Living and Dining Rooms

To continue our house tour:  This is taken from the front entryway:  The big doors go out to the back deck and the hallway leads to the bedrooms

 This is our current dining room.  This was also taken from the front entryway, just looking to the left instead of the right.  The doorway at the right edge of this picture leads to the kitchen.  Someday I would like to paint this room, as I am not overly fond of this particular shade of yellow.  And the table needs revamping for this space.  And non-folding chairs.  Oh well, at least we have plenty of projects to keep us busy?

Back log of knitting goodness

I finished this one in time for Christmas.  So soft and it fits really well.  Can't wait to wear it again this winter!

Adelle's Pinwheel: 

Button detail:

I knit this for one of my godsons.  I finished it in October and it waited for buttons until January.  

Issy's hat, four years in the making.  Modeled by Adelle.

A hat that will match my light blue coat.  Same pattern as Issy's.  Mine is also being modeled by Adelle.

I actually knit these slippers for Isabelle, but 1) My gauge was too tight and 2) I am pretty sure they would have been too small, even if my gauge was correct.  Just not quite as small.  Good thing I have Adelle to wear them instead.  

Journal: End of July

Today:

Out my window:  Sunny, beautiful, low 70s right now.

Clothing myself in:  Orange T-shirt and plaid pajama shorts. I really need to start getting dressed before I do this.  I really don't walk around the house all day in pajamas, I promise.

Around the house: No further work on the  master bedroom.  Right before my sister came we did, however, paint a couple of walls in the boys room with some leftover paint from our room.  All the walls had been painted a very dark charcoal grey/black so we painted one wall and a partial wall light greyish blue.  I like it better in there now.

The baby:   He is sleeping much better this week.  Staying asleep in the evening and only waking once or twice a night.  It is magical.

Other kiddos: For whatever reason, Liam and Adelle have really been buddies lately.  It is very sweet.  He is pretty patient with her and even though she is bossy, he can steer her in the right direction as long as he let's her think it is her idea (er, most of the time.)  It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops when Issy and Isaac go back to school.

Ah, it was the sweetest thing.  Joe's birthday was last Friday and all the kids wanted to give him something.  Liam wrapped up a bear of his, Issy and I collaborated on fixing Joe's old HoneyBear from his childhood (it had a hole in it) and giving it to him.  And Isaac wrapped up his money to give to Joe.  Isaac told him it was for Legos.  I asked him if that was the rest of his money (it was about $6.50) and he said it was the rest of his paper money.  So sweet and adorable. 

In my kitchen: Grilled chicken (haven't decided how to marinade it yet) and couscous, Jambalaya, Chicken Alfredo. 

Crafting: Finished my hat with the yarn that I bought at the yarn store.  Made and felted a pair of slippers for Adelle (Issy was intended recipient but they turned out way too small), continued knitting on the sleeve of Issy's Pinwheel Sweater I started last winter and helped Issy cast on a pair of her own slippers.

Bringing me joy: Beautiful Saturday drives with my husband and kids, knitting with my Isabelle, having my evenings free again, celebrating my husband's 31 years on this Earth.

Thinking about: I realized that since we are going to Kansas at the end of August, we need to get the remainder of our summer school finished up before then, which made me feel a little panicked.  I know it will be fine, but you know....

Picture to share:  She told me it was shaped like a heart.  Yes, she has cherry juice on her fingers, face and forehead.

Journal: Sister visit last week

Today:

Out my window: Grey.  The forecast says 80% of thunderstorms.  That would be ok with me.

Clothing myself in: Green T-shirt I wore yesterday and blue cloud pajama pants.  As a side note: I have had these pants for almost 12 years, I got them shortly before I went to Benedictine.  Old pants.

Around the house: Phase 1 of the room is almost complete.  Joe attached the hardware to the dressers and I put on the wall plate covers.  Still need to paint the doors, but we have had guests.

The baby: George got his other front top tooth.  And the two beside those are looking like they will be coming soon.  This has made him grouchy and he is sleeping very poorly.  Such is life with a babe.  

In my kitchen:  Turkey burgers, Crock pot Chili, Black Bean Quinoa Salad and Broiled Parmesan Tilapia. Stew for Joe's birthday dinner on Friday, per his request.  Chocolate cake.

Crafting:  While my sister was in town, we had Adult Night, including going to Wisconsin Rapids for dinner on Friday evening.  The nearest yarn store is on the way, so my husband, knowing me, offered to take me there.  Not huge, but some pretty yarn.  I bought some yarn to knit a hat that goes with my coat since I lost the hat that went the best with it sometime in the last 3 years.

