sww

Ahh another SWW is on the ol blot. Gah! BloG. As you can tell by my blasted autocorrect mistakes, I sm still tapping this baby out via my kindle while my awesome brother in law works to save my laptop. Boy oh boy there have been so many things I have wanted to type but haven't had enough patience to plunk out. God must be using this time yo give me a lesson in holding my tounge. Facebook has been extra hurtful lately and I don't think that helps. So what if I would give my right arm for the Schwanns man to come pulling up in my driveway. Have you had their Mexican pizza? They are spool good. Nevermind that there is a huge drift in front of my door and our road hasn't been plowed from the 6 inches of snow we got today. So what if my favorite part of living in the country is being snowed in. I just cant describe how beautiful it is outside my window. So what if I have a roast in my crockpot that smells heavenly. I want to surprise Scott who will likely have a long day of plowing ahead of him. So what if I went to a bridal fair this weekend only to taste the cake. It didn't disappoint. So what if I am so thankful Lisa Dena is leaving Days. So what if I am trying to plan a sneakaway with my husband(who never reads this blog) so we can get away from the munchkins, we haven't been somewhere without our children since Gav was a baby. So what if I cant figure out how to make this not be in one big paragraph.

Sww

So what if I am plucking This SWW out on my kindle so it is going to be short, full of autocorrects and all in one paragraph. I will pray for your eyes now.

So what if I told Gav there wasn't taekwando on Monday night because it was cold outside and I didn't want to go out in the attic tundra.

So what if my computer is broke and I can barely stop thinking about it. So what if I would love to start my own floral shop someday. Flowers make me happy. So what if I could barely think of 10 random facts about me let alone 20. So what if my friend Hollie and I's facebook conversation about going on the biggest loser was so funny I nearly peer my pants. I don't think anyone should laugh so hard at their own jokes. So what if AEA is going to be here in an hour and I have yet to bathe oreep up the enormous pile of food the babies threw under their highchairs. We need a dog. Speaking of dogs, so what if we taught Luke to play fetch? So what if we call it fetch? So what if we praise him when he brings back the item, and so what if the boys taught him to bark. Okay friends, I am off to shower and pick up the entire continent of Africa's food rations off of our floor! XOXO!

About Me Monday:

I found this list on Tara's blog and thought it would be good to do around here. After all part of the reason for this blog is so that someday my kids (ok, my daughters in law) will be able to read about me.  I made a button for us so grab it and post!  Same rules apply, leave me a comment so I can read your post!



THE LIST: (you don't have to stay on the list, it is just a guideline)

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Weekend Ramblings

I am so thankful that my kids don't wrestle.  Those of you who have kids that wrestle, that's great, but again.  I am REALLY glad that the boys don't want to.

I think I do all my best thinking in the shower/bathtub.  I always come up with great ideas, and enjoy the time to think through situations.  The problem is, my children also do all of their best thinking while I am in the shower. 

I am ready for the cold weather to go away.  Winter hasn't been here a full month yet and I am already yearning for bonfire weather.  You know what i am talking about right?  Weather that is cool enough for jeans and a big ol comfy sweatshirt that requires you to sit close enough to the fire to keep warm.  Oh boy, I just can not wait for bonfire weather.  Now that the babies are not such inside babies, and their bedtime routine is much easier, I think we will be hosting a few more bonfires this season.

I think going to to see a presidential inauguration is something on my bucket list.  I can't imagine the magnitude of seeing the leader of our country take such a powerful oath.

I want to go visit a piano bar.

Max's mumbling cracks me up!  He walks around the house speaking in complete gibberish. It is so funny.

You know you are parents of 4 kids when you instead of cards from Hallmark, words of love and encouragement are written on a magnadoodle.

I think I am going to get another fuel saver card from Hy-Vee. That way I can have one and Scott can have one too, and on sale days where when you spend $25 you get 15 cents off a gallon and I buy $50 worth of groceries, I can get 15 cents off both of our cards.

Friday 5 Faves

**editors note.. I fixed the link to Mrs Clark's blog, it no longer takes you to amazon to buy some cheep diapers!
They don't have to be long, they dont have to be funny or interesting, but take 5 minutes out of your Friday to reflect on your favorite things from the week.  It can be a favorite place you visited, a new favorite lip gloss you found at the checkout line in WalMart,  a new blog or an event that happened this week that you always want to remember.  Let's link up for Friday's five Faves. Grab the image and place it on your blog. Be sure to leave me a comment with a link so I can read it too!

