Catching up on a bit of thanks

It's been a few weeks since I've listed out my thanks.

I've been making it my personal mission to make sure that the girls are sufficiently worn out every day. Napping is going better, and I believe the two are related. So---as I've thought up new adventures for our daily "wear-out sessions", my blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. 

That, and, we're negotiating on that house I told you I loved. I've never bought a house before, I had no idea it could be such a long, drawn-out process. I'm hopeful though, friends. I'm hopeful even though my husband told me that since I put out our love for the house into the blogosphere, that I may very well have jinxed the whole thing.

I don't believe in jinxes.

Anyway, because we're negotiating on the house, we've gotten our house in order, so that if we can come to an agreement on a contract, our house would be ready to go on the market immediately. In the meantime, my crock pot is packed away, and there isn't one picture of us up anywhere.

Transition is hard sometimes. Especially without crock pots and pictures.

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• Last year for Mother's Day the girls got their first taste of frozen custard. This year we repeated the tradition. I'd say that's a winning tradition, wouldn't you?

• We've had some really windy days lately. The girls love to throw leaves up in the air and watch the wind catch them and carry them away. 

• Warmer temperatures mean that the girls have been able to enjoy swimming in the backyard. And, they look super-cute in their new swimsuits from their Masa and Masi.

• The girls also enjoyed wearing their swimsuits to help their mama water all the flowers. 

 

• My parents were here visiting this past weekend. They never got tired of reading the same books over and over and over again to the girls. 

• The girls "jumping" with their grandpa. 

• My first completed sewing project was this dress I made for Hadley--I finished it a couple weeks ago. 

• My mom helped me complete Brynne's dress when she was here this past weekend. 

• Then, the girls wore them to church on Sunday. 

• New material and a new pattern to attempt more dresses for the girls.  
• This weekend I learned that both my parents can stand on their heads. My dad demonstrated his skill to all of us, and then helped the girls practice standing on their heads. I'm so thankful to have healthy, active parents!
• Reading through the Book of Ruth.
• Beginning the study of Philippians.  
• Having Brad home a bit more this past week. 
• Breezes to accompany warm temperatures. 
• Playdate with Kate, Gwen and Thomas this past week. 
•  An encouraging email from Mandy. 
• Phone calls from Melissa.
• Sharing a blueberry cobbler concrete with Hadley.
• Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. 
• Harvested cauliflower from the garden.
• The girls burying their noses in the hydrangeas. 

Mama Loves: Leak-Free Travel Mugs

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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Before I get started, here are two fabulous ideas you've gotta check out:

• Bubble Land---complete with a Bubble Fairy. You, dear reader, can create your very own Bubble Land, and communicate directly with the Bubble Fairy. It's true---Ginger will tell you all about it!
• Learning Towers are great way for kids to safely stand at the kitchen counter--you can even make them wide enough for two. Love this idea!!

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I've found it!

Yes, it's true, I've found the perfect travel coffee mug that absolutely does not leak.

Actually, I didn't find it, my friend did, and she gave me one as a gift. 



Meet, the Contigo Autoseal Stainless Steel Travel Mug.

Isn't it pretty?

This guy holds 16 ounces of your precious start-up juice coffee drink, and keeps it hot for up to four hours. Or, if a Mountain Dew is more your idea of getting the day started----it'll keep your Mountain Dew ice cold for up to 12 hours.

The best part, though? It absolutely does not leak. You can literally hold it up upside down and shake it, and it will not spill a drop.

You can find these fine coffee mugs at Target. Try them! You'll never go back.

No leaks is a beautiful thing :)

Can't wait to see what you're loving!

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Healthy Mama!

Friday morning the girls were in the bathroom with me while I was getting ready for the day. I don't always do this, but I believe it's important for them to see me taking care of myself. (And it warms my heart a little bit to see them mimic the motions I use to wash my face, put on lotion, etc.).

Something they love to do, while they wait for me to get ready, is to weigh themselves on our digital scale. They know to press on the scale, wait till it reads "0.0" and then to stand on it and wait for their weight to be registered.

Even though the girls have no idea what the numbers mean, they take delight in me telling them what the scales says. I always answer,  

30.5 pounds (or whatever the numbers read)---a healthy, growing girl!

Then, I see their faces explode into a big grin with that news.

On Friday, after the girls weighed themselves, they told me they wanted me to get on the scale.

I took a deep breath.

I realized in that moment, as I was waiting for the "0.0", that my reaction was important. The way I view myself, the way they see me viewing myself is important. My reaction to my numbers on the scale will influence the way they react their numbers on the scale, now, and for years to come.

They would mimic my reaction, just as they mimic me putting on lotion and washing my face.

