12.25.10

Christmas eve the littles all opened one present (new PJs...just like half of America!  lol)  Kessa and Gabi got matching ones from American Girl that I snagged on e-bay...and the other two got jammies from Target.  Not gonna lie, I was disappointed in the jammie selection available this year...I looked at a lot of stores!  Oh well, they could have been old and holey and the kids would have loved them!  :)

Grace got a new shirt from DressMe that I think she looks FABULOUS in!  (but of course being the tightwad frugalista that I am I bought it used off of Recycled Upcycles)

Kessa recieved a beautiful, one of a kind, hand made Waldorf doll from Snicklefritz Friends (have I mentioned I LOVE to barter?!?  If you make something cool and have an itch for some cute clothes for your kids PM me and I bet we can work something out!  lol ;)

and THIS little dude...is becoming such a man.  He got REAL tools for Christmas and couldn't have been more pleased.  

(that cool bracelet Ezekiel has on is an ID bracelet from The Owl and The Firefly)

We did have some attitude issues that were discouraging to deal with on and around Christmas, but God is faithful and they seem to be on the mend...at least until next Christmas.  

Kessa also floored my husband's family when her Grandmother began reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 and she took over and quoted the entire thing. This wasn't something I sat down and made her memorize.  Last year at Christmas (when she was 3) we just read it every night before bed, and being the little sponge that all toddlers are, she memorized it.  That has been both an encouraging and convicting lesson to me about what I saturate her mind with...may it always be as beneficial as learning scripture!

I pray you and yours had a very merry Christmas and were reminded anew of the wonder and awe of God being made flesh...of Emmanuel....God WITH us.  

The Gingerbread House

Like most of you, we like to make a gingerbread house around Christmas.  I realized after the fact what I REALLY should have taken pictures of was me trying to get the silly thing to stand up!  lol.  That was a feat.  Last year I bought one that was already assembled.  I see more of those in our future.  

The first thing 'Zekiel wanted to know when I was putting the house together..."Where's the garage?!?!"  Yup, he's a man.

Kessa was very intentional with her side of the house.  We bought a Willy Wonka kit complete with Runts, Nerds, Sweet Tarts, and Bottle Caps.  She loved using all the Bottle Caps on the roof.  With much care and precision. 

Zeke put some candy on his side too...

but mostly he had to be reminded to not eat ALL of it before we finished the house.  

Kessa took pity on him and helped him finish his side so it didn't look so naked.  

We also got a nice little pebble (nerds) walkway up to the house.

And this is what it looked like by the next evening.

Cannibals.  

(and yes Jess, they're both wearing Narnia shirts!  ;)

I Can Fight This Feeling...

Nope, that's not a typo, but it did get the old 80's song stuck in my head...and now it's probably in yours too!  Just consider it my little present to you.

ANYWAY...today we got up and thought it would be fun to make cookies (and we might have needed to so that the hubs would have something to take to a carry in at work tomorrow too...) but then discovered we were out of milk and flour.  Enter trip to the grocery store...in the freezing cold...with three kids.  Not my idea of fun.  I dreaded it the entire time we were getting ready (ok, so that probably wasn't the most God glorifying attitude I could have had, but it's the truth!)

After much ado I got all the car seats strapped back into the van (that's another story) and all the kids strapped into said seats and we were off!  We ran a few other errands and then hit the grocery store.  Which was crowded.  Ugh.  It was 10 in the morning on a Wednesday!  Why were all those people there?

The kids (please note in this post when I say "the kids" I am going to be referring strictly to the older two.  The two that were not sitting peacefully in the cart.)   So, the kids were crazy hyper being kids in a really good mood and a little bit too over the top for a grocery store full of elderly people.  (did I not mention that?  Yup, it was full and they were all older people...)

Remembering the reasons I wanted to teach them to behave in public I bent down and had a quite talk with them that went a little something like this, "Hey guys, I know you're excited but remember how we've talked about not everyone being used to kids and the nose they make?  And remember it's really not respectful to the other people around for you to be running around, getting in front of them, and being loud...especially for the people who aren't used to kids being around all the time.  How do you think you should act to show them God's love?"  silence  "You think maybe you should be a little calmer and stay close to the cart?" blank nodding (also interpreted as, just be done talking mom!)