1.)  Remember foods class in highschool?  Well guess what I found the other day?  Mrs. Clark has a blog and she posts all sorts of yummy recipes.  It is my first favorite find of today.  You can find her blog over here.

2.) Girl time!  I love having time away for a mommy recess.  I love my kiddos but I am so thankful to have some great friends who are all ready to get away once a month.  I also love that this time is scheduled a month ahead of time so we don't have any excuses to miss it.  So thankful for this time!


3.) My SSMT verse this round.  I love it.  I am so thankful for a gentile word of encouragment from Nicole to try this mission.  I am anxious to see how this challenge grows me.

4.)  LaneBryant is having their buy 2 bras get 2 bras free sale.  I love this sale and need new over the shoulder, boulder holders.


5.)  Medicine.  I am so thankful for it.

I am editing to add 2 things that happened today that are my favorite events for today.  Like
A.)  My grandma called today to tell me she missed me and the babies and then asked if she could sing the boys a song.  I listened to her sing and cried.  I miss her like crazy and I am ready for everyone to be healthy so we can visit her.
B.) This man who was looking like a thug walked out of the Goodwill, and a gust of wind came through and blew his hat off of his head. Oh what a problem when you are trying to run to catch your hat when your pants are down around your knees. I nearly choked on my soup while watching.

Where I ramble about underwear....

Lane Bryant is having their awesome buy 2 get 2 free bra sale! Hip-hip horray!! I love this sale. However something made me shake my head when I was cruising through their underwear trying to find 5 pairs for $25.

Now, you can call me an old married woman, or a fuddy duddy, but I do not see a single point as to why a woman would purchase underwear with words on the back. Maybe it is because I have been married for more than 3 weeks, or maybe even because finding time to have sex when you have 4 kids takes an astronomical amount of stars to align, but, can someone please help me to understand why words like "Flirt" yea, I figured you are since you are letting me see your knickers, "Party girl" or "diva" need to be bedazzled on your derrière?  First of all, if you need to write "call me" on your ass, you probably need to spend some more time with a therapist discussing your issues than you do in bed with someone to whom you need to remind to pick up the phone. And what about "Hello Sexy," You definitely don’t see men wearing boxer briefs printed with "Hello Easy umm- Sexy" written over the fly. The one that cracks me up the most is "you wish." Yea, well, he didn't have to wish too hard did he? He is, after all, reading your underwear. The Valentine's day themed ones are cause for some major rethinking too, I mean "You should be mine?" Should??? again, the two of you have already passed enough bases to be close enough for him to study your bloomers, so I believe it is a little too late for that. And "wanna peak" yea, don’t even get me started on that one.

If I am wrong and this messages on the back of our unmentionables is indeed read and understood by men then maybe we as women should use it to our advantage, and maybe where the real market lies is in the other gender. (Don’t you dare steal this idea, it may be my ticket to fame and fortune.) What if we placed some clever screen printed text in men's underwear. Like "WIPE WELL" on the inside and "PICK ME UP" across the backside, so when they are lying on the bathroom floor a man might read the message and follow it's instructions. Oh! Oh! and if that works we can go back to the bedazzled messages on women's underwear and write things like "Not tonight" "I am mad" "I have a headache" or "Sorry buster, but you forgot to take out the trash."

Maybe it is just me, I mean, I am sure "Sexy Valentine" looks great on a size 4, but not advertised across my rear my dears. And my husband already knows I am fabulous, my stretch marks from carrying his children practically spell out the word. Not to mention, I just dont even want to think about what size font would be needed fill the space across my caboose. Besides, I think women should have a little more respect for themselves, what makes us "sexy" "fabulous" "amazing" is more than the words written on our panties. Our value is not solely placed in the text across our lingerie. It's what is in the inside that counts.

XOXO!

So what Wednesday...

 

 

 

Wednesday is here and I am so thankful to be doing another So What Wednesday post.  If you blog, you should join us!  Save the SWW image to your computer and use in your post.  Then come back and leave me a link in my comments so others can read them too!

So what I spent $15 on some oil that is suppose to help boost our immunity and fight off germs.

So what if said oils smell like the sheep barn at the county fair?

And so what if the oils arrived the same day that Luke started puking...

 

So what if I may have learned the hard way that breastmilk is NOT a clear liquid.

 

So what if I found out the hard way that an 18 month old does not have the skill set to puke into a bucket.  Projectile vomit all over our bed. I cant say I am too sad, it just moves "getting a new bed" high on our "after we get our taxes back" list.

