2008 May — We are THAT Family

DIYP -Birthday Platter

7:00 am Bykristen

Project #1: Birthday Platter

I’m not artistic. But I’m a talented copier. I saw personalized platters at a craft show. And they cost a fortune. I made one for my daughter’s birthday. I made one for her friend’s party. And I’ve been making them for teacher, retirement, baby shower and congratulations gifts. I’ve even had people ask if I take orders. And, no, I don’t.

Buy a platter or plate. I bought mine at Garden Ridge Pottery. They were $1. You can’t beat that.

You can use colored Sharpees, if this is going to be a keepsake item. If you want to eat on the plate too, I suggest buying porcelain markers, they are a bit pricey, but they last forever.

Draw a cupcake (or something that signifies the occasion). And don’t say, “I can’t do that.” It’s really simple. And we’re going for whimsy here, so no two look alike.

The great thing about Sharpees is they wash off with ~~spit~~ water. So, if you goof, just use your fingernail, scratch it off and start over.

Color in the cupcake. Write Happy Birthday, personalize with a name and there you have it!

(Here’s one I have waiting in my craft cabinet).

I like to wrap them in pretty tulle and attach a Sharpee marker for guests to sign the platter.

You have an inexpensive fun present! These are also great for anniversary gifts too! Everyone just loves them because they are personalized and a memento to remember the special occasion. To keep the ink on permanently, bake the plate/platter in the oven on 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

This is the finished project. (This is one we gave to my daughter’s friend).

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Go for a Weekend DIYP!

1:30 pm Bykristen

I’m a do-it-yourself kind of gal.

It’s not that I’m an expert with a glue gun or a wiz on the sewing machine.

Seriously. I’m not.

I like do-it-yourself projects because I’m cheap and I’m smart.

Yeah, that pretty much sums me up, at least the first part.

My hubby and I were Pastor’s for 10 years on one income, can you say ‘Oh, the miracles God wrought?‘ He did, my friend. But we also learned the art of being frugal and creative.

I can’t tell you how many times I’d see something I LOVED, only to hear my hubby say, “I can make that,” or “We could totally do that ourselves.” It irritated me at first. Because we didn’t have the money to buy it, and this was my hubby’s way of saying, ‘no, you can’t have it, but that’s okay because we can do something better.’

And you know what? We did. Time and time again. My hubby has helped me with countless projects. We became innovative and resourceful.

The amazing thing? We could afford to buy some of those things now, but guess what? Why buy it, when you can do-it-yourself?

I want to share some of the ideas with you every weekend. I will share ideas I’ve actually tried or plan to try when I get the chance: home decor, home improvements, gifts, kids items, and more!

:Spoiler: I’m not talking knock down the walls renovations, here. We’re just gonna get a little crafty. But don’t be afraid. I will hold your hand.

So, the water’s just right. Do you want to go for a weekend DIYP (Do It Yourself Project)?

Join me tomorrow for the first one!

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A Date to Play

7:00 am Bykristen

*UPDATE*

I feel like I just sat down and visited with my friends over a cup o Joe (I’ve always wanted to say that). Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately because we’re faced with it weekly. To all you Moms with little ones, just wait! I remember being shocked at invitations for sleep overs for my Kindergartner and play dates with people I’d never met before. I’m not a popular mom with these parents, but that’s okay with me. My kids know we don’t do sleep overs and they accept the rules. Because I think deep down they know it’s all out of love. And remember, It’s okay to say, “No, thank you.” Oh, and thanks for making me feel not so paranoid after all.

Hi.

Can we talk a minute?

I don’t love play dates. Is that bad?

Just felt like I needed to get that out. I feel much better now.

My kids love them, though. And so we make dates to play, carefully.

During the school year, my kids are away from me for nearly 40 hours a week. When they get home, besides homework and studying for tests, we have karate once a week. And church. And you know, dinner and Wii bowling tournaments, together. My kids also miss seeing one another during the day and they like to play and catch up after school.

And, did I mention I miss them?

So there’s that. And then there’s the worry.

My kids enjoy playing with their cousins and with friends from church. We know a few neighbors, but we definitely enjoy our privacy, so we keep to ourselves some. And classmates? Other than an occasional snippet from the classroom, do I really know what these kid’s homes are like?

Am I the only mother who worries about my child playing in a neighborhood home of someone I hardly know? I can’t help but wonder, “Are their guns in your home, pit bulls, pedophiles?” I’m just saying.

Did you know that over 40% of homes with children have a gun and many of those guns are left unlocked or unloaded? I ran across this info from the A.S.K. gun safety campaign (Asking Saves Kids).

I have good friends who think I’m a little paranoid. And, I’m sure they are right. Their kids spend several afternoons a week in play dates and seem safe and happy.

And now, with summer here and loads of free time, I know the doorbell will be ringing.

My nature and personality demands some guidelines:

1. I schedule play dates about once or twice a month for each of my older kids (this gives me time to plan and gives my kids an incentive and something to look forward to).

