Hospitality

Tonight I said & did something that I could still just kick myself for (If that would change matters, that is).

While walking the trail in Fredericksburg, we met up with Friends of ours that we haven't been in contact with for a very long time, despite the fact we live in the same town.

After standing around & visiting with them for a few minutes, I made the comment, "If my house wasn't so trashed right now, we would have you guys over to sit around the fire & make S'mores."

They looked as if they wanted to accept, but my comment didn't leave any room for an acceptance! boo!

Am I the only one who does this???!!!

Since when does a clean or not so clean house have to be the deciding factor for a fun evening reconnecting with friends?!

Have good impressions become so important in my life that it trumps friendship?

In reality, they probably would have taken one look at the mess & said their house looks just like this too-really! why does it even matter?

 

"People will forget what you said.

They will even forget what you did.(or how your house looked).

But they will never forget how you made them feel."

 

Awhile back I took dinner in for a family that had just had a baby, that we have since become good friends with. Their house was a mess! truly-toys everywhere, crumbs stuck to your feet when you walked through the house. There were no apologies made for the messy house(that's probably all I would have done in the same situation).

But going into their home & sitting there visiting with them & snuggling their new baby, I have probably never felt so comfortable or at ease in any other home. And since then, when they come over, the pressure is totally off in regards to making that my home looks perfect.

Again...am I the only one who does this?

I have been challenged today. To put people first. don't stress the little things. They won't matter in the end.....

How do you show Hospitality? Is a clean-picked up house on the top of your list?

I tend to suck at Hospitality, I believe it is a gift & if you have it, BLESS YOU!

For me it is something that I need to work at & practice, God help me! :) I obviously need it!

 

 



Magic

So...It's been a really long time since I've come to put my thoughts here, but today I've been inspired!

Magic happened in my kitchen today. That's the only way I can describe it. There are days when I spend the whole day in my kitchen & everything flops, but then there are rare days like today, when it all goes RIGHT!

 

I had raw-whole milk yogurt in the oven by 7:30 to work it's magic. By 3:30 I opened the oven to find I had rich, creamy, thick yogurt! That has never happened for me before! other recipes I've used all called for gelatin & I often used 2% milk to make it & it always turned out more like a watery jello. GROSS! The recipe I used today I found here rollermillfarms.blogspot.com

I flavored mine with 2T. real vanilla extract & 1/2c. honey. It is amazing!

I also made homemade whole wheat bread that actually rose to the occasion :) Although I did go a little overboard on the split tops ;)

the bread got rave reviews from the children when they came home from school.

I also took the leftover bread that I made yesterday, cut it into cubes, drizzled with olive oil & seasoned them with garlic & seasoned salt, then toasted them. The children have been eating them like some people sit & eat a bowl of chips. Although they were meant to top salads.

 

In other news..

There are only 16 more days of school left. 16!!! I can't wait! As much as I'm ready to resume a schedule in the Fall, I'm also excited for the late-lazy Summer evenings & late-sleeping kiddos in the mornings.

We are slowly letting the children stay up later & later each week & that is resulting in mornings where I get lots done before they wake up & they take long afternoon naps!

 

 

Also keep my Friends Heidi & Donavon & their precious baby boy Kasen in your prayers tonight. They are at Altman Hospital with him due to a really high jaundice count.

 

Have a happy Thursday night!



Perfect Snow Day!

So far today it's been one of those days that goes down in the books to be remembered for a long time to come.

Andy didn't need to go to work, and the children didn't have school due to the weather.

Our day started with brownies & chocolate milk & playing Legos in jammies.

As soon as Asher went down for his 1st nap there were Easter eggs to be colored...

Waiting for the eggs to change color:)

Excitement is barely contained:)

The boy who never wears a shirt...

After the eggs were colored there were snowmen to make, so the kiddos got all bundled up & headed outside with Daddy...while I got Dinner prepped & ready.

Smoked sausages, potatoes & banana peppers with a little garlic & seasoned salt & parsley flakes.

Tossed salad with bacon, eggs & cheese with cheese-garlic croutons...YUM!

Meanwhile 2, very large snowmen were being built outside...

 

 

 Now the babies have been put down for naps, laundry is almost done, & Daddy took the 3 older children to Lowes, to dream of projects that need to be completed this Summer:)

Happy-snowy Monday, Thanks for stopping by!



A new normal...

I painted today!...painted!

for any of you who really know me, knows that this is me in my happy place!

there are few things I enjoy more than slapping a fresh coat of paint onto something. I've had people tell me that if my children would stand still long enough I'd probly paint them too:)

Being able to paint today proved that things are finally returning to some sort of normal & a schedule is somewhat in place again, and that makes me one happy mamma! Not to mention I have time to Blog about it:)

delightfulmomstuff.blogspot.com,this lady has been a sanity saver for me!

I know it's not linked up right but if you click on the link then scroll down her blog list to Sleeping Babies, you will find what I'm talking about.

She explains how to sleep train your newborn, & I've been doing this for a week now & only having to wake up for 2 feeding vs. the 5-6 that I had been waking up for-EXHAUSTING! (the 5-6x,that is).