     Before I could start my hat, I had to free up some needles, so I finished a hat I had started for Issy in 2008.  Yes, four years.  No, she hasn't been hatless.  There was no good reason I waited so long- I had given away my pattern but all I had to do was reprint it.  I didn't like the next color in the self-striping yarn, so I broke it and did a felted join at the color after that one.  It took 30? maybe 45 minutes?  Sometimes I am ridiculous.  She really likes the hat.  So much so that she has been wearing a wool hat in July the last several days since I finished it.  

Bringing me joy: Getting to see my sister, nieces and nephew last week.  Adult night and my niece Teresa who snuggled a very grouchy George to sleep several times.  Pretty yarn.  Coffee on the back deck. 

Thinking about: This post by Elizabeth Foss. Particularly the part about 20 something mom blogs  It really bothered me at first and I felt like she was being unfairly harsh. I do understand her point.  But sometimes all you need is to vent, purge yourself of the yuckiness and then you can better appreciate your blessings.  I don't know about anyone else, but I had no. idea. how hard mothering little ones could be.  So it is nice to know that there are other Mamas out there, struggling like I do at times.  Praying for me if I ask for it (and sometimes when I don't ask, but they just know).

     Speaking of blogging, at the other end of the spectrum, I feel like there are also a lot of blogs who do the exact opposite- paint this rosy picture of motherhood that no mother in the real world could ever live up to.  There are all these beautiful pictures, and there are extensive crafts with little ones and the baby always naps.  I mean, I get a lot of good ideas from those blogs, but come on... I would rather know that your toddler ate half a thing of paste while you were doing your craft and you stopped to nurse the teething baby twenty times between your strategically taken pictures that show the beauty but not the mess.

     I guess I want realness from what I read online regarding motherhood. Some days you look at your sleeping baby in your arms and your heart swells with gratitude at the gift you have been given. And other days, you just wish the baby would sleep alone so that you could maybe get a shower in before noon.  Motherhood is messy/beautiful.  It is hard/so worth it. I find that acknowledging the difficulties help me to be more grateful for the simple beauties of motherhood.


Pictures to share:

 So many cousins! We missed Sophia, though.

    I love love love these sister pictures.  Such sweetness. (which also happens to show the hat that I finished knitting for Isabelle.  She was letting Adelle wear it.)

Wisconsin Dells with Grammie and Grandpa

 At the beginning of June, we had the opportunity to spend a day in Wisconsin Dells with Mom and Dad Marney.  We got to ride a little train:

Then we got to go on a boat ride on the Wisconsin River.

So worn out.

See?

Journal- Chilling out

Today:

Out my window: Beautifully sunny but cooler than last week. Much cooler, thank goodness.  Going to be hot by the end of the week, though. I think the hot weather followed us from Kansas.

Clothing myself in: Big blue T-shirt of Joe's and red plaid shorts. Still in the jammies :)

Around the house: Phase 1 of the room is almost complete. We just need paint the doors, get a couple of wall plate covers, attach the hardware on my dresser.Pretty much the same as last week, although we already cleaned. But we will likely have to do it again soon because it always seems to get messy again.

The kiddos: George started really walking this last week. And getting into cabinets and drawers.  Man, toddlers are exhausting.  Hoping to get Issy and Isaac and Liam together with some of their new friends this week.  They are also thrilled to pieces that cousins will be coming on Saturday. 

In my kitchen: Meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes, Turkey and rice casserole and Tuna salad sandwiches are up on the menu this week. 

Crafting: I did actually knit a few stitches of George's diaper cover.  I want to start on a vest for one of the kids for school, but I can't find the pattern I want to use.  It is somewhere on the computer. Hmmmm....

Bringing me joy:  Air conditioning.  I am a much happier person when I am not hot and sweaty.  Honestly, it wouldn't have been quite so bad had I a) not been nursing a hot, sweaty person. That apparently increases the hot and sweatiness tenfold and b) not had mastitis and a fever. So glad it is back on.

Thinking about: "Marriage for the Christian is a continuous sacrament, an act of praise and obedience, and a means of grace that is inherently every bit as "spiritual" as anything that goes on in a monastery, or in any church or mission field for that matter, and every bit as important (or more) as any other "work" that one might do in the world." from The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason.  Got this book as a wedding gift, read it a loooong time ago and it has been sitting on the shelf. I decided to read it again.

Picture to share: My guys.

Journal- Visitors!

Today:

Out my window: Twilight. Thank goodness. It is actually getting into the high 90s and low 100s this week and, of course, the AC went out.

Clothing myself in: Black knit skirt (which may or may not be maternity. hey, it's comfy). A grey tank top over a pink tank top. Lots of sweat.

Around the house: Phase 1 of the room is almost complete. We just need paint the doors, get a couple of wall plate covers, attach the hardware on my dresser and clean. Pictures soon, I think. I lurve it. It makes me happy.

The kiddos: George cut his first top tooth this last week. Got a mystery fever over the weekend. He has had a rash today, but I don't know if it is part of the fever or heat rash. Buckling down on multiplication with Isabelle. Isaac and Issy had their "interview" with the school board at SFA.

