Bow Tie Bonanza

Preparing for cousin's pictures this weekend

I looked up instructions for making bow-ties

and found this super easy one. 

So I made it...

 

 And another...

 I even followed the directions

(cue to clap)

Until I did the yellow hair bow for Kamie.

Then I changed the dimensions

to 8 in. x 5 in.

 

 

 

Now just wait, before you know it Bronz will be wearing them.

(But don't hold your breath.)

Do I really want to see Bronz in a paisley bow tie?

Say Cheese -Please-

 

Last year's Christmas picture search was not fun.  In all the photos we had taken throughout the year, there were like two that actually had all three of us in them. -As you can imagine, out of two pictures your chances of getting an amazing shot aren't that hot. I decided that I wouldn't let the situation get any worse, so my resolution for the new year was to get one family snapshot a month.  And I'm doing awesome.  That is if you can get over things like photo quality, and everyone smiling, and Bronz's head in the picture.

Side note.  I'm trying to get over the whole lookin' perfect obsession.  Taking pictures has been good for me...  But that's another post. And prolly a loong one.  Here's to not letting body image issues get in the way of taking a great family photograph.

 

Toddler Tutorial

 

 

 

 

Having Kamie sit still is like asking me to stand on my head, sure it's physically possible, but it ain't happening anytime soon. So, when I discovered this easy craft that has her completely enthralled...    I was/am absolutely giddy.

Needed:                                     

Yarn

Straws

Scissors to cut straws

Dip yarn into candle wax to harden end.

Tie one small straw piece around opposite end of yarn. 

And let them have at it!

I found that smaller straw pieces were actually easier to thread
on then the larger ones

Look at her concentration!

...And the little monkey is back!

Once Upon A Time

Five years ago today... My Bronz called me.  We had gotten to be friends, and I was pretty sure our friendship was going somewhere, so when he called me (from a hay field) I didn't think much of it til... He told me that he liked me, and wondered if I had any feelings for him. And when I said that I did, he asked me to pray about a relationship.  Still remember those were his exact words. 
Pretty sure He is not remembering this date, in all the silage bagging craziness.  So I'm getting Mom to babysit, and thanks to google maps... and some discreet sleuthing, I'm going to surprize him with his favorite chocolate chip cookies.  Oh yeah! Cannot.wait.to.see.his.face.  Bet it'll look something like mine did five years ago, today...

What's Goin' On

 

Trying to find a picture with Kamie's beloved 'red blankie' in it... No your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, the blanket is not red, it's pink.  I took it away for naptime today, after informing Kamie that it would be awol if she came out of her room for the 987 gazillionth time.  -Sobs- "I love you red blankie"

Catching up on laundry today. Took everything out of the dryer to find two bean pods... you might be married to a farmer...  On a side note, soybeans are generally just called beans.  Field corn is not sweet corn, just trust me on that one.  And for your own reputation, even if you're not from Iowa do a little simple observation and make sure you can tell the difference between the two crops.

I love the FlyLady, and her concept of cleaning.   I did it pretty religiously before Blake was born... and right now I'm in survival mode, so basically do the bare minimum. (Which is shining your sinks, making your bed, and a load of laundry a day.)  This week I branched out and worked on dejunking, throwing 57 things in a garbage bag. Aah the freedom!  I did Bronz's drawers. (First time in almost 4 years of marriage.) That's a BIG deal. He was even happy, but wondered what I possibly found to throw away, since all of his stuff is valuable. (So you dumpster divers out there, line up for a signature tee -creamy yellow, grease splotched... pink socks are also available)

Since we are being pretty random here- Bronz heard that a neighbor had told a friend that our corn didn't look too good on the West side, now the field borders a road, on the East side.  So in Bronz's words "That's kinda like somebody telling you what color of underwear you're wearing!"

 

 

 

The Why of Home Schooling

I catch myself considering myself as a homeschooler already, with a two-year old and an infant.  Some of it is the model of life long learning, some of it is the idea that when you are responsible for the majority of your child's education you don't have a start date... and anything that can be integrated into daily life is. 
So all that to say when Homeschooling was brought up in Bible Study last night I considered it pertinent to me.
The article basically was talking about how to teach our children about God, and our command:
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.   Deuteronomy 6:6-7     
Then summed it up with:
Which is the reason why many choose homeschooling, since it's easier to teach your children through the day when you are with them.
Yes. That's it. That's why!  Not because I'm better than you. Or my kids are going to be smarter than yours. Or I love my children more. Not cuz' there's a chapter and verse command to homeschool.  Not to shelter the lil punkins from 'outside influences'.
No, we are homeschooling cuz' it's the easiest way for us to obey that command to teach our babies about God throughout our day.
God leads parents and people in different ways.  Whatever way He's leading you let's not confuse the true commands with others interpretations of their application.

Living In The Now

I'm a bad one at escaping where I'm at, and I don't even leave the house.  Laying on the floor today with The Blake smiling at me and Kamie riding on my knees. Why can't I love what this is all about?  Cuz in about thirty seconds The Kamie bounces a ball off of Blake's head, sticks her fingers waayy in his mouth and then chortles as she dodges out of my reach.  That's why I struggle with mentally checking out, meeting needs mechanically, politely.  Not getting down on their nitty gritty level.  Maybe that's why God gave me a child who doesn't let uninvolved be part of her vocabulary.  Who demands my attention all.the.time. 

Maybe He has given me a gift, of learning. To Be .Here. Now. 

Cuz' we all know time is love.