2. I do not do ‘spur of the moment’ play dates because I feel pressured by an acquaintance at my front door.

3. The friend plays in my home first. I want to know the kind of relationships my children are developing.

4. I make sure I can answer these questions: If there are guns, are they locked away and out of the reach of children? Do they have scary dogs? What does my gut instinct say about this family? Will they be cared for and be safe without me?

So, what about you?

Food for the Soul:

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”- Psalm 103:17-18

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You- A Star is Born

7:00 am Bykristen

Welcome to this week’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You Carnival. If you want to join in, you can read the guidelines here. A flashback giveaway next week for linky participants!

I have always loved drama. As a young girl, I would spend hours crafting plays.

Starring me.

When I got into high school, I joined the drama team. It was pretty pathetic. Mainly because I was an untalented introvert with a love for the stage, not exactly a dynamic combo.

But I continued to try out for school plays. I landed an understudy role. (Which commits you to a lot of work, no glory and a sick dream of the true actress getting hurt, so you can take her place.)

I did land the role of a ghost with two lines when I was a sophomore. The director reminded me at every practice to ‘get into my character.’ I had difficulty with this.

You know, since I was alive.

My junior year, my church drama department took a chance on me for a huge part in their annual play.

I just new this would be my big break.

And although this a part I hope I never play again, it was a true moment of glory.

Because I was born to be a star.

Okay. Let’s hear it!

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You Lie, You Fry!

7:01 am Bykristen

I was raised in a strict, religious home.

We rarely missed church and I got saved on a regular basis.

You know, because I didn’t want to go to Hell. It was dangled over us because it was the destination for the sinful.

Oh, yeah, it was one of those churches. And boy, could I tell you some stories.

Looking back, I don’t have any huge regrets for my upbringing.

Because, I turned out so swell.

But when I became a parent, my hubby and I decided we wanted grace to be the prevalent theme in our home rather than condemnation.

And so, we strive to teach our children to obey out of love for God and love for others. Not because there’s a deep, dark hot place for those who don’t.

That’s gone pretty well.

The other day, my daughter and son were being silly at dinner. My daughter tried to trick us with a story. I started teasing her, trying to get her to tell the truth.

Without thinking, I said, “Oh, you lie, you fry!”

“What?” she asked.

And so I tried to explain the saying I remembered from my childhood. “You know, if you tell a lie, you go down there . . . “ and I pointed to the ground and I laughed.

She looked alarmed.

Oops.

The more I tried to explain, the more confused she looked. And of course, now I had my son’s attention too.

My kids know we expect the truth and that lying is wrong.

But frying in Hell? That changed things up a bit.

I started to change the subject with my daughter because I regretted my teasing. But my son caught my attention. He had moved from the dinner table and bowed his head.

I nearly laughed when I realized he was praying!

When he finished, he looked at me, shrugged, and said, “I was praying, you know, just in case. I can’t remember if I’ve lied lately, but I don’t want to fry!”

Hmmm…. Maybe that little saying would come in handy, once in awhile.

Food for the Soul:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”- Romans 12:15

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My Book (in the Making)

7:00 am Bykristen

I’ve been an aspiring writer most of my life.

My family has been forced to endure countless stories. They are a captive audience since I’m the cook in the house.

Listen or starve.

Surprisingly, they are big fans. Because they are a hungry lot.

I’ve mentioned before that I could wallpaper my bathroom with rejection letters from publishers.

But that would be weird.

Blogging has quenched my thirst to be published. For now.

I will have a book one day. Count on it.

Thanks to one of my readers, Amanda, for introducing me to Blurb. I’ve had so much fun reading about this amazing service that actually takes your blog posts, pictures, even comments and creates beautiful hardcover books.

Now, you won’t see me pedaling my books at a lemon aid stand near you, although I did think about ~~making my kids do~~ it. I could make great posters and set up my card table in front of Border’s Books. Oh, I kill myself.

But I do plan on having my favorite posts and

pictures bound annually to pass on to my children. I will conveniently leave out this post and that post. Oh, and I would never put this in a book.

I also thought Grandparents might appreciate a book too. Of course, one of my favorite Blurb features is choosing what would go in each book. I wouldn’t exactly want my father-in-law to know I thought he looked like a ‘trucker’ in the 70′s. I’m smart, that way.

Click here to read more about creating a blog book.

Here are some great features of creating a blog book with Blurb.

Works with many blogging platforms – Supports Blogger, LiveJournal.com, TypePad, and WordPress.com blogs.
Edit in real time – Allows you to customize and edit your book as little or as much as you like.
High quality – Our Hardcover, Dust Jacket,Hardcover, ImageWrap and Softcover books all feature professional bindings and coated, semi-matte paper. Up to 440 pages accommodate thousands of blog posts.
Fast turnaround – Orders arrive on your doorstep in approximately 7 to 10 business
days.

