Weekend Wanderings

So, I sit at the computer on Saturdays and that's time to "blog surf".

The kids are watching, "Go Diego, Go!" and I am perusing.  I thought I might just start sharing something I find each Saturday.  I don't usually have time to compose a post on the weekend, so this would be a way to share something with you from a random stranger (usually) that simultaneously shares with you something about me.



Today I happened across the Diary of DavesWife and it's adorable.  I read a few posts and then I saw in the sidebar where you can click through to a post that explains how she became DavesWife.  I thought it was the story of their romance but should have known better (the button you click actually says, "It's not what you think.")  So, that's all I am going to tell you .  You'll need to click through here to read it yourself.

It will make you smile.
It made me smile.
It made me cry.
It gave me chills.

Have a good weekend. . .

timemine

They have the new timemine calendar covers up for your viewing pleasure.  I LOVE a couple of them.  The only thing that makes my heart sad is when the cover I love the most is on the size I just can't use.  Oh well, go take and look and ask for yours for Mother's Day.

You would think I was getting a free calendar, but I am not.  I just LOVE the product.  Makes me sad to think about getting an iPad 'cause Honey wants me to start planning on that.  I love my paper!!

Hey now I mentioned another product! If I were Ellen I'd be rolling in it.  Ooops - did it again.  Better stop now!

Twisted Weather

We had tornadoes on Good Friday.  It seemed appropriate for the sky to go dark as people were sitting in church focusing on our Savior's death.  The sky went dark that night too, right?

We had a couple friends who were hit by the storm.  The odd thing about these storms (in my opinion) is that they hit major cities and airports (for heaven sake!); none of this remote area farmland scenarios.

Originally from Alabama, I have sat in the hallway with my head between  my knees many times and waited for a storm threat to pass.  Today my hometown was hit by tornadoes.  Just now I read on Facebook that 53 are known dead already.  The photos are terrible.  These storms hit real places and there are people I know and love who are in jeopardy.  Maybe that's what makes the places seem more real, eh?

Bits and Pieces

Life around here has been busy.  A different kind of busy, mind you.  My time on the Women's Council is done and so I am not running to meetings or planning events.  My time is now filled with sewing summer pajamas, doing puzzles, playing with the dollhouse, reading books, trying to find shoes that fit my weed of a three year old, etc.  You get my drift.  Here are a few other things I've been doing:

Eversave.com is one of those deal sites and a couple months ago they had this deal with PhotoBin.  Basically you mail them your printed photos and they will scan them all and send them back to you with the digitals on cd.  I jumped at this deal because I have a Creative Memories sort box filled with photos from Honey's summer in Thailand and years of living in China.  A quick reality check helped me come to grips with the truth that a traditional scrapbook would not EVER be done of these photos BUT a digital book is a real possibility. So, I received my supplies at the beginning of April and have received word that everything is on it's way back to me.  Happy Times!

It has become a daily routine to eat a "picpic" lunch and watch "Martha Speaks" on PBS.  These are the tables the kids use.  It's really pretty adorable.

Ever since Christian did the photos for Little's room, Little has been asking about when she can work on her computer with the apple on it.  (Steve Jobs would be so happy)  Last week Honey came home with a twinkle in his eye and here's what happened next. . .

 See this dress? I remember when Little wore it (she was almost five, mind you) and I thought it was so huge. It really was too big for her the first couple times Little wore it and then the seasons changed and she never got a second chance with it.  So, when I pulled it out of the 4T box and held it up to check it out, I was surprised by how small it seemed.  I was shocked that it fit my three year old (she is tall and she tells me so every day).  

This is just a picture of my baby taking a nap.  The changes in the weather have really done a number on her allergies and she has put herself to bed several times over the past couple weeks.  The other day I went in to get her up and decided I needed a tangible way to remember such a precious site.  

KB and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad hour

My little girl needs Jesus.  I just don't know how else to say it.  Her dirty little heart needs Him and without His intervention we are in for a ride I cannot get my mind around.

Today, during room time, I went upstairs to work on some things I could only do at my desk.  I heard banging around downstairs but just imagined my little one was being creative with her play.  I chose to think, "I just love her imagination."

