“Hey girl…”

Oh yes. This is my man, wearing our son, hanging diaper laundry. *swoon* does it get much better? I mean, really… and he made the coffee this morning. Ah, Saturdays….

Someone PLEASE come up with a good “hey girl” caption. 🙂

Messy week!

I missed messy Monday. I’ll post it later, but for now… suffice it to say it’s been a messy week. The weekend was lovely but Monday hit us with a bang. The boys are teething and horribly gassy… the poor boys. So most of the day was spent rocking, burping, nursing, pumping legs and changing diapers. They refused regular naps. Yesterday at 1am, I woke up with the worst headache. By 5am with two screaming babies I called hubby crying for him to come home. Poor guy. So yesterday was spent trying to rest and feel better. No idea what was wrong with me, the boys are STILL gassy and teething (give me strength…) but are much better today and at least napping for a little while. We even got outside for a walk with friends and to hang the diapers. yey! Now I get to try and bust out a quick post and back to sewing. I’m working on a mei tai based on THIS tutorial so I can try some tandem wearing. Thing 2 likes riding on my back in the ergo (which is actually hubby’s) so hopefully the mei tais will work. I’m expecting another as part of a trade for diapers so then I can wear them both. I am expecting it to be an excellent work out…

Like I said… we had a lovely weekend. Me and the boys got to relax and supervise hubby setting up the garden FINALLY. I was afraid with all the baby crazy we wouldn’t get one in this year, so I was super happy when we went to Pierson’s Farm to pick up a roaster that hubby suggested a walk through the green houses…. They really set us up and I am so excited! The tomatoes and peppers look beautiful! (photos to follow of that- I just haven’t managed to snap any of the garden all in!)

Mama and babies in the yard

Also lots of laundry. Isn’t fluffy laundry just lovely on the line? Call me crazy… but I’ve even been known to sniff the diapers coming off the line! lol

Fluffy line

I love the random pops of color and different diapers that make their way on the line. 🙂 How fun are the tie-dyed flats?

Ah… the wood pile… a reminder of the many projects to accomplish SOON. We want to let the wood season before winter. This will *hopefully* be our fuel this winter. You can also see in the left corner my awesome stone fireplace and all the brush that needs-a-burning. Oh so much to do…

That’s all I have prepared for you for now. Coming soon, a trip to the larder inspired by Umble Wife over at Umble Piety. I have big plans for our pantry and root cellar to keep us fed all winter- including canning, fermenting and sticking veggies in sand. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
-Psalm 135:1

Every Sunday lets give a little extra thanks to God for our gifts.

I haven’t forgotten, but I wasn’t at the computer to post or write as I meant to. I’m thankful for the ability to spend a lazy Sunday with my little family. I’m also thankful for yarn.

Honestly, I meant to write a post about the kindness of strangers, but it’s getting late so I will save that for another day, but I promise it’s a good story. 🙂

How time flies.

This is one of my bubs at about 1 week old. I was looking at him today trying to remember this face, how tiny he was (born at 5lbs, 15oz) and just all those small details. This week they learned to roll over. They are WAYYYYY over twice their birth weight and just amazing little boys. It breaks my heart how I can’t hold onto these moments, but I’m thrilled at the little people they are growing into. Ah… 

Stuff

Stuff.

I didn’t take pictures of my stuff for this post. But trust me. It’s there.

We all have it.  Stuff, our STUFF. Things. Possessions… STUFF. It seems to come in stages too. When you move out of your parents house, you get stuff, when you move, you get stuff, when you get married- stuff, have a baby MORE STUFF.

Ugh. My house is completely over-run by stuff. Mostly stuff I don’t need, or there is simply an excess of “need” stuff.  For example, one of the last times I counted I had 78 vessels to drink alcohol out of. Um. I really don’t drink and when I do it’s a small glass of red wine. And hubby has exactly 3 glasses that he uses. How did that happen? I also had almost 50 mugs. CRAZY. I’ve since cut them down. A lot. I also had nearly 70 cook books. I like to cook but JEEZALOO!  The list goes on but I will leave it at that.

I’d say the biggest source of our collections are gifts. We got tons of glasses for our wedding, and for whatever reason people always give us gifts including mugs. I like my tea, coffee and hot cocoa a LOT, but I would say at most I could use 3 mugs at a time and that’s a little excessive.