So, as my numbers registered on the scale, with a big smile, I said,

145.5 pounds---a healthy mama!

Smiles all around.

I want to give my daughters the gift of having a mama who can demonstrate what it looks like to love and care for the body God gave me. A mama who truly believes that my worth and value is greater than what I look like, or what the scale says.

That's a tall order in this culture, but I think it's oh so important. I'm reminded of just how important each time I see my girls pretend to dust their faces with my make-up brush.

Mama Loves: Norwex

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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Thank you for the great ideas you shared here last week!

• Sun Catcher Kite---the perfect spring craft!
• The perfect solution for your tall, skinny toddler---Dapper Snappers.
• Fight Club--a way for friends to challenge you spiritually, and it might just make you a better mama. 

Two more quick things.

1. The nail polish color I was sporting in last week's post is "Don't Mess With Texas" by OPI. 
2. The homemade detergent is gentle enough for an infant's delicate skin. 

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I know I'm not the only mama that raves about Norwex products.

The washcloths, towels, and cleaning cloths all gather up germs and keep them away, with their Anti-bac technology, which is definitely something I love.

Their Anti-bac cloths don't just push around, but remove dirt and germs from the surface you're cleaning, then traps them, so that they aren't transferred when you go to wipe the next surface. So, literally, you could rub the cloth on the floor of a public restroom, then wipe your baby's face, and no germs would be transferred (not that I'm about to try that scenario out). 

I started out with some washcloths for the kitchen, and some washcloths for the girls to use for their bath. Was very happy with everything! I was especially delighted with the kitchen cloths! They were amazingly well, and are way more absorbent (and softer) than the other kitchen washcloths we own.

Love the girls' washcloths too! They are so soft, and just work better!




I've since gotten some more of these to use on the girls for after-meal clean-up (they just arrived yesterday!). The other washcloths we own, which we've had since Day One with the girls, are stiff, stained, and just plain gross. Though they've seen a lot of action, and been with us through it all, I must admit that I'm thrilled to be getting rid of those.

Norwex also offers cleaning products, which I haven't tried. Everything they make is geared towards being kind to the environment, and safe for families, which is right up my alley!

In order to purchase Norwex stuff, you have to buy through a consultant. They do parties and such, but you don't have to attend one in order to purchase. Here's the website for the nice Norwex lady that I use, named Becky. She lives in South Carolina, and I've never met her, but we email. She's super-nice, and will get you your stuff lickety-split (Does any one else use that expression? I'm feeling self-conscious since Google doesn't acknowledge it as a word). 

 Anyway. Can't wait to see what you're loving!

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Mama Loves: DIY Cleaners

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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• Check out some cute ways to style your little girls' hair. 
• Did you know they make dry erase crayons?! Yeah, me either. These sound way cool!

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Happy Mother's Day Weekend! Enjoy spending time with the loves in your life, and maybe get a little extra sleep, and some pampering too!

This afternoon I went to get my fingers and toes painted. When I went to pick up my husband's contacts yesterday, I noticed the poster on the wall of the model that was sporting Fendi sunglasses was wearing a similar color, and I liked it! Not sure I'm quite as chic as a Fendi model, but I thought the color was fun. 

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I realized the other day that most of the store-bought cleaning products no are no longer in our home. They've been replaced with homemade versions. My laundry room shelves look like this: 

Homemade laundry detergent is in the jelly jars. It's eco-friendly, great for sensitive skin and much less expensive! The recipe is only three things:

1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
2 cups of grated Fels-Naptha soap

I'll admit that I would spend a really long time grating that blasted Fels Naptha soap (with the fine Parmesan section of my grater) until my dear friend Melissa informed me that I could shove that bar in the food processor. That little helpful nugget has added hours to my life!

The stain treater was Katie's Mama Loves from several months ago. One part Dawn dish soap and two parts hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide has bleached the color out of the soap, but it's in there, I promise. That recipe is a gem! Gets of lots of food stains when the girls miss their mouths (and their bibs).

I'm also loving our shower/sink cleaner made of equal parts vinegar and Dawn dish soap.

Friends, let me tell you, I am the laziest shower/sink cleaner. I want something that I can spray on, walk away, and rinse clean. I detest scrubbing anything. Till now, the only things I found that had that kind of cleaning power were harsh chemicals. This recipe is awesome! The vinegar gets off, even the hard water build-up. Just spray it on, and rinse it off after 30 minutes or so. I do sometimes use a rag to make sure I get all the soap off, but definitely don't scrub anything. Ever.

While the vinegar is definitely a strong smell, I love that it's not chemical smell, and it's completely safe to use around the girls.

