Bringing Good Home

Just a quick post with some stats.

The Day of the Dress Rehearsal:

In case you’re wondering…

Princess’ hair is pulled into a high ponytail, and then pulled through in a small “upside down” loop, with the ends pointed up and curled into a cascade of tiny ringlets falling around the loop.

Drama Queen’s shorter hair is parted, french braided down the sides, pulled into a ponytail in the back, turned “inside out” with the tail sticking upward and curled into a mound of little ringlets.

In case you’re also wondering…

Sure we could probably do something easier - but what’s the fun in that? Besides, I finally figured out how to do fancy hairdos!

May is over. June is here. It’s time again for Laura’s Monthly Organizing Round-Up. This month’s challenge was the kids room - in part, in whole, or whatever! My chosen task was to organize the kids’ closets.

I mean, yeah, we organized them when we originally organized the kids’ rooms for the first challenge. At that time, there was still a large amount of stuff going back into the closets. It was organized, it was accessible, it worked. But it was still quite full.

Since then, I’ve reorganized the girls’ closet once or twice. Once when my friends came over and helped me in December. It still looked pretty good.

But the other closet - OH BOY. In the last year and a half we’ve used up some of our due-to-over-clutter-overstock, we’ve acquired some new things, we’ve been lazy about putting back some other things, we’ve gained new baskets, we’ve emptied others.. and then it looked something like this :

(As always, the pictures are linked to larger ones.)

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You might be one of them.

But I’m okay with that.

I didn’t grow up with the desire to bake or sew. I wasn’t into gardening or anything remotely close to homemaking, cleaning or organizing.

Now I find myself drawn to each of these. It’s thrilling to bake bread from scratch, make my own soap, grow our own vegetables, organize my home and even sew on occasion for special products. Granted, I’m still new at a lot of these, but I really enjoy it and I want to keep it up and get better at it.

I find myself thinking weird things like: “Wonder how you make your own crackers?” So far I’ve learned to make a lot of things to save on the cost of their store-bought equivalents - like granola bars, french fries, hamburger buns, egg nog, and hopefully soon yogurt. I’m not the best cook, but I just keep doing it anyway.

I also enjoy staying here at home, being the keeper, spending days in and days out here with my family. I like organizing and de-cluttering, keeping order around the house. I’m not going to lie, I don’t particularly care for washing dishes or mopping. But I do like that I have the opportunity to stay home and be a housewife - and I don’t find it demeaning or degrading or de- anything. To me, it’s a high calling. I’m not the best at that either, but I just keep working away at that, too.

Even with all that on my plate, I also enjoy homeschooling our children. It takes a lot of discipline and work. But I love it more than I can explain. In fact, I adore our children and love having them to care for and train and raise. They don’t always make it easy, either. Yet there’s nothing like a mother’s love is there? In fact, I’d even like to have another. Some people say I’m crazy just for that.

I also love my husband, and I don’t have a problem with the word “submission” because I don’t see it as being defined as “doormat,” “servant,” “puppet,” “opinion-less,” “zombie-like” or “ignorant”… but rather I define it as “gladly serving under the leadership of.” I’m not always good at that, sometimes I screw up, but I don’t have a problem with it at all. It’s something I strive for.

I love God most of all. And sure, there are plenty of people who’d say I’m crazy for that. Some people, even other Christians, might look at me like I’m some kind of off-the-deep-end nut, because I completely believe that God is in control of everything, everything that happens is by God’s plan, everything that happens can be used by God for my spiritual good, and no matter what happens I will always trust in God for everything.

If you wrap that whole package up together, I guess I might come off as a little strange to some. Maybe you don’t get it. Maybe you do. I hope you do. But maybe you don’t. And that’s okay.

Raise an eyebrow if you must.

Just know that I don’t regret or dislike a single moment of it. I’m not brainwashed or brainless or backward.

I am, though, happy. Loved. Complete.

I guess what I’m saying is, that if this is what “strange” is… then sign me up.

It’s that time of year again. SUMMER! Swimming pools, outdoor fun, and higher temperatures. It gets pretty hot here in central Texas and also in our house which doesn’t have particularly good air conditioning (like 90 degrees inside sometimes!)

Last year we devised a way to make it through the hot afternoons, and it seems it’s time to switch back to the same summer schedule as before.

