Pet Rocks and Their Habitats

So I saw this post from a blogger I occasionally follow the other day sharing about an activity she did with her kids-  making Pet Rocks.  They were actually pretty stinking cute, and although the concept is kind of ridiculous.  I was like "eh...why not!?"  So yesterday when we went on a walk I told Abbie about what I wanted to do, and encouraged her to collect a few rocks, pine cones, etc while we were out so we could make our Pet Rocks and their habitat.  She was beyond excited!  I had planned to just have her gather the materials yesterday, and then work on the project today, but she was so excited to get started that she was basically begging me after the walk to get started painting them.  So I let her.  She painted and named them-  Mommy, Daddy, Abigail, Alex, Lilly, Nana, Papa, and Josie (Nana and Papa's dog :)  I added eyes and mouths.

We glued down a few pine cones.  Made them a bed out of a Kleenex box.  Made some bushes out of bunched up coffee filters she had painted green, and we had our Pet Rock habitat!  Last night she tucked them into their bed, covered them up with a doll blanket and requested we tiptoe out of the room and speak in whispers.  This morning she ran into the kitchen and announced "Everybody's up!"  Sure enough when I got out to the kitchen, she had everyone awake and out of bed.  The post I shared above, was done by an 8 year old, so ours is the 4 year old version in a house that lacked some of the same craft supplies like the fake grass etc, but Abbie didn't care.  She was insistent today though that we get "Alex" (the rock) a high chair to sit in.  I was racking my brain trying to think of how we could create that....all I could envision was a popsicle stick, glue gun experiment gone bad and coming out on the other side with badly burned fingers.  Then I realized.  Abbie is creative.  I could ask her to help me solve the problem.  So I asked "What do we have in our house that we could make a high chair for your pet rocks out of?  I ended up suggesting legos because she absolutely loves creating new things from her legos and off she ran.....I helped her create the lego version of a "high chair" and she then proceeded to create a bench, and stairs for her Pet Rocks.

Making Pet Rock furniture out of legos-  high chairs, benches, and staircases!

Here they are all snug in their bed for the night.  

The rock she picked out for me is green and literally makes me look like I am a rock frog, but I'm cool with that.  She has been having so much fun with them all day today!

Cheapest activity ever.... you can literally create your Pet Rocks and Habitat from leftovers around the house.  A shoe box is a great size.  I happened to have a larger box on hand.  We then glued an empty kleenex box in it for the bed.  Placed scrapbook paper on the walls to add some color.  Gathered rocks, and pine cones from outside.  Rocks were painted with paint we had on hand so our cost was literally $0, and I got one well entertained really active child out of the deal!  It's a win win!

No don't ya'll go judging me thinking "Frickin crazy pinterest mom, who has time for that!"  Cause really I don't, and pinterest and I have a love hate relationship, but I have found for as often as trying to do an organized project with the kids drives me crazy....these crazy projects always make the best memories, and I don't want my kids to remember me as the mom who never tried new things, who never played with them, who kept the house clean, and cooked all the time (though I do need to do those things), I would much rather be the mom who took time to try new things even when they fail and make a big mess, because those are the things we will remember.

Many Blessings,

Changes Are Coming!!!

So I have something I've been wanting to say for awhile, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  To be honest.  I needed to deal with my own emotions before I talked about it publicly.

So I'm just going to lay it out there....We're moving.  Again.  I think the reason I had to "deal" with myself first was because I was angry and ashamed....feeling like we're flighty...afraid of being judged that we can't just "sit still" somewhere for awhile, but once I dealt with myself I realized that life is change.  Some people move once and stay put their whole lives.  Some people have the same job for years.  Some people don't, and it's not bad.  God has different plans for different people, and this is His plan for us, and maybe just maybe because He knows how tightly I cling to familiarity, and being stable, and my inability to accept change easily....maybe He knows what I need most in order to make me cling to Him more, because really He is all that I should be holding tightly to anyway.

Truth is, if you live in Chicago or the suburbs, the reality of your life here is knowing you probably will more often than not spend a lot of time in your car.  We knew the reality.  We accepted the reality before coming here and we made the best choice we could with the amount of time we were given and the amount of money we had.  We were on the 5 year plan...hoped to live here and save for 5 years to afford a house since we moved from a starter home in Normal IL to buying a condo in the Chicago suburbs.  2 years in....we can't handle the commute as a family anymore.

