Honest Scrap Award

Jessica gave me a blog award today! Thank you, Jessica! I have been reading Jessica's blog for over a year because I love her sense of humor and honesty. She has adorable children and I love her stories about them. I am very flattered that she reads my blog and gave me an award :)


Rules for the award:
1. Must thank the person who gave you the award and list their blog and link it.
2. Share "10 Honest things" about yourself.
3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

10 Honest Things About Me

1. I am typing this while I bounce a fussy baby on my knees. He does not like to be rocked nor does he want to be put down. SO he is helping me blog!
2. I don't like the smell of vanilla. Vanilla lotion, candles, bubble bath, ect... all make me sick. Random but true :)
3. I don't like politicians. I care deeply about many issues but have never met a politician that I respect. Because Clay works in politics I have met many and am always disappointed in what I find.
4. I think I am addicted to the internet. Not seriously addicted like I would curl up in a corner and suck my thumb...but I hear it calling after I have been away for an hour or so. Working on this...
5. After writing the previous two I am reminded of what I have discovered about myself. I expect too much out of people. I struggle with seeing the gray areas in life and in this black and white attitude I tend to write off people that do not fit my ideals. This is something I need to balance because it isn't wisdom in picking friends or individuals to surround myself with (like I enjoy telling myself). It is being judgemental. I need to take the big, splintery plank out of my eye and stop finding faults in everyone.
6. I worry a lot about my children. To the point where I stop trusting God. I have to remind myself daily that they are His.
7. I love watching HGTV. House Hunters and Divine Design are my favorite shows. I have a notebook of ideas I want to implement when I have the time...and money...and talent...
8. I don't like leaving my house after dinner. I want to put on my pajamas, curl up on the couch, read books with the kids, read a book for myself, and just enjoy being at home. Unfortunately that is not real life!
9. I want to live like the Duggars. Seriously.
10. I don't want to ever work. I want to have another child or two and just enjoy being a mom for the rest of my mommy years and then enjoy my grandchildren.

And the award goes to...

1.) Valerie- We met in college and have recently found each other on Facebook. I was excited when I discovered that she also has a blog! I have always loved her sense of humor and it comes through in her posts so now I love them as well. She has a beautiful family and it is a great sense of encouragment when I see what a godly mother and wife she is.

2.) Erin- I met Erin at our former church. I had her oldest son in my Mother's Day Out class three years ago (I can't believe it has been that long!!!). I love reading about her boys and looking at her menus. She always has great recipes as well :) Erin is one of those women that tells others about her children throwing up everywhere but still manages to sound encouraging instead of like she is complaining. If that makes any sense...

3.) Ashley- Like Erin, I also met Ashley at our former church. I had just started to get to know her personally when we had to move :( However, I feel like I know her anyway because of her blog. She takes fabulous pictures of her beautiful home and baby girl, has interesting and entertaining posts and is honest about her feelings, beliefs, opinions, ect... I like people who are real and she is one of those people.

4.) Tiffany- Tiffany is the sister in law of a friend that, again, went to my former church. It is a small world! Tiffany is a sweet, sweet woman who is such an encouragement to me. She is honest about her emotions, her struggles, and encourages others in every post. Her family is beautiful and I love reading about them!

5.) Ginger- I love reading her blog because her kids are hilarious and I think their life is so cool! I would love to do what they are doing right now. She is always encouraging and honest about their life and I love reading about it. She is also sweet and funny herself :)

6.) Jenny- Jenny is one of my favorite people. I have not actually met her face to face but I feel as if I know her sweet family. I love her posts and hearing about their day to day life. However, what I love the most about her is that when I read her blog I walk away wanting to be a better mom. I read what little piece of her day she decides to share and I think about how blessed her children are.

7.) Jenn- I love this woman! I love reading her blog and learning more about her and her children. What I love most is her sense of humor, her honesty, and her ability to make everything HILARIOUS. She is a sweet woman who I would love to meet in person!

Back To Reality!

This week is going to be busy! I bought a new planner in my quest to be more organized. I have used it for several years but failed to buy one last year. I had thought I could just use a wall calendar but for some reason that doesn't work well for me. Despite the fact it hangs on my refrigerator, I don't look at it often enough.

