Mommy Monday

One thing I've had to learn lately is that plans don't always go how you plan them. This is extremely true when you have little ones. I am all about schedules and planning but sometimes you just have to throw your hands in the air and let the chips fall where they may............ or the Legos, doll clothes, puzzle pieces, or whatever it may be. 

Since our schedules have changed up a bit lately it means we are pretty much gone all day Sunday and the usual household chores don't get done. This mean double duty Monday. I'm having to adjust but it seems to be going good. Homeschooling is just split up a bit more and she does part of it on her own, but my kid is a genius so that's not a problem....lol. 

I've had to realize if it doesn't get done no one will starve, go unclothed (yes pajamas are clothes), or or suffer in any way. I've strayed from my schedule and routine a lot lately and the world hasn't ended or anything so I guess all my worrying all this time wasn't necessary. 

Some days it's okay if the house is a mess, the dishes are dirty, and you live in your pjs all day. The kids will grow fast and I need to spend every min I can with them. 

Now for your viewing pleasure......

STORY TIME WITH KADEE AND DYLAN

 This is Kadee trying to get Dylan to hold the book to read it. 

 This face says it all........."mom tell her I can't read yet"

  

Holidays

Holidays always make things better. 

We are coming up on my favorite time of year, fall. The leaves change colors, football games, holidays coming up, and most importantly if you live in Texas...weather getting cooler. 

Last year about a week before Halloween we moved to New Jersey. It wasn't a permanent move, just a few months for my husband's work. My mother had spent a lot of time working on my daughter's chicken costume and when we moved it went unused. It's been hanging in the closet since. We tried it on this morning to see if we could use it this year. It fits!! Just a few minor adjustments need to be made. Now we're trying to figure out a matching costume for the little one. 

Me and my daughter flew home shortly before Christmas. On a side note I will NEVER fly home by myself again pregnant, and with a two year old. It was quite possibly the worst experience I've ever had. I was sick, having to maneuver a stroller, car seat, luggage, and my daughter around with no help from anyone. Cudos to the flight attendants that just stood there watching me struggle. 

We had a pleasant surprise waiting for us when we got home however. Our house had been decorated for Christmas. Tree up, gaudy lights around the porch, fake Santa on the kitchen counter...the whole nine yards. It was so nice to not have to worry about it. I hadn't planned on decorating since we had been gone but I didn't even have to worry about it. 

I'm looking forward to decorating this year. I'm hoping it'll be the last year were at these apartments. I don't mind renting, but apartment living is for the birds. As we are nearing the end of September I'm already thinking of decorating for fall for the porch. I already have hay bales and fall sunflowers (both leftover from our wedding). Wanting to maybe diy a wreath for the door. A few pumpkins around and call it done. Then to start thinking about Christmas. 

I've been dealing with a lot lately and I'm in real need of a joyous holiday season. I've been told we're moving forward but it is really hard to see that right now. It just seems like our baby steps are microscopic right now, but I guess at least they are still steps. I just wanna take this time to thank all my friends and family that have helped us lately with everything. We really appreciate everything and I don't know how we'd make it without y'all. After the nervous break down I had yesterday I KNOW I wouldn't make it without the support I have. 

Wellness Wednesday

My workout routine is up and going. I use the word routine lightly however. The evening walks are pretty routine but my resistance training isn't so routine. I do different things every day with some actual exercises thrown in. Most of my resistance training is what I'm going to call the mommy workout. It consist of playing horsey (bouncing my daughter on my legs with her sitting on my feet while i lift mu legs), airplane (letting my daughter "fly" on my feet in the air), walking around with my child attached to my leg, and other exercises that include my child. In addition to the "mommy workout" I'm trying to work my way up to some of these.

I do these activities every other day, walking once a day if I have a partner. 

I haven't really checked my actual number weight regularly, I don't have a scale remember, but when I have checked it it has fluctuated about two to three pounds. I do however notice a difference in my body and the way my clothes fit. Other people have seemed to notice it as well so I guess something is working. 

Im going to keep pushing forward with it and maybe soon I'll post a progress picture. 

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Since starting the Dave Ramsey financial peace university we've been working on baby step one. ($1000 in a beginner savings account).

 This process has started long before the class has started for us however. As most of you know we live what I call a modern minimalist lifestyle. We don't buy, or live with unnecessary "things". I already have a "For Sale" photo album on my Facebook page of various items we no longer need, or use. In an effort to accelerate that baby step one completion I have decided to list some of the bigger items on Craigslist and hold a yard sale for the smaller items. I'm hoping to get this step completed before the end of the year. To some of you $1000 may not seem like much to have to come up with for savings but with what we've been living off of lately it might as well be a million dollars. We are determined however, so I'm getting started tomorrow on organizing the Craigslist ads and the yard sale. Wish us luck with this first major step toward financial security. 

