Boy's Room

After a brief absence - I'm back! We enjoyed a summer that went too quickly! After VBS and Tim's visit we were off on a road trip for two weeks to CO. I hope to post some highlights soon. For now the laptop is working and I can save my photos:).

Altough I doubt it will stay this neat and clean, here are some photos of the boys' room transformation. We are keeping their "stuff" out temporarily until we get the new carpet in. . .so much work moving things in and out!  The next big thing is clearing out the garage/laundry area in order to prep for that transformation. However, i
it's just too hot to be out there and in the attic. Where is fall?

Cutting out the room with a brighter color

The prior owners had painted the entire room brown - including the ceiling. It was like a cave. . .

Yes, that is a stereo system! That's why the boys are out in the garage!

We added the air bed for the Senn's visit, but will put a desk and bookshelves back in for the fall.

Just another view

The boys now have a door from their room into their bathroom. There is also a door to the outside.

With the white ceiling and light blue/grey walls, the room appears larger. Of course, not having the bins of nerf guns and legos cluttering it up helps too! Little Joe, who just turned 3!, will also be moving into the boy cave. Wow.

So, if you come visit - most likely you'll be in this isolated room with bath. . .the boys will move to the couches until the garage room is completed. Which will hopefully be done by 2015!

Forty-Four, 44

Forty-four. It's a number that looks nice. I don't think I appreciated the repeating digits at ages 11, 22, or 33. To anyone under the age of 38, it sounds so old. To those 38 and up. . .it sounds like the prime of life. :)

Like most children, once I had my birthday I began being "almost" the next age. During the teens it seemed I'd never get to those magical adult twenty years. I enjoyed my twenties. I loved the thirties. But the forties? They are terrific. Despite the fact that some of my gifts included an exercise ball, hand weights, and running socks - the need to look 20 is no longer a desire. Probably because it is so far from possible! I definitely enjoy fitness, but gone are the expectations of racing my kids and winning! I watched enough home videos to glean wisdom from those who try to do things they shouldn't but think they still can.

As I sat waiting for the traditional "breakfast in bed", I enjoyed listening to the commotion of a family hunting for things that Mom usually takes care of for the rest. It's also become a traditional for some part of the breakfast to fly off the tray as it is carried to the bedside. This year was no less exciting as the flowers took a dive. Somehow, it's never the fault of the person caring the tray - fascinating.

How many women have a choir singing "Happy Birthday" on their special day? Nine cherub voices and the lovely tenor of my hubby. 4-6 little hands trying to eat something off Mom's tray while the other 12-14 swat away little hands.

Homemade cards are always the best!

 Tangible gifts come in different packages. . .Paul worked hard to get more garden spots in for me!

Sarah sent out a birthday instagram that choked me up. . .

The kids made sure I enjoyed a yummy birthday lunch with them!

Easter Break

What a nice week to take a break from the daily routine of life! The kids were all too excited to store their books away last week and start some spring cleaning preparing for a much antcipated grandparent visit. With Gray-Gray and Papa flying in around dinner time Friday evening, there was much to do! No matter how much I work each day, there is always more to do. And some things still wait to be done (windows). But we did manage to have the house presentable for a few hours.

Sarah and Miriam were moved out and the room readied for Gray-Gray and Papa. Sarah was heading out Monday morning for a week of service with the high school group and Miriam was back in our closet:). In fact, when we moved her out on Saturday (her belongs, changing table, etc) our room felt huge! If you haven't read some of the children's books like "Cows in the house" you need to! The basic premise of the story is a man is feeling overwhelmed because his house is too crowded and noisy with his large family. So, depending on which ethnic version you read, the dad consults the local wise man. The wise man tells him to bring in the chickens, later the pigs, then the cousins, visitors, and on and on until the cows are living in the house. With the man going crazy, the wise man finally tells him to have everyone visiting go home and he should put all the animals back out. The man is estatic because his home is suddenly so large and quiet, with only his large family living there. An excellent book on perspective.

I digress. Back to Easter Break. The weather was incredible and the visit enjoyable. Gray Gray and Papa were probably ready for calmer waters, but the grands would love to have them closer. The little ones all woke up looking for them and hoping for some snuggle time. Right when Gray Gray and Papa thought they might get to read or sit, Bekah and Jon were ready for a basketball game or Hannah and Naomi were getting the dominoes ready!

