happily random

Goodbye Christmas

I hadn't planned on doing it until this weekend, but as I was sitting around yesterday afternoon it just started getting to me. I had to put away the Christmas decorations. I don't know why it was bugging me so much other than I just wanted my house to go back to normal and to get rid of all the clutter. So I did it; I put away the Christmas decorations. I even drug the Christmas tree outside (after taking off all the ornaments of course). Every thing is back the way it was before with the boxes waiting to head back into the attic. Ahhhhhh.....

Joel & I did indeed see Night at the Museum last night. So, so cute! Very funny. I think my kids would really enjoy it too, so I'll definitely be renting it for them when it comes out on DVD. The kids (except for Samantha) are still over at Grandma & Grandpa's house until later this morning, so the house is pretty quiet. Joel is still sawing logs in bed; he had a lot of late nights working on estimates this week. My turn will come tomorrow. It's just one of the benefits of having an 11:30 service at our church on Sunday morning: we both get to sleep in once a weekend.

No big plans for the weekend. Joel is going to finish drywalling a section of my studio so we can paint it soon. I'm going to try to organize some of my stuff, if I can get it the kids to cooperate. I would like to participate in a scrapbook garage sale that one of my local scrapbook stores is sponsoring so I can get rid of some of my excess, so I need to figure out what's going to go. Big accomplishments are tough with 4 little ones underfoot, so we'll see how it goes!

"When you call on me, when you come & pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me & want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." Jeremiah 29:12-14

Mom-ism

Is there a phrase you hear saying to your kids over & over & over again? I do. I almost smile everytime I hear it come out of my mouth because I say it so much.

"I didn't ask you if you wanted to."

This is usually said in response to one of the kids saying "But I don't want to do _____________." That's pretty much the first thing that comes out of their mouth when I tell them to do something that they don't want to do. My response is never really effective. Honestly, I don't think the kids even hear me say it anymore because I've said it so much. It is usually followed with "You had been do ________ or you'll get a time out and you'll still have to do _________." But I still say it. I probably always will. LOL.

Yesterday was a much better day than the day before. I would have to say it was night & day different than the day before, it was such an improvement. I got a much needed break. My MIL called in the morning & said she would watch all four kiddos for me so I could get out alone. So thoughtful! There were never more sweeter words uttered than those. :) ALONE.

I planned out my shopping lists for the grocery store & CostCo, & then decided on my way into town that I would stop for some lunch too. I thought of buying a book to read while I ate (I hate to just sit there alone... eating), when I remembered that my friend's husband is a teacher & is home for winter break. I decided to call her to ask her to join me, which she did. So not only did I get out alone, but I got to have lunch with a friend too. It was delightful. Never underestimate how nice it is to not have to get four kids into carseats every time you get in and out of the car! :)

What's more, is tonight is date night. The kids go to my in-laws for a sleepover (all but Samantha, who we pick up after our date) and Joel & I get to go out, just the two of us. I think tonight we'll be seeing Night at the Museum.

The weekend will see us taking down the Christmas tree & all the decorations. I love putting them up, but after Christmas, I love seeing the clutter go away too. Life returning to normal....

"Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle." Matthew 20:17

Dinosaurs & Discipline

One of the Christmas presents Lucas was the most excited about was his "I Dig Dinosaurs" kit. I must admit, I knew it would be a big hit. Isn't it fun getting stuff for your kids that you know they're going to love? I think that is better than even receiving a great gift yourself. Not only does Lucas LOVE dinosaurs, but I thought the chiseling would be good for his hand-eye coordination (which he needs help with) as well as working on his patience issues.

So Christmas afternoon he started. And he hammered & chiseled off & on for 2 1/2 days. He was SO excited when he found the first bone in the stone. And when he got it out, he ran through the house to show everyone. Every bone that he discovered renewed his excitement. Now I must say, it is a messy project. I was sweeping up little stones for 3 days (& I can still see some on my table) despite the baking sheet I put underneath it. But it was worth it. When he got all the bones out, we put the dinosaur together & he proudly placed it in his room. If you have a child that is into dinosaurs, I would highly recommend one of these kits. Throughout the whole thing, this child who normally is very easily frustrated, patiently hammered away at the stone for days. I am so proud of him.

Yesterday was a rough day for me. Nervous breakdown sounds like a good description. LOL. The kids have been having issues. Bickering, whining, complaining... times four. There was a lot of yelling (mostly by me) & quite a bit of crying (some by me) & people getting sent to their rooms (including me). I've decided I've really got to hunker down where discipline is concerned. It's one thing when you have one kid being disobedient, but it's downright craziness with 3 (Sammy doesn't really have disobedient issues at one year). But my task is so much more than just making them behave. I like how Lisa Whelchel puts it in her book Creative Corrections, "My life is so much simpler & more enjoyable when the kiddos obey me without arguing & when they get along with each other. As a result, I'm quick to correct them, sometimes in anger, when my comfort is distrurbed, without considering how I'm modeling God to them." That helps put things in perspective. It's more than just the kids bothering me with the way they act, but teaching them the things that are pleasing to God. Lisa's book is amazing. Full of very creative ideas for discipline & reminders that as parents we have an eternal purpose in the way we raise our children. It's very humbling.

Lisa Whelchel has some FANTASTIC parenting/mother book books out there. The two I've read & would recommend are the Creative Corrections book I mentioned above, as well as Taking Care of the Me in Mommy. I also have So You're Thinking about Homeschooling, which I have barely cracked, but need to read. How are we going to afford 4 kids in private school? Yikes! I would also recommend some books by Julie Barnhill. She is such a hoot! The two I've read & loved are She's Gonna Blow & her most recent one Motherhood: The Guilt That Keeps on Giving.

