Peace

How are those resolutions coming along?  I strongly dislike the word "resolution".  I believe that we are who we are and we really can't change too much, and we really don't need to (with the exception of hardened-criminals).  The problems come about when we decide we're not happy with who we are.  Quite philosophical, huh?

Think about it.  We EAT when we're upset, sad, angry, bored, etc and we gain weight.  And then we're fat and ugly (we think) and we eat some more.  We SPEND MONEY because something, we feel, is missing in our lives and we end up broke.  When, in fact, if we all chill out a bit and take an outsiders view...we're not that bad.

Here's what I pray for...peace of mind. 

Here's what I pray for for my children...their happiness and peace of mind and for me to quit nagging them to be the person I think/thought they should/would be.

I digress...getting back to the peace of mind thing.  I truly believe that every prayer ever said can be reduced to having a peaceful self.

My "resolution" this year has been to help God out with my earthen peace.  I'm doing what I can to identify the things that make me nuts, inpatient, upset, angry, etc...and find a way to eliminate those things or at least deal with them in a grown-up and intelligent way.  That's opposed to going bat-shit crazy when one of the kids leaves a sock on the floor in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Am I preaching to the choir or what here?!  That's okay you don't have to testify.

Here are my triggers (well, the ones I've identified anyway) in no particular order...

LAUNDRY

Problem: it's never done.  DUH!

Solution: by washing, folding, and putting away 3 loads everyday I can stay on top of the piles.  This way I don't spend an entire Saturday doing laundry only to have the hampers full again by Sunday evening.

KIDS AND CHORES

Problem: endless complaining, crying, and whining about what needs to be done.  It's really not endless, it's just really annoying.  Then I fall into my lecture about third world children and how lucky the are to live with me.  Then my face hurts from talking. Then I'm grouchy.

Solution: LISTS!  When the kids get home from school there is a list waiting.  The list has everything each child has to get done before TV/computer/wii/ds time.  Shockingly, this works very well.  I have done this in the past but kinda slacked off.  Need to be more diligent with this task.  When the kids get "the list"  they know what's expected.  No surprises.  Mom doesn't nag. STUFF.GETS.DONE! 

MEAL PLANNING

Problem: coming up with what to feed my family is the biggest stresser in my life. (Pretty good life I've got.)  If I don't have a plan by the time everyone walks in the door from chores, it's chaos and I'm a freaked out wreck.

Solution: Monthly menu!  I did one today for the next SIX weeks.  I feel so in control!  I'll share it later.

COMPETITION

Problem: OBVIOUS!  Those who aren't competitive...you need to sponsor some sort of "in-service" and invite me!  It's not as bad as it used to be...but it can be improved upon.

Solution:  Stepping back.  Relax.  Deep breaths. Teach my kids and myself to be the best that they can be and angels could do no more.  Last summer I tries to talk #1 OUT of taking a certain 4-H project to Achievement Days.  I shared that it wasn't purple ribbon worthy... he says, "Isn't it about making things together and spending time together?"  My heart broke and smiled at the same time.  Clearly, he has a better handle on life than his mother does.

RELAXING

Problem: I DON'T DO IT!

Solution:  Make myself do it.  Currently, I'm addicted to "Angry Birds" (only after the kids go to bed of course).  This includes making time for myself to be creative and not feel guilty when I paint, sew, craft, and the ginormous list of creative things I like to do.

HOUSEKEEPING

Problem:  I don't see the beautiful house that we live in.  I see the dirt!

Solution:  I hired a fabulous woman to come every other week to clean my house.  I LOVE HER!  The night before she comes, we have a "picking up" party.  Everything is put in its place.  I come home to a spotless house.  WOO HOO!  This has also given me time to work on clutter and cleaning things that would normally be overlooked. 

That's enough of my rambling.  Hope I've inspired someone.  Hope someone can identify with this craziness.  Gotta go...load number 3 is dry!

Becky



Centerpiece

Oh my goodness I have SO patted myself on the back for the creation of this centerpiece for our Christmas Day celebration.  Forgive me if I seem to be bragging, but honestly, I am.

