Today

Things are busy lately as I said in my last post, but I am trying to take everything in stride. We have been making good time to play outside at days end, but unfortunately the last two days I have truly lost track of time while we are outside in the evening and the next thing I know it is bedtime. It isn't a bad thing, just kind of wish that the kids would have a bit more down time before they need to go to bed. On days that nap doesn't happen, then they go to bed at about 8pm-ish... but last night we were still outside at that time, so we had to skip story time, which bums me out. I suppose I could have done story time, but the kids were both in need of going to sleep (cranky!)... Today is gorgeous, so we are going to spend the day outside. This morning we are going to Tina's, she has a jungle gym thingy outside at her place, so we are going to hang out with them for a couple hours this morning, home for lunch and nap, and then out again once nap is over... I sold our changing table and have to take it to Delafield this afternoon, but then we are coming home to play! I am thankful for the day to not do too much other than just hanging out at home with just a couple places to go. We did way too much yesterday and I was completely exhausted by days end. So much so that I am thankful that we didn't have to do bathtime ;) Anyhow, I need to work laundry into the mix of stuff going on today, but our bank was out of quarters yesterday so I have to go there first and hope that they have quarters for me today! Well anyhow, I should get going. We are going to leave here in a little while and I haven't even gotten the kids dressed yet!
I am re-reading the Diaper Free Before 3 book. It was so encouraging last time I read it, that I want to just re-look at parts of the book, and work with potty training for the next two days. Yesterday I went to Babies R Us, and spent some time (and quite a bit of money, who knew potty training undies for both kids and a little potty chair could cost so much?) picking out some undies for the kids and a travel potty chair that we can take with us to Minnesota this weekend, and in the Jeep with us wherever we end up at any given point. I want to have the kids both in undies for as much as possible in the next couple weeks so they are well on their way to being diaper free... YAY~!

Busy week... love the living room ;)

Oh my gosh I look at my living room this evening and feel a sense of accomplishment because the piano is gone, the new bookshelf is here, and the living room is switched around! Wooohooo I am totally proud of myself and so thankful to all the helping hands that made it work, but I am loving the extra space that we can now enjoy (which rapidly filled up with toys this afternoon ;)) and I got much done with the space... I love it! Tomorrow is going to be super busy we have a lot to do (it is little Gram day), so plenty of shopping around. I am heading to GW to look through their pants/capris/skirts and everything else there. Heading to buy potty training pants which I am funnily enough totally stoked about... And we are selling some of our movies and stuff, and taking the cans in again! I am thrilled for that (don't even laugh, believe me, I know how lame I am sometimes :P) And so yeah busy week ahead... I am excited to be going to Minnesota with my M-I-L... I haven't seen her sister in geee like maybe 4 years. Spend a lot of time with Ben's cousin Gabe though (moreso last summer but we are still buds) and so I am going to see his family.. Aunt Patty hasn't been able to meet our kids yet, so we are heading there. Since it is father's day on Sunday, we are going to head back for that... So it is going to be a fast trip, but a trip nonetheless!

Em's bridal shower....

We had a wonderful time at Emily's bridal shower... It was a lovely day... (Omg until it downpoured like mad and flooded everywhere... oh yeah and tornadoes... did I mention them? But that all happened after the lovely bridal shower, thank goodness!) Mandy thought of making a scrap book for Emily, so we each got our picture taken, and she was totally on top of getting us the pictures in our email right away, so I am so thankful to share this cute one of us...
We played some games and just hung out with each other... My sister got to be one of the toilet paper brides... and totally would have won, but Em had to make it a tie... I can understand why! ;)
We had such a great time~

51 People? Are you even kidding me?

So I have kind of a funny story. I have been trying to get rid of our huge lug of a piano for like ever... We have had it for a couple years now, and I would like to paint in our apartment, and redecorate a bit (oh and did I mention have more space?) but can't do anything with the piano in our way. I have posted it once before under the "furniture" posting on craigslist, and only had two inquiries but no sales... So, I recruited help from church and was going to move the thing, with my helpers to St. Vincent Depauls in Oconomowoc. I called them and they said "oh sure we'll take your piano"... So ok, yay, I got it all set up with my helpers, and called to confirm dropping off the piano. Well just so happened that the General Manager, who I am not too fond of now, answered the phone and said "We don't take piano's, they are too heavy and no one wants to buy them because they are so heavy." "Ok, well why did the last person tell me that it was OK for us to drop it off... I have recruited help and we are ready to bring it." "Well cancel your help. Sometimes people that don't know what they are talking about answer our phones.".... Oh snap. I was really annoyed at that. So then I had the discussion with my husband as to what we should do with this thing. He said, "Let's just take it apart!"... Ugh sure that sounds easy, although with how frustrated I am with the whole thing, I would really love to use a sledge hammer! J/K... Anyhow, so my sis did some helping with calling around to places to see if they would take it, and she got nowhere fast with that. So she kind of encouraged re-posting on craigslist. Ok, sure. So this time I posted it under "free" and "furniture"... Posted it at 4pm yesterday....at like literally, no joke, 4:02pm, a nice lady emailed and was like "I'll take it!" she wants to come and see it first so I made an appointment with her to come check it out today! Anyhow, of course I didn't realize I would even be dealing with a first come first serve...because I have gotten as of now 52 emails inquiring on it. Some people want dimensions, but there have been a huge percentage of the people that are like "When can I pick it up?"... are you serious? I had one guy offer to come and get it from me last night... SERIOUSLY? I, in a way, wish that I could have taken him up on that offer, and have that huge portion of our apartment open floor space this morning, but the lady is coming today... at about 1:30pm. Please pray that they take it. I know that they aren't prepared to take it right away today, but that they will come this weekend. Oh my gosh, and if they decide against it for some reason, at least I have 51 more options! Oh I am so thankful. Lord you have really blessed me in this small (but very huge and heavy) thing. I appreciate it sooooo much! Yay for craigslist... Oh! And I sold a stroller this morning too! Wooooooohooooooooo
Oh yeah... reminder.... pray for my Grams please (pls read previous post if you haven't yet)
Blessings,
Sara

