Traditions. Something Mike and I have taken to the heart lately. Like in the past our tradition at thanksgiving is to just show up. We liked it. Nobody asked of anything. But as of late, and maybe cause the kids are getting older, we've been wanting to start some new traditions. SOO this year we are making a advent wreath and each night we are going to do some scripture readings.
I found a really cool website on how to make your own advent wreath with your kids. Using paper plates, and green, purple, pink, and white construction paper, and yellow paper. I thought it was a cool thing to try. So on Black Friday, we are going to have our own "hanging of the greens" in our house. And then each night we are going to read some scripture that I found on the Focus on the Family website. The Norman Rockwell moments in my head seem to be bigger than I can pull of in reality.
I loved the idea of creating new memories in our house. Ones that the kids will remember. And in the process learn some more patience. Hopefully, this coming up Friday, we'll be putting up the christmas tree and decorating it. Maybe make some cookies and apple cider. Chili?? Cinnamin Rolls??? Food, Food, and more Food! I'll keep you posted on how that day actually turns out!
What are some of your traditions this time of the year? I would love to hear about them!
How to make an advent wreath with your kids:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6657949_making-advent-wreaths-kids.html
To every life there is a certain flow of life. Mine is crazy! Come and enjoy my Crazy Life.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
WHAT DOES THAT WORD EVEN MEAN??
Accomplish....accompLish....acComplish...Accomplishment...Ablubhulhaant. What does that word even mean? Accomplish. I looked it up. This is what the dictionary says accomplish means.
Accomplish: achieve something: to carry out or complete something successfully.
Okay, simple enough. But as I still couldn't grasp my mind around it. I looked deeper at the meaning of the word, Accomplish. I came up with a couple of other meanings to this silly word, Accomplish. (I just can't get that word off my mind)
Mommy definition of accomplish.
Accomplish: 1-to wake up
2-make sure the kids and you survive the day with no E.R. visit
3-if you get them to bed on time, you've had a successfull day!
Did I forget anything???
Why am I blogging about this, cause I've been forced to accept defeat. I thought to accomplish something is to have it be seen. Like seeing the living room floor, or to find out if I may or may not have a counter in the kitchen. Do the kids' toys really need to be everywhere? I mean do we really need clean clothes....okay yes we do, but your getting the jist of it. I spent most of my weekend recovering from the week of sickness in the household. Not the kids, but Mike and me. I picked up the living room, then started in the kitchen. Turned around and the living room is right where it started, a big mess. Probably worse than the first time.
"Fine, okay, breath, it's just some covers and some small toys. I can do this. CCCHHARGE!" I tell myself.
After alittle time goes by, I'm done and smile. Okay back to the kitchen. I start on a load of dishes and turn around and there it is...the living room....worse than before.
"Where are those little....Mason, Anna, Nick...what in the world are you doing...and how are you doing it so quite? Pick up the living room! Now." ---See that...right there. I'm starting to loose it. I've been told I have no patience. It's gotten better, but not by much. That's pretty much how the day went, but with each time I began to wear down, falling more and more into a pit of "am I ever going to get ahead" game.
By the end of the day, I was just besides myself. Upset, frusterated, irritated, just had it up to here (I'm placing my hand over my head, if you wanted a visual).
Where does this get me, I don't know. But I reminded myself last night over and over that God gave me these little rascals to raise with my wonderful hubby. That's the most important part, right?!?! As much as I would love to have a house that is clean, clothes that are not piled to the ceiling, or even dishes that we don't have to spit shine to use (just kidding really, I would never do that!) I know, and have to remind myself ever day that these moments are just that, moments. And when I get older I don't want to look back remembering the house, I want to remember the fun in that house with the people that I love. That will be the ultimite accomplishment!
Accomplish: achieve something: to carry out or complete something successfully.
Okay, simple enough. But as I still couldn't grasp my mind around it. I looked deeper at the meaning of the word, Accomplish. I came up with a couple of other meanings to this silly word, Accomplish. (I just can't get that word off my mind)
Mommy definition of accomplish.
Accomplish: 1-to wake up
2-make sure the kids and you survive the day with no E.R. visit
3-if you get them to bed on time, you've had a successfull day!
Did I forget anything???
