Cartoon Mommy

Do-over

2012-02-15T13:41:00.003-08:00

Keep Trying!!!

I love starting over.

I know it usualy means you have failed at something. (Hence the word 'over')

But, When it comes to the subject of home and family and organization or management strategies, I am finally finding that each time I start trying a new direction, or rather a new attempt at doing things 'right', things at least get better.

Better is great! If every year I keep only a few of my resolutions, or at least learn some important lessons shaping next year's resolutions, then I'm making progress!!!

Right now, I look around me and I am encouraged by the progress I have made in the last few years!

Does it sound obnoxious that I'm patting myself on the back?

Well, you should know that this is from someone who used to beat herself up a bit about her goals and lack of accomplishing them. I have these ideas about what I should be and what a day in the life of our family should look like, what our home should be like, etc...

And I used to be soooo far from there.

Now, I'm a little closer. Thanks to God's patience and blessings in my life of course.

This makes me want to encourage other people!
I think I will go do that right now...

I was thinking yesterday- you know how you can spot another dreamer? They take time to encourage other people's dreams.

So Thank You, fellow dreamer... you know who you are.

Have a great day!!!
Misty

My other blog....The Drawing One

2012-02-14T15:00:00.002-08:00

Greetings, friends...

Just wanted to share my other blog with you real quick.
That one is just for posting a drawing each day(actually night).
So, Go check it out!

Click Here to see my doodling.

Thanks!

Misty

Big Gap in Blogging and New Baby News!

2012-02-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

Meet our new addition: Linus Zane

I'm going to blame him for my lack of blogging for the past several months, even though he just got here.
It was a really long pregnancy, ya'll.... it felt like years.

He is almost two weeks old now and I am just now feeling like myself again. I can walk without waddling like a duck and I can sleep! (between feedings that is)

Blogging and Homeschooling were two of the things that were put on hold toward the end of the pregnancy. I wasn't totally useless though, I actually managed to put the nesting instinct to great use in cleaning and organizing my house right up to the last week. I did some artwork, I read some books, handcrafted some Christmas presents, and I finally finished the mural in my son's room.

So what I'm saying is that 'I'm back', and it's possible that more frequent blogs may be coming soon. Hope you all are well!

Misty

How to get some creativity.

2011-08-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have always been a creative person. Since most of my creativity has been channeled through art, I think most people assume me and the kids probably do lots of crafts. Being known as an artist and a homeschooler, it does make a measure of sense to expect this.

While I have been rather crafty in the past, crafts are not something I enjoy doing with my kids. *Gasp* I know... bad mommy award.

Crafts with kids are messy and time consuming.... and they usually result in something that has all the stability of a three legged hippo.

So you see it's not the mess that bothers me so much, it's the fact that the end result is so fragile and temporary. Anything made with popsickle sticks and toilet paper rolls is probably not going to be produced in this house.

We do like to draw and paint however, and I do save all their creations. We like to build with legos and I take photos of the really great constructions for posterity. I encourage all building and creating with toys and anything they can find.

Creativity is what I am really about.

This past couple of weeks I came across two pieces of writing about kids and creativity that really helped me focus my goals for the kids and our creative home atmosphere.... one was an article in Parents magazine. I would love to link to it here, but I haven't found it online yet. Instead I will give you the basic points. It was called "Inspire Creativity" and the subtitle says it all: Reading and math are the priorities for schools, but out-of-the-box thinking skills will be the key to a kid's success. By Leslie Garisto Pfaff

In the article we learn that statistics show that America's kids are losing their originality and imagination in schools. The reason is cited as the push for proficient levels on state examination leaving no time for anything but the basics, Math and English are the focus, rote learning is prized over critical thinking and more than ever play time is pushed completely out of schools at a very early level. Kids need to learn through play. This is where their imagination is developed. The article cites a recent IBM poll where 1,500 CEO's identified creativity as the single most important trait for leaders of the future.

My take on the article? Kids need time to be kids. Creativity must be encouraged, and there is more to learning than right and wrong answers.

I have much more to say about this ... stay tuned.

Next Blog: Creating creative centers in our home and the need for kids to be bored!

Looking ahead to the School Year

2011-07-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Pictured above is our Sonlight package for Kindergarden for this year. I recieved the package a couple of months ago but am just now getting ready to prepare for the coming year. This isn't everything actually, I ordered the Horizon's Math set seperately and Micah wanted to begin using it as soon as it came in so he has done many lessons in it and likes it alot. I also may be adding a Science component before we get started but first I want to determine if we have our hands too full already.

There isn't much to do by way of preparation, the beauty of Sonlight is that the instructor's guide (pictured in the foreground) does all the planning for you. They also make everything adaptable for you. you can omit activities or add more depending on your needs. They also have the option of a four day or five day schedule for each core curriculum. I have ordered the five day curriculum but I may switch to four days since we will be doing Co-op one day a week. I went ahead and ordered the five day because it comes with more storybooks and read-a-louds and I didn't want to miss out, instead of reading them during the year we can use them next summer, or read them as bedtime stories during vacations.

The absolute best thing I love about Sonlight is that the materials are about 90% reusable for the next student and the next and so on. There are very few consumable items. Basically these are the same books we will read with Allie and Noah. Some workbooks will need to be ordered, such as Math and Handwriting, but overall, it's a great investment for us.

As you can see there are many storybooks. There are maps and a Timeline book as well. As the student goes through the stories and the read-a-louds (basically bigger books that we will read a chapter or two of each day) then they will mark significant events in history on their timeline to create a view of history and time that will help them see the big picture. We will be going through Bible stories each week also, and using the Timeline book to mark events from that too. The maps are also utilized often along with the stories to help kids get a better idea of the world and the places that are talked about.

The intructor's guide encourages us to plan several field trips for this year also. I do hope to do that later. We may visit the Firestation and maybe the Newspaper office, a couple of workplaces and maybe a museum. It will be a tricky situation however, since Noah and Allie will be with us. Maybe I can plan those for days when Joey will be home. Or maybe get him involved in taking Micah on field trips.

We just found out my husband will be home one weekday each week according to his new schedule, this will present a special problem since homeschooling while Daddy is home presents distractions. Hopefully we will find a way to make that work for us, not against us.

I'm excited about this year, the thing I am really nervous about actually is the actual teaching of Micah to read. We have begun this already with the book. Teach your child to read in 200 easy lessons' (which many homeschool friends swear by) but I haven't been enthused by it. I need to redouble my efforts though, because he is doing fine with everything else, handwriting, math, etc. I just have to press on and unfortunately, this is the one area that Sonlight seems to lack most in.

Weary

2011-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been weary?

Lately I have been thinking of what it means to be truly weary. To me, weary is a word that speaks volumes.

Weary is a state of being.

I'm not just talking about being tired. I am not even just talking about going through a tough problem in life. Those times may be difficult, but sometimes they are quick. Some trials happen all at once.

Other trials take a long time.

That is what I am talking about when I say 'Weary'.

I am thinking of a particular friend now. A particular friend who is going through a tediously long trial. Though I have never lived through a similar experience as the trial she is going through, I still have tears and prayers for her whenever she comes to mind because of one truth.

I have been weary.

Over the last few days I have been mulling this over in my mind. I remember the weary times. Who can forget them. They lasted so very long. Those times in my life when a particular trial lasted for months or years.

Have you had a time where you were weary? Please take a moment to remember with me. Remember the heartache of waiting... I am talking of times in which your situation was stuck... your prayers become so repetitious you finally just stop asking the same things... eventually just your moaning and tears come instead of words and you let the Holy Spirit speak to God for you. You had faith that it would work out, but you wondered..... when? When, God?

Sometimes you may have even lost faith, or at least the strength to keep up hope. Maybe you sunk into a depression. Maybe you lost your joy altogether. Maybe everything else in your life began to suffer.

Maybe it was like a dry wasteland, an endless walk through a desert with no end in sight.

Maybe you were holding on with everything you had but just when your situation seemed completely hopeless... it got worse.

Unfortunately, the times that I am thinking of personally in my life when I was most weary were also the times when nobody seemed to understand.

Reasons for this vary. People are so quick to see answers to other people's situation. The things that mean the world to one person may be nothing to another. Most often it seemed, others had not experienced the same thing or were simply too busy with their own lives to even notice. Maybe they knew I was weary but had no idea how to help.

Maybe the point is, nobody is capable of helping. These situations are often dependent on God. On a miracle, on His perfect timing. Leaning on Him is the only thing a weary traveler can do.

I am thankful that I have been made to lean on Him so much. I am glad I know to go straight to Him when I need Him. I understand the reasons behind the things I have gone through.

I can honestly say, that being in the desert so long makes the rainy oasis so much more like paradise. Weeping may last for a night but Joy does come in the morning. The final outcome has always been a happy one for me. God blesses us for holding on in the weary times.

I just want to say that if you know someone who is weary, even if you don't really understand or are able to relate to their situation, this is your chance.

Lets all just be aware that some people around us are just trying to put one weary foot in front of another. A little help from a brother or sister in Christ could be just what they need to get through another day.

The Long Hot Summer

2011-06-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have blogged. So many thing have happened in our home in the last few months I have gotten behind. Everything has slowed down to a crawl now though for the rest of the summer, so I thought I might post some things.

First of all, Is it hot where you are? Cause it is hot here... and dry.

(ok, this is not a photo of Louisiana, but it feels like it right now)

It is a drought and over a hundred degrees every day here. This is why I hate summer in Lousiana. I don't like to use the word hate about anything. I know that God has designed everything in nature for a reason. I know plenty of people who seem to prefer summer (though I am sure they have suffered some sort of mini-heat stroke to cause them to say so).

Anyway, I keep checking the weather radar for rain and there hasn't been so much as a shower on the horizon for weeks. Our car's air-conditioning is broken. So even just driving the kids to the store causes them to have red faces like tomatos by the time we get there. I wish the end were near, but there are still many many weeks of hot summer sun before we can spell relief in this area. Our only hope seems to be a hurricane in the gulf that might send nice winds and rains this way, I pray of course that if one comes it will cause little to no damage on it's way.

And when we do get some real rain...

You can be that me and the kids will be out there dancing in it!

The boy needed a haircut.

2011-04-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

My youngest was in dire need of a haircut. I have had to trim his hair a little bit twice before. He is only 15 months old.

