Someday

I love our home. 
The way it feels, smells, and the joy it brings to me.

However, I do not like our house.

Being home, I am especially aware of all the updating that needs to be done or the areas that need "help". 

When we first walked onto the property of this house, 4 1/2 years ago, I knew instantly that it was the house for us.  The acreage, pond, fruit trees, nature, everything around it was beautiful.  So us.  So, even with the 1980's feel and bland white interior, I knew it was perfect. 

Our home is a bilevel with the living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, all upstairs and the laundry room, full bathroom, and family room (AKA extra bedroom, man cave, craft room, some toy room) downstairs.  Honestly, I'm not a fan.  Every time I come home or need to go outside, I must go down a flight of stairs.  No I know I'm not old.  But with two little kids in tow and with all their things, it's kind of a pain.  That's only the real gripe I have about the house, besides all the updates that need to be done.

We've (more Jay than me) honestly done a lot. There isn't a room on the upstairs level that has not been painted.  We have new light fixtures, new laminate flooring (who does carpet in kitchen and dining room??  Really??), Jay built two half walls for the stairs, and painted our kitchen cabinets.

It all takes money and time.  Which with me not working and with having little ones, is hard.

And I DO appreciate what we've done so far.

But somedays, when I'm home for like an 8 hour stretch, I get overwhelmed. 
And I want to do everything.

I have to keep reminding myself it takes time.

We will get there.

Someday.

This Week's Top 10:

10.  Swiss Family Robinson.  Friday night after we got home from the basketball game, we turned on the TV and noticed Swiss Family Robinson was on!! It was such a favorite of mine growing up.  Turns out it was Jay's as well and has come to be Mal's too.  Every day some part of that movie has been played...and as I type, it's on again:o)  I love finding movies that both the parents and the kids enjoy.  Mal calls it the Pirate Show.  "I wish I could have a slide with water down it."

9.  Goodbye Paci!  It's gone.  Threw it out on Thursday.  Not willingly on both our parts.  We were down to one.  And unfortunately he somehow had almost bitten the thing off.  Seriously.  I was worried for days about him choking on it in bed.  And finally I was done!  Thursday nap time was extremely rough...but we've been smooth sailing since then!:o)  No more pacis in this house:o(  Bittersweet.

8.  Gluten Free Meals.  I'm getting there.  Really.  This week I made gluten free banana muffins, pizza, cinnaman rolls, granola, and cabbage rolls.  Most were a hit with Clayton.  Mal and Jay have to be persuaded a bit.  But the muffins were great!!! In fact, they were more moist than usual.  We also went out to eat on Saturday and I had gluten free pizza! 

7.  Facebook Connection.  Facebook really is such a strange thing.  I mean, I'm in contact with 200 some people on a daily basis.  People that I might not have talked to 10 years ago or even 15 years ago...but I'm talking to them now.  Because of Facebook.  And the connections I make during daily posts.  This week, a high school classmate of mine (who is now a friend) and myself had a discussion on Facebook about cooking.  How I'm trying my best to be a good cook but am failing miserably.  So, she got together a spice packet for me and sent it my way!  So sweet and so unexpected.  I also had an old friend of my parents (I think they met her in lamaza class for ME and their daughter) read my blog about being gluten free.  Come to find out, she was for five years and had two cookbooks she wasn't using.  So guess what?!?! She sent them my way as well!  Again, what a nice, heartfelt gesture.  I find these connections inspiring.  And so kind.  So, today, I passed on the kindness to two people in my life:o)  They will be getting care packages from me this week.  Feels good to do good to others.  A nice reminder of this, this week.

6.  Raising Healthy Eaters.  It's hard raising healthy eaters in our society today.  I mean, look at fast food, junk food, etc.  It's everywhere.  But I'm trying to do my best to show my kids a nice balance.  I'm not cutting out candy cold turkey.  Just giving my kids options.  Showing them what healthy snacks look like.  I know, for me, if it's in the house I will eat it.  So I try to have limited junk food.  I know, you probably feel bad for my husband.  Don't worry.  I always have a stash of graham crackers which are like GOLD to him (and his dad:o)).

5.  Zumba Love.  Finally got back to Zumba on Sunday after a 2 maybe even 3 month hiatis.  Felt great!!  And the company was fabulous as well!  I'm going to try my best to make it there every Thursday and Sunday.  We will see.

4.  Clayisms.  Clay was a complete riot this week!  First, he has now discovered how he can get pretty much anything that is above his level.  A chair and step stool are his new toys.  One day this week, while I was cooking dinner, he kept moving a chair back and forth from one light switch to another.  A little disco ball atmosphere around dinner time.  But I was okay with it.  He wasn't hurting himself.  Or his sister.  Or getting in to anything.  You do what you have to do.  He also has been using the potty more.  In fact, twice this week he sat on there for like 10 minutes each time.  I was getting rather impatient.  There is NO way that I would leave him on there by himself.  As I was about to pull him off, he finally went.  He took one look down and FREAKED out.  Jumped off the toilet.  Paranoid look on his face.  While pointing at his poop.  I couldn't help but chuckle.  He was totally scared of his poop.  And he made sure to let Mal and myself know this.  Oh Clay.  You crack me up.  Clay is also into doing more things by himself.  From putting on his socks (he loves to say socks and will get a pair in his room on demand), to putting on his coat and snow pants, to drinking from a cup.  That boy is trying his best to be independent. 

3.  Malloryisms.  My little observer.  She really takes in everything we say and do.  This week, she kept saying "Clay is a handful."  Which I had never heard her say before.  I asked her where she got it from and she said Daddy.  Yep.  It's true.  While at the Varsity basketball game I heard him telling someone that Clay was a handful.  It was funny.  And crazy to me that she is so a sponge right now. She also told me this week while driving home from a friend's house, "When I get bigger, I don't want to drive cause I don't want to get a ticket."  That's fine honey.  But you've never been in the car with anyone that has been pulled over.  So, not sure why she's so upset about this.  We were in St. Joe this past Saturday for a winter festival.  While waiting for a table, Mal was taking off Clayton's coat.  An older man was walking by at the exact moment.  He said, "Why, what a nice big sister taking the coat off for your younger brother.  You don't see that much anymore."  Melted my heart.  Made me proud.  And I made sure to retell it to Mal again after he left, just in case she didn't hear him.  That's the kind of love I want between them.  They might not always get along, but I want them to be helpful and loving to one another.  Even doing the simplest acts of kindness.  Thanks for being such a great BIG sister Miss Mal. 
 
2.  Hello God.  So, this week I was feeling rather blue.  Feeling the urge to be creative in some way.  So I blogged about it when the kids were napping.  Then I headed to the sun room to just hang out by myself.  Just at that exact moment as I was writing down a few ways I could be creative, the SUN peaked through the clouds.  And I instantly felt the presence of God.  Very purposeful.  Very positive.  It made me smile.  And feel alright.

1.  Family.  The last few weekends we've done a lot of family things together.  Makes me appreciate the stage we are in.  Both kids being old enough to take day trips, go to dinner, do things as a family.  This weekend we went to Decatur's Basketball game.  Clay "was a handful" after his sucker was finished.  But Mal just sat there and enjoyed it.  Even asked and paid for her M & Ms by herself. Saturday we headed to St. Joe where we really enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather.  Walked around, road the carosal, waited in line to get a ballon flower and turtle, and had dinner.  Great times with the fam.  And I'm looking forward to many more with them.  I love them.  And feel lucky.

Well, my almost 2-year old should be getting up any minute now.
So that means, I need to go.

Hope you enjoy this week!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell