Happy Homemaker Monday - 9/9/13

Happy Homemaker Monday - 9/9/13

In an effort to keep up with this blog regularly I decided to team up with Sandra at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Mondays.  I accidentally found her blog after doing a Google search for something having to do with stay-at-home moms.  I instantly became hooked on her blog.  She's so interesting and all of her entries are great.  I hope you don't mind me teaming up with you and the others who do this.  So here we go ...

The weather ...

Definitely feels like fall out there today.  It was freezing at the bus stop this morning and it's been a very cloudy day.  Somehow it's supposed to get hot again tomorrow.  This rapid change of weather is crazy!  No wonder everyone is getting colds lately.

Right now I am ...

Cooling down after an intense work out.  After I laid Brianna down for her nap I did some cardio and strength training.  She's napping, my son is in school and my hubby is at work so I'm enjoying some quiet time while I wait on the laundry to finish.  I also did a little cleaning around the house but there's more to be done.

Thinking ... 

Of what else I want to do to keep this blog interesting on a more regular basis.  Any ideas shoot them my way.  I'm also thinking of all the things I need to get done today and this week.

On my reading pile ...

My latest parenting and fitness magazines.  I wanted to try a few work outs in the fitness magazine.  As for books, nothing at the moment but I'd love to get to the library and start reading again.

On my TV ...

Nothing at the moment.  When the television is on during the day it's usually a kid show like Yo Gabba Gabba or Spongebob.  This evening I know Rob will be watching football.  Go Redskins!

On the menu for this week ...

Oh my.  What do I write?  I usually don't plan the meals out in the beginning of the week but I've been wanting to do this for a long time.  I usually decide on what I want to cook on that same day or the night before but I'd love to have everything prepared ahead of time.  I'll have to get back to this later once I have it all figured out. 

Monday - Polish kielbasa and pierogies
Tuesday -
Wednesday - I'd love to throw something in the crock pot.  Will decide later. 
Thursday -
Friday - homemade pizza (made by my hubby.  It's always good). 
Saturday -
Sunday - 

On my to do list ...

The usual laundry, vacuuming, dishes, etc.
Need to buy more white socks for Matthew
Finish the yard work

In the craft basket ...

I'm not a very crafty person and crafting isn't something I do regularly but I'd like to do more with the kids or even something on my own to help me unwind.  During our beach trip the kids collected some sea shells and I also put a pile of sand in a bag.  I would love to get a shadow box and have the sand and shells on the bottom with a picture of the kids at the beach in the background.  Yes, found the idea on Pinterest and it's such a cute idea.

Looking forward to this week ...

Matthew's baseball practices and a game on Saturday.
Shopping, even if it's just for socks.  I love doing anything that gets me out of the house.
Maybe a trip to the amusement park this weekend if hubby is okay with that.  

Looking around the house ...

And noticing a mess of toys that need to be picked up and organized.  The kids have definitely taken over the house with all their stuff but I've gotten used to it.  I keep reminding myself that there will come a time when they will both be adults on their own and this house will be empty.  I need to enjoy the chaos while I have it.

From the camera ...

Rob and Matthew had their first game of the season last Saturday.  It was against another league and I think all the kids did amazing (and so did my hubby the head coach).  I'm so proud of my husband, son and all the boys on the team.  They kicked butt!

On my prayer list ...

Asking God to help me to be a better daughter to Him, wife to my husband and mother to my kids.
My family and friends. 
My sister-in-law who is job searching

Bible verse/devotional ...

"The Lord is my light and my salvation.  Whom shall I fear?" -- Psalm 27:1

Fall Is (Almost) Here

16 days until fall is officially here but the autumn weather decided to arrive a little early.  It was very chilly this morning as we waited for the school bus and Matthew had a light jacket over his t-shirt but the day slowly got a little warmer with a welcoming breeze.  I love it.

I spent the morning trimming the plants and bushes and raking all the leaves into a garbage bag.  I also sprayed the weeds in the flower beds.  Then Brianna and I took a little break to play in the sandbox and slide.  She's really good at climbing up the slide. 

Then after lunch and putting her down for the daily nap I went back outside to finish the yard work.  It's a lot easier getting things done without a toddler constantly at my feet asking me to pick her up or play with her.  With this weather change has brought on runny noses and coughs from both my children.  I'm not sure if it's allergies or a cold but I feel bad for them.  Hopefully whatever is ailing them goes away quickly so we can enjoy this amazing weather. 

