Nature is beautiful. There are little surprises if you are willing to look. Don't just keep walking by life. Don't be stuck in that rut. Don't keep to your same routine.

Don't just get out of bed and continue your daily routine. You might pass by something wonderful!

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, we are drawn to the insides of our home more. Is your home comfy and a welcome respite from the demands of the day? I try to have some holiday scented candles started in the morning to help me get going in my day. I love the smells of apple cinnamon while I'm cleaning. The scent of cinnamon is a natural mood booster. And let's face it girls, there are days when we could use any extra little kick in the rear to get us going!



Around mid-day, once my oldest gets home from school, I will blow out the candles. I will light them again later towards the evening when I hear from my hubby to let me know he's on his way home. I want the house to smell inviting when he walks in after a long, hard day at work. Working in the military services is not the easiest job out there. So I try to keep things calm here at home. But that isn't always the case with a newborn and 3 others running around. Lol.

During the day, I will get as much cleaning as I can get done. I will have the kids dressed in clean clothes. And hopefully have something taken out to thaw for dinner. If it isn't a growth spurt week or just a fussy day for the newborn, then I have time in the mornings to start preparing supper so that in the evenings when it is not so calm, I can get it going one handed. Usually because I'm nursing as I'm cooking. That is why I get the 2 handed jobs like chopping vegetables. Laundry still isn't in the routine yet, but I'm working on it. Weekends seems to be when I can get the folding done. Baby Pumpkin is only 5 weeks old now. So I'm not really stressing about not being able to get my usual routine done in one day. Right now I can get one day's routine done in one week. It's just the sanity cleaning now. What I call "sanity cleaning" is only the stuff that has to be done in order for me to not lose my mind. It's different for every person. My number 1 biggest, is toys all over the living room floor. They have to be picked up. I do not like my living room floor with toys strewn and left there to step on. What is your number 1 cleaning thing that HAS to be done for you?


I love the picture above with the apples being peeled. I try to imagine what that housewife is preparing the apples for. Does she have kids that need a snack? Is she baking a pie? Or she might be preparing a treat for her husband once he comes home from working out in the fields all day. The grapes in the sink are rinsed and draining to be added to the apples for a light snack to go with lunch. What story does this picture say to you?

Just look at this precious face! Oh isn't she just darlin'? This sugar plum of a little baby is most likely our last baby. She is our 4th delivery. So I am trying to just soak up this little pumpkin and enjoy every bit of babyhood that she is going to give us. My little 22 month old decided at about 18 months that she didn't want to be the baby anymore. She was already running around with her older brother and sister. She went from saying about a handful of words to asking us questions and telling us what she wanted. In sentences! Talk about a shocker!

My new obsession is YouTube. I have watched how-to's on bread making, laundry soap making, folding a fitted sheet, among many others. You can find a video on just about everything. Did you notice that I said "just about"? That's because I found what You Tubers haven't made a video of! You Tubers is what everyone is called that watches the videos to making the videos. And since there wasn't a video on You Tube for what I was looking for, I made one myself. And what is this video of that I made? It is a video of my Homemaking Binder.

Let me tell you why I made a video of my Homemaking Binder. I am going to update mine. I haven't updated it in 2 years. While most of the routines are the same, a lot of it isn't. I've had 2 more babies since then. So my routine is a little tweaked to accomodate them. I wanted some ideas on what to include or maybe even a new and better way to make it. But there was nothing there. So now there is. My very own little piece of the world. Also my very own You Tube video!! Yay! So please, go check it out and tell me what you think!

I'd also like to ask you how do you have your binder made? What do you include in it?

Installing a Husband

Baby is here!!!

She's absolutely adorable too! We are getting use to each other and getting our day routine started. My lovely husband went back to work this week and it's just been the kids, the baby, and I trying to get our own rhythm for our days. Growth spurt for week 3 has kicked in and she nurses seems like as soon as I decide to get up or lay her down in her bouncy seat. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will get a routine down and I will be able to lay her down at some point during the day. I'm hoping. But she's so utterly and adorably cute!

I do get to sit down at the computer for a while. And while sitting here, I started perusing the blogs I have saved in my folder of favorites. I came across a new blog and it had the cutest post! The blog is called EKM's Epigrams. Here is the post:

Installing a Husband

Dear Tech Support, Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as NBA 5.0, NFL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1. Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do? Signed, Desperate DEAR DESPERATE, First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5. However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta. Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in thebackground that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.) In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0; program.These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0. In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7. Good Luck Babe! Tech Support

Now how cute was that?! I am going to have my husband read that when he gets home. I think he will surely get a kick out of it. Go check out her blog!