We also got a lot of hand-me-downs when we were first starting out as a married couple- or even before that when I moved back to NY with nothing but my Rav4 stuffed over the top (literally!) I was very, very grateful for the second hand furniture and dishes (and still am!) I had nothing and no money to speak of save to pay the rent. But, as we moved forward and around the state we gathered new stuff and the old stuff seemed to stick with us. I got attached if you can imagine that. I couldn’t just get rid of something, I’d say, “Oh, but we used this stuff when we first got back together…” or “But I might NEED that…”  and we can’t forget, “but so an so gave me this!” Thus, I became a pack rat.

With the twins came a lot more stuff. Really, babies don’t need much, but somehow there comes lots of stuff when you have a baby. And I had two, so you do the math- I assure you it wasn’t simply doubled. *sigh*

But… with the coming of the twins, I realized something very important about stuff. I didn’t want it. Didn’t need it. It was creating a hostile environment and not what I wanted for my children. I want them to grow up in a neat, clean, comfortable home. Have you ever cleaned a cluttered house? It takes forever. You have to move stuff to clean under it, you have more stuff to dust… It’s a pain. I need easy when I have two boys running around. Sure, they have and will have stuff, just the right kind and amount of stuff. This really kicked my butt into gear and I’ve been going through our home pulling things out of rooms, out of closets… and trying to move it out.  It’s a really difficult and almost emotional process but I’m making headway a little at a time.

At the same time I’m challenging myself not to buy “new” stuff to clutter up the newly cleared space. I can thrift for things we “need” (I have an on-going list) and play things for the boys (quality wooden toys are pricey, so if I see good stuff while thrifting I’m allowing myself the pleasure.) The exceptions are some fabric and notions (thread doesn’t have a great shelf life so I worry about buying second hand- I’ve already had a few ruined projects this way) and anything where hygiene would be a concern (panties, etc.) I may also allow myself yarn for knitting, but I would really like to thrift that too. I’m planning not to buy ANY “New” clothes for myself or the boys. I really foresee this being a challenge. Until recently, I really liked to shop. TJ Max was probably my favorite store- especially given it’s pretty much the only store in the area other than Walmart. Oh yeah, I’m going to try to avoid Walmart all together as well as any big box store… I wonder if I can keep myself out of Target, I really love Target…  but I digress.

This is the challenge. Clean out the house, and be mindful about what comes back in. Hm… I think that’s the key: Mindfulness. Ah…

 

(Speaking of mindfulness, I’m reading Sarah Napthali’s Buddhism for Mothers  I’m not Buddhist, but I have to say thus  far this is a great book for mamas. Maybe a book review will be in order? hm….)

Messy Mondays continue!

Each Monday I’m going to post a picture of a room in my home just as it is on Monday morning- no straightening, no organizing, no setting for the camera. It is just how it is. If you want to play along link to your blog/ page so we can all see. 

Oh my is it a very messy Monday…

First, last week’s messy room today:

And today, I give you the kitchen. *shudder*

Ah… my ever in use kitchen.

Love the counter. I’ve got the slow cooker rocking some perpetual soup, my new yogurt maker and jars, coffee pot and french press (because a mama can’t have enough coffee some mornings…).

Now.. a lovely lady shared her kitchen too for messy Monday so go visit the Woodworking Momma! http://woodworkingmomma.blogspot.com/2012/06/messy-monday-with-linky.html

She also made a linky for us! lets see if it works for me (I don’t work well with technology…)

 

Thanks for stopping by! If you want to make me feel better by sharing your Monday morning messes leave a link in the comments. Please, no picture perfect magazine spreads! 

Our First Father’s day

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
-Psalm 135:1

Every Sunday lets give a little extra thanks to God for our gifts.

I’m so truly thankful for my husband who is the most amazing father. I really can’t imagine there being a better man in the world. I love you, honey, our boys are so very lucky to have you as a father. 🙂 

Hubby and Baby Robert

Papa and I at my wedding reception, July 2007.

And of course, where would I be without my own amazing father… Happy Father’s day, and first Grandpapa’s day, Papa! 

And to my hubby’s step dad, Happy first grandfather’s day!

Grandpa and Ahren

And for good measure… My amazing boys turned 4 months old on Friday. My how time flies. I feel so blessed. 

The cutest babies ever.

I hope everyone has a blessed Father’s day. 🙂 

Thrifting adventures

I went shopping.

By myself.