Finally I could wait no longer and I headed downstairs.  There I found KB's mattress pushed off the box spring. She had written in marker all over the box spring.  Really.  When I walked in she started crying right away and then asked if she could eat one of her Easter eggs (filled with candy from the hunt she attended today).  The comedy and tragedy of that statement alone is too much.  She knew she had done wrong and cried when she saw me see her wrong. Her first impulse was to deal with that disappointment and stress by asking to eat.  Not. Good.

Moving along. . . there was anger, there was counting to ten, and there was discipline.  While I was holding my little fallen one I was talking to her about the need for repentance; she needed to be sorry.  She looked up at me and said, "Can I have my egg now?"

I looked her in the eyes and began my little sermonette about the fact of how awful it was that she didn't even care she had sinned.  I went into the fact that it was for her sin that Jesus died on the cross.  I was gearing up for a few sentences on her dirty heart being made clean when she said, "And Mom, they put a berry bush on his head.  Did you know they put a berry bush on His head? And they pushed it down (she started tearing up at this point) and they made boo-boos on Jesus' head.  It makes me so very sad."  With that she buried her head in my shoulder and just cried.

We sat there and just rocked and she cried for a bit.

It was sweet.  So special.  And, granted, a bit hilarious.

This Hallmark moment had an exclamation mark added to it when she looked up at me after several minutes of tears and said, "NOW can I eat my Easter egg?"

Fireflies and Picnics

The first graders put on a little musical two weeks ago.

Little was a firefly.  Probably the cutest firefly I have ever seen!

She sang every word, did every hand motion, and spoke her line right on cue when Sophie bumped her arm.

Honey was able to be there too.  It was fun to support Little as a family.  She looked for us as she walked in and when she saw us she just waved and waved.  Every time there is a change in her behavior I feel like I suck in a huge breath and let it out with a smile.  This was one of those times.

Our Weekend

Little's teacher and I have this plan for communication: there is a notebook and we write in it each day.  I tell her what Little did at home (so she can help prompt Little for writing assignments and more) and she tells me what Little does during the day so I can ask the right questions and have some clue about the daily activities.  It's a good system.  I am thankful for Ms. Phelan's care for us.

Monday I sent a note that said, "We had a very quiet weekend."  I am not sure what drug I was slipped that made me say THAT! Now that I see these pictures in this post I realize we had a full and crazy weekend.

Honey got back late Thursday night and met the kids Friday morning with goodies from the conference in Chicago.  (It was mismatch day at Little's school - it's not that she just took fashion lessons from her little sister!)

He brought each one of them a book by RC Sproul.  

RC has written four children's books and Honey picked one for each child.

KB's is about little fairy creatures called "Lightlings".  She clasped her hands and squealed when she saw it.

Saturday there was a high of 40 degrees and . . . we had a yard sale.  That's right! I joined my friends Rebecca and Julie at 6:00AM Saturday morning to set up for a 7:00AM start.  

It was drizzling and cold but we had a steady stream of people (there were probably no other yard sales in town) and each of us made plenty of money.  At noon we boxed up the little that was left and headed to Good will.  God was good (and helpful) and my basement looks amazing (a.k.a. empty)!!

I had just enough time to get home and suck down some lunch before jumping back into the van and taking the girls for haircuts.  Our Kristy was off and so Anna cut their hair.  Anna enjoyed the opportunity to play with their hair and put curls in their tresses.

Little was ecstatic.  If she knew the words I feel certain she would have danced around the salon singing, "I feel pretty."  Alas, she doesn't know the words. . .

We got home in time to set the table for friends to come for dinner.  No pictures of that part of the day but let's just say that the Luthin boys met their match in the Blue Hutch kids.  KB matched them decibel for decibel in screaming and Bubba matched them bit for bit in silliness.  The adults laughed A LOT.  A good time was had by all.  I am just so thankful we were able to have them in our home before Billy deploys next week. We look forward to more times together in the future.

Then there was Sunday.  We had to be at church at 7:30AM so the kiddos could get into their robes and grab their palm branches for the early service.

Bubba sang every word, did every motion, and was actually loud enough that we could hear him on the sixth row! We were proud/thankful parents, I tell you.

And then there was Little:

Little also sang every word.  The main difference was that she got distracted by a hang nail during the second sentence and she sang every word, from that point on, into her sleeve as she picked at her finger.  We were still proud/thankful parents.

