From the mouth of my 3 year old

Joshua: I pray my nose Amen! It's all gone, Yeah!!!

Beyond myself

There is FREEDOM yet to come. I have been feeling quite overwhelmed in my circumstances and the demands of motherhood latelty. Never a dull moment in my house. From the laundry to the dishes to the kids there really is no rest for the weary. Until I realized just how important my Job as a Mom is and that I am infact impacting my children everyday. To my credit I am sure it hasn't helped that both my children are now mobile and quick. But knowing my Job as a Mother is important and holds a real power of influence in my household on a daily basis really strikes a cord. So, how I choose to use this influence is very important because it's going to have lasting effects both negatively and positively in the lives of my children and husband. It's up to me to create, set, culitivate the tone or atmosphere in my household each day. This sounds exhausting doesn't it?

But, I know that I am not alone. My purposes may be beyond myself, My circumstances may be beyond myself and even my daily demands but with the power of the holy spirit I can do ALL these things! In Christ I can do what I can't.This is so refreshing to my spirit. This truth couldn't have been more timely. Guess, that's always they way it goes...our God sure knows what he is doing. AMEN TO THAT!!!

"For he is doing something in your day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Acts 13:41

Getting ready for fall, how about you??

About this time each year I get into an "organizing mood". Today, we went through all the toys and changed up the room toys with the living room toys to get some variety goin. I also bought a few more baskets and created new homes for everything. We also sorted through Austen's clothes and I finally bought him some baskets for all his clothes. It only took my 9 months but now his changing table looks put together. Our next project is our front door/porch. I am getting a vision so hopefully I will have a picture of that soon.

Oh, Monday Miss Organized is coming to help us organize few areas we really slack in and are just clueless as how to manage. I am also hoping she can regularly clean for us. What a glorious thing that would be!!! I acually don't mind cleaning but I am running out of time for it these days.

A long night....

Last night was rough. I am not sure if Austen is/was teething more (goodness the kid has 7 teeth and he is only 9 months) but he was having the HARDEST time getting to sleep and I can't tell you how many times he awoke during the night. I think his longest stretch of sleep was from like 12ish to 3am. It seems like he waking up congested and just needed snuggles from Mom. Maybe, his first cold/runny nose/ cough (although there is no evidence of a cough yet) when he woke up this morning at 6:30am he didn't have a fever.

So, I went to the store today and I bought a humidifier for just his room, pedicare for stuffy noses and vapor rub. I was hoping to find a hylands all natural product for infants but no such luck. I may be over reacting but I am making sure all the basis are covered. My sleep is very precious to me.

Birthday Shopping

My birthday shopping trip was a success. I haven't shopped all day in a very long time. I left the house about 9:30 and got home at about 6pm. I met my Mom, Aunt & cousin at Washingto Square and we shopped, had lunch, shopped, shopped and shopped some more. I found some really great things. If your like me once I got home I marveled some more at my new clothes and then took the clothes to my closet. It's amazing what new clothes does for a woman!!!

I also have a yummy salad recipe to share. We had this last night and it was yummy!!!

Apple-Cranberry Salad

Romaine lettuce
1 apple, chopped
sweetened dried cranberries
chopped green onion (I didn't put these in last night)
poppy seed dressing

Mix all the ingedients with a small amount of the dressing and ENJOY!!!

Oh, and Joshua crashed about 6pm last night while the rest of us crashed at about 8:30pm. We are all sure feeling refreshed after some much needed rest!!!

It's Friday!

Friday is here and it's a beautiful day outside! Today we are having lunch with Grandma Kathy (my Mom). And possible Daddy may join us for a bit too.

I am really looking forward to this weekend. My sister in law is coming into town tomorrow for the day. We are going to have a girls day out. (we will have the littlest boys with us my austen and her eli) But, I am super excited. We get to shop with My Aunt, cousin and Mom. I haven't bought much of any things since I have lost weight and I just turned 30! So, this is going to be a nice treat for me.

Recently, I have been going back and forth about preschool for Joshua. And I don't think the time is quite right. It's a relief to have finally decided on this. Instead we are going to be enrolling in a music adventure class, hopefully gymnatics (we missed are try out apt yesterday) and or soccor. Anyone have any other ideas??? What did you guys do with your busy, busy toddlers??

Have a great weekend!!