The New Routine

It's very quiet in my house right now.  Part of me loves the peacefulness and another part of me misses all the chaos that goes on when both kids are here playing.  Matthew will be getting off the bus in a few hours and Brianna will be awake from her nap by then so the chaos will happen soon enough so I better suck it up and enjoy my quiet time.  I have so many plans and things I want to accomplish every day during the few hours Brianna naps while the guys are in school and work.  House cleaning is a must and being able to do it without any distractions or having a little one making more messes makes it easier.  I'm also planning to reorganize almost every room in the house.  Yard work is a must as well!  I'd also love to put the finishing touches on Matthew's baby book and update Brianna's.  I also have started an exercise routine every day during this time as well.  And yes, blogging!  Maybe I can find more time to sit here and write.  It helps me to unwind and as I always say, it's a great outlet. 

Matthew loves school.  LOVES it!  This morning he was at the door by 8am begging me to take him to the bus stop.  The bus wasn't going to arrive for another 17 minutes so when I told him we had to wait he just whined and whined.  He rushes onto the bus with a smile and waves to me as it takes off.  He comes off the bus in the afternoon with the smile still on his face and a lot of stories to tell.  A lot of parents tell me their kids don't want to talk about the day they had in school so I'm soaking up the fact that my son does.  I know he pays attention too because he tells me things the teachers say about certain things.  He's a smart boy and I know he will do well.  Two days a week he goes to baseball practice.  Sometimes I pause and think ... school ... baseball ... when did my baby boy grow up?  It's bittersweet.

Brianna has been slowly adjusting to the new routine.  Today seems to be going better but for the first few days she was very grumpy and always asking when the bus was coming.  It was sweet this morning when he leaned down to kiss her before getting on the bus and she patted him on the head and said, "have good day Matthew, okay?"  That moment melted my heart.  I love my kids. 

Hello Kindergarten

Whew!  I've been rushing around all day and finally have time to sit.  Well, there still is so much to be done but I'm forcing myself to stop for a moment and take a breather.

I had very little sleep last night and have been walking around like a zombie today.  I still have enough energy to get by, with help from coffee, but I know at any moment I may crash.  I'm sure I'll sleep good tonight.

What kept me awake?  Possibly the thoughts, fears, as well as excitement of the fact that my son was going to get on the school bus for the very first time and start his first day of school.  It's been an incredibly difficult thing for me to fathom.  My son, my first-born, is now in elementary school.  He's been practically attached to my hip every day since he was born and now I have to send him off for eight hours.  Am I ready to let him have this independence?  Certainly not.  I worry about him.  Is he okay?  Is he having fun?  Is he crying at the moment?  Is he making friends?  Is he being bullied?  Is he scared?  Is he happy?  Oh the thoughts that have run through my mind all day.  However, I can't let it beat me down.  My kid is growing up just as it should be.  This is life.  I didn't bring children into the world so I could hold onto them forever.  I have to let them go at some point.  Yes, it's not as if they are adults leaving the nest ... yet ... but going off to school is almost as frightening.  My son is no longer a baby needing my attention every moment of the day.  He's growing and learning and as much as it makes me sad it also makes me happy.  A bittersweet experience for sure.

Once I took him to his two hour orientation yesterday my mind became at ease.  I saw how much the staff and teachers cared for the kids and how hard they tried to make the school a safe and comfortable place for everyone.  It also helped Matthew become excited for this new milestone.

I feared he wasn't going to want to get on the bus but he happily followed a neighbor friend onto the bus and found a seat next to another friend he had.  He smiled at me from the front seat and at that moment I knew he'd be okay.  I didn't cry as much as I thought I would but the emotions were there.  I took a moment and prayed, thanking God for giving me this child and for taking care of him.  I realized that God will always look after my kids even when I'm not around them.  I felt better knowing that.

In a few hours I'll be ready and waiting to get him off the bus and I can't wait to hear all about the first day.  I'm sure he'll be tired and may not want to say much but I just can't wait to give him a hug and see that he's safe.

The blue visor has his name on it.  The colored visors are a way of the staff knowing which teacher they go to after getting off the bus.  I like the idea.  

He's still my baby, always will be.  I look at him and see how grown up he's becoming but yet he still seems so small.  Too small to be in school.  I can't fully accept it but I am sure I will eventually.  It's time to let my baby bird spread his wings and fly.

Look Who's Two

Our little girl, the last baby, has turned two this week.  Such a bittersweet feeling watching children grow up, isn't it?  I love having a daughter and I thank God for her every day, and her brother too.  It's fun watching her explore and learn new things.  She has a sweet personality but she's also a tough girl too.  She's not afraid to make demands and if she doesn't get her way she'll throw a fit.  Typical toddler for sure and we'll work on that.  Her tantrums are few and far between though and that is great.  She's a happy little girl who loves to play, dance, run, climb and just about anything a two year old can do.  She's also very smart.  Already knows most of her A B C's and can count to 13 (missing a few numbers here and there).  She loves to sing and her favorite is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and she loves ... I mean LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba.  She's obsessed with the show.  They only show the episodes on the weekends but thanks to DVR we have a ton recorded.  So every day she asks to watch it and she would just sit and watch them all day if I'd let her.  No, I don't let her.

