Welcome 2013!

If you remember back to my posts in Dec. of 2010 I said I'm not much for New Years resolutions.  I feel like we should always be trying to be better.  I mean, why wait until a new year starts to make a change? 

Well back in Dec. 2010 we did take that time to implement changes.  My husband and I made some big changes that have been great for our family.  Mostly our food choices. 
Since being pregnant and having a baby in the house I've gotten a little more relaxed and have had to rely on some moderately-convenience type foods more often than I'd like to admit.  We went from being a no pasta family to having pasta every couple of weeks- and guess what- nothing major happened, other than of course we were more tired than usual when we consumed it.  But it did pull us through another day, even if it wasn't nutritionally the best choice, and I just have to be okay with that.  Over all I feel like we're doing good when it comes to our food.

So for 2013 I want to focus on spaces.  I fully believe that the spaces you are in have a huge impact on your overall well-being.
Our home was built in 2005.  At the time Mr. Awesome & I were dating/got engaged, we only had the princess, no pets, and I was working.  Now a little over 7 years later we're married,  I'm a SAHM to our 3 kiddos & we have a cat.  Our space has had to change to accommodate our growing family.  Not only that, we also have changed some of our hobbies, and what we do in our spaces. 

In fact the room I'm typing in right now has been:
My bedroom (before we were married).
My home office while I sold Mary Kay & did eBay.
The Princess's bedroom.
The Princess & Prince's bedroom for a short time.
The Home school room.
& currently is Blackie's (closet- since she doesn't sleep in here, but does store her clothes here!) room/computer room. 

Home improvement takes time & money.  It seems like getting the two together is a challenge.  I wish we could do it all at once and be done.  & to be honest, if we took out a loan we could.  But I do NOT want to still be paying on it when I change my mind and want to redo whatever we've just done.
 So things will be slow going, that's alright.

For 2013 I'd like to see:

• The Laundry room turned into a mudroom (But where on earth will you stick the laundry room you ask?  Well, uh, actually.....I don't know yet!).
• If it works, maybe pull out the big tub and put the laundry in the master bathroom.
• Build a swing set for the 1,000 kids that flock here in the summer. 
• Put blinds on the windows (Please God, I'd love to finally have blinds, let me pick a color and just order it already!).
• Make a backyard patio/seating area.
• Fix the kitchen faucet that has leaked for y.e.a.r.s!
• Install shelving in the basement bedroom closets.
• Paint the stairs leading to the basement.  Any color- I just want it all one color.
• Move the TV downstairs.  This means rearranging the living room.  I'm terrified of picking new furniture for that space. Furniture is expensive, and what if:  It doesn't look good, I don't like it, or it isn't as comfortable as our broken-in sectional? 
• Install new flooring in the dining room/living room.  It looks just awful, awful awful!  Next time we will pick a better quality floor and something that can stand up to 3 kids & a husband.  Oops- did I say that? It's mostly the kids.
• Sometime this year I'd also like it if Blackie has a room with her stuff, that looks like she actually sleeps in it, even if she doesn't.  She's our baby & right now I love her sleeping with us.  Judge me all you want, tell me that she'll never sleep in her own bed.  I know that eventually she will move to her own bed.  At some point she will also no longer want to be held and cuddled on a regular basis.  I am in no hurry for these days to pass.
• Move the big kids into their own fully decorated rooms.

There are probably more things I will think of here and there.  And maybe none of these things will happen, maybe some of them will.  If they do, I'll try to blog about it. 
My favorite DIY project of 2012 was when we painted our shutters & then did my FIL's shutters.  What a transformation!  I wish I would've blogged it!  Maybe I will some day, I did take pictures fully intending to post it here.

So what will your 2013 look like? 

New Year, New Post!

I started off 2013 having to dump a bottle of breast milk I accidentally left out all night.  A bottle that took me four 20 minute pumping sessions to make, in the midst of new years celebrating with the family.  But rather than complaining & feeling sorry for myself- I'm grateful for this new day.  It's  another day to try my best at all that I do & be thankful for what I have. 
This is not a day to crab about what isn't going my way & how unfair the world is.  Actually there isn't a day for that in 2013.  Be thankful in this year that God has allowed you to be a part of.  You always have the choice to be happy.  Even when things are sad, look on the bright side.  It's good for ya!
I have read over a dozen, maybe close to two dozen facebook posts about how crappy this year has started off.  It's day 1 and you're already complaining?  Yikes! 
People, I'm sorry if your parents didn't teach you this & you are having to learn this for the first time as an adult, but LIFE IS NOT FAIR.  It's not a huge deal really.
In fact there will be times this year when your on top of the world & times you've hit rock bottom.  When you are in each place remember the other, act accordingly & you'll be okay. 

When you're feeling down, and maybe even wanting to give up, remember to chose a happy thought, as it won't always be this bad... Something great may be just around the corner.  And when you do get around the corner to that happy place, remember that you are not top dog, things could get worse.  So do not boast, but rather be humble.   Above all- enjoy where you currently are. 

If God gets ya to it, He'll pull you through it.  That's all folks!

An A-ha moment!

I just read a beautifully written article.  You can check it out here:

It's such a different perspective than most of the articles I've read.  My heart still aches right now for the families, the community & really the whole world. & I'm not even closely connected to the tragedy, other than being a mother.  But I just realized from reading an article a friend linked to Facebook, that this is the reason I feel so strongly about this whole thing.
  I live & breathe motherhood all day long.
  I watch the news & cry. 
I watch my kids playing (or fighting) & I cry.  I think what if this is their last time together.  What if I don't get another chance to squeeze my babies & tell them how much I love them.  For almost a week now I've cuddled, hugged & talked more to my babies than I have in a month.  I wish it didn't take something like this to slow me down.  But I'm thankful to have the chance to try again at active mothering.
Please, read the article for yourself, you'll surely be moved by it.

Social media & our children

I think a handful of my FB friends are far too young for Facebook, even if its primarily for games, or only to talk to their friends.  I have some teen girls as FB friends who post pictures more revealing than anything I would post at 26 years old, and their profiles are PUBLIC!  These kids are just not ready for social media.  My daughter would love her own Facebook account.  But she's 10.  It's against FB's policy & against our family policy.   A friend of hers posted a couple videos of them playing & my daughter was mortified.  She thought they were just having fun, but never wanted to be online for everyone to see.  She cried about it off & on for days.  My 5 year old, on the other hand, is constantly asking if I will put his picture on Facebook.  He thinks it is awesome to show his lego creations or new clothes to the entire world.  These sweet children just don't realize how big the world really is.   Social media can play a role in our emotional well being (yay!  I have 15 new notifications vs. No notifications in 3 days) as well as mental health (cyber bullying).  How will you protect your kids from social media?

https://www.jonacuff.com/blog/something-every-parent-needs-to-be-ready-for-in-2013/

Christmas feelings

I've gone Christmas shopping several times & spent hours online looking at things.  But, I have yet to get a grip on my list.  I am having a hard time finding good gifts, & feel like its an obligation & a giant waste of money.  I try to be appreciative of gifts that are bought for my family, but mostly it's more things that we don't need & a lot of it never even leaves the package.  I know Christmas shouldn't feel this way. I just hate how commercialized it feels.  Christmas to me is about celebrating Christ's love.  How can I honor Christ, while pleasing others with gifts, but not creating more clutter in their homes?
Donating money to a great charitable organization in their names isn't an option because the people I'm buying for like "things".

I kind of just want to stay home this year, how sad.