That night there was a pot luck dinner and special service.  We had dinner with our church family but then headed home.  Little has proven she can make it through an entire service but we aren't quite sure what to do with Bubs.  He does everything out loud and it doesn't seem that he can really help it.  He reads out loud, talks as he writes, etc.   This is tough in a church environment.  I can't help but wonder how this will play out. .

So, aren't you tired just hearing about the weekend? Reliving it has pushed me over the edge of exhaustion and I am off to bed.  Tomorrow is another day - more craziness - more stories to tell.  Stay tuned!

Phone Talker

Last week, while Honey was out of town, this happened:

He called to speak to the children and Little took the phone, plopped down on the couch and threw that right leg right over her left.  She proceeded to chat with her father like a 13 year old.  What in the World? 

Nothing remarkable - just hilarious and adorable.

Thanks for reading!

Come and Get It. . .

"neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dark of night shall keep us from our yardsale!!!!


Today is the day! 


3 Families sharing one driveway for a super sale!! Rain or Shine! 
April 16, 2011 from 7AM-12PM 
15082 Country Ridge Dr, 63017 

Our Kids Perform For You

I could tell you about what happened in our den this weekend but it wouldn't really do justice to how adorable the kids are.

Easter Wreath - now with links

Some of you asked about the wreath and so I thought I would include a few links that have tutorials and different variations.  Each of the tutorials use a glue gun but I used small pins.  (I have an aversion to hot glue.)

delicateCONSTRUCTION

Tatertots and Jello

Inkspot Workshop

Have fun!

(and Susie, why does your profile say Gracie?)

This week's randoms. . .

1.  You know how the people of Walmart put things in the aisle to grab your attention and "remind" you of just how much you need something? Well, our Walmart has sunk to a new low.  In the aisle by the registers there is a stand filled with bananas.  Seriously.  Down by the clothing.  Worst part? I impulse bought bananas.  Actually, I "remembered" that Little loves bananas and so I picked some up.  Call me a sucker.

2.  They had a special themed day at Little's school for the Cardinal's opening day last week; everyone was to wear a jersey representing their favorite team.  I figured that there would be something in the Cardinals section of our local Walmart and that Little would be able to participate without too much of an expense.  There was only one size 7 shirt in the whole place.  It was about $10 more than I would have wanted to pay.  But I knew she would be adorable.

AND it had Pujols' name on the back and, as Little says, "he has a child with a special brain like mine."

Just call me a sucker.

3.  I've been wanting one of those 9 cubby shelf things for ages.  I just can't bring myself to spend the money. Week before last an email went out that a woman had one to give away and I was the first to respond!! It is the perfect color of green for Little's room and she loves it.  Now the bookshelf she had can go to Bubba and everyone has enough storage/shelves.  God is so good.

4.  There's a baby shower for a friend of mine in a couple weeks and the hostess asked me for ideas.  I had seen this baby shower online and the theme was, "She's about to pop!" Turns out it isn't that new, I have just been off the new baby circuit for awhile.  Still, I thought it was adorable and Kitty and I wrote back and forth about all the cute things one can do with that theme.  It made me wish another friend would find out she is expecting so I could throw another shower.  I even looked on Etsy to see what cute POPcorn things were there.  You can buy recycled crayon popcorn! Seriously! It is so cute and looks so real! Go look! I want to buy some just because it's adorable.

5.  I've spent more time on Facebook in the past two weeks than ever before.  I am learning that it's quickly becoming the most efficient way to communicate with folks.  Funny thing is that Facebook is all about self esteem.  I have decided that self esteem is what motivated it's creation and it's what makes it successful.  You write something on your wall or post a link to something interesting and people write you.  Not just people in your immediate sphere either.  I wrote something to my brother the other day and a girl I went to college with and haven't seen in . . .let's just say many. . . years wrote me about it as did a guy from Berry College where I worked with a campus ministry after college.  Two completely different "spheres" of my life and they took time to talk to me and . . . my self esteem received a boost.  It is addictive.

6.  I had a bobby pin holding my bangs back the other day and I leaned over and stuck one in KB's hair too. She pulled it right out.  I said, "You don't want your bangs out of your eyes? Mommy has a bobby pin in." My 14-year-old-trapped-in-a-three-year-old-body looked up at me and said, "Yeah, but Mommy it looks bad." This from a girl who played outside two days ago dressed like this:

(Check out the babies on the shelf!)

