'Tis the Season to Be Making

Well, before you get your panties in a bunch and think for a second that I am a mom who does it all, let me first declare that my house is a disaster, I haven't fixed my hair in DAYS, and it's all I can do to feed my children. So, when you look at what I have accomplished, you won't feel like a slacker (as I often do when I assume that blogger moms have it ALL together)--because no one knows how to slack (especially when it comes to housework) quite like I do. For real, ask Dave.

During this time of year, it is hard for me to not make stuff. However, I realized that I prefer crocheting in the winter--not sewing. I think crochet is slow and relaxing and I can do it anywhere, whereas with sewing, I am stuck in front of my machine. Crochet is just more cozy. However, I have been sewing. I have had a few projects that were time-sensitive.

My dear friend, Vanessa, is leaving for Kenya the beginning of January. She, her husband, Kyle, and their three boys will be serving Jesus through medical mission work in a rural village. I wanted to give her something practical, so I told her I would make her some skirts to beef up her missionary wardrobe and to keep her cool. So, I have set out to finish them. I am halfway done--two down, two to go. I did not photograph them; I'd like them to be somewhat of a surprise. :)

My second sewing endeavor was to make a tree skirt. This year, we bought a live tree (something we've never done before). Our old tree skirt was WAY too small to fit around it, and it was pretty ugly. I searched high and low online for a free pattern, and I found this fabulous pattern on Citrus Holiday. I modified it some, but it is the same for the most part. I love it!!! I think mine reminds me a lot of Allsorts, Morgan Moore, and candy stores.

So, of course, we've also decorated for Christmas. It's pretty simple, and I think, very beautiful and colorful--just like our quirky family.

I've also been a bit culinary. Sam says I'm a good "maker" (his word for "cook", although sometimes he does call me a "cooker"). I've had fun making all kinds of treats over the past week. Yes, pictures will follow!

The first was peppermint syrup. I was browsing Craftzine, and I saw a link to this wonderful website (that I will be perusing for other ideas), Think Inside the Icebox. This syrup is great. I love Starbucks Peppermint Mochas. So, I thought I should make some syrup to have on hand. Of course, mine don't taste quite like Starbucks, but they sure are a nice substitute at home. The recipe for the syrup was simple, and I just picked up some chocolate syrup, half and half, and whipped cream to round out my dessert...errr...drink.

Last year, I made toffee, and the butter and sugar separated, leaving the chocolate with a fatty layer on top. It tasted fine, but it was not pleasant to look at. I thought I would do a little research to see where I went wrong, and I found another wonderful website, Cooking for Engineers. It was all explained with great directions and what to expect. My toffee turned out perfectly!!! It is SO good. You should definitely put this on your to-do list.

And, finally, I made the ever-popular party mix--Puppy Chow (the recipe I used called it "Muddy Buddies"). There are recipes for this all over. I used the one in my Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook. The kids helped shake the bags with the powdered sugar. It is delish.

I am sorry for the long time between posts. I have been a bit preoccupied, but thankfully, there are several things to show for it! Now, there are gifts that need wrapping, so I am off to attempt that!

Merry Making!!!

Leopard Print and a Lexus

This may be the scariest title I've ever posted. For reals.

I've mentioned in the past that this is the kind of doctor's wife I don't wanna be. So far, I'm pretty safe and far from that image.

I'm NOT a big deal.

I don't wanna be a big deal.

Yet, here in this little town, I can't help but feel like people look at me differently when they know who my husband is.

It makes me thankful for a '91 Acura, three kids in the backseat, me in my old thrift-store t-shirt with my flops and tiny ponytails. Everything in me resists the fancy.

Yet, when I've gone to Walmart nearly every day for a month, I am that person. Part of the reason I've gone is because I keep forgetting stuff, but the other reason is the whole getting-settled-again state. If I'm really honest, then it's also the I've-got-to-get-out-of-the-woods-and-see-other-humans state of being. I know (to the door-greeters) I must seem like a frivolous spend-thrift. I am, a little bit.

Yesterday, I mixed it up. I went to Thriftway and spent $70 on groceries. I felt pretty good about myself. I didn't use any coupons. I want to get back into that as well. The Total Money Makeover is about to dawn. Look out, money! You're about to get used on stuff that matters!