I was putting it off this time because now that he is a year, I figured we would be taking him for a 'real' haircut. However, it was also time for his big brother (5) to get a haircut and the last time we took him to a barber there was mass crying, moaning, and nashing of teeth. (The majority of the crying was by him and the rest was by the girl who cut his hair)

So I dreaded it.

And I put it off.

Till it looked like this...

Finally, I decided it wouldn't hurt to at least trim it until I could get him to a professional (I did my older son too, but I don't have an after pic yet)

Anyway, here is how it turned out.

Not too shabby I think.
Noah seems to like it, maybe that's why he is taking this opportunity to give me his best James Bond impression...

Grey.

Noah, Grey.

Later!
Misty

Stop: In the Name Of Love.

2011-02-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is really hard to stop being busy and spend some actual time playing with your kids or reading together or doing anything where your attention is totally on them.

However, It means the world to them and it is vastly more important than our to-do list.

Moms, I urge you to not just leave it for their Daddies to come home and play with them while you take care of cooking or chores. Carve out some time of your own to play.

Also, if your child has been misbehaving alot lately, you may see a correlation between the bad behaviour and your lack of attention. When put off for too long, they simply act out in desperation. I used to see it in my son. I would find that all it took was some time out from my day to do things with him where we could talk and play and create and laugh together.

With homeschooling you never have to worry about not spending time one on one with them. It is a neccessary part of your day. Even so, I try to take time for more fun things also.

Do you find yourself saying no alot? I don't mean 'No' as in ... 'No' you can't put the cat in the mailbox... or 'No' you can't put your sister in the dishwasher. (those are recommended)

I mean when your child asks... 'Mommy, can you play this game with me?' Or 'Mommy, can we play hide and seek together?' or 'Mama, can you read me this book?'

How many times a day do you say no to special time with your child?

I remember my grandmother being one who took time to just be with me. She raised me. She was fond of reading to me when i was little. She rocked me in her rocking chair. When I was older, we read peacefully to ourselves together on the front porch swing.

I believe it is vitally important in the raising of children, not to be always in a hurry. If your life is simply too full to make this happen, then some things must go.

Simplify, I beg you. This is important.

Here is a pic of my 5 year old at his 'lego station' I often sit and build with him. We got a box of assorted legos from ebay at Christmas and they are awesome to play with. Here is one of my creations...

That being said. I will also say that you must not think that your children require attention 24 hours a day. Children must have time during the day when they guide their own play. I spent more of my childhood coming up with things to do than most children. I had no neighbors, and no siblings and I lived in the woods, far away from anything by way of entertainment. I created my own. I read. ALOT. I taught myself to draw. (Pretty Well, if I do say so myself) I used my imagination. I had time to think.

I think kids today are scheduled to death. I think one of the greatest gifts we can give them is to let them alone a little each day (supervised of course). I may be alone in this conviction, but I think this may be one of the things that has made me how I am.

I meet women who can't be alone. I meet women who can't be satisfied being at home. I meet women who can't be still.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with them, but that maybe they may be lacking something rather helpful in their spirits.

Here's to a little less rushing... a little less running... a little playtime... a little quiet time. A little attention to the blessings that run around our feet... and a little time for them to just be kids.

Diet and Excercise are here to stay!

2011-02-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

I'm back ya'll! (and those are not my feet by the way!)

I hope you all have had a wonderful beginning to 2011! I have had an awesome month and a half myself. Has it really only been that long? Crazy!

Well, as you may know I had set out to do many things this year. Heck, I have set out every year to do many new things, but I am here to testify that change can happen! This time I have kept many resolutions and even added more.

There are a several areas of my life that I have begun to alter for the better already this year. I will only talk of one of them today:

Diet and Excercise:

I have never been one for Diet. I have never really been on a diet to lose weight in my life. I have gradually become overweight and while good intentions have abounded, three pregnancies in 5 years have enabled me to let time and lbs get the best of me. The worst thing about it is that I didn't gain very much with my last pregnancy (a year ago) but that after my youngest was born, I proceeded to eat (and drink chocolate milk) like there was no tommorrow. Claiming that nursing was making me more hungry and thirsty, I sort of gave myself permission to be a glutton. I lost all self-control. I gained 20 more lbs than I had weighed before my pregnancy.

Now is the time to take control. Last month something in my brain finally clicked. Before that point, I was not able to say no to food. After that click... I have been able to totally embrace the concept of MODERATION!!! Woohoo!

I think I had been preparing myself during the holidays, that it would be my last time of eating freely. Then last month when I suddenly fell victim to an evil stomach bug that is going around, I actually decided to make the bad into a good by using those three days of fasting as a jumping off point for my new way of eating. (after all, my stomach had shrunk!)

In the past month, I have lost 6 lbs. I know what you are thinking. "Big Whoop, 6 lbs" But really, this is just the begining, because instead of doing something temporary, I have begun a long lasting new habit. I chose a sustainable method of losing weight. This is no crash diet. I have decided certain things in my mind and I am willing to follow through. There just comes a time in your life when you want to make your dreams come true. I dream often of being thin and healthy. I want to be able to look at photos of my and my kids without cringing.

Yes, that is my dream. Family photos where I look good!

What is my method of losing weight?

Just in case you were wondering. I am simply counting calories. Each day my goal is to eat only enough calories to properly sustain the ideal weight for a woman my height. I make sure to eat small snacks and meals throughout the day so that my body doesn't think I am starving (the body will hold on to that stored fat if you seem to be in a starvation mode). I gave up cokes. (a big deal for me) and occasionally substitute tea made with honey instead of sugar.

I am suplimenting my weight loss with an exercise program. I am using a video game on my Xbox Kinect to do daily workouts and now have begun to ride my bike again as I used to do... I ride about 4 miles a few times a week. I have also begun to take vitamins also, to help my body run properly.

I have lost some weight, but I have gained something too!

With these new habits I feel better. I feel great! I have more energy (not less) and I have more stamina and strength. I already play more actively with my kids. I don't need caffiene to stay awake. I sleep like a baby when it is finally time to hit the sack. I get more done (even though I take time to excercise I am able to exert more energy when chores are being done)

You may scoff. You may say that this is a temporary spell. I hope not. I feel confident that I have turned an important corner in my life that will ever be for the benefit of me and my family. If you too are trying to get started on a new way of eating and living, I encourage you... You can do it!!! We can do it! Don't worry if it takes a year or two years, or 5 or 10. The important thing is that we are taking steps in the right direction and no longer in the wrong direction. Keep it up! We will get there!

Fresh Start!

2010-12-28T09:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

I get super pumped this time of year because I love fresh starts!

As a bonafide scatterbrained disorganized last-minute throw it together type of person in need of a more consistant quiet time and fewer pounds on the scale and less clutter in my house, I can't wait to try to do it all better in 2011!

Yes, if you read my blog from last year at this time you will probably find the same types of goals (except I gave myself a later starting date so I could have a baby!). But here I am again, starting over.

"Why Bother?" you may ask yourself. Perhaps you are one of the many people who go ahead and quit before they begin. You may think of some things that would be good to improve on but you know how these things go, you... like myself ... have had 30 or so years to learn that you are a mess and unlike me, you have decided to just accept it.

With each passing year instead of becoming more jaded, I become more hopeful for the future! When I look at my past I see failures, but I also see improvements. (very gradual ones in some cases) but still, any tiny step in the right direction is better than none.

So lets 'Press On' people!

This year my goals pretty much cover everything:

Daily and Weekly must haves:

Consistant Quiet Times

Consistant Family Devotions

Consistant Excercising

Maintain a Healthier Diet

Consistantly keeping a cleaning schedule

Making a point to encourage others

Some one-time goals:

Finish painting Micah's room

Potty Train Allie

Completely declutter and organize entire house (more on this later)

Teach Micah to read

Others to be named later...

Do you have a list? Do you have an action plan to make it happen? My main problem is daily stuff. Basically, the second I decide to do something every day, I avoid it like the plague. Am I the only one like that? The Rebel in me comes out in full force and starts tearing up those schedule sheets about a week into the year. I need to come up with a plan to psych her out and get those dailies done.

Remember the Answered Prayers

2010-12-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

Today I realized that God had answered my prayers in a specific area.

Sometimes we get so busy with day to say that we don't stop to remember. What was on my heart a year ago?

A year ago I was 8 months pregnant and the news was full of stories of the Swine Flu. I ws worried about it. Someone even emailed me an article that said that the fatality rate for pregnant women hospitalized with swine flu was 1 in 4. The news article went on to say that doctors were recommending pregnant women be vaccinated. The vaccine was only a few weeks old and untested. I was more afraid of what it might do to my unborn baby than getting the flu. But both were worrisome.

I prayed, I stayed home alot and I carried antibacterial soap to slather on grocery store buggies.

We made it till Noah was born, and then he ended up getting a rough start due to a mistake the hospital made. After a week in the NICU he was released with dire warnings. 'Flu season is about to begin', they said. Just beginning in January? Yikes.

So we prayed. (and stayed home a little longer)

It's been a year now. Noah will be eleven months old tommorrow! And our home has been a healthy one all this time. Sure we have had a few issues... an ear infection here and there, a case of the sniffles and some impetigo... but overall, until about a week ago we have had none of the stuff I had worried about.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to praise God for that answered prayer. Sure, we have spent this week with coughing and sneezing and sniffling... There's been fever and crying...I have been stayed up late with one child and gotten up early with another for several days now. But I won't complain. Our family has been truly blessed this year and with God's blessing maybe it will be another healthy year before our turn comes around again.

Hope you and yours are well!

Misty

Poem: Stay at Home Mom... what did you do today?

2010-11-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

This Poem speaks my heart....

I heard it this week and it was just perfect so I wanted to share:

Stay at Home Mom... what did you do today?

Today I left some dishes dirty,

The bed got made around 3:30.

The diapers soaked a little longer,

The odor grew a little stronger.

The crumbs I spilled the day before,

Are staring at me from the floor.

The fingerprints there on the wall,

Will likely be there still next fall.

The dirty streaks on those window panes,

Will still be there next time it rains.

Shame on you, you sit and say,

Just what did you do today?

I nursed a baby till he slept,

I held a toddler while he wept,

I played a game of hide and seek,

I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.

I pulled a wagon, sang a song,

Taught a child right from wrong.

