Biscuits are Never Boring is giving away a needlepoint belt from Lilly Pulitzer!!!! Visit her blog quickly for your chance to win!!!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Lilly Needlepoint Belt Giveaway!!!!
Biscuits are Never Boring is giving away a needlepoint belt from Lilly Pulitzer!!!! Visit her blog quickly for your chance to win!!!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A Precious Time
I just had the opportunity to be alone with our oldest 4 children for a week. It was a very sweet time. We went to camp together, and our youngest stayed at home. (Thank you, Mimi and Daddy!!) Our sweet 2 year old and I are always together because she didn't go to preschool. Therefore, we are very close and she receives a LOt of my attention. DH was wonderful at reminding me to try to really focus on the big 4 and to give them my attention. It was a sweet week because it really does change things when your hands aren't tied changing diapers and running after a 2 year old.
As we drove, we could all buckle ourselves and hop out of the car and go to the bathroom and eat without a lot of assistance! We enjoyed sprites and Zaxby's chicken fingers and time together. At camp, we all slept in a cabin together for the first 2 nights before the big 2 girls became campers. We enjoyed writing and receiving mail, singing camp songs, playing in the lake, seeing old friends, making new friends, and going to classes. I taught Cooking and it was fun to see my own children come through as campers.
Most of all, we were surrounded by counselors and staff who love the Lord and loved on these girls. I saw our children gain confidence as they returned to camp knowing their way around and knowing what camp is all about.
As we left camp yesterday, I heard fun stories about their camp friends and we sang camp songs and laughed and ate Skittles and Rolos. It was a wonderful week with my FAB FOUR!! And a sweet Reunion with #5 and DH!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Penelope Peapod
Penelope Peapod is the CUTEST little gift idea!! You will love it for girls of all ages!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
No one can do it all!!
I have mentioned in previous posts that I believe we women have ramped things up for ourselves so much so that we just can't do it all. Instead of backyard birthday parties with homemade cake and no party favors, we have elaborate affairs with party planners, tent rentals, catered food, and expensive favors for a one year old who will never remember it! (though the pictures will be fabulous, I agree). My point is that our generation is trying to be Superwoman. But NO ONE can do it all. You simply cannot do it and you will literally die trying.
I was talking about this with a friend recently, and she made an excellent point. There are some women who have a lot of help in their home with housekeepers, someone who irons, landscaping services, babysitters, nannies, et cetera. Due to their help, these women are able to volunteer more hours at the school, look fantastic wherever they go, volunteer for charities, and spend hours at the gym. Others have all of their children in school and have 7-8 hours a day to themselves because they are not working. And I applaud you if you are one of these ladies. We need you to be the one who takes over the big event for local charities, who starts the Reading Rally at our schools, and who tutors the children who are behind in our public schools. We need you!! And one day, Lord willing, most of us will be more like you as our children grow up and leave the home.
But, if you have young children at home who are not in school, and you can't volunteer as much as you'd like to, you may feel like a failure. I know because I am there with you. You look around, and your house is never clean enough, and you wanted to make a casserole for a friend with a new baby, but it just didn't happen. You look at your clothes and you're in the same shirt you wore yesterday and it needs to be changed but you don't have time because you need to grab the baby and rush out the door to pick up your preschooler and to deliver your Teacher Appreciation gifts. You wanted to make something cute with fun gift wrap, but it didn't happen, and you beat yourself up the whole way out the door. You want to be Superwoman and do it all, but you can't. You look at the woman from above and feel like she can do it all and you can't. She CAN do a lot, but it's because she has help in some areas. And you with young children CAN do a lot because you do a lot every day. You wash clothes, and change sheets, and wipe noses, and make appointments, and cook meals, and put away clothes and take care of your babies. All of this is to say, that not one of us is Superwoman!! We are all human, and we all fall short. However, we are made in God's image, and we are to take great delight and joy in the season He has US in right now (not the season we wish we were in). Stop trying to be Superwoman, and just be Super YOU. Enjoy the phase you are in right now, because with all things, you will one day mourn its passing!
I was talking about this with a friend recently, and she made an excellent point. There are some women who have a lot of help in their home with housekeepers, someone who irons, landscaping services, babysitters, nannies, et cetera. Due to their help, these women are able to volunteer more hours at the school, look fantastic wherever they go, volunteer for charities, and spend hours at the gym. Others have all of their children in school and have 7-8 hours a day to themselves because they are not working. And I applaud you if you are one of these ladies. We need you to be the one who takes over the big event for local charities, who starts the Reading Rally at our schools, and who tutors the children who are behind in our public schools. We need you!! And one day, Lord willing, most of us will be more like you as our children grow up and leave the home.
But, if you have young children at home who are not in school, and you can't volunteer as much as you'd like to, you may feel like a failure. I know because I am there with you. You look around, and your house is never clean enough, and you wanted to make a casserole for a friend with a new baby, but it just didn't happen. You look at your clothes and you're in the same shirt you wore yesterday and it needs to be changed but you don't have time because you need to grab the baby and rush out the door to pick up your preschooler and to deliver your Teacher Appreciation gifts. You wanted to make something cute with fun gift wrap, but it didn't happen, and you beat yourself up the whole way out the door. You want to be Superwoman and do it all, but you can't. You look at the woman from above and feel like she can do it all and you can't. She CAN do a lot, but it's because she has help in some areas. And you with young children CAN do a lot because you do a lot every day. You wash clothes, and change sheets, and wipe noses, and make appointments, and cook meals, and put away clothes and take care of your babies. All of this is to say, that not one of us is Superwoman!! We are all human, and we all fall short. However, we are made in God's image, and we are to take great delight and joy in the season He has US in right now (not the season we wish we were in). Stop trying to be Superwoman, and just be Super YOU. Enjoy the phase you are in right now, because with all things, you will one day mourn its passing!
