Just Another Day in Paradise

My sister has a great "pretty" on her kitchen wall.  It says something like "Good moms have sticky floors, dirty ovens, and happy kids."  My oldest son (bless his heart) told his aunt, "My mom doesn't have sticky floors, and she's a good mom."  I do, in fact, have sticky floors quite often.  I just clean them when Ezra naps and Asher is off at school.  We also tend to have lots of laundry.  Who can relate?!

I love going to Pinterest to find a few laughs and sometimes an inspirational quote for a craft project to do... someday.  My husband and I know that sometimes we need to laugh about "life's little details," and sometimes we both resort to a little sarcasm when stressed.  Have you seen those sarcastic mom quotes on the retro-looking refrigerator magnets?  Well, here are some quips about caring for the house and kids:
 
Because I'm the mother... That's why.
I love cleaning up messes I didn't make... So I became a mom.
Oh, I'm sorry. You must be confusing me with the maid we don't have.
It's been lovely, but I need to scream now.

Hey, life isn't perfect.  Many days life isn't easy.  Kids are messy.  Life can get messy.  But how often we forget that we don't have to be perfect.  Honestly, I think our home shouldn't be perfect.  Kids don't see it all, but sometimes we need to be honest so they understand about the dirty parts of our life... about work... about our values.  So they understand life isn't perfect. So they know they don't have to be perfect. 

* * * * *

I don't have to be Wonder Woman or Super Mom.  No one is perfect.  And, we don't have to do it all alone.

Okay, one more Pinterest reference.  I'm not obsessed with Pinterest... really!  But, I did look for a wedding shower gift idea the other night.  I found a fun idea (bride-to-be stop reading here) about giving gifts related to songs with lyrics about relationships.  Right up my alley because I often think in song lyrics and funny quotes (if you couldn't tell that already).  It got me thinking about my favorite country songs about life and marriage and kids.  Here's one I've been singing lately...

Phil Vassar's "Just Another Day In Paradise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR4Y6Ll0DwA

"The kids screaming, phone ringing."  You been there?  I've been there!  

"... There goes the washing machine.  Baby don't kick it.  Promise I'll fix it, along with about a million other things."

We just moved, and recently my husband complained about the "water woes" at our new place.  Quick summary: basement faucet for washing machine dripping, fixed, nope, toilet also leaking, fixed, nope have a new leak, all fixed but turned on the main shut off to the house and now that's leaking... Let's just call the plumber ;)  During his lament, I reminded him of past water troubles at the blue house.  "Remember that one day when the refrigerator was making awful noises, the toilet leaked and flooded the whole bathroom floor, and the dishwasher died after we had already fixed it three times?" Then I recalled, "You didn't clean up all that toilet water and then have the bathroom sink's shut off explode.  I was drenched in nasty orange rusty water with black crud, and it sprayed all over the newly painted white wainscoting on the walls."  Share, laugh, keep on singing...

"Well, it's okay.  It's so nice.  It's just another day in paradise. Well there's no place that I'd rather be.  Well, it's two hearts.  One dream.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  And I ask the Lord, every night, for just another day in paradise."

I'm so thankful and happy that my husband and I have one dream and can share this walk with each other. Of course, we don't always see eye to eye, but we try to understand the other person's perspective and meet in the middle (subtle nod to another country favorite).  Some days I have to remind him of another popular quote found in some homes:

Please excuse the mess.  The children are making memories.
 
Isn't that what it's all about?  Sharing this walk with each other.  Remembering with fondness.  Love and laughter in the memories and in the moment.  Making more memories.

* * * * *

I'm still trying to get my "groove" back after moving twice in the last few months.  Of course, if I'm honest, I've found myself searching for balance quite often over the last couple decades.  Life has it's ebb and flow, it's seasons.  I remember reading...

I didn't tell you it was going easy.  I told you it would be worth it.

Amen!  Life is not perfect, often not easy, but it's so worth it.  I remind myself that sometimes I need to work on "going with the flow" a little more.  Enjoy it all.  Another quote I've seen recently states:

What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be.
 
Oh yes, sometimes we are merely stressed because we thought we had it all figured out and then our kids have other plans or life doesn't go exactly as planned.  Hey, I'm not perfect... what I think, what I say, what I do.  And sometimes I have to remind myself to challenge my thoughts and my routine behaviors... I need to take care of myself and my relationships.  I need to watch my priorities and how I spend my time and energy.  Sometimes I'm convicted that I need to keep faith and family first. 

