weekend ends...

The weekend is coming to an end, but it was a farely productive one for me. 

Saturday morning was Molly's last basketball game.  She has had a blast this season and cheering her on has been fun too.

Then we went to a birthday bash, where Aubi discovered the slide and that is pretty much where we spent the rest of the party.

I finally got to that batch of laundry detergent I mentioned.  I've had a few pals ask for the recipe from my fabulous Aunt, so here goes! 

1/2 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup of Borax

1 bar of any soap, grated, I use my food processor

1 tablespoon is it!  That's all you should need per load, but I usually use a tad more. 

This WON'T suds up either, so don't stand in front of the washer waiting for bubbles.  :)

I've been using Dove bar soap for the last few batches, it's a very clean, fresh scent. 

Also, this time around, I did 4 bars of soap, and 2 cups of each of the other ingredients.

Here is the monster pile, more like mountain, of clothes I tackled.  All to be consigned.  15 other bags are going back to my sis and sis in law. 

I am so glad to have this clothing business behind me. 

So many steps, not even worried about the pay-off at this point, I'll just be glad to have it all outta the house! 

I took a break from tagging clothes to find Aubi in the hall cabinets finding her daddy and sissy's NERF toys.  She was loading the styrofoam bullets in one of the guns.  Ready for battle!

This afternoon my Prince marked one off my to-do list for me, without me even asking!  He's a mind reader I tell ya.  My better half!  He converted Aub's crib into a toddler bed.  She definitely noticed something was different tonight when we went upstairs to tuck her in. 

And finally!  We got our trip to Great Wolf Lodge booked!  Heading that way with my fam of 4 in early April.  Can't wait.  Kind of a big deal for us because this is our first trip with the girls.  Super excited though.  It will be a blast!!!

Mind of mine...SLOW DOWN

Whew- what a week.  And that doesn't even do it justice.  BUT!  It's the weekend and that makes it all  better.  My mind has not taken a break from work all week, so this evening, after hanging out with some pretty awesome ladies and letting our kids run wild, I'm home, and my mind is wandering to non-work related things.  And there are plenty of those things on the brain.  Maybe if I jot a few of them down here, it will help keep me accountable for them?  Keyword: maybe.  :)


First thing's first...making another batch of laundry detergent.  This isn't a maybe, it's a must.  I've been using a recipe from my wonderful, talented aunt Paula, since probably October of last year and I LOVE it!  For a lotta years, I guess you could say I became a snob to powdered detergent.  I felt like it wasn't cleaning our laundry properly.  So, I started using liquid.  Now, I can honestly say, my personal fave is powder.  Yep, changed my mind. nbsp; So, this weekend I need to mix together more. 


Then- I will be tagging and bagging....(well not really bagging, more like hanging, but tagging and bagging sounded so much more fun.) The plan is to sort through clothes Molly has outgrown and consign them in a community wide sale next weekend.  I say it's a plan because so far we have found 16 trash bags...and they are 30 gallon bags.  Not all of these belong to us, some to my sis and sis-in-law.  We've pretty much religiously passed around our daughters clothes.  Now they are all to an age where there sizes are neck and neck, so the passing has come to a halt.  So, it's time to weed through them and get rid of A LOT!
 
Next thing on the brain is trying to get a game plan together for the vegetable garden my Prince and I have been talking about the last 2 years.  My mom is the Queen B at gardening, (among tons of other things)  so, I've already been picking her brain on some ideas I've had.  We have the perfect spot in our backyard, but I'm worried it's too shaded. 
We grew up in town, but had a farely large garden in our backyard and I remember watering with my very own watering can and "helping" my momma.  I remember eating a pepper once that my neighborhood friend told me wasn't hot.  I also remember it being hotter that heck and my mom grabbing the waterhose and having me stick my tongue out for some relief from the ice cold water.  It's all coming back to me now....that incident could be why I don't particularly like anything very spicy. 
Anyway, back to where I was going with this.....not only would I LOVE to have some home grown veggies, and maybe even some yummy strawberries, but I think it would be a great thing to get the whole fam involved in.  I just know Molly would be a terrific helper.  Aubi on the other hand....she will probably have fun digging in the dirt!

Also on the brain tonight is converting Aubrey's crib into a toddler bed, but that shouldn't take much more than a few minutes...that is....if I can find the small bar that replaces the full front of the crib.  Hmmmm....where could it be....


Next-  Booking a weekend trip for our fam of 4 to Great Wolf Lodge in TX.  That shouldn't take long either, plans are to go in April, just a matter of actually doing it!


Okay.....so now that I've got a few things outta my head and actually listed in front of me, I'm feeling good about all of them.  First things first, it's way beyond this momma's bed time.  12:14?  WHAT?  Time to get some beauty sleep. 

Then tomorrow, it's ready, set, accomplish! 

Tale of an Invisible Mom

Someone special shared this with me and now it's my turn to share...




