Things I Can't Get of My Mind...

I wish my house would sell.

 We've been trying to sell our home for some time now. It's not a need. We have no timeline. It would just make our lives easier to move closer to where Scott works, the kids go to school and an added bonus...closer to my family.  We had an open house this weekend and had a fairly good turn out.  We also have another showing this week.  I'm just praying for an offer and anxious to have it sold before school starts. Sadly, it's only three more weeks.  I'm trying to believe it could happen if God sees fit.  

Shereadstruth.com's Study Packs

I love shereadstruth.com.  It's easy, keeps me accountable and has plenty of beautiful images to inspire me.  But I've been dying to get one of their study packs.  They are gorgeous and I know they'd be helpful to go along with their study online. But I haven't felt like I could justify it right now.  Maybe my honey will surprise me with one before the Hebrews study starts up.  hint! hint!  You should check them out and if anything follow along online.  Take a look at the bundles...it does save you some.  

Summer is almost over.

I can't help it.  I'm trying to stop thinking this way, but I just can't.  I've told a few people July just feels like a long Sunday evening.  You know that sinking feeling in your gut that the fun is over and the week is starting over?  That's the way I feel. I'm going to miss moments like this.  The late afternoon glow, sweaty/happy kids and lots of nothing to do. I HEART summer!

This to eat.

I'm pretty obsessed with this combo lately.  I've eaten too many times to count as my lunch or sometimes even a late night snack.  It's pretty simple and not too unhealthy. : )  Just the bread, cheese and oil maybe? haha! It's spinach, kale and tomatoes chopped up. Oil and vinaigrette poured over. Italian spices, garlic, shaved Parmesan and sprinkled with pepper.  Just dip bread or crackers in it.  SOOO good! Someone stop me!!!

This little girl turning FIVE.

What are my children trying to do to me? UGH!!!! It's the most fun thing to watch them grow and the most heartbreaking too.  It's not that I really want them to stop, but I guess I'd just like them to slow down a little.  I've spent the last month researching/ordering gifts, looking through the past years pictures of Evy and planning her birthday bash for this weekend.  I think sometimes I'm just as excited as them! It's Little Mermaid themed.....soo fun!

That's what's been on my brain lately. 

How about yours?

33 things about me at 33

1. I've lived in the same house for 6 years, but we are currently trying to sell it.  The process is driving me completely insane.  Anxious on the future and frustrated with keeping everything "show" ready.

2. My hands are full...and I love it.

3. I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  Sometimes I want to throw it all out the window and then there are times that I can't put it down.  That last part bothers me too.

4. I'm in love with this lipstick.  Seriously, I've searched years for a favorite...glosses, lipsticks, and never could find what I liked.  I'm weird about texture, smells and tastes when it comes to lipstick and makeup.  TRY this...

My favs are Fresh Papaya and Soft Raspberry!

5. This year, I resolved to read 10 books at least.  It's July and I've read 2. UGH!

6.  I feel pretty confident in who I am at this stage of life.  Don't get me wrong I question my parenting skills, worrying over petty stuff sometimes but for the most part I like who I am.

7. My most prized possessions beside my family is probably my camera.  Inside my camera bag is a Canon 5d Mark ii.

8. I love wearing my babies. Even when it's hot and sweaty. :)

9. The people I call the most is my sister and moma.  :)

10. Our church is doing a summer reading plan.  I'm really liking the accountability of our Pastor talking about it each week at church.  Over the last 6months or so I've also used ifequip.com and shereadstruth.com.  Check them out!

11. I have always had issues with clutter.  Messy rooms, piles of things that need to be put away.  But I will say that I think I'm starting to want things to be put in it's home.  I've even done a few projects lately where I've organized several drawers, closets and cabinets.  Could this be me turning a new leaf?!?! :)

12. It's probably wrong how much fun I have planning parties and picking out toys for my children. It could be considered a past time for me.

13. My favorite shows lately are 24 and Longmire

14. I am a stay at home mom and part time photographer.  My business is Thousand Hills Photography.

15. If I could have anything I wanted right now, it would be a spa weekend all alone.  I could use 48 hrs of peace and quiet.  Too much longer than that and I would miss all my noisy bunch.