Financial Peace University

Sunday night me and the hubby took the first step to a better life, we started Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

We are both very hopeful for this class and our financial future and family life. With the money struggles we've had lately I feel this is where we need to start. We don't have many arguments but the ones we do have usual stem around money, as with most marriages these days. The lack of it, the way it's spent, and what our money priorities are in life are the most common topics that come up. 

We have just been to the intro class so far but we've been through the material and I'm about half way through the book in one day. The methods seem so practical and yet you think "why didn't I do it that way the first time?" I'm so ready to dig in and get this debt knocked out and start living life the way it's meant to be lived. 

We officially start week one on Sunday and I'm excited for class and what we will learn. 

I know I told you I was going to be totally honest in this blog and I will, but until we get farther into the debt elimination process I won't be giving any actual numbers. I will however keep everyone updated as we work through the program and make progress. 

Financial Peace University

Sunday night me and the hubby took the first step to a better life, we started Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

We are both very hopeful for this class and our financial future and family life. With the money struggles we've had lately I feel this is where we need to start. We don't have many arguments but the ones we do have usual stem around money, as with most marriages these days. The lack of it, the way it's spent, and what our money priorities are in life are the most common topics that come up. 

We have just been to the intro class so far but we've been through the material and I'm about half way through the book in one day. The methods seem so practical and yet you think "why didn't I do it that way the first time?" I'm so ready to dig in and get this debt knocked out and start living life the way it's meant to be lived. 

We officially start week one on Sunday and I'm excited for class and what we will learn. 

I know I told you I was going to be totally honest in this blog and I will, but until we get farther into the debt elimination process I won't be giving any actual numbers. I will however keep everyone updated as we work through the program and make progress. 

Homeschooling

Although my daughter is just two I have decided to give her an early start on schooling. We do about an hour a day of "homeschooling".

She has most of her colors down pretty good, even some of the strange ones thanks to the coloring app on my iPad. She's really good at basic animals. Knows some numbers, and letters, and we've just recently started working on shapes. I'm loving my some homeschool file folder games. We go over them together during "school" and she gets them out throughout the day to play with all by herself. She's proud of herself when se completes one and that's exciting for me too because she's excited about learning.

In addition to all the homeschooling materials we use she also has several educational apps on my iPad that she plays. Several with flash cards in all kinds of categories. She hasn't gotten to the point she recognizes all of them by herself but she is able to repeat their names after the voice recorded on the game. 

We haven't decide yet if we will homeschool full time once she's old enough to go to public school but we still have some time to figure that out. In the meantime she's getting a head start either way. 

Kadee's bathroom makeover

I don't have any before pictures and this was all done with items I already had. Just picture nothing in the room or on the walls and that was the before. I will be adding and tweaking as we get her bedroom done but I wanted to go ahead and start something since my painting projects have been delayed. This is what I came up with.

This is the basic overall view of the bathroom. 

Her overstuffed bow holder I made with some ribbon and cardboard. This will for sure get a makeover, in fact I might make two or three smaller bow holders. 

Hair clips, pony tail holders, and headbands in small bind on the cube shelves. Recovered wipes container for potty time. 

This is her linen/ toiletries cabinet. Not much in it, but hey she's two. 

Spiritual Sunday

We tried out a new church this morning. We both really liked it. We will defiantly have to go back and see if it might be our new home church. 

The preacher spoke on reigniting your passion. Passion for God to be specific but it really could be your passion for anything. He spoke of all the "things" that can steal/kill your passion and it got me to thinking about all the things I've allowed to take mine over the years. 

I've always had this dream of planning parties for people and running my own business for it. It's always seemed like such an unattainable dream I've really all but let it go. Hearing the preacher talk about passion today made me remember that dream. I'd like to bring that dream back to the forefront of my thoughts again and see if one day it might actually be possible. My own party business could be a ministry as well. It would allow me to reach people that might not otherwise be told the message. I would run the business with Christian values and I'd love to be known for that as one of our company attributes. 

When I was about 16 I surrendered my life to the ministry, but haven't done a thing toward that since then. I've always assumed ministry work was on a much grander scale than it actually has to be. I pictured being a missionary, Christian singer, preacher or his wife, some kind of public speaker, etc... But what I've come to realize is that ministry work can be as simple as being a mom and instilling Christian values in your children. Teaching a sundayschool class, or a Wednesday night bible study. Making a safe place for young girls to go after school and talk about problems and life. Just me being a witness every day in every way can be my ministry calling. 

I don't know that I will ever see that party business come into reality but I don't want to lose my passion for it and what a great tool it could be. I've be robbed of that passion by bills, kids, schedules, and just general laziness. And I think about how many people let life get in the way of their passions because of those very same things. 

Over the years and with life getting in the way I've allowed several of the things that the preacher talked about today steal my passion. I'm ready to reignite. 

Here are some pictures of my girls just for your enjoyment today. 

Kadee showing off her hair do before church. 

After church nap...no she doesn't normally sleep in her sister's crib. This is just where we found her after putting her down in our bed for a nap. 

This is funny face time with sister. Kadee makes funny faces and sister laughs.