Somedays

Today has had it's ups and it's downs.  Currently I'm sitting in a work in progress office area and it's stressing me out a bit.  Ordered new furniture, assembled, only to find it won't fit how I envisioned.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for yet, it is so easy to get overwhelmed.  

Does this make me a bad mom?  No, the kids have had an AWESOME day off of school.  Do I try to let my stress affect them? No, but does it? Probably!   Even so, the kids have had an awesome day off of school.

 1st Snow

Pizza Hut for Zeke's Book It Award

Followed by an evening of puzzles!

So if you are at my house anytime in the next few days, beware....or you might just get asked opinions on my office area!

Crazy Month: Mother's Musing

This month is always kind of crazy but it seems to be more this year after coming off a very busy September.  

Trying to make the best of this fall weather this week also!  Kezia and I have gone on a few walks to enjoy it while it is here....

Love having so many beautiful, safe places to walk a few minutes from home.

Remembering how pregnant I was 3 years ago!!!

Crazy to think our baby will be 3 in a few days!!!!

This Old House: More on Fall House Tour

Keeping It Real!!!!

It's been a rough month with a bunch of trips for me.  And when that happens my house suffers.  I had to share my house the same day I took my fall tour house pictures!  What I want to remember is the first post but I also want other mom's to know, we are all human...

Some areas might look perfect, others might be covered in dust, laundry (clean or dirty), some days the house might look great, other days not so much.  It's okay....You've got this mom!!!! 

DIY PJs

Last few years the kids have sewn New Years Eve PJs.  It is a fun tradition we have started.

To get a decent picture of these guys can be very challenging!

 Baby Girl picked Minnie Mouse flannel.  For her shirt I cut a circle and I zig zagged it on a white tee shirt.

 This little guy picked Paw Patrol fleece.  He choose Marshall for his shirt and I also cut out the Paw Patrol badge to add to his shirt.

 Frozen is still a favorite at our house, so Elsa Snow Queen flannel was picked.

This guy did his completely by himself.  He has turned into such a good seamstress.  Storm Trooper fleece was what he wanted.

We have a simple pattern we use.  I normally cut them out for them and help the big kids sew their seams.  In a couple years the big kids should be able to do everything themselves.  They are learning a skill that not all kids get to learn!

Thankful Thursday Week 2

This marks week 2 of 'Thankful Thursday'.  There is so many things to be thankful for.  Many times I don't take the time to pull my phone out to take a picture of little things during the week.  This has been good for me to document those little things!

Little helpers....as a mom I tend to not have enough patience for the little hands that want to help.  This week my 4 year old unloaded the whole dishwasher by himself, I had no clue he knew where most everything went.  My 2 year old unloaded part and set the table while doing it!  

Family Nights...Earlier in the week we packed the big kids bikes and took a walk on a local trail then out to pizza for a Pizza Hut Book It.  Everyone enjoyed our short walk and our beautiful fall weather for November in the midwest!

Daily Thanksgiving...For our church I have been doing a 'Daily Thanksgiving' post on our Facebook page each day.  Each day I get the opportunity touch others in such a small and simple way!

Mother's Musing: Last Minute

Too many times I am a last minute person.  Normally I have birthday parties all planned out at least a month ahead of time.  This time...Monday was my come up with an idea day for a party on Sunday.  My "idea" meant a last minute trip to the local orchard for pumpkins.  Of course living in the midwest can be an adventure once in awhile, last night we had snow!   Made for a chilly, wet trip but the kids still had fun.

Now we are set for pumpkins for baby girls birthday party.  More on her party next week!!!!!

Mother's Musing: County Fair Highlights

County Fair Highlights

The County Fair each year is exciting, frustrating, and crazy busy for a mom!  I'm sure there is a few more white hairs on my head but we survived and the kids had a blast!!!!!!!!!!!

This year I had a 1st year Cloverbud.  She made cookies, a rock creature, and a homemade craft.  And one who took Shooting Sports, Photography, and Lego's.  So much fun to see them try new things.

The kids worked at the 4H Food Stand with our group for a few hours on Wednesday.

Checking out their projects on display.

Fair Fun!!!!!!

Garden Tractor Pull

And of course fair FOOD!!!!!

Each year it seems we ask ourselves, is it worth it.  Once again, they were planning next years projects already on the drive home!  

Mother Musing 7/23

Sometimes you just have to smile back when they are SO proud of their accomplishment, even when it is cans of tomato sauce on the coffee table.  "Look mom....it's taller then me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Mother's Musing 7/16

Somedays you just have to let them play in the park in the rain no matter how dirty they get!!!!

As a kid I remember my mom letting us go play in the rain.  So even though it was cool and wet today we still meet friends at the park for lunch and playing.

 Yes the one in orange is mine sitting in the mud!