We make it through the store and I have them go sit on a bench as I check out...and then I notice them using their feet to push each other across the bench...but this was NOT being done in fun.  They were getting mad.  One threw a punch.  Another picked up his or her little booted foot and stomped on his or her siblings hand as had as possible...which resulted in screaming and a mommy that just wanted to get out of there!

As I was struggling to not loose it I was reminded of some words I had read that morning.
Words that had discouraged me, rather than encouraging me.
Words that had driven me to my knees over my failure.
Words that caused me to cry out to Christ.
Words that now, in this moment, after the storm, that were quietly reminding me how to respond.  
Specifically, these words:

Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words I breathe are death words.

And because of those words, and all the other words in that post, I called upon my ever-present Savior for patience and help and I chose.  I chose to be thankful.  

Thankful that we went to the grocery store at all, because if we hadn't I wouldn't have seen the water bill that was due that day.

Thankful that my children being in the grocery store brightened the day of many of those aforementioned elderly people.

Thankful that despite the fight on the bench they were now playing happily together.

Thankful that the Holy Spirit alone is able to change my heart.

Thankful that God ordained I read those words that so discouraged me in the morning that I might gain strength from them later.  

Thankful for the struggle that I might better appreciate the peace.

A Little Bit o' School

So after this post with our schedule for our "away" day of school when we get together with our Classical Conversations group, I thought it might be fun to give you a better visual of some of the memory work we do.  I think I might try and post one piece of memory work from one subject every week.

This week, one of our history sentences!  (We've learned 12 so far this year, this one is from about the middle of the semester)

Real Life Friday...

posted on Saturday (due to circumstance beyond my control, but completely in HIS control.)

12.10 - The birthday of my dear sweet hubby.  We've had big plans ever since we learned that This was being released on that very same day!  Wasn't it nice of them to plan such a big celebration for him?

So, our plan for the day,
    morning - relax, hang out at home, play
    noon - FIL picks up the littlest and takes her home with him  (Kessa and 'Zekiel were just as excited about the movie as we were!)
    noon-thirty - stop for lunch on the way to movie
    afternoon - watch The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
    evening - dinner out and maybe some fun shopping

God's plan for our day,
   morning - relax, hang out at home, play

    noon - FIL picks up the littlest and takes her home with him  (Kessa and 'Zekiel were just as excited about the movie as we were!)

    noon-thirty - stop for lunch on the way to movie - here's where it started changing a bit...we ate at Taco Bell and as we were eating I though I was starting to get indigestion

   afternoon - the kids and hubs watch The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - I alternate between sitting, walking, trying to stretch across the stadium seating and finally end up in the car because I'm in a lot of pain

   4:00 - call my OB to ask about said pain (this is something I NEVER do.  I've been pregnant three times before and basically anything weird that happens, I chalk up to pregnancy)

   4:05 - OB nurse tells me to try Priolsec and be on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours

   4:07 - OB nurse calls me back because she thinks I may have been crying because of the pain (not confessing to this one, but it *may* be possible)  asks more questions, tells me to have someone take me to the ER

  4:09 - I call my SIL who has JUST arrived back from her honeymoon at Disney World and ask if she can get the kids so they don't have to go to the hospital with us.

  4:15 - hubby and kids emerge from movie and I give them the scoop "Happy Birthday Honey!!!"

  4:30 - amazing SIL and new BIL show up and take our over tired children away

  4:55 - as we pull into the ER parking lot..."Tim...it doesn't really hurt anymore"  (this after FOUR HOURS of severe pain!!)

  4:57-5:05 - Do we go anyway?  We DO live an hour away.  The nurse DID say to go.  But it doesn't still hurt!  ARGH!