In my kitchen: Turkey burgers, some spaghetti (always a favorite around here) and chicken tacos are on the menu this week.

Crafting: No crafting. See around the house post :)

Bringing me joy:  Friends. A dear friend of mine and her daughter are visiting this week. And they brought a new friend who is also staying with us. Good times.

Thinking about: How I am a huge, huge wimp. We went without AC for several summers in my youth and, though not terribly pleasant,  it wasn't a big deal.  I have gotten so soft as an adult. I have so many luxuries that are so far beyond what most of the world has. Erin, meet your privilege.

Picture to share: Sandbox days.  There is a time, in not too many years, that my four olders will not want to all play in the sandbox at the same time. I will cherish it now.

Miss Delle's Birthday

I just wanted to share some pictures from Adelle's 3rd birthday. I can't believe what a big girl she is getting to be!

Helping mama make the cupcakes

Grammie and Grandpa are her godparents and they came for her birthday. Grammie was giving her a push on the swing.

Her cupcakes.  She really likes the show Yo Gabba Gabba, so I got these little decorations for them. She requested vanilla cupcakes and purple frosting.

So excited!

Mary Poppins!

I just love her.

Enjoying some of her gifts. 

Journal- It's gonna be a hot one

I realize it hasn't been a week, but I have decided to do this on Mondays, so we can just start that now :)

Today:

Out my window: Gorgeous again. The next two days are going to be super beautiful and then it is going to get HOT in the 90s for the foreseeable future.

Clothing myself in: Teal t-shirt and blue and green plaid pajama shorts. I should probably get dressed for the day soon...

Around the house: Painted the first coat of grey on the window/vanity wall.  In the evening, it really reflects the blue wall and looks really blue instead of grey. It isn't bad, I just wasn't expecting that.  It is my goal to finish the window painting before Wednesday so we will be able to turn on the AC.

The kiddos: George took a 2 1/2 hour nap yesterday. It was awesome- I actually got to take a bike ride and paint. See, Little Fella, you should sleep so Mommy can be productive.  He actually also has a top tooth riiiight under his gums and the other isn't far behind.  Delle is in her third week of potty training and doing awesome. I love not having to changer her poopy diapers. So, so much.  The older three are working on "summer school".  I think we are going to try to make it to the library this week.

In my kitchen: There is a huge mess, lol.  We had Jambalaya on Saturday night, grilled bratwurst and my Greek pasta salad yesterday and I still have some pots soaking from that. Some things on the menu this week are Broiled Tilapia, Chicken Tacos and Black Bean and Rice Burritos.

Crafting: Still working on George's diaper cover. Haven't gotten to the boxes again yet.  All my creative energy is going to redoing our room right now.

Bringing me joy:  My new bike, which was a belated Mother's Day gift. And we got it on sale, which just makes it that much better.

Thinking about: Simcha Fisher's A Story Time Survivial Guide made me laugh. And I really like to laugh and don't do it enough, so I thought I would share.
On a more serious note, I have been trying to figure out what to do for Liam and Adelle for "school" this upcoming year. He will be in first grade and she is just a teeny preschooler so I am thinking about Elizabeth Foss' Not Really Kindergarten post.

Picture to share: I am going to share a post about Adelle's birthday, but there were so many sweet pictures, I can spare one here. I love her face.

Journal Week 1

I have decided to do a glimpse of life, every week, just for fun. I enjoy it when other bloggers do it and would like to be able to read back through the progression someday. So....

Today:

Out my window: It is a perfectly beautiful day. It was pretty hot here the last few days, so 77, slight breeze and partly sunny is just fantastic.  And the mosquitoes have subsided, at least in the middle of the day. So why did I have to force my kids outside? 

Clothing myself in: My new(ish) blue t-shirt and grey capris. 

Around the house: Working on painting the master bedroom. I loooove the colors. The wall behind our bed is Tiffany Blue and the other walls are a light grey (I think it is called Arctic Stone).  We are painting the woodwork white. The difficult wall (with the vanity and the window) is coming up. Maybe some this weekend?

The kiddos:  Are currently playing outside. Because I made them. No child should be inside when it is this beautiful/ non-mosquitoey outside. Even though I forced them outside, they (mostly) seem to be having a good time. I gave them some rope to play with- that helps.

In my kitchen: Pork chops to be grilled are marinating in Italian dressing. Couscous with them. And some sort of steamed vegetable. Other than that, it is slim pickins. I hate the last few days before grocery shopping, they make me grouchy.  I am going to grocery shop when Joe gets off work tomorrow, so I need to make a menu/ grocery list before then.