16. Sadly, I don't wear heels like I used to.  I think it's mainly because of chasing children around. My shoe of choice lately is flip flops.

17. Over the past few years, I've been blessed to be involved with our church's MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) and this year I'm going to be leading.  It's already been insane and exciting.  I'm thankful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what He does with our group this year.

18. I really dislike bath time...especially because it's at night when I'm already tired. But I love bathing my babes in the sink.

19. The only pet we have is a bunny named Clover.

20. I drive a minivan and I never wanted to be one of those moms.  I wanted a lot of children, but I was going to be a cool mom with an suv.  :)  But I've never been happier.  We got it super cheap and it's been such a blessing to our family.  Lot's of happy memories in that blue tank!

21.  I still don't like chocolate.  I know, I'm weird.

22. Adventures are still my favorite...especially seeing them experience things the first time.

23. I'm still addicted to Dr. Pepper, cheese fries and sour punch straws.

24. The bed I sleep on at 33 is absolute PERFECTION.  We saved up a year or so ago to buy a temper pedic, but ended up buying a Sealy i-comfort!  It's memory foam and it's a king size.  AMAZING!!! Seriously, we are soo spoiled and have trouble sleeping anywhere else.

25. I have a sweet little baby that is breaking my heart by getting soo big.  I think it's extra hard because he's my last baby.

26. My favorite resturants right now are The Bistro (local Greek place),  Olive Garden and Zaxby's.

27.  One thing, I'd like to get better at is gardening like my parents(they are amazing).  I'm just going to try to keep the few I planted this year alive.

28. At 33, I've traveled many places (28 states, Canada, Italy, Russia, Germany, Dominic Republic,

29. Lately, my snack of choice is feta cheese and pita crackers.  Seriously, yum!

30.  My preferred pandora station is Josh Garrels and we listen to KLOVE on the radio. (unless I'm by myself in which I listen to country or the local college station).

31. My favorite scenery....this is why I want to move back here.

32.Things I would do if I had more time is paint, read and scrapbook.

33. I'm pretty much at a season where I want time to stand still.  Everything about life is lovely at this age.  There isn't longing for anything major because it's already here.  God has given me soo many desires of my heart.  Mainly for a husband and children.  Now I just want to it to stop going so fast.

500th

 I feel deflated. This is my 500th post and I just don't feel inspired for a grand post.  I want it to be special.  I mean I know that this little blog is just something for me and it's rarely read by 20 of my sweet friends.  But it's something to me.  It makes me think of that quote from You've Got Mail...

The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something,but i jut wanted to say that all of these nothings have meant more to me than so many somethings -Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

Because it is something special to me.  It's my little piece of earth...where I can come to and just release. I can vent, share creativity, sort through what my heart is feeling and leave a piece of me. 

So anyways, because this space is special to me and well, the 500th post of anything seems like something to celebrate... I will share some thank you's to this blog.

Living Life Creatively, 

Thank you for being here anytime of the day or night I can squeeze in some "me" time. I need somewhere to connect and boom...you are there.  It's 1 a.m. and everyone else is sleeping, I can log on here to share a little of me. 

When I look back through the posts over the past six years, I'm shocked about how many crucial "life" moments were hashed out right here.  My second (the real first post...the actual first one was just hello) post was right after we were engaged. We were just traveling, head over heals in love and sooo young. It totally takes me back to the feelings I had during that season. When I was anxious and struggling with longing for a baby. Through our foster/adoption process: our first night, when I wrote a letter to their birth mother on Mother's Day and processing it all right after our adoption was final. This place has been somewhere to showcase all the crafts and decor I've been trying out. When I looked back through the different pivotal moments in life  and how I handle change. From when we first bought our home and the post on how I've summarized the beautiful blessing that is our home. 

 I think the biggest thing it's done for me is capture and work through this season of mommyhood.  It's the hardest job I've ever had and I feel the weight of it's significance everyday. I want to do my best and also to remember all these "everyday" moments. I know they are going way too fast.

 So thank you, dear blog of mine. I'm pretty sure life would be messier, I'd loose perspective more often and I would forget how much fun it is to create if it wasn't for you.

You, are like an old friend. Every time I leave this space after emptying my heart, it does my soul good.

Another good thing to do after meeting such a milestone (especially around New Years) is to plan for the future. I found this list of what I want to do in 2014.  It helps me to have specifics to answer instead of one huge resolution. 

This Year...

A bad habit I'm going to break...

procrastinating laundry.

A new skill I'd like to learn...

sewing (the machine will not intimidate me any longer)

A person I hope to more like...

my Moma (specifically, more prepared and more giving)

A good deed I'm going to do...

this one was hard...I'm thinking of a few I'll have to come back to this.

A place I'd like to visit...

a beach, anywhere.

A book I'd like to read...

A Handmade Year, Jerusalem Greer

Seven, Jenn Hatmaker

Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis (I know...I can't believe I haven't read them yet either)

Hands Free Mama, Rachel Stafford

A letter I'm going to write...

2 things: bring Good Mail back with my besties and write more letters to my children

A new food I'd like to try:

nothing here?!?!?  maybe baking/cooking healthier

I'm going to do better at...

 starting less projects and completely everyone I start.

being a hands free mama...I don't want to overlook one moment of this.

 

be better at meal planning for my family.

memorize Scripture (thank you, Ann Voskamp for these cards & plan)

Thanks for sticking with me through this LONG post. 

Happy New Year and Happy 500th post!

Just a few tidbits about me...

I find great pleasure in playing What is that Word game simply because it tells me things like I'm a hero, legendary and how awesome I am when I complete a puzzle.

Lately, I seem to have developed a strong addiction to T.G.I.Friday's pretzels and beer cheese dip.

I have never had any desire to make my own laundry detergent, cleaning supplies or dishwasher tablets....call me lazy, but just not going to take the time to go by those random ingredients and then made the stuff.

Sometimes I play Spa with Evy just so she'll rub lotion on my feet, hands or arms.

I may or may not have came upstairs to get something the other day while the girls were watching tv (baby in the exersaucer) only find myself 15 min. later reading a book under the covers in my bed.  Hmm... if I did do that, I might have just struck Mommy Insanity Magic Potion.

Someone should give me an award for how amazingly I can pull off looking like I'm dressed for the day above the waist while dropping my kindergartner off to school  when all actuality...I'm still wearing my pajamas with a cardigan over them : )

I often find myself day dreaming of how I would have rewritten the season 3 finale to Downton Abbey.  Everyone would love me for it.

I couldn't fight the tears back in reading this post tonight...READ IT.  Let's pray for answers for these hard questions and for more opportunities like this one.

Since I've been sick, I've come to love my husband's side of the bed (the side closest to the bathroom).  I wonder if he'll switch with me for good.

anyways, that's randomly me.

Not us.

I absolutely love Saturday mornings.  It's just such a nice, wind down time for us.  A time to just be a family. No work (mostly, occasionally I will have a photo session). Big breakfasts and a little sleeping in.  Really, that's all this mama needs to feel more like herself.  I think that is what my kids need too.
This week we just weren't us. Everyone was in a funk.  Me included.  We weren't gelling. Liv is teething. Evy had belly issues. Leland was grumpy everyday after school. It was hard.  There were tears. Some yelling. Lots of disappointing moments.

But nothing a little Saturday morning couldn't fix. I feel like the mercies are extra new on Saturday mornings. Daddy's presence and a fresh day with not much to do. A big pile of scrambled eggs, hot blueberry muffins and a pj clad bunch all with smiles. I woke up feeling refreshed and happy to face the day.  I even had a few creative thoughts swirling through my head. That does not reflect how I felt most of this past week. Some weeks are just tough. No one has perfect days and especially perfect lives.  So take heart. Whatever you are facing, you most likely are not alone.  And most everything looks better on Saturday mornings. : )  Unless, whatever you are facing is happening on a Saturday morning.  Anyways, for us this is just what we needed.

My head is swirling with lots of thoughts. Here are some.

1. My house looks like this. 

2.  I'm going to try out this recipe.

3. This baby is trying to devastate me by turning one.

4. I'm going loco stressing over houses to buy and wondering if this one will ever actually sell. This one from bhg.com will do lovely thank you.

5. The Man took me to see this movie for Valentines Day.  It was just what I wanted no gifts, no fuss...just a casual night seeing a chick flick.

6. I'm kind of obsessing over this company and a necklace I want.

You can build your own! They have bags too. 

Randomnicity

Since, I fell asleep last night trying to form coherent sentences, I thought I'd just post a bunch of pictures.  Our life lately....

 Nana and two of her girls. 

We like to tease Papaw that Nana finally got two that are "her girls". 

This drives him nutty! : )

 

Liv is in love with all things "buttons"....especially, buttons she's not allowed to touch.

Remotes, phones, laptops, leap pads and remote control cars.

 Scott took Leland to laser tag for the first time.

He was pretty stoked.

 Then we met up at our FAV place with the kids... Chick-fil-a.

 This little girl may look innocent, 

 but she sure keeps me on my toes. 

Good thing she is cute!

I cannot keep enough fresh fruit in this house.

I feel like it's gone as soon as I get it. 

You could even say my efforts are fruitless.

bahahahah...ok.  

Sorry. 

 I'm kind of getting into having my girls match. I got them some recent little tunic shirts at Children's Place. These little deer shirts were clearance at Target. They just look soo adorable matching.  I'm sure one day they'll just love that I did this.

 Later, that night, Evy got tired of boring ol' baby dolls.  She needed something more lively.

Poor Liv. I guess she'll survive being the human baby doll.

 Some people who follow me on instagram might remember a few of these pictures.  There are those times that I just love a pic that was quickly snapped with my phone, that I have to go back to get a higher quality one with my real camera. Of course, only the subjects that are still make this possible. : )

 Remember me embarrassingly going through my problems with "the visitor".  Well, my sweet sis, Nina gave me a helpful solution.  Go to your local health foods store and pick up Raspberry Leaf tea. 

It helped a lot of my problems within the hour of drinking it.  It's not a long term solution, but I survived the worst of it with several cups. 

 Sadly, with editing photos and just playing on my computer, it's caused my kids are obsessed with technology. The older ones will say things like, I'm working on photos or I even heard Evy once say she was looking at houses. : )

Seems Liv has decided to join in the fun. 

Hope you guys are enjoying the sunshine....

It's a beautiful day!

Old memories and random happenings.

So most would be ashamed to admit this, but I've been reliving my teenage years by watching Dawson's Creek.  Oh my goodness....it's soo weird watching it now as an adult.  

It's still pretty addicting.

Makes me want to go on a date to applebees and the movies.

or take long summer drives with friends just to be driving.

or girls together watching a silly WB show while painting our toe nails.

Makes me want to be 17 again.

awww...those were the days.

So I had a freakin awesome date night the other night and as I was driving home from dropping our sitter off, I heard Edwin McCain's solitude - acoustic version.

It could be the fact that I was still high from a fabulous kid free date. Maybe it was having my windows down, listening to a late 90's song. Watching hours of Dawson's Creek over the past few weeks haven't helped.  But for a few minutes on that drive home...I almost felt 17 again.

Instead of being a 30's something stay at home mom.

I was young, care-free and had all my life ahead of me.

I was talking to Scott the other day, about how we used to sit and dream about our kids.  What they'd look like, how many we'd have and all that good stuff.  And BAM...here we are...THREE KIDS.  They are here and these are our kids. 

I pretty much LOVE my life.  Seriously, it's all I dreamed of and joys daily.

17 was good.

That time of life was fun, but it's over.

Life is now and we've been living it fully this summer.

I thought we'd have a real relaxing, laid back few months.

But here are very few moments where we've been home with nothing to do but be home.

 making forts out of blankets

 seeing how many meals i can get out of the garden goodies my Daddy dropped off

 and we've been doing a little of this

 catching up on some rest

 peace. blissful peace.

 We put her in the bumbo seat while we eat supper. 

(don't worry, we never walk away leaving her unattended)

She usually looks around at us and stares at our food.

But today the busy days must have caught up with her.

Sooo stinkin cute!

staring at this precious face makes 17 look seem kind of dim.

I'll just relive 17 while watching the Joey/Dawson/Pacey triangle and listening to Edwin McCain songs. 

: )