What did I do this whole day through?

Not much that shows, I guess it’s true.

Unless you think that what I’ve done,

Might be important to someone,

With bright brown eyes and soft blond hair,

If that is true … I’ve done my share.

Author Unknown

The Pre-Christmas Movie List

2010-11-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

This is the time of year I love most. It's about this time that I hit the most euphoric holiday mood and just go crazy baking and planning and dreaming of holiday memories. This may actually end up being the height of my yuletide spirit since I am sometimes over it just a bit by the time Christmas actually gets here. Once Christmas is upon me I am too busy to feel the fun anymore.

Anyway, while I don't put my tree up until the day after Thanksgiving and don't listen to Christmas music until then either, I do however enjoy some festive holiday movies while I am in the kitchen cooking for my family. I don't want to watch my favorite Christmas movies just yet, I like to save those, so I have collected up a very few movies that I feel are perfect for this pre-thanksgiving time. Some of these actually contain a Thanksgiving scene and most have just a hint of Christmas, maybe in the last few minutes.

Here they are and I hope you will watch a few of them and enjoy! Oh, and you can click to read about them on IMDB

1. Holiday Inn - Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are funny and entertaining in this 1942 classic. Bing plays a showman who wants to quit and be a farmer but ends up turning his big farmhouse into a club/hotel that is only open on holidays. The musical numbers are great and Fred's tap dancing is terrific as usual. The Fourth of July scene is great and the 'Father Abraham' song has been edited from the televised version because of the blackface routine. This movie features the debut of Bing's classic song 'White Christmas' and there is even a Thanksgiving scene.

2. The Shop Around The Corner - A wonderful black and white movie with young Jimmy Stewart. This movie was the inspiration for 'You've Got Mail' but I like this one better. It's a cute and funny tale with a slight holiday flavor toward the end.

3. By the Light of The Silvery Moon - This Doris Day film is set in the 40's and is charming and fun. It's few musical selections are nice and the side stories are funny. It's like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life and is set around Thanksgiving.

4. Meet Me In St. Louis - Ok, I am just considering adding this one to my list. I have seen it a couple times in recent years and I like the little girl in it. I also love the song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' which debuted in this movie. If it's not your bag, then go watch 'The Wizard of Oz'. Judy Garland is in both. (and for some reason the major networks want us to watch 'Oz' on Thanksgiving.

5. Stars in My Crown - Just one of the most ignored wonderful movies ever made. Not available on DVD (last time I checked) and a rare glimpse of a movie with major screen stars which glorifies God! It has a really great story and a sweet ending too. If you ever get a chance, watch it! If it were available on DVD I would own it in a minute!

6. It's A Wonderful Life - And finaly, my all time favorite movie! I just can't wait until Christmas to watch this. I usually watch it about once a week during this time. (Not actually sit down and watch it, but you know, have it on in the background while cooking) Only the ending involves Christmas and then only slightly. I know it is a classic Christmas movie, but really it fits into the spirit of the season even as early as Thanksgiving.

Whether you watch these or your own favorites, Have yourself some Happy Holidays!

Busy

2010-11-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

What have I been busy doing?

Sorry I haven't been sharing much. I have been busy doing home-school, homeschool co-op on Wednesdays, MOPS every other Monday, Heart to Home once a month, children's choir Wednesday nights, a major cleaning out of my storage building, a garage sale (that flopped) and have begun doing pencil portraits from photos (See Here).

What am I going to be doing?

I will be spending the next two weeks trying to finally get the house back in shape after the garage sale fiasco in time for the big birthday party for my son who is turning 5! Also I will be doing more portraits and preparing for the holidays.
I will get back into the habit of posting very soon, really I will!

Our new family recipe for Sloppy Joes...

2010-09-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

These may sound a little crazy but taste great...

McKeithen family's Insanely Sloppy Joes-

Ingredient List:

Hamburger Buns
Plain ruffled potato chips
1 lb of ground beef or turkey
pepper
garlic powder
mustard
brown sugar
2 apples
1 package of kraft macaroni and cheese
1 green bell pepper
1 medium onion

Before preparing meat go ahead and be boiling the water for the Macaroni and Cheese and prepare as directed while working on other elements of the meal...

Sloppy Joe Mix-
Cook about 1 lb of ground meat (beef or turkey)
While browning meat add about-
half a cup of diced green bell pepper
half a cup of diced onion

Once the meat is browned add in

3 teaspoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of yellow mustard
1 tablespoon of garlic powder or to taste
pepper and salt to taste
3/4 cup of ketchup

Heat through.

Toast buns if desired, then place a layer of Ruffles chips on bottom buns, spooning sloppy joe mixture onto chips, then spooning macaroni and cheese onto meat. Last, add sprinkling of diced apples and top with other bun. Enjoy!

Homeschool Has Begun!

2010-08-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

My little student:

We started school last week. I have been anticipating and fearing this time for many years! I am committed to homeschooling all of our children, but I am a little nervous about actually pulling it off! We are trying Sonlight's Pre-K curriculum this year. Micah is 4 but turning 5 later on this fall. He is already showing signs of being a little ahead of me. I am alredy suplimenting the read-alouds with worksheets I have collected and we are also beginning practicing writing his letters and working with flashcards and other games.

We have been starting around 8:30 or 9:00 each morning and have been finishing before his 2 yr old sister gets out of her crib. She usually hangs out and plays in there till about 9:30. The baby has been getting up with us but then going back to bed a little later. The school times have been quiet and though Micah is usually a ball of loud noise and constant action, he likes the one-on-one time and likes completing the worksheets. The read-alouds are really short so he usually does fine sitting still for them too.

I also like to wrap-up school time with some drawing for fun. I enjoy it as much as he does. Here is an example of one of his drawings... we usually draw on paper and put it up for display but occasionally he and his sister draw on their magna-doodles and we take photos of it to save the art.

I think he is rather talented, but then I may be biased. (and have no other 4 year olds to compare it with!)

We finished our second week today and I am soooo happy I didn't have to send my baby away and entrust this precious opportunity to someone else.

The Simple Life

2010-08-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Our preacher is doing a series of sermons on 'Living the Simple Life'. I was sitting in church the day he announced the name of the series which he would be focusing on all summer. The moment I heard the title I was excited and anxious to hear everything he had to say on the subject.
It is my desire, always, to live simply. To focus on the important things and let the rest go.

The sad part of the story is this. In my busy-ness I have missed all but one part of the sermon series. I was happy to find that each of the sermons are available to listen to online... but still have yet to sit and listen to them.

I guess I really need to hear them since my life is so complicated I can't even find the time to hear about how it needs to be simple.

As I am fast approaching two milestones in my year 1. My Birthday and 2. The beginning of my first year of homeschooling.... I have had many resolutions floating around in my brain.

Two I am beginning today.

1. Drink Tea... Sounds silly but I needed a healthy substitute for all of the unhealthy drinks I have been consuming. For 7 months now I have been nursing a baby and have been thirsty 24/7. I have mostly consumed various caffeine free sodas each day and gallons of chocolate milk with cappuccino flavoring.
Today I am going go begin an attempt to substitute hot decaff tea with honey and lemon to keep my mind off sodas etc.

2. I started a new quiet time in the morning. I should always be doing a daily quiet time but I am terrible at keeping it going. I am starting again again.

There are many more... mostly to do with our scheduling and making this house run more efficiently. (generally it is a train wreck)
So, more resolutions to come!

Make the list!

2010-07-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Achievments Build Confidence
Confidence is required for Achievements

It's the Catch 22!

If you have a goal and you feel that you will never be able to accomplish it. Try achieving other related smaller goals first. As you achieve you will build your confidence for the big stuff.

One great excercise to do now, is to look back on your previous achievements. When I first started to do this list I could only think of maybe a couple of things. I truly don't feel like I have done a lot, and really, these acomplishments may not seem like anything to you or anyone else, but the important thing is that they made a big difference in my confidence levels or I felt very proud to have achieved them. (Note: I don't take credit for most of these, but give the glory to God for blessing me with the opportunities that I had and seeing me through the tough stuff)

My top ten achievements:

Teaching myself to draw (at an early age)
Getting Cody's CD (this is a dog obedience title, hard work involved, did this in high school)
Graduating college (with honors) )more about this another time)
Participating in Summer Missions ( a summer away from home, was scared to death to go!)
Marrying Joey (it was a long difficult journey ... more on that some other time)
Becoming a Mom (I never knew it would be so natural for me)
Passing the teacher's exam (a really really hard test for me!)
Teaching myself to quilt (have gotten infinite enjoyment out of this)
Learning to drive competantly (I know, sounds stupid but I didn't drive until a few years ago)
Illustrating a Book that was published (a small book but it is in book stores)

Hugs for Nurses (available on Amazon.com)

Now you! Make a list of your top ten achievements. Let me know what they are if you do it. Don't be embarrassed if they don't seem big. Some of mine aren't. The important thing is if they meant something to you.

Also, the real bonus of making this list is that it makes you want to add 2 or 3 more really cool things in the future! I know a couple of things I would love to add to this list and I just need to focus and work hard to make them happen!

Scaredy Cat!

2010-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today's post is about something I have been thinking about very much lately. Confidence. You can call it courage or self-image or all sorts of things, but for my purposes today I will stick with 'Confidence'.

I recently stumbled upon a blog by a man who writes and advises people on being more confident. He calls himself 'The Confidence Guy'. This began to stir up a world of thoughts in my brain all about how we see ourselves and how that effects what we do.
You see, I have a few goals.
I have always played around with different goal ideas and earlier in life I could never settle on particular ones for long lengths of time before I would decide that something else would be more worthy of my energy. For a long while I thought I had a problem with finishing things. That isn't so much it after all, however. I don't have problems finishing what I start, only prioritizing things that are left up to me.
God, Family, Friends... these are priorities I am certain about. With these I have no problems. It is the list of goals I am free to come up with on my own that I had trouble settling on.
After having my son, and turning 30 I began to have a much clearer mindset on my goals and which ones I would like to accomplish. I think the reason for this is that I felt more confident and also that being a mom is very fulfilling to me and that took the pressure off of me to find some way to make my life feel more important.

Ok, so now I had chosen some goals that I was certain about. Now what?
Now I have some issues with achieving those goals that I didn't have before. I think much of the problem lies with confidence.

