not me monday.round one

So I've been following MckMama's blog for quite some time now....a wonderful, down to earth mama who I really feel like I know by just reading her blog! She is amazing, funny and in the middle of a huge journey of faith.....I'm gonna leave you hangin' there! You'll have to check out her site yourself!

Anyway, last Monday she began hosting a really fun blog carnival called 'Not Me Monday'. It is a time/place to be brutally honest about what you've done the past week by actually saying 'I did not......' It has just been so hilarious to read her entries along with so many of the other participants! Seems to be very freeing to realize you're not the 'only one'!!!!

So here goes my Not Me Monday.round one!



This week:

I did not send my daughter off to Story Time at the Library only to discover once she got home that her pants were on backwards. Not Me, I would definitely check to see that my 3yo dressed herself properly before exiting the house!

I did not try a new recipe for mango sorbet in my smoothie maker and then unscrew the glass pitcher from the base parts so that I could get a spoon [read tongue] down in there better to clean up any last remaining bit because it tasted so good. Not Me, that's just silly!

I so did not just type a huge run-on sentence. Not Me, I'm a homeschooling mom and I certainly wouldn't be such a bad example for my kids.

I did not do laundry only to discover that beloved son #2 had wet the bed two nights previous and had just stuck the wet pj's in the dirty laundry basket without telling me. Not My son, he wouldn't do such a thing!

I did not stay in my pj's all day one day and neither did I on same day decide it was finally time to have the boys do their school work at about 5pm. No way, NOT ME! I'm WAY too organized for that.

I do not check MckMama's site multiple times a day just to see if there's been a post from her. Not Me, I'm too busy for that!

While giving haircuts this week to the boys, I did not ask my husband if I should just let I.'s hair grow out to be 'BigMac' hair instead. Mr. I. did not say, "WHAT?! What is BigMac hair?!" (and you only would 'get' that if you read MckMama!)

I do not have 7 empty tp rolls lined up in the bathroom because I know we'll need them for our art project in a few weeks. I wouldn't do that because that's so dumb.....ANYbody can put them in a bag somewhere else in the house until needed. duh.

I did not just stay up WAY past bedtime to type this and post it very early on Monday......

Thank you

for being patient with me as I figure out the details of posting/font size/etc!!!!

I'm a work in progress :0)

be.creative

today was art day again (every Thursday morning).
The concept/idea was to draw a 'story' or something in your mind rather than a still life. The titles could range from something like 'A Day At The Zoo' to 'My Dream Last Night', etc.

Here is R.'s picture. Titled 'Down under the sea'.



Lets see...we have an underwater volcano, that is actually sticking out of the water. A couple different kinds of sharks (if you know R. at all, you would understand that each kind of shark is an actual, real type of shark that he has read about in some book or another--he told me all about them!), some acorn barnacles on the volcano, a small school of small fish, different kinds of plants, etc! Oh, and a wave forming on the edge of the picture! Very creative I thought and I love the shark swimming straight towards us with wide open mouth!


Mr I. fashioned a 'police truck' out of Duplo Lego's. I tell ya, that is one scary looking light bar! I'd hate to see one that big coming after me!

One of G., just for being cute! How can I say 'No' to this sweet face?!

Why is it...

...that I go to the grocery for a 'few' things and come away with a $60 bill?
Is it just me?
Oh well...

branches+leaves+childrens' imaginations=outdoor fun!

Well, the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through here yesterday, leaving behind lots of fallen trees and branches as well as lost shingles, etc. and half of the state with no electric power! (we are in the half blessed to still have power) It was SO incredibly windy! We even got an automated phone call telling us to stay indoors and not go out because of the wind. Amazingly, the rickety ole fence surrounding our backyard only lost one panel that was easily put back in place last night after the wind died down! I though for sure we'd lose the whole thing!



So, after getting their school work done for today the children went outside to play. I was busy inside cutting out fabric for cornhole bags this week, when R. came in telling me I need to come outside and see the 'house' they made. They were quite industrious, using the fallen branches to make a teepee style house and using leaves for the floor!

***TIP***click on pics to see them larger (if you want to see their sweet faces closer that is!)

here are R. and I. in their 'room' of the house


and here is G. in her 'room'

the boys roasting their 'hot dog' over the 'fire'

with their 'pistols' hunting....I'm not sure what!

They sure had fun! And I'm so glad they have such a healthy imagination!



What a lesson that we can gain from this. So many times our Father takes the debris from the storm and creates something beautiful...it's His specialty! We need to look for the gems nestled in the trials....there's always something there. No matter what you may be facing today, be it big or small, may you find HIS PEACE and may you be able to praise Him in the storm!

"Praise You In This Storm"
by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

why is it?.........

....that our house usually looks like a tornado went through moments ago? It seems to be a continual struggle to keep things picked up like I want them to be....am I alone here? Just feeling really frustrated tonight about the current situation in a couple of the rooms......
BUT, I have a WONDERFUL husband who is so willing to help out and is doing so right now! Thank you, Eric!


Just being real for you all tonight! And putting a warning out there that if you stop in on me unexpectedly, be.prepared :)

Fun with G.

This afternoon I was spending some quality time with G. just playing, singing, etc. together. She pushed on my nose and I made a 'quack' sound. I then pushed on her nose and her quick response was, "Ees not wooking!" along with her trademark little giggle! Translation: "It's not working"!!!!

Here's a picture of the little cutie with the 'not working' nose!