Confession & Ice Cream

I have been watching a ridiculous reality tv show.
I can't say the name cause it's that embarrassing.
They are so over-the-top and they over-share like crazy.
And I can't stop.
It's not so much the drama that keeps me watching.
It's the way this family gets along.
And the way it affects the young kids in the family.
I am totally intrigued.
I won't stop watching until I know what happens.
Will they forgive and move on?
Will they never speak again?
I am so invested...I just have to find out.
I know that on most levels it is being overblown by clever editing,
but it's obvious that there are real issues there.
And it supports my theory that it all comes down to this:
Our relationships with family members will be determined by
how we treat each others' kids, how we treat each others' spouses, & money.
(speaking of families with grown siblings, obviously)
Every point made in the arguments between the brother & sister in this show can be traced back to
money and how they feel their kids & spouses have been treated.
Interesting, right?
And think about it...
Our families are 'under attack'.
Satan knows that "God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be".
So...in efforts to destroy our happiness, he attacks the family unit.
Tearing them apart so people are left miserable, bitter, and hurt.
And Satan puts ''worldly'' items and desires in our way so that we lose sight of what matters the most.
Our families.
I find myself hoping that the family in this show can move on,
although the claims made by each side are disastrous,
they have to forgive, right?
They ended the show in the middle of "hashing it all out"
and I was left hanging.
But it seems to me that even though trying to talk it all out was what was best for the sake of the cameras,
it was leading to more drama.
I could feel it.
If it were me...
I'd tell them to let it go.
And forgive.
Sometimes the impossible is actually possible.
***

In other news: Regan and Lyla got shots.
That led to ice cream cones for their bravery.
It was a first for Lyla.

More Than Usual

I am a little more exhausted than usual. That's how I know it's Father's Day!
Brady can't help but be helpful and it is way more noticeable when I make him take a break.
We had fun celebrating with him and the girls were delighted to come up with all kinds of surprises throughout the day. He's the best dad to these girls and they adore him completely.
E & R negotiate often who will get to marry him and they are always upset when I tell them, it's too late...I got him! He does it all...yardwork, sunscreen application (I dread that), basketball, tea parties, Legos, bath time, bedtimes songs (in spanish, just about the sweetest sound in our house), and even the occasional ponytail!
Our family is great because of his hard work and tender heart.

Lyla's new favorite: swinging

Overgrown

That was how I would describe our yard when we moved in. And really a lot of it was dead from freezing last winter and not getting water for months. It took us all day last month to make a noticeable dent in it only to be right back at it today.

We moved from what couldn't even really qualify as a yard to lots of trees, grass, bushes, and even citrus trees. And since we are just so happy to have a yard we enjoy working in it. Crazy to say while it is so hot-and I will probably feel different in July or August- but I have always enjoyed working in the yard. Its what I grew up doing...spending Saturday mornings working in the yard...it's where I learned to work and its where we are teaching the girls to work.

This is the pile from last month's yard work marathon. The picture doesn't justify the massive pile it was. Can't believe we did it alone. So glad the city does 'bulk pick-up' once a month! We fully intended to have the family over for a fun-filled day of helping us dig out, but we got going and the kids were occupied so we just kept going. I'm sure our neighbors were watching from inside their houses and laughing at us...Walking back and forth from the backyard to the street with branches, vines, trash bags...everything, as you can see from the pile that is almost as tall as the house across the street!
We vowed that the yard will never, ever get that crazy again and we will be very cautious of what we plant...low maintenance will be key! For now we are enjoying seeing our fence , we even found a giant grape vine (which we were happy to keep!), and being able to see the kids playing in the {now green} grass when we look out the window!!

Decisions, Decisions

I took the girls to the library this morning. It was a quick trip, but just what we needed to break up our morning.
It took about 20 minutes for them to choose the books they wanted. I was kind of surprised that it went so fast, but oh well.

We took the kids grocery/etc. shopping this evening...not my ideal Friday night, but it was needed.
It took 20 minutes for them to decide on a toothbrush.
I thought Brady was going to pull his hair out. I think he may have even stomped his foot and threw up his hands.
Such impatience!
I, on the other hand, was totally entertained by their reasoning.
I saw the bigger picture...
hold onto that toothbrush & behave and you will still have it when you get to the checkout.
Worked like a charm.
A toothbrush wouldn't cut it when I was a kid, but then again toothbrushes didn't light up, play music, spin, or have stickers to decorate them with!!
So, thanks toothbrush manufacturers...we totally bought into it.

My Topic

On Sunday I spoke about charity. And I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be! Yay! for that.
It was a good topic for me to study about and I was glad for the timing of being asked to share my thoughts. Much of what I have been reading lately has been about charity in some way and even my mom and I have been talking about it a lot too. So I can't take credit for all of it, but that is what I love about our church...We learn from each other and from all of our experiences and thoughts about what we read in the scriptures.
Basically it was about
choosing faith, hope, and charity
over fear, doubt, and selfishness.
When we have faith, exercise our faith, and share our faith it grows stronger.
When we have a good foundation of faith it gives us the strength to be positive and have hope...in all things.
And when we have faith and hope we are able to live a more charitable life.
We love without judgment and we love those around us better.
We love purely...like Jesus Christ loves us.
Faith, hope, and charity will qualify us for eternal life.
And I can't think of anything better than being with my family forever.

Some Explaining to Do

I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I just got it out. Now that I have finished my first "unsupervised by my mom" project I am mad that I didn't get it out sooner. With the move and not wanting to try to find the space in the last house I just put it off...but I am ready now. It is relaxing an frustrating at the same time, I like it.
I made a purple bib from a pattern I have done before with my mom. When you scroll down to see it don't look too close, like I said...it was unsupervised!
I love a project that is quick so this was a good start. I am partial to "bibsters" (disposable bibs) because of their pocket that catches food dropped by baby. I decided to add a pocket to this one and loved the way it turned out.
I decided to do a decorative tulip stitch across the top. Brady was so impressed! Then I said, "I know...this machine is awesome, I just push a button and get tulips!" Then he nodded and said, "Oh, that makes sense."
What was he implying? Was he saying that he didn't think I could do that myself?
Oh well, it's my fault for telling him.
First rule for wives: Always let your husband think you are amazing. Don't tell your secrets to awesome-ness!
The girls used yarn to finger-weave (taught by my mom in the middle of yesterday's sewing orientation) while I got lost in "sew-land"...a creative way for Emma to say that I wasn't paying attention to them. Brady took Lyla to her room to play because she got mad that I wasn't looking at her. again.
Now that I have explained our evening I'll explain this:

I don't facebook because I am slightly against it.

It takes up a lot of time and it's just trendy(I know it will stay around longer than a fleeting trend, but still...) so I am turned off by that.

I also don't have glitter toes & I didn't read the Twilight series.
Not that there is anything wrong with trends, but there are some I just can't get into.
Anyway, I know FB can be a great thing when done properly/safely/responsibly,
but I have seen what negatives can come from it too.
So I choose to abstain.

About my blog:
I blog for me.
For creativity, for connecting/reconnecting with people I know and love, and for random thoughts that I feel like making note of.
&
For my memories, for my family, and for fun.
That's it.

20 LBS & A Recap

Lyla finally hit 20 pounds so we got the big car seat out! We were all overly excited. Does Lyla look skeptical? She was at first, but once I started playing Taylor Swift she realized how fun car rides are. Not that we went anywhere too exciting. Well, we did go to Target but unfortunately I am taking a "buying things for the house and whatever else I find that I like" break. Fun to visit though.
My Mom came over to help me get started on my new sewing machine. I am pretty excited.
Not sure how much I will get done with all three girls, but come fall I plan to spend my afternoons sewing and looking out the window at our big tree that shades the whole front yard...I'll enjoy that view.
Making a mental note to plan Lyla's naps around my sewing time. She isn't the biggest fan of anything I like that means my attention to her is split. That would mean I would have to take my eyes off her and that's just not allowed!
The girls danced around the living room in the spot that will one day be the home to a new couch.
(taking a decorating break right now too...I had major idea overload and need to gather my thoughts and decide how I want it all to turn out)
It was adorable to see them create together and it reminded me how much I used to love to do the same thing at their ages.
And you know how my sentimental side loves that kind of thing.
***
My thoughts on Bachelorette this week. Where do I begin?? The first 15 minutes took forever. I mean that date was pretty brutal. It picked up in the end, but most of it felt like I was watching a rock and a leaf try to be interesting.
"Super-exotic" & "Super-vulnerable" made me laugh.
And did she really say, "I love the realness of you"?
J.P. is, or maybe was- haven't decided yet, at the top of my list...until I watched his conversation about who has kissed Ashley...he clenched his jaw and his face got red...which, to me, is a red flag...jealousy and anger issues there. Darn J.P. ...why couldn't you just stay cool?!
Who talked about the "Ryan-meter"? Don't remember, but it was funny.
And Ben F.: I am not a fan.
Speaking of fake words: physical-ness...not a word. But keep it up men, soon this show will have its own language.
Loved all the catty talk about Ryan and how when confronted, he still had a big smile on his face! I like him a lot but my "Ryan-meter" was in the danger zone. He's another one that just needs to keep it together.
Back to J.P. ...PLEASE don't be the crazy one. please. Even Brady likes you. But maybe if you lose it on this season you can be the next Bachelor, and we'll get to watch you "finally be ready for love".
It can't be Ryan...we already had a good guy who got dumped (Jake) and that didn't work out.
Although I do not like Ames and I think his teeth have a "cartoon character quality" to them I didn't want to like their date, but I sort of did. I am shocked about this.
And finally...I am all for whatever outlandish drama they dish out, but if Bentley comes back I will never watch again.
fine, I'll still watch... but just to make sure she doesn't end up with him.

Waffle-Making Machine

Today I took the girls swimming...I guess I was feeling like an adventure.
After the 30 minutes it took to get the girls dressed, sprayed with sunscreen and in the car I wanted to go grab lunch and come home. We made it though...for about an hour. That's when Lyla spoke up and told me (and everyone else at the pool- sorry Sariah) it was time to go.

(The girls are in the back seat hitting each other with their rings making Lyla laugh hysterically)
We came home, ate lunch and then played outback...still in swimsuits of course. If you live in AZ or have been here in the summer you know you don't go outside from June- September unless you are in a swimsuit.

It was a quiet afternoon, finished off by teaching a few piano lessons.
Then I had a genius idea to make waffles for dinner. I make awesome waffles...and my family doesn't even know I put grated carrots in them, because our vegetable intake has been sad lately. Emma ate SIX, Regan ate FIVE, and Lyla had TWO! Seriously, I just get out the peanut butter, raspberry jam, syrup, blueberries, raspberries, and powdered sugar and they have a great time trying different combinations. I was going to put pieces of bacon in them, but I didn't have any bacon...next time. It is surprisingly good(What do you think Brooke? haha)!
The kids are off to bed with full tummies, maybe too full but for such small girls they have crazy appetites.
Brady is watching a movie with cops and robbers so...that's my cue!
Off to relax in my new favorite spot of the whole house with the final book in a series I love! You should read them if you haven't.

Sunday-play all day

after 8am church, of course.

Late

Sitting down to write with just a few minutes left in the day.
Late night last night and another one tonight...not normal for me, but fun.

Pretty exhausted at the moment, but weekend details tomorrow...