Barefoot races in the rain.

Thinking this might be an afternoon they remember for quite a while.

Mother's Musings: 7-9

Sometimes it is the little things during the day!  Today it was a cheap $5 pool with an inch of water in it.  Had a hard time getting all 4 kids in the picture at once.  This was a good hour of entertainment this afternoon which equals an hour of sanity brought back into mom's day.

Look at those faces of joy!  It's the little things....cause they are only little once.

Spring Time Yard Work

This week we have had BEAUTIFUL weather.  With little ones, I can't say I've gotten much done outside in the yard.  They did help me dig a couple along a couple sheds to plant tiger lilies.

We did put some old bricks in front of a shed door.  Trying to keep ahead of the weeds around this shed this year!  

 

 

 My very proud help!

Seems like so much to do and not enough time!  Sheds needs to be painted, garden dug, wood chips bought, build swing set, and much more.   

Most importantly spending time with all 4 kids.  Even when at times it is frustrating to have them "help" yet so important to let them!

Mother's Multitasking!!!!

Earlier last week, my to do list was crazy long!  I was leaving for an essential oils class that evening, so wanted to help hubby out as much as possible.  Multitasking was essential, sometimes it looks a little like this..bathing the baby, doing the dishes, thawing meat for supper (Yes, she kept putting the frozen ground beef in her bath water.), AND keeping 2 little ones entertained!!!!!!!! 

Even better, the kitchen floor got mopped, and that wasn't even on my to do list!!!!!!

Mother's Musing: Work At Home Mom

Being a "Work At Home Mom" makes me feel like I'm an "Insane Mom" somedays!  I snapped this picture the other day of where I was working. I was working on 2 different computers, for 2 different businesses! 

Yet, when I look over at my work companion, I can't help but smile.

With all that said, the flip side is being "Work At Home Mom" also keeps me sane.

  

 

My husband and I joke saying, "God knows you can't be a stay at home mom cause he keeps putting jobs in your lap".

What is nice about being a work at home mom, I still get to enjoy these kiddos, be here when the older kids get on the bus, off the bus, attend a Mom's Bible Study, playgroup, grocery shop during the day, swimming lessons, parks, etc.  The other day, we went outside in the afternoon, and took a walk on the driveway, and played with monster trucks.

Somedays, I get up early to work before everyone gets up (not very often -I like my sleep!), when Kezia naps and Zeke watches a movie next to me, and no more then once a week I go in the evening to teach an essential oil class.

We have found a schedule and routine that works for our family.  My dream was always to be a stay at home mom, apparently God had other plans for me and I'm quite happy with my work at home mom role right now!!!!!!

This Old House: Vol 13

Well....this really is a "This Old House" and "Mother's Musing" post together. 

Besides helping the kids build a gingerbread house over winter break, cleaning from New Years Eve, and company, not much is happening in the house department. 

Striving to just get back to "normal", after a fun filled break.  Monday morning, hubby went back to work, 2 oldest kids went to school, and the little ones and I went to Mom's Group.  Things stayed normal, until Wednesday when older kids had a snow day for -40 wind chill!  There might have been "tea time" at our house while baby girl napped!

Goal next week, is to prime and paint the last couple cabinets. 

Stay warm, safe and healthy this weekend!

-Rachel

Mother's Musing: Mom's Don't get sick days!

Mom's Don't Get Sick Days!

  You guessed it, this week started with baby girl being sick/teething on Monday.  Then, on Tuesday I came down with a sore throat, fever, body aches..  Even after oiling everyone up with essential oils all day!  UGH, mom's don't get sick days!!!!  Thankfully my wonderful husband fed the kids, and kept them quiet, after he got home from work.  I was able to take a lavender bath each evening, and go to bed early. 

Here is the downfall.. My house went quickly from our normal to, ummm, BAD!  Laundry climbing the wall in the bathroom, not including everyone's bedrooms, towels, and sheets that need to be changed.

This is what I started with this morning, even after my hubby tried to do a little picking up before going to bed. It was MUCH worse before his attempts!!

I made my mission for the day, that I was going to try to get the main floor back to our "normal".  It may have taken me most of the day, but I mostly was successful.

Here is the after...

5 loads of laundry, supper in the crockpot, and this mommy is DONE for the day!  There is still a couple loads of wash to carry upstairs and put away. I'm just happy to have it "clean"!  There is no hired cleaning lady in this house.  To some, this is clean, to others, it is not to their standards.  What is wonderful about having your own household, is you get to pick what your "normal/happy" is!  Pretty sure this will make everyone's day when they walk in the door this afternoon.  For my kids, "normal" makes them so much happier.  Find your "normal" for YOUR home, just make it home, and what makes your family happy.

Let's just not take a picture of mommy.....there will be no picture for "What I Wore" today!