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Monday, January 28, 2013
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Grandparents
We just had a wonderful visit with my parents. They come here from the States once a year. When they come it is like Christmas. They bring so many things we can't get here. They spoil us rotten.
We had a lovely time while they were. We went to this lovely garden.
Went to the zoo. Went fishing with Grandpa. And had fun just BEING together and having the kids get to know their grandparents. How I wish we lived closer to one another. Needless to say I am worn out and not much painting is being accomplished.
Who has time for crafts when there is a new baby to attend to, a garden to plant and week, two toddlers and a life to live?
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Scary, and I mean SCARY
Last night I was out late because of big sales at the bookstore. I got home about 10:30 PM. We went to bed as usual and had a peaceful night.
This morning I headed downstairs to take a shower and noticed a puddle by the door. I thought that was odd. I got the mop to clean it up and noticed some shoes in the middle of the floor. .
Then I glanced at the outside door bolt and wondered if it was locked. I checked, and it wasn't. In fact it as I turned the bolt I realized my keys were in the lock- on the OUTSIDE. Yikes! I got them out and locked the door.
Then I started looking better at the shoes in the middle of the floor. They were not our shoes and there was a wallet on the table. Hmm. . . strange.
Then things started getting really fishy and scary in my mind and I decided to take a peek in our guest room just off the kitchen to make sure no one was there. And, AND, A-N-D- there was a STRANGER sleeping in one of our guest beds. He sort of glanced at me and I RAN upstairs and told my husband, "Go downstairs NOW. There is a strange man sleeping in one of our beds." (Sounds a bit like Goldilocks, doesn't it?)
He jumped in his pants faster than I have ever seen before and headed downstairs. By this time the man was up and wondering where on earth he was! He realized that was his wallet on the table because it had a picture of his son in it. He kept wondering why he was here and thought he must have been out drinking with my husband (my husband doesn't drink).
In the end my husband took his name and numbers so that if anything turned up missing he could get a hold of him through the police.
Talk about scary and creep me out situation! Yikes.
You can be sure I will make sure I don't leave my keys on the outside anymore. I know we have left our door open other times. But why our house? Did he go around trying all the doors?
I am just soooooooooooo thankful we are all ok and nothing was stolen!
This morning I headed downstairs to take a shower and noticed a puddle by the door. I thought that was odd. I got the mop to clean it up and noticed some shoes in the middle of the floor. .
Then I glanced at the outside door bolt and wondered if it was locked. I checked, and it wasn't. In fact it as I turned the bolt I realized my keys were in the lock- on the OUTSIDE. Yikes! I got them out and locked the door.
Then I started looking better at the shoes in the middle of the floor. They were not our shoes and there was a wallet on the table. Hmm. . . strange.
Then things started getting really fishy and scary in my mind and I decided to take a peek in our guest room just off the kitchen to make sure no one was there. And, AND, A-N-D- there was a STRANGER sleeping in one of our guest beds. He sort of glanced at me and I RAN upstairs and told my husband, "Go downstairs NOW. There is a strange man sleeping in one of our beds." (Sounds a bit like Goldilocks, doesn't it?)
He jumped in his pants faster than I have ever seen before and headed downstairs. By this time the man was up and wondering where on earth he was! He realized that was his wallet on the table because it had a picture of his son in it. He kept wondering why he was here and thought he must have been out drinking with my husband (my husband doesn't drink).
In the end my husband took his name and numbers so that if anything turned up missing he could get a hold of him through the police.
Talk about scary and creep me out situation! Yikes.
You can be sure I will make sure I don't leave my keys on the outside anymore. I know we have left our door open other times. But why our house? Did he go around trying all the doors?
I am just soooooooooooo thankful we are all ok and nothing was stolen!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Too much to do, Too little time aka A Day in My Life
As Moms I would say we are always feeling there is a shortage of time. Whether you have 3 kids 4 and under like me or more of them, or even just one child- TIME is just never enough!
I find myself whirling through my days trying to get as much done as possible.
Today I got up, got the kids dressed, ate breakfast and got into cleaning mode. My parents are coming next week. We get to see them once a year, living on the other side of the globe away. So this is a BIG event for us. I moved beds, swept, carried toys to a new location - so that the guest room (which when we have no guests is a play room) would be tidy, cleaned the kitchen, washed the cabinets, washed the dishes, swept the entry way and organized the shoes there. All in 2 hours! I am not usually in a cleaning mood and do not do deep cleaning often- I don't have time.
I was so happy my D-boy caught the spirit and got right in there helping me and wanting more cleaning jobs. Cute! Even my two year old A-girlie was helping!
By this time the baby sitter had arrived and I got my newborn ready and headed to town. My older kids went out to enjoy the day with the sitter and K-boy and I headed out to run errands. We bought a gift and headed to the post office. Post offices are used for all kinds of OTHER reasons (like paying bills, receiving pensions, sending money orders, etc) in Latvia, which makes lines there sometimes hideously long and SLOW! Fortunately today was not too bad and we got in and out in about 15 minutes.
Then I ran a few other errands and called my honey man and asked him where he was and if he wanted to get lunch out rather than at home. We have not had a date in a while and he was all for it. We met and ate out. Nice.
Then I went home and had my quiet time while the sitter finished putting the kids down for their nap. Then since I am also my sitter's mentor we met and chatted, read, and prayed. Then my baby sitter went home.
K-boy woke up and I nursed him while checking my etsy, and e-mails. My toddlers were awake- but I had them stay in their room and look at books so I could "rest." Then I chatted with my Mama via Skype.
By this time honey daddy was home and the kids wanted to watch a cartoon. I let them watch two short Thomas episodes while changing baby. Then we decided we all needed to go outside and enjoy the nice day. Then we had to think about supper. . .
YIKES! Since baby was born I am out of whack with meal planning and only start fixing supper when my husband GETS home rather than the former having it ready and eating when he gets home.
We pulled out some leftovers and had a light supper and then all headed outside again.
I picked some rhubarb, which is just now coming on. I decided I should whip up a pie. So while my husband did yard work I literally whipped up two pies. I think that was the fastest I have ever made pies. BUT I really wanted to get out in the yard and do some garden work.
By this time my K-boy was wanting to eat again- so I nursed him, burped him and put him back in his buggy to sleep. Just as I began to weed in the green house he started crying. So back to baby again, and this went on all evening. He finally fell into a deep sleep and we got the greenhouse weeded. FINALLY!
Our older kids played in the yard. Their new thing is to gather moss and put it in water with some dirt and make "oil". Funny, but cute. I remember making these concoctions too as a kid- but we called it soup. And when we had the year of the locusts we made locust soup- ha ha.
When we came in we had some warm pie- yum! My husband went off to men's Bible study. I put the kids to bed and "chilled" at the computer- catching up on convos and what not.
Yet despite this full day I feel like I didn't get enough done. The house isn't clean enough, the garden is still weedy. The floors need scrubbing and so on and so forth.
My husband has the capability of doing one thing and doing it well and thoroughly and until it is finished. I on the other hand swirl through life thinking about EVERYTHING and doing them all - but not so well. Which is better? Doing all and not so well, or doing one thing and doing it well? Or does it not really matter?
Ok. . . who cares. . . Good night!
I find myself whirling through my days trying to get as much done as possible.
Today I got up, got the kids dressed, ate breakfast and got into cleaning mode. My parents are coming next week. We get to see them once a year, living on the other side of the globe away. So this is a BIG event for us. I moved beds, swept, carried toys to a new location - so that the guest room (which when we have no guests is a play room) would be tidy, cleaned the kitchen, washed the cabinets, washed the dishes, swept the entry way and organized the shoes there. All in 2 hours! I am not usually in a cleaning mood and do not do deep cleaning often- I don't have time.
I was so happy my D-boy caught the spirit and got right in there helping me and wanting more cleaning jobs. Cute! Even my two year old A-girlie was helping!
By this time the baby sitter had arrived and I got my newborn ready and headed to town. My older kids went out to enjoy the day with the sitter and K-boy and I headed out to run errands. We bought a gift and headed to the post office. Post offices are used for all kinds of OTHER reasons (like paying bills, receiving pensions, sending money orders, etc) in Latvia, which makes lines there sometimes hideously long and SLOW! Fortunately today was not too bad and we got in and out in about 15 minutes.
Then I ran a few other errands and called my honey man and asked him where he was and if he wanted to get lunch out rather than at home. We have not had a date in a while and he was all for it. We met and ate out. Nice.
Then I went home and had my quiet time while the sitter finished putting the kids down for their nap. Then since I am also my sitter's mentor we met and chatted, read, and prayed. Then my baby sitter went home.
K-boy woke up and I nursed him while checking my etsy, and e-mails. My toddlers were awake- but I had them stay in their room and look at books so I could "rest." Then I chatted with my Mama via Skype.
By this time honey daddy was home and the kids wanted to watch a cartoon. I let them watch two short Thomas episodes while changing baby. Then we decided we all needed to go outside and enjoy the nice day. Then we had to think about supper. . .
YIKES! Since baby was born I am out of whack with meal planning and only start fixing supper when my husband GETS home rather than the former having it ready and eating when he gets home.
We pulled out some leftovers and had a light supper and then all headed outside again.
I picked some rhubarb, which is just now coming on. I decided I should whip up a pie. So while my husband did yard work I literally whipped up two pies. I think that was the fastest I have ever made pies. BUT I really wanted to get out in the yard and do some garden work.
By this time my K-boy was wanting to eat again- so I nursed him, burped him and put him back in his buggy to sleep. Just as I began to weed in the green house he started crying. So back to baby again, and this went on all evening. He finally fell into a deep sleep and we got the greenhouse weeded. FINALLY!
Our older kids played in the yard. Their new thing is to gather moss and put it in water with some dirt and make "oil". Funny, but cute. I remember making these concoctions too as a kid- but we called it soup. And when we had the year of the locusts we made locust soup- ha ha.
When we came in we had some warm pie- yum! My husband went off to men's Bible study. I put the kids to bed and "chilled" at the computer- catching up on convos and what not.
Yet despite this full day I feel like I didn't get enough done. The house isn't clean enough, the garden is still weedy. The floors need scrubbing and so on and so forth.
My husband has the capability of doing one thing and doing it well and thoroughly and until it is finished. I on the other hand swirl through life thinking about EVERYTHING and doing them all - but not so well. Which is better? Doing all and not so well, or doing one thing and doing it well? Or does it not really matter?
Ok. . . who cares. . . Good night!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
New Items
In between the nursing, diapers, laundry, cooking, napping, gardening and life of a Mom of three little ones ages almost 4, 2 and one month I have even managed to squeeze in a little me time. Better known as painting time.
I NEED this me time, it keeps me- ME and helps me keep my sanity.
I LOVE having a newborn, but I am exhausted. But I must admit painting sometimes calls louder than naps.
Here are a few items I have finished in the last month.
One Month
K B just turned one month. This month he has learned about nursing and is great at that. He has gained one kilogram. He has started keeping his eyes open more and turning towards lights. He likes sleeping in his buggy and sleeps well on long walks.
Here he is pictured in his bouncy chair which was given to us by our church family. Thank you!
He is very much looking forward to meeting grandma and grandpa next week!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Like Mama
It is strange how the unspoken feelings of our mothers sink so deeply into us. Things she saw as beautiful, special, and wonderful become so to us. Without her having to press it upon us or teach us, we follow her example.
My Mama always loved lemon verbena and lavender, she was always trying to grow them in between our many moves. She was always loving them. I remember she had lemon verbena body powder when I was a child and it was cherished and so delighted in. Lately I have found myself longing for something so elegant as lemon verbena or lavender body powder. Perhaps to others these wouldn't be anything special- but to me they are ever so dear.
I had been wanting to find a lemon verbena plant to add to my herb collection/ garden. I have been enjoying my lavender the last few years and it has really taken off. But I have not been able to find lemon verbena anywhere.Needless to say I was utterly delighted when at the plant market the other day I found my beloved lemon verbena. It was truly just as refreshing I had remembered and I am so blissfully happy about this.
Oh dear Mama- how special the aromas of lemon verbena and lavender are to me, and how they remind of you.
I love you.
Happy Mother's Day
What reminds you of you Mama? Which things she considers special were quietly passed on to you? I would love to hear your stories.
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