Sooo sad.....

I called Grams today to find out how her tests went yesterday... and turns out not so good. She needs to meet with a surgeon, on Thursday. I don't know many details.
Please pray for healing, and that it would be nothing. Or something that is cured.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for putting this amazing role model in my life. Grams has been the person that has always tried to instill religion in our family, and it worked. She is someone I truely admire. Someone who is wonderful. She adores our family, and helps me take care of my kids. I pray for healing in her today, God. Please show the doctors how to care for her and give her exactly what she needs to be well. She is such a healthy person. Sometimes I don't understand you, God. Please help me to make clear the things that make no sense. Lord I pray for Grams now, and ask that you please heal all that she is experiencing. God, please...

In Jesus powerful name...
Amen

Potty Training!

I just finished reading a good potty training book, and I have been working hard with both kids to carry out what the author of the book recommends for successful potty training. It is totally working! I have been lucky enough to get to know a person who strives to be a "natural mommy" and she owns her own business... she has been really gracious and sent me a trial package of cloth diapers. Not sure yet if they are for me, but she asked that I give it awhile more to try them out... Here is her website to check out http://rgnaturalbabies.com/. Anyhow, I am thinking of stocking up on undies for both kids and undie covers for while we play outside because accidents are bound to happen. For Adalai's first birthday, my Father in law, bought my kids a time out bear. He is super cute, he has an egg timer in his tummy... anyhow, instead of using him for time outs (which we have plenty of around here ;)) we set his tummy to ding when it is time to sit on the potty. (Thanks Em for that suggestion! Worked wonders!) And they were both dry in undies for at least three or so hours. I was so proud of them. So there is a chance that instead of wearing cloth diapers, or diapers at all, that we are going to just use undies instead! Hopefully at least. I do want to do the "green" thing tho, so if I decide to stick to using disposables for nap, while we are away from home, and bedtimes, I am going to try and be disciplined in buying the eco diapers from Target... and organic or eco friendly wipes also. I know, I am kind of a nerd when it comes to stuff like this, but it is important for me to try and do my part to keep this world as clean that is in my power, as it can be for the sake of my children and grandchildren to come... Anyhow, that is my story with the kids for now. We are working on potty training, OH and taking Adalai off the pacifier because seriously if the girl can be potty training, she needs to give up the paci. She is kind of stubborn tho, she refused to take a nap yesterday because she didn't have that thing in her mouth! Now that she is getting top teeth, she needs to give it up. So, we are taking it from her at naptime first, and then bedtime after a couple days. We are going to stick to a stuffed animal that she can have instead.
Anyhow, other then that, we are busy this week, but it is the good busy. We are seeing my friend Jenny for breakfast, visiting with Grams, and Bible study and park... so that is all fun stuff, and my S-I-L's bridal shower is this weekend which will be a good time!
Well for now I should go because it is gloomy out and I want to get the kids outside for a walk before the rain starts. Have a blessed day!

Outside

I am so happy that the weather is getting nicer. I am sure I have written this before, but I am seriously so excited. It has been wonderful because Wyatt's little buddies from next door come, and I am the mom who gets to sit outside with them. There are usually about 5 including mine that hang out in our yard. It is kind of a blessing to be the one who gets to referee, but I really enjoy to sit in the grass with a book. It is wonderful! We are so busy lately, that it is my time of peace. It has been a very long time since I have felt actual peace at being at home. I used to be so anxious to hang out around the apartment, which is another reason it is a blessing that my kids are the youngest, because I actually HAVE to stay outside while they play, which doesn't give me the option to be in the apartment fussing over what needs to be cleaned/organized/whatever...
I finished the book of Joshua this evening, which makes book number 13 in my quest to read through the whole Bible. I have switched back to reading the NIV translation. My poor Bible is all duct taped, and written in, it is a total mess, but oh well, I love the worn in look!
I am off now to journal, relax, and watch a movie!