Words on Wednesday: Yarn

Oh dear.... the yarn bug has bitten!
It's been a few months.. I haven't even thought about yarn! I've had no orders for hats in months, the weather is too hot, so besides a couple I made for my adorable nephew, Ezra (see picture) I haven't even touched the stuff!!
Well... one of my best friends, Kelli, is having a baby boy in Sept and my soon to be sister in law Kayla is also having a baby boy in Sept. Then there's my sister Amber's baby girl in Nov and another one of my best friends, Amber B.'s baby boy in Nov!!
So... I kind of grudgingly accepted the fact that I have to make hats.. already.  Haha!!
So, off to Michaels I went.  The first time I went today was while the oldest 3 girls were at piano lessons... oh my goodness, I was almost giddy.  They have NEW yarn!! A whole new line of it.  I just kept finding new colors to play with.. a lighter green for my frogs (so cute!!). My "monkey" browns in thicker (ie: quicker) yarn. Pretty purple!!
Well, I just had to go back after Steven got home from work.  I could hardly pick which one ball of yarn I was going to buy with my 40% off coupon.  I finally went with the organic cotton brown.. it's very soft. :) Perfect for sweet little bears!
Fall... hurry up! I am ready to make hats!
After this post, I am sure it makes sense that my domain name is knitting with arrows and my blog title is Knit Together in His Love. I really enjoy knitting... and.... yarn!

Water Challenge:Fail

Well, I got through ONE 33.8oz bottle of water for the whole day.  After my post last night, I totally forgot about water and by the time I remembered it was pretty late so I only got a tiny bit down from my second bottle.  That was a lot of water for me though... I felt like I pee'd all day! haha! So, obviously I drink VERY little on a normal basis. :(
So far today I am about halfway through my first bottle.. it's 12:50pm.  Hoping for better results today.
I'll keep you posted.

Mundane Monday: Water Challenge

Okay, I am challenging myself to drink enough water today.  I have a 33 oz water bottle and my goal is to drink two of them! I managed to get down one bottle so far today and it is 7:35pm... so I have a whole bottle to go and not many hours left! Eek! I might be peeing all night long!  I have a really bad headache though, I wonder if it has something to do with finally giving my body enough water.. idk.. you'd think it would have the opposite effect, but I have heard that exercise sometimes can give you headaches when you first start.
Anyway, I wanted to document that this is my goal so therefore I am more likely to follow through!! So, I'll let ya know tomorrow how I did today! 

A little Something on Sunday: It'll be okay

I have been feeling a little better since my previous post.. well the one before the independance day one.
I have days like that, a lot.  It's mostly because I care so much about Steven and the kids that I feel they deserve so much better than me.  In fact even after that post, I continued in my head, tearing myself up and thinking of all the things about myself I don't like.  I do that a lot.  I know I shouldn't.  It doesn't help, at all.  It doesn't motivate me. 
I just don't like to be told that I am doing a good job compared to.... (a loser, basically).  Or the kids are so much better behaved than most American kids.. well, what an accomplishment! (insert sarcasm) Considering most American kids are total brats and out of control.  Wow, my kids are better than THAT? 
I set the bar high, and I think we should as Christians.  I do think I am wrong in beating myself up for not meeting those standards though.  There is a fine line between being too hard on myself and letting things slide too much, being lazy, ya know? 
I need to focus on where I've succeeded.. like with family Bible studies.. I never thought in a million years that I'd be able to do that - and stick with it! It's something I've tried to do for years and could never stick with it.  The fact that I have done it and I am continuing to do it almost every night, for MONTHS now, is extremely encouraging for me.  I am very happy with that. 
I know it has to do with how happy I am, in general.  Most days I have a very discouraged feeling about me, or I just feel "down".. and that affects everything.  I don't know how to change that.  Well, I do, at least I know where to start.  Eat healthier, take vitamins, exercise, drink enough water, get enough sleep... I bet THAT would dramatically change my moods.  It's just doing it that is hard! Especially when I feel kind of depressed to start off.  It's a cycle that needs to break.

All in all, I am happy with my life.  I have THE best kids! :) Steven is pretty good to me, overall.  We are all healthy, except for Matthew's allergies and rash.. but even that isn't that bad, we have a home and a lot of food to eat.  More food than I have ever had in my home!  We have enough money to put the kids in the best school ever so they get christian education and a little left over to get them involved in things like swim lessons or piano.
I know all this, and I AM thankful.. so very thankful.  I don't know why I have to feel down when there is no reason for it.  I just need to continue working at it, drink more water and try taking some vitamins and think POSITIVE!! That will help.
Today we are taking the kids to a museum in Lincoln.  That should be a lot of fun! I'll post pics and blog about it later!