Well, Ty has a four-alarm diaper that needs tending. It's definitely coming close to potty training time for that boy. Anyone seen some Monster Truck underwear for toddlers???

The God who made the world & everything in it, this Master of sky & land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the humas race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human races & made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time & space for living so we could see after God, & not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-&-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live & move in him, can't get away from him! Acts 17:24-28 (The Message Bible)

My baby & her baby

Samantha got a baby doll from her Grandmother for Christmas. She lavishes all kinds of attention on her baby, giving it hugs & kisses. I enjoy watching her adore her baby, my baby who can't even walk yet. :)

Back to business as usual, sort of. The kids are still out of school, so it's chaos around here most of the day. With all four of them all home all day, the house is getting messy even more quickly than usual, if that's even possible. Like shoveling snow while it's still snowing.... LOL. That Flylady needs to come to my house for a week & see if she can keep up!

I am currently working on getting my scrapbook studio reorganized. Joel put in new floors and now it's time to put everything back in it's place. Right now I'm working on my ribbon stash. I think I've finally come up with a good system for them, but we'll see. Anything is better than the tangled mess that they are in the bag that I have them all in now! I'll post pictures once they're finished.

It's raining today. Such a bummer. It's not that I don't like the rain, but I hate the rain in the winter. Snow! I want snow. And what's worse is it snowed all day yesterday, so it's turning into a slushy mess outside. It's 36 degrees out there, so of course, it's raining. Blech! Good thing I'm not going anywhere. :) But I do feel sorry for my husband though, being out in it. He doesn't like the rain in the winter either. The birds are happy though; the snow has mostly melted off their feeder.

Ah... as I write this the rain is getting icy. Maybe it'll snow? :)

I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing; to live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. Psalm 27:4-5 (The Message Bible)

Post-Christmas

I hope that everyone reading this had a delightful Christmas, full of love, joy & family. We had a great day that started, of course, at 5 a.m. Joel & I awoke to Tyler coming into our room asking, "Where's Lucas?" I guess Luke had gotten up & headed into Beka's room to play while they waited for us to get up. Which makes me wonder: what time did they actually woke up?

Anyway, we opened our gifts, our kids getting frustrated with taking turns opening gifts. Sorry, I go to all the trouble of buying them that I would like to see them open them instead of a free-for-all. Mean Mommy. ;)

I didn't get a single scrapbooking item for Christmas. Amazing, huh? Either my family thinks that I have everything or they're sick of buying me scrapbook stuff. I think it might be a little of both. LOL. Joel got me a new, beautiful jewerly box with drawers & places for all my necklaces, earrings, rings, etc. Now I might actually wear my jewerly since I can actually find things to wear instead of digging through my jewelry.

Thanks to my dear friend, Melissa, Joel also got me a new robe from Bath & Body Works that I came across while doing my Christmas shopping. I guess Melissa told Joel that I really wanted one. It's a fabulous robe: all soft and fluffy. I haven't had a good robe in years and this one is super.

I also got a stereo for my iPod. YEAH! This was one thing I specifically asked for. The one Joel got for me rocks, as it's small & portable. It can be charged & carried where I want to use it, having a case for it & everything. Love that.

Oh, and my mom got me a Bissell SpotBot. Have you seen those? You just set this little machine on top of a carpet stain, turn it on & let it go to work. Yesterday I was going all over the house cleaning carpet stains. This thing rocks! It takes 3-6 minutes to clean and I don't have to scrub. That way my carpet doesn't look horrible between shampooings. You know how kids are. :)

Those are a few of my favorite goodies I got for Christmas. I won't bore you with the entire list. ;) I do have to mention though, we finished unwrapping presents BEFORE the sun came up. LOL.

I love the winter. I love the cold outside, snow falling, fires in the wood stove, sweaters, scarves... everything. As I sit here, snow is gently falling outside & chickadees are digging through the snow in the birdfeeder for seeds. I just love watching the the birds. One of those simple pleasures. That, and sitting here by the woodstove, feeling the heat & hearing the crackle of the fire. At least what I can hear over the sounds of kids playing with new toys. ;) It's a delightful morning.

And as I type that, Samantha is now pulling up on me & crying for my attention. Guess my meanderings are going to come to end now...

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me & you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me & work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me & you'll learn to live freely & lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Bible)

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas smiles (& one growl) from Lucas, Rebekah, Samantha & Tyler. Aren't they cute sporting their new Christmas jammies? This is actually the first year I have gotten them all new jammies for Christmas Eve & they were thrilled. "We get to be twins!" they all exclaimed. Next year I'll have to take it one step further & get them all 4 identical PJs. They'll be even more excited! :)

Presents are all wrapped & hiding in my closet, just waiting for the kids to go to bed. I just love their reaction on Christmas morning when they wake up & see the tree, which had nothing under it the night before, full of gifts for them. If only they would get up just a little later... like after the sun came up? My kids are such early birds, & Christmas morning is no exception.

Santa is on his way.... *M*E*R*RY*C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*

A Day Off

Can I call in sick? Or take a mental health day? Today is one of those days that I would have been better off just staying in bed. People with jobs get to call in sick; I wish there was a way for ME to call in sick sometimes. I'd lay in bed, watch a movie, eat junk food, read my ENORMOUS, ever-growing pile of magazines, take a nap and just veg out. I think that's what I want for Christmas: just a few mental health days that can call in whenever I need them. A gal can dream....

Happy blog birthday! It's been 1 year today!! :)