Friday, September 30, 2016

Wrappin' up the week here with the sweetest, yet sort of sad little song....





I LOVE the look of a dried corn field ready to be harvested against a dark, grey sky on a cool fall day.
That's the look around here today. It's perfect.

We're in sweatpants, the house is {mostly} clean, floors are washed and laundry is...not done.
But hey, that's what rainy Saturday mornings are for, right?

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past week.
All of us siblings and my grandparents had dinner together at my brother's house...
..it was low key and nice.

We have this little book ....you NEED to buy it!
We've been having so much FuN.
Sophia and I stayed up past our bedtime last night gluing leaves and flowers. ;)

I can't stop listening to this adorable and super sweet song.
I told my girls this is the song I will sing when they move out. I even started singing it to them.
They asked me how long until the song is over. blah, blah.
Un-sentimental children. They'll come around, I know it.

Hope you have a great weekend.
XxOo

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Can you leave me alone life so I can blog about you?!


Hours turn into days that turn into weeks and I am a taxi driver who can't find the time to blog.
I homeschool and have been home long enough this week to {mostly} finish school.
I really, really don't want to stop writing and posting here...this is my scrapbook.
My real live books are empty in a box in the attic right next to our cobalt blue
"In Your Eyes" theme prom glasses from the late 1900's. {that makes us sound old..but we're not}
We are SUPER young still!

But....
There are groceries to buy, dentists to visit and a boy that needs a ride to basketball practice.
{and there was also this sale at Old Navy where baby t-shirts were/ARE 50% off...anyway...}

The evenings used to be down time for Jeff and I. Down time as in...we were A.L.O.N.E.
Now the day blends right into bedtime and free time is practically absent from our lives.

Be intentional about your time they say. Ha! How?
I'm not sure what I can cut from the schedule at this point in time...it's already at bare minimum.
Six kids growing means life is full.and the fridge is not.and we are out of almond milk...again?

Most of the time it's okay...
...sometimes I get frustrated and long for only toddlers again and a calmer more organized day.
The days where I was fully in charge of everyone's everything. No work. No outside distractions.
My whole house stayed clean! oh how I miss you super clean house.I really, really miss you.

On the flipside I love watching my boys grow up and do their own thing.
It's fun to share similar interests and do things together on a level other than Thomas the Train.

I have a love/hate relationship with being busy.
Mostly hate since I'm a fly by the seat kind of girl...
...and things keeping me tied down when something better could come along..say a sale at Old Navy? That's stressful to me.

Some of us did however find a little time to squeeze in apple picking.
Since two boys work at the orchard, they were gifted two bushels of apples..we picked Honeycrisps.
The most perfect of all the apples. I could eat a million..actually, I may have.












If you live in northern Illinois..you need to visit Edward's Apple Orchard this fall.
It's my favorite....best smells. best doughnuts. best cider. best store. nicest owners.

Happy Wednesday to you.
XxOo

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Freaky Pizzas, Cheesecake and meeting The Piano Guys.


I have three young men in my house. 14.17.18. {after Monday 18 will be 19}
It didn't just happen {although some days it feels like it} we've grown into this phase.
....but if I step back and take a look, it's weird.

How do Jeff and I have boys this old? This big? This tall?!
It happened so fast, yet not so fast, if that makes any sense?

Like that old saying my Grandma told before all the internet memes...
"The days are long but the years are short."
She was right....it's True!

Birthday dinners at our house....whatever you want, you get.
Alex wanted Freaky Pizzas...they are so good, but I hardly make them.
They are fried and I hate frying with a passion! The smell, the grease..yuck.
 But Freaky Pizzas every once in a while, that's okay.

It's an old family recipe.
I can't share...I would be hung, burned at the stake, murdered in my sleep!
I'm not joking.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake for dessert....every year.








Long time fans...Alex and my brother Ben wanted to see The Piano Guys for their birthdays.
The show was amazing! The talent was amazing.
Then....meeting them afterwards!!! that was pretty amazing for the two of them.

It was one of those things that you don't expect to happen...but it did.
Their night...umm...make that year, was totally made. ;)

Do you know they only tour two weeks at a time every other month
so they aren't away from family for long periods of time?