She also loves Disney Princesses but she also likes to play in the dirt and steal her brother's toys.  She already knows and uses her manners quite often saying, "please, thank you, no thank you," and "excuse me."  She also asks to "pway" before eating every meal.  Her big brother learned the "God is great, God is good ..." prayer in preschool and he recites it before dinner every night.  She has learned most of it and wants to say it before she eats.  Sometimes even in the middle of a meal she will say, "let's pway!"  She can't recognize her colors but she does say "yellow, geen (green), boo (blue), pinked (pink) and red."  She can say many words and speaks in sentences.  And everything is, "mine!" even if it's not.  Of course, I'm not bragging.  Jotting down her accomplishments is for my benefit.

I'll find out her height and weight at next week's doctor appointment but I know she is short for her age, just like her brother.  She can still fit into some size 18 months clothes, most 24 months and 2T clothes but still a lot of 2T sizes are too big.  She picks out her shirt every morning.  At this point she wants to try and do everything like putting on her clothes and things like that, but she's unsuccessful.  Of course, she will get there.  I'm just so happy to see her wanting to be independent. 

And she loves to smile just like this. 

My husband took off work for her birthday, as he does every year for all our birthdays.  We met with my parents and some friends at the amusement park we like to go to.  The weather was beautiful but the park was too crowded.  Brianna doesn't do well in crowds so after riding on a few rides she was starting to get cranky.  It was also lunch time and her usual nap time at the point we decided to leave.  I hated to skip out like that since we had friends there.  We ate lunch at Applebees and we considered going back to the park but as we passed we saw the parking lot was full and decided against the idea.  Too bad.  We'll definitely be there again before the season is over.  We stopped at my parents' house so she could open her gift from them there.  A Barbie Jeep and a Barbie and Ken dolls.  

Then we headed home so she could open all the gifts from us.  We spoiled her!  She loves her new play kitchen, which in my opinion, is something all little girls should have.  She also has pots and pans, plates, silverware and lots of food to go with it.  And of course, more gifts too.  

After presents we enjoyed a delicious cake.  And since our little girl loves Yo Gabba Gabba and wanted a special Yo Gabba Gabba cake my very creative husband made one for her.  

If you're familiar with the show you'll know exactly who this character is.  Rob did a fantastic job!

It was a good day for our little girl; however, while we celebrated her birth we learned that a good friend went Home to be with the Lord after battling cancer.  He was my father-in-law's best friend and someone my husband knew since he was a little boy.  He was a good man.  Very funny and always joking.  He was loved and he'll be missed. 

First Hair Cut

Yes, I did it!  With only one week to go before our little girl turns two my husband and I both decided it was time she gets her very first professional hair cut.  Her hair was growing in her face and covered her eyes and was very uneven in the back.  I tried doing it myself at home but she wouldn't sit still.  Plus I don't trust myself with a pair of scissors and someone else's hair. 

From the moment of deciding to get it done up until the time she sat down in the chair I was so nervous.  Brianna is usually very clingy to me when we're in unfamiliar places.  I was expecting her to grab onto me refusing to let go while crying and throwing a fit.  I can so happily say that didn't happen.  Whew!  She was a perfect angel.  She sat still the entire time and wasn't bothered by what was being done to her.  She even spoke to the hair dresser saying things like, "Mamoo (Matthew) going to school.  I wanna go school."  It was cute.  I was definitely proud.  I wanted to cry tears of joy but I kept it together pretty well. 

Fitness Blog No More

I made a hasty decision to shut down my fitness blog.  No, that doesn't mean I've given up on exercising.  Oh I love working out!  I just didn't see a need to have another blog which only focused on my work outs.  I wasn't updating much.  I don't even update this one often.  So I might as well combine the two on here.  Once a week ... once a month ... twice a month ... I'll talk about my fitness goals and achievements. 

The last few months I did a squat challenge.  It was good although I admit last month I grew lazy with it in the last few weeks.  I'm still doing squats.  I love squats!  In a few months (even with not being consistent with the daily challenge) there's already a difference in my butt.  This month I'm working on an ab challenge, while still doing my squats among other things.  If you're interested in joining in our curious to see what I'm doing here it is. 

Little one is napping and it's pouring outside.  Perfect time to get Day # 6 started!