And then the next day like this:

(I know it looks like my three year old is watching Glee but she isn't.)

7.  KB is officially out of pull-ups!! Yes, even through the night!! That means we are left just buying pullups for one kid.  Sure it's our oldest, but it's only one.  I feel that the potty training process at the Blue Hutch has been a lot like sanctification.  Yes, it has been sanctifying but I am referring to the sanctification process - - small changes take a long time and sometimes it seems like nothing is moving BUT when there is a victory, it is HUGE and affects SO MANY AREAS OF LIFE.  Now there's a metaphor no one was expecting!

8.  A sitter came today and fed the kids and bathed the kids and put them to bed while I went and sat in McDonalds for two hours and thought and journaled.  Seriously.   Then I went to Walmart to shop for my nieces (who live in the country where most of the stuff was made) and successfully avoided the strategically placed bananas but forgot milk.  I drove through the pharmacy and headed home with a smile on my face.  I almost hugged Marlice when I walked through the door.  I know I paid her so it may not feel like a ministry but she ministered to me by caring for my kids today.  I forget what it's like to think.  I am pro thinking.  I likes it.

If you are in the area, come on by!!!

A LOT of Kids' Clothing and toys! 

Lil' Tike items 

Baby gear (bouncy seat, Medela double pump) 

Tricycle 

Retired Thomas the Tank Engines Trains 

Madam Alexander Baby Doll 

Precious Moments International Dolls 

Rocking Chair

cedar chest

ottoman

Mirrors

Shelves

Lamps

Ice Skates - Rydel, size 4 

Ice Skating Dress and accessories 

Christmas

Sleds 

Vacuum

Crafts

 Sports

Keyboard 

AND MORE. . . 

Honey, Come Home

My mom was here last week.  It's been so long since I wrote anything on here (the blog) there is no way anyone would really know about her visit.  She was here four days.  We got a good bit done.  We didn't rush around.  It was a super time.

One conversation we had concerned Honey and the promise I had him make.  I asked him to promise me that, if I died while the kids are young, he would still teach them to make their beds in the morning.  I told mom this and then went into a dramatic monologue about how awful it is to walk into a bedroom with an unmade bed and I don't know HOW anyone can stand it, yah-da, yah-da, yah.

In response my mom (the woman who taught me to make my bed as soon as I got out of it) told me that the last time my dad was out of town SHE DIDN'T MAKE HER BED!!!  "HOW did you stand it?" I responded.  Drama.

Honey has been out of town this week and I practiced and discovered just how one stands an unmade bed.

(Isn't it sad all half made like that?)

The best way to handle/deal with an unmade bed is to not go into the room all day!

Denial. It's been working for me!

I can't deny I miss my mate.

Come home, Honey.  I can only deny for so long the "unmade" things your absence brings.

The Diaper Dump

This past Sunday our small group had a little thingy for two new moms in the group.  It wasn't big enough to call a shower and Coralie's friends had already used the term "sprinkle", sooo we went with Diaper Dump.

I was in charge of cupcakes, although I just realized it would have been cute to make dump cake. . .

The little Es are for Ely:

The little Cs are for Cowan: 

Sweet friends.  So fun to show them the love.

That's what's been goin' on.

Just Another Day of Play

Ipod?  Check

Markers? Check

Huge empty box for a canvas? Check

Princess dress? Check

Yardsale Pre-Sale

I have this Pottery Barn basket and the liner.  It is beautiful.  It was a gift from dear friends when Little was born and it has sat dormant for 7 years.  It has held stuffed animals and various other toys but those toys were never really touched.  So, it's in "Like New" condition (if you want to talk Ebayese) and I think someone should enjoy this gem.  I would love to get $25 for it but I'll negotiate (like any good yard saler would).  Anyone in our area just contact us if you are interested.

Boys and Pants

In the past week and three days my son has put a hole in every pair of pants he owns except for one - the ones that are a bit too long.  Funny that he hasn't tripped and fallen in the ones that are a bit too long, BUT he can't seem to stay upright in the ones that fit right.

The thing is, while it was 89 degrees on Sunday, it was 56 yesterday and the high today is supposed to be 61; far from shorts weather.  The boy still needs long pants and his are all holed up.