Why am I blogging about this, cause I've been forced to accept defeat. I thought to accomplish something is to have it be seen. Like seeing the living room floor, or to find out if I may or may not have a counter in the kitchen. Do the kids' toys really need to be everywhere? I mean do we really need clean clothes....okay yes we do, but your getting the jist of it. I spent most of my weekend recovering from the week of sickness in the household. Not the kids, but Mike and me. I picked up the living room, then started in the kitchen. Turned around and the living room is right where it started, a big mess. Probably worse than the first time.
"Fine, okay, breath, it's just some covers and some small toys. I can do this. CCCHHARGE!" I tell myself.
After alittle time goes by, I'm done and smile. Okay back to the kitchen. I start on a load of dishes and turn around and there it is...the living room....worse than before.
"Where are those little....Mason, Anna, Nick...what in the world are you doing...and how are you doing it so quite? Pick up the living room! Now." ---See that...right there. I'm starting to loose it. I've been told I have no patience. It's gotten better, but not by much. That's pretty much how the day went, but with each time I began to wear down, falling more and more into a pit of "am I ever going to get ahead" game.
By the end of the day, I was just besides myself. Upset, frusterated, irritated, just had it up to here (I'm placing my hand over my head, if you wanted a visual).
Where does this get me, I don't know. But I reminded myself last night over and over that God gave me these little rascals to raise with my wonderful hubby. That's the most important part, right?!?! As much as I would love to have a house that is clean, clothes that are not piled to the ceiling, or even dishes that we don't have to spit shine to use (just kidding really, I would never do that!) I know, and have to remind myself ever day that these moments are just that, moments. And when I get older I don't want to look back remembering the house, I want to remember the fun in that house with the people that I love. That will be the ultimite accomplishment!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....
Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....: " Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, 'Untamed Heart' and in there she asked, 'Who do you look up to? Who are your hero'..."
Influence's of my life....
Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, "Untamed Heart" and in there she asked, "Who do you look up to? Who are your hero's?" I first started thinking of all the people who have influenced me...by thinking of those I grew up watching. Number one being, Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy." I loved her. My mom loved her. We would sit up forever and watch her when I was a kid. Then I started thinking of another person on t.v. Bill Cosby....I love him! I watched his show all the time. My mom would play his stand up show, "Bill Cosby, Himself" all the time. We would laugh and laugh and laugh. Watching him talk about his life growing up and his life with his own family. I remember seeing mom laughing saying, "That's soo true. That's how it used to be. I remember that!" Then again another television person, Julia Andrews. I remember when I was old enough to go to Grandma and Grandpa Van Heuvelen's house and Grandpa would go golfing and I would sit there with Grandma, watching "The Sound of Music." She would close her eye's and just listen to Julia Andrew's sing with her beautiful voice, some of the most amazing songs. After I got the t.v. people out of the way...and believe me there was many, many more people I could have listed. I started to look at why I loved them and how they came to be a part of my childhood. I look at the obvious...My Grandma Dorothy (Skaar) Van Heuvelen and my mom Connee (Van Heuvelen) Jenness. These women have taught me so much about life that I couldn't believe that they weren't the first one's that came to my mind. Instead, the first thing that came to me was people they loved and showed my why they loved them.
This is my Grandma Dorothy. I stumbled over these pictures of her when I was going through old pictures looking for baby pictures of my dad. When I saw this I just loved it. This, this is what I remember of her. Her smile, you can see the life that's in her eyes. Then when I was scanning the picture, I turned it over and saw writing on the back. It said, "Laugh, cause you look crazy." That was her. She laughed about everything and about nothing. She loved, and was loved by everyone around her. It took alot to get this women down! With a life long disease, she taught me not to let the small stuff get you. She showed me that there is good in everyone. She was an amazing women!
My most favorite memory of her was when she was at my sister Steph's wedding and her hearing was terrible, her talking was loud! She kept talking and talking during the whole wedding. Finally my Grandpa couldn't handle it anymore and started to shush her. My Grandma, being the strong minded, strong heart women that she is yelled (and I mean yelled) "Don't shush me Bert." During the middle of the vows. Grandpa shot straight up from his seat and wheeled her out. I'm honored that some people say I look like her. But I don't think I ever will capture her beauty and grace.
My most favorite memory of her was when she was at my sister Steph's wedding and her hearing was terrible, her talking was loud! She kept talking and talking during the whole wedding. Finally my Grandpa couldn't handle it anymore and started to shush her. My Grandma, being the strong minded, strong heart women that she is yelled (and I mean yelled) "Don't shush me Bert." During the middle of the vows. Grandpa shot straight up from his seat and wheeled her out. I'm honored that some people say I look like her. But I don't think I ever will capture her beauty and grace.
