shutterfly? I think they offer GREAT deals at GREAT prices. Wait for the deals like I do. I won't buy without a very good deal. In in an effort for full disclosure. I get $10 dollars for sharing this with you that will go towards Nana and GiGi's Christmas presents. If you have a blog look into Shutterfly's "help spread the word" program and see if you can't get $10 for sharing your projects on your blog. Best of all it didn't hurt to share how I save money and get great gifts.

Happy shopping. Where ever you shop and for whatever you shop for.

"I have a kitty..."

This little fuzzy girl showed up one afternoon on our doorstep... 

The random arrival of a kitten is by no means uncommon in the country but she is the first to wander 700 feet from the road up to this blue house. 

 And this little girl could not be happier!

My little one is now the only child at home while the others spend their days making new friends at school.  It can be lonely for her with only a mommy to play with.  Thank you little kitty for being our new friend (and giving mommy a break)!

Kitty has been around for a couple weeks now and sometimes she will exclaim with huge wide eyes at the most random times... "Mommy, I have a kitty..." Oh goodness, how she makes me smile!

Mr. Rodgers: Garden of Your Mind

Of course I grew up watching Mr. Rodgers. I loved pretending and imagining as a child. I am not sure exactly how our children are losing that but they are. I for one hope my children will "grow things in the garden of their mind". 
I am falling in love with Janet Lansbury's blog. I have found it to be a truly great go to resource for issues with Wade and it is completely changing how I want to interact with Ethan and encourage him to play. Honestly, I wish I had found it sooner. Of course I may or may not utilize everything taught there. No one has to camp out with just one way of doing things, but I found a particular article from this week regarding how our children are loosing play to be scary. I feel strongly about play and imagination. It was my favorite part of childhood. I want Wade to experience that in its fullest. He will have a lifetime of being "grown up". No need to rush things now. 
If you are interested in reading about how preschoolers are loosing play please read this article: Don't Let Your Preschoolers Forget How to Play

Enjoy growing things in the garden of your mind.

Baseball begins...

His first year of baseball.  His first scrimmage.   His first home run.   

Well. that last one isn't quite entirely true.  He had a decent hit and ran towards first... but never tagged the base.  Continued to second.  Missed that one too.  By now the other team was in shock and frozen.  He rounded third again without making contact.  With a huge smile on his face he came home and finally tagged the plate.  Home run?  Sure why not.  

I wish I could say he learned something important after that play but he did it again... and again.  

And I'm pretty sure while he was in the outfield I saw him pick clover and eat it.  What?

Baseball may not be his thing.  

With five kids it is not unusual for us to spend a couple nights a week at sports, year round.  It starts in the fall with soccer followed by basketball.  Basketball overlaps with indoor soccer  and then indoor soccer overlaps  with baseball.  From baseball a two week break before soccer again.  Not all the kids play each sport, but someone is always going somewhere.   

I have learned that going to practice and games is as much for the kids playing as the siblings being dragged along.  All my kids have basically grown up on the sidelines watching their brothers and sisters play.    I have so many sweet memories of cuddling babies on chilly nights.  

We cheer from the grass or shout from the stands.  We spread out blankets and pack supper.  Iced tea for hot weather and hot chocolate for the cold nights.  Sometimes there are playgrounds for climbing or benches for reading, wooded paths for exploring or grassy fields for playing.  

I have watched the babies cheer for their older brothers as well as seen the older brothers gently coach the younger ones.  Nothing could please a mother more.

I am thankful for these evenings.  These  nights when supper is eaten a bit faster and empty dishes cover the table as we head out the door.  Getting there doesn't go as smoothly as I would like it, but as soon the van unloads at the field everything slows down.  And it is always worth it.  

Sisterly Love

My first daughter will be joining her brothers in the fall on that long daily trek to and from the bus stop.  Could it be that teeniest tiniest of my babies will be in school come this fall?  Just four short months left with my baby girl.  This fact hit hardest last Friday when she got dressed early and went in for her kindergarten assessment.

