So this blanket should have been received by it's recipient by now so I'm going to share it with you. I really love this fabric, when I bought it I had no idea what I was going to use it for(I also bought some cowgirls in flannel for the girls, maybe jammies?). But when a friend of mine moved to Alberta, I teased her about becoming a cowgirl. Then when she had a baby boy I knew where this fabric was headed!

Because there is so much going on in the fabric and just love it the way it is I decided to keep it really simple. Added really soft dotted minky to the back and top stitched in red to finish and ta-da! A cute little cowpoke blankie for a very cute little man!

Is everyone enjoying fall? It's by far my favorite time of year. From Oct through Dec. The gorgeous chill in the air, the tree's putting on their party clothes, being able to wear sweaters(I love sweaters), fuzzy socks, pumpkin patch visits, and so much more. I'm feeling an urge to knit this fall which is really strange since I don't knit, or crochet. It's on my want to learn list but I have so much else to do for now that it will have to wait. I'm thinking after Christmas I'll give it a go. I'll probably be posting for help with that! I guess in the meantime I'll have to settle for some fall/Christmas sewing, of which I have a lot! Oh, I guess I should think about Halloween costumes first!

Is't this little guy with the lasso cute? I think he's my favorite!

Balance

I've been having trouble finding balance lately. It's not a new thing for me, I think it has something to do with not being very organized. I have days when I get tons done at home but feel I didn't spend enough quality time with the girls. And days when I spend tons of quality time with the girls and make sure we get outside time, and we all get enough creative time(which is as important for me as it is for them), but then my household duties get neglected and I get frustrated with myself. I'm sure there is a happy medium that will work for us I just can't seem to find it.
I know I am a person who thrives on routine, yet I rebel against structure. Or at least the idea of structured routine. I want my days to be fluid, to be able to embrace a sudden change of plan. But I know I need more routine than I have, and I really know that Payton does. She is a go go go-er, whose first question in the morning is "So what are we doing today?" And if I know, I answer and she'll respond with "how about after that?" or "what are we eating?". She really is a kid who thrives on routine.

I have been researching online what works for other families and trying to decide what I want to try with ours. I need some sort of menu plan, I'm always frustrated when it comes to deciding what to eat because I've waited until it's time to start to decide what to have. I'm also horribly bored with what we've been eating, which leaves me uninspired when it comes to cooking. So a menu plan, and shopping list is on the list.


Also I need a plan of attack when it comes to housework. Something easy to maintain. It's not important to me to have a spotless house all the time. I mean lets be realistic, I have 2 small children. If spotless was a priority then something else(like playing with my kids) would have to suffer. But I do like things neat with things in their "homes" when not in use. I've done a lot of decluttering and that has certainly helped. And I don't want to spend hours upon hours everyday on housework either. I've been trying to decide what would work as far as a basic housework schedule goes. Certain things on certain days? A general list with so many things to be done each day and I pick according to what I feel like doing? Setting aside a specific hour each day instead of just doing things when I decide to? Don't know, but there has to be something that is easy to maintain.


I need to work in time spent outdoors everyday, I've been feeling a little low the last few days and I really believe it's due to the grey rainy weather that we've been having. So I really need to grab some sunshine when I can, and if it's not sunny some fresh air at least. I always feel uplifted after soaking in some of God's great outdoors.


Other things that I know will make me feel more balance(whether I am or aren't lol) are getting enough rest and exercising. I've turned into a horrible night owl and need to concentrate on getting to bed before midnight on a regular basis. Early I don't think is realistic for me but I think in bed by 11 is reasonable.


Simple Mom has been very helpful for me, if you haven't checked out her site you should. She had a great series lately entitled How to be disorganized and unproductive at home, which I will be re-reading. I also downloaded her ebook, Spring Cleaning for normal people. Which looks great, I've printed it out and am going to give it a good read. I'm hoping to find some solid inspiration there.


So what works for everyone out there? What helps you keep balance in your lives? Cleaning schedules? Meal plans? Share any words of wisdom you have for me, as well as any websites/links you've found helpful. I think this will be a continuing topic for me until I get this figured out!

Scattered

Today feels heavy. No big catastrophe, just a series of small things with a cherry on top. Just enough to throw me off balance and hit the floor. Thankfully I know that when I hit the floor not to jump and try to run again, it's a subtle reminder to spend some time down there, on my knees.

I've got a couple blog posts brewing but not ready so I thought I would share some pics of my favorite girls in the world. I just love the affection they have for each other already. Of course it's not always friendly around here, but I find that more often than not they are piling on the love for each other. One of the favorite games of late has been sitting in bins, different sizes and different activities but apparently there is something special about bins.

Priorities

It's amazing how quickly we can lose sight of priorities. I'm going on a ladies retreat this weekend, and am so excited to get away for a couple days. Somehow I decided that I needed to get a bunch of things done today before I could go. I think because I knew I wasn't going to be able to do them this weekend. So as my daughter was asking to play a game with me I heard myself saying I couldn't that I was to busy. A little later I realized that I didn't want to wash my floors, vacuum, or empty the dishwasher, and that it didn't matter if they got done either. I wanted to play with my kid. And that's what I did. Some things are just to important to put off. Have a good weekend everyone!

