Trick or Treat

Last night we trick-or treated in our old neighborhood. You'll see why. The neighborhood goes a little crazy for Halloween. Neighbors decorate their yards with some sort of "kid theme." WE saw Scooby Doo, Jurassic PArk, Sponge Bob, 101 Dalmations, Charlie Brown, Nemo, The Lion King, and The Wizard of Oz.

The kids had a blast and M and I had a good time seeing old friends and familiar faces.

My L'il Punkin!

My baby is back and we're busy baking!

Trick-or-Treat is TONIGHT in our town. I have no idea why it's tonight...but I'm good with it.

I e-mailed L'il Man's teacher today to ask her a question about something we're doing next week. She replied and mentioned that L'il Man said he was going to be a "hobo" tonight. Really?! That was the first I had heard of it. Last I heard, he was going to be a football player.

I also have a cute little witch, a precious Hannah Montana, and an adorable cave girl. Will post pics later.

Happy Trick-or-Treating!!

Silhouette Name Cards at La*T*da

Click here if you want to see how to make these.

KitKat's class has been learning about Australia for the last ten weeks so today they "flew" there!

Here she is with her suitcase (pizza box!) all ready to go!

Each students had a "job" to do to help them fly to Australia. Kit Kat was the Metal Detector Security Worker.

Preparing to go the airport: (Isn't she the cuteest Metal Detecotr Security Worker you've ever seen?!)

The inside of the plane:

A view of the front of the plane:



Preparing to checki-in her luggage:

Ticket counter:

Buying their tickets:

Checking their carry-on bags:

Preparing for take-off:

You can see the control tower in the distance.

The cockpit crew:

When in doubt, BLOG

I actually typed the previous post one day before I actually posted it, but I didn't have time to spell-check it, so I just now posted it. I don't know why I felt like I needed to tell you that.

As I re-read the previous post, it occurred to me that it sounds like I'm complaining. I hate it when I complain about my life. I am so blessed. That was part of the point of starting this whole blog in the first place. I want to count my blessings every day, not complain about them!!

But the truth of the matter is, I have felt overwhelmed lately. And by lately I mean the past 9 weeks. I clearly remember thinking, "AS soon as school starts, I can get this house and myself more organized so I won't feel like everything is spinning out of control." Last week, the kids brought home their report cards and I realized right then that nothing has changed since way before school started!

I don't like it when my life feels like this. Way too busy. No time to just enjoy "being" . No time to unwind. No time to lie in bed with the kids and have "pillow talk." No time to talk about God's beautiful world. No time to thank Him for it.

Shameful.

Life has been busy and I've been fully aware that it's too busy but I haven't really known what to do about it. This is the first week in well over 9 weeks that I've been able to sit down and catch my breath.

I am so thankful for this week.

It has given me an oppportunity to reflect on my life my role as mother, wife, cook, cleaner, chauffeur, friend, sister, child of God, mediator, daughter, boo-boo kisser, blogger, crafter, seamstress. And I've realized that I am failing in each area. And it makes me sad.

So...time for change! Time for focus. Time to re-prioritize. I'm excited!!!

First things first. I made a chore chart. For any mommies out there, come back next week and I'll tell you what I'm doing. I have researched some "tried and true" methods out there and came up with what I think will be best for our family. We put it into practice today and I was so amazed at how smoothly it went! I see a light at the end of this tunnel!

I'm ashamed and embarrassed to admit this, but maybe someone else out there needs to know they aren't alone. So...here goes. I gave up my quiet time/prayer time/devotional time in the mornings so that I could do laundry. I am a morning person by nature. I'm up at 5 , or 5:30 at the latest, and I hit the ground running. When school started, I realized that I get more done during the hour before the kids wake up then I do the rest of the day. So that has become my ritual. I wake up and head to the laundry room. Then to the kitchen. I seriously spend over half an hour in the laundry room every single morning and I am never caught up!! I always have clothes in the washer, clothes in the dryer, clothes ON the dryer, clothes in the hamper, and clothes waiting to be folded in the laundry basket on the floor. And a basket of mis-matched socks somewhere in there.

After polling my sister and some of my Type A friends, I have come up with a solution for the laundry that will allow me to have my 30 minutes of quiet time AWAY from the laundry room. I need this. y'all. I need to start my day off with some type of devotional, prayer, and/or Bible time. It sets my tone/mood for the day. And this "break" from God that I seem to have taken has been noticeable! I have truly felt "spiritually dry" and although I have been aware of it, I have been stuck in this cycle and I have been unable to break it. Til now. So when I tell you I'm excited, I mean it!!

I seriously considered giving up the blog! It would be one less thing to do. But I love looking back at this past year on my blog! I want to remember these days! And I want my children to remember these days. And one thing that this blog has "forced" me to do is to carry my camera with me and record the everyday memories.