My husbands drive to work is 29 miles...29.  Now when you grow up surrounded by the cornfields of central IL, that is no big deal!  There 1 mile typically equaled 1 minute.  Here...ha!  His drive 9 times out of 10 takes him 1 hour and 10 minutes...one way!  That's about 2 1/2 hours of driving daily.  He gets home at the kids worst time of day, and is so exhausted from dealing with Chicago traffic that he typically needs to rest away from us for a bit before he can put his "dad" and "husband" hats on.  We tried...we really did, and I know how badly Dave wanted to push through and do this for 3 more years to save up enough money to buy a bigger home, but He can't.  He's got nothing left at the end of every day.  So, on Wednesday, our house goes on the market, and I've had a few months now to come to terms with this.  This both excites and terrifies me.  I'm excited to be able to afford a house instead of a condo (all be it, it will probably be a small one), and we should be able to have a yard and potentially a basement and a 1 or 2 car garage....and when we stop for a moment and decide not to compare ourselves to what everyone else in the suburbs seems to have, and instead embrace what God has given us....we see how blessed we really are.  Besides...smaller homes mean less time spent cleaning, maintaining, and expense!  So I'm choosing to look at the bright side :)

If you could say a few prayers for this process we would so appreciate it.  It is so hard for me to look at the amount of money a mortgage is on a meager house here and feel "good" about spending it.  What we are looking for will probably need work done to it in order to make it affordable to us, but I know God cares about details, and we aren't asking for a mansion.  We are asking for basics...so that Dave can be the dad and husband he wants to be and not come home from work everyday with nothing left.  Him being able to be involved at church because of his commute, has been really hard, and we both want to be a family that is involved at church together and serving.  We feel that even though the timetable for moving isn't what we wanted, that God is leading us in this direction and so I lay this all down again.  God knows our needs.  He knows the plans He has for us.  He knows where He is taking us, and so I must trust Him.  I watched him work two years ago to sell our house in a little over 2 months, and take care of all the details from closing on one house, to closing on this condo, to being able to move in right away.  I know He will do it again.  I know He will provide the exact house He wants for us.  Will it be perfect?  Of course not!  Can any house He gives us be made into a home...you betcha!

And so I thought, since I never really shared with you before and after photos of what our condo looked like when we bought it, to what we turned it into...that I should share now, because our condo won't really be ours much longer.  It's been a good space.  A home.  A place that we made ours.  A place that will always be a part of the memories God has given us in this season, and for now we pray....God your will be done.  Help me let this place go.  Help me embrace the changes coming and trust you with all that I am!

Here you go...enjoy!  And if you know of anyone looking for a large 3 bed, 2 bath condo in the south Chicago suburbs with great school districts let me know ;)

 Abbie's Room Before:

Abbie's Room After:

 (Cost-  just paint and cheap flowers I made out of scrapbook paper, framed in old picture frames I spray painted white...so maybe $25-$35??)

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

(Cost-  New kitchen sink and faucet replaced, new paint color, and new hardware I bought on clearance for 98 cents a knob!  Around $400)

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:  

(Cost-  New laminate wood floor, paint, supplies to mount TV on wall, area rug $150 on an overstock website online with free shipping (it is like a $250-$300 rug!  Repurposed old decor that I spray painted to what I wanted and made my own "last name" wall hanging for like a buck using modge podge and a repurposed old shelf that I hung up with thick white rope.  I don't even know what the floor ended up costing because it caused us a lot of problems to redo.  We finally ended up hiring someone to professionally level the floor for us at around $1000 and I think the materials cost us about $1000 too)

Dining Room Before:

Dining Room After: 

Cost-  New light fixture ($50 on sale I think?), flooring is part of the LR flooring cost, an old oil painting Dave's grandparents gave us that I painted the frame on (it was a really ugly gold color), and "Family Rules" wall art that I designed the graphic on myself and got a super duper mega coupon on for a canvas website to get it placed on.

Alex's Room:

(Cost-  this originally was another portion of the LR that we walled off into a 3rd bedroom.  It originally was a 3rd bedroom that the previous owner had knocked the wall down for.  We just had it reinstalled.  It was gifted to us so cost...nada.  Just the $8 or so I spent on scrap fabric to make the wall hangings and again more repurposed picture frames I spray painted.  This was the original color of the LR so we already had the paint color.