Who dresses that kid? Why Spider-Sam.

We spent some time outside enjoying the sunshine today.

There were chalk roads to build, with houses, forests, and a happy Sun. A ball house to play in, and babies to be cared for. Oh yes, and a very hungry horse family.

I've been learning a lot about my second born as she gets older. She's fiercely independent and so so stubborn for someone so small.

"Would you please stop calling me, I will look at you when I'm good and ready."

I love our little fenced courtyard. Sam on the other hand is not so fond of the fence.

"Somebody, please let me out. I'm cute. And I want to take my baby for a walk."

"Anybody?" Doesn't the diaper tu-tu bum just kill you? I love it. I must have taken 20 pictures of her back side today.

I must add of course that I did not do this to my child. She did it herself. Yes folks she's 18 months old and is already taking charge of her fashion. She brought me Pay's dance costume and was trying to get it over her head and was very pleased when I helped her get it on. Then was twirling in the living room(I think Rod got pics of that). Later she was helping me do laundry by taking everything out of the laundry basket and handing the odd thing to me. I thought she handed me the Spiderman jammy shirt to wash but she objected rather loudly until I helped her put it on. Then she was as pleased as punch. She added the binoculars at some point and spent the rest of the afternoon like that. Who am I to object? I think she looks fabulous!

Hello World

Today was a good day. You know, not hugely exciting, or even very busy, just good. The kind of day when you sit back, look around and just smile. I felt reminded today how good it is to be here, to be so lucky, so loved, so alive.

Rod's Dad and Step-mom(whom I LOVE) came over and brought picnic lunch. As I was tidying this morning I was not panicked about having people over. Just excited that they were coming. When I realized that I felt so peaceful. Like maybe I can give up my need for perfectionism and just enjoy things more. I have found lately that my fear of failure keeps me from doing more, enjoying more, and just living in the moment. I hadn't realized that it crept into my housekeeping as well. I don't entertain much. I never feel like my space is neat enough, big enough, or just nice enough. I have got to let that go. I want to have people here, to have people feel comfortable here. I think I'm making a start.

We had just a great visit. The girls love playing with their grandparents and we grown ups got to visit too. Rod got to take them for a tour of his work, then they watched the girls so I could take a tour! Wow that place is incredible! Rod absolutely loves his job, and it was so very worth it to move closer. I really enjoy seeing him so happy.

I fed and played with the girls after our visitors left, then off to bed for them. I love love love watching them play and interact. I was an only child so this is all new to me and I feel so fortunate that they have so much love for each other. Payton is such an amazing big sister, she prayed last night at dinner that Mommy have another baby. I was so surprised, how cute is that? I guess she likes Sam if she figures we should have another lol!

Then I sit down to check my email and found that I won a giveaway off a blog I've been enjoying lately! How cool that? I really need to update my links because I've found some really amazing blogs I want to pass along. Which is yes what I've been doing online instead of writing on my own blog(blush). For now I'll pass along a few links that are worth a check out,

Jessica at Juicy-Bits(where I won the prize)
Melissa at Yummygoods
Mary at Owlhaven
Amanda at SouleMama (I have her book The Creative Family, which I LOVE)
Hillary at Wee Wonderfuls
Bridget at Everyday Chaos (she just had a beautiful baby last week)
Sandi at PortabelloPixie

And last but not least

Little Birdie Secrets who have been having awesome back to school tutorial all last week!

Now I'm off to see if I can find some pics to add because a post without pics really seems naked don't you think?

The girls all ready for their first ride behind Rod's new electric bike. That bike is really a lot of serious fun! It means even me who is seriously out of shape can pull the trailer with both girls in it up a hill. It's not like a motorbike in that it's only power assist, you still have to pedal(well maybe not on flats). I was still plenty tired and sweaty after our last bike ride.

Bike in action, you think he likes it? The girls love it, "Faster Daddy FASTER!" lol, so fun!

Yes, I'm still here

It's been crazy busy around here. I fully intend to get back into the blogging groove soon as it's calling my name. I'm also horribly behind on getting photo's up as well.

We are almost finished organizing. I think everything is unpacked it's just the finishing now. I had hoped to be done before we went camping, but that didn't happen. Then as soon as we were back from camping Rod's mom and sister were here for a few days. So now that they are gone I can get back to finishing on this place. And finish packing away the camping gear as well!

I can't wait until everything around here has a home!

Where's the pictures.

I think posts look a little naked without pictures don't you? I must admit to enjoying reading others posts with some eye candy thrown in there. I guess that may be my visual artsy side that needs fueling and encouragement. But alas I'm not uploading anything tonight or I won't ever get off this computer and back to doing something toward moving. I'm already tired of packing, organizing, cleaning ect. Sigh. Better get back at it. I'll post a pic or 2 tomorrow for you. I promise.

Not the best planning

And why did I think committing to any type of blogging for the next month was a good idea?? I have managed to take some pics of things that made me happy/smile during the day the last couple of days. But getting them uploaded then writing an actual post may not happen regularly. Maybe every few days? Maybe