Our First Thanksgiving... at home

Yes, we've celebrated Thanksgiving many times before, but this year was the first time we didn't have plans to celebrate some where else. Hubby decided we should cook our own turkey. I was kind of surprised that he wanted to but also excited. One thing about never cooking turkey dinner is you never get the leftovers.

So here's a pic of our daughter helping with making the stuffing.

Here's our turkey after hubby got a plate full for the table.

Here's our "fancy" table full of Thanksgiving goodness.

And dessert, cherry pie. Yum!

Scored a pumpkin pie later in the week for daughter and I to share since the boys don't like pumpkin. ;)

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
 

Why I do things the way I do things

We’ve had our little family in our own home for almost 6 years now. I’ve been trying the last little while to get a handle on the domestic part of my existence as a stay-at-home-mom. Some days I do better than others, but I know I’m growing in experience and learning better how to do things. One thing really sticks out in my mind, though: I do things the way I do things on purpose. Here are a few reasons why:

I want my kids to be safe despite my cleaning. I realized quite quickly that I didn’t really know how to clean. What am I supposed to use? How often do I need to clean? With little ones crawling around on the floor, I wanted to be sure my kids wouldn’t get sick from whatever I was using to clean. I have discovered that I can use homemade cleaners instead of buying expensive ones that are full of chemicals.

I like to do things in a certain order so I don’t have to remember every step. Busy moms have a lot on their minds. Having to remember small details can be frustrating and annoying. So instead, I try to do things in the same order every time. For example, when I put a load of laundry into the dryer, I put all the clothes in, then the dryer sheet, turn the dial, clean the lint trap, and hit the button.

I don’t want to feel like I’m cleaning all the time.  Okay, yes I’m home pretty much all day every day. That doesn’t mean I should have to clean all day or even feel like I am. So I’m trying to schedule things, doing a little every day or at least every day that I’m home.

It works for me (at least right now). Just as life doesn’t stay the same, how I do things doesn’t have to stay the same either. What’s working for me right now may not work later on.  And I’m always learning new things and hearing of new ways to do things. I at least try some of them out, keeping what works.

Overloaded

Overloaded - that's how I've been feeling lately. You would think that getting back into a school-centred schedule would be the overwhelming part but it actually wasn't. My kids and I have fallen back into the school schedule with ease. It's everything else that seems to be weighting me down.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things with my volunteer work with the Women's Ministry at my church but I'm feeling a little bogged down with all the stuff I need to catch up on. It all starts with the mass of emails I need to get through. Now granted, they aren't all related to my ministry work but I do need to keep chugging away at the piles of emails.

I am also working on figuring out how to get my house cleaned and go through all the items we have stored. I've got my daily tasks going pretty well. Still need to work on the extra stuff.

And now we're transitioning into a different cooking season. Time for less BBQing, more oven and crockpot cooking. It's making life interesting trying to work it all out, including meal planning, grocery list making and shopping.

And there's my knitting.... Still trying to work out getting it all done and when to do it. I need to get planning what to make for Christmas presents. Oi!

And with all this, I feel overloaded. I will get to the spot where I'm feeling balanced, it's just going to be a journey to get there.

Where are you on your journey to balance? Are you overloaded or got it all under control? Has the Fall helped you start to find your footing again or are you feeling completely out of it?
 

A Good First Day

We've been anticipating this day with excitement and nervousness. After a great Summer,  Bugs (my son) and I had to say good bye to Tookie (my daughter) at school once more. She started Grade 1 today. There was definitely mixed feelings for everyone. The kids have gotten a long so well this Summer. Bugs was a little sad to have his playmate gone leaving him. Tookie wasn't sure what to expect and wasn't sure she was going to like it.

Hubby wasn't able to take Tookie to school so Bugs and I walked her there. We found her new classrom and met her new teacher and the kids who she'll be sharing the year with. Once Tookie felt comfortable (actually very quickly), Bugs and I could go but he didn't want to. "No go. Stay school." It was actually cute to see him lined up there with all the other kids.

Eventually Bugs and I made it home and had a quiet day. He was a little lonely for his big sister so I let him take it easy and had kids shows and movies on most of the time. I got started on some Fall cleaning and organized a bunch of paper .Supper is in the crockpot already. :) And now we're back from picking her up. Back pack is unpacked, lunch stuff ready to be cleaned, no homework yet.

Tookie had a good day. Bugs had a good day. I had a good day. Guess that's all that really matters.... :D

Summer - Week 9

Well, that's it. It's official. Summer is over. Labour Day is Monday and daughter goes back to school on Tuesday. Un-be-liev-able!!

Where did it all go? It still feels like Summer just started for the most part. The kids have been getting along relatively well. They've been having fun playing together and with daughter's friends. My son has been spending time in the garage with Daddy. The monkeys have been playing inside and out, making a mess and getting dirty. Fighting has been at a minimum and they've both been fairly cooperative and helpful.

 

Yes, that's me celebrating my birthday with my kids at McDonald's no less. Where else would a mom celebrate her birthday?!? I even had fun going down the slide. ;)

As always, after my birthday, I look towards a busy fall. We have back to school to get ready for, routines to get back into, other birthdays to celebrate (hubby's, daughter's, then son's), and holidays to enjoy. I'm sure it will all fly by just as fast.

All my daughter's school supplies have been purchased. Monday will be labeling and prepping day. Can't believe she's going into Grade 1 already. It will definitely be an interesting beginning this year with homework being involved. I really hope she still loves it as much as she has.

Well, off to relax in the last hot weekend of Summer. Hope you enjoy yours too! 

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Today's the day. I turn 35 today. Can't believe it. How did I get here? 35 isn't really old, but I still don't feel like I know enough to be that age. Shouldn't I be smarter by now? More experienced? Know where I'm headed? Be a domestic diva? 

I've been realizing that age doesn't mean anything. Just because someone is a certain age or older than me, doesn't mean they are "smarter" or have it all together. I have realized that, no matter what age or experience someone has, it's what you learn on your journey that makes you "smart". You don't need to experience everything to learn that some things aren't good or other things are a bad choice. Take in what's around you and what experiences others have had and learn from their choices and consequences.

Not sure what all my birthday or this next year will hold, but I'm hoping for a good one. Hope it's a good one for you too.

Summer - Week 8

What a week! Hubby was off last week so it was a little different. My daughter still has swimming but the boys stayed home together all week. Great news - daughter past all her swimming lessons, completed Preschool 5, and can start in Swimmer 2. :) We're so thrilled. This was the kid who didn't like the water or getting her face wet. She now swims well, puts her head under water, and jumps off the diving board. How cool!

Thursday was a day away for hubby and I. After swimming lessons, my sister and brother-in-law came over and watched the kids while we went with the neighbours for a bike ride. Was a nice kid-less day.

Friday was shopping and a doctor's appointment for daughter after swimming. She's doing great and growing like a weed. And we've picked up all her school supplies (at least till I get a list from the teacher). Planning to find a new shirt for her to wear to school on the first day.

One last week to go before school starts.... I'm going to make it. ;)