Anyway, back to this week. I am going to start using the same format that Jen does. I love reading her Monday morning posts.

For more day books go on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...Monday...November 30th

Outside my window... it is wet, cold, and raining. I like the dreary weather today because our Christmas lights show up that much more :)

I am thinking... about all the housework that I need to catch up on. I have a mop bucket calling my name!

I am thankful for... my church, my family, and my friends. We had Hanging of the Greens last night and it was beautiful. I love this season!

I am wearing...Christmas pajamas. I am staying in them as long as possible!

I am remembering... to call and reschedule a doctor's appointment, to plan Laura Grace's class Christmas party, call and plan our Girl Scout troop kick off party...and many other phone calls I need to make!

I am going... to Laurel and Jackson this weekend to visit with my family. I can't wait to see them!
I am reading...nothing right now! A new baby takes up reading time :)

I am hoping... the rain stops in time for the Christmas parade tonight. Laura Grace is riding on the Nutcracker float.

On my mind... I have some friends in tough situations. A divorce, a bad car accident, sick family members...there is a lot to pray about. Laura Grace is in the Nutcracker next week-we have a rehearsal nearly every night for the next two weeks. Christmas parties and other meetings combined with rehearsals are stressing me out.

From the learning rooms... We are setting up our Advent calendar tonight. I found some great devotionals from Focus on the Family that I will be using this year.

Noticing that...my children are growing faster and faster each day. I need to take more time to enjoy them rather than worry about the state of my house.

Pondering these words... baptism. Laura Grace wants to get baptized. She was saved when she was 4, but our pastor at the time felt like she should wait to be baptized. She is now telling us it is time so we are meeting with our pastor this week.

From the kitchen... Pot Roast in the crock pot, Baked Chicken with vegetable, Meatball Hoagies, all quick meals because we have something every night this week.

Around the house... lamps are lit, Christmas music is playing, scented candles are lit, dishwasher is running, dryer and washer are running, and Layton is banging on his train table with his tools.

One of my favorite things....the way babies smell.

The tree is up!

One of my favorite memories of Christmas as a child is decorating the tree. I can still remember how excited my sisters and I were when we got to pick out ornaments and hang them on the branches. I want my children to have the same memories so every year since Laura Grace was old enough to stand I have had a child "helping" me decorate. The result is a tree that doesn't look like anything out of a magazine, but it is still beautiful all the same.

This year was a little more hairy-Layton and Laura Grace had differing opinions on where to hang certain ornaments, as well as who would hang their favorite ones. Despite the occasional tears we had fun and have a tree they are very proud of. Layton and Clay put on the lights, we all put on the ornaments, and now we are about to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in front of it while we listen to Christmas music. I love it!

Thanksgiving

First Thanksgiving

Laura Grace loves her baby brother

Layton and Grandaddy

My soon to be nephew Reed and Layton playing on Mimi and Grandaddy's stairs.

Layton and Mommy

Will and his daddy

Laura Grace spent a large part of the day reading :)

Will and Mommy

Happy Thanksgiving!! We had a wonderful time visiting with family. I am so thankful for my husband, children, and everyone else God has blessed me with. We spent the day playing with the children, visiting, eating, and enjoying each other's company.

Friday morning, Clay and I got up at 2 a.m. and went shopping. I was bound and determined to get the children a powerwheel Jeep. They had them at Walmart for 88 dollars so at 2:45 a.m. I was in line! I got Laura Grace a hot pink one and Layton a gray one. I still can't believe we stood in line like that but it was actually a lot of fun. We shopped for nearly eight hours total and I am now FINISHED. I am so excited about being able to enjoy this season with my family and not worry about shopping anymore. We spent the rest of the day eating soup at my inlaws and helping them hang garland and wreaths outside their house. Today, we are decorating our tree and house for Christmas. When it is all finished we will bake Christmas cookies, drink hot chocolate, and watch a Christmas movie. I love this time of year!

So does Laura Grace!

Favorite Things

These are some things I have come across recently and wanted to share with you. We are all shopping for our families and friends right now so I thought these might be helpful!


Laura Grace loves to read but it is a challenge to find books that support our faith and beliefs. Lifeway carries several series that she loves.