I highly recommend seeing them live if you get the chance...it was well worth it.


Happy Mid-Week.
XxOo

Friday, September 16, 2016

To wrap up the week.....




If you are not busy this Saturday, come out and see us!
We will be catering an event at DC Estate Winery.
Brick oven pizza, meatball sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, salad....Italian perfection.

The winery is so beautiful.
They will be having a grape stomp, a live band, wine tastings and all sorts of activities for the kids.
The weather is supposed to be perfect too! It's going to be a great time. You really need to come.


I caved a week earlier than usual and bought a pumpkin.

We made a fabulous egg and potato skillet this week...recipe over on Twin Garden Farms blog.

September is a crazy month for birthdays. Between my family and Jeff's we have twelve.
We have two boys in September and tomorrow is one of them.

Alex will be seventeen! For his birthday, he wanted to see the Piano Guys,
so we're going tonight with one of my brothers. I'm excited.

I leave you with a Beethoven's 5 Secrets. 
...aaaaannnnnd let's do one more from them.
Yeah..I'm excited.

Happy Weekend.
XxOo


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A sort of commercial...You should really try the lip balm and cider.

Today is National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day.
As I type out this post my children are eating breakfast made by Allison. ;)

My kids are in the kitchen cooking and baking all the time anyway...it's in their blood.
But cleaning? Well...that's another story. Not everyone inherited my cleaning gene.

We are working on putting a love for cleanliness in their hearts through mandatory labor.
To make their job easier, we provide only the best tools possible.

Does this sound like it's going to be an advertisement?
Because it is....I'm totally advertising for a company I absolutely LOVE!
Why? I think you will love it too!

The company we use for our household cleaning products is called Grove Collaborative.


It has made my weekly shopping so much easier.
I don't have to think about cleaning products when I'm at the store....
...I can focus only on my groceries. {and the crew I usually have in tow!}

I simply go online once a month to customize my order! Hit ship and then wait by my front door.
Within 15 minutes a box filled with my items arrives. Not really, but wouldn't that be fun? Ha.
They do ship quickly though.

Grove Collaborative has the best of the best when it comes to natural products...
....and they even have their own line. {Get the Lip Balm...Trust me, you will love it! I use it daily.}



A couple of items I'm using today {or rather my children are using....cue sinister laugh..hahaha}
.... and think you should order too....
1.The new seasonal scents from Mrs. Meyers...Mum and Cider...they are perfectly perfect for Fall.

2.The lip balm I mentioned above. You will never use anything else again.

3. Order a dishtowel from them.
I am slowly switching all of my kitchen towels to the Grove Collaborative brand...they are great.

So follow THIS LINK! and sign up.
Not only will you be happy with your decision, but you will also get $10 off your first order!
I promise you will not be disappointed.

End Ad.
Have a great day...and stay out of the kitchen if you're not a kid!
XxOo

Monday, September 12, 2016

To wrap up last week and start this week....and the best "national" day ever is tomorrow and all moms should know about it!!!


You know those weeks and weekends that don't go as planned? ...that was our's.
Jeff was so sick...he went to bed Thursday evening and didn't wake up until Sunday night.
All is well tonight.

Allergies due to those beautiful fall weeds...I look like a reptile.
Sophia told me I don't look that bad...
...."your eyes just look like you have a bunch of big mosquito bites all over them."
Thanks for your honesty honey. ;)

The weather has been dreamy the past three days.
70's..Sunny and NO humidity!
You have no idea how ready I am for cooler weather to be on it's way.

About that binky....really, he's the 6th child..I've learned by now there are bigger fish to fry.
He won't be starting Kindergarten with it in his mouth. It's reserved for bedtime and naps.

We start school on Wednesday.
I am excited...we're doing some fun things this year!
...and this is the first year in a while I feel ready and organized.
{but don't look at our school room until tomorrow afternoon....it.is.a.MESS!}

Also...if you know me, you know I love "National _____ Day."
I have the important and fun ones on my calendar. I write them down with everyone's birthdays too.
Anyway...tomorrow is a BIG one!