Crafting: Well, I was going to upcycle a few diaper boxes.  But I cut my fabric too short yesterday and it made me grumpy so I pretty promptly put it away. Upon reassessment today, I realized that if I make the liner (which I was planning on doing anyways) that it will cover my not-long-enough canvas. So maybe I will look at it again tonight.  I also picked up a knitted diaper cover I started several months ago for George.

Bringing me joy: my clothesline.  I posted about it on facebook and my friend Erin said it best, "Using a clothesline gives me a great deal of domestic joy. And, really, don't we all need joy in the domestic things?"

Thinking about: The article But Can You Walk In It? by Simcha Fisher  I like this article so much. In a discussion of this, my friend Erika remarked, "I think another good question to ask besides, 'But can you walk in it?' is 'It may fit her but does it fit me?'." Wisdom.

Pictures to share:  We went for a walk yesterday and then into the woods on our property. Haven't taken any pictures of the woods since it has gotten all green and summery out there. Love.

Ten years together

Life has been busy the last couple of weeks- we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last week, Joe's parents came to visit and we celebrated Adelle's 3rd birthday.

For our anniversary, I went through our ten years of photos and we compiled a slideshow. We shared it on facebook, but if you don't facebook you can see our slideshow here:

Anniversary Slideshow

It was a pretty great day, well the whole weekend really. I can't believe how blessed I have been in the last ten years and I am so grateful that I have Joe to do this life with.  He is my best friend.

Summer has gone well so far, though it really doesn't feel like summer yet. I am actually having a hard time believing we are halfway through June, since it isn't insanely hot (well, at least not consistently) yet.  We are keeping up with a slightly more relaxed school schedule, but definitely working on it. Between George's birth and moving we were behind, particularly with Isabelle. And I want the kids to be all up to par when they start school in September.  Issy's focus this summer is composition and editing and math facts mastery. Isaac's is handwriting and math facts mastery.

It is going to be so very odd to have the biggers gone during the day next year.  I guess I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around that one a bit. I am really excited for them. And nervous. I hope that what I have taught them (both academically and lifewise) up to this point will be a good foundation. 

I still need to decide what I would like to work on with Liam and Adelle next year. Obviously, it will be pretty relaxed with Adelle, but she is plenty interested so I think she would like to get started on letters and numbers. Thinking about taking them down Elizabeth Foss' Alphabet Path.  Lots of storybooks. I need to get over myself and take them to the library. I am just a little weird about leaving the house, but I don't think I will be able to do that this winter and maintain my sanity.

OH! In the last week, Adelle has taken a real interest in potty training. Praise the Lord! I won't call it yet, but I am hopeful we have turned the corner. In addition to that, I am back to cloth diapering George, so that is good for the budget.  Just a few more dollars a month for our Finish the Basement/General Home Improvement fund :)

So that is our life update for now!

Baby Girl is three!!!

Three years ago was my little Adelle's Birth Day. I can't believe that this is little baby:

Turned into this awesome girl:

It has been three mostly wonderful years with this teeny peanut of a girl. She is so precious and full of joy.  Happy birthday, sweet Delle, we are so glad you are in our lives!

Things that bring me joy...

A friend's facebook status the other day got me thinking. She simply said, "Just curious.... what brings you joy?"  She received so many good responses and it made me think.  And it made me want to list them. At least some of them...

The smell of itty, bitty newborn baby head
Big Joe hug, especially after we haven't seen each other in a while
Good cup of coffee with cream in a pretty mug


The smell of pine trees
Watching my kids play in the sandbox together
Talking with Issy while we fold laundry


George falling asleep on Joe in Church
Sunshiney breeze on my face
The tired/good feeling after a long hike


Big, fat snowflakes falling gently
Isaac's shy smile
Adelle's squeaky little singing voice


The way Liam says, "I love you, Mama." with such adoration in his voice
Walking in the woods, holding hands with Joe while the littles run up ahead.
Watching my nieces and nephews grow into awesome, interesting young adults


Knitting with soft yarn- the click of my needles, the way string becomes fabric
The smell of Cottonwoods after the rain
Autumn colors- oranges, reds, yellows, browns, golds


Getting to witness that timeless moment when a Mama holds her baby for the first time
The polite but insistent way that Kolbe puts his paw on your lap to get you to pet him
Nursing a squirming baby into a peaceful, squishy bundle of sleep


Freshly washed cloth diapers
Incense in Church
A good talk with a friend


Freshly vacuumed rug
Sleeping in and waking up to breakfast already made
Thinking time while I shower


Sleeping with the windows open and waking up to the birds singing
Getting out of the car after a long trip
Seeing it "click" when teaching my kids something

Oh, the list could go on and on and on.....

Hey! Pay attention to me!

One day, I was trying to make dinner, standing at the stove, browning some hamburger for spaghetti. I looked down and the little guy had crawled in between my feet.

 And then laid on the floor and giggled at me.

It may have gone against some cooking safety rules, but it sure was cute.