Precious Girls Vol. 1 A Little Bit of Faith Designed to be fun and exciting, the Precious Girls Club will teach girls biblical values and virtues like kindness, responsibility, and helpfulness. These are a great alternative to Junie B. Jones. Laura Grace loves those books but I found they tended to encourage bad behavior in her because they make disobedience and disrespectful attitudes funny.

Gigi, God's Little Princess This series of books is for a younger age-probably 4-6. Laura Grace started reading them last year and still loves them. However, they are traditional children's books and do not have chapters so I suspect she will outgrow them soon. They focus on friendship, God's love for us, and how unique we all are. Each book teaches a different value and feature spunky Gigi.





Both of these book series also comes with DVDs and videos.





Right now these coats are on sale at New York and Company. Online they are 50% off, in the stores they are 30% off. I got mine in the tweed color (see above) and LOVE it. It is warm and has a detachable hood. It is very versatile-it looks great casual or dressy.





This cardigan is my favorite find this season. It is incredibly soft! It feels like cashmere but is not as expensive as real cashmere. I wear it with jeans or to church with black pants. So cute! It is also on sale right now for 19.97 online!

And now for more books...

Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite authors as a child. I LOVED the Ramona series, the stories about Ribsy the dog and Ralph the mouse. I have been rediscovering these books through Laura Grace. I can remember my mother reading chapters to me out of them and wanted to do the same with my children. I will read a chapter before bed and Laura Grace reads another one before we turn out her lights. She always begs for more time to read!

My favorites are...

Emily's Runaway Imagination

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Ramona the Pest

My only warning about these books is the book "Ramona and Her Father". This book focuses on her father losing his job and how much he smokes. Ramona begins a campaign to get her father to quit smoking because she worries about him. The idea is great...the carry through is a little disrespectful. I could see a book like this worrying Laura Grace and turning her into a tobacco nazi. I am going to save it until she is a little bit older. They are intended for ages 8 and up, and this is one of those books that I can see why.

New Recipes

I am in the process of FINALLY updating my cooking blog. I have some great fall inspired recipes that I have tried recently :)

Staying Organized...or not.

Somewhere in between Layton's baby years and Will's birth I forgot how chaotic a home can be with a baby in it. Maybe chaotic is the wrong word....messy is probably more accurate. As soon as you begin to unload the dishwasher at my house it is guaranteed that Will realizes he is hungry, Laura Grace falls off the back of the couch and thinks she may die, or Layton is stuck in some unfathomable position under his bed. Don't ask.

As more and more days pass like this the messier the house becomes. I try to stay on top of it-a load of laundry here, a dish rinsed there... However, somehow the toothpaste splattered mirrors and sinks multiply. I will not even mention the stuffed animals that seem to be having babies more often than the Duggars. I realized last week that something had to change or I would lose my mind.

I realized that the biggest culprit was total lack of organization. With just Laura Grace and Layton I could very easily clean if I wanted to. I would open the back door, release them to cause destruction outside rather than in, and then would clean to my heart's content. Now I have an infant staring at me with wide eyes thinking that he finally has mommy alone so let's talk please.

So, yesterday I began implementing Project Organization. Yes, I gave it a title. I am that type A. I put a container of Clorox wipes under each sink so that after brushing teeth, going potty, or taking a shower the bathroom gets wiped down. Goodbye, toothpaste splatters! In the kitchen I put a container on the counter top. Attractive? No. Functional? Yes. Goodbye, crumb covered kitchen counters! I also put the cleaning supplies in the room that they belong. In the cabinets above each toilet are the Scrubbing bubbles toilet gel thingies and toilet cleaner. I also put the shower and tile cleaner along with several rags. In a bucket in the laundry room I organized my laundry products. By the way, those Tide stain pack things are WONDERFUL. In another bucket I put in my dusting supplies and microfiber rags so I could carry them around when I need to dust.

I have also implemented new rules. Actually, they are not new at all. I just somehow let them slide over the past few months because I was tired. The children have to go back to only eating at the bar or dinner table. No more snacks or meals in rooms or living room. They also are going back to picking up their rooms before bed and making up their beds in the morning. They can only have a few toys at a time out of their room. If they want more they have to ask or put away the ones they are already playing with.

