Reboot Me Please!

It's been hectic around here. The boys are 3 1/2. They are defiant, independent and just plain goofy. The girl is 5 going on 15. We've been sick off and on for months. Even Max the cat has been sick. And the hubby is working more than I'm used to. Most  Some days, I just want to run away. Or scream. Or stomp my feet and throw my own temper tantrum. Oh and throw away everything on the living room floor.

After several consecutive days of crazy, I decided I needed to reboot. But it took a while to figure out how...

I ended up having a good cry, just to get the emotions out. I talked to other mom friends. Then I put on some good music and danced around the house. I prayed, had a girls' night and picked up some of the clutter around the house. I also cleaned my car and vacuumed it. 

Ya' know, I feel a lot better.

Sometimes I cope with stress in unhealthy ways: overeating, yelling at my kids or husband or both, getting depressed, complaining, etc. I think one of the keys to managing the preschool years is figuring out what you need so you can handle the crazy. 

I'm learning that I need time away from kids outside of the home. Girl's nights, MOPS, church meetings. They really help me find balance. I also love some good cardio, whether it's running in the neighborhood, yard work or dancing around the house. I feel better when my heart gets pumping. Finally, eliminating clutter gives me a sense of control over my environment. Even if I can't control the people in my home, I can  control what goes on the counter top.

I'm so very blessed to have my three little ones and stay home with them. When I'm overwhelmed, it's easy to forget that. Hope your day is stress-free, but if not, finding your own method to reboot is essential.

Grocery Store Come-Backs

Most days I avoid the grocery store with my three monkeys. If I do happen to go, the comments are inevitable. With three kids under three, I've heard some good ones. I thought I'd share a few and what I wished I would have said (or was thinking) at the time.

Oh they are so cute! And what are their names? How old are they? My sisters cousin has twins... a boy and girl... and they weighed... Honey, did you see the babies? Come look...

Thank you for showing an interest in my adorable children. We have exactly 23 minutes in this store until one of them poops or has a meltdown. I have 17 items left to purchase. Please let me continue my shopping!

Wow, you're going to the grocery store with all of them? You're brave!

Yes, I am brave. I gave the maid and nanny the day off and thought I'd take the children for a stroll in the market. Really... I'm in Walmart. I don't have a maid. I also don't have any diapers, bread, toilet paper or milk in my house. And, last time I checked, you couldn't purchase those items at the McDonald's drive thru and the Walgreen's pharmacy doesn't consider those items over-the-counter medications. :)

I bet they're a handful!

Yes they are, but they are also a blessing. 

My absolute favorite:
They are beautiful. How do you do it?

I'm so glad you asked! I don't really have a choice. (Usually this is where I chicken out...) I am so dependent on the grace of God. I rely daily on the Holy Spirit to give me the patience to care for these precious children. I am nothing without him. On the days I try to do it in my own strength, I fail. They are a daily reminder of my inadequacy as a mom and human being. And I'm so thankful for it. They keep me on my knees. I have to trust God to get me through this season. 

Mom Advice Part II: What to read

This is the second post in a two part series on mom advice. Like I said earlier, I'm not an expert yet, these are just some thoughts on the subject. I do not have it all figured out!

1. The Babywise books


I didn't do absolutely everything by the book, but this was such a huge help in the first few months! When I had my first child I didn't know anything. I kid you not. It's embarrassing how little I knew... like babies eat all through the night. Whaaaat???? I have to wake up in the middle of the night. Seriously... I had no clue!

So, a friend recommended this book. When my little cherub was 5 weeks old and not sleeping at all. I desperately ran to the bookstore. As I read each chapter, I implemented it. She was sleeping in her own bed for 2-3 hours at a time at night within two days. She slept through the night at the appropriate age and has done so ever since. It works people!

Babywise 2, Toddlerwise and Preschoolwise are also good.

2. A New Kid By Friday, by Dr. Kevin Leman


I seriously think this guy is a-maz-ing. This book is more about older children, but it's good stuff. His parenting advice is brilliant. I want him to be a little angel on my shoulder telling me how to parent my kids. All his books are full of great advice.

3. Making the Terrible Twos Terrific, by John Rosemond


This is a great book about the 18 months to 3 years age range. His advice is also great. It's reassuring. It's low-stress. It helps you realize that this too shall end. And when you have two 2-year-olds, you really need that! I leave this one out and go back to it often.

So those are my top three. I've read other good ones, but these are my favorites. I also highly recommend Focus on the Family's daily broadcast. They have an iphone app too. It's so encouraging to parents and gives godly wisdom on how to raise your kids.

Now a word about what not to read.... There is a lot of bad advice on parenting out there. And a lot of it comes from people who are supposed to be "experts" on the subject. And maybe you think mine is too. But since you're still reading...