I'm actually enjoying my baby boy now instead of just tolerating him, that may sound cold but it really was as bad as all that, there were times when Andy would come home from work & I just wanted to hand the little guy over to him & run in the other direction as fast & far as I could, I will be forever grateful for the sleep teaching method!

With his schedule in place he sleeps longer,he eats when hes hungry & not just because hes fussy & wants something to soothe himself,there are no bellyaches because hes not over-feeding & over-all I have a brand new baby! To put it in a nut-shell...he is a gem! there are days when I can't wait for his 2hr. nap to be over so I can snuggle with him,his smiles are limitless & I know that when I lay him down,he falls asleep peacefully...

 

Aannd, here is where I would've placed a precious sleeping photo but blogger is once again NOT letting upload pictures:(

 

For any of you bloggers that use Blogger & know how to fix this,I would be forever grateful for the advice:)



My baby turns 2yrs old

Technically he is no longer the baby, but he will always be my baby.

River is the 1st one of the children that I've had alone for a school year while the big kids were at school. We've had lots of time to play & snuggle & bond with one another.I rarely got a sitter for him cuz it was just easy to take him with me so there were lots of mommy & me dates.

Alot of that has changed these past few weeks due to the fact that hes been given a new baby brother & playmate (that he just happens to adore).

He often comes over to sit with me when I'm holding Asher & rubs the top of Asher's head or touches his cheeks & says "Ashers so cute, I love him." It's in those moments that it all feels right. There have been moments of terrible"Mom Guilt" when I'm busy with Asher & I'm not able to give River the attention that he was used to having. River hasn't been a bit jealous of his little brother though so it makes me feel like I'm doing something right & somehow giving them both the attention that they are needing.

I can't believe it's been 2yrs already...you are becoming such a little man. full of personality & spunk:). I love your constant chatter, you come up with words that mommy didn't even realize you knew. Having a conversation with you always brings a smile to my face. There are days where you are so sweet that I could just squish you for your cuteness then there are those other days where I just sit back & shake my head & wonder where all that attitude comes from.

 

you're such a happy little man & that smile of yours is completely infectious!

The last month before your birthday you started coming to mommy saying you need to "poop potty". Both of your brothers weren't potty trained till they were 3 so this came as quite a surprise. you don't tell me every day, & mommy is not rushing it at all(in fact I'm not as ready as you seem to be).

I can't believe that you are a big brother,I think you will always be the little brother when I think of you as you grow up:)

I wanted to post some more recent photos but for some reason it won't let me upload from my computer:(...this is a day late posting,but Happy belated Birthday River Jackson, you are one LOVED little guy!



Today I am 1 month old & growing fast. Although I am still tiny, I've gained 2lbs .4oz. since my birth-day.

I love to eat & do so every 2hrs., sometimes more, depending how awake I've been.

I'm slowly growing out of my newborn clothes & advancing to 3months sizes

I'm starting to have more (happy) awake moments throughout the day. The 1st few weeks, I slept at all the wrong times & fussed when I was awake but I'm working on that:)

I'm starting to focus more on objects, my surroundings, & the people that love me. Sometimes mommy hugs me so tightly that I let out little squeeks:), I know she loves me very much! & those kisses...my chubby cheeks must be irresistable cuz she just can't stop kissing them.

I'm sleeping longer between feedings at night, which must make mommy very happy cuz she hugs me extra tight when she comes to get me from my crib.

when mommy, daddy or my brothers & sister talk to me I turn my head to the sound of their voices, & when mommy puts her face next to mine, I love to snuggle my face into hers.

That "big"little brother of mine seems to think my little nose is a horn that needs to be honked, he comes to stand next to me & pinches my little nose & says beep-beep, it doesn't hurt, but it is ever so annoying, just wait till I'm alittle older...now mommy needs to stop typing & come pick me up cuz I'm making my hungry sounds.

 

Survival Mode

These past 21/2 weeks my body has gone into survival mode.

Our family is one who thrives on a schedule. Bedtimes @ 8:00, mornings start @ 7:15, lunch is @ 11:00, nap time is 1:00...you get the idea. And our schedule has been turned upside-down & inside-out since the arrival of our new baby boy!

Newborn stage is the hardest for me, & the most work. I love how snuggly they are as newborns, but I'm usually too exhausted to enjoy it much.

I'm not complaining,It's just life as we know it right now.

Usually around 3months our babies make their own schedules & things start running alittle more smoothly.

Love his tiny hands, toes & button nose...he is tiny & perfect in every way.

 

River absolutely adores Asher,I can't wait till Asher is alittle older & they are really able to interact & play with eachother, I suspect they will be great partners in crime:)

Thanks to a dear friend who stopped in and captured some newborn moments of Asher, these photos will be treasured for a lifetime!

here are some other moments that were captured also...

My heart is full, my family complete...

Merry Christmas to you all, from our family to yours!

 

I started this post at 8:30 this morning & just now posting due to projectile baby vomiting, constipation & tummy troubles, bathing said baby, a whole roll of toilet paper rolled into the toilet(River), a full box of wipes emtied & destroyed(also River), hotdogs for lunch for the 3rd time this week, 2 Aleve(due to a sleep-deprived headache), & finally a blissful 2hr. nap with my boys!