Grapenuts were stuck all over the kitchen window....

...not a sponsored article by Post Cereal....they were shot out of a straw. It was disgusting.
The bathroom garbage was over flowing...but, I only said to empty it 4 times, so...you know.
The sink was full of dishes even though my kitchen was spotless at 7 pm last night.
{okay...the popcorn pot and bowls were mine}

I told them to get up and out of bed...no one stirred.  It took three times...
{....now they're going to wash the trim in my dining room.  When I say get up I mean business.}

Bickering started over who gets to hold the baby first...because she had him first yesterday and he had him after we got home from church first and she fed him but he held him before bed....
....yada, yada...etc.

Welcome to Monday morning. to life. to motherhood. to raising a family.

Some mornings I want to be selfish. Wake up. Think of me.
Work out. Grab a cup of coffee. Watch the news...alone.

Oh dear Yes! Watch the news! But..every single time I turn it on...

"Imprisoned divorced male leading a drug ring with a meth lab in his basement raped and murdered
a woman who was part of a prostitution ring and by the way Santa Clause isn't real kids...."

Right there wrapped up in 5 seconds is a whole lot of questions to answer
should a child walk into the room while their mother is watching the news.

So...the television stays off. and Facebook remains my main source of information. Ha!

Okay..I'm exaggerating a little and honestly I don't care that much about watching the news.
I prefer talk radio and/or reading. So... how about an early morning home decorating show? ;)
That would be nice.

Yes it would be nice, but it wouldn't be profitable.
It's empty. It's meaningless. It's not eternal.

Isn't that what all of our complaints are? Meaningless.
Not all, but let's be honest...Most.

They stem from us wanting our way and not getting it.
They stem from us wanting time for ourselves....which isn't a bad thing, time alone...
....but very un-realistic every morning from 6:30am-9:00am...which is when I want it.

Last week was a struggle.
Not every second of everyday...but hard moments sprinkled throughout the day, throughout the week.

The kinds of moments that slowly build and build until we can't see through the tired, the exhaustion.

We think we're drowning and we yell at our husbands that we can't take it anymore.
{or maybe that was just me? Poor Jeff..and hey,thanks honey for the sweet potato fries}

When things are going wrong...my focus is usually wrong.

When I'm looking for help...am I looking to the mountains?
(or the sky?...I live in Illinois, there are no mountains, I'm stuck with looking only to the sky ;)


Psalm 121:1 ~
I will lift my eyes up to the mountains;
     from where shall my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
     Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;
    He who keeps you will not slumber.

God! He won't allow my foot to slip. He will give me all the help I need.
The help He gives isn't the same kind of help I always want...but it's what I NEED!
The help He created me to need.

It's strength to get through whatever it is I feel I can't do. or don't WANT to do.
He gives comfort and peace and sanity.
{That last one I think He gives for the sake of my children..bless them they're all still alive}

When I step back and look at my situation, look at my kids....
...when I look into their eyes I realize they aren't here to destroy me. ;)
They NEED ME!!!

They are growing and learning and I am the one to guide them and teach them and train them in the right direction.
It's all up to me! {and Jeff of course, but I'm talking to Monday morning moms here}

If I walk around acting exhausted and stressed out all the time...
How will they learn to handle things?
They'll think it's normal for a mom to be cranky and angry and complain-y.

I don't want my kids to think that's what a mom looks like.What THEIR mom looks like!!!...
...a strung out woman in sweat pants trying to keep a clean house and mad that things aren't perfect.



I have incredible kids that I love to death....it's just sometimes I let this world get in the way of that.
I bet you do too. Don't let it!!!
You're the one in control...Take it!

How you ask?

Start small. Get cleaned up, get dressed.
Say a prayer and ask God to please give you the strength you need to get through the day.
Lift your eyes up and remember....

Life is about more than a clean house, a perfect schedule and a perfect life.
If you're striving for that...your plan will fail.
Be realistic and accomplish what you can.

It's Monday. A brand new start to a brand new week!
Hope your's is a good one.
XxOo

The Very Hungry Baby.