And I was left with just one bird in the nest.

Boy, her little sister is sure going to miss her. And I will miss capturing sweet little sister moments like these.

Big sister helping little sister.  Makes me want to cuddle a little longer in the morning, make French toast more often (Eden's favorite!), spend more afternoons reading books on the trampoline and in general make this time go by so slow.  What am I going to do without this pair this fall?

Toddler Activities and the Terrible Twos

I have been feeling like a terrible mother to Wade for a couple months now. The end of the pregnancy, week 36 - 42+, I was worthless. Seriously exhausted and barely able to move because of swelling in my lower limbs. I couldn't get on the floor and play with Wade or do much of anything. We did cuddle a lot though and I will always remember that time as special because Wade wasn't a cuddly baby.

When Ethan arrived the baby needed me right away with nursing issues. The nursing issues set into motion a whirlwind of three weeks of stress and appointments. On top of it I had some health complications from the birth that was making my recovery more difficult. Wade would cry for me and I couldn't just put Ethan down to pick Wade up. It broke my heart. Once again, I was spending zero time with Wade. I felt like Wade and my relationship was slipping away.

During my third trimester of the pregnancy, Wade started to experience some real and ugly terrible two behavior. Major tantrums (Wade wasn't really a crier and was pretty compliant before this) the kind that made Gary and I look at each other and wonder if our son had been replaced by a two headed monster. This was followed more recently by lots of "no". It didn't help that Wade's sleep schedule was shot and he was exhausted, off schedule, emotionally I was pretty unavailable, and there was lots of new adjustments.

Still dealing with Wade's attitude started to wear on me. I don't like the attitude of the teenager in the house and I constantly worry about "nipping in the bud" Wade's attitudes before he reaches out of control teenager. Molding a young heart is truly important for their lasting character. Add sleep deprivation of myself and a major cold to the mix and the beginning of this week was more than rocky. I was most definitely the mother I never, ever want to be. Short tempered, yelling at Wade, and I even smacked his butt once (he was being very, very bad) but with anger in my heart and I never, ever want to discipline out of a place of anger. I am not sure who was crying more. Wade or myself. I hated this version of mother and felt completely out of control. Now I was the two headed monster.

I had to make some changes fast. First, I had to ask for forgiveness (from God and family) and then forgive myself. Remembering I was sick and tired literally I focused on rest and healing. I also made sure to continue to focus of scripture verses. Second, I decided that I needed to daily find something for myself that was more than a hot shower. Third, I dedicated myself to being more creative with Wade. That even if it seemed like extra work to find a simple project daily to have him participate with even if it was making lunch or doing dishes but a time to let him play and explore and learn new things. I want to raise a creative child and I need to encourage creativity. One more thing, I had already decided that this week would be a week without appointments for myself or the kids. No lactation appointments, etc. Ethan and I would focus on nursing and Wade and I would focus on our relationship.

What a difference! I am happier, Wade is happier, and Ethan is just fitting so nicely into our lives. I feel happiness coming back into our lives and joy back to my heart. It was really looking rocky for a couple days.

Activity one:
Alphabet magnets - a dollar purchase that gave me several minutes of entertainment. Although Wade wasn't ready to put them ON the refrigerator. Instead he would rip them OFF. Until play is less destructive they are stored in a jar in the pantry closet. I would go insane trying to pick them off the floor everyday.

Activity two:
Classic Play Dough Recipe
I loved playing with play dough as a child. My mom had a great recipe. This one I believe is similar but not as wonderful as I remember it. I will have to look up that old recipe. In the mean time this project was great. Wade helped at the sink making his own "dough" while I made the actual play dough. Lots of sensory play. Then he played with his trucks with the play dough.

Activity three:
Rainbow Rice
I really loved this project and yes it can be messy in the house. I accept that and just vacuum and sweep up the mess. So far this project has been entertaining for the longest amount of time. I experimented with Great Northern beans as well and the dyeing wasn't as successful. I would like to try with small pasta as well. Also, I used liquid water colors I had for coloring and rubbing alcohol (but in lesser amounts than suggested). I would like to make a bin of "rainbow" colors. It was fun for both of us.