Maybe you, like myself, feel not so confident in some of your abilities. This doesn't mean you are a weak or meek person. I am very confident in my opinions, my value as Christian who was fearfully and wonderfully made by God and accepted by Him. I even have tons of confidence in certain talents that I have such as my art and quilting.

So what is the problem? Why is it that when begin to do anything that is part of a dream of mine, I start having difficulties?

Because my own brain begins whispering to me that what I am trying to do will fail.

Does your brain do that to you? Until I read a few articles by the Confidence Guy I never stopped and really paid attention to that little voice that was sabatoging my mission. I mean, I was aware of it, but not aware in a way that helps me be defensive against it.

Until now.

Watch out little voice, I'm on to you!

Next time: A simple excercise to boost your confidence and help you set some goals.

The Etsy Shop

2010-07-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

The Etsy shop is up and running now. I still have various projects waiting in the wings for final touches to go in the shop. I am happy to say that being up to my ears in baby quilt-making has been as fun as I had hoped it would be. Many things lose their fun when you start doing them for money, but in this case - being totally in control is the way to go. I will probably offer some customization but will limit it to certain choices so that I can keep a handle on things. Here are some photos from the last couple of weeks.

This just in.. while I was writing this blog I got my first sale on Etsy! Yay! What a great start to my morning! I can't wait to sell more quilts. Now off to buy more fabric!!

Misty

Baby Quilt Bonanza!

2010-06-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I have been very busy this week doing two things. Reading tons of wonderful blog entries about subjects that are important to me like Homeschooling and Family and Babies and also Sewing lots of baby and toddler quilts! Above is one of the ones I have made to sell. I am getting a little better at taking more insteresting photos of them for the shop.

I also finally finished Noah's baby quilt! And here it is-

Along with the cutest baby on the block. I love this photo, it just brings me tons of joy. I think if I frame it and put it on my desk it will make me smile a million times. I'm so glad he decided to bestow that lovely grin while I was taking a pic of him with his quilt.

Oh, and that reminds me. We usually take photos of our babies every month on their One month day, Two month day and so on. We have done this with all three until this month! I was thinking his day was the eleventh and I was just waiting for his Five Month day to take the obligatory photo... then the eleventh came and hubby called from work to break the news when he realized... Noah's 5 month day was on the 4th! Ahhh... I was thinking of Allie's. Bummer. Turns out 3 kids is too much for my pitiful brain to keep up with.

Sorry Noah! lol. If it helps, I probably did take a photo of you that day, it just didn't have a homemade sign in it that said '5 month day'.

More news and quilt photos later!!!! Have a nice Sunday.

Finding out my true passions in life more each day.

2010-06-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

But first... A little pic of Noah. Isn't he adorable! I could just kiss him all day long, and I do!!!
More pics of him later. I know I said I would post more soon, but my camera usb cord is suddenly in the non-working category so... later.

I am so excited these days. Really I have been growing in excitement and awe in leaps and bounds since the day I first became a mom. I think it really started when I first met Joey then when we finally married and then my joy was dampened for quite a while during a time when I was on birth control and then later when I was off of it but still waiting to have children.

By the way: The pill is the devil and my body simply can't handle it. I believe without a doubt that many women today suffer from horrible moods altered by their hormones via their birth control pills.

But back to my excitement. Every now and then it seems that God pushes through my poor attention to Him and manages to draw me into a better understanding of what I am supposed to be doing. Today was one of those days that I see just a little clearer. Over the past couple of years I often take these steps of enlightenment when I am guided by like-minded Christian mothers who blog.

I specifically have been inspired and encouraged by three women in particular and I would like to shine a spotlight in their direction.

Joy (The Stay-at-Home Missionary)

Sarah Mae (Like a Warm Cup of Coffee)

Missy (It's Almost Naptime)

When I am too busy to check anything else or too self absorbed to stop and think about what needs to be focused on, I will still stop and listen to whatever these women have to share with me and I am usually left very glad I did. Joy and Sarah Mae teach me and lead me along a path of being a Godly Homemaker and Missy does a little of that and a lot of making me laugh too.

Thanks to these girls and the articles they point me too and the books they discuss and the people they have learned from and met - I have discovered more and more the things that I am passionate about.

TV or No TV That is the Question

2010-05-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

TV or No TV?

In the past few years we have had our ups and downs in this household and along with the layoff/beginning a new job cycle has been a cycle of having our Direct TV suspended and reinstated several times. During the times when we have no TV we borrow movies from the libarary... watch tv shows on Hulu... and since the addition of an Xbox 360 back in December we have also watched Netflix directly on our tv. So we stay entertained.

I go back and forth in my head about whether we should have any television at all. I know that we can do without. I know that keeping things simple around here is in everyone's best interest and tv complicates things even if only a little. So it is probably best not to have it. (and save money) By the way, when we do not have our satelite turned on, we get zero stations.

However... It is the beginning of summer. We have watched everything on Netflix instant watch a dozen times (the kids stuff anyway) The movies at the library will be slim pickin's now that all the other kids are out for the summer. (and because our library made it possible to checkout 10 dvd's per card so now they stay wiped out) and well.. I like having tv.

So this weekend, I let hubby know that I was thinking of having it turned back on. There is just something about having tv that makes me feel like we aren't on the edge anymore, but getting back on our feet. There are two levels of tv in our house though... lately we stick with the lower of the two levels.
This package of stations only includes kids channels, the Food network, HGTV and Weather channel (also Hallmark and Science channel) it only runs about half the cost of the "lowest package available" at Direct TV. Yeah. I know I just contradicted myself. That is because the folks at Direct TV are liars.
If you call them and ask them (or look it up on their site) what their cheapest package is, they will lie and tell you the one that is twice as much. Only if you know about this one ahead of time can you request it.
Crazy!
It's like knowing that you can order Pintos and Cheese at Taco Bell, though it isn't on the menu.
Yeah, just like that.

Anyway, Hubby got the satelite back on for me last night as like a gift kinda thing. Today I will begin the fight to limit the kids tv time. If it ends up being more trouble than it's worth we may have it turned off again.
In the meantime, I will be enjoying the Disney Channel, HGTV and Food Network. I hope they have some good shows for the summer. I already plan on probably having it turned off again in the fall when we begin homeschool and maybe making it a regular summer thing to have it back on again.

Oh by the way... I don't hate you Direct TV even though you lie... I really appreciate the fact that we can call anytime and suspend our deal until further notice. Thanks for that!

Finally Got an Etsy Shop

2010-05-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Here is my darling Allison modeling my first quilt for sale in my new Etsy shop. I really need to work on a finishing a couple more to post in the shop. Here is the link, just in case you want to visit sometime (or shop). There will be an option to have a baby or toddler quilt custom made too. I can do this same sort of strip quilt with novelty fabrics for boy or girl. (this one is for a boy- with Thomas the Tank Engine, Disney Pixar's Cars fabric and bugs, racecars and baloons)

Cozy Cuties (my Etsy Shop)

And I can also applique a name on it in contrasting fabric. Much like I did for the baby quilts in the previous post.

I know, One measly quilt... but hey, it's a start!

Unanswered LOST Questions

2010-05-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is dedicated to those of you who, like me, invested a lot of time, energy, and fanatical fandom to the LOST universe and have now been left wanting to throw a hot pocket at Abrams and Lindeloff!

This video includes some (not all) of my unanswered LOST questions (plus a few questions I know the answers to)...

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1936291

Fresh Look

2010-05-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

Well, I felt like changing up my blog. I think I like this. I will probably add new artwork soon too.

As for what is going on this week, I am back to quilting and thinking again of starting an Etsy shop.. I did an easy toddler quilt this week to donate to a fundraiser some friends are giving for another friend in need, and I had some material left over so I made another to sell. I usually do baby quilts and I am thinking of offering to custom make them with the baby's name on them like I did for my daughter... Below is a photo of that one and one of my recent gifts. Soon I will post the one of the quilt I have for sale and another gift quilt I made recently that I can't seem to find right now.

I am interested in anyone's opinion on how much I should charge.. what I could name my online shop and whether you think there is a real market for these.

Thanks!

Misty

What's goin' on?

2010-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

This looks like a few of my great Uncles. He is headin up my blog today because I today I am talking about talkin'.

Lately I am tempted to try to sound more charming by droppin my g's ... you know like sayin' and walkin' and singin' ? (mostly because I have been addicted to 'LOST' for the past 2 months as previously mentioned and Sawyer and Kate sound so darn cute!)

"Well, well... Lookee whose hooked on phonics!"

After all, that type of speech is part of my cultural heritage. Raised by my Grandparents I should be talkin' that way all the time. Unfortunately, I spent most of my life trying to lose the drawl that comes from my extremely rural upbringing. Now, that didn't actually work, I still sound very southern... but I don't actually alter my words. And it doesn't stand out much since everyone I live around sounds exactly the same. I wouldn't even know that I sound pitiful if it weren't for a few comments that have been made and a terrible phone-in radio event! First, I used to work as a receptionist for a Christian publishing company. They got calls in from all over the country so it wasn't unusual for people to point out my accent. That's ok though I found a few of their accents cute too.

However,

My most embarrasing moment of bumpkin-ism was when I called in to my favorite talk radio show on WLS Chicago- the Roe Conn show. (click to listen live online Mon-Friday 2:00-7:00pm) I had been listening for years and I called one day because they were on the topic of people who go to those weird sci-fi conventions and I have a cousin who traveled to Paris the previous year to go to a Stargate convention.(She also has gone yearly to a stargatecon in Canada and has even served as a body gaurd to one of the stars there) Anyway, I was so thrilled to talk to my fave radio personality and thought it was cute when he mentioned liking my accent, but then I later heard myself on the radio (due to a time delay) and it was horrible!

Accch! I didn't know I sounded like that. Like a total hick.

There go my dreams of ever being on talk radio.
You know how they say 'He has a face for radio'? Well, I have a voice for blogging. lol

In other news... I am hooked on Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. And Chocolate Milk, but that has been going on since I started nursing. You would think I was trying to gain weight.

Oh, and my little fella is 4 months old as of yesterday! Pics coming soon.

My baby girl turned 2!

