When all is not what it seems

Looks good doesn't it. A happy mom. Happy children.

And freshly baked cookies on top of it.

Perfection.

 

Yeah...well...ummm...

We all know it: the picture doesn't always portray real life.

I'm baking with the children, but honestly, I'm struggling. So many hands, each one wants to be right beside the mixer, flour is falling to the floor (probably freshly washed) and I'm frustrated. Sometimes I want to bake alone. And sometimes I do. But mostly, I have messes, and eager hands.

I don't "do it" well a lot of the time. I look at other pictures of mom's with their kids, and admire them, wishing I was more intentional, and more patient. But I'm learning... like we all are.

 

And I don't "do" candids well at all.

But still glad James grabbed the camera while we baked, to capture these real moments.

And I'm still glad we got the "happy" picture.

Cause I know I will look back and remember that these were some of the happiest times of our lives.

This was Our Day

Just some snippets from our day today. :)

Katy putting Emma back in her kennel after her ramping around for a while.

Falling alseep while looking at his books at naptime.

Katy helping her brother get changed after bathtime.
Yes, we're still potty training - and there is some success. We haven't been consistant as of late, as it's been super crazy, but we're starting again.

A fuzzy but cute picture of Emma jumping up for some treat from James. : )

What I looked like after Katy's hair salon came by. :)

It may have been an improvement from "before"... but you'll never know. :)

I do love it when she brushes my hair...a little spa moment.

Day 58 {Good Morning}

There is nothing, like seeing Laura's huge grin when she wakes up to feed at 6 a.m. and at 9 a.m. every morning. Even when you're trying not to wake up between getting out of bed, and picking her up to nurse, you can't help but smile and even laugh when you see her big eyes and excitement that you've "come back" for her. :)

Little treasure.

Day 57 {Speedlite Fun}

 So I tried out my new speedlite on Emma - niece Hannah's dog. Deanna and Ben have been watching it for the past week, but we took a turn (one day) of dog-stitting.

Emma is not impressed.

Amazing what a flash can do...if I learn how to use it. :)

Third Round of Freezer Meals

We just did another "Freezer Meal" day with a bunch of women from our church.

It was a great day, lasting only from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m.

We made 63 meals.

Stephanie and Althea assembling the Mexican Lasanga.

The rest of the meals were:

Beef Chili

Coconut Curried Pork

Sausage Tortillini Soup

2 kinds of Chicken Cordon Bleu

Tater Tot Casserole

and the Mexican Lasanga

 

Apart from my carelessness in leaving my camera on top of a fridge, and it falling to the ground - ouch - it was a great day. :) Praising the Lord for His protection, as it turned out to be only a filter that was smashed on my 24-70 mm. lens. Whew. I did dent the edge of the lens, but it didn't ruin it, which I'm so thankful for.

While at the camera shop, I picked up a 580 ii spedlite which I'm excited about. :)

So a busy day. :)

Day 56 {Empty Space}

Ummm... we'll just say that we missed a day. :)

Picture....us :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's real life.

Our Living Space

Here's a few more pictures of our home. Things are totally put together, decor and finishing touches, but I've accepted that it will take a while. :) So here you go. Enjoy the little tour.

To start off: our entryway.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

We repainted the walls, put a coat closet in (thanks to a friend) and changed the railings - tore out the carpet, and brother Mark put the hardwood on the stair treads. Sooo much better.

Going up or down?

Love the large entry way. It has been so useful and pratical.

Going upstairs. The only downside to a ranch or split level, is that you can see crumbs on the floor. :)

Now for the living room.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

No curtains yet - but one day. :) At least we have blinds - we were our neighborhood's reality tv show for a few months.

Our dining room.

You can see that there was a partition wall (pictured below) as well as the main wall in the living room that got torn out.

The kitchen...

BEFORE:

 

MIDWAY:

Not a huge difference yet...

In a few years, we want to redo the cabinet doors, change the flooring, backsplash, and install an island...but that's all in the future.

Right now I'm enjoying the counter space, and the room in the cupboards. :)

Day 55 {Before Bed}

Not super flattering - but it's tough to take a self-portrait with a heavier lens and holding a babe.

Forget the half smile - I was concentrating... :) But this is as good as it gets someday. :)

Thankfully, the baby is sweet.

Day 54 {Daddy and his Girls}

Bedtime stories.