Independance Day

It's become a tradition... the last 3 years Steven's parents have come to visit us for the 4th of July. It started 2 years ago, the first Independance day we spent in our new house. We had no clue how cool the fireworks show was from our house. People in Omaha LOVE fireworks!! It's a 360 degree view of pure awesomeness and it last for not only hours, but days! Ever since then, Gary and Cathy have always wanted to come back! This year they brought along Bryan and Kayla. That was cool. I hadn't gotten a chance to hang out with Kayla before, I had only met her once before this time. She's really sweet! They are having a baby boy in September. I think they enjoyed the fireworks too.
As I previously mentioned Steven got A LOT of fireworks. About $400 worth - which is crazy!! they had fun though.
They actually lit them off on the 3rd because we just wanted to enjoy the show on the 4th.
At the beginning of the night, we had Elise outside with us... she didn't care about fireworks, haha!! Here she is wandering around:

Lisey wandering around

As you can see Steven and Bryan had a blast. Crazy boys.. haha. They are running away from the fireworks here. Dorks. I am not sure if they had more fun.. or the kids.

Run!

Steven and Bryan lighting off some fireworks

Here's a pic of Kayla and baby boy!

 Some of us liked the fireworks more than others!! haha! Alaina is one of our loudest children, but she is the most afraid of loud noises! At first she just wanted to spend the evening inside the house, but eventually she ventured out.  Here she is sitting with Grandpa Gary.

Alaina and Grandpa Gary

Danielle making a heart with the sparkers

This one reminds me of lots and lots of stars in the night sky. :)

I thought this one looked cool

This is just an example of how the fireworks look that go off all around us, one after another! You hardly know where to look!  It's so pretty!

Beautiful fireworks!

 The girls relaxing and just watching the show!

 Alaina, no longer scared of the fireworks. I think she was pretty much desensitized by this point.

Sweet Alaina!

Matthew and his pillow pets!

We all had a great time, but I think Steven and the kids had the most fun! Hours and hours.... and hours of fireworks! Three nights worth! First night at a coworkers 4th of July party, second night they lit off all our fireworks and the third night (the actual 4th of July) we sat on the deck and watched them go off.  Family had to leave on the 6th, but we look forward to seeing them again soon. :)

One of those days..

It's just one of those days.
I've had too many of "those" kinds of days lately.
I wish I could figure it out because it's just as frustrating to feel this way as it is to deal with me I am sure!
I don't know, I have dreams and ideas of the kind of wife and mom I want to be, and trust me.. that me, the me I want to be.. well she's pretty cool.  She wakes up early and gets her facebook checking out of the way even before her kids and husband are up.  She makes breakfast for her family, and not only that, but her kids actually like different kinds of foods because she did whatever it is that it takes to make her kids like foods.. haha.. obviously I don't know what that would be. Then they have devotions around the breakfast table.. or it doesn't even have to be that fancy.. maybe they just talk or pray together before the day is started. The point is... they're together.
 Her home is neat and clean, the bathrooms never smell like pee and never have trash all over the floors. You won't walk in those bathrooms and find dried toothpaste on the walls.  Not only that, but those bathrooms actually have soap and a clean towel in them for people to wash and dry their hands because, this mom I want to be, well, she stays on top of it and makes sure the soap doesn't end up all over the floor, or all squeezed into the sink.
The beds would be made at some point during the day, because she makes sure it happens.  Her kids don't have to get rid of most of their toys because SHE makes sure they clean them up.  She doesn't take the easy way out and just get rid of all of them.
She keeps her own bedroom clean. 
The children would be obedient and not run and scream through the house... because she simply doesn't allow it.  This mom is disciplined herself and cleans up after herself so her children have a good example.  This mom doesn't raise her voice and positively affirms her children and her husband everyday so they never doubt their worth and importance in the family.  This mom that I wish I was does not complain when she has to make lunch or dinner... she does not dread mealtime.. she feeds her children healthy and just enjoys the opportunity to sit with them, all together at the table.  Part of this is because she has disciplined them well enough that it's not a circus at the table.  Manners are used and the conversation is nice.
She doesn't rush to just get them in bed because she truly enjoys being with them.  She doesn't forget to bathe them.. and she brushes their hair.... everyday.
Each and every child feels that he or she is special to Mommy because she did at least one thing that day to make them feel that way.  She'd never forget to say "I love you" to any of her children at least once per day - ever.
Her husband would, at the very least, feel respected and admired.  The wife I want to be.. well, she's really cool too.  Every morning she'd be up with her husband with a pleasant attitude.  She tells him he looks handsome everyday, and he always gets a kiss as he leaves for work. This wife, you know, the one I wish I was... she sometimes slips little notes into his pockets telling him just how great she thinks he is.  He'd know with out a doubt that his wife is his number one admirer.. that no matter what he does, she just loves him anyway. He knows that his home is his refuge, his soft place to fall.  It's a place where he's a hero.  He'd know that he's appreciated for all he does.  Dinner would be hot and ready when he gets home, his laundry folded and put away.  When he gets home from work, she greets him with a great big hug!
Before bed, they'd gather together as a family and have Bible time.  Actually, Bible time is something that I do with the kids now (and Steven if he's home). Even if I am not where I want to be that part is wonderful.
I just want to enjoy life, not feel like everything is spiraling out of control.
Sigh....
Like I said, it's just one of those days....

