Recap

L.L.Bean Boot

Daryl and Corey at L.L. Bean with the Bean Park all lit up.

                           

"Go ahead, Girl..."

Another quotation that I found very insightful and helpful for my daily life and work. 
Just for the record, I have dreamed of that bigger kitchen and unfortunately Katrina sweeps through everyday. I had to laugh at myself when I read it.

Anyone can do it. Cleaning and tidying your house is the simplest, least expensive way to make your home gleam.  Anyone can do it.  (Why doesn’t HGTV have more shows about house keeping?)  It’s not the hardwood floors, expensive furnishings, or designer fabrics to make your home feel beautiful.  Go ahead, girl, dream about that big house with the chef’s kitchen.  If your current kitchen looks like Katrina, what on earth makes you think your chef’s kitchen won’t be a bigger version of the same catastrophe? More square footage and grand entryways won’t make it home-like.  It’s the housekeeper, people. I say, let’s stop fantasizing about what we want all the time, and start making life pleasant with what we have.  You would be surprised at how quickly your “need” for that additional square footage would diminish were you to begin to clean and care for the space you have. Whenever I start to feel down in the dumps about all the things I “don’t have,” the quickest cure is to hop up and start appreciating what I do have by caring for it.  Scrub down the bathroom, re-arrange some furniture, hang those pictures in the hall, put on some music and a kettle for tea, and you have made a home. 

- See more at: http://frugalfaye.com/2011/11/04/why-i-love-housekeeping/#sthash.rAC9VOwj.dpuf

Keeping House

The following is a quotation I read that has helped me shift my view and change my attitude toward what I do as homemaker, and mother.

See, keeping house involves a list of repeated activities that are completed predictably over, and over, and over.  You always hear people complain about the repeated picking up of toys, or endless mounds of laundry. But I think that’s the beauty of it. The cumulative years of those daily activities: cooking dinner, folding laundry, tidying up all matter.  In a frantic, unpredictable world, these monotonous chores and exercises  are comfort and stability.  Your family will remember these cyclic, domestic activities and whether or not you were cheerful or disgruntled about them.  You may as well be cheerful, because they are not going away.  As the keeper of my house, I hold the Power of the Mundane in my hands.  I have the power to shape my family’s sense of “this is how life is.” 

- See more at: http://frugalfaye.com/2011/11/04/why-i-love-housekeeping/#sthash.rAC9VOwj.dpuf

Happy Birthday, Daryl!

                    

Daryl is NINE years young!

Daryl is continuing with the piano and is progressing very well.  She started to play the fiddle and is enjoying a new instrument.  She LOVES sports and is currently playing basketball.  Art is also a favorite and she is developing yet another talent as she explores her creative and artistic side.  She is still "big sister" in the house and keeps her younger siblings in line.  She can make homemade waffles and has prepared breakfast for everyone on several occasions. She is such a beautiful young lady.  

We love her so much.

Builders

On Saturday, we took a trip to Lowes for the Build and Grow workshop.  The kids have wanted to do this for weeks.  We showed up 20 minutes early (the first on the scene).  The lady took one look at me with my FIVE children and asked, "Did you register?"  "No." I replied.  "Well, you have to register."  Lucky for us not all 50 registrants showed up which meant that after 10:15 a.m. we were the first in line to get a kit.  All of my kids were able to get a kit and build their race cars.  It was a fun activity and I am grateful that we were able to participate even though we did not register.  Note: I will be registering for future classes.

Gaining Perspective

Before there were twelve feet running around filling our world with more love and purpose, 

there was you and I filling our world with love and purpose.

*****

 There is Great Love and Purpose in You and I.

So...What have you been up to?

I have been trying to get a few home projects done.  Last week I was on fire... for three days.  Monday I painted the living room.  It needed a touch up in a few places where I had taped maps to the wall.  Yes, I am still taping things to the wall.  I really should move out of the college living mentality but seriously, it takes a while to graduate to sophisticated living.  Anyway, Tuesday I painted the fireplace.

Before

After

I still need to paint a second coat and paint the brick on the floor.

*****

Stake Conference occurs twice a year and it is held at the stake center in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.  We attended the Saturday and Sunday sessions there.  On Saturday evening, these two lovely Sister Missionaries were asked to share their testimonies about serving a mission after the announcement of the age lowering requirement.  When I served a mission, the age requirement was 19 for young men and 21 for young women.  Last October during General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson made the announcement that the age requirement would be lowered to 18 for young men and 19 for young women. Woo Hooo!

I was inspired listening to these two young ladies share their experiences and I was reminded of the fact that I have much to be happy about.  I have much to be thankful for.  I have been feeling blue as of late.  The weather change seems to have more of an effect on me now that we live further north.  I have been trying to work through it but it has been a challenge.  I am grateful for these ladies who have decided to give 18 months of their life to serve the people in the Halifax, Canada Mission.  They are doing a great work.  The Sister Missionary on the right shared that she has been wanting to go on a mission since she was a little girl.  Her story reminded me of Daryl, who talks about serving a mission too.

It snowed yesterday.  The kids were hysterical over it.  The got on their snow gear and went out to "play"  Spencer has been sick with a little cold and his asthma has flared up so he was enjoying the snow from inside.  Every few minutes he would scream,"Mom! Come quick!  You have to take a picture!  Look at HOW MUCH snow there is now!!!"  Here is two of the many pictures I was required to take.  Hooray for SNOW!

Breakfast in Bed and the Pumpkin Parade!

On friday, the kids made me breakfast in Bed.  Daryl made the waffle batter from scratch and Nic made the eggs.  The topping was original too... melted cake frosting... yum!

waffle recipe:

3 eggs

1 C milk

3/4 C butter (softened)

2 C flour

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

Sugar (we don't measure)

Cinnamon (we don't measure)

Salt (we don't measure)

 "It's Halloween!  It's Halloween!"

I am not into halloween as much as my kids are.  They have been begging me to decorate the house inside and out for HALLOWEEN.  Last night we were supposed to have a Halloween Family Home Evening which consisted of carving pumpkins.  Well, I don't do pumpkins.  It's messy... and somewhat gross.  Needless to say, we did not get to the pumpkin carving Monday night and I was not heartbroken but I did promise the kids that they could carve Tuesday.  And they did... without my assistance.  They used a garden trowel and a few pencils (pretty creative and effective).

(left to right: Daryl, Nic, Corey)

11:12 am

It is 11:12 am and snow flakes were spotted by the children.  School adjourned.

Lucas and the Black Eye

You cannot see but Lucas has a black eye.  He is the first of my kids to ever have a black eye.   He bonked heads with Spencer.  It happened while I was in Montreal. Darrel was in charge for the day so I still have a clean record.

Enjoying Fall

Enjoying the Moment...