Day 53 {Adventures on a Car Mat}

He's loving his car mat. (from aunty Anne-Marie)

Don't ask me why he's got a sticker on...he's a two year old boy.

I've got lots to learn. :)

Day 52 {The Gift of Breakfast}

Dear friend Shelly, offered to take the two kids, so I could prep the house/bake, for a bi-weekly Bible Study that is held at our home. As all moms know, what used to take 2 hours to clean before children, now takes us 2 days. :)

And when she picked up the kids, she brought me breakfast. :) I was fueled to clean.

Thankful for how God uses us to encourage us on. Thanks Shelly!

Day 51 {Love}

These two have gotten so much better at playing together.

Yes, we still have lots of selfishness, and "it's mine" moments.

But they are starting to love being together.

Day 50 {Heart-Stealer}

 Isn't this bundle of chubbyness, just daaarrrling?

Day 49 {Twin Talk}

Day 48 {In Yellow}

Day 47 {Shine}

Imagine this may be one of her last birthdays where she gets all of her candles on her cake!

Rach's Birthday

Rach had a birthday. :) So we went to celebrate - along with Henry and Heather and their clan.

 Rachel letting Erik (and Nathan) in on the blowing act.

Beautiful young (and older!) women

Rachel playing with the kiddos.

She's such a good friend - a real giver.

Day 46 {Double Take}

Taking a picture of some pictures I took a couple weeks earlier. :)

Day 45 {How we make Art}

 We make art, by concentration, half-dry markers...

...and being on our knees.

Valentines Day

This is what Valentines Day is about:

{source}

1 Corinthians 13

Christ's love.

 

My valentines day was honestly, the most unloving day I had for a long time.

Sounds perfect, doesn't it, when your hubby has planned a nice little date at a coffee shop without the two older ones. Oh dear.

It was a day, where in the trying of being "pretty" for James, I ended up being very impatient with the children, trying to feed the baby in between trying to curl my hair, (and looking like a fuzzy lion at the end of it) make supper, and trying to stop the tears.

All of that, and my man still loves me. As always.

I knew it it my mind, but I couldn't make it go to my heart, but James would rather me looking "normal" and happy, then "pretty" and angry. :) I was trying, but emotions,  exhaustation  (and my sin nature) from the day had done me in.

After supper, (meatloaf with a ketchup drawn out heart on top) we dropped the kids off at some sweet friends, and went to the Brown Dog in Paris for a special dessert together.  

 Handsome hubby and adorable baby.

I know. I AM blessed.

There's no picture of me, because I looked like a fuzzy lion remember?!
Acutally, because I forgot to get one. Ha. (I had a pony tail to tame the frizz)

Nope there's no picture of us together in one shot. (real life at times)

Nope, I didn't look like the cat's meow. More like the cats. :)

 But we enjoyed the Brown Dog's homemade apple fritters with ice-cream, a hand-pressed lemonade and some coffee. Talked about how stressed I was/am, and what we could do to change some things in how we're living, picked up the kids and went home.

It was memorable. Not exactly fun, pintrest worthy, or even romantic. But memorable. :)

Thankfully - I live with a man who loves being with me every day, who doesn't care when he gets his valentine's card, (which is still coming...cough....cough..) and patiently loves me. Who at times can be quite unloveable.

James loves, like Christ.

Day 44 {Tangled}

Katy playing with a ball of yarn during "quiet time". She loved tangling it all up. :)

Day 43 {Being Together}

 Katy reading to Erik.

They both can get in and out by themselves, so every so often they'll play together in there.

Another baby shower...

Remember this darling baby?

It was her baby shower, and I was a part of the group that held the shower for Bre and her baby Peyton at our church.

We had such fun. Steph did a great job giving a short devotional, I planned some games, and we had some yummy snacks, and visiting.

(all pictures by Deanna who thoughtfully grabbed my camera when I was busy! Thanks sista)

"Dress the baby" game. First one to diaper, dress the baby in a onesie, sleeper, snowsuit, hat and buckle them into their carseat first, won.

Frantic dressing - kinda like me on Sunday mornings...

This game was suggested by Aleita. :) Scooping cotton balls into their bowls.

Quite funny, cause you can't feel the weight of the cotton -if you're doing anything.

Onlookers.

After the designing of the play-dough baby. :)

Kayla and Glenda during the "toss the diaper" game.

Shantel and Laura enjoying each other.