* * * * *

This morning I sat in the kitchen with my daily dose of caffeine, finding my calm.  I'm so thankful for this time in my life... being able to be at home and spending time with our Preschool and 1st grade boys.  Youngest playing, sun shining, warm weather, cool breeze coming through the window, birds singing.   Spirit moves me to Scripture...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  Matthew 6:25-27 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34

* * * * *

We don't walk this walk alone, and we don't have to do everything all by ourselves.  We're not perfect, but we have a purpose.  This morning, I found a little time to read some of my friends' BLOG posts... reading about child rearing, chaos, and calm in others' lives too. Thank you Carolyn for sharing your heart and touching mine...

"My point is, real life is messy. Chaotic at times. But chaos with a purpose. The purpose of raising healthy, well rounded, Jesus-loving kids. When a home centers around raising kids that's what you get. Noise. Mess. Dirty dishes. Dust. Because, frankly, I'd rather read to my kids than dust the shelves. I can dust when they're grown."  

Amen sister... I couldn't have said it better myself!  Thanks for the reminder :)  Another reflection I recently read states:

In 100 years from now, it won't matter what my bank account was.
Or the sort of house that I live in.  Or the kind of car I drove.
But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.

You are important, what you say and do are important, for your family.  How you live your life also impacts others around you, outside your family. Sometimes we all get off balance.  Where is your center?  I'm not perfect.  You're not perfect.  But, we can learn from each other. 

* * * * *

I am so thankful for my journey and those I can share it with.  I am thankful for people who have, are, and will be part of my life.  I am so thankful for friends and reminders about putting faith and family first. It can be hard to be secure and confident when we think others are perfect, when others are not honest about their strengths and their struggles.  One more quote from Carolyn's BLOG reflection:

"See, there are other mommies, just like you and me, who are keeping it real and admitting they are imperfect. So take off your fake church smile and put on your big girl panties and find out how to live in the Truth girlie. No more "fake it til you make it" attitude. Go! Before your kids wake up!"

Be prepared, look to the truth, and then live life.  Be calm and carry on.  I'm going to start making time to start my day right!  It may not be easy to make small changes, but it's a priority.  I'm going to try to keep first things first in our family life.  Ah yes, I'm not perfect, but I am loved.  I'm not alone in this walk.  I have faith, family, and friends.

Pinspiration: Parenting

Back on Pinterest last night.  My excuse was that I was looking for some wedding shower gift ideas ;) I did find a number of good ideas, and a few other things too.  I'm always amazed at how I'm distracted by other topics and end up finding something else that I wasn't looking for but that speaks to a project from the day.  Well, yesterday's "project" wasn't really that... just been trying to focus more on my boys.

So, I found this gem titled "10 Things Not to Say to Your Kids" with some great reminders of basic parenting tips...

http://thekidcounselor.com/articles/10-things-not-to-say-to-your-kids/

The author starts by explaining: "When I think about all of the phrases, anecdotes, and sayings about the power of the spoken word I am reminded of how I changed my way of communicating with children upon learning Play Therapy principles."  How can I not love a play therapist's perspective :)

Sunshine and Singing

Since the move, I've been posting song links on my Facebook page on the rare occasions when the sun has shone through.  Well, the sun is out today and here is what we are singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

Bless the Lord O my soul... Sing like never before, O my soul, Worship his Holy Name...
The sun comes up. It's a new day dawning.

Ezra's bedroom... colorful personality

Ezra is growing up quickly.  Lately, he has been swinging between needing to have control and wanting more attention to showing real signs of maturity.  My husband knows change and lack of routine can be hard for the boys, but he asked the other day if this was the "White determination" coming out in Ezra.  I smile because my paternal family will understand, especially my cousin Teresa, that I like to joke about the determination... not stubbornness ;) ... that runs in our family.  I've been reflecting lately on Ezra's colorful personality and all the wonderful traits I see in him that I also see in others in our family.  So, tonight, I'm going to post pictures of his room and reflect on a few of the characteristics I've seen lately.

Today's "incident" happened at nap time.  We had a lazy Sunday morning, which meant jammies and a really yummy breakfast, but only after cartoons and cuddles.  So, after lunch, Ezra decided he wasn't going to nap.  He may get sassy sometimes, but he's a smarty too.  Here's his explanation: "I didn't have lunch.  I had snack."  (because we had a late breakfast and no morning snack) "I don't care what the clock says, it's not time to nap yet."  So, after his fussing, he did fall asleep and after that there were more cuddles and then playing.  Personally, I love that he still wants to cuddle and how he holds my hand when we lie down, how he asks me to lay with him when I'm done cuddling brother (on daddy's nights with Ezra), how sometimes he's very independent, and how he still wants me to play with him. Ezra is my "snuggle buggle."  He is very excited about Grandma and Grandpa coming to visit, and I have a feeling he may ask Grandma for some nap or night time snuggles.