Blog friends...
I am not ignoring you this week. I am out of town with the children while DH works at home! I have very limited access to wireless, so I am not able to check my blog or others this week! I wrote my posts in advance, and hope I will have better wireless access next week!!
I miss reading your blogs, but I will catch up!
I miss reading your blogs, but I will catch up!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday's Tip: Merlin Electronic game
Do you remember MERLIN?? It was one of my FAVORITE games as a child, much like The Little Professor!
Merlin offers 6 different games and you can buy it on ebay.com if you click here. This game really does offer good skills and hours of fun! Buy it now for a stocking stuffer or Christmas gift! Shop early... you'll be so glad that you did!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Camp P!
Another blog mama said she is doing Mama Camp this summer. We call it "Camp P" at our house. When our children were smaller, I tried to keep them at home while I cleaned house, organized closets, and did "my things". Although many of "my things" benefit the whole family, I was ignoring our children to accomplish chores. It backfired. The house was torn up, and I was one angry mama. I vowed to not spend my summers working on my to-do list, but to do things with the children during "Camp P". It made all of the difference!!
There are still many days where everyone must play at home while I clean house & pack bags or run the vacuum. We do have to run errands together too. I just try to do something fun with the children as often as I can.
Here are some ideas:
-Visit a different local park each week. Bring bread to feed the ducks or bring a picnic and enjoy it. One park here even has fountains that the children can run through.
-Play post office one day and write letters or thank you notes. Little children can color. Then, go to the post office & mail the letters. You can discuss our postal system in the car!
-Visit the local library. Check to see if they have storytime. Select good books to read over the summer!
-Have your older children read and then do a book report.
-Pull out fun costumes and let the children create plays. Then, put your things down and actively watch the plays!
-Find things in the house that sound like an instrument and let everyone play in the band.
-Visit your local airport and watch the planes take off. RDU in Raleigh has a great observation area... in the air conditioning!
-Let your children run through the sprinkler--- NAKED.
-Let them jump in puddles & dance in the rain if it rains.
-Wash your cars and splash each other! (These activities can only happen if there are no water restrictions)
-Check your local movie theaters for free or $1 children's movies in the middle of the week! Take your own snacks and enjoy the cool air!
-Visit the pool!!! If you belong to a club, be thankful!
-Ride bikes together or take a walk.
-Choose recipes the children can cook and then shop for the items together and then let the children cook for you!
-Invite friends over for the children.
-Teach the children a new board game!
-Visit your local bakery or Krispy Kreme doughnuts and buy everyone a treat.
-Serve in a local ministry or homeless shelter.
-Have everyone choose 3 or 5 things to give away and then do it!
-Treat everyone to lunch at an old pharmacy with a counter.
-Ride the train (or even the bus) to somewhere close by! Have lunch & return!
-Fly a kite on a windy day.
-Take advantage of the things you never do in your geographical area. Hop in the car for a day trip!
-Visit the zoo or aquarium.
-Go downtown and pretend to be a tourist for the day.
-Sit on your back deck and drink that glass of wine you said you were going to have when you bought the house! Let the children play while you relax a minute!
-Start a summer garden and tend to it as a family!
-Have a lemonade stand! Donate the proceeds to a favorite charity or use the money for a fun treat.
We have quiet time in the summer almost every day. You can read a book or play a game quietly, but you must be in your room and QUIET. This allows baby sis to nap and gives Mama some down time too!
There are still many days where everyone must play at home while I clean house & pack bags or run the vacuum. We do have to run errands together too. I just try to do something fun with the children as often as I can.
Here are some ideas:
-Visit a different local park each week. Bring bread to feed the ducks or bring a picnic and enjoy it. One park here even has fountains that the children can run through.
-Play post office one day and write letters or thank you notes. Little children can color. Then, go to the post office & mail the letters. You can discuss our postal system in the car!
-Visit the local library. Check to see if they have storytime. Select good books to read over the summer!
-Have your older children read and then do a book report.
-Pull out fun costumes and let the children create plays. Then, put your things down and actively watch the plays!
-Find things in the house that sound like an instrument and let everyone play in the band.
-Visit your local airport and watch the planes take off. RDU in Raleigh has a great observation area... in the air conditioning!
-Let your children run through the sprinkler--- NAKED.
-Let them jump in puddles & dance in the rain if it rains.
-Wash your cars and splash each other! (These activities can only happen if there are no water restrictions)
-Check your local movie theaters for free or $1 children's movies in the middle of the week! Take your own snacks and enjoy the cool air!
-Visit the pool!!! If you belong to a club, be thankful!
-Ride bikes together or take a walk.
-Choose recipes the children can cook and then shop for the items together and then let the children cook for you!
-Invite friends over for the children.
-Teach the children a new board game!
-Visit your local bakery or Krispy Kreme doughnuts and buy everyone a treat.
-Serve in a local ministry or homeless shelter.
-Have everyone choose 3 or 5 things to give away and then do it!
-Treat everyone to lunch at an old pharmacy with a counter.
-Ride the train (or even the bus) to somewhere close by! Have lunch & return!
-Fly a kite on a windy day.
-Take advantage of the things you never do in your geographical area. Hop in the car for a day trip!
-Visit the zoo or aquarium.
-Go downtown and pretend to be a tourist for the day.
-Sit on your back deck and drink that glass of wine you said you were going to have when you bought the house! Let the children play while you relax a minute!
-Start a summer garden and tend to it as a family!
-Have a lemonade stand! Donate the proceeds to a favorite charity or use the money for a fun treat.
We have quiet time in the summer almost every day. You can read a book or play a game quietly, but you must be in your room and QUIET. This allows baby sis to nap and gives Mama some down time too!
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