I am looking forward to more activities with Wade. I have to channel that energy as I train him past tantrums and "no". He really is an awesome kid.

A bath in a bucket

It is no secret that we are experiencing some unseasonable weather this year in northeast Ohio.  It is also no secret that we are loving it and squeezing out every happy moment.

The trampoline is out of winter storage and an almost constant source of physical entertainment for the kids. Our sandbox, which is big enough to be both a play space for the little ones and a soft place for me to spread out a beach towel and enjoy a book, is scattered with toys and shoes.  Even a few of our raised beds have seen some early spring action with the planting of a few cold weather crops.  Can't wait to have an endless supply of yummy greens and be snapping our own peas!  We have been outdoors so often that my fair skinned child has already experienced her first pink shoulders this year.  Can you believe it?  March!

And my favorite spring tradition?  The washing of muddy little feet and hands in my largest pot.

What is it about warmer weather and sunny skies that makes my floors suddenly appear satisfactorily clean and laundry piles only half their actual size?  Well, whatever it is, I hope it's here to stay.  Goodness knows after a couple months of boring indoor bathing, we could all used a sunny day that ends with a bath in a bucket!

Waiting on Baby

The weather today in Ohio was amazing. Warm. Soft breeze. All the windows in the house were open airing it out. Making you hope that winter was really over. We are still waiting on baby... I am ready. I am ready to stop waiting. I am ready to stop being so large. I am ready to stop being swollen and sore. I am ready to get back to a more "normal" life. I was hoping a nice long walk with my boys would help bring on labor. I was able to take some really great photos while walking. 

The new baby's name letters are done and just need to be hung up. I am working on designing a birth announcement. We are just trying to keep up with minor chores even though I am itching for spring cleaning. Labor can start any day now... no one is more ready than I am.

Looking forward to the other side!

My girls

It has been an unseasonably warm winter this year.  I can't complain seeing that I dread trudging through inches of snow with five little ones in tow.   Fewer lost mittens and less snowy wet messes is a plus in my book.  The lack of snow has made it so easy to bundle the girls and head out.  Some days it is a quick trip to the mailbox and others it is hours... and may or may not include a trip to the sandbox.  There is nothing like a little bit of sunshine and cool air.

Getting out and away from my to-do list, even for a moment, is always rewarding.  Too often my days are memories of matched socks and swept floors.  This, THIS is what I want to fill my days with.

We call this her "Lettie the Lion" sweater.    Precious.  Remember this.  

These two little girls make my day, everyday.  Big sister always loving her little sister.  Leading the way.  Holding her hand.  Covering her with a blanket when she falls asleep.  So Pure.  So much love.

Creating an entire world in which only they live.  Sharing moments with each other when I am only a spectator.   Mine.  You are mine.  

I'm so blessed to have these lovelies.  The relationship between girls can only be described in one word.  Special.  Yes, they are special.

Eden and Alette.  They are so close.  I can hardly imagine them apart.

I am so glad we have no snow.  I'm so glad we went outside.  I am so happy to have these sweet girls.

Going out to eat

My husband surprised me after church on Sunday with going out to eat.  With so many kids to keep happy at the table and not to mention special diets, sometimes grabbing a meal out isn't as relaxing as it should be.  (It was absolutely enjoyable by the way!) 

This is more of my idea of going out for supper.  It has been so sunny and (relatively) warm that I could not resist gathering some wood and building a little fire.

Add two packs of good hot dogs, a cast iron skillet and a ten year old obsessed with survival skills and you have the makings of a pretty good meal.

Everything tastes better when cooked over a fire.

...Or eaten off of a stick...

... Or with your bare hands.  

Seeds ordered.  Yep.

Chicks ordered (52 of them!). Check.

First fire of the year.   Done.

I know it is only February, but spring... I'm ready and waiting.