Automatic slurp action (watch the video) – Imports and maps blog text, images, comments, and links into professionally designed page layouts.
Affordable – Prices start at onl
y $12.95 for a 40-page softcover, $22.95 for Hardcover, Dust Jacket and $24.95 for Hardcover, ImageWrap. The bookmaking software is free.

For more great tips that work for other people, check out Works for Me Wednesday.

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Keeping the Love Alive

5:30 pm Bykristen

My hubby’s definition of sexy: Watching me catch a lot of fish.

My definition of sexy: My hubby asking me how I’m catching them.

On Wednesday, check out more Wordless Photos at 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Down on the Farm

7:01 am Bykristen

There are unspoken rules in the country.

I think it’s one of the reasons my kids love visiting their grandparent’s rural farm. Once we get there, we rarely leave.

The farm is isolated and it’s quite a trip to big city conveniences. They raise beef and have two enormous gardens. The days are planned around four-wheeler rides and huge home-cooked meals.

There are blood-sucking ticks, poisonous copperhead snakes and pond fish the size of small dogs. There is enough dirt to fill a landfill and enough wind to keep a thousand kites in the air. For every person at the farm, there are double the amount of mud-caked boots lining the porch. Of course, they are turned upside down to keep snakes and deadly spiders out.

You could say it’s a little different from our normal life.

If you would have told me fifteen years ago when I was contemplating joining this family that I would enjoy this, I would have laughed. Out loud.

But I do. I even have my own rubber boots for the farm. They are hot pink.

There are many rules at the farm, according to my kids. These guidelines were not taught or studied or even spoken aloud. And yet they stand, firmly, like the bulls in the pasture. You don’t challenge them.

From my kid’s perspective:

You do not change your clothes because they are dirty, mud-splattered, damp from pond water or smeared with cow manure. It is the farm. It is enjoyed more if you are dirty.
You haven’t really had a successful trip to the farm unless you have a chigger or black gnat bug bite.
Coffee and sweet tea are offered to children of all ages, especially infants and toddlers who have never had it before.
Everyone on the farm participates in a tick check every evening after baths. It is a mandatory requirement. If you are lucky enough to have a blood-sucking vermin attached to your skin, you have had a great day and are patted on the back and offered Grandma’s special itching ointment.
Petting, holding and kissing un-vaccinated farm cats and dogs is acceptable on the farm.
Pointy sticks that would poke your eyes out at home are perfectly harmless. Watching the baby of the family use said stick to dip in the dog’s water bowl and then lick, only brings laughter from adults.
Finding a box turtle, carving your initials in its shell and writing your name on it with a Sharpee marker before letting it go, is better than visiting Disneyworld. Any day.
Traipsing through muddy ponds in rubber boots, crawling under barbed-wire fences, digging the fruit worms from rotten peaches only heightens your farm experience.
Eating a raw, unwashed onion from your Grandpa’s garden spade is awesome.
Your Grandma’s home cooking and baking is so much better than your Mom’s that you mention it at least 4 times at every meal while staying at the farm. You also clean your plate and declare asparagus from the garden to be your new favorite food.
Your visit to the farm is not complete without discovering a discarded, smelly turtle shell or some other animal carcass (a.k.a farm treasure) to take home and place on your dresser for the next 3 months.
Sitting still through Sunday church with 37 other country church-goers and 9 special songs is not a problem.
As you drive away in your dirt-covered car, sobbing, you continue until you see your parents get out their calendar and plan the next visit to the farm.

Once the tears had dried, my daughter said, “Mom, do you know the best part about you marrying Daddy?” Well. Yes, I do, I started to answer. “It’s the farm,” she stated in a matter-of-fact way.

Yeah. That’s on my list too.

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A New ‘Most Embarrassing Moment’

7:00 am Bykristen

I woke up the other day, needing some “Me” time.

So, last week, I grabbed a babysitter and set out for a girl’s day out. We shopped, had pedicures and ate lunch.

At Cracker Barrel. Because we’re Southern. And because there’s sweet tea.

I had a Veggie platter. Don’t applaud my healthy choice. My veggies were deep fried.

We were simply stuffed full of southern fried goodness, but we couldn’t pass up the dessert of the day.

The waitress brought this out. With multiple spoons:

I know. I had the same response.

We giggled like silly girls when she dropped this off at the table.

I love sweets. I, mean, love them. Even when I’m dieting, I buy all the Weight Watcher’s desserts because I-must-have-sugar. It’s an autoimmune disorder and I’m seeking medical attention.

Let me just say. Treat yourself. Find the nearest Cracker Barrel now. Drive 149.3 miles, if you must.

This strawberry shortcake was divine.

When I took the first bite, an explosion-of-sorts, happened in my brain.

And I let out a noise.

It sounded strangely like a moan.

Oh, yes. I did.

Well. We laughed.

And, I ate more.

The waitress came over. Put her hand on my shoulder.

She gave me a knowing smile and said, ”Moan if you must.”

Oh, yes. She did.