  5:06 - Go into ER and explain the situation (being VERY clear to blame our appearance there on the nurse who told me to go!  lol)

 5:07 - 7:45 This was fabulous actually, because I'm pregnant I got sent up to Labor and Delivery instead of having to stay in the ER...and...added blessing, my OB was the doctor on call!    Anyway...after much poking and prodding and ultrasounding and so on and so for it was decreed that the pain had been caused by my gall bladder, however I didn't have any stones or other visual problems so I will *hopefully* be good to go as long as I stay on  a low fat diet.  

8:00 - go out to dinner with the hubs and then go home and crash into bed and sleep like a log until morning.  

The END.

What I Wore Wednesday

No, I don't have pictures.  No, I'm not a fashion hound.  I am, in fact, posting this ONLY so that I will have some sort of accountability.  Accountability to actually GET DRESSED.

I was telling some of my girlfriends at our Mom's Group last week I have a hard time being even remotely "fashionable" all the time...but you bring on winter and cold weather and I'm just done.  DONE.  I just want to hunker down in some fleece pants and a big ol' hoodie and not come out again 'till spring...and I suppose if I were a spinster or lived alone that would be fine...but I'm not.

See...I tricked this fabulous guy into marrying me...I was all skinny and cute and pre-four children, and I actually did sometimes wear something besides jeans and t-shirt...so really...I guess you could call that false advertising.  Right?  He thinks he's getting THAT girl for his wife...and then one day he wakes up and realizes that he REALLY married old holey fleece and hoodie girl.  Not really fair to him is it?

SO...I'm posting this and tell you ALL (all 11 of you!  lol!!) that NEXT wedensday I'll be here with rings on my fingers and belts on hips and pictures to prove how much I love my man.  And that I want him to still find me attractive!  lol

But for now, if you need a little inspiration, go check out wiww at the Pleated Poppy and then...GET DRESSED!  lol (oh, wait, that was for me, not you! ;)

and just to give you a little visual...it's usually something like this...which reminds me.  The PONY TAIL.  The hubs likes my hair long...so that's another goal...if he likes it long I'm quite sure he would like to SEE it long...and not in a pony all the time.

Water 4 Christmas

If you've been around blogland you know that all sorts of charities pop up during this time of year...and I've got another one for you!  lol.  Last year was the first time I think I had heard of Water4Christmas and for some reason God has really used this charity to touch my heart.  For one of our children's gifts last year we bought them shirts from the Water4Christmas etsy shop and explained to them how them getting those shirts instead of another toy helped a little girl and a little boy have clean water to drink that wouldn't make them sick.

This year the Water4Christmas etsy shop did things a big differently.  They didn't have a chance for a bunch of crafty ladies to get together and make stuff for a whole weekend so they reached out to the crafting world and ask for donations.   The call for help that I saw was very close to when they needed to donations by so a lot of the stuff isn't Africa related, it's just cute stuff people already had made.  BUT, everything was donated so 100% of what you spend (minus shipping) goes to providing clean water in Africa.

I bought these:

and this

and I'm thinking about buying these for myself:

So what about you?  What can you buy this year and help serve others at the same time?  

Well I think these are super cute!  If Grace were just a tiny bit smaller I'd be all over this set.  I just love it! And this would be sure to make some little girl happy.   There are probably 5 or 6 more pages of things for you to look through and new things are added almost daily, so, GO SHOP!!!!!!

It.Is.Finished.

Or just beginning...depending on how you're looking at it.  But they're married. My sweet sister-in-love and her fiance are married.  (and if blogger will EVER stop flipping my photos maybe I can post pictures!) It was beautiful, and God-honoring, and full of sugar, and lots of hard work.

There were FIVE children (ages 4, 3, 2, 1 and 9 months!) all in the wedding...and all their mommies and daddies were in the wedding too.

And full of sugar.  And lots of hard work.
Did I already mention that?

I'm going to go pass out now...and pray I sleep till tomorrow, without getting up with a 1 year old.

O Christmas Tree

(first, let me say, I HATE indoor flash photography...bleck!  How horrible does the above photo look?  But at least I realized quickly!  ;)

So today we did the whole "put up the tree" tradition.  I LOVE decorating for Christmas...and this year Ezekiel was SOOO excited about everything.  I'm smiling just thinking about it as I sit here typing.  