When I first started this blog, my intention was to be mindful of our everyday blessings - to thank God for our lives and for each other. Somehow during the last 9 weeks (and maybe even longer), I've "lost" that.

Are you still reading this?? If so, I'm sorry for this never-ending post. I'm getting there, I promise.

So with all this being said, I apologize to you if this blog has "lost it's focus." Don't worry...".I'm baaaa-aaack."

Thanking God for giving me this week to take a deep breath, reflect, and re-prioritize. I feel good things happening!

To those few who continue to check my blog only to find that I haven't updated yet again, I apologize. It's not that I've lacked motivation, but I have lacked time. And to be quite honest, it is becoming an issue. To be even more honest...it has been an issue for quite a while now.



I can't seem to get behind the eight ball (is that the correct use of this phrase)? In other words, I'm drowning!! I stay behind and I've been behind since well before school started. I kept telling myself, "When school starts, I'll get organized and things will run smoother." But school started and so did after school activities, and life became even crazier.



So...the laundry is ridiculous, the kid's winter and summer clothes need to be changed out (2 down, 2 to go), I still need to finish the window treatments for my bedroom, the pile under my bed needs to be addressed, I wanted to sew some clothes for Sunshine while she'll still let me, and I haven't even begun to list what needs to be started (and finished!) for La*T*Da. I don't feel like I've neglected the children. Scratch that. I don't feel like I've neglected spending time with the children, but I've definitely neglected the family. Dinners have been fast food or spur of the moment. No planning has gone into a meal around here since school started. How sad is that?! The laundry room is impossible. I've just been "winging it" and going from day to day.



And I've had it!! Enough already!



I'm ready to be organized, put some thought and time into the meals that I prepare for the family, be "caught up" on the laundry (oh, I know you're never really caught up on the laundry. I just want to be able to see the laundry room floor. And my bedroom floor, for that matter.), to have a house that I can walk into and feel a sense of peace and order (rather than mess and chaos).



This is the first week that I feel like life has begun to move at a slower pace. It's time for me to whip this house into shape and re-prioritize. I also need to learn to say "no!" . I'm doing much better, but there's always room for improvement.



So wish me luck. I'll be visiting some other blogs for help in organizing your home, life, etc. I'll link you up if it's worth your time.



Stay tuned...



And have a happy weekend. Hopefully I'll be back on Monday, ready to roll.

When the cat's away...

If you're interested, check out http://www.latdah.blogspot.com/ to see one of the projects I completed while the fam was away.

I feel like I'm twittering!

Okay - the night is still young and I'm moving right along.

I finished and hung my whimsical frames for my playroom. They are even cuter (if I do say so myself!) than I had hoped! I'll post pics tomorrow.

KitKat and I primed the stage in the playroom. The stage was a gift from Santa and because Santa didn't start on this project until Christmas Eve, he didn't have time to prime and/or paint it. So it's been in it's "bare" form since Christmas Day! We'll paint it tomorrow. And I'm thinking about putting Christmas rope lights around the base. I'll post pics of it tomorrow, too!

KitKat and I primed the kitchen table. She is an awesome little painter! I said, "KitKat, you are doing such a great job. I love how careful you're being." She replied, "Well, I'm a really good artist, so..." . But of course! (and humble! he he!)

M and the other three made it safely to Georgia. KitKat is tucked in bed, and I'm going strong!

Good night out there!

And they're off!!

And I'm about to pull an all nighter! First up...the kitchen table!!

Will post pics later. Wish me luck! (Handing KitKat a paintbrush, too!)

And exactly what time will you be leaving??

M and three of the kids are headed to north Georgia this weekend for a little family camping trip. His parents have a cabin near Blairsville, and M and the kids camp out in a tent on their property.



One of the kids (I bet you can guess which one!) and I are staying behind.



I can't kick them out fast enough!!



I have a MAJOR to do list while they are gone!! Does anyone else seem to "go nuts" with a To Do list when their husband leaves town?! I mean they might as well say ,"I"m going out of town. Have fun painting a room and re-arranging furniture!" M has learned to expect things to be a little different when he returns from an overnight trip. But he is going to be gone for TWO nights with THREE of the kids!! I am going to be one wild woman!! Bring out the caulk, paint brushes, and sewing machine. I've got an agenda!!

Here's my list:
paint the kitchen table and chairs
re-upholster the kitchen chairs
new window treatments for kitchen
finally finish window treatments for master bedroom
sew AA's dust ruffle
paint AA's dresser
finish pillows for AA's bed
make and hang "frames" for playroom

So, honey,what time did you say you're leaving?

Here's to a productive (hopefully!) weekend!

We had kind of an "off" day...

as in...
Triple A got her braces off...

and L'il Man got his cast off!