I licked the platter clean, picked up my babies and decided I need to have a girl’s day out more often.

Giggles, shortcake, and all.

For more great me moments, visit Tammy at My Life.

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Sometimes We Just Need a Lift

12:01 pm Bykristen

Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Thank you God for helping me out of the muck of my own making. I get in sticky places often and You set my feet on stable ground.

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Advertise

2:23 pm Bykristen

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Make an Impact

12:01 am Bykristen

I’ve been in the bloggy world for less than a year.

I loitered for a long time. I bookmarked 3 or 4 blogs and I read them faithfully every day.

The blogs were popular Mom blogs. I remember thinking, “Hmmm, this person has 97 comments today. Do they really care what I will think?”

And then one day, I was so moved, I couldn’t help myself.

I dipped my toe in and left a comment.

At some point, I actually had enough courage to open my own blog for comments. I’m so glad I did.

I’ve noticed a hierarchy in the blog world. I’m sure you have too.

The huge traffic-gobbling mom blogs set the trends. They offer amazing giveaways, write great posts and well, they deserve to be at the top. It doesn’t take a good blog long to become a shining star. A few of my favorite reads are at the tippy top. And I leave them comments on a regular basis.

Because they impact me.

I think my heart would stop beating for a millisecond if they left a comment on my blog. I’m a small fish in their great big e-pond.

I’ve grown my own small collection of readers (You-whooo! I love you-see I’m waving frantically!!). I don’t know what my blog will become. This may be it. And that’s okay, because I like myself. I’m nice that way.

But I discovered something the other day. As I hovered over my sitemeter results, I recognized a blog that kept resurfacing. I thought the name was catchy and I had a spare minute, so I visited. It was a cute little blog and I left a comment on the post she’d written.

About 4 seconds later, I got a new comment on my blog that went something like this, “OMG! I can’t believe YOU left a comment on MY blog. I visit you every day and you inspire me. It means so much that you left a comment for me. I’ve always wanted to leave one for you, but I didn’t think . . . Thanks so much . . . . “

I impacted her.

Well.

I was shocked. This person saw me as a big mom blogger. I didn’t exactly correct her. She was a small fish (or so she felt) in my e-pond.

It just made me want to give my best to my blog. I’ve been tempted to rant, vent and spew about life’s little upsets. I’ve tried to refrain because this is not an anonymous blog and that is not my purpose for blogging. I don’t want to make an negative impact. Ever.

You may have certain goals for your blog or it may be a helpful outlet to you. Whatever the reason, people are reading your words, whether you know it by their comments or not.

So, blog well.

Because you are impacting others.

Food for the Soul:

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

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Just Keeping It Real!

9:00 am Bykristen

Every once in awhile, I get the impression from some of the comments left on my blog that people think I ‘have it together.’

Excuse me.

I was just guffawing. Because that is funny.

Now, there are fleeting moments of peace and complete sanity. They are usually late at night. When the children are fast asleep.

But during the day? When there are little people awake, calling me Mom? Well. Anything can happen.

Like yesterday.

I woke up in a fine mood. It lasted for about 9 minutes. And then the toddler woke up.

My normally happy girl had morphed into a strong-willed, temper-tantrum-throwing beast. For several hours, I did every thing to appease. I offered snacks, pulled out toys, read books, took her temperature- Nothing worked.

I watched the clock and wished for nap time. It was 11 a.m. I couldn’t stand one more minute of it.

And so, I strapped her flailing arms and legs into her car seat. Grabbed my favorite book. Turned on a Baby Einstein movie in the car and drove to Taco Bell. I ate until I felt ill, read my book while she watched TV and stayed there until it was nearly nap time.

Just keeping it real.

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You- Miniature Brides

7:00 am Bykristen

Welcome to this week’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You Carnival. If you want to join in, you can read the guidelines here.

I grew up going to church. The same church my entire childhood.

It was average size, but small enough where everyone knew everyone else’s business.

My sister and I were the only set of twins in the church. And of course, this was before multiples and fertility drugs were so common.

So, we were special. (At least we thought so.)

The youth pastor and the pastor’s daughter decided to marry. They were special and so they needed something special for their special wedding.

I’ll never forget the day my sister and I were asked to be in their huge wedding. We were going to be miniature brides. Because we were special.

The bride ordered our matching dresses, miniature replicas of her dress. I remember they were $100 each, a small fortune even now.

Even with my ‘fro, I felt like a wedding cake topper: Perfect.

We were a hit at the wedding. So much so, that we became the hottest wedding accessory! Everyone asked us to be in their wedding. I mean, if one is cute, two is adorable!

And, we already had the adorable mini bride dresses! See? We were asked again and again!

Sincerely,

‘Fro Me

Show me what you got!

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The Horror That Lies Within

8:45 pm Bykristen

My mini-van is like our mobile home.

We eat, sleep, watch movies, travel, communicate, make decisions-and much more, in our home-away-from-home.

We are going to Grandpa and Grandma’s farm for Memorial Day.

It is time to clean out the van. You didn’t see it, but I just shuttered.

I will spare you pictures. Because dried food and nastiness is so easy to visualize, isn’t it? You’ve got a mental picture, right now. See?

You’re welcome.

Here’s what I cleaned out of my vehicle:

Portable high chair, featuring 4 dried food varieties
2 Hot Wheels cars
a McDonald’s Happy Meal treasure
3 pictures of my first-born, from 3 years ago
19 cheerios
8 goldfish crackers
numerous candy wrappers
pieces of a popped balloon
2 books
one clean diaper
one pair of underwear (none of your business who’s)
a dirty sock
4 hair clippies
one hair bow
an empty Capri Sun
a dried-up strawberry fruit snack
5 game pieces from travel monopoly
one french fry from 2004
1,000,000 crumbs

To read about other disgusting things found in people’s cars, so you don’t feel so alone and ashamed, visit Rocks in My Dryer for her What’s in Your Car Carnival?

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It’s Almost Summer and I Have Anxiety Zones

7:00 am Bykristen

This week it hit 95 degrees. Yes, you read that correctly. 95, as in 5 away from 100.

It was hot.

My kids started their annual campaign to go swimming. Of course, the community pools aren’t open yet. Like that matters. They just started talking about it, planning, dreaming . . . it is the way God created them.

I find this amusing.

God created babies to grow in the tummies of Mommies. These babies love water. These Mommies have to squeeze their tummies into swimming attire to accompany their babies. In the water. Can you see the sick cycle?

Oh, yes, my friends, our God has a sense of humor. HE does.

I love this time of the year. It makes me feel frisky. But not enough to get half-naked on purpose.

Nope, I just don’t see that desire in this post-baby body.

And so, call the prayer chain, please, because I started to bathing suit shop. Three-way mirrors and all.

I have one word for you: D-E-S-P-A-I-R. (Guess where all that winter sweet tea went?)

It was so discouraging, I turned to the internet and decided to shop online. Because, the three-way mirrors can’t mock me there.

And I found a friend at Land’s End dot com. I saw words like, “anxiety zones, petite plus, tummy control, all over control” and I felt safe. Secure. At home.

Land’s End introduced me to this amazing lady.

Her name is Virtual Model. And she is helpful, indeed.

You can enter your, um, personal data and your virtual body appears. Land’s End is kind enough to pick out swimsuits that will look nice on your virtual-ness. Not one bikini appeared in my choices. They are nice that way.

Before I entered my actual, rather depressing, measurements, I decided to enhance my figure. I just made a few small changes to my height, weight, age, and lips. Oh, and I grew my hair out. Because I could.

Here is the pretend me:

I’m pretty hot, huh?

And yes, the bikini popped up in my virtual closet, so I decided to live a little.

Back to reality, ’cause I really do need a swimsuit for all that swimming my kids plan to do in a couple of weeks.

Here’s my virtual body. I’m going with black (that’s pretty much all the choices I was given because it’s slimming). But, I think it will work.

So, go on, and try it. It is almost summer, you know!

Virtual swimsuit shopping works for me. Visit Works for Me Wednesday to see what works for everyone else.

And, I have an amazing giveaway going on right now. Click here, leave a comment and you’ll have a chance to win a gorgeous custom charm bracelet valued at $60!

*Update* To use Land’s End’s Virtual Model, Pick a suit and click try it on to get to the virtual model.

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Cleaning Out Your Purse 101

7:23 pm Bykristen

Well. It did need to be cleaned out.

Yes, that is lipstick in her hand. I caught her just in time.

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Boo Mama’s Kick in the Pants

6:53 pm Bykristen

I’ve been wanting to redo my bedroom, well, pretty much since the last time I redid my bedroom.

Because 12 years is a long time to have the same decor.

Oh, I kid.

11 years is a long time to have the same decor.

Anyhoo, Boo Mama, the HGTV loving woman that she is, has encouraged her internets to get busy with a little before/after project.

So, I have a little over a month to:

1. Get me some new furniture (which works out nice since I’ve been saving for just that).

2. Give all my old decor to Goodwill.

3. Add new bedding and hang up some of my old flea market finds.

Whew! I’d better get busy!

See ya on July 25th!

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I love ETSY – Awesome Giveaway!

8:19 am Bykristen

*Update* Congratulations Storm!

I fall in love easily. It was a bit of a problem as a teen.

Until I met my hubby.

And then it seemed to be a good trait, for both of us.

It has proved to be a challenge when it comes to shopping.

I just discovered Etsy a couple of months ago. I know. Where have I been?

It was love at first click.

But I found it to be a bit overwhelming.

Until I found the pounce button. Pounce divides the beautiful homemade Etsy products into two categories: Just sold and Undiscovered. And oh, when I have a spare minute or two. I just pounce away.

As Mother’s Day approached a few weeks ago, I was in a bit of a panic about my Mother’s gift. (My mother-in-law got this beautiful bracelet and a biscuit cutter, remember?) But my Mom? Not so easy.

I had one advantage to this huge shopping challenge: she is a collector.

And so, I pounced. A lot.

I found this: Summerpoet Studio. She is a talented jewelry artist. Her specialty? Altered charm bracelets. I found this enchanting bracelet of antique photos of girls and their dolls. My mom is an avid doll collector.

You cannot imagine my delight. I bought it. And then I clicked thru every bracelet SummerPoet had for sale. Simply. Amazing. These pieces are so creative and if you need a gift? The perfect solution. She does beautiful custom work too.

Like this: my Mother’s Day gift (thanks to my sweet hubby and kids). She captured the glory of my kids in the blue bonnets:

And, she’d like to create a beautiful bracelet for one of my readers! Oh, yes, it’s true! Go over and visit Summerpoet Studio at Etsy. Come back here, leave a comment (only one, please) about which bracelet you’d choose or the winner can send her photos and have a custom Mom’s bracelet made, like mine.

So, go now, I’ll wait here for you (because I’ve memorized everything in that store). I can’t wait for you to see these amazing and creative works of art!

This giveaway will conclude at 10 pm Wednesday CST. The winner of this $60 bracelet will be announced soon after.

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My Dear Google Searchers

7:00 am Bykristen

(Google records who comes to your blog and how they find it thru the search engine. The results are often hilarious. *Update* Read Shannon’s explanation for how to do this here. It’s easy and fun and she explains it much better than I can!)

Hello, sweet Google searchers. I have been meaning to address you for weeks. I’ve been watching you on my sight reader and I must say you have misunderstood me. Because for some unknown reason, I have become an expert in these areas:

1. Mopping the floor. Now much to your surprise, I do not mop my floor often and I simply do not deserve the accolades as a proficient floor mopper. The floor. Is. Sticky. Right. Now. (That’s because the toddler is watching juice drip from her the cup she is shaking). Many people have discovered this blog ‘o mine, by googling “overflowing the toilet to mop the bathroom floor.” And while I have never actually tried this or blogged about it, I think it is an excellent idea and I may just have try it. Thank you.

2. 80′s Hair pictures. Well. Who knew so many of you cared about the hair style of the 1980′s. Apparently, I wasn’t the only victim of home perms resulting in afros. I am sorry for your pain. We meet for therapy every Thursday. Please join us. We care. And I’m sorry to the souls out there who found me by googling, “mother takes son for first perm pictures” and “forced perm”, I feel your pain. I really do.

3. THAT family. I think we all fit into certain stereotypes. I’ve learned that not only are we THAT family, we are also, “a style family” (thank you, truly), “a perming family” (you know how to wound), an “esl family” (I’ve learned much from Dora the Explorer), and a “real cruel family.” (Yes, some days.) And my favorite, “a godly family.” Not so many days, but we try.

4. Squirrels. Yes, come here for your squirrel counseling. We have a plethora of ideas on controlling their population, including, but not limited too, scaring them into accidental drowning. Oh, and by the way, you know who you are, No, I haven’t tried to “fry a squirrel.” Yet.

5. Miscellaneous. And finally, to those of you who were searching for answers and inadvertently found me, I hope you found peace with your a. profound itch b. reckless driving c. hairy arms d. strangling each other e. being vomited on.

Oh, and to the soul out there in the blogosphere waiting with baited breath for this answer:

No, my hubby is not my twin.

The End.

P.S. Come back for an awesome giveaway tomorrow!!

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Update to My Update

7:01 am Bykristen

1. Many of you have asked about my recovery from my little medical procedure. Well. It’s gone well. So well, that I’ve been hankering for another procedure. Because all that attention was nice. Oh, I jest. I’ll know in a few weeks if the little job worked. If it did, well, you will get entirely too many details. Promise.

2. I got to take a bath today for the first time in two weeks since the procedure. Can we just have a moment of silence? My daughter was worried about me, because we all know, taking a shower is second-best. I’m just saying.

3. Got half of the parenting books in the mail. Started one on audio for the car line. It’s giving me some perspective, ‘like hey, we’re doing okay.’ I’ve read 3 pages of another and it made me feel, ‘like hey, we’re not doing okay.’ Maybe I should read one at a time.

4. My son is officially 6! And I’m glad that I don’t have to plan another party until December!

We hit the bull’e eye with the Nerf Birthday party!

It was a lot of fun and who knew we could make camo look so stylish?

5. I shared this photo with you earlier this week in my pesky squirrel post. Recap: The squirrels were running amuck, scaring off the birds, trampling my flowers and dumping the

seed into my little garden.

In my pesky squirrel *update*, I told you I had come up with a solution to the squirrels trampling my flowers.

That’s going well.

But I am disturbed about a new problem. Shocking, I know.

Today, when I went outside to water my flowers, this is what I saw:

Is it just me, or is it ironic that I cannot keep my flowers alive, but I can grow quite the birdseed crop?