It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way
one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be
taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping
the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see
me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of
hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock
to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is
the Disney Channel ?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?,
What's for dinner?'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes
that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared
into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going,
she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a
friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she
was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to
compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she
turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you
this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly
sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration
for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I
could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we
have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for
a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and
expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their
faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird
on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you
spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by
the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God
sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost
as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you
make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've
baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to
notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see
right now what it will become.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of
the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work
on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went
so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's
bringing home from college for Thanksgiving , 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the
morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3
hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a
monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there
is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it
there...'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,
not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the
world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

Pinkalicious! Pinktacular! Pinkariffic!

Well, Chuck E. Cheese was just the beginning of a fun-filled day on Friday.  That evening we celebrated Molly's big day with family and a few close friends in our home.  Molly loves the book, Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann, so after discussing party ideas with daddy and I, she was all for a Pinkalicious birthday party.  She asked that I make the cupcakes from the book, and she asked if she could have a cupcake on her shirt, and if she could wear a skirt.  So, of course I couldn't let her down!  :) 

Party favors

My beautiful, fun loving, soon to be 5 year old.  She holds my heart in the palm of her cute lil' hands...and she knows it too. 

Everything was pink!  Pink cupcakes with pink icing & pink sprinkles.  Pink strawberry marshmallows, pink suckers, pink candy kisses, pink chocolate dipped strawberries, pink wafer cookies, pink lemonade, and so on! 

A friendly game of Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake

Time for presents!  My Molly Moo made out like a bandit.  So many great gifts and sweet cards.  She is one VERY loved little treasure. 

Happy Birthday dear Molly!  Happy Birthday to YOU!

Make a wish...

Laughing at what were supposed to be sparkler candles, but wound up being more like trick candles.  I think she was out of breath after attempting to blow them out so many times.  She found it giggle-worthy....

Party favors got torn in to, and the Silly String wars began.

Even little sis got hit a few times, but she didn't mind!

While the silly string wars were raging in our front yard, daddy and I decided to let Molly have her birthday present from us, which we are a few days early since her actual birthday is 2/22.  I knew her daddy couldn't resist waiting until her 'actual' day to give it to her, so I gave in too.  He carried the box into the living room and when she ran out of silly string she came in and instantly saw it.  She went in to major freak out mode.  She hugged and even kissed the box.  Then the sweet thing hugged me and said, "thank you mommy and daddy!  It's PERFECT!!!!"  Before I took the picture, I asked her to show me with her face how excited she was about this present......love it.

My daddy and my girls...brings a smile to my face and my heart. 

Molly wanted to read Poppy the story of Pinkalicious.  She's got it memorized, so she blew him away with her story telling abilities. 

What a great day we had.  Exhausting, but so worth it.  My Prince and I found ourselves snickering at the party with pink everywhere.....because afterall, Molly's favorite color is BLUE!  :)

This morning she was up bright and early playing with her new Barbie dream house.  She had a basketball game today but afterwards, daddy and I promised to come home and open all the new Barbies she was given as gifts.  Last I counted, there were 9 new Barbies.  A little girls dream!!! 

Hard to believe my Molly Bug is turning 5.  Kinda hard to swallow.  Not only does it make me start to feel a little old to say I'm the mother of a 5 year old, but just the fact that she's been in my life...scratch that, the fact that she's been my life for 5 years already.  This is the last year she can count her age on one hand.  I remember her learning to hold up a single sweet chubby finger for one, and who can forget her trying to hold up her three middle fingers without her pinky or thumb slipping? 

I remember finding out that I was pregnant, and I remember praying for a daughter.  God didn't just give me a daughter, he blessed me with an angel who is everything to me.  My teacher, my friend, my cuddle buddy, my giggle partner, my singing sister, nap partner, fellow shoe lover, fashion diva, and the list goes on.  She has inspired me in so many ways in her first 5 years of life.  I wonder what else she's got up her sleeve.

 

Happy Birthday Molly Faye!  You are pinkaliciously pinktacular!!!

where a kid can be a kid!

Yep...you guessed it...Chuck E. Cheese!  Molly turns 5 on 2/22 so in honor of her birthday we headed to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate.  Her school was out on Friday due to parent/teacher conferences, so she picked 2 friends from school to join in the fun. My Prince & I both took the day off, dropped Small Fry at daycare and  off we went.  It was the perfect day for it, there were just a handful of kids there, it wasn't crowded at all! 

Molly came downstairs around 7 that morning all hyped up and ready to go.  She had the breakfast of champions, aka a cookies & cream pop-tart, then headed upstairs to pick out her own ensemble for the day.  I think she did quite nicely!  I just love having daughters!!!

We have arrived!!!!!!!!!!!

Even big kids get to have fun too!!  We both had fun trying to score lots of tickets so the girls could pick out some prizes. 

Here's Molly running wild, all 3 of the little ladies did. At times they were inseperable, then we'd find them all in different corners finding a favorite game. 

 Addison, KJ, & Molly

 Of course I found my element near the basketball goals...

 Love her humor

Tickets galore!