Tomorrow is...Let your children take over the kitchen day! I thought you moms would like to know.
It's like...the best national day ever! ;)

Hope your week is off to a great start.
XxOo

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

A little advice for young moms and I'm SO glad Jeff is Jeff and not Tarzan because I'd make the absolute worst Jane of the jungle.


It rained today. Last I checked, the humidity was 1,000%. Heat index was 872 degrees Fahrenheit.
In other words, we are currently living in jungle conditions.

The older I get, the more I love winter...until it's {the end of} winter.
Then I love summer. Ha! Isn't that how it always goes with us discontent humans?

I do however, love a rainy day.
We went for a walk and played in puddles when the sun came out for a little while before lunch.

The rest of the day we stayed inside, accomplished laundry and I worked on lesson plans.
{we start school next week}

I'm excited. I'm ready for the slow down.
It's still a bit crazy around here and will be through market season...but is it ever not crazy?

The older your kids get, the busier your household will become.
Your kids begin to have lives outside of the home....work, sports, missions trips..etc.

It's all a part of children growing up.
You do not have full control over your kid's schedules like you do when they are little.
The dinner table is often missing someone. Family time happens less.

So my advice to you young moms....
SLOW DOWN!!!
Focus on your family because the time with your kids is short. and time goes fast.

It's easy to be intentional when you have all your kids at home by your side. Take advantage.
I know you may long for time alone...don't worry, it's coming! Sooner than you think.
I promise! Right now enjoy your children...live life to the fullest in the season you are in.

That old saying...The days are long but the years are short..It's true!

Listen, you will have teenagers before you know it.
..and having teenagers is not a bad thing. I love having teenagers..it's great!
But knowing how quickly they got to this age has made me realize
how quickly they will be all grown up and leave our home.

Don't take one day for granted.Not one single day.
Soak in every moment you have with your children no matter what their ages.







XxOo

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

A bed sheet minimalist who loves linen and has a husband who only likes waffles from Belgium.

There really is no reason to own more than two sets of sheets for your bed.
My kids actually only have one set each. Whenever they wear out, I buy another.

We wash bedding once a week...everyone has their specific day.
All of my kids are old enough to make their own beds now....Ha-lle-lu-jah!
Can I just tell you how much I despise bunk bed bed making?
It's pretty much the worst part of motherhood.

My favorite sheets Jeff and I have owned thus far are Ralph Lauren's.
We bought them for an anniversary gift to ourselves.

Putting them on was a dream...or maybe sleeping on them was a dream...anyway...they were perfect.
After a few years...they ripped. I cried.
Not really, but almost. I looooooved those sheets.

They had these scrunchy sides that fit so nice onto the bed..
...sniff, sniff, tear falls...#firstworldproblem

Now we are the owners of one set of sheets.
I've been looking for a new set and I found these in muslin. Drool, gush, covet.
Since I'm not a Rockefellar, I cannot justify $472.00 for our bed...
..after all, my children do need to eat, right?

{unless, hmmm...children, there's this book called The Benefits of Fasting...oh nevermind.}


And...look at this! He plops onto my bed and falls asleep.
The feet attached to the child pictured below that you can't see....are filthy!
I wouldn't think this was so cute if he put them on a $148 flat sheet.




As I look for new sheets, all I have in my head now is linen! Which.....$$$$$ in case you didn't know.
I did find these Belgian linen sheets ....they are a wee bit less, but still...not Jeff approved.

I hear people sleep so soundly in Belgium, they always look so rested. Jeff doesn't believe me.
But they do! Then they wake up and eat the waffles they made in their Belgian waffle makers.

Jeff once got a Belgian waffle maker for Christmas....he wanted it! We all love it.
Belgian sheets to match the waffles makes perfect sense to me.


{Look how pretty all the linen from Restoration Hardware looks...
....why can't Jeff see the beauty in this stack?}

Anyway... I'm still shopping for sheets.
I will not make a purchase until I find a set that I absolutely LOVE!
Until then, I will wear my favorite linen skirt in honor of linen one more time and
then pack it away for winter.

Off to bed now...where I will sleep on our one set of $40.00 Target sheets {that I actually do like}.
Have a lovely evening.