Another trip to Waimea Valley

I took a break (and other randoms)

What started as just a facebook break turned into a computer break in general.  It was really nice and I am embarrassed to admit that I finally realized why I had no time.  After being off the computer all I could think was, "I feel alive again" and "My creativity is back!"  And I had to admit it is pretty exciting to me to be creative and a fun mom again.  I baked, sewed, crafted, played games and even decorated my house.  I am back from my break now, but have been much more disciplined as far as computer time goes. 

Today I am not feeling well and am spending a little of nap time on here.  I recently read back through some old blog posts of mine and was encouraged to make sure that I keep on blogging.  It is the only "scrapbook" I have of our family's memories and I want to keep that up. 

 Tomorrow is Thea's birthday and I am praying I will feel better so we can get out and do something fun.  I had hoped to take her to the beach, but I am thinking I won't be up for that.  She's pretty happy to do anything so I'm sure I can talk her into bowling or pottery or even the pool.  That one should be easy!

 
Today is Grandma's birthday.  We are sure missing her here.  During her visit we had a birthday celebration.  This cake was the best carrot cake I have ever had and the kids actually have considered having it instead of their beloved Reece's Cake.  I could eat it all day long and it really is low in sugar compared to a lot of baked things.  Doesn't it look like Grandma's plate is the cake pan and she's going to eat it all with her cup up at the top??  Haha.  Thankfully she did share with us! 

Right now Ashton is in the kitchen making Thea's birthday cake.  Giddy was crying to Ashton is letting him "help".  What a good big brother he is.  Gideon can be a huge handful.  They are using the electric mixer and I hear Ashton making funny sounds with him.  Too cute. 

Today I saw an article on Yahoo about a family that lives on 14,000 a year.  I went to her blog and found that she's a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom.  Anyway, she had a recipe for making pancake mix that you make in bulk and use as needed.  Here it is.    This is really appealing to me because we used to have pancakes a lot, but I quit feeling like making the batter and I hated using the mixes with aluminum and white flour.  I just bought a big glass container that I think would be perfect 

More blogs to come...

Facebook

I love Facebook.  It just makes my day to get on and see what my friends all over the world are doing and look at cute pictures of their children.  However, I've been getting carried away a little.  It seems I always need to get on the computer just to "check something real quick" and end up on Facebook!  So I tried good old self control to get my FB time in check, but it did not work.  At all.  So I quit.  I deactivated my account yesterday and am moving on with life.  It's not a permanent thing (I don't think), but I need some time to get my head back. 

Already I feel smarter.  I've been considering a unit study, planning some Valentine's Day activities, setting things up for my mom's mock birthday party on Monday, and cut out about 10 diapers to sew.  I honestly wonder if it was stealing my creativity!!  I KNOW it was stealing my time, but I justified it by telling myself I was keeping in touch with my friends. 

While reading Psalms night before last I fell on this verse. 
I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. Psalm 101:3a  Wow, I could not get that out of my head. 

Ok, FB is not worthless, but how much of the time I spent on there was worthless?  Obviously I can catch up on my friends by checking once a day or even every other day.  

So, for now, I am Facebook-less.  It's been hard, but I'm encouraged by the fact that I seem to be gaining my brain back.  Now I will have the time to write real letters...or at least emails...to friends instead of just reading their status updates.

Crafting

 I'm liking the fit.  I added an inch to the rise of the top one, but keep forgetting to do it when I'm making other diapers.  She has a higher rise than my last couple of babies did.  I decided to do velcro because putting on all those snaps takes forever!  Not to mention I am running out of snaps and don't want to have to buy more.  This pattern is the Very Baby all in one, but I have modified it to make fitted and pockets like in this picture.  I love it.  It fits well and generously although I did modify it some to make it more trim. 

My crafting has been limited to diaper making lately.  I have a ton more cut out and ready to be sewn, but here are a couple I have finished. 

Oh Evangeline...

You poor thing.  You put up with so much.  (FYI-she was sleeping and the googles are very loose!) 

Mareea is 4!!!

This post is a few weeks late, but I wanted to make sure I got up pictures from Mareea's little birthday celebration.  Daddy was gone just as he was last year.  It's hard, but she seems to understand.  It's hard to be too sad on an exciting day like your birthday anyway! 

She had been looking forward to making her cake for days! 

Opening presents.  A nightgown in ooga booga print with a matching one for her dollie, Lelani.  

Trying on the nightgown.  She proclaimed it was very soft.  

 Present one is a "learning laptop" to take to MU for when her siblings are dancing or taking art.  No, I do not think electronic learning game actually means she will learn, but she is super excited about it and it's for a limited time.  

Pizza!!

Cake, chocolate of course!!  With pink sprinkes and pink candles.  

It's hard to believe she is 4.  I talked to her about her birth a little.  It was by far my most painful birth.  We didn't talk too much about that, but about how she was born on the coldest night in 30 years.  We looked at her baby pictures and I read her the captions under them.  We ate our traditional birthday meal of mac and cheese, canned peaches and salad for dinner and went to the Wright Bros. Cafe for lunch.  It was so good and they were so good. 

Happy birthday to our sweet, redheaded, princes and pink loving Mareea.