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It’s a New Year!

January 1, 2012 By Kim Filed Under a little Christmas, family, joys of motherhood

I hope everyone had a great December, a wonderful Christmas, an awesome New Year’s eve and a fabulous start to the New Year! The month of December flew by. And I can’t believe we are already in the new year. It’s funny how the idea of a new year is so exciting. The belief of a fresh start – when really the fresh start is every day you wake up. But just like everyone, I do love the new year. I’m not big into the resolution thing, but I do try to line up things for change in my house. It seems every year that I change up stuff around here – how I clean my house, work my business, how much time my kids spend with the tv – things like that!! And this year will be no different. I think it is because of December. Everything is thrown to the wind that month. With all the craziness that comes with the holidays, chaos always ensues. I need a new year just to give me that sense of calm.

But no matter how crazy the month of December is, I love it. A lot. I did great this year with gift buying. I had it all taken care of by December 1st! And I came in under budget! {Always a plus!} I had a plan and it fell into place. It was really nice. I enjoyed it all. My kids were awesome. Emme tried hard to convince us that Jesus is a baby on Christmas – every Christmas. She gets that he is 2000 years old, but on Christmas . . . he is a baby! Except from midnight to sunrise . . . then he is Santa Claus. “Because he is amazing and he can do things like that.” haha! Still cracks me up when I think about it! Lawson has every Christmas song memorized and is still singing them. Carson loved the Christmas lights – and has decided that we are keeping the lights in his room. Hudson, . . . well just know that he has been watching Christmas movies everyday since June. That boy has been “in the spirit” for months. He was disappointed when he woke up on December 26th.

Em is on a Lala Loopsy kick – anyone else out there have an obsessed child?

Lawson’s favorite toys are all educational. Seriously, this dollar toy is one of his favorites! And his absolutely favorite was a president puzzle. {And my OT friends, I don’t let my children sit like this. I specifically remember asking him to sit the correct way after this picture!}

This is the fake smile. Everyone with kids have at least one kid that has the “fake” smile! haha! This really is probably one of the most hysterical expressions ever. And he is going to kill me one day when he knows that I just posted this for the world to see. {Sorry babe, this is what happens when you keep doing it!}

And Hudson with his beloved Innotab. He is in his serious mode here. And on top of the world.

I’m fortunate to have taken a few pictures. Normally, we are so wrapped up in the excitement that we don’t even think to pick up the camera! But the one picture I get every year is the after math . . .

This is my happy picture. This is what I dreamed of Christmas morning looking like when I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Grinch said it best when he said, “It came without ribbons!… it came without tags!… it came without packages, boxes, or bags!” But with a 3 gift minimum + each child gives each sibling a gift in the $10 and under range + Santa’s gift = a lot of gifts! My kids don’t get toys other than at birthdays. Don’t get me wrong there are times they do receive little things. But I knew before I had children, that toys were not going to be given all the time. And I’m glad we have stuck to it because it makes times like this unbelievable! Nothing like seeing a grateful heart on Christmas morning.

And because I know you want to see my Christmas card for this year {although I’ve not sent them out yet!} Like last year, they will be a “New Year card!” I already have a caption for this – I will tell you in another post. BUT I want to know what you guys would put on this! haha!

Again, I hope you all have a fantastic new year! And blogging is on my priority list for 2012!

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The Problem . . .

September 1, 2011 By Kim Filed Under a little Christmas, keeping it real, small words art

I have one. A problem. And I’m just now realizing it. Wait, I knew it was a problem, but the degree of the problem was just realized.

I want to do too much.

Please tell me that there are others that are guilty of this, too!

The funny thing is, I convince myself that these are needs – but in all actuality they are wants! A perfect example would be the laundry. I need to do laundry. But I’ve convinced myself that it has to be done every 3 days. Don’t get me wrong – every 3 days keeps the loads smaller and quicker. But, until someone is on their last pair of underwear – really – it is not a need! I find myself stopping all that I do – to do laundry every Wednesday and Saturday because I “need” to. But it is time I faced the truth – it is just a “want.”

A “want” that sucks away my time! And that is just ONE EXAMPLE! I have tons of them!

And this is with everything! I love how I’m slaving on 6 different projects at one time. Trying to dance the art of balance. Laundry, dishwasher, one of the kid’s “about me” poster, a painting, emails and the boys’ Christmas tree decorations! {Yeah, you read that right.} And then I realize it is already tomorrow and I really didn’t finish any of the projects!

Let me see raised hands of who is guilty!

The best for me is when I’m working feverishly because I “have to finish all this before tomorrow, because tomorrow has its own list of to-do’s, needs, wants” {whatever you want to call it!} Only to realize that it is 2 am and surprisingly – tomorrow is already here!