Here's two things to remember. 1. Take parenting advice from someone who has been successful at it. 2. God gave your kids to you. You get to decide how to raise them.

I hope this was helpful. If you have an awesome parenting book to suggest, please share it in the comments section. I can always use the help too! :)

Mom Advice Part I: What to buy

A good friend of mine is having her first baby and asked for any advice I could give. So, I decided to do a little two-part series on the subject.

Let me start by saying I am in no way, shape or form an expert. But I'm happy to give my two cents. I'll start with a list of what to buy and what not to buy.


So, for starters, you'll need a crib. I wouldn't break the bank here. I'd look for one that's convertible to a toddler bed. I'd also go gender neutral if you're planning on having more kids. It's very tempting to think that you need to buy the best, but they outgrow it in no time. And then you have to buy a real bed that they'll keep for a lot longer. Some beds convert to full-size or twin beds, and maybe it's worth the money. I didn't do it that way. But I had twins, so it wouldn't have been practical for me anyway.

While we're on the topic of beds, make sure you have at least three crib sheets. You never know when you'll need an extra (or two)...

You also need a place to change diapers. I bought a nice dresser to match the crib and added a changing pad on top. Easy peasy. And when baby is out of diapers, you have a pretty dresser.



This little swing was a life-saver. It's the Boppy Rock-in-Comfort travel swing. It's inexpensive, can fit in your car and my kids loved it. You may also want a bouncy seat. They are great for colicky babies.


This Fisher Price booster seat is awesome. It's space saving, portable and will take your child through their preschool years.


Finally, get a good pack n play. You will use it when you travel, and you can use the bassinet in the first few weeks when baby sleeps in your room. It's also good practice to let your little one practice napping in it. Then when you're gone during nap time, it won't be so hard to get him down for a nap.


If you can, get a used full-size stroller, and buy a good umbrella stroller. They're portable and light. You'll use it often. Look for one that comes with a tray.

Absolutely DO NOT buy tons of toys. Keep in mind that the best toys are those that have been around forever and are not expensive. After hauling loads to the Goodwill, I've learned my lesson about buying things that last.

Well, that's about it for what to buy. Keep in mind that the lists from the store are made by people who want you to buy more stuff. And it's so tempting to want the best of everything, but it's not really necessary. So many things can be purchased used through Craigslist or local resale shops.

If you have any other advice, please share it in the comments section!

Give that mom a pat on the back

Being a mom of little ones can be exhausting. The diaper changing, endless laundry and temper tantrums can leave us drained. But I think moms with kids at any age can feel that way. When I imagine parenting teenagers... yikes.

So we bounce along and do our best, trying to live up to the job description. Our purpose in doing it all gets drowned out by the to-dos and daily battles. We lose sight of the bigger picture. 

That's how I felt last week when I received an unexpected email telling me I was doing a great job with my kids. I had tears while reading it. And I have tears thinking about it still. I needed that. 

Encouragement is so important. It costs almost nothing to give -- just a few words or strokes with a keyboard. Yet, many of us withhold it. 

I'm not talking about flattery. If you don't mean it, by all means, don't say it. But if you see a mom doing a great job, let her know. I think we could all use a pat on the back sometimes.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." I Thess. 5:11

My Mom-mobile

Yesterday as I was getting my daughter out the car, I managed to pour half a large coke into one of the carseats. Fortunately, no child was harmed in the process. When I took the carseat out, the crumbs, candy and other gunk on the seat could no longer be ignored. "Yep," I thought, "This is gross."

Not my actual car. Imagine this level of dirty on the inside.

I considered taking a picture, but I was too embarrassed. Seriously.

At first glance, the backseat just looked cluttered. Shopping bags, toys, jackets and shoes hid the true filth lurking beneath. After a quick declutter, I began to vacuum. I found candy, sand, the equivalent of one McDonald's small fry, chewed gum, sucker sticks, used kleenex, finger nail clippings, half-eaten biscuits, cookies, an empty milk bottle, toy jewelry, a banana peel, receipts, etc.

I know, gross.

After the vacuuming, I took kitchen cleaner and wiped the gunk off the doors, console and cup holders. Huge improvement.

I'd like to keep my car clean, so I'm trying a couple of tips from a very wise lady (you know who you are). 

1. Never walk inside empty-handed. Keep a bag in the car to bring things in and out of the house. I used a reusable shopping bag and folded it underneath the driver's seat. 
2. Whenever kids are going to eat in the car, prevent the mess. Keep a beach towel under the passenger's seat and spread it the floor to catch crumbs. When you get out, dust off the seats and shake out the towel. 

So, there's a towel in my car and a bag under my seat. We'll see if I stick with it. What about you? Is your car's interior (or exterior) embarrassing? Or maybe you have some tips to share with the rest of us?