Matthew's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Matthew's 3rd Birthday a little early this year because Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Bryan and Aunt Kayla were visiting. :)  I just can't believe my baby boy is 3.  The last three years have gone so fast!!!
To start his birthday party, we woke him up from his nap... he was so excited and not even a little bit cranky, haha.  He rushed downstairs to find his pile of presents wrapped in Cars paper. :) He kept saying, "can I open them?"  This is the first year he really understood what was going on.

Matthew with his presents

 It's fun buying "boy" toys! He got Cars jammies, a pizza planet little alien from Toy Story, Buzz Light year on his rocket, a little train that magnetically sticks to his Thomas train, and a medium sized pillow pet.  He also got a Cars 4 wheeler that he LOVES!! haha! Besides that, I think the pillow pet was his favorite.  He already has a big pillow pet and and a little tiny one so this medium one just completed the set.  Of all the presents he showed the most reaction to the pillow pet. :)  He squeezed it and gave it a big hug!

Matthew and pillow pet

This little thomas train car is cool.. it has a little alligator in it that opens and closes it's mouth when you push a button. we're working on his Thomas collection, but each little train is kind of expensive so he's really only getting them on special ocassions. :)

train car

 He also got the Buzz Lightyear that runs with a rocket from Toy Story 1.  It's funny because on the box it says "it goes up to 10 ft"  Well I thought that meant literally UP! lol.  Nope, it just goes across the floor up to 10 feet.  I probably wouldn't have bought it and saved myself the $20 if I would have known that the rocket doesn't actually shoot up in the air! Oh well.. it's still a pretty cool toy.

Buzzy Lightyear and rocket

 The highlight of the day!!!! Danielle covered Matthew's eyes while Daddy ran upstairs to get his new Cars 4 wheeler.  When he saw it he gave no reaction.  He just stared.  Then he said, "what is it?" haha, silly boy! He saw it online before and said, "I want to ride one of those!!!" so I knew he knew what it was! It didn't take long and he was driving all over the place.  At first he ran right into the wall!! He's good at it now though, he drives all over the house.

Cars 4 wheeler

 Cake time! It just felt weird putting a "3" in his cake... wow... just doesn't seem real! He's getting so big.  He was very excited and wanted everyone to sing to him.  At first he sang along, singing Happy Birthday to himself. :)

"3!"

Matthew is loved and surrounded by sisters!! Elise is not in the picture because she was sleeping, poor thing was not feeling well that day.  I love this picture with all their blue eyes!!

Matthew and big sisters!

 Everyone loves cake.  It's the same cake I've made every year for every birthday... yellow cake, chocolate frosting.  It's what everyone wants!

Mmmm!!

 Later that night Daddy and Uncle Bryan lit off fireworks and we also had a great show from surrounding neighbors.  Matthew brought blankets and all 3 pillow pets outside to "enjoy the show" with him!  He's hugging his new one.  This morning when I woke up, he climbed in bed with us and had all 3 pillow pets, his nynite and pacifier.  All his favorites.  It was a great day, everyone had a lot of fun!!

giving his puppy loves

Today we took him to his first movie, Cars 2.  He wasn't ready to see a movie we don't think.  Either that or the movie was just boring for him.  He squirmed and wiggled and asked to go potty and home... he was good overall, he just wasn't in to the movie at all.  Today is the 4th of July, I think it's cool when your birthday falls near a holiday.. for Matthew, I bet his parties will always include fireworks like for Alaina it's always halloween and dress up. 
I might blog later about the 4th. :)