happy homemaker

I have really enjoyed these last few days of being a stay at home mother! Now that most of the workers, painters, landscapers are gone...and we no longer have any house guests living here (for now!), I am LOVING my solitude, privacy, cleanliness and home.

I love being able to leave the kitchen dirty until I get back from the gym, and not having to feel embarrassed for whomever might stop by and see my mess! It's so nice to just come home, unload the kiddos, take a HOT shower and get ready by 11am (vs a 7am crunch like last year).

I love doing my small daily chores (dusting, dishes, laundry, vacumming, etc). Little by little, the house gets cleaned...and dirtied...and then cleaned again. A never ending project, but I am grateful to have TIME at home to clean it as I go...and not stress over it b/c I am working full time or have places to go all the time. I love having time to email and research and chat online!

I love making lunch dates with new friends at their homes and getting to know them better. I love play dates for Isaac, even if he won't leave my side during it all. I love having the freedom to do these things...socializing!

I love spending time with Isaac as he plays alongside me and follows me everywhere (ok, that part does get annoying and I am working on having patience! He is really good at watching movies, so I have that outlet...) I love sharing quesadillas and liquados and cuddling him up. No more naps for him, but I think I like the afternoon "outings" that we can now have. I love tossing the ball on the floor with him, reading him books, giving him "crackers and milk" and how he insists that I watch him as he "peets!" (potty)

I love taking care of my baby Levi. I love feeding him, cooing with him, rocking him, and setting up the humidifier with Vicks so he will sleep soundly. I love rubbing his fuzzy hair and kissing his slobbery wet double chin.

I love being able to go to ANY grocery store I want without a time restrain! I love having our little bit of money to spend on weekly food budgets, and making the menus and price matching with the neighborhood stores. I love having dinners and afternoon snacks ready for my boys.

Mean mom DOES come out nightly around 8pm, but other than that "twilight hour" of madness where my kids are LOUD and obnoxious, I am truly HAPPY to be at HOME.

Baseball winter 2011

Baseball season came and left us in a hurry. Wesley can be seen at any moment just swinging an imaginary bat in the air all around the house. He LOVES baseball and he LOVES sports. Thank goodness that Grandpa Lowe was available to take him to and from practices this season b/c they were twice a week at 7:30pm! Really! Mama has no time for that...she's got to be home with the other sweet boys and put them to BED.

We all enjoyed the chilly Saturday morning games and seeing Wes throw a few balls to base. I better get used to this sports scene b/c it won't be leaving me any time soon!

I really do love seeing Wesley play and it makes my heart full when I see him play :)

Hidden Manna

I was complaining to Jared just last week about how I hadn't received a calling in church yet... we were sitting in Gospel Doctrine, the calling that I formerly had, and I was feeling insecure and kinda sad that I had not been extended the same invitation to continue teaching (now that we are in a new ward). My counterpart had been called to teach the class, but I had not.

I couldn't focus in the class, as this new teacher is pretty in depth and likes to dive deep into doctrinal ideas. I leaned over to Jared, and asked him, "What are we learning about?" He said, "hidden manna." What? I still had no idea what that meant, but I was GLAD to not be teaching that class! What the heck is hidden manna? Jared then told me to be grateful to have this little break and to not stress having a calling, that my time will come.

Not 10 min later, a brother in the ward pulled me aside. He then asked me if I had been the previous gospel doctrine teacher, which I told him I had. Then he said that the current teacher was being released and wanted to know if I would teach. So, pretty much, out of default I am going to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher again! He then asked me if I knew of anyone else who was a teacher that would be a good fit. What? Is this inspiration b/c I sure don't feel like it!

So...now I get to research Revelations in the Bible for this last lesson. It's pretty in depth with the seven seals, etc. I am a bit nervous b/c I don't know the people in this new ward by name, and they seem to want to really be "in depth" during class. I am NOT an in depth kind of teacher! I am more about feeling the spirit and being refreshed by others' comments.

I am nervous. Hopefully class will go well tomorrow and I won't feel too incompetent.

Dear Santa

Enjoyed the good 'ol Surprise 2nd ward Christmas party this year. Lasagna, rolls, salad and chocolate was on the menu. My boys told Santa what they wanted (Austin: ninja robot, Wesley: tetherball and DVD's, Isaac: Buzz).

Isaac helped himself to the butter on the table and ate it with a knife. Wes and Austin got sweaty chasing each other after the Christmas program.

I enjoyed all the fudge and homemade cookies that I could, while rocking and nursing Levi.

New look and new pantry

I decided to cut bangs...so...I googled how to do it on youtube and went for it! It's fun to have a different look, as well as longer layers. I have also been obsessive of my eyelashes, wanting them to look longer, thicker and curlier. I combined a few different mascaras, bought a spoolie and continue to crimp them as often as I can.

We also got a new pantry! We took out the desk unit in our kitchen, threw in a door and shelves, and now have a beautiful extra pantry that I use for breakfast and snack items. I love to keep it organized, and now my shopping list is quicker to make b/c I can actually SEE the food I need.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love the Christmas season. People tend to be more patient, generous and loving. I especially wait at my door for those yummy baked goodie plates to be dropped off! This year we did our usual Christmas traditions; sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, Mesa Christmas lights, school Christmas concerts and setting up the tree. I love spending time with good friends and seeing the excitement spill over from my boys as they see the tree getting set up with presents laid under neath it and seeing Santa talk to them via email. Thanks Jerry/Jane for the thoughtful gifts, Ashton's for the chilly stroll through the lights, and the Mariner's for all the sugar pumped into Austin and Isaac's body (vs the actual gingerbread house)!

Even though the boys have good intentions of putting up Christmas with me (including our attempt at lights outside...only to have them fall down and Jared had to fix them), I usually end up doing it all alone. I love taking out the decor and remembering the fun ornaments and Santa Claus collection that I now have.

Merry Christmas!