I found this on a blog today and it's so goofy it's cute! You try it!

I loved my neighbor because that's how I roll!


Pick the month you were born:
January-------I kicked
February------I loved
March--------I karate chopped
April----------I licked
May----------I jumped on
June----------I smelled
July-----------I did the Macarena With
August--------I had lunch with
September----I danced with
October-------I sang to
November-----I yelled at
December-----I ran over

Pick the date you were born on:
1-------a birdbath
2----- --a monster
3-------a phone
4-------a fork
5-------a snowman
6-------a gangster
7---- ---m y mobile phone
8-------my dog
9-------my best friends' boyfriend
10-------my neighbor
11-------my science teacher
12-------a banana
13-------a fireman
14-------a stuffed animal
15-------a goat
16-------a pickle
17-------your mom
18-------a spoon
19------ - a smurf
20-------a baseball bat
21-------a ninja
22-------Chuck Norris
23-------a noodle
24-------a squirrel
25-------a football player
26-------my sister
27-------my brother
28-------an iPod
29-------a surfer
30-------a homeless guy
31-------a llama

Pick the color of the dress or blouse you are wearing:
White----because I'm cool like that
Black-----because that's how I roll.
Pink-----because I'm NOT crazy.
Red------because the voices told me to.
Blue-----because I'm sexy and I do what I want
Green----because I think I need some serious help.
Purple----because I'm AWESOME!
Gray-----because Big Bird said to and he's my leader.
Yellow---because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars
Orange---because my family thinks I'm stupid anyway.
Brown----because I can.
Other-----because I'm a Ninja!
None------because I can't control myself!

How to Find Happiness in Homemaking
Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin

1. Accept Drudgery. It's true that there are good parts to a job and there are bad parts to a job. I know that for myself, I will need to learn to accept the bad parts along with the good parts. Just like in marriage.
   
2. Don't Become Crowded for Time. I can name a few things that eat up my time. Being online on my computer is my number 1 time eater. I wouldn't call it wasting, but it does eat up time that I could be spending cleaning or outside playing with my kids. Take a moment and think about what is eating your time. Is it a club that you are a part of? What about phone calls, Facebook, or even the TV or sewing?
   
3. Go the Second Mile. Going the second mile, or beyond the call of duty, lifts the burden from work and makes it easy and enjoyable. Women who give just enough to get by never enjoy homemaking.
   

What can you do to make your time being a homemaker better?

I promised a continuing post for Monday and here it is Thursday with no such post. I'm sorry. I will post it soon.

Taking it easy today. I can't do too much around the house or outside of the house. If I do, then my sciatic nerve starts to really hurt and then I'm down for most of the day if not a couple of days. So it really limits me on housecleaning. I have to get use to seeing toys and dirty clothes on the floor. My abilities are limited to what and how much I can do in one day. I'm learning how to get things done. I enlist the help of my 7 year old a lot more. Plus, I'm trying to get all the baby things out and put away before it's time to get ready for homecoming, birthdays, and the holidays! I'm learning though. There is a small window of opportunity for me in the mornings after Ryan has been dropped off at school. So I get as much done during this time as possible. Being pregnant, this is when my energy level is the highest.

I'd love to hear how you got through your days when you were pregnant!

Saturday

What's on your agenda for today?

I have a Skin Care Class for my friend/neighbor today. We are having it at my house instead of hers. Which is fine with me. I love getting the girls together. And I absolutely love love love makeup!

After being sick for 2 weeks with a really horrific sinus infection, I haven't cleaned up around the house much. I had a cleaning lady coming by yesterday to clean my house since I was sick, but she was a "no-show". It really bothers me when someone says they are going to be here and they don't call or text letting me know they aren't coming. Especially after confirming that they are coming!

So now I am enlisting the kids to help me get it together in time for "Girl Time"! We have the kitchen to get sparkling, the living room to be straightened up and vacuumed, the bathroom a good scrub down and the entryway floor and the kitchen/dining room floors vacuumed and mopped. I use an attachment to vacuum those floors since they are on both sides of my living room floor. That way I'm using my vacuum at the same time and then I'm done with the vacuum.

Lots to do and not that much time to get it done! I will talk to y'all tomorrow! I go to church on Saturday nights so we have all day Sunday to relax and rest. Just like the good Lord wanted.


Edited to add: God has blessed me today! I called a friend of mine down the street to watch my kids for me so I could get down and dirty cleaning my house for this class this afternoon. She said of course. When she came by, she instead came inside and helped me clean! I got so much done in the short amount of time that she was here. While she was tackling the dishes that accumulated over the week, I was vacuuming and mopping the floors. Wow does all that make a difference! Now my sciatic nerve is pinched and I can't walk, but the floors look so good for company. And since I will not be actually doing the class, my director is for me, then I don't need to stand. I can sit and watch and take notes. Yay!

My daily life is in a rut.

I wanted to share a little something I read last night with all of you. Here is the excerpt.

"The Domestic Goddess serves faithfully as the understanding wife, the devoted mother, and the successful homemaker. She is skilled in the feminine arts of cooking, sewing, cleaning, organizing, managing a household, caring for children, handling money wisely, and interior decorating. Not only does she do these jobs, she does them well, going beyond the call of duty, doing more than required.
She is a good manager of time and values. She is not necessarily the most perfect housekeeper in town or the best cook or even the most mother. But, she does succeed in her overall responsibility in the home, dividing her time and devotion between husband, children, and homemaking, putting the emphasis where it counts the most--at the moment. Of course. she may be the best housekeeper in town or the best cook. It all depends on her situation. But she is not a Domestic Goddess if she spends most of her time cleaning, while neglecting her family, or hours playing with her children, while neglecting her housework. She balances her time to meet the needs." -Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin

Now it's the last two sentences that get my attention. I haven't read that part before. Most things are telling me how to be a good homemaker but never point this out to me. Finally I can see how one should not be a detriment to the other. I am glad that someone has pointed out this very important fact. How can I be a good homemaker if I am neglecting my children all in pursuit of a clean house. But I can't neglect my house and give my children all my attention either. They need to see and learn how to clean and run a house. I was never taught how to run a home. Or how to clean, cook, or even do laundry. I want my son and my daughters to be able to run their own homes. I'd like to continue to add what I've learned.

The Domestic Goddess
1. Does her jobs well, beyond the call of duty.
2. Is a good manager of time and values.
3. Adds feminine touches to her homemaking.
4. Adds warmth to her household.
5. Honors her role in the home.
6. Is happy in her role, fulfilled.





Now Monday, I will add How to Find Happiness in Homemaking. Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Kids, Rainy Day

I so love how the kids can make a box fun. I remember those days when I was young. I didn't have very many opportunities with boxes though. My mother was quick to put the boxes in the trash, outside. I try and give my kids that creative fun and let them play with a box that is pretty big for about a couple days. Or whenever it starts to lose shape, whichever comes first.

I don't remember what cartoon was on at this moment, but the two of them were completely engrossed in it! The baby was taking her nap at this time. Which for her is a rarity, much less a long one that she took. I sure paid for it at night. She didn't fall asleep until way after my own bedtime!
They crack me up with their little hide-a-way! By the way, that pink chair that my son of mine is sitting in is a princess chair!
I couldn't pass up this little yummy treat for my kids (and myself). Thanks to my good friend and neighbor for this idea she did last weekend at her bbq in our driveways. The strawberries are in season right now and Costco had bananas too that looked so yummy! The kids and I ate all of them by the end of the night.


Poor little bumkins are tired by nightfall. Which, for those of you not from southern California, is after 7pm at this time of year. By August it will set after 8:30 sometimes 9pm. It gets really hard putting the kids to bed when the sun is still pretty high and they want to stay outside to continue playing!

We are getting into the groove of not having hubby around so much. It's not fun or nice, but it's coping. We still miss him very much, but we still have to continue on. (Love you Babe!)

Sugar Pie Farmhouse

I have been following this blog for quite a few months now. Even before she got this spiffy new web site to showcase her talents! You have to check it out! She does product reviews of the best southern goodies. Plus, her recipes just make your mouth water. Around the holidays she has the most amazing decor. (Her home is quite the attraction even on other non-holidays.) She has a true passion for helping other stay at home moms do the best they can with the help of God. She has inspired me on many of occasions to spruce up our military housing digs. And of course, how can you deny pie!

My husband serves his country so that people can enjoy their freedoms and liberties that are taken for granted every day. There are 2 wars that our country is helping to fight right now. There is potential for another one with North Korea any day now to add to our already fighting men's worries. What the every day civilian does not realize is that the men and women serving our country do not get to choose to fight this war and not that war. They do not get to choose which country they will help with. They cannot change their minds after completing boot camp once a war has broken out and say "oh wait, I didn't sign up to fight when a war is raging!" It doesn't work that way.
Our men and women leave behind their life for this country. Every single one of them has a family of some sort that they leave behind. Some have a spouse. A spouse with kids. Parents. Grandparents. Friends. The list is endless. And our men and women do not always live in the physical United States. We live all around the globe still serving our country. And our spouses leave us to go on their duties while we are still living in other countries or our own country.
Being a spouse or family member of someone in our military is not easy. It is by far a really hard role to be in. Our military offers support though. So fret not. Those in need just have to reach out for it. It cannot be forced upon someone that does not want anything. Free will is exactly what we serve for.
I write this only to help others that are going through the same thing. To help those understand that do not. To release. There are many things that go on and many levels of dealing with a separation. Some cry. Some hibernate. (I do this.) Some get super busy with crafts, projects, volunteer work, work, activities. I blog.

