sun catchers

We decided to do this cute little project this week. It was fun but messy. Each of my kids has stained hands and I think there are a few blue spots on the floor. A little bit of rubbing alcohol and they should be good as new.

This and this are another cute takes on these as well that would be worth it if you feel like venturing out in the cold.

Momma said there'd be days like this

You know those mornings when you wake up late, call every child by the wrong name, call the dog by the youngest child's name, go to a room for a reason, end up finding a new reason to be in that room, therefore forgetting why you were there in the first place, standing there trying to remember why you are in there only to notice that the clock says 12:30 which is past lunch time and you are still in your pajamas?!?!

It's kind of like -  "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it" or " You know what happens when you pray for patience?"  I was just purposing in my heart to do better this year. To be organized, purposeful, and to have a better loving mommy attitude. And guess what, God just threw the opportunity right in my lap and gave me a chance to "prove" it. 

Obviously I can only do it with God's help. So my advice - admit that you were wrong, apologize to your kids and tell them we are going to have a better attitude about this day. Make a plan with your family and put some music on and get to work :)! 

New Year, New Goals

Now that you have read my reflections of this past year, I would like to include you in on some of my goals  for this year.  These are in no particular order and this list is incomplete, as I am sure I will think of new goals every day.

1.  Realize that life goes on without Mt. Dew.  Oh dear, I can't believe that I just wrote that, but it is something that is going to have to be learned this year. I want to be fit and healthy before I am thirty :). 

2.  And to help me out with the previous goal, I will be drinking lots of water - at least 32oz a day. Well, that's a lot for me - maybe not for the rest of you, but for me it is. If you have trouble drinking water, take a look at this.

3.  To do 1 craft with the kids per week.  I know, some of you do crafts every day and others only every once in a while. But I think that I can manage one a week. There are quite a few blogs that have great ideas and I will be adding them to my sidebar soon.Or you could just go to Gina's blog and look at her sidebar!

4.  To let the kids make one item in the kitchen per week.  I want them to be able to make roasted potatoes from start to finish with minimal hands-on help from me.  A different dish every week and I'll have 3 little chefs before you know it.

5. To be more organized and prepared.  If I want to do numbers 3 and 4 above successfully, then I am going to need to get organized - time and house! Here is a great idea just to get the ball rolling, and as I find more, I will post them. 

6.  To listen more and talk less. I know, that is kind of like an oxymoron after you read this whole long post. But hopefully these will be few and far between.

7.  To smile more.  Have you ever seen a picture taken where you were in the background (not the main focal point of the picture) and looked like life was just horrible?  Well I have, and it isn't a pretty sight.  I normally look like I could bite someone's head off. So I am going to try to change this....smile lines, here I come.

8.  Learn to sew.  The theme of my birthday this year was focused on sewing.  I received a rotary cutter, a clear quilt ruler, a cutting mat and a birthday cake with a picture of a needle, thread and quilt on it. I haven't always wanted to sew and have passed up many opportunities to learn (foolishness on my part)...but now that I have had a large brick thrown at me, I'm ready to roll, or should I say sew?

9.  Pray more.  It seems like during this past year I would find myself praying a lot....but mostly when I needed something, or was scared of what was to come.  I would like to set aside time everyday to pray and spend time with God.  I'm thinking a prayer journal would come in handy here.  I'm a list person and seem to do well when I have a list in front me, not to say that I'm just going to check off my prayer list so carelessly but to use it as a guide - so as not to get distracted. I think if I could write my prayers out that it just might help.

10.  To do 2 loads of laundry everyday - start to finish. I have no problems washing clothes or even folding them.  It's the "getting them out of the basket and into the drawers" part that I seem to have trouble with.

Well, that should do it for now.  This isn't a complete list, but it's a start. Hello 29!

On a side note - we need a good family picture with ALL of us in it at the same time. Maybe this will be goal number 11.