2010-04-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

My little girl turned 2 recently and I have been busy not blogging until now. So here are some recent pics of her. I entered her in the Parents Magazine cover contest with some of these shots not long ago. I know there are a million kids entered, but I also know that many people take bad photos which effects their chances. I looked through the other entrants and found photos of kids with food on their faces, blurry shots, pictures of them from 50 ft away, etc. Just based on the quality of the photos I think we have at least a shot of being in the finals. Not to mention I think she is a doll! Anyway, it was just for fun.

For all of you new readers I want to welcome you. I will be posting more often than I have been. Welcome and thanks for adding me to your list of blogs to read!

Next up. We have chosen our Homeschool curriculum and will beginning in the fall!!! Lots to say about that coming next time!!! Have a great day!

Misty

What I've been doing...

2010-04-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is what I have been doing! Several weeks back, I discovered that all previous seasons of this show were available to watch online, so I watched the pilot episode. (Had never seen a single episode and miraculously have never heard anything about it either) I was hooked! I have been obssesed ever since! In the past month I have seen all 130 episodes of Lost and now I am caught up with the rest of the world waiting for the final episode which is only about 4 weeks away. I have never done anything like that before and I currently don't have any form of television accept for netflix on our Xbox 360 which the kids use to watch a few cartoons.
Now I am watching them all again with Hubby while he goes through more slowly. He just finished season 3 last night. It is really fun discussing it with him.
Now that I am not watching 2 or 3 a day I can blog again, so... I'm back!

More news later!

Elephant Experiment

2010-03-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

For my Friday Finish, Here is an elephant I did for a challenge on redbubble.com. I didn't actually get to enter it into the challenge because they said it didn't meet the requirements. The group that issued the challenge is for Illustrators and they said this isn't an illustration, it's a collage. I know, however, that an illustration can be made in many ways. I usually use digital means along with sketches to make illustrations, this is hardly any different. Anyway, I love it and you can buy it as a postcard here-

I am also working on a children's book for my kids. I was going to use my usual drawing style for it, but now I am considering using this torn paper/mixed media look instead. Maybe with less muddy colors to make it more child friendly.

I also did this owl today...

I think he is cute. You can get a postcard of him too if you like... Here

Have a great weekend!

Misty

The Star Chart

2010-03-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we have finally begun with some organization in this house. Along with a more organized bedtime schedule (which is still in an experimental phase) we have instituted what I like to call "The Star Chart" My four year old absolutely LOVES it and it is working wonders with him every day. (He was definitely getting out of control.. or should I say in control- of everything as in 'had Mama wrapped around his little finger')

The basics of the star chart is this- I decided on about 7 things each day that he can earn a star for. At night after our bath, we put a chair in front of the poster in the hall and he climbs up. I have a book of stickers that he gets to choose from to go with each star. He enjoys this, and I draw a star next to the sticker. (originally the stickers were supposed to be stars, but we didn't find any)

The last square is for extra stars earned for spontaneous things that day. (the only thing we have given that for is for him to take his medicine without fighting it and it helped alot!) We also put an extra star here (a really big one) if he gets all of the other stars for that day.

And here is the key for him- for every 20 stars he gets one dollar! We make a big deal of getting a dollar bill (so far we have lucked out finding one in the house each time lol) and we put it in the envelope we have tacked over the poster which says 'Micah's star money'. He usually uses it on a hot wheel, which is like gold for him. We are wondering if he will ever have the will power to wait and save up a few and get a bigger toy. I don't really push it though, after all, he is only 4!

Here is a photo of the chart. We just draw it on the poster and don't worry about perfection (obviously! lol)

Right now he gets stars for: Eating breakfast and or lunch/Being nice to Allie all day/ Being polite to Mommy and Daddy all day/ Helping with cleanup/ Brushing his Teeth/ Taking his nap with no fuss/ Eating all his Supper/ and Other.

He has improved a million times in several areas... he tries to clean his plate at meals now (unheard of before)... he is always nice to his sister (if he isn't, he starts apologizing right away!) ... it took several days before he stopped talking back to us, but he is trying to control himself now. We are seeing much less attitude than we were... thank goodness!!!... Also, naptime is now not a fight for me and him and I look forward to it soooo much more! YAY!

There is soon to be a second chart for me and his daddy too.. I am putting on mine- Didn't lose my patience all day with the kids/ Had prayer time/ Read the Bible/ excercised/ Cleaned kitchen (my most hated chore) and a few other things... For fun, I thought we would give ourselves a song on itunes as a little treat for so many stars. It isn't so much as a motivational tool for us, but a way to see if we are being consistant and to keep each other accountable.

Oh, and we are about to start awarding Micah a dollar for each memory verse he learns.

We have incorporated the 'Star Chart Ceremony' as I call it, into our new nightly bedtime routine. Like I said.. it has done wonders!!! I am so happy with it. Hubby really likes it too. I can't wait until Allie is old enough to participate also. I think they will probably get competitive with it.

As Micah grows we will change the goals he can get stars for. Soon there will be homeschool work and more household chores, as well as more behavioral goals.

I so hope he doesn't get bored with it!!! If you try it, definitely let me know!!!
Oh, here are some recent photos of our crew too....

Baby Noah... being petted by his loving big bro! (Noah is two months old today!)

My baby girl is getting big.. but not to big for the bouncy seat appearantly!

We built this city... (I like singing that when I think of this photo! lol)

Chaos and Murphy's law

2010-02-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy around here this week. It is 6 weeks since the new year began and that is how long I gave myself before trying to start some resolutions. I have managed to begin a few, but mainly everything has been sidelined this week by lots of speed bumps. We did however, institute a new bedtime routine, which Joey is happy about and also a reward system has begun for our 4 yr old, in which he earns stars on a chart each night for things he did during the day, like go to nap without complaining and being nice to his sister all day. When he gets 20 stars he will get a dollar which is equal to a new HotWheel, which to him is like gold! It is working! He is acting a million times better when asked to so something and is really watching his behaviour more!
I will get back with more on that later, right now I hear a 6 week old calling!
Laters!

Octo-finish!

2010-02-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the illustration I finished this week. I took a lot of time to work on the details. I am pretty happy with him. I have 2 other animals finished too, I may post them later. I am going to find some kind of project in which to use all these guys together soon. I am planning to do some sketches tonight. We had a very rarely seen snow day here in Louisiana today, and I have been busy uploading pics this evening to facebook. I will probably post some of those on here tommorrow. As for now, gotta go cook some supper! Feel free to grab my button and show everyone your accomplishments on fridays!

Craftiness for V-day!

2010-02-08T20:33:00.000-08:00

I took a little time this week to make homemade Valentines cards. I got this great idea from Pink and Green Mama. Hers are probably better, but hey, I am just glad I actually took the time to do it! Here are mine-

I used some drawings of Allie's and cut hearts out of them. (she mainly fills papers up with lots and lots of scribbling) Then I layered those hearts on top of some cardstock ones I cut out and then put another tiny cardstock heart on top and sewed them onto the folded cardstock card with my sewing machine. (which just happened to already be threaded with red thread) and it didn't take long at all.

Then I cut out hearts from Micah's drawings and sewed them on the inside. I outlined hers in red and his in blue. I wanted the cards to have parts made by both of them. I think the grandparents will love them. I love them! I also may send some to our friends kids. I know that Micah is ecstatic when he gets anything in the mail, so maybe they will enjoy them too.

The only problem is that I only made about 11 and now I want to send more, so I may be cutting hearts out again today.

Also today I want to share a photo of my husband looking really cheesy. He is a cutie though. I give him most of the credit for the adorability of our kids....

Who has two thumbs and looks good in black?

This Guy!

Hahaha! Have a great day!

Misty

So much for Wednesday blogging, Come back on Friday!

2010-02-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

I was going to participate in a great thing called Wishful Wednesdays yesterday, but due to our having to go out of town unexpectedly, I didn't have much time. Hubby's aunt died suddenly this week and we had to go see family. Anyway, I will probably try to do that next Wednesday.

As for this week, I have a fun new thing to present on Friday so come back then!! I'm looking forward to it!

Finally Finished Friday!

2010-02-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Finally Finished Friday!

I have decided to start something new. I have wanted to dedicate a day to posting some of my artwork and I finally came up with a name for it. Here is my first piece that I finished this week. It is an illustration that I dreamed up one night while putting my son to bed. I wanted to do a really fun lion who would be at home in a children's book. Sometimes I toy with the idea of creating a children's book with my 4 year old and having it printed just for him. I have no aspirations to actually get published, because that takes much time and energy, and the chances of suceeding in that business without some sort of contact in the industry is slim. I don't mind taking chances like that, but I want to put my eggs in another artistic basket so to speak.

Anyway, I think making a book just for my son, with his help would be fun. I like how he turned out and I will be adding him to my portfolio. I hope to be motivated to do many more drawings this year that will build up my portfolio and breed new creative ideas. I really have virtually nothing right now to show anyone who wants to see my work.

So...that is my finished project for this week! Each friday I will try to post some sort of finished project that I may have completed earlier in the week, or if I get desperate- something I have made in the past. I have a few quilt projects that I need to finish, so they may end up here too. If you want to join me, feel free to grab my new button below and post some type of finished project on your blog on fridays. If you are feeling generous, link back to me so I can get more traffic and please comment on my blog telling me you are participating so I can come see too!

Here is my button! Take and distribute!!! Link back to me please!!!

My Style Monday

2010-02-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

I am participating in a new thing that Short Southern Momma has begun called My Style Monday! Feel free to participate, just grab the button above and drop by her site - here to see what this Monday's subject is and write about it. You can post a link to her site in your post and then go to her blog and post a comment with your link so others can read about your style.

Today's topic is to show 5 things in our homes that show our style. Here are mine-

I couldn't narrow it down to 5, so I have 7!

First- I like things clean and simple. I choose my accessories carefully. I don't like a lot of clutter (unlike other women in my family who collect alot of stuff. I also am extremely picky about colors and it has taken me a long time to choose some I like for the house. I do alot of painting and I painted this little house decoration and put some patterned craft paper in it too.

Second: I love to paint murals, and I really like simple shapes and sillhouettes. This is in my half-bath and I love it. It is very serene. I also love the stripes I painted on the cabinet there.

I love quilts and have several small ones that I have made around the house, my favorite is this one, I would love to do a large one with the same pattern some day and it looks awesome in my blue and brown bedroom. I believe the pattern is 'crossed canoes' but the magazine I got it out of called it 'tipper-canoe and tyler too' which is funner to say. :)

I love patterns, especially very abstracted patterns with solid shapes, the fewer colors the better I think and the sharper the outlines the more I like them. I made up my own stencil and painted this on one wall of my dining room.