Yesterday I was asking a friend who has older boys about what to do.  If it had been one of the girls, I figure I could do something cute with it but I wasn't sure what patch/repair protocol was for boys.  She didn't really have an answer, but she did tell me that Sears sells jeans with reinforced knees. Good. To. Know.

I was raised in a home where "we hate Sear's guts" (my grandad worked for a company that considered Sears their biggest competition), but now that I know they sell these (and they are presently on sale), I might have to cut Sears some slack.  Sorry, Grandpa.

Oh, and if you are wondering about patches and repairs for boys pants,  I also saw that they sell these  for $40/pair.  Basically, a few minutes of sewing and my son will look like I spent a fortune.  In actuality, his knees were what paid the price!

Final Touch for Little

So, we still have a few prints to hang in Little's room.  There's this that I ordered from Kiki.  I have it matted in an orange and white polka dot matte that I made to match this:

Then, tonight I put together this treasure:

I've wanted to have this verse in her room for so very long.  haven't decided if I think this is too busy (of course the website will come off!).  You can chime in with your opinions if you like.

First Day at Zoo 2011

Again - - it would seem there are only so many things one can say about the zoo in their hometown, but thankfully the children change so much that each trip has it's own special memories.  Over spring break we had three days of warm and beautiful weather and so one of them was spent at the zoo.

I say a day was spent at the zoo but our kids can really only make it for 2 hours; we have never stayed longer I don't think.

We arrived at the beginning of free hour.  Admission to our zoo is always free but during the first hour they are open kids can ride the carousel for free and enter the petting zoo for free.  We normally go straight for the petting zoo but not this time.  Living on the edge, we made our way to the carousel for our first ride there ever.  It was just like other carousels.  Seriously.  What made it special? The kids all got to sit beside each other.  I got a good photo.  KB was so very into it.  3 is a fun age, I think.

We actually decided to skip the children's zoo and go straight to "The River's Edge".  There has been word of a baby rhino and we thought we would attempt to see it.  No such luck but one of the parents was out pacing - must have been the daddy.

The "baby" elephant (born a couple years ago) is now officially a teenager in my book.  You can still tell which one it is because of the smaller size but WOW is that guy growing.

The hippos are a favorite since they are in a pool and you can watch them swim like fish at an aquarium.  This visit was a disappointment in regard to the hippos.  Everything was roped off and the plastic covering the windows was sagging just enough that we could see two of the glass panes had shattered.  Yikes.  We asked and apparently they broke during one of our recent freezes.  Nice.  The kids didn't seem to mind.  They noticed this canoe for the first time and decided to go traveling.

It's funny what you notice when the animals aren't out.  Like this little nest of eggs.  Can you see KB's hands clasped with joy - she thought they were real and was overjoyed.  So cute.

You know you take a lot of family photos when your kids are as into pictures as mine are.  Man.  They each kept asking if they could take a picture - nyah, nyah, nyah.  Finally I gave in and let each one of them take one photo.

This is a Little eye view of  her parents:

KB's view of Little:

I think Bubba's got deleted.  Sorry, Bubba.

It was a nice morning.  Everyone could walk on their own - no strollers.

The only down side to them walking was that we heard complaining sooner.  "I wanna go home."  "I wanna sit down."  " I want water."  That lasted about 2 minutes and we headed to the car.  I wasn't going to let "bad talk" ruin such a nice morning.  Seriously! Look at these adorable faces.  That's what you'd want to remember from this day.

From the zoo we went to cash in on a Living Social deal I had just gotten two days before.  A Pharmacy in a nice little area of the city also has a "soda fountain".  We went to check it out.  My plan was to get something small, eat quick, and head out.  The Lord had other plans.

There were about 15 stools at the counter and that was all the seating.  When we arrived that wasn't a big deal because hardly anyone was there, but with ten minutes the place was overrun with hungry folks.  Best thing was that KB stole the heart of one lady working their.  As it got busy, KB asked, "Do you need help?"  The lady, Isabel, loved that and had KB come behind the counter and help scoop our chips.  KB even got to deliver a meal to one girl.

It was a great lunch! Super atmosphere - yummy food - delightful and fast service.  If you get a chance, go to Jennifer's in Clayton, local folks!