Bad Blogger

I have not been a good blogger. I know this. I repeat it to myself each day. I would like to say that I just have not had anything to blog about because honestly I have. I could blog about Steve still having a job and how I am not so sure how I feel about it. I could blog about our fun July 4th BBQ. I could blog about how E and I had a day to ourselves last week. I could blog about how Facebook has reunited me with a friend from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades when I lived in New Jersey and another friend and fellow band geek from high school. I could blog about the amazing ending to Z's baseball season. I could blog about countless other little things but alas I have not. I could even blog about all the things that have prevented me from blogging - but there are not any. I get on the computer all ready to post something, but then I check my Google Reader (Thanks Angie!) and by the time I am all caught up on my favorite blogs I 1. have a headache from staring at my computer so long, 2. have three restless children asking me "Are you done yet?" for the bazillionth time, and 3. am in such awe by the wonderful story tellers I have read I feel a bit intimidated. And so now with my headache in full blown pound I am off to find my Advil and eye pillow. Maybe tomorrow...

Amazing!

I was emailed this video and had to share!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

I just love this picture! I pray you all have a safe and very happy holiday!


I am excited to introduce my newest project and blog, The Serendipitous Cook. I invite you all to check it out and please continue checking back!

Multi-Tasking

How do you clean your house and keep your children busy? TV? No. Bribes? Nu-uh. Nope, not threats, locks, naps or removing them from your house either. This is much MUCH better.

So I came across my new gem of wisdom not completely by accident. A dear friend actually planted the seeds and it has taken, oh about 18 months to germinate. The trick - get the kids envolved in the cleaning! Not Nobel Prize worthy but huge in my life!

Oh no I can hear your gasps! "What? No! That could never work? They do not really clean. My children would never help clean. They may help but then I have to go back over an do it again. "

Well that last one might have glimmers of truth.

Today we frantically cleaned our house preparing to have a few friends over for a BBQ for the Fourth of July. Sadly I have let my house go - a lot. It may have been in a different time-zone it is so far gone. Z knew we had a lot to do and he was so enthusiastic to help. He even made a list! *tear* He is mine! (For those of you not in the know, I am an avid lover of all things list. They are my happy place.) I would share a picture of it but it was tossed out before I could get a picture. His list was things like "Clean my room," "Clean the bathroom," "Dust," "Clean the backyard," etc. He did this all on his own! I imagine we were quite the picture, both sitting at the counter writting our lists for the day. Again, no picture. (bad blogger)

I tried to keep the girls occupied by cleaning their rooms, a.k.a. playing away from me so I can get some work done. Z flew through the house with the Swiffer, cleaned his room, cleaned up after the dog and was back for more! God, I thank you!

Well the girls figured they were missing out on something huge and were dying for a project. "Mommy what can I clean?" Have those words ever been uttered before? I think we made history.

So finally here is my favorite thing today that was the gem from my dear friend. I took a simple, small spray bottle half filled with water and about a cap full of vinegar. Truthfully I am not sure what the vinegar does but make things smell clean and more like what I was using which made my little E very happy. Then I took an old sock of her brother's, and slipped it on her little hand inside out and showed her how to spray her very special cleaning solution onto her very special cleaning mit and sent her off to clean my baseboards.

Quiet. Silence. No wait... I hearsomething. Is that humming? Oh my happy worker!

The results?

They are gorgeous! The cleanest they have been since I painted them a long *cough* time ago.

This picture does not do her handy work justice and in my defense, this is a 45 year old house with 45 year old baseboards and therefore 45 years of paint. Its character right?

She worked so diligently through the front room and made them just sparkle. She was so proud of herself and her sister was so jealous because all she got to do was wash out the bathroom sink. Maybe tomorrow my love.

The Fastest Week of the Year

Phew! We made it through in one piece, virtually unscathed and absolutely filled with joy. What is this amazing experience you may be asking? Vacation Bible School of course!!!!

snack time on the church lawn

This is by far our favorite week of the year - the kids and I. I love how excited my kids get about learning about Jesus. I love watching all of the kids sing and dance to the great songs, laugh and play during the skits and games, and really show their personalities in the crafts. This year we had about 270 children attending and they just about tore the roof off at times!

It always begins the same way. We put in months of prayer and prep and suddenly it is the Day 1! Things tend to fall apart a bit on Wednesday - kids are tired, I continually run late (What? No! Not me!) and then you blink and it's Friday! By Thursday Z and K were so upset that it was ending. Many tears were shed. Z thought since so much work is put into VBS it whould last like a month. Or all summer! (*shudder*)

Even though the days are early, fast paced, and at times exhausting, and we are all physically tired by the end of it, our hearts are filled in a way I do not find the rest of the year. This one crazy week fills me so much I feel like I could walk on air!

Z and his best buddy showing off their prayer bracelets

E and a new friend on the playground

K with two special friends