I love stripes and again, patterns! And I love this color green, in case you couldn't tell! lol I have it in my kitchen too. Here I covered the old dark wood paneling in this house with these stripes, didn't even have to tape off, just followed the panels! Also, I love this fabric that I made this curtain out of, just my type of pattern. Interesting colors too!

I also like to make simple painting on some of my old canvases from art school. I already have the leftover paint from the walls, so I try to make matchy stuff, I like this grouping-

Lastly, when looking around my house, the only other decor that doesn't fit into the above categories of color, patterns, stripes and murals are the photos.

I love photos, and would like to have more, just need to collect more frames and get more digital photos printed! Also, I would love to have more copies of our old family photos. Photos of family and friends are something I don't mind cluttering my house with at all!

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my home via my favorite things in it. Have a great day!!!

p.s. if you read this and then do your own list, post a comment here, so I won't miss your list!

Misty

US bound orphans in Haiti

2010-01-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

Not just a news bite. These stories have become real to me.

I usually pay attention to world news like I heed weather reports on days when I won't be leaving the house all day. I just don't care.

Sounds calloused, or dumb and uneducated, I know. But I used to care. I used to keep up with the world and what was going on in it, but then I just got overloaded with all the bad stuff and politics just made me angry. So for my own sanity and peace, I left the world of current events and chose to focus instead on my own little world.

So I have been on a hiatus from news for a few years now. I checked in for the months leading up to the presidential election, hoping my candidate would win, but when he didn't- I checked back out again.

Anyway, lately the outside world events have come to me, via some people I know and the blogs that I love to read.

I am refering to the Haitian earthquake and it's effects on the orphans who were already in the process of being adopted. A couple in our church had been in the process of adopting a little girl from Haiti. They had been working on this for about a year I believe when the earthquake hit. I believe they were worried at first that the disaster would actually postpone the workings with the government and all, but as the United states got involved, many adoptive parents were delighted to hear that the children were granted Humanitarian Visas which would allow them to come to the US right away. The couple in our church were excited, but it turned out to be a bit tricky. In the end, they did get their little girl home, and in an added miracle, another baby girl too!

I have also come across a couple of other blogger ladies who had been in the same situation and who have gotten the children home. However, there is one couple who are still waiting. Actually, the husband has flown to Haiti and is living in the embassy there along with the little boy he is trying to get out, but they are sleeping on the floor at night and eating military rations while waiting for the ok to leave. You can read about them from the wife's blog here- Debra's Blog

Appearantly, the wonderful things the US was doing to get the kids out quickly are being thwarted by UNICEF, which it seems wants to throw a wrench in the works possibly because they believe orphans are better off in their own culture. You can read the explanation that I read here- Kristen explains.

There are not too many things harder than waiting when the outcome is unsure and your heart is all tied up in the matter. I pray for these orphans to be home soon and the families who are waiting.

Photos of my bunch

2010-01-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

More photos of Noah- He is about 3 weeks old in these... will be one month old this thursday!

And a few of Micah and Allie at the park-

I see a pattern here!

2010-01-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

I have developed a love of patterns. I would love love love to be a pattern designer! I didn't know such things existed until I stumbled across this blog last year- Print and Pattern. It has inspired me to do some tinkering on my own designs (nothing good yet) and possibly use them one day in my CafePress shop. I find it really interesting to see the trends in color and patterns. I am afraid however, I am not good with trends. I may love them, but I hesitate to let go once everyone else has moved on. For instance, the brown and blue trend... I came across that color combo a little late and now everyone else has moved on (can't even get any fabric in that combo) and I am still wanting brown and blue! more recently is the Aqua/red combo. The awesome aqua blue-green colors mixed with an accent of red. I have seen some awesome quilts with that combo, but I just know that the moment I decide to collect fabric for such a project, there won't be any available because everyone else has moved on. It is like finding out your favorite show has been canceled. I hate it when good things come to an end!

Maybe I will work on a new pattern and post it on the blog soon. This could possibly be my intro into the world of surface design. Just what I need, another hobby I don't have time for!!! lol

ps. I think this one would make an awesome floor to ceiling mural in my bedroom!

Survival Mode vs New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that the first few weeks after having a baby is survival time! You are supposed to just focus on the bare minimum. Just get throught the days and nights as best you can, not worrying so much about the household chores, but getting done what you can. Well, it is time to re-join reality. This house is in dire need of some help. The laundry has piled up. I have been keeping the kitchen clean, but there seems to be a race each day to see how many dishes we can dirty. We are going to have to stop shopping for only 2 or 3 meals at a time soon, and then there are all those New Years resolutions that I have been putting off starting.

The plan is that I will begin my new year 6 weeks after the baby got here. I am anxious to get started of course, just don't know how much I should really tackle this year. I want to really stick with the resolutions this time. The pregnancy sort of derailed my resolutions last year. (When one is sick 24 hours a day for about 5 months, one tends to ditch all pursuits other than existing) I have several areas in my life that need work.

They fit into these categories-

Chores - I need to make a cleaning schedule and also include chores the kids can help with.

Excercise- The biggie, I plan to start running this year. The hope is to go every morning before anyone is up and build up to 2 or 3 miles a day.

Prayer/Devotional time- Have begun the Bible reading plan for the year, but we really need to get a consistant family devotional time going and I need a regular quiet time of my own.

Intentional Planned activities with the kids- planned fun games and crafts, and learning times. Also later this year we will begin home-schooling. Need to start preparing for that.

Household stuff- Meal plans, and budgets.

The Daily Do- Something to do consistantly (maybe not daily) that is fun and that I can blog about. I am thinking of doing Bible story illustrations and then make a book of them for the kids at the end of the year.

It's alot. I know. I probably should only tackle a tiny baby step in each area at first. We shall see. I will update about these goals soon, letting you know how I will be attempting to accomplish them. Take care!

Photos!

2010-01-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Here's my sweet baby boy!

His first day. Still wearing the paper shirt. Hair is still messy from birth, but cute as can be and looking just like his brother did at birth.

This is me holding him in the NICU.

Here is how he looks now. Poor guy. He is doing fine, just getting his antibiotics and waiting. Just breaks my heart not to be holding him and I can't go visit often. The pumping is going well however and his daddy works in the hospital where he is, so he can see him more often than I can.

More pics and updates later.

He's here!

2010-01-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

Well, Our little baby boy finally arrived. We were all set to induce Tuesday morning, but he decided to come a day early.
Noah Grey weighed 7 lbs and 3 ounces and was 19 and a half inches long. He is beautiful and as sweet as can be and looks a bit like his big brother.
Unfortuntatley, he is in the NICU right now. He had a wonderful first night and breastfed beautifully all night, and the next morning wasn't too hungry and was very sleepy. They called me that morning and told me that a blood test he had been given had come back abnormal and they believed he had an infection of some kind. They have to operate on the assumption he could have the strep B bacterial infection, so they moved him to the NICU and began a 7 day antibiotic plan. He will be staying here in the hospital for a week and I will be released today and go home to my other two little ones. I will be trying to pump and bring milk for a while and then maybe later they will let me breastfeed during visits.
Yesterday and today have been so hard. I never thought I would be going home today without him. I wasn't even able to hold him all evening yesterday or last night. Finally today they let me hold and also feed him and I felt much better. Between this and the hormones and the fact that today is my husband's last day at a job we thought was going to turn permanant but instead is ending, has all worked together to make me somewhat of a wreck.
Anyway, we need lots of prayer for both Noah and my husband and his job status. In the meantime, I will be posting a photo of Noah soon, along with his birth story.

Owl Nursery

2009-12-31T09:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of photos of the nursery for our little one. It was Joey's computer room and we still have yet to get his computer desk and computer out of there, but it is almost ready. The bedding is a set I found at Target and I really liked the colors and patterns.

I used scrapbook papers I found at Hobby Lobby and cut them out to make the Owls and the tree posters. I have one more poster frame that I plan to use. I think I will be incorporating an owl and the baby's name (when he has one!).

Almost Baby Time!

2009-12-30T05:42:00.000-08:00

It's almost that time folks! I am currently 39 weeks and 4 cm's dilated and am due to be induced on Tuesday January 5th 2010 if we make it till then. Currently I feel the same as I have for the past month, perfectly fine. I am just enjoying the baby's movements in my tummy this morning, knowing that soon that will be a memory and we will all move on to a new stage of knowing him.

We still aren't set on a name for him yet! I know, it is hilarious. I always laugh at other people who don't have a name picked until the last minute, and now we are those people. My hubby and I have a sort of back-up name that we have been wishy-washy about the entire pregnancy. It just has never jumped out to us as 'perfect'. Unfortunately, no other name as even really come close. I guess if we can't make up our minds, then that is his name. I hope we end up happy with whatever we choose.

I am a little nervous about everything. Mainly because I feel like the house needs to be perfect before my MIL comes to watch my two little ones while I am in labor. Also because of the epidural, because last time it worked perfectly but caused some lingering back pain for several months. Other than those two things I am not anxious about the birth. I am however anxious about my hormonal roller-coaster of emotions afterward. It really doesn't help that my husband found out a few days ago that the job we were hoping and praying would turn permanent next month is actually ending early and he will actually miss the last two days there to be with me and the kids for the birth of our third child. This will be putting a gigantic financial strain on us again and we can only pray that a miracle will happen and a new job will fall in our laps straight from God that will provide. Our whole thing about this pregnancy from the very beginning has been that if God sends us another baby then He will provide for it and us, as He has always done. I really hope that things don't get as bad as they did last year first, before we see some sort of relief.
Anyway, I was already a tad worried about my emotions regarding the baby and all the change and everything even before we got that news, so I am praying for peace and emotional stability as well as a miracle in the job department.

I may post some photos later of the nursery and the great decor I made for it. I am on an Owl kick, and I have decided to do an owl theme in there. Pics coming soon!

Oh, so I don't look pregnant huh?

2009-11-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

What kind of remark is that to make to a pregnant woman anyway? A girl my age at church was talking to me at the fall festival last weekend and said three times that I "don't even look pregnant at all!"

What????!?!!?!?!?!