Sadly I didn't have that same attitude all day.  About half of us are feeling under the weather around here and because of that I needed a lot of helping "finding a happy heart" today.  I'm so grateful that, as we're reminded in the catachism, "the Holy Spirit alone" is able to change our hearts.  

I'm so grateful for this time of year.  Grateful for the focus of the season (JESUS, not gifts!  lol ;) and the continual reminders of what an amazing God we serve.  One who's plan, from the foundation of the world, including sending his Son to earth as a baby.  

(when did my baby get so big?  And so darn pretty?!?!)

We've stressed so much that Santa isn't what Christmas is about, that he was just a kind man that lived a long time ago, and that we're really celebrating Jesus's birth...that I'm a little worried that one of the kids is going to get us into trouble by telling some other little kid that Santa isn't real.  We've talked about how some people like to pretend Santa is real and all that...but...any ideas?  

Grace was all about helping daddy pick out ornaments!

and this little dude...I think he hung everything on two branches!  lol.  So funny.

Alright, so, that was random but I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!

One for the Boys

Lest you think I only have girls...or don't sew for boys...

I made this faux layered hoodie for my little dude and his BAB buddie Wheels from some of my husband and I's old Early November shirts (it's a band!  lol ;)

I also have to share this little fact that I was UBER excited about today!  Wheels has a growling "voice box" in his paw and it just up and stopped working a week or so ago.  No warning..one night at bedtime it worked, the next morning...nada.  So we took him in to the Build -a- Bear store today to see if they could fix him...and not only did they do surgery and put in a new growler, it was all complimentary!!!!  I was so excited  that I didn't have to pay for it I used the money I was planning on spending for it to buy these:  

I mean...they were JUST like the ones 'Zekiel had on...and it was just too cute to pass up!  lol

and just for fun..a few more of my cutie and Wheels...

I LOVE the one above...and want to play around with it some more, I think we could really rock that sunflair.  :)  

On a side note...when Zeke was going to bed tonight he informed me that Wheels needs some jammies...probably Cars jammies...so you can be watching for those!  lol ;)

It's Monday...

and in our house Monday means Classical Conversations.  We're part of a Classical Conversations community that meets once a week and works on memory work, science projects, public speaking and Bible together.

Classical Conversations is a place where the parents are still the final teachers and the classical model of education is presented in a way to empower and equip parents to go home and continue giving their children the tools to learn for a lifetime because we believe that the purpose of education is to know God and make Him known.

I read on another blog today that the back of the t-shirts their children wear on field trips reads “Non shcolae sed vitea discimus.” We learn not for school, but for life.   I LOVE that!!!  (oh, did I mention that my 4 year old knows about five different latin verb tenses?  I'm a big fan of latin.)

So, what's a typical CC (Classical Conversations) class day look like?

We arrive a little before 9 and drop the littles off in the nursery (children must be at least 4 to be part of a CC classroom.)  However my almost 3 year old wanted to stay with us today and I must say he did quite well in class!

At 9 we kick things off with our scripture memory work.  This year we're memorizing Ephesians 6:1-24 (one verse a week for 24 weeks.)
Then one family does a presentation on anything they want, from a family vacation, to pets, to favorite books, and then prays for us before we head for the classroom.

Once we're in our classroom we start with new grammar (and by grammar, I mean the foundational information we're learning about 6 different subjects including english grammar.)
Our subjects are
math
science
english grammar
geography
history
latin

and we also go over our timeline cards at this point.

Once all our new grammar is complete we have a small break for snack and potty time.  Then we start in with our public speaking.  We go over a new public speaking "rule" each week to try and work on (such at articulation, the 3 second rule, gestures, etc) and then each child gives a short presentation on an assigned subject (next week they're supposed to bring and talk about their favorite stuffed animal.)

Next up are science and either music or art.  And at the very end we play some sort of review game to help them remember everything we're learning.

Finally...and I'm sure this is the kids favorite part!...we all eat lunch together and then the kids run around and scream like the crazy people they really are.

