Weekly Goals

Last Weeks Goals

• List one thing on Etsy
• List one thing on Craigslist
• Get the two year old on the potty 3 times a day, everyday
• I'm not crossing it off but she did awesome and stayed dry almost every day!
• 30 Day House Cleaning Challenge
• I sort of followed it. I had so much cleaning to catch up on and a very busy Monday
• Work out everyday this week (Mon-Fri)
• I made it a few times this week with a lot of walking on Sunday
• Memorize Proverbs 31:12
• One night spent as a family, playing games, going for a walk, doing something all together

• Saturday dance night with the wii
• Sunday night walk and DQ (we have a seasonal one, small towns) 

• Read a chapter each night from a chapter book as a family
• Finshed one and started another

This weeks goals May 6-12

• List one thing on Etsy
• List one thing on Craigslist
• Get the two year old on the potty several times a day, wearing big girl panties all day
• Clutter Busting Challenge
• Work out everyday this week (Mon-Fri)
• Memorize Proverbs 31:13
• One night spent as a family, playing games, going for a walk, doing something all together
• Read a chapter each night from a chapter book as a family

 

Summer Project Shed/Playhouse Part 3

Well my husband was busy this weekend. We had beautiful weather, despite having our backyard looking like a swap. The back few feet has standing water, it smells like the lake in August (it stinks!). 

Saturday he was busy working on the steps to get to the top level. He still has to put a railing up but the girls can go up and down much easier.

Sunday after church, my husband picked up paint for the outside. While the two older ones were at grandma's and grandpa's and the youngest taking a nap, we painted the outside. It went on fast and dried fast. Then my husband put in the windows. It's starting to look pretty nice. 

He is hoping to shingle the roof next weekend. All he has left is to sheetrock the inside, put up trim inside and out, and finish the deck on the top level. So much for this being a summer long project. I'm going to have to think of something to keep him busy for the second half of the summer.

Clutter Busting Challenge Day 3

Well I did it! I made it through the tub of 0-3 month clothes. It was really hard to pick out my favorites to keep for a future niece/s. I have no idea how many I pulled out but it is was a nice big pile. 

I will continue to go through the tubs throughout the month. It is getting a little easier for me to start getting rid of the baby clothes. Baby steps, no pun intended, are needed for me. I will get there. About 4 more tubs to go through. Not too bad. 

Outfits to save for future nieces

Pile of clothes to take to the consignment shop. I had down sized before my youngest was born so the tub wasn't completely full.

Pile to donate to a charity that needs them.

What did you clutter bust today?

A Few of My Favorite Things for the Kitchen

There are a few things I really love that I have in my kitchen. The first thing I absolutely love and have no idea what I did before I got it, is my KitchenAid Mixer. I love it and use it to mix everything. I do much more baking then ever before. It does take up room, but we have a large pantry closet I keep it in, keeping my counter clutter free.

The next thing I found while shopping at Ikea. It's a Microwave Plate Cover. I wipe down my microwave maybe twice a year. It stays that clean. The microwave plate cover goes over almost anything needed to be heated up in the microwave. It heats faster and prevents the food from splattering everywhere. The only thing I clean is the turntable.

 

I love love love my Cookie Scoop. If you don't have one, you really need to think about it. There are different sizes to choose from. I use this on so many things. I made muffins the other day for my husband and I use that to scoop the muffin mix into the muffin tin. I learned this trick while working in a restaurant. It is much less messy. I of course use it on my cookie dough, but my favorite thing to use it on it apples. Apples? Yes apples. I cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and fill it with peanut butter. My favorite snack.

The last thing I love and have used a lot is my Magic Bullet. I use it to make a small batch of muffins of several different flavors, puree squash to put up for the winter, make adult and none adult drinks, and grind my coffee beans. When my little ones were babies I used it to make baby food and then I would freeze it. It takes up a lot less room then a blender, food processor, and coffee grinder would. 

 

Well these are some of my favorite things in my kitchen. What are yours?

Clutter Busting Challenge Day 2

 

Well today I finally went through some of my cloth diapers. I am not using as many now since we are starting to potty train the two year old and I now use flats instead of pockets on the one year old. 

Yesterday I ordered 5 new covers to replace 5 that I will get rid of once they get here. I also picked out 7 pocket diapers that were for my 2 year old that I no longer need. I plan on putting them on craigslist and will get a nice little chunk of change when I sell them.

I may only be getting rid of a few things everyday but boy do I feel even more motivated to sell, throw, or giveaway things we don't need anymore.

Am I a Good Mom?

I love being a mom to my three girls. I love them so much and enjoy spending time with them. Yet there are so many days where I want to break down and cry. I struggle with how to care for them and the decisions I have to make. There are so many days where I feel overwhelmed and am not sure where to turn.

This is so normal. I know that now. I struggle with different things with each of my kids. How do you handle a kid that wants to bite her sisters all the time? What do you do when a kid is having accidents after being potty trained for two years? What do you do when they seem to fight all the time. As I write this I have kids fighting and screaming over toys. It has been a though morning as my middle child seems to want to scream and cry over everything. 

My kids are far from perfect and I am far from perfect. I have struggled, do struggle, and will continue to struggle in my quest to be a good mom. 

I have learned a few things about myself and about being a mom:

1. Trust yourself. Your instincts are usually correct. Don't let some expert decide what is best for your child, even doctors at times. If you suspect something is wrong with your child, you are probably right. You know your child better than anyone else. Doctors do the best in the short time they see your child but you see many things your doctor doesn't. Trust yourself first when it comes to the care of your child. 
2. At the end of the day think about the best part of the day. Write it down even. When you think about those early years and how hard they may have been, you will have so many good memories to share if they are written down. I love this stage for so many reasons but I have many days where I want to cry. Remembering those good times during my day make it all worth it.
3.  You are a good mom but you will make mistakes, daily. Try to learn from those mistakes. All you can do is your best.
4.  Spend time praying for you kids. When I would be up in the middle of the night trying to get my youngest back to sleep, I would pray for my girls. It gave me a confidence and a feeling of not being alone. 
5. It is ok to let your kids cry if you need to go to the bathroom, take a shower, or make dinner. My kids are 4, 2, and 1 and sometimes I just need to let them cry and whine so I can get things done.

Do you love your kids? Do you give them hugs and kisses and tell them that you love them? Do you feed them, clothe them, give them shelter and warmth? If you do then you are a good mom who sometimes makes mistakes. Since no on is perfect, we all make mistakes. You are a GOOD mom.  

Clutter Busting Challenge Day 1

 

Well I started going through the many tubs of clothes we have from the girls that they have all outgrown. I have a very hard time getting rid of them. Often times I actually have a panic attack. I know we are done having kids but for some reason the thought of getting rid of baby stuff puts me in panic mode. 

 

Today I picked one tub, the 0-3 months clothes, and looked through it. I want to keep a few of my favorite clothing items for my sister and sister-in-law in case they have a girl. That is so hard, so I picked out 7 items, that I have no attachment to what so ever, and put them in a box where they will stay until washed and taken to a consignment shop. 

 

By picking out 7 today, maybe 10 tomorrow, I can get through my tubs with little anxiety over it.