Our dining table extends to 10 feet long and I wanted something to completely fill the space...well, leave a little room for eating.  I was checking in on Donna at Funky Junk during a mind-numbing blog surf and found her centerpiece.  It was perfect!  I changed the theme a bit for my vision.  Check it out!

 Obviously, I went with the baking thing.  I had a few of these things but a stop at one of my favorite antique stores filled in the gaps.  By the way... this "favorite antique store" of mine sent me an actual "thank you for the business this year" Christmas card.  Can you guess who opened it before I got to it?  That's right.  It was Mike.  Now can you imagine what may have been running through his head when he figured out who it was from?  Trouble right here in River City.  Actually, he just laughed because someone ratted me out about my shopping adventures.

I had to give the owner some grief about letting my husband in on my shopping habits.  I warned Mr. Shop Owner Man that he had better keep our antique/junk dealing relationship on the down low or he may never see me again.  He of course realized that was on empty threat but smiled and gave me 20% off my purchase.  I guess I'll go back. 

Most of the greenery is real.  Just went out and snipped off some branches from the shelter-belt.  Don't really know why I haven't done that before.  Real stuff gets thrown away and you don't have to STORE it!  Brilliant!  It smells good too.

I set the whole thing up on a muslin table runner.  It really cannot be moved with ease.  If I would have planned better I would have set up a little wooden number of some kind to assemble everything on top of...next year.

The cookbook page was added later.  It was a sign.  I was cleaning out a bunch of books and the page fell on the floor.  Check out the recipes.  {A bit blurry - sorry}  If that doesn't say Christmas, I don't know what does!

Becky

Poinsettias

Merry Twelve Days of Christmas.  I feel like I'm kinda back to my normal self.  As Mike said last night..."Do you feel free from the bonds of St. Nicholas?"  Getting there.  Does anyone else freak out, stress out, worry yourself sick, etc. about not disappointing your kids for Christmas and making sure everything is fair??!!  IT. HAS. CONSUMED. ME.  Things have to change next year.  {I say that every year.}

On a more relaxed note, I'd like to share a couple of my Christmas decorations over the next few days.  Hope you're not all tired of the season yet.  If so, maybe wait to read this week's stuff until next year.

My husband buys me poinsettias at the local farm store every year in December.  This year they were absolutely beautiful.  Obviously, one or two could not, would not be enough.  SO I bought a few more and here's where I put them...

 Old Bread Box

Old Not-Really-Copper Boiler

Old Cooler

Finally, an Old Locker Basket.

{Extra photo of the tree in the entry...because I heart it}

Simple. 
Elegant.
 Not too expensive
{no guilt when you throw em out with the trash}.
 Lasts the entire season.
{if you wan them to}

Becky

Freezer Paper

Just in case you don't know of the perfect union between freezer paper and the Cricut...

Cut out the desired shape, number, character on your Cricut {make sure to put the shiny side DOWN on the mat}.  Have your 6 year-old "weed" the parts you want to paint.

Iron the freezer paper to the fabric shiny side down.  I usually use a medium setting on my iron...depends on the fabric.

Have the continually talking 6 year-old paint inside the stencil.  I just use acrylic paints unless we're doing t-shirts.  Then we use fabric paint so that we can wash the finished project.

Stand up and smile.

Allow to dry.

Peal off the stencil and admire.

This is a great kid project.

They could be used for just about anything. 

These two are going to be pillows in the Little Red House...

maybe they will be finished by this Christmas.

Feeling behind in my Christmas duties...anyone else?

Becky

Technologically Advanced

To all of those out there trying to find the perfect gift for your "techie", I give you the

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR!

I have been yearning for one of these for a very long time.  Truth be told, probably since first grade.  How this would have made playing school SO. MUCH. BETTER.

Just a mere $25 bought me this beauty from a recent stop at my local Restore.  These Restore places are amazing, I tell ya.

Look what the children did with it.  First they circled like a bunch of sniffing dogs.  Then they touched it.  Then I showed them what it could do.  Then the creativity started flowing.

First up - the eldest. 

 ('cuz that's how we oldest kids roll... backa the line...we know it's a problem.)

Here's his contribution.

I'm not proud.

Notice the "d" is backwards?

Who's the dork?

#2 had to retaliate...

What she wrote is not suitable for my audience to see. 