1. First off, we need to do the bulk of our chores in the morning, before it gets so hot that we don’t want to lift a finger. We can do school after that since that mainly involves a lot of sitting.
2. Secondly, we switch the bath times from before bed to mid-afternoon. Once the day hits its hottest point, the children can take turns, taking long leisurely cool baths. This not only serves to cool each child down, but gives them a little alone time during what could be our crankiest part of the day. Also, you get to put on a nice, clean (non-sweaty) outfit and everyone looks cleaner and less frazzled when daddy gets home for dinner.
3. If you or your child gets so sweaty that your discomfort is interfering with your day - go ahead and change! I know this makes more laundry, and it’s hard for me to do because of that.. but what’s the good of saving a little bit of laundry if you’re going to be crankier and less effective because of it?
4. Buy lots of cheap popsicles (or make your own) and eat them frequently! That’s not hard to do, right? It’s not uncommon for my children to have multiple popsicles a day during the worst part of summer. It really does help to cool you down.
   
5. Cook out on the grill as much as possible! I mean, there’s no need to add EXTRA heat right? Especially since my kitchen faces west which means that side of the house has direct sunlight when it’s time to make supper. Ew. Seriously, if I ever build a house the majority of the house & windows will face north and south!
6. Take a break and finish later. When mid-afternoon hits, we stop and take it easy. Okay, okay…maybe that doesn’t fit the “busy momma” definition.. but in this case I make exceptions. We rest (and take our baths and eat our popsicles) and watch a movie together or some other activity until time to start on supper. After getting the kids in bed, the house will have cooled back down again. At that point I can finish cleaning up in the kitchen and picking up elsewhere so that we don’t start the next day with a messy house. That takes some self-discipline, since I want to rest after the kids go to bed, but if I don’t want to do it throughout the afternoon then I need to make it happen later.

So those are my tips for beating the summer heat indoors. Got any other good ones? Go ahead and share!

Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer who talks this week about how giving her kids an online allowance works for her. Check it out!

I think Little Prince takes after his sister - he loves to draw. And he’s doing it on everything! Check out his hidden art gallery I found behind his door. Behind. His. Door. Sneaky little stinker.

And then when he ran out of room he started blatantly coloring out in the open:

Now, I’m not denying that this is a bad habit that we need to nip in the bud. And I’m doing my best, honest! But you know, as I was looking at his secret art gallery, I thought: Are those faces?!

Yes, in a distorted Picasso-esque way.. a sea of faces staring at me, one after another.

He’s two.

He can draw spiders, too. I know they’re spiders because he told me. And he’ll draw one for you if you ask.

I admit I feel a little bad about getting onto him when he loves it so much and he’s starting to show talent.

A little.

If I can just get him to draw only on drawing paper instead of the walls. And the chairs. And the floor. And the appliances. And…

Recently, assessing Princess for her main learning style only confirmed what all the years of ceaseless drawings have been telling me: She likes to draw.

Well, okay the assessment said a little more than that, but that was the main thing that stood out to me as I read through the results and looked at the drawings scattered around our house.

I’ve long wondered what to do with all the drawings. They can’t all fit on the fridge. Shucks, in one day she can make more than what will fit on the freezer door. I’ve added a “gallery” in the school area with some fishing line and thumbtacks along the top of the wall. But even this is insufficient.

I confess I secretly throw most of them away when she’s not looking. Otherwise we’d be overcome with papers! Seriously, her drawing habits alone are enough to justify a switch to recycling.

I present my evidence to the court: (click to enlarge)

So what’s a girl to do?

Finally I got an idea. I’m going to make her a portfolio with a 3 ring binder and some cheap sheet protectors. She’ll get to decide whether she wants to put a drawing in there or throw it away (or recycle it once I get that system in place.) And when it gets full.. well, we’ll see how long it takes for that to happen. Either we’ll create a new one or she’ll have to switch to a one-in-one-out rule. Until then, we’ll finally have a home for drawings!

One more, check out her portrait of Big Daddy:

(He was on the phone, a grimace was the best I got.)

So tell me.. what do you do with your children’s drawings?

I would like to know what evidence supports the claim: “boys are easier to toilet train than girls.” Really? Where’s the proof, I’d like to know. We are still tackling toilet training. 7 days, 1 lucky coincidence and I-forgot-how-many messes on my floor. Well, to be fair, a couple of them were in the yard.

Seriously.