Since I hate scrubbing, to clean the toilet I put a cup of baking soda in there for an hour, swish it around with the brush and flush. It deodorizes and cleans beautifully! Sometimes I add in some vinegar too----we always have lots of vinegar on hand. 

I also sprinkle baking soda on the rugs before I vacuum sometimes. We keep lots of baking soda on hand too.

I have a few other "projects" to add to our homemade cleaning repertoire:

• Dishwasher Detergent
• Hand Soap
• Bleach-free disinfectant
• Un-Paper Towels

If you've tried any of these, I'd love to hear how they work, and if you have any hints or tips.

If you're interested, here's my Pinterest page for DIY household stuff. 

How about you? What DIY household cleaners to you use? 

Can't wait to see what you're loving!

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Ponytails

This week there's been:

Lots of frustrations.
Lots of joy.
Lots of tears. 
Lots of struggle.
Lots of hard stuff. 
Lots of grace.

That's true every week, I suppose.

This week, in particular, these have been met with a stark contrast with one another, and I find myself needing to be extra intentional, getting out my magnifying glass to find all the joy intermingled with the hard stuff.

We can do hard things around here. Just takes lots and lots of grace.

Counting my graces today (1247-1271):

• Reading The Little Blue Truck together with the girls. 
• Their enthusiastic "Beeeeeeeps" at all the right moments. 
• Hadley's love for our new Babar book.
• The girls calling all elephants, "Babar". 
• The girls being so, so proud of their ponytails. 
• Mama and the girls posing with our matching ponytails. 

• This: 

• Seeing the girls dancing in the fallen flowers under the catalpa tree. 
• Brynne and Hadley bringing me flowers from that tree. 
• Going back through the house we're considering buying. 
• Melissa speaking truth to me. 
• The journey of figuring out this napping thing.
• Anna speaking grace into my life.
• A night of Mexican with the Community Group girls.
• My Fight Club Girls.
• A playdate with Shelly and Mr. Max. 
• Max and the girls running back and forth across our floors giggling. 
• Playdate with Alice and her boys. 
• Alice reading stories to the girls. 
• An opportunity to serve the homeless in our community. 
• Sewing with friends. 
• Enjoying SarahFae's homemade bread. 
• Winning MandyE's Usborne Children's Book giveaway!
• Air Conditioning.
• A husband who loves me, is patient with me, and works hard every day. 

Mama Loves: Outside Play

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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So thankful that Mandy posted about trains sets! We are in the market, and there are so many choices! Check out the great train set that her girls love to play with! 
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We have been playing outside a ton recently. The girls love to:

• mow the lawn
• shovel rocks
• move rocks from the landscaping to the garden 
• they help their mama pull weeds, spread mulch and divide and transplant flowers 
• watch the birds 
• help clean up, and then do it all again

Really. They just love to be outside, and they're game for anything that gets them there.

When I bought matching pink buckets and shovels for a dollar each to serve as their Easter baskets last Easter, I had no idea just how much use our girls would get out of them! The best two dollars I've ever spent! They schlep rocks and dirt from one end of the garden to another and back again. Keeps them busy, so I can get a few things accomplished.

The lawn mowers are also fabulous! I recommend lawn mowers. Our girls LOVE their lawn mowers!

Here's our little stash of outdoor toys on the back deck:

Oh, and miniature brooms. You can barely see them in this picture, but our girls love to sweep.

What do your kids like to play with outside?

Can't wait to see what you're loving!!

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Smile

Things have been crazy this week.

Last weekend, the husband and I decided to go look at houses.

I proceeded to fall in love with one of the houses. LOVE!

So, we are entertaining the idea of putting in an offer on this house that I love (did I mention I love it??), while simultaneously getting our home ready to go on the market.

[I have no idea if I'm supposed to say all of this before it even happens, but I have a habit of not  doing what you're "supposed" to do.]

Anyway, if you've ever done anything like this---you know it's a lot of work. If you've never done anything like this---Friend, it's a lot of work!

So, I have a lot to smile about---a lot to be thankful for.

Even if we don't get the house, or put ours on the market. It's fun to hope and dream. To imagine. 
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Counting my gifts today (1235-1246)

• Looking through houses. 
• Finding a house that feels like it could be home. 
• Benjamin's 2nd birthday party. 
• Two girls eating cake balls.
• The sly smile on Hadley's face when I let her lick the Nutella off the knife.
• Brynne helping up Hadley when she tripped and fell over a toy. 
• Nap improvement after we separated the girls' cribs. 
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~Romans 15:13
• Fight club.
• Melissa speaking truth to me. 
• Two porches filled with potted plants. 
• Sweet potatoes planted.