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A Noise with Dirt on It: My Son

7:00 am Bykristen

Happy Birthday, my sweet six year old boy!

Today you asked me if I was sad that you were growing up.

“No, not sad. I just think there are some things you won’t want to do anymore as you get older . . . “

“Like what?” you asked.

So, I told you.

And you promised to always:

Crawl into my lap and let me sniff your neck, even when you are 6’1
Hug me at school in front of your cool friends
Tell me I’m prettier without makeup
Live with me forever (I may regret this one. . . )
Always be my little boy

Happy Birthday, honey. I love you.

And …………………..

Later today at your Nerf party, I will be using one of these-

to get you! Watch your back!

Down here in good ol’ Texas, we teach ‘em young!

Yeah, we are THAT family!

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Just Like Dad

7:00 am Bykristen

. . . continuation from here . . .

We’ve laughed quite a bit about my son’s obvious interest in girly things. I thought it was completely normal, in an abnormal way.

He was born loving his big sister and looking up to her.

And I mentioned the pink, right?

Lots of pink.

We thought the Dora obsession was cute. She was a new TV character back then and it was precious hearing him walk around the house saying, “I did it!”

(I should add here that all good things come to an end. I don’t find Dora, her theme song, or her orange shirt, pink shorts and coordinating backpack precious anymore. Adios, Dora).

And dressing up in his sister’s princess stuff happens every day, right? DO NOT burst my bubble here, people.

But when my son asked for a pink Singer Sewing machine for Christmas last year, there was cause for concern.

“He’s five,” my hubby said.

“Well, he sees his sister’s sewing machine and he likes it,” I explained.

Now, don’t get me wrong, he liked boy things too. He just hadn’t found his little niche. He liked whatever his sister liked. And with his sister’s strong personality in the mix, he had few choices. It was her pink way or no way.

Well. We both drew the line. No pink sewing machine.

And then just like that–snap of the fingers–it happened.

We were on a family bike ride. I was pulling the baby in the bike trailer. My hubby led the pack with my daughter and son in the middle.

The breeze was blowing. The sun was shining. And that’s when it happened.

My hubby spit.

Life-changing I know. Stay with me.

I mean it was a clear-your-throat-over-the-shoulder SPIT. The kind that makes me shudder.

You could almost see the light bulb go off in my son’s brain:

He cleared his throat and spit–

Just like Dad.

It was beautiful. As much as spit can be, um, beautiful.

“Did you see that?” my hubby called, pride evident in his tone.

“I did,” I called. He could hear the smile in my voice.

And with that small gesture, a lot of things started happening. Boy things. Dirty, smelly, noise-making boy things. My heart is swelling, I’m sure.

My little guy can’t get enough of his Dad. He wants to be just like him.

He starts baseball next month. His idea.

When I hug him now, he smells like a stinky boy.

Tomorrow, he turns six and he’s growing up. Too fast, for me.

He’s excited about one thing: he heard there’s lot of spitting in baseball.

Food for the Soul:

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”-Ecclesiastes 11:5

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You- The Cross*Dresser

10:00 pm Bykristen

Welcome to this week’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You Carnival. If you want to join in, you can read the guidelines here.

We have one son.

He is the only son we will have.

He is sandwiched between two sisters.

He is easy-going. He is sensitive and thinks of others.

Can you offer a moment of silence for him?

Thank you.

My hubby has some normal expectations of his son:

Don’t ever hit a girl

Your sisters are girls

Respect my wife

Your mom is my wife

Excel at sports. If this is not possible, be a rough and tumble boy and do not act like, well, your sisters.

I want to talk about that last one.

My boy is not athletic. It doesn’t come naturally to him. Let me just put it this way: his one experience on a soccer team?

H-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s.

He was there to give flowers to the the girls on the other team. He was scoring all right. I’m not even kidding.

In fairness to my son, he was born into the home of a demanding two year old sister who was in the height of pink, princess and pretty dress up.

He didn’t stand a chance.

I’ll never forget when he wore this:

and this

And can you blame him? Those are some pretty volcanic ensembles. I mean, it takes fashion sense to put those shoes together with that outfit.

My hubby was not too thrilled with my son’s interest.

Thankfully, he outgrew the phase and the outfits and moved on to Dora the Explorer.

He loved her. A lot. On his second birthday, she was on his cake and was near and dear to his heart.

She adorned his house shoes and his blankie.

He moved from Dora to the Disney Princess’.

Again, it was hard to blame him because they are hot. I’m just saying.

My hubby put his foot down when he asked for his own dress up box just like sisters. Santa delivered one stocked full of boy dress up clothes. Santa is nice, that way.

One question hung in the air, when will he be like Dad? Aren’t boys supposed to emulate their fathers? My hubby may be many things, but a cross dresser isn’t one of them.

Just one more thing to be thankful for.

. . . To be continued tomorrow in celebration of my son’s 6th birthday this weekend. . .