The above photo is actually from several weeks ago. I am 30 weeks along. I have gained 20 lbs so far... I don't even fit in some of my maternity pants anymore.

Here is a more recent photo.. still a couple of weeks ago- a not so flattering one from our trip to the zoo-

I just want to say... first of all... that is a rude thing to say!!! Stop acting like you just complemented me! and second of all... I think I look very pregnant!

By saying that I don't look pregnant, you are telling me that I always look this freakin' fat!!!! Thanks alot sister!

I feel better now having ranted. Thank you.

Q & A

2009-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

A few answers to a few Questions. Thanks Michelle at Blessed Quiver for the questions...

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you are blogging?

Lots of things. Brownies, Ding Dongs... usually something chocolate.

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?

Except for the obvious... Something superficial that I wouldn't want to live without is tv. Though I just did that for a year and a half and lived just fine. It makes me feel like things are normal to have television again.

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live?

Farm. I would love to live someplace where we seem to be in a rural setting, yet still be able to get to church and Walmart in under 10 minutes. lol

4. What is your least favorite household chore?

Cleaning the kitchen. Scrubbing the Toilet.
I don't mind doing laundry, but it rarely gets hung up after.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?

No idea. One friend said I reminded her of the girl Sally on Nightmare before Christmas. I don't like the movie, so I don't know if that is a compliment or just an observation.

I think that my grandma, mother and I resemble Ingrid Bergman. She has our family nose. lol

6. Parties and socializing or staying home with the family?

I'm a homebody, but I usually enjoy parties. Having one of my own is a little stressful for me though.

7. What's your all time favorite movie?

I love old movies. I guess my favorite is a tie between- "Casablanca" "It's a Wonderful Life" and almost all Cary Grant movies!

8. Do you sleep in your makeup or remove it every night?

I rarely wear makeup, and then I forget to wash it off unless Hubby complains. He doesn't like the smell of it. I used to be very good at washing it off because it broke me out if I didn't. My new makeup doesn't seem to do that so much, so I just leave it till the next shower.

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn?

hidden talent? hmmm...don't know.
Desire to learn?... Caricature.

10. What's one strange thing you are really good at?

Swatting flies! I'm the best! We used to live a few miles from a chicken farm, and once in a while the wind would be just right to bring a horrible smell to our house. The flies would flock to our front porch and I got lots of practice.

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

He was quite a cutie and very funny and quite goofy around other people!

12. What is something you love to smell?

Apple Pie, Babies, shampood hair, roses, chocolate... not much else.

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people?

I can only assume I talk to much and maybe even interupt people when they are talking and I am really into the conversation.

14. When you have extra money, what's the first thing you do with it?

Get toys for the kids, things to make my home look nicer and quilting fabric.

15. Are you a silent laugher or loud laugher?

loud, though I have tried to tone it down a lot. My husband also has a loud laugh and a very funny one that people make fun of! lol

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Hobby Lobby, also Amazon

17. Whats one thing you would do more often if you had more time?

Quilt, draw, cartoon, read, write letters.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

I swing back and forth depending on our status
Even when I am a big spender though, I am careful about what I spend on and never pay too much for any one thing. I especially don't spend money on my own clothes.

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?

Polly of "An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott

20. Would you want to be famous?

Yes, I dream of writing a hit comic strip and then being known across the country and having it turned into an animated movie. Being interviewed by our local paper and riding in parades! HA! How's that for fame!?

Parenting Trends 2009

2009-10-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

I just read this article on the
Top Trends in Parenting in 2009

It was on the Parents Magazine website. I would link to it but I think you have to join and sign in to read it.Anyway, it was written by Katie Herrick.

When I read the title of the article, I figured it would be quite a laugh to read. After all, I have never agreed with most trends in our society, especially in parenting. I think they often clash with Christian values and my general way of thinking.I was pleasantly suprised however to find that I agreed with most, and am personally advocating some and the others don't bother me a bit! Feel free to add your own!

1. Grown-Up Nurseries

With the economy like it is, it makes sense to furnish the baby room with things that fit into your home decor, not necessarily just that one room. I can dig it, I am definitely doing that with this baby, because his room will be the former computer room, and one day will return to that when he moves in with his big brother.

2. Anything Obama's kids do or wear

I could care less. This is probably my least favorite trend. Really. Who. Cares.
3. Homemade Meals with a twist Less eating out, more cooking but with some pre-made elements for busy families. Sounds good to me, cept, I opt for trying to tune out those pre-made elements... but if I were working....yeah.

4. Use-Your-Imagination Play

Parents are opting for toys that can be used in multiple ways and that foster more imagination in play. Instead of a character from a movie, get a generic cowboy toy or help them build a fort, etc. Love it! Heck, my son is sitting behind me on the floor playing with his trucks and some bags of beans... lol. Not my idea, but I am glad he can take everyday objects and make them into stuff. It is what I did growing up and I have an awesome imagination!!!

5. BPA Free Pregnancies

- Already in on the scary BPA stuff. Trying to cut out any exposure, but it is difficult. I want to know when companies are going to stop putting it in the cans and bottles? What do we have to do to convince them to stop poisoning us? They actually package pre-made baby formula in cans with BPA filled lining.By the way, don't ever eat canned tomato products! They are the worst for BPA leeching.
6. The Nature Vacation

- camping, cheap stuff. Sounds great except I like sleeping in my own bed anyway. Still.....I am always for simple.

7. Med-free Remedies for kids-

Yes! The less medicine you give kids (or yourself for that matter) the better! Kids are having more reactions and complications from cold medicines these days than from the colds. And the medicines don't shorten the time sick, they just help with symptoms. The article suggests -chicken soup... honey (for kids over the age of one of course) homemade nasal sprays, and other non medical helps.

8. The No-School Preschool and Homeschooling in general!
Woo Hoo!!!!! Awesome! The article talks about how many people are flocking to take their kid's educations into their own hands. Love it! I can't agree enough with this one. Obviously, that is our plan too and there are a million reasons why it is a great idea and why it is good for our kids. This article names a few of those. I am so glad this was in the top trends!

9. A relaxed Approach to 'Breast is Best'

Obviously, nobody is saying that you shouldn't breast feed. It is still the best way to have a healthy baby. This trend is simply a relaxing attitude toward people who have trouble accomplishing this goal. I know many women who have had trouble breast feeding and have really beat themselves up over it and gone to great and painful lengths to try to continue it. Sometimes it is ok to admit that is just won't work and move on.

10. Mom-Centered Baby Showers

Sounds ok! Nothing against this one either. Baby Showers are awesome, either way.

11. Omega-3's for Pregnant or Nursing Moms

This one is great. I already know Omega 3's are great for our health. The article says that it really connects with smart babies... but while trying to eat fish to get this, you have to find a way to avoid the mercury problem. Not sure where tunafish falls in there.

12. Facebook is the new Mommy Group

Heck Yeah! If not for Facebook this hermit would go nuts! Woo-hoo!

13. Strong, Solid Baby Names

With the economy the way it is, they say it effects baby naming trends. We are stuck in the mire of baby naming right now, I am sure the name will be a solid one, since we are having a boy and probably won't get too creative. We shall see.

14. High Design, Low Price Maternity Wear

Sounds good. Second-hand will do for me!

15. Elephants
Ok, I love and study trends in Graphics and packaging... I hadn't noticed the elephants getting hot, but if they say so, ok. Elephants are cute.

What I am and what I'm not.

2009-10-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Mamma Kat over at Mamma's Losing It posted this writing prompt, so I thought I would give it a try...

Who I am, Who I am not...

I am ...

different
outgoing
loyal
caring of others
opinionated but...
careful with my mouth
a homebody
creative
a starter of many things
a finisher of not as many things
a dreamer
a wife
a mommy
a Christian
relaxed
simple
consistant
all about priorities
one who takes my thoughts captive
content
conservative
modest
comfortable
fun
an artist
a decent cook
into communication
an improvisor
a quilter
messy
quirky

I am not...

organized
busy
stressed
about success outside the home
competitive
a complainer
a worrier
into conflict
an activist
green
liberal
fashionable
accomplished
obssessed
good at math
a memorizer
normal
legalistic

misty

Suddenly I have a LARGE family!

2009-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

I say this jokingly. I have 2 children and one on the way. This, to me, does not constitute a large family.

But... believe it or not, where I live. In my circle of friends and family... this is huge!
I knew this before I got pregnant this time. That we were about to step out of the 'acceptable range of family size' according to practically everyone we know.

They all have 2 children. I will have 3. That doesn't seem like a big difference to me, but to them it is unbelievable.

Ok, there is one family in my church who were expecting their third baby when we first started coming there. They are the Youth pastor and his wife. They made very sure to explain to everyone that number 3 was not planned, she was an accident.
*sigh*

It is understood among the people we know, that if you have more than two children, you are either irresponsible, or you must have had an accident. (We did not have an accident!)

I know that we are considered irresponsible. Especially in light of the fact that we probably have one of the lowest incomes of anyone we know or are friends with. This is mainly due to the fact that we have been through several layoffs in our years since college and because we choose for me to stay at home with the kids. I seriously dreaded telling people of this pregnancy. Family too, they weren't even thrilled when we announced our second baby!

The best part is this... I don't even think we are done!! I don't really know for sure, but I know I already feel open to more. I think God is turning our hearts toward that end. We are very very careful not to put a limit on His blessing.
Out of about 13 couples in our class at church, I think there are only maybe 2 or 3 who haven't already had a surgery to stop from having more children.
That makes me sad.

An old friend and mentor who was about to have his second daughter any day called me up to say that I was "popping them out like puppies" and that the average number of children for a family to have now is One, and that we are very out of the ordinary for having so many.
Thanks.

I recently reconnected with an old friend via Facebook. (love it) I was so excited to talk to her and find out that she has 3 children and wants more! She says that in her church 6 or 7 children is normal! Maybe we should move there! And she homeschools! I only have one friend currently who homeschools and she just moved away.
Anway, for the last several months... since I reconnected with her, she has been ttc with much trouble oddly enough. Today she announced excitedly that she is pregnant with her fourth baby!!! I am so happy for her!!! I am also just happy that there are other women out there who think that children are a blessing, even more than two!

Misty

Being a Scary Mommy

2009-10-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

Jill over at Scary Mommy is having a search for scary mommies....

I'm a scary mommy.

Why do I say that? Well, if you define a scary mommy as someone who doesn't do everything they are 'supposed' to do, then I fit the bill. It isn't that I lack some sort of knowledge of what the world expects.

We all have that little voice inside that says- "don't tell anybody about this, or you will be judged". That is all you need, a little voice says that, and you know you are a scary mom.

I was talking to a friend the other day and I didn't hesistate to talk about my kids' messed up bedtimes because I have told her this before, and she said to me- "Some people would judge you for that". Which made me realize something.
She judges me for it.

It's funny, I didn't expect it from her. I also know that she doesn't think that it is a really really bad thing, but the fact that she thinks other people do, means that in her mind, I am not living up to the expectations of a mom.

Yes, my kids bedtimes are messed up. Well, my almost 4 yr old son stays up until 11:00 most nights. There you go, judge me all you want. It will make you feel better about your own problems.

Hey, at least I know that somewhere out there is a mom who still has more than one child sleeping in the bed with she and her husband and she doesn't know what to do about it!
At least our son is sleeping in his room! (Doesn't it make you feel a little better when you hear someone else is doing worse than you? lol ...terrible isn't it?)

Now, my daughter (18 months old) goes to bed the second we put her in her bed and sleeps wonderfully until morning. So at least I do know a little about good bedtimes. But my son is a different story. He was first, he slept in our bed with us until he was 10 months old. He has always had lengthy time with us every night before bedtime. That explains only some of the trouble...
..... we also sleep late. *Gasp!!! *

Yes, we sleep late because I am pregnant and I wake up in the middle of the night and sit awake for hours, then I go back to sleep about daybreak and sleep until the kids get up, which is around 10:00

Horrible, I know!
I wish I could just say. I don't care, it is our life and it works for us!
But I do care. I hate to even admit it here. I am determined to change things to a more normal routine when I am no longer pregnant. That is my plan. Maybe even sooner.

But the scarriest part is this- This is not the only reason I am a scary mom.

The reasons go on and on-

* I don't do laundry until every one is out of clean clothes... sometimes a couple of days after that.
*Though I seem to wash dishes every day, my kitchen always looks like a disaster area.
*There are toys all over my living room floor all the time. (In my defense, I pick them up and then return within the hour, and I am now to the stage in my pregnancy that I can't bend over anymore, so I just kick them aside!)
*I don't make breakfast, I just hand out poptarts or eggos or cookies (yes cookies for breakfast) as my kids ask for them.
* there are more reasons and I am not putting them, because I too have a highly developed sense of what should and should not be done as a mom.

I was just thinking this week of the over abundance of guilt that comes with being a Mom.
Some of it is good. Guilt makes us accountable sometimes.
Some of it is bad. We heap rules and regulations on top of our own shoulders. Then there we are... the mom who has it all together (or at least appears to) and the mom who can't seem to make it come together... both of us ... walking around with the same big heap of guilt on our shoulders.

But it beats the alternative. There are some moms who just don't care. And I am definitely not one of those moms. My mom was one of those, I will admit it right now. She dumped her baby onto her parents to raise and then went on about her life with no sense of guilt at all.
Now, that is a scary mom.

I love my children. I love being a mom. I don't care how much guilt it comes with. I don't care how behind I feel. I know that when I am through being pregnant things will get better then I will begin Homeschooling and everything will get hectic again, but the point is, I wouldn't change my job for anything in the world and I will keep trying to do better and most of all, I will love my kids and play with them and encourage them and be a big mess while doing it.

Maybe that isn't so scary after all.

Writer's Workshop- How did you get your name?

2009-10-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

This will be my first try at a Writer's Workshop prompt, but here goes...

Most of the prompts for this Writer's Workshop asked us to write all about how special our mother is to us and the story of giving birth to us and so forth. I don't have much to say about all of that. My relationship with my Mom is more of a friend type thing. She didn't raise me (her parents did) but I did spend Christmas with her every year and some time in the summers. She lives nearby but we only talk when birthdays or holidays are coming up. She is big into holidays.

She isn't a very motherly person and doesn't seem to care much for kids, so she doesn't come to see mine much and definitely doesn't babysit. As for all of the stories of my birth and stuff, she doesn't talk about her past at all, so none of that.

I do however know a couple of things about how I was named.

My first name- Misty was after a song that was popular the year that I was born. It was a blues type song called Misty Blue. I have heard it and it is actually a pretty cool song.

My middle name- Amanda was after Miss Amanda on Gunsmoke (or maybe her name was Miss Kity and her real name was Amanda, I forget)... Lovely. lol

I am not sure what I would have been named if I had been a boy. Never thought to ask.

I love what the Baby Naming Wizard book has to say about my name. It is certainly a dated name. The only people I ever meet with the name Misty are pretty much my exact age. It was quite popular there for about 5 minutes. There are two more Misty's living on my street and I always had others in my classes. I am not that fond of it, but it is my name. The Wizard basically says that the name has finally been left to just horses and strippers. lol!

This seems an appropriate post since I have been losing sleep lately over what to name our coming arrival. We have so much trouble with boy names, we have 3 months left and don't seem near making any decision. I laughed at our friends who didn't agree on a name with either of their daughters until they were at the hospital both times, but now I can't really say much, because we may be in the same boat this time!

Shopper Girl Cartoon

2009-10-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a little doodle I did yesterday in my sketchbook. I guess I was thinking of going shopping today which I did. It was nice to get out alone and take my time. I usually have both kids with me at all times and am on a tight schedule because of naptime and such. Today I just took my time and looked around. Oh, and spent a little money too.

A quick fix would be nice.

2009-10-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

As I am running around cleaning the house/taking care of toddler requests such as juice and snacks etc.... I sometimes stop dead in my tracks to locate a tiny irritating thing. A hair on my arm. One of the really long hairs from my head. (I just realized a week or so ago that my hair is now about an inch from my waistline in length, though I never really intended it to get that long) My hairs are everywhere in this house but I think it is kinda funny that if I get one wrapped around or stuck to my arm it bothers me to no end, I have to find it and detach it before going on my way.

I was just thinking that I wish it were that way with other things in life. If there was something amiss in my daily routine or my parenting skills, if only I would know it immediately and be able to fix it before it caused any trouble.

I guess I thought of it that way because I am at one of those stages with my almost 4 year old where I wonder how much damage I have caused to his habits and personality already in my parenting. He has a lot of angry moments and I can only think that it is directly related to my temper. I do not really have much of a temper, but when he repeatedly disobeys I do let my frustration show. In theory I believe in disciplining with a quiet spirit and that it is better to simply apply the punishment without any sign of aggravation. This is what my husband and I strive to do. But what really happens is we are constantly reacting to his behavior with irritation.

I have always been a big fan of the Duggars. When we were without tv for a year and a half recently I missed seeing the tv specials about them on Discovery Health. We have had television back now for a month or two and I was just watching an episode where they celebrated Michelle's birthday. (she's the mom of 18 kids and one on the way in case you didn't know) Something happened which I took note of. Her sister said to her on camera that she had never seen Michelle upset and was still waiting to see it some day.

I know that the Duggar children are well-behaved and well-disciplined. I know that it hasn't been that simple to make them that way, but I bet a lot is owed to Michelle's temperment. I would like to be exactly like that. To never get my feathers ruffled and to always have a smile on my face throughout all parenting situations. I wonder if that is possible. Maybe if I got up every morning and prayed to that end. I keep wondering if it is too late already with Micah and if it is too late with Allie simply because she will be getting the bad habits from him.

Anyway, I know we all have areas we need work, I guess it is at least good that I know where I am lacking and want to work on it.
Good luck with all of your struggles too.

Funny

2009-10-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

Micah: (pointing to the back of his neck) I have a brain right here mom, and it hurts.
Me: Did you bump your head?
Micah: No
Me: Do you have a headache?
Micah: No, I think I just need to burp.

LOL! I love conversations with 3 year olds!

Baby naming...Arrrggh!

2009-10-03T22:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite topics is names. I have always loved naming and talking about favorite or unusual names. When a friend is pregnant I can't wait to hear what they are naming their baby.
This is the third time I will be involved in naming a baby and I have to say, it is so hard! It seems to get harder each time. We are very happy with the names we chose for our first and second children, but they didn't come easy!
The worst thing is that last time, we chose our daughter's name around 20 weeks and stuck with it... until two weeks prior to her birth when we completely changed our minds! So now my hubby is sort of gun shy... he seems to feel that if we choose a name now (at 26 weeks) then we will most certainly not stick with it. So the only two names we have managed to half-way agree on are sort of jinxed!
It seems like all I can do now is wait until it is closer to time and then hope he just suddenly bursts out with a great idea that I also like. Too bad, because I like thinking of the baby with a name while they are still in my tummy. Instead, this time the little guy is going to be simply known as 'little brother' until further notice.
I am praying about us finding the right name. We certainly need help! lol More news on that in the next 3 months, I hope!

In your dreams!

2009-10-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was thinking this morning of a time when I had been married only for two or three years. We still lived in an apartment and I just ached to have a house. We lived in a lovely neighborhood and I remember we would take little walks together to the park and along the way we would walk past the most adorable houses. At night when we were driving home from somewhere I would see lights shining in the window of some little home and it would just make me almost want to cry from wanting a home of our own.
I also spent half of my time worrying about whether it was time to have kids or not. We had always said that we would probably wait until we had been married for about 5 years before talking about kids, but it didn't stop me from thinking about it all the time. I was never quite at peace with waiting. This was very strange to me because we had no experience around kids and had no idea what to with them. We had no friends with children and weren't really in a hurry to give up our time alone together. Still, I was never quite sure about waiting.

Fast forward to now. I am so blessed. We have now been married 8 1/2 years and we live in a home of our own (as of 3 years ago) with our two children, a boy (almost 4) and a girl ( 17 months) and one on the way. It is such a wonderful thing to have home and a family. I love being home with my kids and I love being a mom. My hubby is a great daddy and it is more than we ever thought it would be.
Sometimes we busy modern adults get so caught up in our daily lives that we don't even stop to think about the dreams come true that we have had. I have had many dreams that have come true. I forget this sometimes, when there are things that I am stressed out about or needs that I am praying for. God has always taken care of us, this is something I testify to all the time, but even more than that, God has given me things I have dreamed of and more!