Top 10

Top 10 for the Week:

10.  JC Penney Pics.  We had our annual (this is the 3rd year) Fall Family pictures done at JC Penney this past weekend.  We rocked it!  Totally!  It was easy, quick, and painless.  My favorite.  Can't wait to get them back in a few weeks!

9.  ER with Clay.  I feel like this was years ago, but it was just over a week.  Clay fell at Jay's Grandpa's house and hit his head on a rock.  We contemplated taking him to the ER and then I finally just decided to.  He was great.  Two hours and some glue and he was back to his normal self.  He worries me.

8.  Microwave?  It's still downstairs.  And honestly, we haven't missed it in the least.  I've been using our Keurig more for hot water and the oven for warming things up.  But we don't miss it at all:o)

7.  Mal's Happy Place.  Dance.  She loves it.  I love the look on her face.  How excited she gets to go in.  Her smiles and laughter while she's dancing.  It's definitely her happy place.  And she tries to relive it here---at home with dance parties.  But it's not quite the same.  Probably because of Sir Clayton too though!

6.  Instagram.  Love Instagram.  Love how I can quickly make a collage or alter a picture to look cool.  Now if only I did something with these!  I'm working on a HUGE project right now dealing with our digital pictures.  Here's to hoping I make it through!  Ha!

5.  Shopping Alone.  Always such a pleasure to shop alone without the kids.  I really enjoy my Thursdays out alone.  It's so rejuvenating and calming. 

4.  Bounce Land.  Woke up Tuesday morning and decided to head to Bounce Land!  The kids loved it!  They were both a little cautious at first...freaking out about going up and down the slides.  But after some time, they both couldn't stop.  Looking forward to doing again soon.

3.  Clayisms.  Oh Clay.  Mr. Climber.  Jay caught him climbing up on top of our upright freezer this week.  He even videoed it!  I was SHOCKED.  Watching him put his little toes on the file cabinet's handle and then eventually pulling himself onto of the freezer--freaked me out.  He was also caught hanging from our top shelf in our refrigerator.  I think some kids are just more prone to climbing.  Right?!?!  I really feel he's trying more with his sentences and words.  He wants SO badly to be able to communicate with us.  I feel his pain.  Someday. 

2.  Malloryisms.  Mal was extremely tired this past week and now I know why--COLD.  BUT even though she was tired...I saw a few glimpses of herself coming out.  Thank goodness!  I was worried that my old Mal was replaced.  Just seems she needed some time off:o)  I've changed up our weekly routine a bit.  Instead of going grocery shopping with Clay during the week while Mal is at school, I've decided to go with Mal after dance.  HUGE difference.  SO much easier...and I get a little more one on one time with my gal.  Who is growing up so fast.  Her vocabulary and thinking process amazes me every day.  Never grow up.

1.  Gene's Pumpkin Patch.  Made our annual trip to Gene's Pumpkin Patch.  Clay was hilarious--putting pumpkin after pumpkin in our wagon.  And Jay continued to take them out.  Mal found hers right away--one of the biggest ones.  Clay picked a small one that we didn't realize has a big bruise on it.  It is so fun watching them take it all in.  I LOVE holidays.

Well, it's Wednesday...
And I'm late.
But I'm done for the week.

And leaving for Atlanta tomorrow!
Kidless!
Four days! 
Nervous.
And excited.

Have a great rest of the week!!

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell

Top 9

Top 9 for the Week:
October 7th


9.  Cranky Kids.  No clue what was in the air this week...but our kids were cranky.  It also seems to have carried over into this week.  Joy.  Maybe it's me?  I'm just ready for them to be back to normal. 

8.  Last Bit of Warm.  We had some beautiful days this week.  In fact, on Saturday the kids played out in mud our on out back deck.  It was splendid.  I'm thinking that was the end of our last for this year.  So sad.  I don't even honestly feel like we had a fall!

7.  Resale Love.  I'm in love with resale shopping.  I don't think I can even buy something for regular price.  Had a chance to browse around a few shops this week with my friend and her son (while our daughters were in preschool).  Good times.

6.  Goodbye Microwave.  I read an article/poster on Facebook about the disadvantages of having a microwave.  SO, we put our downstairs.  To my surprise, Jay was totally on board with this.  But then again, he never likes leftovers heated up in the microwave.  I haven't really missed it.  Even melting butter wasn't bad on top of the stove or in the oven.  AND I have extra counter space!  Which is a huge perk!

5.  Sewing Love.  Got a chance to get back into sewing this week.  Just a bit.  But it was nice.  I'm looking forward to my weekend with my mom in November.  Now that I KNOW how to sew--I can only imagine what I can get done in that amount of time!!:o)  I should start planning my projects!  And getting fabric!  OH I LOVE SEWING!

4.  Clayisms.  Is getting his 2 year molars.  Besides his runny nose and poop, he's been extremely cranky.  They are there--I can feel them.  I seriously crack up at this kid.  He is SO funny to watch.  His facial expressions and the way he goes about doing things.  He surprises me every day.  One day this week it was raining a bit, so he decided to pull his jacket up over his head (like a hood) to protect himself from the rain.  If he doesn't have something--he figures it out!  He also had one of THE hugest blowouts I have ever seen in the Newell House.  And it was at speech.  And I had to clean it up in the back of our van.  Not pretty.  For a Monday morning especially. 

3.  Malloryisms.  She has a better memory than me.  I am certain of this.  Trouble I tell ya.  We headed home a different way from school the other day and she quickly recalled us being stuck in the snow.  You can guess how long ago that was!  Crazy!  This week she also decided to wash her barbies in the living room while Clay was napping.  She kept referring to the male as "Nick."  It was cute.  I need to get better at writing her sayings down...she is FULL of them.  But unfortunately this week, I only wrote one down.  While running around outside this week she was chanting, "My momma is my girl.  My momma is my girl."  Warm fuzzies all around.  (This is making today--a battle--MUCH better.  Glad I decided to blog:o)).

2.  Fall Festival.  We enjoyed a family outing in Dowagiac this weekend.  It was PERFECT weather!  All of us enjoyed being out and about.  Shopped, walked around, looked at tractors, and a lunch out--all good.  Sometimes I love to just sit back and take it ALL in.  I LOVE our little family.  I LOVE the things we do.  I truly feel blessed.

1.  College Roommate.  My favorite person from college--my old college roommate--and her husband came to visit this weekend.  It was SO good to see her smiling face and to catch up on everything.  I love how our distance and time means nothing to our friendship.  And I love sharing my life with her.  Now that our distance is closer...I'm hoping this means we get together a little more often:o)  Whatever the case--I'm SO glad she's in my life.  Love you Kelly.

Another week down.
Closer to Halloween.
Closer to a mini vacation for Jay and I to Atlanta:o) (My friend is getting married!!!)

Enjoy your dreary week.
Get cozy with a blanket.
And a loved one:o)

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell

Life Can Change So Quickly

There is so much to do in a day, that many times I get overwhelmed.  Beat down.  Annoyed.  And frustrated.  Over things that really mean nothing in the grand scheme of life.

This week and weekend I was reminded of what truly is important in this life we are living.  It's not the items we have or the projects that are done, it's the moments and memories we share with those that we love.

Through sadness and loss, I faced the reality of what could be.

So, I took time this weekend to kiss and cuddle my babies more, to read that "one" more book, to let small struggles go, and to truly try to "snapshot" these shared moments as a family. 

Life can change so quickly. 

Top 10 for the Week: 

10.  Gold Party.  So, I kinda got suckered into doing a gold to cash party on Friday.  I totally took the bait of getting x amount of money if you host one.  Only two of my friends showed up and the amount of money I received was small change.  BUT looking on the brighter note, the kids LOVED playing at the park for almost 4 hours, I caught up with my two friends, and I had LOTS of leftover snack bags for this week:o)  Still a little bummed about it though.

9.  Food Tasting.  I was retested on my food sensitivities this week.  I can have dairy, honey, grapes, dates, and olive oil now!! But chocolate, tomatoes, gluten, and now potatoes and rice are OUT.  Yeah, I'm bummed.

8.  New Camera.  We went the whole month of September without a camera.  I seriously don't know how I did it.  I rely on the camera A LOT.  Especially with the holidays coming up. Took a few shots of the kids...and I'm not completely sold that this is the camera for us.  Suggestions?? It's a power shot--but not the expensive one.  Wish the weather was a bit sunnier...than maybe I could get a better idea.

7.  Car rides.  Are so rough!  Especially with Sir Clayton.  He is so noisy.  To help with this, Jay and I have come up with a little game (which I am BETTER at then Jay--HA!).  It's called, Guess that Year of the 90's.  It seems I know more of the songs in the 90's than I do now!  It helps that I went through the 90's in high school--while Jay was still in middle school!!! Ha!  Loving our free 3 month satellite radio!  Hello 90's!

6.  No DISHES.  It was actually last week that I decided washing dishes was overrated.  Like BIG time.  So, I don't wash dishes anymore.  That IS what the dishwasher is for--correct?!?!?!  It's saved on time.  A LOT.  And my hands look better too:o)

5.  Cabinets.  Decided this past weekend it was time for the cabinets to be painted.  I spent ALL week centered around finishing those d--- cabinets!  And I am proud to say I only have ONE more drawer and cabinet to do.  They look great!  BUT now I think I need to repaint the walls!  Go figure!  I'm sitting on it for a few weeks.

4.  Field Trip.  Mal had her first field trip this year to the pumpkin patch.  Great day!  Enjoyed watching her run around with her friends and it's always great to spend some quality time with my girl.  Who is growing up so quickly and has thoughts on EVERYTHING.

3.  Clayisms.  Well, it seems Clayton is great at saying NO.  He says it ALL the time now.  Let's go change your diaper.  NO.  Let's go get in the car.  NO.  Let's go take a nap.  NO.  Let's go outside.  NO.  Let's go inside.  NO.  Yup.  Pretty much anything you ask or tell him, he says NO.  Love this stage.  He's also really into copying anyone--especially his sister who is overjoyed! HA!  He's dancing like me.  He's eating like me.  He's sitting like me.  And it goes on.

2.  Malloryisms.  We had Mal's conference this week.  She's doing great!  In everything!  And I'm loving their writing program.  SO awesome!  I'm seeing HUGE growth with her this year--way more than last year.  I LOVE how much she loves playing with her brother too.  Helping him on the swing and then pushing him.  Getting him a snack.  Making a "bed" for him.  She's been sweet to him.  And I think it helps she's been getting almost 12 hours of sleep at night.  Sleep does wonders for her attitude:o) 

1.  Sunday.  Was a lazy day for us.  We spent the morning just hanging out...the afternoon watching a movie as a whole family, and then the evening outside playing and climbing in trees.  It was perfect.  Love days like that.  Just us.

Hope you all have a great week!
I'm secretly loving this cooler weather:o)

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell.

P.S.  I am MORE likely to finish my weekly blog if it's done on Sunday or Monday.  Any later--and it's not happening. 

P.P. S.  The CAT is LOVED.

But the cat doesn't always feel the same way...