Sammy made a jar special for his little brother^^^..he even added his own label. ;)

We made baby food today.
Carrots.Sweet Potatoes.Applesauce.

Do you make your own baby food? It's so simple and so healthy.
You don't want gmo's or chemicals in their new little bodies...so if you can buy organic.
{or grow your own if possible! I am so excited to get our garden growing again.}

It doesn't take much to feed little ones...a whole bag of sweet potatoes can go a long, long way.
We made enough to last him through the weekend.

I love opening my refrigerator and seeing tiny little jars all lined up.
Having a baby in the house again is such a blessing....he's so much fun!

XxOo

The Fabulous Launch Party.

Sophia^^^...one of the most beautiful gals I know...inside and out.
Talented, gorgeous, classy AND she has the most amazing loft apartment ever.
I seriously would move my whole family in with her if she let us.

Over the past couple of months she involved me {and three other bloggers}
in a little project for Lake and Country Magazine.  We had so much fun.

The latest issue is out now!!! Go get your copy today!
...and if you don't live in the area and can't get a copy, you can subscribe online here.

I just came home from the launch party a little bit ago.
It was held at the beautiful Maxwell Mansion ! (I'd live there too. ;)

Such a big couch...Such a little guy.

Jeff had to work late tonight..so...My date for the evening. I think he's quite the catch.
Happy Evening to you.
XxOo

Bundle up baby, Spring is here!

Bundled up for a walk.

Blueberry and Strawberry banana muffins.
The little drool machine is going to need a haircut soon...and I'm sure he'll be crawling here shortly.
Her cousin gave her a a headband with a blue flower...she wears it almost everyday.
He took it upon himself to give us a fire today. It was cozy and warm.

Last Monday it was 74 degrees outside...this Monday we have 5.1 inches of snow on the ground.
Last Monday we had our windows open...this Monday we have a fire in our wood stove.

Yeah...it's that time of year again. It's sunny, it's warm, it's Spring!...Just kidding!
Here's a bunch of snow for ya...and a side of frigid temps to go along with it.

Are we tired of winter? Yes..but we will be tired of warm weather come the end of September.
I like the change of seasons...I am thankful we get to experience all four where we live.
Sometimes it's hard to be content at the end of each...
...but when I think of all that I enjoy about the seasons, I fall in love again.
{Most of the time!...I may not be so optimistic if it snows late in April. Ha!}


Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

-John Ruskin

...yes, this snow is good weather too.
Happy Monday. XxOo

The first of many sweet potatoes.

I was so excited to bring out the Royal Albert/Beatrix Potter bowl that hasn't been used in forever!
That silver little Peter Rabbit spoon was used by most of my other kids too.

Today was the first time he ate big boy meal. ;)  An organic sweet potato.
He loved it.

We went for three walks today.
Frankie in his wrap, some on rollerblades,
one bouncing a basketball the whole way and one on a longboard. It was an eclectic walk.
The weather was Gorgeous outside....70's in March..Yes please! We'll take it.

The boys took it upon themselves to rake the front yard and also clean my front porch.
It's so nice to start outside work....or at least have it done for me. ;)

Trees were climbed, bikes were ridden, basketballs were shot and
we even squeezed in the grocery store....it was a good day.

And also if you guys could please pray for my friend Audrey and her little baby Graham.
Poor sweet baby is in the hospital with RSV and pneumonia.
He's only a couple days older than Frankie...he's too little to be so sick. :(

Hope your week was off to a good start.
XxOo

Fashion Tip Friday and he's 5 months old already!

Another blogger I read put up a link to these great jeans. 
I am so happy flares are making a comeback.

Honestly, I am tired of the skinny jeans/ tall boot look.
This year I did away with my tall boots for the most part, replacing them with a shorter boot.