Please pray for the families of the killed members of the helicopter crash this past Sunday night. So far, according to the news, they still have not found 2 of the 5 members. At this point, they are considered dead, but still trying to locate them for identification. This is a sad time. We, as members of the helicopter community in the Navy, understand that this can happen. There still isn't a reason for the crash that is being "released" yet to the media. Please keep these families in prayer or vigilence. Whichever your religion or beliefs has you do. Thank you.

I officially hate Blogger now. I am trying to copy and paste my post from Word like I always do, and I have a long list of errors. I even switched it all to the font from the drop down menu. Same thing. What a pain!!!

They just opened up a Sonic Drive In near my area!! I have been wanting and wishing for this day for 4 years, since we moved here. We are going here for dinner as soon as my dear, dear, tired, and exhausted hubby gets home. This is my all-time favorite place EVER! I love my husband.

Spring

It is coming here! Yesterday was already in the mid-80's. For me, that's hot. But I should be use to it coming from Texas.

Well, those of you that are still experiencing snow... I have a wonderful spring-y type thing for you! Cynthia over at Cynthia's Cottage Design is having a give-away just in time for spring. So hop on over there and enter.

Wednesday Mahem...

Here is my enormous to-do list for today:

• clean up tornado wrecked kitchen In Progress
• clean downstairs bathroom
• change sheets on our bed Done
• clean out 20 gal fish tank and switch fish from 55 gal to 20 gal, rocks, live plants, and check the filters. In Progress
• clean up back play room
• switch dressers in back play room, turn over baby dresser to make the top a changing station. Rearrange the dressers.
• can peaches and plums, freeze kiwi Gathering Supplies
• ever mounting laundry

And I have no idea how to get all this done today. I watch another baby girl about the same age as my baby girl during the day. So between them and my 3 year old, getting my 6 yr old to school in the morning, making breakfast, getting naps (including myself), then getting lunch, I have an hour or two before picking up my son from school. Then it's a short rest time for the girls and then I have about an hour or two before the mom picks up her girl. By that time it is after 3pm. It's almost time to get dinner going. I wonder where my day goes. Just writing it all down makes sense to me now. I'm quite busy just with the dailies.

How does your day go?

Cupcakes.

Ahh. Yummy. Cupcakes.

In light of the upcoming holiday, St. Valentine's Day, I will be making these scrumptious yummy desserts for my son's class. Of course, I will be making more than needed for his class, seeing how my husband and his friend will be devouring them before they make it out of the door. So my goal is to make about 40 of these yummy things. I'm perusing the internet for the perfect recipe. I will also be filling the insides with a yummy filling also yet to be found. So if you know of that killer recipe, please send to me! I have a bunch of 1st graders that will be forever grateful. Okay. Grateful for the afternoon! Who are we kidding?

ps. My 3 year old still watches Polar Express at least twice a day. Yup. Scratched and all by now.

Whew! What a day I had yesterday. After getting up and getting my day started, I finally looked at myself in the mirror and saw that I was completely covered in a rash. Ugly too. One of my medicines that has been prescribed to me has a probability of a fatal rash. So after viewing my rash and freaking out internally, I calmly called my poor husband and told him he had to come home right away and explained why. Then I proceeded to get all my kids dressed and my oldest off to school with a friend that walks by every morning. Once the kids were all dropped off, we headed to our military ER. They checked me out and said yes, it was from this medicine I am on, and yes, it can be fatal, but the allergic reaction has various degrees of it for everyone. Mine, so far, isn't fatal. So the doctor on call gives me 3 more prescriptions with directions on how to take them and then proceeds to tell me 3 reaction signs to keep a watch out for that signals a more serious tone. Great. Thank goodness I am alright. Other than the crazy itchy rash all over my body from head to legs. I am trying so hard not to itch everywhere knowing that once I do, it's all over and I won't be able to stop until I'm bleeding.

Once we got home, I went straight to bed and slept most of the afternoon. It was great. I still have my rash and it still itches like crazy, but my face isn't so red and I don't feel as hot as I did yesterday. Maybe it will be gone by the weekend. Not that it matters much.

Speaking of weekends. My poor husband has to work again this Saturday. Last Saturday he worked for 13 hours. Gotta love the military. (joke.)