Happy Tuesday!

Girlfriend better watch out!

I have to be a little vague in this post because I don't want anyone to be able to figure out to whom I am referring. So....here goes.

Y'all, I am soooooo Sad!! Little Sunshine hasn't been very happy at her new school. She's in the 4 year old preschool class at a local church, and she's only there from 8:30 - 11:30. But everyday that I pick her up, she is sad. Not only is her BFF trying to charge her "real money" to slide down the slide on the playground, but she also called her a "dummy-head". Oh the drama of a 4 year old pre-school class. And to make matters worse, her "BFF" told another little girl in the class that she couldn't be Sunshine's friend.

BFF better watch out cause she done made Mama mad! And you don't even wanna know what Mimi said! I had to laugh (but I almost cried) when Sunshine called Mimi and told her that she was sad because her friend was being mean to her. Mimi said, "You tell her that your Mimi is gonna bloody her nose!" That is EXACTLY what my Mimi (aka "Grandmommy") used to tell me to tell my friends if/when they were mean to me!

So today I had to be the crazy parent who pulls the teacher aside to talk to her about the 5 year old who is ruining her child's life! It's a little humiliating. But I can't let Sunshine come home sad every day. She's too precious! And dang it, she wants to slide down that slide!

Sweet little Sunshine. She's too young to have to put up with this! AAA is 9 years old, and so far, she hasn't had to deal with the proverbial "mean girl".

So say a little prayer for Sunshine. We'd both appreciate it. Thsi has been a great opportunity to teach her a little about forgiveness and what it means to be a good friend. About that forgiveness part...I think I could use a little lesson myself. I seem to be the one carrying the grudge.

Happy Monday!

Freezer Paper Burlap Pillows

Click HERE http://www.latdah.blogspot.com/ if you're interested in a "how to" on these pillows.

Lazy Day

Usually I'm productive on Sundays. But not today. It was definitely a "Lazy Sunday." But that's okay. I made a list of what I've accomplished this past week and when I look at it, I feel exhausted.

This past week I:
made 9 pumpkin pillows
took the kids to the Fall Festival
met friends for lunch at Panera
went to church
went to Sunday School (but I was late!)
painted a desk glossy white
put two coats of poly on a piece of furniture
made a cavegirl costume
dressed two little princesses for a party (and put their make- up on , too!)
put my own make-up on (7 out of 7 days!)
wrapped two birthday gifts
watched my son's first football game
took my five year old to get her shots
cleaned my house from head to toe all in one day
woke up early and went to yard sales!
cooked dinner for another family
cooked dinner for my own family!
started a new blog
washed 14 loads of laundry
closed a bank account
had two little girls spend the night Friday night. They baked til midnight, left the oven on all night long, and I still cleaned up after them and never said a word (wow!)
vaccuumed out my car
painted the bottom piece of a china cabinet (not one, but TWO coats!)
played "the Matching Game" more times than I can count
kissed two boo-boos
put up 14 pony tails!
read two chapters of my book
went to Kroger 4 times
and Target twice
and Wal Mart once
and Party City once
and Hobby Lobby twice
and CVS once
watched "Love Happens" (if you go this movie, you will cry and even your husband will cry!)




Now why is it that when my husband comes home from work each day and ask, "What'd you do today?", I reply, "Nothing really." ?!?

It Ain't Easy Being Five!

Sweet Sunshine had her five year old shots and flu vaccination yesterday. She was a trooper! Her Grandaddy told her to squeeze her nose while she was getting shots and it wouldn't hurt as much. So she did just like her Grandaddy said and ya know what? He was right! She was very brave and didn't cry at all. She didn't like it, but she was awesome!

After the doctor's visit, M and I took her to lunch. Then we bought her a key cover that she's had her eye on for a while. "A key cover?', you ask? Why, yes...a key cover! There is a cute little gift shop downtown that has all sorts of fun things. They have bright, fun, decorative covers for the tops of your keys. Sunshine, for some reason, really wanted one of these. She saw them about a month ago and she hasn't quit talking about them. So a few weeks ago, I promised her I'd buy her one if she was a big girl when she "got her shots". I had the lady at the gift shop (Wrapsody) gift wrap the key cover for my official big girl. She is mighty proud of her key cover! I even gave her one of my keys so she'd have something to put the cover on!

I'm not one of these Mommas who is going to have an easy time "letting go" as my children grow up. Especially the baby. I hate all these little milestones. They represent her growing up and I'm just not ready!! I just want to rock her and sing her lullabies! I want to enjoy every stinkin' second with this little love!

Today she said she couldn't walk because her leg was so sore from her shots. I suggested she stay at home. I'm so glad I did! Maybe tomorrow she'll have to stay home and clean her room or something.

Smiles to all! XO