I am happy that flares are back...I have a pair that I've worn forever..I actually have them  on today.
I also like some of the taller waists...
....perhaps now we won't see so many undergarments hanging out when people bend over! ;)


And to all of you fellow natural curly haired people.....guess what?
The 2015 trend is to embrace our curls!   and you want to follow trends, right?
...or at least when they apply to something you already have. ;)

Tomorrow our little guy turns 5 months old! I can't believe it.
My sister Stephanie made his hat..I love it! It's sort of a crocheted Paddington Bear-ish hat.

This weekend is busy....we're going to my cousin's wedding Saturday and
we have a combined birthday party Sunday with Jeff's family..
..and the weather is going to be Gorgeous!!!

Happy Friday.
XxOo

I'm still doing the same things...they just take a bit longer.

Laundry used to be 3 loads per week..now it's 2 per day!
I could whip out a nice dinner in 30 minutes...now it takes at least an hour.
I would wash the floors, not because they needed to be cleaned,
but because my mop wanted to be used. ;)

Things change as your family gets bigger and grows older.
The work load increases even when you're doing the exact, same,
old routine you've been doing since the beginning of time!

Sometimes I long for the simple days when Jeff and I were first married 170 years ago....
..he would get home from work at 3:15 in the afternoon and the rest of the evening was ours!
Life felt like one gigantic date. I miss the amount of time we had with each other.

The coming and going of older kids, the schedule of a new baby, homeschooling different ages....
...the many hours Jeff works..add all that up and well, life isn't so simple anymore.

I don't mind the complicated...it's just..Wow, so much more work than I imagined.
Some days {or weeks} I literally don't have a second to think. Like this one! CrAzY!

When we were in our younger days...this is what we wanted. This crazy house full of kids.
I love it! I wouldn't trade a thing...{well, maybe if Jeff could work from home. Ha!}

I am horrible at keeping a journal! I have so many pretty notebooks and journals that are empty.
One of the reasons I like to blog is so I have a record...an online journal of our family.

I like seeing all the old pictures I've taken of the kids and
reading about things we've done over the years.
Sometimes where my memory fails, this little blog remembers.
{i.e. Sophia wasn't potty trained in a week! Thanks blog.}

Lately it's been hard to keep up here and I find my posts coming farther and farther apart....
...I really want to make it a priority to keep up more. I know I'll be happy later.

Hope you've been having a good week.
It's been BEAUTIFUL here! I even had windows open upstairs this afternoon...
...because 47 degrees in March in the Midwest is considered a heatwave!

XxOo

Where we share tunes.

Friday night Jeff and I had an evening {mostly} alone at home.
 Frankie was with us.. he doesn't really count. ;)
Anyway...he played this song for me. It's the sweetest and I absolutely love it.

Have you seen this movie yet? If not you have to!!! It's such a great story.
This song is my favorite off the soundtrack....
....the yelling at the end will make sense after you watch the movie. ;)

I used to have this song playing on my blog. Remember?...when I had music on my blog?
I miss having a playlist.

In our church we pick a hymn of the month..... this is the one we are singing for March.
We're doing it a little different though....acoustical guitars only.
{musicians pictured above ^^^ my brother, my son, my sister}

Even though it's overplayed... I still really like this song. 

Not usually a fan of the electro music genre...I love this one.
I think this is a noble song. I also like the video that goes along with it.

Happy Tuesday to you.
XxOo

Remembering Sunday Afternoon.

A while ago my grandparents signed Sam {who has always wanted to be a chef}
up for a subscription to a cooking magazine.

We've had all these recipes we wanted to try but just haven't gotten around to it.
Laziness? Forgetfulness?

Well..we finally decided once a week we're going to make a new dish from his magazines.
Yesterday after church, in our comfy clothes, we made a Basil Gnocchi dish.  It was so good!

The fresh basil smelled just like summer.
Oh how I can't wait to have basil plants growing in my yard again.

The gnocchi wasn't homemade though...I bought it. Gulp. I know, I know.
{Sorry Grandpa and Grandma!!...I hate making gnocchi!
Know that I appreciate every single little gnocchi you have ever made that I have eaten...
keep up the good work..wink, wink }


Hope you have a wonderful Monday everyone.
XxOo