My friend Rebecca hosted an Art and Wine party a couple of weeks ago.  I was a little apprehensive at first, I’ve never done decoupage and friends together.   But it ended up being great fun.

My decoupage experience is very limited.  I’ve decoupaged one other thing previous to the party, it was a car bucket for the boys room to keep the million cars we’ve accumulated with 3 boys.  I decoupaged it with the DK Publishing book “The Big Book of Things that Go” which had almost all of the pages torn out anyways.  It turned out great and went with the car theme we had going in their room.

Here’s a picture:

The night of the Art + Wine party, we could choose from a tray, vase or bangle bracelets – I chose a tray.  It was definitely a process of trial and error for us all.  I learned about what not to do from my own mistakes.  The biggest one was paint the tray BEFORE you decoupage the center. The other was I wouldn’t have used the quote if I knew the paper would wrinkle up like it did.

My tray didn’t turn out perfect, I could maybe get a nickle for it at a yard sale, but I love it.  There is something about making something for yourself.  It wasn’t for anybody but me.  The upholstery I do mainly goes into to other people’s  houses so I don’t get to see it everyday.  I love seeing the tray everyday.

Here’s a picture of the tray:

I saw this decoupage idea after I did my tray.  If only I had some of grandma’s purses still around….

For a background on how/why we do Tot School, click here.
It was a HOT week – we were only outside for maybe 40 minutes each day.
Lot’s of playing happened inside with minimal interference by me, which was surprising.

We worked on our E pages that we glued eggs onto…

We made elephants with our handprints…

We made an egg memeory game and played it…

We painted eggs after reading Pig’s Eggs…

We played with blocks and then Kara decided we needed to call it a “block party” complete with homemade party hats…

We made or remade catapillars…

And we went swimming…

Tweak Today: This isn’t a particular post, but a site that I thought has a neat concept.  It gives different missions each day that you can share your experience on the site.  It’s great for us voyeurs of other people’s lives.  For examples today’s was to “Record your trip to your mailbox and show us what you received.”

Here’s my pictures and details, if I were to post for today’s mission on the site:

I received in the mail today….

• The Oliver’s rockin’ birth announcement for Baby Peter
• The Magic House wants us to renew our membership (which we were given in the first place)
• The Missouri Conservationist magazine
• An EOB from Blue Cross – what a waste of paper

Practical Ways to Help Three Year Old Children at Home – Daily Montessori: I need the MOST encouragement currently with Henry my 2 1/2 year old.  This list was a good reminder for me where Henry is at right now.  He’s not the baby and he’s not the big kid – so I think I get a little lost with him.  Plus, I’m a Montessori kid myself and appreciate their  philosophy.

The Go To Bag – The Creative Mama: This post motivated me to clean my car and stock with some essentials – which I never have on me.  I NEVER have things I need when I need them.  I have a hard enough time getting the kids into the car, forget remembering stuff we may need.  I’m always asking for stuff.  One time I was at the zoo when JJ was 2 years old, possibly the hottest day of the year, and forgot sunscreen.  It wasn’t until I was trapped in the River’s Edge (you know what I mean), and realized that my fair skinned babe was going to fry.   I borrowed some from a stranger, who was 10 years younger than me, but had more common sense than I.

Sweet Love Affair Part 2 – amoroloy: This is what John and I wanted to do for OUR wedding – a carnival theme with Ferris wheel and all.  It was $10K outside of our budget that we were paying for ourselves.  But we had big plans, alot of which were included in the above post.  Except for the fish game – so great.  And the turquoise bridesmaid dresses – I wouldn’t have done that to you sisters.  After finally deciding that we couldn’t afford the carny wedding, we did vow to do it for our 25th anniversary…can’t wait!

We, personally, are finally seeing the hits of the economy.  Nothing terrible.  John’s company did salary cuts “until business” gets better.  But in the mean time he is totally busy at work and is working long hours.  In my mind, it doesn’t make sense.

We are thankful we can pay are mortgage and take care of our family.  We just need to figure out how to cut some unnecessary costs.  These would be for us eating out, aimless trips to retail stores, spacing out our purchases, cutting back on counseling, babysitting and I don’t know what else yet.  Hardly anything to complain about, but nonetheless it is hard to adjust.

I’m finding it  funny how much I want things when I can’t have them.  For example, I want to eat at McDonald’s for EVERY meal now, all of a sudden I need new tennis shoes and I want to go shopping and I am NOT a shopper.  I am finding myself thinking a lot like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I want things and I don’t want to be told “no” even if it’s by my own conscience.

It’s interesting that it was easier to be frugal when I didn’t really have to be frugal. It was a choice.  I enjoyed seeing how much I was saving, it was like a game, now it just sucks.

Luckily, I am a glass half full personality.  It will get better and it’s far from the worst that could happen.

I did get some encouragement from a devotion I read this morning.  It’s from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  Here it is….

June 24

Hold My hand- and trust.  So long as you are conscience of My presence with you, all is well.  It is virtually impossible to stumble while walking in the Light with Me.  I designed you to enjoy Me above all else.  You find the deepest fulfillment of your heart in Me alone.

Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in the Light of My Presence.  When you turn away from Me, you are vunerable tot he darkness that is always a work in the world.  Don’t be surprised with how easily you sin when you forget to cling to my Hand.  In the world, dependency is seen as immaturity.  But in my kingdom, dependence on Me is a prime measure of maturity.

Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 62:5-6

I am certain of a couple of things about heaven, and one of them is that there will be a place for everything and everything will be in it’s place.  I love the sound of that saying and the images that come to mind. Perfection. Order. Purpose.  I would know where the scissors were located and they would be there.  And that if I put a do-dad in the “perfect place” where I would remember where it was when John would ask for it – in heaven, I would remember where it was and it would be there.

