Sewing to save some cash

The kids and I are out and about during lunch time a lot, and I always pack our lunches. I usually go through Ziplocs like crazy, but a lot of the time it's for things that don't make too much of a mess in the bag (e.g., carrots, dry cereal). So yesterday I used some scrap pieces of fabric to make some reusable, sandwich-size bags. Because a lot of the waterproof fabrics available are not food-safe (and the ones that claim to be are still suspect, I think), I used plain cotton on both the outside and inside and will wash the bags in the regular laundry. (Actually, one of the bags in the first picture does have a waterproof outside layer; it's a laminated cotton.) I played around with snaps and velcro closures and will see which we end up preferring.

Life with 3

OC Fair

Jon worked in the CEF booth at the fair again this year. He was assigned to Saturday, July 16, so at the last minute we decided to go a few hours early and take the kids. They were ecstatic.

Nate was a tiny (tiny) bit braver this year but still didn't ride most of the rides the other kids went on. Everyone had a blast!

Sweet pictures

The kids this morning. (Shocking side note: Lucy is the only one dressed. With no fussing. It's the sequins!)

Fruit of the Spirit project

In our "first full day at home" on Wednesday, the kids and I started this project, inspired by Casey.

While the kids colored these sheets, we read Galatians 5:22-26 a few times. Then they colored in the tree I drew while we listened to this song.



We picked a lemon for the first fruit and talked about what it means to love. How do we show love to one another? The kids' suggestions were cute. Lucy said, "When Nate or Levi gets hurt, when I go to the freezer and get an ice pack for them." Levi said, "I say I love you to Nate and Lucy." Nate suggested sharing toys and giving hugs. Then, throughout the day, I pointed out the times the kids were showing love to each other--and I even saw a few instances that wouldn't have happened if we hadn't been talking about it (e.g., at the park, Levi wanted the lower swing that Nate was on, and Nate, looking to make sure I was watching, got off and gave it to him--definitely a rare occurrence).

In response to the fighting among the kids and ungratefulness toward me, I thought this project would be a good summer focus for us. And as much as the kids need it, I probably need it more. In my own reading Wednesday, I read the verses that precede the fruit of the Spirit verses, where the "works of the flesh" include "outbursts of anger" (5:20). And man, have I really been letting that rule my life lately. I have not been practicing self-control or gentleness (hello, two fruits of the Spirit) at all. I really don't want to be a yeller. I don't want the children to get used to me treating them this way. I look at old videos from when Nate was small and Lucy was just born, and I was so patient. What happened? I know that motherhood stress and busyness and whatnot have taken their toll, but really, it comes down to whether or not I'm walking in the Spirit. When I am continually renewing my spirit by fellowshipping with the Lord and reading the Word, that's when I'm "in the light" and can avoid "carry[ing] out the desires of the flesh." When I rely on my own strength, I fail. So this summer project, like I said, is as much (or more) for me as it is for the children.

Today we will talk about joy. Anyone know a fruit that starts with J?

Too much complaining

I've taken the kids on several super-fun outings lately (e.g., water play in a friend's back yard with slip-n-slide, or meeting friends at the fountains at the Spectrum and bringing lunch), only to have what feels like the entire outing be filled with whining and complaining ("You didn't bring a sandwich for me?" "I wanted the other bathing suit!" "The water is too coooooold!" "This isn't what I wanted to eat!"). By the end of the play date (which has sometimes ended early because I make us leave because of the complaining), I am discouraged and frustrated (and mad) and ask myself, "Why do I even try? Why did we even come?" I feel like I put in a lot of effort and prep work for these types of things, making and packing everyone's lunch, packing swim gear, sunscreening each child, etc. I guess deep down I must feel like the kids should appreciate all that effort and be thankful and behave well and at least be happy--but those things (at least the thankfulness and behavior) don't come naturally. They need to be trained.

So today is day 2 of just. staying. home. I think we just need to slow down. I need to select our outings carefully so as not to overload our week. A friend (Kim) mentioned something recently about how she tries to do a day-on, day-off approach (if one day has an out-of-the-house activity, then the next day is at home). That sounds smart to me. Yesterday, in our full day at home, I noticed less fighting (I think) and maybe a tiny bit less complaining (maybe). :)

Life snapshot #2

It has been 8 months since I did my first "life snapshot," so it feels like time for another one.

The good

• Summer is awesome. This is really our first "real" summer, since Nate has been in school or therapy year-round since before he was 2. Everyone loved swim lessons. Pool days are perfect; everyone is at a good age/stage for them (Nate can swim now; Lucy is basically water safe; Levi is afraid of the water, which is perfect since he just stays on the steps).
• I'm so excited about homeschooling. OK, well, to be honest, I alternate between being super excited and being overwhelmed/anxious. Of course, that's only natural. I love the idea of doing the work and being organized. It's just a matter of making sure we do the work and stay organized! :) I also don't want to over-commit to activities and groups and whatnot.
  
• Levi is irresistible. I don't remember either of the other two children ever spontaneously saying, "I love you, Mama," but this boy does. (That isn't a slight of the other two; they always respond appropriately with "I love you, too" and give hugs and cuddles.) I remember back to 6 or 7 months ago, when I was spoon-feeding Levi his soft-boiled egg one morning (too messy otherwise), he looked up and said, "Mama, you're so sweet." Those were the only words he knew to express what he wanted to say. I melted. I just love his sweet kisses and words.
• I continue to be blessed by being married to Jon. He has been working HARD lately and under lots of stress, so I especially appreciate that he comes home and is still a terrific dad and husband.

The difficult

• Fighting children. It feels like much less fighting occurs when just two children are present, but when you add in the third (doesn't matter who it is), things blow up. Nate has been pestering Lucy and Levi a lot (feels like constantly).
  
• In fact, in general it feels like I'm struggling with Nate. (The Lucy struggles are still there, but those are "normal" at this point. The Nate stuff isn't.) He acts hyper and gets all up in Lucy's and Levi's space, pestering them and stirring up fighting. He has been speaking disrespectfully and in general just kind of "hard to handle." At this point, I shouldn't have to watch him like a hawk when we're on a play date, but I feel I have to to make sure he isn't mean to the other kid(s). Part of the issue here is that I know I avoid disciplining him at times because he reacts so strongly to the discipline and I don't want to deal with the 30-minute-long fallout. So, hello, this is all starting with me!

Video & pictures

I took this video wanting to catch how cute Levi looks scooting along on his little car. It also ends up showing what we have to do every few minutes when we're out on the street before dinner time.



Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks:

4th of July year by year

2011


2010 (no picture of all three!)


2009


2008


It was so fun going through some older pictures and looking at how SWEET Nate was with Levi (and is generally with babies):

Happy 4th!

God bless America!

I read this article this morning and give it a hardy "Amen!"