Gray Gray and Papa were also able to enjoy Hannah and Naomi's art reception, Bekah's soccer game, the Sonbeams Choir (Joey and Jael) sing, the Lightshine Choir (Naomi, Hannah, Bekah and Jonathan) sing, Sarah pick them up from the airport (!), a trip to the zoo, Miriam practing her walking, ice cream, theological talks with Josh, trips to Sanger/Orosi/Kingsburg to visit Sarah and observe the work projects and see Lolo and Lola, a trip to the jungle, dying Easter eggs, Easter egg hunt, some residual illness symptoms :(, and LOTS OF NOISE! 

Having my mom here made breakfast, lunch, and dinner chores much more fun and the kids enjoyed a break from some of the chores she did for them! It was also nice to have a professional clothes folder present. What a difference. Next time she comes I'll have her do a workshop for the kids on folding. She's also a master weeder. And perseveres much longer than my youthful children seem to be able to endure.

Pop managed to get up a fence with Paul to keep the animals out of the oranges, trim many bushes, and get a closet organizer in for us. I guess he'll have to stay in a different room next time so we can have him organize that closet :)! Plus, with the daily damages he was Mr. Handy and able to put the toliet paper holder back on the wall, fix things, and help us get a bit more organized and uncluttered.

I'm sure they have memories, as well. Their oldest grandchild driving them, Mr. Monk, techno teens, Bek in the same clothes all week, Joey getting eggs, dogs barking, ducks quacking, Jon whistling, Miri grabbing noses, toliet paper, bathrooms always in use, H-O-R-S-E, noise. . . .

Bek and Gray Gray at the zoo

JJ loving Papa

Gray Gray helps with dying Easter eggs

At the Jungle!

Jon's a blur as he bounces baby Miri

Art with Hannah

Fun times with grandparents.

And so it continues. . .

Paul made it home yesterday, but forgot his shining armor and the white horse and the part where he sweeps me off my feet and into an illness-free sunset. He was actually tired and on East-coast time. . . Reality. The stuff Disney doesn't film. :) I'm so glad my daughters get to see true love.

Miriam and Jael started fevers Sunday night. . .Naomi was warm again today. . . Joey felt like he might be starting a fever after dinner. And so it continues - week 2. I guess that's part of having a bigger family - the flu takes twice as long to hit everyone and leave.

Despite being home-bound, holding fussy ones, feeling lousy myself, getting behind in school. . .one benefit is the quiet that has settled over the house with so many knocked out with this flu bug. Children sleeping all day. . .hmm, I could get used to this! (As long as they sleep all night, too!) Another benefit was a lower grocery bill and not cooking much last week. Soup, crackers, and bananas were the hit.

Flu   2013

Oh, Christmas Tree

 Guess which tree the little girlies liked?!

 Waiting for Santa. . .

I grew up going out to the Christmas tree farm and cutting a tree with my family.  Paul and I started that way with the kids, but eventually the practical, common sense artificial tree took over.  When we moved last year, the old fake tree didn't make the cut.  So, we're back to picking out a real tree.  While we haven't found a new tree farm, it has been fun going to select one as a family and enjoying the little "draws" the establishments provide. 

Hanging the ornaments was fairly uneventful this year- no broken ones!  The tree ends up getting divided up by height, as each child hangs their ornaments at their level!  Durable ones toward the bottom Joey is on the loose this year!

The Storm

Last week the Santa Ana winds ripped through the valley, up to 60 mph.  We were fortunate not to incur much damage.  The boys may say otherwise, as they spent two days cleaning out pools with leaves over two feet deep! 

Unfortunately the little playgroup was partially wiped out, too.  Here's Joey enjoying his little playground a few days prior.  He had mastered climbing up and sliding down!

After the winds. . .

"Hey! Where did my slide go?"!  Joey looking for his playground :(.  The swings made it, but the fort/slide area was squashed.  Just glad it was at night and no children were playing :).

Preparations

 Setting up the nativity is always something anticipated.

The girlies enjoy getting the nativity all set up and ready.  They love to place all the figurines around and fortunately the set accommodates little hands! While some like anticipation of waiting for baby Jesus to arrive, we like to enjoy Him the entire month.  It's a great reminder of our Lord's condescension.  What an amazing thought to dwell upon - the Perfect One leaving glory and taking on human flesh to be God With Us.  What grace!

Progress...

I posted the quote from Jonathan Edward's regarding time in the Chew On This column because I always think I'll have "time" to blog. . . it's probably safer that I don't!  While we all have just 24 hours in a day, it seems mine get filled with more and more of the "immediate."  Diapers that must be changed, children who desire meals, formal education, clean home and clothes (I admit, I desire this one more than my kids!), people to disciple, family to enjoy, hospitality to be displayed, LIFE!

And in all these daily, often mundane, life activities - God is there.  Not passively watching as an amused spectator.  No, divinely at work, orchestrating all things for my good and future glorification.  Gloriously at work in the lives of my husband, children, and self.  Painfully at work, too. 