Our Room:

(Cost-  nothing...we didn't do anything in here.  I like green so we kept it :) 

Bathroom (1 of 2):

Cost-  nothing...we really didn't do much but replace the hardware which was included in my originally expense for the kitchen hardware.  I bought enough knobs to change all hardware in the entire house for about $30!  I replaced the mirror in this room because it was an old unframed one that was ugly.  I had the mirror though so we just hung it up in place of the old one...cost to us..nothing!

Well there is most of it anyway!  We seriously covet your prayers during this time...that God would lead us to exactly the place He wants us to be, and that it would be a space we would be able to wisely live within our means, and call our home!

Blessings,

Abbie's 4th birthday

April 3, 2015

Abigail,


Happy Birthday big girl!  Today you are 4, and what a wonderful 4 years it has been!  I'm so thankful that God called me to be your mama.  I know some days mommy seems so tired, and there is never enough time in one day to get everything done, so thank you for loving me in my days as we figure out life together :)

Today is all about you!  So let me tell you some of the many things I love about you!

• Your servant heart-  you are so quick to help me out, your brother out, and your friends out especially if you see someone upset or crying.  You will go grab a tissue or hug and kiss them to help them feel better.  Don't ever lose that compassion!
• You are smart-  you so quickly learn new skills and readily and eagerly understand things as we teach you about your world.  I know sometimes things are hard and you want to quit and give up, but never forget that it's not about being perfect.  It's about practicing to improve, to get better and the purpose that is in that process.  You may someday be talented at many things, but you will never get there if you don't work hard at it.
• You are beautiful-  your beautiful blue eyes and beautiful blonde curls may someday drive you crazy.  I know mine did for most of my life.  I hated them...until I acknowledged God gave me curls and learned to love mine because He gave them to me.  Besides you have a mama who has curls and understands the frustrations of them....at least we can mourn together someday on the days when it's 95% humidity in an Illinois summer!
• Your sense of humor-  you are really funny, and not just because you are my child, but seriously....you are really funny.  You crack jokes, are super silly, and have a great sense of humor!  Don't ever stop smiling and laughing in your days!  Keep finding joy no matter what you do!
• You are a leader-  already at such a young age it is very obvious that you are a leader- you make up games and play plans and delegate responsibilities to your peers and for some reason they all follow you....may I encourage you to never loose those skills, but to keep a tight rein on them.  When in positions of authority one has power, and power can be so quickly used to hurt, control, manipulate, and for bad.  Always choose to use this for good-  to glorify God in whatever journey He sends you on.  With leadership comes accountability, and when you leave your position of leadership at God's feet and ask Him to be glorified in your work and play and for Him to lead your steps....amazing things will happen!
• Your love for God-  this is the most amazing thing about you....already at such a young age you understand what Jesus did for you on the cross.  A few months ago you asked Him into your heart...such an amazing moment to be a part of as a parent and I am so glad we are on this journey with you!  We will do our best to continue to teach you about God's amazing love for you, and I'm sure you will teach us a thing or two in the process!  Never forget that everything you ever do in this life is ultimately for Him...your work ethic in school, someday in a job, your relationships and how you treat others, your attitude...it's all for Him.  We get one life to live, make it count, and know that we are right here beside you trying to do the same thing!

Here are a few pictures from our day:

 You helping frost some of the extra pieces from your cake....I later found out you ate them all without telling me :)

 The Birthday Plate I made this year for our family to use on our birthdays (unfortunately Pinterest led me astray....I now need to touch it up with "oil based sharpies" instead of regular ones and bake it again to make sure it's permanent!

 You with your Minnie Mouse Birthday Cake

You specifically wanted the inside of the cake to be blue and the outside to be pink with white polka dots and black frosting-  it looks like a messed up gender reveal cake, but it's what you wanted, and it's your day! :)

This weekend we are celebrating your birthday along with some of your friends birthdays with a picnic at the zoo-  looking forward to fun times with some of our favorite people.

Thank you Abigail for the blessing of being able to call you our daughter!  I love you more than mostest mostest more more more more mostest mostest...

MORE!

Love,

Mama