My project closet has been a disaster that I have been procrastinating for some months now.  This is the closet where we store all the crafty, project stuff we use, plus some office stuff because we don’t have an office.  Our level of creativity has suffered because of the mess and I feared for the small children that opened the door.  It was that bad.

Fast forward to now.  Last week I spent a half an hour in the afternoon cleaning out a shelf at a time and by Friday I was done.  Although I didn’t throw away as much stuff as I wanted too – it’s way better.  It also totally set me up for this HOT week inside with the kids.

Here are the pictures:

Before:

AFTER:

Happy Daddy’s Day John!

The boys are SO lucky to have you as a Dad!  We love you so much!

I’m blogging about my mornings this week because I want to be intentional and accountable about how I spend my time without kids.  To see how I came to be with out kids and how I desire to spend my time click here.

This morning I had time after I dropped the kids off to go home. I started my coffee maker and decided to “piddle” around the house until my lunch date at 11am.
Dictionary.com’s definition of “piddle” is this:
1. to spend time in a wasteful, trifling, or ineffective way; dawdle (often fol. by around): He wasted the day piddling around.
2. Informal. (esp. of children and pets) to urinate.
3. to waste (time, money, etc.); fail to utilize (usually fol. by away).

My friend Missy uses this term and I love it.  Although I think our meaning differs from the dictionary’s definition.  My definition is to “leisurely get things done around the house”.  There is no agenda for what I get done, if I get distracted – no big deal and it’s done  at an enjoyable pace.

Well, I piddled for only about a minute and  sat down on the couch to read a devotion and dozed on an off for an hour.  I was somewhere between not fully asleep and not wanting to move because I was so comfortable.  It was great.

I got up in time to meet one of my best friends from high school, Lvav, at lunch at St.Louis Bread Company.  We only get together once every 3 months or so and the time is always too short but sweet.  I got the new Chopped Cobb Salad and an Iced Tea.  I wouldn’t get it again, it wasn’t a traditional Cobb salad, there was no egg or avocado – the best part.

Am I sad my week of free mornings is gone?  Not so much.  I’m ready to get back into our routine.  Like I said yesterday, I am very challenged at getting everyone out the door at 8am.  It makes me cranky.  God help us when the boys are all grade schoolers.

I’m blogging about my mornings this week because I want to be intentional and accountable about how I spend my time without kids.  To see how I came to be with out kids and how I desire to spend my time click here.

I am tired. All of this getting all the boys places before 9 am is wiping me out. Even with the thought of my respite hours ahead – this morning I questioned the worth of it all. I am also saluting all working moms that do this every day. I can barely get myself clothed at 7am needless to say 3 extra!

I was feeling more at awake after my coffee at Uncle Bills. Mary and I had a breakfast together at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House – because this week is all about food right? I made my own menu item of 2 eggs over easy, whole wheat toast and Canadian bacon. How is something like that not on the menu?!?! BTW, they don’t have fruit cups, which I found a little surprising. I just wanted a little something to balance all the carb and grease options.

I left my time with Mary feeling very encouraged and excited about some of the ideas we were plotting. Mary and I are both deacons at Riverside Church, which basically means that we help with the care and mercy needs of our community. Although we are on different teams, she is over the long-term/short term illnesses and I am on a team that helps with life transitions, we were able to brainstorm ideas about how we do what we do better. It was great.

One more day….

I’m blogging about my mornings this week because I want to be intentional and accountable about how I spend my time without kids.  To see how I came to be with out kids and how I desire to spend my time click here.

This morning I did do more running around than in days previous.  My mother-in-law, Peggy, had a procedure done this morning and needed a ride.  I was glad that it landed on a week that I wasn’t babysitting so I could help out.

After I dropped off Peggy, I kidnapped my friend Jen who just had a baby 3 weeks ago and headed off for coffee at Starbucks in Old Orchard.  I had a tall vanilla latte (my standard) and a buttery croissant.  We had a really sweet time.  It made me vaguely remember what the first couple weeks with a newborn is like – I’m not ready for that yet.

I picked Peggy up from her procedure and went to Strattons Cafe in Old Orchard for brunch.  It’s seldom that Peggy and I get to hang out with out kids and by ourselves, so it was nice to spend some time with her.  I had the French Toast, which I wouldn’t get again, it was so much and I needed something else to counteract all the bread.  I did get the Island Oasis smoothie which I will get again – it was delicious.

So I guess today’s theme was food and good adult conversation.  Does it get any better than that???

I’m blogging about my mornings this week because I want to be intentional and accountable about how I spend my time without kids.  To see how I came to be with out kids and how I desire to spend my time click here.

This morning I had no idea what I was going to do.  Nothing was planned.  I figured I’d head over to Kaldi’s in Kirkwood with a few books I was reading and go from there.  I ended up popping into Madison Avenue Salon to see if they had any openings for a pedicure. They did and could get me in right away AND they were offering a special, buy a pedicure and get a manicure for FREE.  What the heck? Only if I had “time”, they said.  And I did have time, so I did.

I ended up having a great conversation with the nail tech, Catherine.  She is a mother of five, ranging from 22 to 9 years old.  She was very encouraging and just real about being a mom. I really enjoyed our time together.

At the salon, I also started to read a book Kim lent me called, “I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids“.  I LOVE it so far.  I’ll probably blog about it in another post.

Afterwards, I headed up to Kaldis to grab a quick lunch before I got the boys.  I tried something new – the Turkey Artichoke Sandwich and the Berry Tea.  I was not disappointed, really delicious, but a bit messy – glad I was alone.