 I adore this picture.  Makes me wonder how fun (and crazy) they will be when they are really driving each other around. 

Prize time!  My wonderful hubby was so patient with these girlies.  He explained to them each how many tickets they had and showed them their options. 

We walked out of there with a foam rocket gun thingy, 2 slime frogs, glow-in-the-dark vampire fangs, lipgloss, stickers, 2 rings, and 1 blue necklace.  Not too bad, right? 

 

all in a days work...

First of all, I am sooooo glad the snow is almost completely gone.  Can I get an AMEN?!

I have been sick this past week and I hate being under the weather.  I usually get sick about once a year, so hopefully I'm good for the rest of 2011, right??

What a beautiful weekend we've had.  Sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine.  Ahh, I've loved it.

Today I took on a few quick projects......

These perties are all old...and used to be black.  I didn't want to just "chunk" them, so I gave them new life and love them!  Again!

I also put together these tiered trays after falling in love with them here.  You may venture over there and stay awhile....lots of good reads and ideas.  I just love women who share their nifty-ness!

I made these for Molly's 5th birthday party that is coming up next weekend.

 Aren't they fun?  The plan is to use them for cupcakes, but then after, I picture one on Molly's bathroom vanity with jewels and what not. 

Random!

Do you ever go through spurts where you have the same songs in your head for weeks or months at a time?  I DO!  CONSTANTLY. And pretty dang random songs at that.   

Most commonly is...

Yep, Carly Simon's You're So Vain! 

Told you it was random!  And fun, and catchy, and been in my head for months upon months, going on years.  No kidding. 

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't You?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't You? Don't You?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't You?

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you flew your lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife from a close friend, and...

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't You? Don't you?

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you

Next?  Yes, there's more.  This one cracks my husband up...and embarrasses me just a skoach.

Yep, it's the theme song to the 90's cartoon, DOUG.  You know the theme song....

all the "do do do do do's?"  Don't make me sing it for you!

The last one that is constantly in my head is...

Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days) by none other than The Judds.

It's not as random as the others though...it was actually played at my Grandpa's funeral, but I've listened to it many times long before that. 

Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world's gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy


Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days

Grandpa, everything is changing fast
We call it progress
But I just don't know
And Grandpa, let's wander back into the past
And paint me the picture
Of long ago

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say and then forget?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
Sing it with me! Ooooooooh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days

This song soooo reminds me of my childhood.  When I sing it or it's in my head, it reminds me of my momma.  Yep, she loves to sing just as much as I do.  I remember growing up with her always listening and singing along to something.....Randy Travis, Ricky Van Shelton, Cher, The Mama's and The Papa's, gospel, and so many more!  Geeeeeeez, the memories are flooding my mind now. 

What are some of the random songs that you just can't seem to shake outta your head?  Or even some from your childhood that might bring a smile to your face? 

 

s'more please...

Growing up in Oklahoma I vaguely remember big snow storms like what we've seen the past couple of years....my hubby and I were joking around and started calling this great state SnOklahoma!  ;)

Last year we had a white Christmas.  Right now, we've got 4 and 5 foot snow drifts all around the outside of our house.  I have been home from work the past 2 days and have welcomed the down time.  My Monday at work was no bueno!  I came really close to pulling my hair out a couple times.  My days stuck inside have been....needed.  It started Tuesday morning with a couple of quick sewing projects and ended with a nice 2 hour spat with the bobbin on my sewing machine....as of right now, the bobbin is still winning. (frustration inserted here!)  I am happy to say I didn't do any damage to it, I'm a lover not a fighter, but I did put it away and moved on to another to-do.  I cleaned out a few closets and I must share, it's totally amazing how calm I feel knowing that behind those closed doors there is no more chaos.  And I did find close to 20 picture frames (yes, I know, a tad bit ridiculous!) I plan to paint and re-use most of them.  Right now I am all about simplifying around the house. So, I have plans to paint, spray paint, etc. some knick knacks and clear out some too, but that's a whole other post! 

My poor girlies are both not feeling swell, so the poor things haven't even been able to get out and enjoy all the snow.  We have had fun inside though.  We've watched movies, colored and did some crafting, painted fingernails, Molly painted her own, played barbies, and just enjoyed being able to do whatever we've wanted. 

Molly and I did make snow ice cream...

Before

                                                                             After

This evening we made smores in the fireplace

                               

          ...........notice Molly's fabulous pink & purple nails & ooey gooey chocolate lips! 

Aubi loved the smores but got tired of waiting on

 our assembly line, so she headed straight for the bag of marshmallows.

                                

               my hunky honey...with a dab of chocolate just to the right of his lips.  Gosh he's cute! :) 

My girlies are in bed and I'm curled up next to the roaring fireplace.  The hissing and crackling has me yawning and considering beddy-bye myself.  My plans for tomorrow consist of attempting to make it in to work to get a few things taken care of.  I've enjoyed the snow but I'm pretty sure I'm over it.  I'm ready for flu season, coughing and runny noses to pass. 

Spring, just how many days away are you?  Let the count down begin!