Sorry this was such a long post with no pictures to break up the monotony, but hopefully I'll have a few videos in the future to help you get a better visual of the things we're learning!  :)  Props if you made it this far!!!

Gratitude

Gratitude for so much.  Big and small.

Blessed.

I feel like God has been inundating me with reminders of all that He has bestowed on me.  Reminders to be grateful.  Reminders that  "I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!"

I'm studying Exodus in my current Kay Arthur bible study and let me tell you what, those Israelites can be convicting in their grumbling and ingratitude!  Moses and Aaron reminded the people that, "Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord."  (Exodus 16:8)  I know that God is going to bring that verse to mind the next time I open my mouth to whine about something.  To complain about how good I've got it.  God has blessed me with the circumstances I'm in and I'm choosing to be grateful.  I'm choosing joy.

I've been inspired by Lindsay to start a notebook of gifts.  A journal of gratitude.  When a tiny thing I'm thankful for flits across my mind, I'll record it.  When a complaint or whiny attitude attacks me I'll chose to write something I'm grateful for instead.

Because really, Christ is saved me.  He's sanctifying me.  He's conforming me to His image.  Those are ALL reasons to have a heart overflowing with gratitude.

Now, I challenge you to join me, and Lindsay and Ann, and choose JOY through gratitude.

Reminded...Again.

You absolutely can't do it in your own strength.  You can never be strong enough, smart enough, resourceful enough.  Putting others first just doesn't come naturally.  Laying aside what you want, to serve another with grace and contentment - that is what God calls you to.  You can do it only when you rely on the strength that Christ works in your, the love that he supplies, and the perseverance that the Holy Spirit provides.  

                                                                                                                -Ginger Plowman

                                                                                                              Heaven at Home

This is something I need to be reminded of daily.  Christ's love, Christ's strength, Christ's grace, Christ's patience, all of these working through my and pouring out into the lives of my little family are the only way I will ever be able to please Him (or make it through a day without having a temper tantrum for that matter!)  

One example from this week of Christ's grace flowing through me that I'm so grateful for happened on Wednesday.  I've been trying to do a better job of keeping things picked up...and of making sure the kids help.  This doesn't always go over so well.  Like most kids they LOVE making a mess but aren't so keen on cleaning it up.  So Wednesday morning I asked my 4 year old to pick up the toys in the living room (because we'd been doing a good job of keeping stuff picked up there weren't very many!) and she decided to throw a big fit about it.  Normally this would have earned her a spank and then she would have had to pick up the toys away, but I decided to try something different.  

I told her after she finished picking up all the toys she could pick out ONE toy, and that was the only toy she would be playing with for the rest of the day.   Wasn't too tramatic right then, she thought hard about it and then chose her doll house (smart kid!  Way to get a lot of toys all rolled up as one!)  

Anyway, the whole one toy thing didn't seem to impact her much until naptime, when she wanted her doll Fiona.  

THEN, THEN it was the end of the world.  She was tired (it was naptime after all), she and Fiona ALWAYS sleep together, and she was just done.  A large fit ensued.  Normally, in my own strength, by this time in the day, I probably would have been close to loosing it.  I probably would have told her (in no uncertain terms!) that she was acting spoiled and selfish and if she didn't stop she would have to be punished.  BUT on this particular day, because God was pouring out His grace through me I realized what a teachable moment this was.  

I sat down on the edge of the bed and calmly told her I understood how upsetting it was to not have Fi for naptime.  I reminded her how blessed she was to have Fi at all and we talked a little about how much she loves her.  Then I pointed out that the main reason she throws a bit fit about picking up her toys is because she isn't grateful that she has them.  We talked about how God has blessed us with so much and that he expects us to be responsible for what he's given us, for her this means taking care of her toys and picking them up when she's asked to.  Finally we prayed together and thanked God for Fi and all the other toys and then asked that he fill us both with grateful hearts that would rejoice in taking care of the things he has bestowed on us.  

Now, I can't say that all of that made a lasting impact on my 4 year old, but it DID make a lasting impact on me...and it DID stop the fit and allow her to sleep (even without her doll.)  