These are all small steps but hopefully will help bring back some order around here!

Poor Kitty!

Our cat, Patches, met a tragic end today. Our garage door closed on her and killed her. Laura Grace fortunately did not see it happen but saw the cat laying under the door and started screaming. It was horrible!

After cuddles and long theological discussions about why God let the cat die, she seems to have recovered. She asked to add a kitten to her Christmas list and I quickly shot that down! I did take them out for a Happy Meal. Both of them got flu shots this morning and then the cat incident occured...I figured a box full of trans fat and a toy was warranted.

When you don't know how to say no...

you find yourself

-joining Junior Auxillary. Service projects and fundraisers galore here I come!!!
- leading a Girl Scout troop. The pictures alone will be great blogging fodder I am sure.
-joining the Preschool Committee at church. Because JA didn't give me enough committees.
-agreeing to be the assistant kindergarten Sunday School teacher.

Every time I turn around I hear myself saying, "SURE!". Someone needs to put duct tape over my mouth or at least drag me out back and shoot me.

I CAN honestly say I am excited about all of these responsibilities. I am sure between Laura Grace's fifty million dance rehearsals for Nutcracker, Upwards Cheerleading, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and breastfeeding I will fit all of this in :).

It Feels Like Christmas!!

Today we went Christmas shopping. All five of us. And now I am tired. Somehow in between multiple diaper explosions, feedings in dressing rooms, meltdowns, and many, many dirty bathrooms we got a lot accomplished. I learned a lesson that honestly I should have already learned...don't give your children sweet tea before embarking on an all day shopping trip. Spare yourself holding a squirming preschooler over an already "sprinkled" toilet.

Despite the numerous bathroom experiences we had a great time together as a family. We walked into the mall and Layton exclaimed, "Look at the beautiful Christmas lights!" Laura Grace began dancing to the Christmas music that was playing and I made a beeline for the spiced tea samples at the coffee shop. I love this time of year.

We bought several gifts for family members, ate lunch in the food court, and then let the children ride the carousel and play at the train table in Barnes and Nobles. I love that they are still at the age where simple entertainment makes their entire day. Laura Grace held my hand and talked in her bubbly, animated voice while Layton kept hugging me and pointing at decorations (and people...we live in a rather rural area. You can only imagine).

Anyway, now I am fully in the mood to decorate my home for Christmas. We have Christmas music playing and holiday scented candles burning but I am ready for my tree to be up!

Two Months!

I can't believe Will is two months old today!

He has started smiling more and making cooing noises. He grunts and concentrates so hard when you talk to him, it is like he is trying to talk back. As long as he is not tired or hungry he is very content to lay on his play mat or sit in his bouncy seat and observe what is going on. When he is tired he wants to be laid down on his tummy and he goes right to sleep. When he is hungry, watch out!! Nothing makes him happy until he gets some food :)

He is in 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers have gotten too small so we are moving into a 3 this week. His eyes are still a gray/blue color and his hair is growing in more and more each day. I think it is going to be a dark blonde or light brown color. So far it is sticking straight up just like his big sister's did!

Will loves baths but hates being naked so once the bath is over we rush to dress him. He prefers Avent bottles and hates any other kind. Strangely enough he prefers formula in bottles and does not drink pumped breastmilk as well.

He is eating every 2-3 hours day and night...we are still working on sleeping better :)

Overall, he is a sweet, easy baby who we are falling more and more in love with!

Love Letter

Yesterday, when I was looking through the mail I came across a pink envelope. Written in a familiar childish scrawl I saw my name and address on the front. I opened it to read...

Dear Mommy,

I love you very much. You did not kiss me at the resteraunt. When I get home can I have a kiss? I love you very much.

Love,
Laura Grace


Last weekend she spent Friday and Saturday night with my inlaws. Before dropping her off we went out to eat as a family. I must have forgotten to kiss her goodbye! My father in law said that she was missing me Friday night and decided to write me a letter. Precious.

Breastfeeding HELP

okay, all those that have breastfed before...

I AM DROWNING IN MILK

i am seriously making so much i could feed another baby!!
will just nursed for awhile and my breasts were still so full that i pumped 8 ounces from each!! it has gotten hard to go anywhere because my breasts stay so full. what in the world do i do?