Toilet tackles aside, I’ve been purging the remaining winter clothing and packing it away. I really liked the idea Laura posted about a purge box. Some of these things need to be passed on; some need to be held for the fall; some need to be taken to the thrift store. Rather than trying to make separate stacks, I’m putting it all in one pile to be gone through and divided at the end of the month. That helps me get on with the rest of the organizing and cleaning at that moment, and prevents me from wasting time by saving the dividing process and trip to thrift store for all on one day. Yee-haw!

There are also a couple of other tackles I’m working on this week, but I’ll take pictures and share those next week.

Tackle It Tuesday hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom.

I’m not saying it would be right (because it wouldn’t) but haven’t you ever really wanted to do this?

I’m just sayin’.

Today I’m attempting to toilet train my 2 1/2 year old. (Am I crazy?)

So all day today he has been running around in his little boy undies, cold turkey. (Have I completely lost my mind?)

Even in the midst of getting school done, giving Princess a practice math test, and doing all our chores. (Yup, I’ve lost my marbles.)

So far we’ve had zero successes and two three accidents. (Not a single marble left.)

Because apparently I love cleaning up accidents. (Bonkers.)

Can’t get enough of them. (Cuckoo.)

So all day today I’m hoping for a success AND trying to keep my house clean. (Completely. Off. The. Deep. End.)

Tackle it Tuesday hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

I remember way back when, okay about 8 years ago, when I eagerly anticipated the arrival of my first child. I remember setting up the nursery, lovingly folding all the teeny little onesies in a drawer; my husband and I tossed names back and forth; I tenderly laid a couple of stuffed animals in the crib; I thought about holding her for the very first time.

I knew it wouldn’t be perfect. I knew that there would be midnight feedings. I knew there would be poopy diapers. I knew there would be terrible twos, and terrible threes, and precocious fours.

Boy, I didn’t know all the things I didn’t know.

Oh, all the things I know NOW.

• I know that the best thing for getting gum out of hair is peanut butter.
• I know how important it is to always have a backup pacifier.
• I know what it’s like to drive to Walmart at two o’clock in the morning for a replacement pacifier.
• I know pennies can be eaten. And passed.
• I know that pee and poop can travel across an entire room if you don’t change a diaper fast enough.
• I know that puke can travel faster than the speed of sound.
• I know that toddlers like to play in messy (and gross) things. See above.
• I know that babies have a death grip when it comes to pulling hair.
• I know that toddlers have a propensity for cutting hair.

But there’s more. So much more.

~ I know how sweet babies smell after a bath, and how there’s nothing like nuzzling a clean baby neck or smelling a powdery fresh baby’s head. I know how it feels when they cuddle up close and rest against you in complete and total peace. I know how my heart swells when a baby grasps my finger or clings to me while feeding.

~ I know the pride that comes with each milestone and the joy that accompanies each new discovery. I know how it feels the first time they say “momma” and the first time they reach to be picked up.

~ I know the wonder and excitement as they begin to crawl, walk, talk, run, and learn. I know what it’s like to discover each step with them and teach them the way.

~ I know what it’s like when they’re old enough to interact and converse and say “I love you,” “Come play with me,” or “I want to hold you.” I know how neat it is when they begin to color and draw and read and write.

But yet, it’s still so much more than that.

I now know what it feels like when they recite their first memory verse, talk about God and say their sweet little prayers. I also know what it feels like when they come to Christ, accepting him as their Lord and Savior. I know how it feels to see them beginning to make decisions on their own, choosing right from wrong and picking out their way.

More than that:

~ I know how my heart freezes and my breath stops each time I imagine some kind of harm that might hurt them.

~ I know how my heart aches to think about how quickly they are growing up, and how little time I really have with them.

~ I know how my heart is burdened to prepare them as best as I can for all that life will bring.

~ I know how my heart yearns for them to know God, really know God.

~ I know how my heart feels every second of the ticking clock as the sands of time slip through my fingers.

Still more?

I know that nothing else has a hold on my heart that same way that my children do. I love God first, I love my husband second, and I love my children more than anything else in this whole wide world. Because of that, I’ll keep bandaging booboos, cleaning up messes, settling arguments, disciplining disobedience, training, teaching, guiding, growing, and giving.

Imagine, just imagine, all the things that I don’t even know that I don’t know right now. Imagine all the things I’ll know in another 8 years, or 18. Imagine how sweet it’ll be to know those things then, and how fun/hard/enjoyable/amazing it will be learning them all along the way.

Read “What I Now Know About Motherhood…” at This Thing We Call Life.