So, that's it.  Why can't I remember how much better things work out when I do them in HIS strength and not my own?!?!  

Because We're Dorks...

We all (as in every single person in the household, all five of us!) were very excited about the box that came today.

How often is it that a single box brings something for everyone in the family?  Pretty much never around here!  But today, today was different!  Today the UPS man brought ONE box...with FIVE stunning, pretty, shiny new.....

nalgene bottles!!! 

 Because, like I said, we're dorks (and I had a coupon for 50% off my entire order!  Score!!)  

Anyway, we're all thrilled and I'm all into things being color co-ordinated...so in general Kessa has purple stuff, Grace has pink stuff, and Zeke has green stuff (not sure what we'll do if the new baby is another girl though!  I mean, if it's a boy, that's easy, it'll get blue!  lol)  

Ok, I'm done with my dorkiness for one night...but I'll leave you with one last picture!  ;)  

It's Finally Fall!

I know it's been ACTUALLY been fall for a long time...but now my blog looks all pretty and "fallish" too!  :)  And thanks to Virginia I finally can stop being annoyed by my header been off centered!  Thanks V!!!

And..I know it's too late now, but did you vote?!?!

Because if you didn't maybe you should go sit in a corner and feel like this:

(leggings by Fancy Pants Designs, dresses by BabyFish Designs)

but I'm sure you were all good responsible citizens and voted right?!  :)  

So instead you can be proud of yourself and feel like this:  

The Introduction is Worth It

Now, I don't know about you, but a lot of times, when I pick up a book, I don't read the forward, or the introduction, or anything like that.   I just want to jump into the book.  However, last week I got a new book, and for one reason or another (divine intervention perhaps? ;) I read the introduction.

The book?

  I can't remember where I first saw this, but honestly I may have snickered at the title...and then I read the subtitle, "Establishing and ENJOYING a Peaceful Home."  That caught my attention.  And THEN I saw that Ginger Plowman wrote it.  I LOVE her book Don't Make Me Count to Three (and highly recommend it!) so I used some of the Amazon gift cards I had earned through Swagbucks and bought it.

But, back to the introduction.  As I was reading it these words jumped out at me. "It will be tempting to read this book with the mindset of, 'What steps must I take in order to have a peaceful home? How can I be a happier more fulfilled Christian?' I urge you to read this book with the mindset of, 'Although there is nothing I can do to earn righteousness and acceptance, how can I radiate the peace of Christ so that his character might be glorified in and through me? How can I bless God in the way I treat my family?  How can my mind be transformed that I might become more pleasing to Jesus?"

How I needed to read those words!  You see, when I'm pregnant, I don't really get sick, or even have to many crazy mood swings.  I just get mean.  Impatient.  I struggle to survive my children rather than enjoying them.  Basically I feel like I'm PMS'ing for 9 months.  But that is not at excuse.  It's a reason to cling to Christ and his grace and mercy.  It's a way for Him to very visibly sanctify me every minute of everyday...but far too often I don't allow that to happen.  I just wallow in my sin.  So these words were both convicting and encouraging to me.  Focus on CHRIST.  That's all I need to be doing...the rest will follow.

Catching Up

So I thought, let's just jump back in!  I saw on my husband's blog feed that it's been FIFTY-FIVE days since I've blogged.  Umm....oops?  Not gonna lie though, it was nice.  I'm almost out of my first trimester with little one #4 and I think I'm FINALLY starting to get a bit more energy back.  I had NO extra energy...even to blog.

So what HAVE we been doing?

Hiding in cabinets....

Going to pumpkin patches...

and of course, sewing too!  

He might look like he's grimacing but I swear he picked up Fiona and wanted in the picture when I was trying to photograph a new doll dress!  lol

And now I'm off to watch the rest of Parenthood and find a bedtime snack.  Night night!

Comparisons

We all fall prey to them don't we?  They're ugly things.
It doesn't matter if we're the ones doing it or if someone else is.
It doesn't matter if we come out on the good end of the comparison...or a little bit lower on the list.

In one case we end up belittling others and becoming prideful.
In the other case we end up missing out on the gifts God has blessed US with and envying someone else.

We do it all the time.  We envy how quickly she can work, or how clean her house always is, or how well behaved her kids are, or how good her photography is, or, or, or.  The list goes on and on and the more we compare the less satisfied we are.  Often it doesn't even spur us on to work harder or seek out help in becoming more like the characteristics we envy.  It just makes us bitter.  And gets us down.

I'm reminded of Galatians 6:3-5 which says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."  In my bible from highschool and college I have written under these verses, "we should compare ourselves to no one but Christ that we may see how miserably short we fall.  That's helpful if we're getting prideful, but I was also reflecting tonight that if we are looking constantly to Christ we won't get caught up in the whole comparison thing to begin with.  We will simply be seeking after Him fully, trying to glorify HIM in all work, all play, all business, all cleaning, all training, all discipline.

Life really is so much more simple when we forget the world and seek first Him who can satisfy completely.

and because no post is complete without some eye candy....

"We're Triplets" Photo Shoot

Let me preface this photo share by saying, #1 - it was very last minute, #2 - I am (OBVIOUSLY) not a professional model and finally, #3 - I should have taken the time to put in my contacts...but since I didn't just ignore the scruntchy face I'm making in most of these!  lol

The We're Triplets Skirts are pretty much only a custom made item because trying to get three skirts all the right sizes for someone to buy just by chance...is pretty hard!  lol but since they are a custom item I talk to you, the customer, about what you like and don't like and then show you fabrics to choose from before I ever start the skirt.  For this item I often even special order fabric.

Ok, enough nitty gritty, let's get on with the show!

and there ya have it!  (and let me just say, this skirt...SOOOOOOOOO comfy!!!!)

Real Life Sunday (Posted on Monday)

My house is a wreck.  I've ALMOST given up on all of it being clean at the same time.  I was telling my husband last night that at least once a day the whole house looks pretty good...and it last for a split second before someone pulls out 5 or 10 books...or spills some juice...or...or...or.... but as I stood in my terribly messy kitchen, washing dishes, trying to get it clean enough to mess up again by fixing dinner I was reminded of something I read a while back on Money Saving Mom and I started thinking about what all the messes in our house MEAN.

For instance, the dirty dishes and messy kitchen mean that our family has gathered together and had plenty to eat.

The books littered all over every room in the house mean that learning is taking place (by ALL of us!)

The toys mean that God has blessed us with three amazing children who are able to play and enjoy in a safe environment surrounded by their parents and sibling who love them.

The material all over the playing/sewing room floor are a sign of all the business that God has blessed me with so that I might contribute to our family finances and also buy some "extras."

All in all...when I look at it this way, the mess isn't so overwhelming, or depressing for that matter.  Instead each mess reminds me of a reason to praise my awesome God!

A Bubble Dress...Tutorial?

Well this isn't really a tutorial, more like a walk through or something.  And it might be completely lame.  If it is, please tell me so I can never do it again!  lol

Kessa's been asking me for quite a while if I would make her a dress with the above Tink shirt, so yesterday while I was waiting to hear back from a customer about the item I was working on I thought I'd try making her a bubble dress with this.  

So I dug through all my knits and picked out some other fabrics that coordinated well with this shirt.

Then I just start cutting.  I cut out squares and rectangles and lay them all out on top of my pattern to get a general idea of how many pieces I need (except I didn't have a pattern for this style!  lol)

After I've got what looks like will probably be enough cut out I start sewing them together.  

Once I got to this point I decided I wanted it a little longer so I sifted through my stack of scraps and found enough to make another strip at the bottom.  

After I added that I measured my bottom band and started sewing it on...only to discover that I measured incorrectly and it was, in fact, too small.  So then I added a little bit more to it (but didn't measure this time...) and it ended up too big!  lol.  I tried it on Kessa and it really does need fixed...so I'll post pictures of the final product after it look more normal!  ;)  

And now...I'm off to see what else I can get sewn whilest the littles sleep.  

Happy Thursday!!!