For the first time in 4 months.

Eek!

First… I cried for awhile before I could leave the house. And I almost didn’t leave. I can’t believe how hard it was… but I needed to get out. There were a few things I wanted to do and it’s easier/ faster without the twinnies in tow, not to mention just easier on them not to be dragging them in and out of the car. I was also going “thrifting” so I didn’t want to stress them out while I went digging in second hand stuff housing God only knows what sort of germs. ew.

So off I went treasure hunting, and boy did I find treasures! I have a list of things that I look for at yard sales and thrifting. Some things on my list include:

Wicker baskets
Fiestaware
Wool sweaters
plain T-shirts
Wool yarn
Good books
boxes
Wooden baby/ kids toys
quilts in all sizes
Funky crochet afghans

Some specialty things I’ve been looking for…

Kid size rocking chairs
Small table and chairs
Wooden bowls and spoons
Wooden high chair
Salad spinner
Baby Bjorn potty (I know, I know… but that’s why there is bleach.)
Cloth diapers in good condition

Well, this trip I found some lovelies including not one, but TWO little wooden rockers for a total of $50.  yey! Several baskets including a sturdy wicker laundry basket, 7 wool sweaters including 2 cashmere lovelies for under $10, the baby bjorn potty,  a Melissa and Doug blocks set with wagon and what may be my favorite treasure; a little wooden table and two chairs with a chalkboard top for…. $15. EEK! I’m so happy… Here are some pictures of my treasures.

My two little chairs, the basket on the seat of the left was thrifted this trip, the Melissa and Doug wagon is next to it and the blocks are in the canvas tote (I didn’t want to deal with them ON the wagon. there are a lot!)

My little tiny table and chairs. They are so tiny!

The rocking chairs I plan to keep natural wood, but think I’ll give them a good sanding and finishing. The table and chairs… I’m not sure. I love the chalkboard top, and I think I like how well loved the pieces are, but then again, would look seriously cute with a fresh coat of paint… Hm…

I’ll save the pictures of the potty when the boys start really “training” lol! But it is in GREAT condition (looks new) and is bright red. I’m sort of excited about it. All the sweaters have gone through the wash to felt up for butt sweaters and slippers. Yey.

Ah, it was a good trip, but I did miss my littles while I was gone (two hours!!! eek) and I was happy to get home with my treasures, nest a bit and cuddle with those lovely boys…

What do y’all look for when you are out thrifting? anything I should add to my own list?

Messy Monday

Each Monday I’m going to post a picture of a room in my home just as it is on Monday morning- no straightening, no organizing, no setting for the camera. It is just how it is. If you want to play along link to your blog/ page so we can all see. 

Well, among meltdowns, marathon nursing sessions, a tired mama and gassy babies, I’m getting this post up. First, here’s last week’s room this Monday:

Improvement? Hm. A little. The vacuum was used and is just waiting to go upstairs to be used more… and there is a boy in the middle of the floor for tummy time. He thought it would be great to fall asleep. *sigh*

Woolies drying in the corner

At least the toys got organized… I need to put that tube away. It has a cute poster a friend had made for me. 🙂

Okay… so that’s last week, This week… it’s bad. Prepare yourself…

No…. Really. It’s frightening.

Ready?

I can’t believe I’m going to show this.

The dining room. The dining table is also known as the dumping ground. *sigh* There are WIPs, Cleaning supplies, kid stuff, returns, stuff to be donated… all needs to be sorted. Yuck.

Thanks for stopping by! If you want to make me feel better by sharing your Monday morning messes leave a link in the comments. Please, no picture perfect magazine spreads! 😛

Messy Mondays are Real Life

I saw this idea on the Crunchy Catholic Mama’s blog- photos of the house in “real life” no straightening up for the camera.

It’s been brought to my attention that some of my online friends envy my organization. HA! It’s just wishful organization. Right now… my world is a bit messy, but I am TRYING to simplify and organize. Maybe this will help get my butt in gear.  Each Monday I’m going to post a picture of a room in my home just as it is on Monday morning- no straightening, no organizing, no setting for the camera. It is just how it is. If you want to play along link to your blog/ page so we can all see. Ha!

Here is my living room, Monday morning (after a drill weekend, no less!) Enjoy….

toys on the floor, clothes everywhere, stuff thrown over the back of the sofa and the vacuum hanging out hopelessly waiting for a moment to go over the rug….