Back to the leopard print...

I feel like finding community here might be hard if people can't see beyond the whole status thing. It means I get to be more authentic, I think. I'm not talking about airing all my dirty laundry to any person I meet. I just mean learning to be real with people and really connecting on a human level, without pretense. It's my desire to find real community here with people who aren't like me--people who work in garages, people who work at the Super 8, people who are divorced, people who live on the lake with boats, people who drink too much, people who have never had a drink.

I so want to be like Jesus. I want to pour out my life and live in such a way that people don't know what kind of resources I have at my disposal, but at the same time, be willing to use my resources to heal, to touch, to serve.

You can take that leopard print and sell it. You can crash that Lexus.

I want something eternal and real.

I want to be little so He can be big.

No clever title...apologies.

We had a sweet reunion. I even got butterflies in my stomach on the way to the airport. It was SO good to see the man I love.

I'm so tired right now. All three of my beautiful children decided to get up at six this morning. Thankfully, I only got up with Lucy once last night.

I didn't tell you, but she is getting TWO teeth! She hasn't been too fussy, but she has been more restless at night. That makes me sleepy. I also trimmed her hair in the back. She had a nice little rat-tail goin' on. I had to make it disappear. I kept all her hair and put it in a ziploc. I've never given a baby their first hair cut at 5 months before! At five months with Sam and Maryn, they were bald from rubbing off their skiff of hair. Lucy still has a full head of hair with a little rubbed off on the back of her head.

We have to take Sam to the doctor today. He has a bunch of weird bites on him. He's the only one who has them too--I'm guessing it's not something too gross since it isn't contagious. My first thought was flea bites, but Woodrow didn't miss any treatments, and if he has fleas, I ALWAYS get bitten. And I haven't, so I bet it is something different. Spider bites are usually more disgusting and large. Even Dave was baffled, so hopefully, Dr. M will be able to point us in the right direction and get this child some relief from the itching (hydrocortisone cream isn't even helping much).

I showed the house to two couples this weekend. I would love to sell it to one of the couples (not the other one--I got some bad vibes from them). We'll see if we hear anything. :) We're praying about what our timeline should be and what kind of help to enlist in selling our home. We're not panicking. We have a realtor in mind if it comes to that. We know God has a buyer for our home; we just have to wait for that person to come!

Well, I am off to get some caffeine in my worn out body. In light of that, check out this post on Gwyneth Paltrow's blog--GOOP. I thought there were some interesting ideas there.

Ciao!

I figure...

...you probably wouldn't mind a real post.

...you wonder what in the world has happened to me.

...you think I must be too tired to blog (probably true).

But the truth is, I actually haven't had anything I could talk about...not that I didn't have plenty TO talk about...I'm just choosing NOT to talk about it. If that makes sense!?!

We've had a very crazy week. We've had a very serious family issue (our little family of five is okay--it was in the extended family). It was quite scary, and to tell you the truth, it was just downright horrible. I wish I could blog about it just to get it off my chest, but instead, I've saved that for my nearest and dearest who have listened to me so patiently. Thank you.

Dave is in a plane right now. He just left Uzbekistan. Next stop: Istanbul. Then Munich. Chicago. and HOME.

I love the feeling of all of us here under one roof. It's so calming to know that everyone is snug and accounted for. If you've ever had a member missing for awhile, you know how nice it is to have him/her back with you.

The kids and I have stayed pretty busy to pass the time. We have eaten out FAR too much. But, I guess it's sort of okay...I know I must have some stories to tell...I should anyways.

My favorite Sam-ism of today was:

Me: "Sam, do you want to come snuggle with me?"
Sam: "Nooooo...I like you....buuuuuttttt, I don't like to snuggle."

So glad to know he likes me...lol.

Tried pottytraining with Maryn again...still a no-go. We'll just keep pluggin' along.

Well, I've gotta get some resty-rest. I am worn out. I admire single moms so much. I don't know how they work outside the home, inside the home, parent their kids, help with homework, cook, clean...it's amazing. They deserve medals.

And after these two weeks, I think I do too....the kids may disagree! :)

Random and Quick

I know I love to read random posts, so I hope you will indulge mine.

Dave is fine. He made it safely. Had to run to catch a plane in Germany. Made it without the suitcase containing his otoscope, socks, and underpants. Stink. Literally.