It's All About Perspective

I loooove it when my house is clean. By clean, I mean an empty sink, toys put away, surfaces cleared... you get the idea. With three little kids, that doesn't happen much. About the only time that it does happen is at night, and I'd say that's maybe 25% of the time. The fact is, when the kids go to sleep, I'm zonked! But I really do try to keep the house somewhat tidy.

The other day, my husband was walking through the playroom on his way out the door and said the strangest thing. As he stepped over a sea of toys, he said, "I love this. I love seeing that they had fun in here."

"Whaaat? That's you reaction?" I thought.

My typical train of thought when I see the mess is, "We have too many toys. I should get the trash can. I'm so sick of picking up all this mess every single day! Uggghhh!"

So his perspective -- much better.

What if you took that mindset next time your house looked like this?

Or this? 

Let's try not to sweat the small stuff. Instead, let's focus on enjoying our families, being thankful for what we have and living life. In our homes, in relationships and in life, perspective is everything.

I'm Still Spinning

Our Christmas was amazing. My boys are finally "getting it" when it comes to presents. They still get bored after two or three gifts, but it was so much more fun than last year. My 4-year-old appreciated Santa, Rudolph and the traditions of the holiday. They also know the story of Jesus' birth, thanks to our Little People nativity set.

But now it's over... and my house is a state of chaos.

We were very blessed this year to receive so many gifts. But now I have this overwhelming urge to organize and clean everything. I'm serious... the kitchen got a serious scrub yesterday. I swept and mopped the downstairs, caught up on laundry and cleaned bathrooms. Later in the day, I did a quick purge in my closet. I even managed to get a first coat on a piece of furniture I'm painting and design a custom sign. I was a woman on a mission, I tell ya'.

With all the activity, I did take time to get my bearings straight. When I skimp on quiet time with God, my entire day seems out of sync. But when I have a good time in the word, I feel energized and purposeful.

For a long time, I struggled with my "God time." I was inconsistent, and when I tried, I didn't get a lot out of it. I have by no means arrived, but I'd like to share a little about how I approach it.

First, I open my heart to the Lord in prayer. I always ask God to search my heart and point out anything that offends him (Psalm 139:23). I also ask God to open my eyes to see and my ears to hear, so that I can know the truth. I pray that his word would be written on my heart.

Then, I read a short devotional and some scripture. I pray afterward when I have time. Most days I just pray throughout my day. I wish I could do more, but the kids wake up. And I have to deal with this:

Not a bad job, really... I'm truly blessed beyond my wildest dreams. 

I hope you find some God-time today! 

Day 1: Christmas Tree Gift Tags/Ornament

On the first day of Christmas crafting, we're going to make our own Christmas Tree Gift Tags. This is a fun craft to do with your kiddos, but it also turns out very pretty. 

MATERIALS

Ivory Cardstock

Green Paint

Gold Paint

Brown Paint

Bronze Cardstock

Glue Stick

Ribbon for the Hangers

Gold Pen

Hole Punch

STEP 1. Cut your cardstock down to the size you want your tags. Don't make them too small, because you'll want your child's hand to fit. I cut the large 12"x12" cardstock into 6 pieces.

STEP 2. Have your child  make a few green handprints on each card. You want the finger parts to look like branches, so keep the top of the hand in place. (This concept was lost on my kid.) Let dry.

STEP 3. Cut small bronze stars out of the cardstock and glue onto the top of your tree (where the heel of the hand is).

STEP 4. Have your child add a thumbprint tree trunk and fingerpaint a few gold ornaments.

STEP 5. Once it's all dry, punch a hole in the top, add your ribbon and write a message. I wrote "Merry Christmas, 2011" on the front, and used the back of the tag for the To/From.

The gift tag is a fun way to personalize a package and makes an adorable ornament later. This was a fun, easy craft that I make with my 4-year-old while the twins napped. You could also change the colors to match your gift wrap or colors. I hope you try it out!

Merry Christmas!

Check back tomorrow for a Burlap Ruffle Wreath Tutorial.

God has a sense of humor

My almost-four-year-old says the sweetest things about God. So, I thought I'd share a few of them.

Driving past the hospital:
Emma: My momma was born there. And me, and Mike, and Tommy, and Daddy, and Jesus...

At night after reading Revelation in her children's Bible:
Emma: When are we gonna go to Jesus' big party?
Me: Not for a really long time.
Emma, with real tears: I wanna go NOW! Can we go tomorrow?

Talking about babies:
Emma: Momma, before we were in your tummy, did you cry out for us like the girl in the Bible? (Hannah)
Me, with real tears: I did baby.

Praying together at night:
Emma: Pray for the five babies in my tummy. (She likes to pretend she's pregnant...)
Me: God bless the five babies in Emma's tummy.
Emma: I think God's laughing at me right now!

I think so too... God loves children.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 18:3
And he {Jesus} said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Have a blessed weekend!