Thinking back

This week has been a busy week. We had our normal "stuff" (which usually keeps us busy enough), but also had two birthday parties this weekend. And I spent the week thinking ahead to Violet's birthday coming up. It seems like Violet just came into our family, and yet I can hardly remember when there were just 4 of us. So I slowed myself down this morning and took some time to look back into our photo albums and decided to post 3 pictures from this week (the last week of October) in 2005. Above is Audrey and Isaac out in the yard and (below) trick-or-treating. Also a picture of me, a couple days before Violet came!

Green Idea of the week

Sorry for my lack of green ideas last week...so I'll put 2 today. Let's talk appliances...how and when are important questions to ask when you run a dishwasher, clothing washer/dryer or even fridge. HOW...your appliances should always be full when you run them (dishes or clothing). And if you've got an "extra" fridge or freezer in the garage, if it's not full, it's time to downsize or unplug! WHEN...energy can cost more to use at peak times of day. So run all major appliances between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. when possible! Live green and save some green!

Good family fun

Just some fun pictures to post this week. Violet really loves pretending these days...pretending to feed or push her dollies in their stroller, pretending to be a doctor to her babies, etc. Isaac helps "check out" the dollies.Isaac found a couple caterpillars in the yard this past week.So Audrey and Isaac built the caterpillars a home.

A Better Week!

For those of you who see me (Jamie) often, you know that I can definitely get frazzled by my life. And the last two weeks have been hard...I've felt frustrated and exhausted; I just can't seem to get anything right. Violet continually screams at me that she's hungry, or tired, or upset that she can't reach a toy. And the fact that she doesn't speak hardly at all just frustrates the both of us. Isaac is just, well, Isaac. He is always energetic, but with his short temper I feel like I'm in a constant battle to teach him to "calm down" when he throws fits about not being able to get his shoes on quick enough, not finding the right shirt to wear, not walking fast enough or slow enough on the way to school, etc, etc. And Audrey, although she gets a 6 hour break from us while at school, can think of nothing better to do than start an argument with me or Isaac upon waking up or getting out of her classroom. Aaaaarg! This is not to say that I don't love my kids immensely! Nor would I trade being a stay-at-home mom EVER! But some days the smallest problems seem huge. So last Wednesday, as I'm on my way out to the hospital with Isaac and Violet for a lunch potluck with Randy's co-workers (a welcome break in my day), the song "Mountain of God" by Third Day comes on the radio. I turned the volume up so loud that I could no longer hear Isaac's constant chatter to himself in the back seat and just focused on the words...(if you want to listen to the song, click HERE)

Thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

And I didn't even know
That I had lost my way
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me

'Til You opened up my eyes
I never knew
That I couldn't ever make it
Without You

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have led me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me

I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

WOW! What am I complaining about? I know a God that loves me even more than I love my kids, or my husband! And I follow a God that wants to walk with me every day of my life! Why don't I call out to Him sooner? Why do I let myself wallow in my own self pity? All this to say...this has been a much better week. Since last Wednesday I have slowed myself down, played more with the kids, and tried my best to just talk to God throughout my day. Here are some of the pictures from the last week...snapshots of things that have brightened my day!
Violet at the pumpkin patch last Thursday.Isaac falling asleep for a nap on Friday...practically a miracle.Audrey at her first day of soccer practice last Saturday.Isaac kickin' a goal.Violet and I practicing on the sidelines.Violet and Daddy.

Green Idea of the Week

When was the last time you replaced the intake filters for your AC/heater vents? It's super-easy to do and helps your AC/heater run more effectively, cutting costs on your electric bill. And if you'd like to go one more "green" step further, buy re-usable filters (found at any Home Depot/Lowe's). Then all you need to do is pop them out, hose them down, let 'em dry a little while outside and pop 'em back in!

This week's happenings

A couple of fun things to report this week. Audrey got out her little sewing machine that she got for her birthday from the Lee family and sewed her first project...a small blanket for Carly Bergen. Audrey was very excited to give the blanket to Carly when she was all done! I'll post a picture of the finished project another time. Another fun thing we did this week was go to the Robinson Elementary Carnival. It was a really fun time, with good games, great food (seriously, there were tortas), a big inflatable slide and obstacle course (that Isaac LOVED), and a good time to visit with other families from Robinson. Here's Audrey with her "tattoo" on her cheek. Isaac got one too (on his arm), but he scratched at it so much it came off before I could get a picture. And lastly, Violet swallowed a dime this week. Yup, a dime. I was making the kids' sandwiches for lunch when Isaac yells from the living room, "Mom, Violet's choking on a coin!" I ran into the living room, and sure enough, she's laying on her back, gagging, with her eyes tearing up at the same time. I immediately grab her and sit her up and she swallowed it and started breathing normal again. I didn't have to do anything, luckily (although I am current on my CPR/First Aid). I immediately panicked, firing questions at Isaac about what type of coin was it, where in the world did she find a coin, etc. Violet's crying from being scared (I guess), and we rush to get our shoes on while I grab the phone to call Randy. Isaac starts crying too, "Is Violet going to the hospital?". I told him I didn't know; my heart is racing; I'm holding Violet while trying to get my shoes on. Well, after 3 different doctors told me the same thing "As long as she's breathing normal, and you think it was only a dime (which is the coin Isaac pointed to when showed the four different options), she should be fine and pass it within 24 hours". And that's what happened...the next morning. However, unlike the 13 Polly Pocket shoes found in Isaac's diaper some 3 years ago, the dime was thrown out with the rest of the diaper. So, as a result of that (somewhat), I cut some bangs for Violet. She never keeps her hair clips in...always pulling them out and sticking them in her mouth. So as a precautionary measure to having to rush Violet to the ER with a hair clip stuck in her esophagus, I conceded to cutting bangs. I must say, she does look awful cute though.

Hand-Me-Downs

This week Violet handed down her walker/riding toy to her "cousin" Charlotte. Since Charlotte is now pulling up to a stand, we wanted her to have a way to cruise around and practice her walking...Charlotte loves it! I would say that Violet is getting too "big" for it, but since Charlotte weighs only a couple ounces less than Violet, we'll have to say that Charlotte will get more use out of it.
In other news, I am currently attempting to get Charlotte's "growl" on record (either video or photo). Allow me to explain, every time Randy sees Charlotte, all he has to say is, "Where's my growl?" and Charlotte clenches her fists, tightens up seemingly all the muscles in her whole body, and emits a gutteral growl. She will do it over and over again if "Uncle Randy" asks, but fails to perform for anyone else. Isaac tried the other day, hopping into the Wiens' car and asking, "Gimme a growl". She just stared at him from the confines of her car seat and smiled. Hopefully soon.

Green Idea of the Week

Did you know that 6-26% of your energy bill comes from plugged in electronics that you're not even using? They're called "stand-by" electronics. When something is plugged in to the wall (like a toaster, coffee maker, curling iron, etc.) it is draining energy out of the wall, even if it's not currently in use. So unplug all those little electronics that you're not using...and for bigger ones that you don't want to plug and un-plug constantly (such as our computer/printer/speaker system), get an energy-saving power strip, designed to block energy drainage ($30 at OSH).