It is a ridiculous and a sick cycle, . . . . and yet, I just can’t help myself!

And because I know you want to know what type of flippin’ Christmas tree decorations I’m working on in August/September, I figured I could show you.

Remember last year, the boys had 3 trees . . . and I made that incredibly cute garland with the cut out circles sewn together??? Well, I ran into a small problem with that adorable stuff – it kept breaking! The clear thread just wasn’t strong enough to hold all the circles and especially that glitter paper because it was heavy stuff.

So, I did what anyone would do – I gathered them all up and planned how I would “need” to sew them together before next year!

Fortunately for me, I found a much bigger Christmas tree for the boys’ room last year a day or so after Christmas for cheap! Now, none of the lights worked and it did have a small issue. But for 10 bucks . . . . I couldn’t let it go!

Yes, it is one of those Alpine trees. A really tall one! And I did get it at Hobby Lobby, who just so happens to sell them {in perfect condition} for $129.99. Ten dollars was a great deal, no matter what its issues are! I had already spent 45 minutes of my day clipping out all of the non-working lights! But do you see the small issue? Look close. Here this might help . . .

Uhmmm, a part of the branch is broken. Okay, the trunk. ALRIGHT! You got me! About a third of it is just broken off!!!! But come on – 10 smacks!!!! And really, that is an easy fix!!!! I will tell my husband exactly how he is going to repair it! {haha!}

Since I bought this tree, I have been collecting odd letters. Since I’m raising all these brainiacs, I thought they would love the idea {they did, by the way!} of using all the letters as ornaments.

I’ve started mapping them all out. And when I need something to look at – other than canvas and paint – because that does happen – the “need” for a change in scenery – I work on a letter! After all, I “need” to have them completed in about a few {10 or so} weeks. I know, ridiculousness!

And back to that garland . . . . I thought it would be great to use white thread and run the garland through the machine a couple {or 5} times!

It was very important that the stitching was not perfect. {haha!} Honestly, that was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. A crooked seam. It was killing me. But it was needed! I really like the funky-ness of it! And this time I attached all 3 chains together – I think it ended up being 32 feet. Also, I added some grosgrain ribbon at each end – just in case I had to tie it off!

Good grief – what a project.

And I just realized something – I never posted the second painting that matched the cow painting! Here you go!

It’s a new month – let’s see if I can blog a little more often. I really feel the need!

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Bye-Bye Christmas, see you later this year . . .

January 2, 2011 By Kim Filed Under a little Christmas

I normally take down and put away all Christmas decorations the day after Christmas. Mainly because I think nothing is sadder than a tree with no gifts under it. I remember hearing that one time from an employer years ago and not really getting it, . . . until my tree had no gifts under it and I noticed how sad it did look! But with the sickies attacking us, I just didn’t feel up to messing with the demolition that goes along with tearing down Christmas!

But today was the day! And my kids were upset! Who knew?! Those jokers really thought it was part of the permanent decor in the house! And once I got it all down and put away, I realized why I didn’t feel like doing it before now . . . . gahhh – the dust!!!

I know I can’t be the only one who does this, but I clean like a mad woman the minute the Christmas is packed away. I’m not saying I’m like that daily or on any normal, given day – but I am on this day!

And I’ve decided that I’m going to put up a full size tree in the boys’ room next year. Especially since we have plans with having a little remodel work done with the wasted-space-double-dormers we have. One giant-dormer-that-actually-goes-with-the-style-house-we-live-in kinda dormer is the goal! {I just wish I thought of this when we had this thing built!!!}

And tell me the truth – do you think this is too many non-shatter ornaments? hahah!!! No, please don’t answer that! I’m afraid of what you all might tell me!!

But I will tell you all the truth – I didn’t take any pictures of my kids this Christmas! Well, . . .wait – yes, I did. I took 1 of each kid when they first saw what Santa brought them. Except for Carson. He was in Em’s picture because he was overjoyed that she got a dollhouse! So, I got 3 pictures of my 4 kids this Christmas – shameful! I just got so into watching them open up gifts and squealing.

But I did find this picture when I was just going through December’s pictures . . .

This was one of those days that no one took a nap. And I was in the kitchen cooking supper – and I mean really cooking. One of those nights I actually make real mashed potatoes and not the instant kind. My 4 crazies were in the living room watching a movie {I remember specifically – “The Grinch,” Jim Carrey version.} I didn’t even notice it had gotten quite, until I started making all their plates.

Little Freaks. So, I ate supper by myself. And everyone of them slept the rest of the night! {It was only 6 pm when I took this picture!}

Looking at these pictures, I know I have everything I ever need.

And that tree “ain’t sad looking either!” I think I bought more gifts for teachers and therapists than I did for my kids!!! So please, no one get the wrong picture here.

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