I got to actually hear his precious voice last night. He skyped me using someone else's computer. I was so thankful. It does make a world of difference to hear his voice. Hmmm...I'll be thinking about that whole voice thing...I'm sure there is a post in there somewhere...

Maryn has a weird rash on her lower legs and the underside of her forearms. I don't handle rashes well. I'm scared to death of things like scabies, hand foot mouth, you know, anything contagious that requires you to bleach your house and keep everyone quarantined. We're going to the doctor in about an hour. Thank God.

I'm okay. I'm sad and miss my husband. My grandma had a miniature stroke the other night. Praying she doesn't have a big one. She's my last grandma alive. I have two grandpas who haven't really stayed in touch, so I feel like she's IT in that department (except for Grandpa Hat). I am not ready for her to go quite yet.

Nothing more on the house. Flyers continue to disappear from the box, but the only phone call I've had this week was someone wanting to rent to own. No thanks. Not upset at the moment. I know it will all work out eventually.

I want a grey skirt--a flowy one made out of organic cotton with a little poofy slip. Oh, and with a fitted waistband. It's in my head, but I don't know if it exists.

I have had the "I wants" lately. Ugghhh. Well, I saw these, and thought, I'd like those as well, thank you.

I think these are wonderful in every sense of the word. Bed, Bath, & Beyond (my budget)...$100/4 place setting...ahhh, well, they're pretty to look at.

But, like I learned from the Floods (a couple who did some parenting classes with us), we love PEOPLE not things. So, I really like these dishes...

...but I love you. I do.

Aaaannnndddd....He's off!

I took my man to the airport today. I was sad to see him go, but I knew he was supposed to go. I haven't cried yet. I'm nearly certain I will at some point. Probably when the loneliness hits. Right now, I'm just so exhausted, that I can't imagine having enough energy to cry.

He's so silly. It is one of the gazillion things I love about him.

I love him so much. He's such a good husband and father. That doesn't even scratch the surface of how I really feel. My brain's just too mushy right now to think of anything eloquent. So, here's some photos of my baby daddy with our offspring (nicknames below...just so you know).


Dave and Seeple

Dave and Maryn-pants

Dave and Lucykins

This mama bear is off to bed. Keep praying!!!

Plumb tuckered out.

Maryn called Craisins "razzraisins" today. I have no idea why. Just recording that for posterity's sake.

We've been putting flyers in our infobox each night and keeping track of how many are taken. So far, 39 have been taken. I'd say that isn't bad for 6 days. We've had three inquiries on the house. One lady rang the doorbell and asked if we were having an open house. Two people called. One of them wanted to look at the house today, and we settled on three o'clock. Dave and I worked our tails off getting it ship-shape, and she was a no-show. I called and left a message for her on her voicemail. I don't get that ethic at all. Why even bother telling someone you're going to come (knowing full well that they're going to be preparing and waiting for you) and then not come or call to say you're not coming? What is that?

We're having an open house tomorrow afternoon. Thankfully, the house is ready to show, and hopefully, the people who are interested will come. It'll be interesting, I'm sure. Please pray that God will send our buyer tomorrow.

Here's a bit of news I haven't shared yet. Dave leaves for Uzbekistan on Monday, and he'll be gone for 12 days. 12. Days. 12.

I know it'll be fine, but I'm going to miss him. The kids are going to miss him. Please pray that Sam gets man-time elsewhere. I don't wrestle well. I'm trying to think of some ways to make the time pass quickly. Ideas are welcome. Thankfully, we will have the car at our disposal. I'm afraid I may spend more money than usual while he's gone. I am planning on doing an inventory of the restaurants that have "Kids Eat Free" nights so we can go out a few times. My kids are really good in restaurants--Thank God!--so that would be a good way to spend early evening time before bed. I need to have some kind of plan, or I'm going to go nuts.

This also means that I have to give them baths. I'm spoiled. Dave is the bath man. It's his thing that he does with the kids. I am not a good bath giver. I get irritated and impatient and just want them out of there as quickly as possible. I don't like wet floors. Pray for me.

So, as you're finishing your reading of this post. Go ahead and offer up a prayer NOW that way you don't forget. I really need them!!!