 

This afternoon, we finished up some small projects around the house.  Getting things hung up on the walls was a big priority for me.  We had unpacked Ezra's room a while ago, but he has been waiting to hang some book racks on his walls.  Ezra loves books and puzzles.  He has two cubes in his toy shelf for books, but he wanted more books.  We threw some pillows on the floor in the nook behind his door, and today we finally put up the book shelves.  (IKEA hack by the way... Their spice racks make great book bins.)  Ezra is thrilled to have a reading corner.  Here he is before bed, so excited to be in his book nook.    


Like his father, Ezra loves books.  We have a new "library" in our basement family room, and he loves it when brother reads to him.  Ezra especially likes brother's books about fantasy (Magic Tree House, Star Wars, Transformers, and anything Super Heroes) and nonfiction topics (trains, outer space, inventors, etc.).  We attended Story Time a week ago at our neighborhood library, and he loved it.  I went to do laundry this last week, not realizing it was Thursday morning, and Ezra asked why we didn't go to story time.  Whoops... gotta get that on the calendar now!







Ezra, of course, wants to be like his big brother.  Ezra tends to be more active and outgoing, but I see him doing more creative and pretend play too.  He had to have a desk, just like brother.

I've notice that he's become a little sentimental.  It's cute to see what he keeps in his desk drawers.  One is just for school stuff and favorite photos.  Ezra also wanted to be sure he got to keep my childhood rocker in his bedroom.  It's in the corner by his tub of stuffed animals. 





I thought Asher was the collector in the family after I saw his box of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, but Ezra is becoming even more of a collector.  I think he will make Grandpa proud.  Ezra has his own bucket that is now filled with his own rock collection.  He also has been collecting shells.  He loves all of his stuffed animals, from all the dogs and bears to his "Sunny" Iguana puppet.  While he loves dress up and dramatic play with brother (you should see some of the outfits and stories they come up with), Ezra spends a lot of time pretending on his carpet with all his toys.  He has a nice collection of trains, Play Mobil toys, community workers and vehicles, Rescue Heroes, Rescue Bots and other Transformers, and Super Heroes.  I didn't realize it was such a serious endeavor until he asked me to get on the computer (after his birthday) and find Boulder, the last Rescue Bot he needs to complete the team.  He was also very excited to finally find Harold the Helicopter (from Thomas the Train) when his birthday money was burning a hole in his pocket.

 

You can kind of see his big bucket of stuffed animals at the end of his bed here.  The only thing he still wants is for me to use the rest of the striped fabric (from his window valance) to make a bulletin board over his bead.  

Living Room... pops of color

Finally, finishing up some rooms!  While my laundry is still all over the bedroom floor (well, nothing new there), I did get the boys' rooms unpacked fairly quickly.  After two weeks, we are finally adding the finishing touches to the living room and the boys' bedrooms. It feels great to no longer have bare walls and to feel a sense of accomplishment having totally decorated a few rooms. 

I've always loved wood floors.  There's something comforting knowing there's wood throughout the main level, but I have to say having carpet in the living room has really grown on me.  The boys have done a great job of leaving their shoes and food in the kitchen and keeping the beige carpet clean.  It was interesting decorating an all vanilla room though without having wood on the floor and a colorful area rug to pull all the colors together.  So, I stepped out of my comfort zone and decorated with bright pops of color and played with asymmetrical design.  I also stepped away from relying on dark brown wood tones to ground everything and added touches of black throughout the room.

So, here is the finished living room:

view from the front door

couch and front window

empty corner was perfect for the desk

heading into the hall and kitchen

The color is a little off in the photos.  The couch is a buttery tan, the side chairs a dark sage green, and the ottoman a chocolate brown.  The pops of color are a dark teal and a brighter green.


A few close ups of the finishing touches:

love photo collages

happy to have a recent family photo

Every little thing is gonna be alright

I woke up this morning singing a song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCSu4VNRV1c&noredirect=1
"Don't worry, about a thing.  Every little thing is gonna be alright."

When I was living in Minneapolis, Al and I had our ups and downs and I was applying to graduate schools.  One day, Al came over and just gave me a hug and played this song.  We dated for 10 years and worked through a lot of issues.  But, I know the reason our marriage has been successful is because God has been at the center.  It's hard to believe, but time really flies... This year we will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary!

I think I woke up today with a heaviness being lifted off my shoulders, because today Al signed the house loan paperwork.  We close at the end of this month, but everything is all in order now.  Wow, that really feels good!

At the races

If you want to feel like you were there, I'm posting a couple videos from last night's Pinewood Derby races...

One of the Tiger Cub bracket races (above) and the last race for the fastest of all the winners (below).

Thanks to Pack 17 for a great night!  It was so special for each of the Scouts to get their own personalized certificates and a participation badge.  What a fun time :)

On Fire Fast

Asher has adjusted well to our move.  He continues the activities he loved in Iowa now that we are in Wisconsin.  His first day of school was a busy one: registration at the administrative building, tour of his new elementary school, starting his first day of school here, first day of soccer practice, supper, and meeting Scouts at the practice race.

Pack 69 (Iowa), Blue and Gold Celebration

Pack 17 (Wisconsin), Pinewood Derby Races

Asher has always love time with Grandma and Grandpa.  This year he was excited to work with Grandpa to build his Pinewood Derby car for Scouts.  Here they are together...



Last night was an amazing time for Asher!  They raced double elimination doing brackets for each Scouts group (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts).  At first his car was a little behind the other car, but as they came down the incline Asher's car raced ahead.


Asher said he wanted Aunt Holly to paint fire because he knew his car could be fast.  He was thrilled to have a fast car... the fastest, actually.  Not only did he get a trophy for the fastest car in the Tiger Cub bracket, but he won when he raced the winners of the other groups too.  He said, "I think my car is on fire fast!"

While I'm so happy for him, I think the best part of the night for me was actually the very beginning... When we got out of the car to walk into the school, his locker partner got out of his vehicle and yelled "Asher! Asher!" Then they proceeded to run into the building together smiling in anticipation of the races to come.

Birthday Boy

Ezra is 4 years old!  I know I say this a lot, but I'm constantly surprised at how fast my boys are growing up.  I told Ezra that I couldn't believe that my baby boy was 4 years old, and he reminded me that he's not my baby anymore but a big boy.  I, of course, know this and have been pleasantly surprised at times lately by his maturity.  What he doesn't understand, but all moms do, is that he'll always have a special place in my heart as my baby.

So, today, I'm going to share some favorite pics of my birthday boy.




















Yesterday we officially celebrated.  Our tradition is for the birthday boy to pick his favorite breakfast treat.  We lit four candles on his applesauce muffin, sang "Happy Birthday," and opened presents.


Ezra had a great time seeing family last weekend for his birthday celebration.  Thank you to everyone who could join us in celebrating and for those of you who sent cards.

Ezra wanted white and chocolate cakes... Of course, his favorite part is always the frosting!

Smiles with Great Grandma Gleason. (Ezra 4, Katelyn 7 1/2, Asher 6 1/2, Chase 5 1/2)

Ezra was very blessed to have a great group of Preschool friends.  His last day of school they had an egg hunt and also wanted to celebrate his birthday before we moved.  It was really special for him to get to bring birthday treats to school for the first time.  I know he really enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate early with his friends.

I am enjoying some one-on-one time lately with Ezra, while daddy is at work and brother finishes First Grade.  He is still my tall and active boy.  Ezra continues to love Transformers (& his special Rescue Bots), Superheroes, building with a variety of blocks, Play Doh, puzzles, dress up pretend play, drawing, and reading together.  He continues to be very vocal and determined, and I just love his outgoing personality!

Movin' Movin' Movin'

Just one week after rolling out of Iowa, I have to say I'm both satisfied with being able to unpack most of our boxes and also frustrated by the visual chaos of stuff everywhere.  I was thinking tonight that the whole house looks like a bomb went off and an explosion of stuff fell over every square inch of our home.  Of course, I am so thankful for all that we have, but organizing and putting away everything can take so much time and energy.  So, I've been reminding myself that big tasks (like relocating your whole family and home) take time, need time.  I was reminded of something I wanted to make (someday) and hang in the kitchen...

Dirty Dishes
Thank heaven for dirty dishes.
They have a tale to tell,
While other folks go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness,
We shouldn't want to fuss,
By this stack of evidence,
God is very good to us.

Balance.  Perspective...  I've been trying to have the right perspective and to balance what I think "needs to be done" around the house with what my family really needs.  Yes, chaos in our environment and schedule can take its toll on everyone in the family.  See, we are starting to settle in and are really liking Wisconsin, but have yet to establish any kind of routine.  While that can be different, and frustrating, it's also good sometimes to have to prioritize and then just roll with it.

Enjoy the little things in life...
for one day you'll look back
and realize they were the big things.

That's another "gem" I've saved on my Pinterest board of quotes ;) I've realized though that sometimes you need a little chaos to shake up your ideas for the big picture and help you to focus more clearly on the little things.

So, we laugh at the fact that our 26 foot "semi" couldn't fit everything, and we needed another trailer for the garage stuff.  So, we acknowledge the help we needed, and we are thankful for all the help our family and friends so lovingly provided.  So, I throw up my hands and say I did what I could for today when after hours of organizing the office the magnetic board of supplies falls off the wall spilling everything all over the floor again.  So, we remember to keep it all in perspective and keep a sense of humor.  So, I remember with a smile that "mommy come play with me" and memories of Superheros and Transformers are more important than trying to be Supermom.

So, I say thank you God for love, a sense of humor, rest, family, and peace in my heart.