Tales From The Dark Side

Going out to eat with three children is a whole new world. You see, we had just civilized our other two children enough that restaurant going was a fairly peaceful event. Sure, there were occasional hiccups. Like the time Layton doused us all in sweet tea. Or the time Laura Grace jumped up and screeched that she has to pee. Yes, she said pee. My sweet daughter that has never said the word pee in her life decided to shout it across the restaurant. However, I do have to say that my favorite happening was when a man shouted across a crowded BBQ joint that my pregnant belly was "HUUUUUUUGE!"

Now that I think about it, that was Will's first attempt at grabbing attention while we try to enjoy a meal...

Tonight we ventured back to the same BBQ place. I, very innocently, pictured Will snoozing on someones shoulder, the children calmly eating, and the adults all enjoying great conversation.

Ahem.

Dreams die hard.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, Will began to fuss. Layton began to wail that he wanted food and Laura Grace began to do a potty dance that I have not seen since her early potty training days. She then announced to the world that she was about to pop. It all went downhill from there.

Between fifty million drink refills, several spankings in the bathroom, some fits of whining and hysterical hyena laughter all topped off by a six week old baby screaming...I managed to eat. The only thing I really remember eating is a piece of cake. A rather large piece of cake.

Thankfully, Will has developed the amazing habit of sleeping in his crib. Once he starts yawning or acting sleepy I can lay him down awake and he will fall asleep on his own. When we got home I put him in pajamas, changed his diaper, kissed his fuzzy head, and he was out like a light.

Peace.

Off we go!

This week I am back in the swing of things. Taking kids to school, preschool, cleaning house, bouncing a baby, all the things that make up our daily life. Yesterday, I went to Bible study (where I walked the hall outside with Will because he didn't want to talk about the book of Daniel), cleaned house (while Will screamed in his bouncy seat because he doesn't think sterilizing pacifiers and breast pump equipment is necessary), and shuttled Laura Grace to school and dance while also trying to decipher Layton's ramblings and at the same time listen to Laura Grace's many dramatic tales.

It felt good :)

This morning I got up at 5 a.m. because in Will's opinion that is playtime. Clay and I had a cup of coffee while Will cooed in his bouncy seat. I had just enough time to finish it before Will got tired of his seat, Layton woke up crying for breakfast, and Laura Grace came flying out of her room declaring that she is super girl who also needs breakfast. Somehow I got lunches made, laundry started, the kitchen straightened and beds made. I even got a shower in there somewhere which is a good thing because I am taking a friend out to lunch as a thank you for all of her help these past weeks.

Today I am planning on addressing birth announcements, finishing my Christmas card address list, and if Will cooperates we need some groceries. I am not sure if ANY of this will get done but I can try!

Halloween 2009

I had the best time with my family last night. It was a chilly, beautiful day and all I could think about was how blessed I am. I get to listen to Laura Grace's silly stories, hug on Layton who loves to cuddle, and kiss fat baby cheeks and thighs!

Before we went trick or treating, Clay and Laura Grace carved the pumpkin. Will and Layton slept through it :) Don't you love her outfit choice? It was in the fifties outside and she still wore a tank top all day-I am all about picking battles!

After they carved the pumpkin, Mimi and Grandaddy came over to babysit Will. It was too cold for him to get out. We still dressed him up for pictures. He screamed the entire time I was dressing him and then promptly had a diaper explosion that ruined the outfit. Laura Grace said that she thinks babies are much cuter when they are not crying.

After the hullabaloo at home Clay and I took the kids to his grandmother's house. She had fried pork tenderloin for us and made gravy and biscuits. We ate, watched the kids gorge themselves on candy, and then set out for trick or treating.

I used to not like the idea of trick or treating, but after hearing Layton say "Twick or Tweat Pwease" and their sweet "thank you!" after they got candy I became a fan! We held hands and talked as we walked from house to house. It was interesting to hear Layton's opinions on the decorations and Laura Grace's stories about school and her friends. At one point she told me she wanted to give her candy to Mamaw and Papaw because they are sick right now. She didn't think it was fair that she got candy and they didn't. I was so proud of her!