This is my mom. I love her! She is another amazing women I have been blessed to know. I mean look at her, the smile, the laugh, the joy of life is just oozing from her. She is a phenomenal women. Even though she'll disagree with everything I say about her....she is the most influential women in my life! Mother of 11 children, grandmother of 17 children, and a loving wife. She has taught me more than I can even begin to tell.
All she ever wanted was to have a large family. She has had a hard road but she's taken it head on and has come out on top. She's a warrior like non other! The women I am today started with her. My Grandma may have been the one who planted the seed of who I wanted to become; but it was my mother who was there for every tear, every scrap, every high and every low. She's my mom. She has taught me to laugh....laugh...and laugh, how to cook for a crowd, and how to love fiercely.
My most favorite story was when she backed into Dad's pickup and Dad did his jumping up and down screaming bit. She locked all the doors and wouldn't come out of the car until Dad calmed down. Dad kept knocking on the window saying, "Connee, I'm not mad anymore, just open up the car." Mom would reply, "No, no you will just yell at me." I think I was in the car with her for about and hour or so until she finally unlocked the car and got out. I guess the funniest part was watching Dad.
My most favorite story was when she backed into Dad's pickup and Dad did his jumping up and down screaming bit. She locked all the doors and wouldn't come out of the car until Dad calmed down. Dad kept knocking on the window saying, "Connee, I'm not mad anymore, just open up the car." Mom would reply, "No, no you will just yell at me." I think I was in the car with her for about and hour or so until she finally unlocked the car and got out. I guess the funniest part was watching Dad.
LOVE YOU MOM!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!
Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!: "The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it. 'Hip Padders' is the name of on everyones lips! I'm telling you, it's going to c..."
HIP PADDERS!!
The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it. "Hip Padders" is the name of on everyones lips! I'm telling you, it's going to change your life. Okay so maybe not that big of a deal...but I've had some of you ask about the bar known as "Hip Padders."
I got this recipe out of the new Carmel Reformed Church Cookbook. If you don't have, find a local Rock Valleyian, Carmel Reformed Church goer and get it from them! It's become a must have in my library of cookbooks!
Okay moment of truth....and a couple of added pounds...The recipie of "Hip Padders!" (There is a reason for the name!)
Hip Padders
Melt:
2T. Butter
6oz. chocolate chips
add and set aside:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1tsp. vanilla
Crumb mixture:
Mix and press 2/3 of mixture in a 9x13 inch pan:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2cup butter
1 egg.....take it out back and beat the crap out of it.....or get a bowl and use a fork and beat it, either way it needs to be beaten!
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour chocolate mixture over crumb mixture. Crumble remaining crumb mix and add 1/2 cup nuts, (optional) Sprinkle on Chocolate mixture. Bake 10 to 25 minutes. at 350* Let it cool for a bit and eat, eat, eat! Then run, run, squat, lung, row, swim, kayak, climb a mountain, whatever cause it's going be too addicting to stop! I would post a picture of the bars but too late, they are gone!
Have fun...Enjoy!
I got this recipe out of the new Carmel Reformed Church Cookbook. If you don't have, find a local Rock Valleyian, Carmel Reformed Church goer and get it from them! It's become a must have in my library of cookbooks!
Okay moment of truth....and a couple of added pounds...The recipie of "Hip Padders!" (There is a reason for the name!)
Hip Padders
Melt:
2T. Butter
6oz. chocolate chips
add and set aside:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1tsp. vanilla
Crumb mixture:
Mix and press 2/3 of mixture in a 9x13 inch pan:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2cup butter
1 egg.....take it out back and beat the crap out of it.....or get a bowl and use a fork and beat it, either way it needs to be beaten!
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour chocolate mixture over crumb mixture. Crumble remaining crumb mix and add 1/2 cup nuts, (optional) Sprinkle on Chocolate mixture. Bake 10 to 25 minutes. at 350* Let it cool for a bit and eat, eat, eat! Then run, run, squat, lung, row, swim, kayak, climb a mountain, whatever cause it's going be too addicting to stop! I would post a picture of the bars but too late, they are gone!
Have fun...Enjoy!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there
Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there: "It's 7:00am in the morning, my alarm clock is going off for the 3 hundredth time, and I have to get up and face whatever life is going to th..."
It's a battlefield out there
It's 7:00am in the morning, my alarm clock is going off for the 3 hundredth time, and I have to get up and face whatever life is going to throw at me. So I pry my eye's open just a crack to check out who ended up in the bed in the middle of the night. After a couple of moments of reorganizing of the children, I'm out. After a few of necessary things taken care of, I'm ready for my first big coffee of the day. I'm the only one in my house who drinks coffee, so it's all mine..mine, mine, mine. After that first BIG drink, I'm ready for the troup to get up. But first I've got to get prepared, cause we're going in for battle. Got my fighting gear ready...laid it out the night before, got my running shoes, what mother doesn't need those? My shield of armor is on tight! My game face is on..I'm ready!
"Kids, it's time to wake up!!" I yell.
......nothing.......
"Kids, get out of bed!!....Mason, Anna, Nick...get up now!"
somewhere from upstairs, in a weak voice, I hear,
"....wwwwwwhy?"
"Cause it's time for school!!! Come on guys, get up, get up, get up up up up! We have got to get going!"
....nothing....
"Alright, I'm coming up there and with me is coming a big cold glass of water...if you don't get up, your going to get soaked! GET UP!"
"FINE, I'm getting up!" Mason yells
"AAGGGGHHHHH!" Anna projects toward me.
"I want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich." Nick yelled.
Alright, let the tug and pull game begin.
"I didn't want toast"...."Okay"
I want cereal..."Fine"
...I want a donut from the bakery...."No, we aren't going to the bakery"
....can't you make pancakes like the other day??.... "No, it's a toast or cereal day"
... Why do I have to wear this"...."Cause it's clean"
..Can I have a sack lunch today...."No, you should have mentioned it yesturday...I don't have the stuff for it."
....so and so's mom lets them get a lunchable and bring it to school..."That's nice."
...Where is my peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."It's coming up soon Nick."
.Do we have juice?...."yup we have orange juice."
..I don't want orange juice, I wanted apple.. "sigh"
...Mom where's my folder?.."Did you look on the table??? No??? Would you look on the table??"
..Did you get me any socks?.."They were with the clothes I laid out last night."
..What Day is it today...5 or 6?..."I think it's day 6...."
...I don't want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."Mason you asked for a peanut butter and jwelly...i mean jelly sandwich...your gunna eat it."
...My name is Nicholas, mom not Mason...."
"STOPPPPPP!!!!! Okay, Mason it's day 6, get your p.e. shoes on. Anna, if you don't like the clothes then pick something else out....Nick you did ask for a peanut and butter sandwich now get in the car with it cause the kids are going to be late if we don't get going..."
"Mom I can't find my hat!".....It's over by your shoes."
"Mom, Did I put my homework in my folder?"...."yes, your folder is on the table"
"Okay kids we have got to get into the car, it's 7:56 we have 4 mins! Nick we don't have time, get your shoes on..."
"I don't want to..."
"Fine then, I'll carry you to the car...come on guys let go."
"Mom you forgot to get Matt." Mason, always the wise one. reminded me.
"Ohhh shoot...okay, it's not like we left the house...we're just in the car Mason. I'll be right back. I want those seat belts on when I get back!"
"Matt....I love you!!! Did you sleep well??? Okay baby boy lets get into this car seat and we'll get the kids to school and then we'll eat okay...okay??? I woowoo...I WOOOwoo! a shubooo..aboobooo...you sweetie pie. whoese the big boy??? Matt's the big boy...."
"MOMMM COME ON!!!"
"Alright Mason, I'll be right there!"
Everybody got everything...good...great...wonderful! We are off!
Getting to the school we wait in the "car line" so I can drop the kids off right by the door.
"*Muuuahhhh* I love you, Mason...God is with you!"
"*Muuuuahhh* I love you, Anna...God is with you!"
"Have a great day at school guys, I'll see you after school is over...right here...no, no kids connection today...I'll be picking you guys up...get up there guys..your going to be late!"
Okay, now I can breath. The biggest part of the day is done. I survived with little to no damage done. I can get home, relax a little bit, feed Matt, change his diaper. Hopefully he'll take a long morning nap and then I can sit with Nick and have alittle time with him. Then I can get a few things done this morning so Mike can that I just don't sit around and do nothing. Then I'll rearrange the whole house, make a 4 course meal for supper (yes supper, not dinner), and then I can try to have a Martha Stewart moment somewhere in the house. And everything will be perfect! Oh please, please let it be like that.
Finally, I get home. Get Nick and Matt in the house. I start to work on my second cup of coffee, I sit down ready to feed Matt, when Nick yells...."MOM, WHERE IS MY PEANUT BUTTER AND JWELLY SANDWICH????"
Is my job ever finished?
I hope not!
"Kids, it's time to wake up!!" I yell.
......nothing.......
"Kids, get out of bed!!....Mason, Anna, Nick...get up now!"
somewhere from upstairs, in a weak voice, I hear,
"....wwwwwwhy?"
"Cause it's time for school!!! Come on guys, get up, get up, get up up up up! We have got to get going!"
....nothing....
"Alright, I'm coming up there and with me is coming a big cold glass of water...if you don't get up, your going to get soaked! GET UP!"
"FINE, I'm getting up!" Mason yells
"AAGGGGHHHHH!" Anna projects toward me.
"I want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich." Nick yelled.
Alright, let the tug and pull game begin.
"I didn't want toast"...."Okay"
I want cereal..."Fine"
...I want a donut from the bakery...."No, we aren't going to the bakery"
....can't you make pancakes like the other day??.... "No, it's a toast or cereal day"
... Why do I have to wear this"...."Cause it's clean"
..Can I have a sack lunch today...."No, you should have mentioned it yesturday...I don't have the stuff for it."
....so and so's mom lets them get a lunchable and bring it to school..."That's nice."
...Where is my peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."It's coming up soon Nick."
.Do we have juice?...."yup we have orange juice."
..I don't want orange juice, I wanted apple.. "sigh"
...Mom where's my folder?.."Did you look on the table??? No??? Would you look on the table??"
..Did you get me any socks?.."They were with the clothes I laid out last night."
..What Day is it today...5 or 6?..."I think it's day 6...."
...I don't want peanut butter and jwelly sandwich..."Mason you asked for a peanut butter and jwelly...i mean jelly sandwich...your gunna eat it."
...My name is Nicholas, mom not Mason...."
"STOPPPPPP!!!!! Okay, Mason it's day 6, get your p.e. shoes on. Anna, if you don't like the clothes then pick something else out....Nick you did ask for a peanut and butter sandwich now get in the car with it cause the kids are going to be late if we don't get going..."
"Mom I can't find my hat!".....It's over by your shoes."
"Mom, Did I put my homework in my folder?"...."yes, your folder is on the table"
"Okay kids we have got to get into the car, it's 7:56 we have 4 mins! Nick we don't have time, get your shoes on..."
"I don't want to..."
"Fine then, I'll carry you to the car...come on guys let go."
"Mom you forgot to get Matt." Mason, always the wise one. reminded me.
"Ohhh shoot...okay, it's not like we left the house...we're just in the car Mason. I'll be right back. I want those seat belts on when I get back!"
"Matt....I love you!!! Did you sleep well??? Okay baby boy lets get into this car seat and we'll get the kids to school and then we'll eat okay...okay??? I woowoo...I WOOOwoo! a shubooo..aboobooo...you sweetie pie. whoese the big boy??? Matt's the big boy...."
"MOMMM COME ON!!!"
"Alright Mason, I'll be right there!"
Everybody got everything...good...great...wonderful! We are off!
Getting to the school we wait in the "car line" so I can drop the kids off right by the door.
"*Muuuahhhh* I love you, Mason...God is with you!"
"*Muuuuahhh* I love you, Anna...God is with you!"
"Have a great day at school guys, I'll see you after school is over...right here...no, no kids connection today...I'll be picking you guys up...get up there guys..your going to be late!"
Okay, now I can breath. The biggest part of the day is done. I survived with little to no damage done. I can get home, relax a little bit, feed Matt, change his diaper. Hopefully he'll take a long morning nap and then I can sit with Nick and have alittle time with him. Then I can get a few things done this morning so Mike can that I just don't sit around and do nothing. Then I'll rearrange the whole house, make a 4 course meal for supper (yes supper, not dinner), and then I can try to have a Martha Stewart moment somewhere in the house. And everything will be perfect! Oh please, please let it be like that.
Finally, I get home. Get Nick and Matt in the house. I start to work on my second cup of coffee, I sit down ready to feed Matt, when Nick yells...."MOM, WHERE IS MY PEANUT BUTTER AND JWELLY SANDWICH????"
Is my job ever finished?
I hope not!
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