There is not enough room or time to write all the details of our kitchen remodel.  A major project that started with an explosive boom that slowly fizzled out.  I began to doubt whether it would ever be completed.  Finally, we have some progress.  After eight months of waiting for right orders, non-damaged items, delays, errors, etc., we saw a glimpse of hope this week as the kitchen began it's final stages of completion.  We are now waiting for Kraftmaid to come out and redo all the glazing in the kitchen.  After that step, the backsplash and flooring can go in and we can be done!

Decorative pillars help hide spacing issues.

Panels added throughout the kitchen help mask the glazing problems.  A baseboard will be added after the flooring is completed.

Regular filler strips hide ugly spacers, without drawing attention to defects

more end panels

  Despite all the delays and problems, I love my new kitchen.  I am so happy to not be working in a teeny little cramped space.  The kitchen has become that daily place of gathering and talking that I hoped it would be.  Having a full view of both the front and back yards is wonderful.  The sunsets I enjoy!  By waiting, God graciously provided us with upgrades we wouldn't have afforded, reimbursements for cabinets, money to be put toward flooring, and lots of extra cabinets/materials with which to make our laundry room and enhance the built-ins and fireplace mantel.  However, I'm still happy and hopeful it's almost done!

Organizing

Boys' Room BEFORE

Boy's Room AFTER

Organizing school books until a homeschool room is added. . .

A place for everything and everything in it's place. . .sounds too good to be true!  I continue to aspire to the dream of not constantly picking up and putting away stuff.  With such organization my kids will surely pick up now! Ha.  At least they have an organized place to throw it in...

Cost-co, the place to shop!

Good-bye old friends. . .

I must have been a very good girl this year because I made out with some pretty fantastic Christmas gifts!  Actually, God is very kind and merciful to a very undeserving sinner and I was blessed to be the recipient of some practical gifts which will assist my daily tasks.  

It's a strange thing to have appliances become a part of your family.  These "maids" have served me well for over 18 years and 8 babies.  Good bye ol'girls!

And welcome new gals!  I hope these lovely ladies can handle 8 children, 8 teens and lots of grandbaby outfits over the next 18 years. . .

They need a prettier laundry room, don't you think?  :)  Maybe next Christmas. . .

Organizing in the New Year. . .

There is something about taking down the Christmas tree and all the decorations that triggers the need to organize and institute orderliness for the new year.  Orderliness, something I seem to always be attempting to attain, only to have it thwarted by nine others! 

Here's my first attempt for the new year (an idea provided by my mom).  Living in a region that is warmer, my little ones love putting on their swim suits.  Why not put each child's swim suits/goggles in their own bin, says my mom??  Why not?!  Because I hadn't thought of it - I was too busy refolding and stacking swimsuits. . .ha.

PS.  I love Cost-Co!

Cups!

What's a mom to do?  It is sometimes the "little things" in life that put me over the edge.  Like cups.  There are just too many cups used at this house.  People take a cup and then leave it.  They forget which cup was theirs and pick a new cup.  It drives me nuts to be constantly dealing with cups.  Years ago I was encouraged by Kendra, preschoolersandpeace, to color-coordinate items in the home.  I think I did a few things, like towels and bedding.  Well, it's time for CUPS!  These lovely cups were found at Target for a mere $1.38 - a price worthy of my sanity.  Each child has their own color cup and plate.  Now I will finally know whose milk is left and who forgot to clear their spot at the table!  Victory, I hope.  Even if it might be short-lived and they all melt in the dishwasher.  A day of sanity will be worth it!

Beside the cups is my wonderful, expensive (but worth it) Vita-Mix.  This is one of our favorite meals -Strawberry Banana Smoothie.

Amy's Basic Smoothie Recipe

2-3 frozen bananas
1 apple or pear
10-12 strawberries, frozen
Strawberry yogurt (2-3)
Strawberry Jumex Juice (Mexican section)

Fill blender about 1/3 with Strawberry juice.  Add yogurt and fruits. Blend on high until smooth.  Pour into color-coded cups!

Make-Overs...

 I realize that it's difficult to see a room make-over without seeing what it looked like before.  . .but I can't find those photos!  Surprised?  Probably not.  But enjoy, at least, what's taken place!  Women's ministry needed a room to transform and having not really settled in yet. . .I was happy to oblige!

 Transformed into a lovely place to relax!

 The amazing thing is that all this stuff is mine and was still in boxes and around the home in various places. . .

Room for one more chair to make a cozy chat corner for my hubby and me...yippee!