{Once in a While}

Once in a while some magical things happen around here, just like a beautiful rainbow appears after a long rain. Some of my magical "once in a while" happenings are...

I start and finish my laundry on the same day. All baskets of clothes are folded and put away.

My counter top is clear of clutter for most of the day.

My children listen and obey and I don't have to raise my voice.

The very same children mentioned above don't fight with each other all day.

I have an idea for dinner before 4:00pm.

I actually put on makeup and do more with my hair than a pony tail.

I remember to do all the things on my "to-do" list.

I get a shower everyday.

My dishes are done before I go to bed at night.

My children have made their beds before they crawl back into them.

Our FHE nights are peaceful and calm and we all have smiles on our faces when it's done.

My house looks clean and picked up for longer than an hour.

Just to name a few...

Now I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea here. All of these things don't happen during the SAME once in a while. Usually it is only one at a time and the frequency is very spread out. But by golly they do happen once in a while. And when they do I savour them for as long as possible.

{Little Miss Sunshine}

What would I do without my Little Miss Sunshine? Today she was playing at the piano with her little princess doll dresses, just the dresses, and she was singing at the top of her lungs. She feels there is nothing wrong with compiling a few of her favorite songs to make a great new masterpiece. Such as the theme song from the Little Mermaid mixed with a few of her favorite primary songs. I wished I had a video recorder or at least a voice recorder to forever save her little voice. Like I said before she was playing with just the dresses, no dolls in them and was having the best time. Who needs the stinkin' dolls when dresses work just fine? Her little imagination truly is one of a kind. I love this little Miss to pieces.

{I'm BIG enough}

Wyatt has decided that he is BIG enough to eat at the bar!! He tries really hard to do all the things the bigger kids are doing. He tried climbing up onto Ayden's bike, riding Meysa's scooter and not to mention wanting to sit on the potty the other day. He also is planning a strike on his afternoon naps. But since I am the boss (or so I keep telling myself), I say that he still needs naps, and he only occasionally gets to sit at the bar to eat. I wish he could be potty trained but since he can't even say the word I think that one will have to wait.

Didn't he get the memo that he isn't allowed to grow up at all? Even if he did I don't think he would have paid much attention to it. This little man sure keeps our life interesting!!

{REALLY??}

This is what awaited me in my mailbox today.
And to think I was actually feeling good about being 31!! (I initially typed 30 but realized that in fact I am a year older)

I don't know if I should take advantage of this offer or not. Some days I do feel like my body is falling apart, I repeat myself over and over, my hearing is gone and I want to go to bed at 5pm. Does that make me a Senior Citizen? I just thought those were my really "good" mom days!!

{Summer in Winter}

One of my favorite things to do during the long winter is make something that helps me think of those all too short summers. For me making freezer jam is one of those things. I buy fresh picked berries during the summer and freeze them so that fresh flavor stays. I usually make it in small batches, I make it as I use it. We were almost out of "red" jam so the other day I decided to make some more with the girls. I made blackberry and raspberry, some of my favorites!!
The recipe is so simple...2 cups fruit puree (make as chunky as you like), 2 cups of sugar and 1 small box of jello (3oz). You bring the fruit and sugar to a boil, then add the jello and stir to dissolve. Remove from heat-you don't want to cook it for long after adding the jello just til it is dissolved, and put into freezer safe containers. Let it cool to room temperature and then put in freezer. So simple yet sooo good. It tastes like really fresh fruit but in the middle of winter!!

Having the girls help was well not really helpful, but they had a great time. They were pretending to have a megaphone with the funnel. Meysa kept announcing things like they do at school. Lauryn kept singing at the top of her lungs. I was kinda glad when I had to confiscate it to ladle the jam into my containers. I love their imaginations though. Some of the story lines they come up with are hilarious!!



So if you are longing for that summer fresh taste in the middle of winter, go ahead and try this. It is sure to please!!