I didn't even know she knew how to spell those things.

I'm not proud.

#3's chance...

Now we're all dorks.

When she was done the last line read, "I am the goodest."

Really, they do go to school.

Notice her evil smirk.

Notice her sisters' disgust.

See there...it doesn't always take the latest in the tech world to make kids happy.  Try something simple.  My kids thought it was the "newest thing".  Then again, THEY are simple.  They had a blast insulting each other with a dry erase marker for about an hour or so. 

Happy Christmas shopping.

Becky

Weight Schmeight

 Before I begin:

My apologies for addressing this ugly subject, but I had to use these great cow pictures.

Onward:

If you know that by the end of the holiday season you are going to feel a bit wide through the middle like this old gal...

Check out this chick's blog to help you mind your intake.

Roni's Weigh

and her food blog...

Green Lite Bites

She's inspirational and REAL!!

Keep the Chex Mix and Divinity binging to a minimum so that we can maintain our svelte bikini beach bodies.

My goal from November 1 to January 1 is to not be consumed by social eating extravaganzas.  I can do this!  I CAN weigh the same on January 1 as I did on November 1. 

Who's with me?

Let's start exercising BEFORE Jan. 1st.  That way we don't look quite so cliche at the gym in Jan.

Or we could make cookie dough and watch Christmas Vacation while eating every last wonderful spoonful.

What's it gonna be?

I'm still on the fence-

Becky

Bales

Harvest is done and now comes everything that has to be done before winter sets in.  Mike baled cornstalks until 10:30 last night.  Now we have to bring the bales home.

Hauling bales with a pick-up and two rail trailers really isn't a tough job.  However, in some situations it can be treacherous.  These possibilities of danger are amplified when performing job responsibilities with a two-year old in the backseat. 

{She did her own hair.  "No, me do it!"}

Let me preface today’s story by letting everyone know that #5 has been diligently trying to master the art of putting on her own mittens.  Now you’re up to speed for the rest of the story.

This is the first year we’ve farmed this particular piece of ground.  Therefore, the first time I’ve hauled bales from there to the feedlot.  When Mike asked if I could help, I said “sure”! (maybe not that willingly, but it looks good on paper)  Then I drove over there.  I forgot about “the big hill.”  It’s tough enough to pull 12 BIG bales of stalks up the hill, but having them push you DOWN the hill is another story.  I'm totally being a girl here.

Before the journey even begins, I can play in my mind the exact happenings if something went terribly wrong on my way back to the feedlot from the field: a cornstalk bale carnage, if you will.  Bales everywhere, me afraid to call the farmer, rail trailers bent all to hell, two-year old screaming, myself crying, farmer shows up, MORE crying …  Get the picture?

This grade may not look like a big deal to some of you; but to a forty-something flatlander farmwife it’s as intimidating as the giant slalom is to a twenty-something mountain-raised Olympic skier.  Seriously.

Clearly, I’m nice and relaxed when I get to the field.  I did have a little down time before the farmer and his pay loader showed up.  I perused the latest issue of Vintage Victorian (or something like that) to calm my nerves.

We’re loaded.  Good to go.  Time to scoot.

 I tootle along through the first two miles singing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and approach the crest of THE BIG HILL with caution.  I brake steadily and wind down to a nice kinda Dodge Ram kinda crawl. 

As we begin our descent to the valley below, number 5 says, “Fum in der.”  Let me translate:  “Thumb in there!”  She’s found some mittens and was able to get her thumb in the right spot all by herself.  She’s proud and I wasn’t listening.  She knew I wasn’t listening…

“Fum In Der!”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“FUM IN DER!”

“I know, I see.” 

(I really didn’t – my eyes were fixed on my course.)

“FUM IN DER!!!!!!!”

…no response from me…still trying to drive and stay married.

Due to my lack of attention, she starts screaming.  I’m almost crying.  I do my best to ignore her.

 I reach the bottom; the sweet, sweet bottom of the hill.

She picks up her pretend “Cars” phone.  Sobbing,, quietly, deep breaths, (you can picture it) she says, “Daddy, come git me.”

I couldn’t have been happier that Daddy didn’t have to “come git us”.

Navy Seals should train with a two-year old in their backpack.

Becky