And, now it’s your turn:

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The First

11:00 am Bykristen

Being the first born kid has some major advantages: more attention, more stuff, more opportunities for parents to learn, more mistakes.

I parent my second child different than my first. And my third? Well, let’s just say she gets away with a lot.

I just ordered a whole slew of Christian parenting books I’ve been wanting to read. Because there are days, my friends, that I need a guide! While searching, I ran across this new research that proves that the oldest child does have it tougher. Great! More guilt.

Do you parent your firstborn differently? Do you expect more? Demand more results?

Talk to me, people!

Food for the Soul:

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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Decor Tip: The Walls are Talking Plus Giveaway

7:00 am Bykristen

We have a Just Stickem Up Winner! Thanks so much for participating. Make sure you visit this fantastic ebay store! Congratulations Marcy of The Glamorous Life! Stay tuned for another AMAZING giveaway on Tuesday next week.

I love me some words. I surround myself with them. That’s why I’m kinda wordy.

My home tells a story. Literally.

Here is what it is saying:

“Welcome to my

I’d like to say it’s

, but we live in the city.

One day though, we plan to

and have

some land, but for now, this is

You may

Our

started

We produced one strong girl who is reminded daily

, whether she is currently grounded or not.

Our son, sandwiched between two sisters feels like walking the plank some days.

His heart sings this song

And the baby doesn’t go to bed without saying

I am the

, but I do not

it.

But even I have to remember the motto of our home:

And

and we

We are THAT family.

Many of my wall words came from this fabulous online ebay store called Just Stickem Up. This is the newest craze in home decor. And you know me, I’m cutting edge in that department! This is an affordable way to jazz up a room and to make a statement. These are also so easy to apply and remove!

Just Stickem Up has generously offered to give a reader a $30 gift certificate. Go, look around and enjoy all their fun sayings. Come back here and leave a comment about what you want your walls to say! Contest ends tonight (Wednesday) at 10 pm CST.

To discover more great tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday.

You can also find some awesome pictures at 5 Minutes for Mom’s Wordless Wednesday.

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Squirrel Update

4:30 pm Bykristen

Well. First of all, I’d like to thank my Heavenly Father for not creating me to be a squirrel.

Because they face some serious adversaries. Ahem.

And secondly, I’d like to thank you for helping me with my pesky squirrel problem. I poured over your ideas: water guns, bigger Nerf Darts, pellets guns (oh, dear), squirrel dog, paintball guns, and my personal favorite, grease down the chains that hold the feeder for a slippery, yet entertaining show. Oh. And my next favorite? Place leaves on top of a barrel full of water. The trickery drowns them.

My, you guys are, um, ~~violent~~ helpful.

As for cooking up a batch of fried squirrel? Who am I kidding? I can’t even get my kids to eat the casserole I made for dinner last night. The squirrels are their friends, so this might cause additional future therapy.

And who knew there was a whole aisle dedicated to birds of the air and pesky squirrels of the deck at Walmarts. I stood there and debated my choices. I almost went with the Squirrel-B-Gone feeder. Well. Because the name cracked me up.

I also nearly ran over to the snack aisle and grabbed some cheerios and vanilla wafers that a few of you suggested I use as squirrel repellant. But they don’t repel me at all, so I scratched those yummy treats off my list.

But I did decide on this:

I got a wire cage to hang corn in too. Because I’m that nice. Even to pesky squirrels who trample my flowers.

And, I moved the feeder to a shepherd’s hook because that idea was just brilliant. And as you can see, Mr. Cardinal is doing some fine dining.

So, thank you my interpeeps, for caring enough to help me deal with one of my issues.

I have many more.

Like this song and video, for instance. It’s been one of my favorites since childhood. And, with all the squirrel talk, I had an itching for it:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_067ahbXfg]

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Those Pesky Squirrels

7:00 am Bykristen

Squirrels.

We live in a wooded community. With squirrels. Many squirrels. We co-inhabit, nicely.

I’ve always thought they were kinda cute, in a stay-away-from-me-in-case-you-have-rabies-sorta-way.

Well.

The squirrels are driving me NUTS.

We have this lovely bird feeder filled with lovely seed for the lovely cardinal couple who live in our backyard.

And the pesky squirrels think the lovely feeder was prepared for them. Because these are seed-eating squirrels. Apparently. So, we’ve had to move the bird feeder out of the squirrel’s reach. Several times.

Normally, I would just let nature take it’s course. I don’t really have time to care for the birds of the air. Mainly, because I can hardly remember the needs of my real children. (I forgot to send my son to school with his glasses on twice last week.) So, the birds are lucky there’s even seed in the feeder. But the seed is falling into my flowers. Therein lies the problem.

My flowers are being trampled and destroyed by squirrel paws. This is the second time I’ve planted in my flower box.

Always on his toes, my hubby took the matter into his own hands. I was drawn outside to him yelling, “Gotcha, sucker!” I was afraid of what I might find: