365 Photos: week 6

Six weeks into 2015 already! Here's my next 7 photos!

 

36. He's nap-time weaned but sometimes, he asks for some when I'm home from work. And often? I don't say no.

37. A lot of times when I go upstairs to go to turn in for the night I find her in my bed asleep, she'll scare the life out of me and then melt my heart.

38. He'd rather play in the bath with his sister than play in there alone. I'm sure that will change very soon.

39. |Cutest, and quite yummiest Valentines baby cupcake.

40. Unedited photo of his little eye. Those lashes. One day his wife will look into those eyes.

41. Everyday after work he cuddles me for a couple hours. Yes, HOURS! It's something Leah never did. And I cherish it so dearly.

42. Happy little sun-pup 

DIY: Bow & Arrow QUIVER!!

I have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Fanatic on my hands, aka Leah. She's obsessed. And by obsessed I mean claiming that she has ninja turtle brothers and a "father" named Master Splinter. I've started to call her "Leahnella". She doesn't like it. Oh well.

Anyways, she got a Rebel Nerf Bow and arrows for her birthday a couple months ago and it never came with a quiver to hold the arrows. So I thought I could probably, easily just make her one. Behold, Pinterest. I found this awesome tutorial on how to do it with an old Pringles can. Here's what I did!

Supplies:

• hot glue gun
• double sided tape (not crucial but I used it as an extra holding mechanism for all that ninja turtle fighting)
• iron
• old Pringles can
• wide ribbon
• measuring tape (not shown)
• can opener (not shown)
• 2 different types of fabric (if desired), enough to cover can

That's it! No sewing!

 

Okay, so first I took my measurements and cut what I needed of the fabrics. My next step was to fold over all the edges of the fabric and iron it down. Then I stick my double sided tape along the width of the Pringles can. Next, I took the can opener and "punched" a whole along the bottom and threaded the ribbon through. Then I started my gluing along the edges of the can!

Ta da!

Next up, I took my second piece of fabric and glued it on, leaving extra at the end to fold in and glue inside as well.

 Almost done!! Just measure the ribbon over your little one's body and glue the ends of the ribbon together! Toss in your arrows and your ready to shoot some targets!!

 Leah's got a hit on Shredder! haha! I could of made the length of the ribbon shorter for her but she insisted it was perfect and she liked it that long. As long as she's happy then I call it a job-well-done!

To know when your family is complete

How do you know? Do you just... know?

Do you just wait? Wait and see what God hands you? Wait until you're children are grown into teenagers and are finishing high school?

How do you know?

I've got 2 children. A boy and a girl...and a dog. The "Million Dollar Family" is mine. Life seems to just work. A child for each of us to be "in charge of". Two car seats in the back and breathing space. We don't need a minivan. We have just enough seats around the dining room table. When we go to a restaurant, most tables are made for four. We have a three bedroom house, perfect.

But are we done? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not.

My husband has recently asked me if he should go get "fixed". We've talked about it before James was born and he agreed that when it came time he would go. But I told him no. We are young, our children are young. What if?

Do we ever really know? I think some people, somehow, know. I don't know how, but after one child they seem to be done. At least for a few people I know this has been the case. And they were so sure that they already went to extreme measures to ensure that they were done.

Babies are beautiful little beings. Amazing and sweet and so very soft and then they are not babies anymore. They come with so many responsibilities and before they are even born your agenda is full. Your life is full and busy. But it goes by so quickly. They are on their own and independent far longer than they are in your arms or in your home.

It's the sad reality of raising human beings. You don't get to keep them.

I think it's easy enough to just say, for now, our family is complete. Our family is just right.

And really, I think that's all you can say, unless you take precautionary surgical measures to ensure there will be no more children.

It's a tough question. People ask me and I reply, "Probably. Maybe. I think so. ....I don't know." I am happy. So very happy and busy and euphoric with the two little beings I have. They are the only little people that are half of me at this point and unless another baby "happens". We are complete.

How do/did you know when your family is complete?

Fifth Disease

On Friday past, I noticed Leah's cheeks were kind of blotchy and red. Although it wasn't bothering her whatsoever, I wrote it off as an allergic reaction to something and gave her Children's Benadryl. By Sunday there was no improvement. Monday was a snow-day, so she stayed home. But on Tuesday we got a call from her school asking us to come pick her up because she was showing symptoms of Fifth Disease and her teacher is pregnant.




Once we were home I decided to do some Google-Diagnosing-Research and realized that she may very well actually have this Fifth Disease, so I made an appointment with our doctor.

Turns out? She's got Fifth Disease. Odd. Something I've never even heard of.

The rash can last up to 14 days and when the rash appears she's actually no longer contagious. So she can return to school. I've apologized profusely to her teacher and principal. I feel terrible about it.

The good news is: it's nothing serious and she will recover perfectly fine.

Anyways, that was an experience!

365 Photos; week 5

 

Another week, another 7 photos!

 

29. messy little girl buns

30. we had the biggest snow storm Sunday night, and the three of us went out to shovel

31. little brother watching big sister in the snow

32. big smiles from a pretty little girl

33. bible reading

34. we know some extremely kind people, Leah's friend's mom gave us a practically new snow suit for free. So, obviously she wore it in the house for 2 whole hours.

35. late night cuddles in mommy's bed



Verse of the week

Last week's verse was 1 John 3:18. We are going to kick this week off with Joshua 24:15 .

A few years ago my home was without The Lord. My life was without The Lord. Now it's hard to even think about living a life without God. But a few years ago when I found my way back to Christ and he accepted me fully and whole heartedly into his loving arms, I began to pray daily for my family. That The Lord would help me to raise my children in a way that would bring Him glory and in such a way that they would always truly love and know their Father in Heaven. I asked for prayer for my husband too, that he would come to know Christ. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. And I questioned and worried and cried and then I prayed some more. Those days of being a wife to a non-Christian were tough. We got into some heated debates. But God is so good. Are you familiar with Philippians 4:6?

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Mmm, yes. That. He answers prayers. I am proud and blessed and honored to say that my husband is now a Christian. He's not fully 100% there yet but he knows he is a Christian. He loves Jesus and thanks Him for all that we've got.

This doesn't stop me from praying for my family. I will continue to pray for as long as I have breath. (Psalm 116:2)

Dear Heavenly Father, You are a generous, loving and faithful God. We are all so blessed to be able to come to You with anything and everything, good or bad. Be with us this week and always as we find ways to serve you better and make you proud. I will serve you all the days of my life. Please help me instill the same love and appreciation for You in my children, those sweet, tender souls that You entrusted us with. Help me to help them love you to the fullest. Amen.   

14 Days of love: here we go!

Yesterday my husband found his first clue in  our truck along with a grab bag of chips. His second clue is hidden and ready to be found when he wakes up! This is actually a lot of fun. Each day I'll have him find his clue and depending on the location, if I can fit a little treat then I will. Today though, it's just his clue, waiting for him behind our TV. This clue will lead him to his next one tomorrow, which will be hiding under his pillow with a Twix chocolate bar. ;) I'm looking forward to working on the rest of the clues and trying to stump him. If you're not doing the 14 Days of Love Project you could always do just 7 days! There's still plenty of time for you to get your clues ready and spice up your typical valentines traditions! Also, I'm more than certain that it makes them feel super special! :)

Happy month of February everyone!!