So what if I think we have all of our tax refund spent already, we have a huge list of projects we want to get done. I cant wait to get them all finished just so this house can get back together.

So what if I dont like this ombre trend right now.  I think it looks like you just spent a fortune for your hair to look like you put color on it and haven't had the time or the money to touch up your roots.

So what if I keep thinking that my friends list is in need of reevaluation.  Not all, just some.  More and more these days some people on my friends list have met my "unfriend" button.  I have added quite a few more to the block list.

So what if some of those people who are on that list are on their because they post things from groups called "I hate Obama."  Listen, I dont care if you didn't vote for our President, I dont even care if you like him.  What I do know, is we need to still be respectful of his position and now more than ever, we should be on our knees in prayer for him, our lawmakers and this country.  We need to be praying for the people in positions of power in this country, with the same abandon that we post the pictures of Suzy Lu-hoo who needs 1,000,000 likes before she can get a free heart transplant.  God knows, we need it more than ever.  Guess what, you can always find statistics to prove your point, and I have yet to see a completely 100% non biased piece of literature posted on Facebook.  We can all talk big about how we could change this country's problems, but if we were ever put in the position to do so, I am sure it wouldnt work out the way we think.  Think I am wrong?  Then start changing your governement.  Show up at school board and city council meetings.  Stand on a committee, make a difference. But please please please, don't just complain and whine on Facebook about what a mess one elected scapegoat on any level has gotten us in to.

So what if I hate talking politics on this blog and that (^^^) is why... I dont think it brings out the best in anyone.

 

So what if I love dressing the boys alike. Today they are both wearing John Deere shirts.

So what if my new favorite saying is "Fun Fact"

 

 

So what if we shopped at 4 different places to find the parts to my van and the cheepest place was actually Amazon.  I love love love prime membership!

 

So what if I am starting a new weekly blog assignment.  Friday's Five Favs. You can post too, your 5 favorite things from the week.  They can be things that happened to you this week, favorite finds, favorite recipes, etc.  It will be a great time!

 

So what if I still have a Christmas stocking hanging from our window... The boxes are still up here but I need to finish getting all the stuff packed up.  I wish it was as much fun to put it away as it was to get it all out.

 

So what if for Lent I plan to go through 40 areas in our house and get rid of 10 things from each area.  That is at least 400 items out of the house folks!

So what if today was gum day at school.  In order to chew gum students had to bring $1. I gave the boys each 4 quarters and Gav told me he already had gotten some money out of his piggybank.  Good thing I checked his pocket because inside was 2 one dollar bills a five dollar bill, and a twenty dollar bill.  Needless to say the piggy banks are now hidden on the top shelf of our closet.

So what if I plan to run out of this house as soon as Scott is home to get some time away. 

So what if there is no such thing a quarenteen when you have 18 month old twins. Cups are shared no matter what, toys are sucked on by both the healthy and sick party, and kisses are exchanged.  After all, a cold isn' a cold until it has been shared.

So what if Amber's hair on Parenthood has inspired me to change my go to hairstyle.  I am going to try it out tonight. Pictures are coming if it turns out okay!
 

 

 

 

SSMT verse 2

Welp, it is time for week 2 and I memorized my verse from week one.  You can link up to Beth Moore's post here!  I love just reading through the comments to see what each person posts.  It touches my heart to read what God has laid on the hearts of all these women.

Here is my verse for round 2:

"He heals the brokenhearted, and bandages up their wounds.   

He counts the stars and he calls them by name."

Psalms 147: 3-4 NLT

 

Holy smokes right? One of my favorite things to do on a summer night is to sit outside and look at all the stars in the sky.  Millions of them and to think that MY God knows exactly how many are up there and calls them by name.  Sometimes I feel that what I am going through is not big enough to bother God.  But that is not what His word says, God cares about each of the stars, so of course He is going to care about each of His children.  Verse three says He heals the brokenhearted.  Some days I feel like I am walking around with a barbie size dust pan and some dollar store tape trying to gather all the pieces and keep things from completely falling apart.  Lately, my feelings have been hurt by my friends, my heart has been aching due to things out of my control.  My grandma is sick with some super scary infection that leaves a lot of room for imagination as to the bad things that could happen with it. I am worried sick about her and I miss her like crazy, at 28 years old I wish it was acceptable to throw myself at her feet and beg for her to feel better soon.  It seems huge, a daunting mountain way to big to climb, but day after day she is feeling a little better and a little stronger. We thank God for these small victories and pray for more.  Come to think of it, I can remember plenty of shopping trips with my mom and grandma, when we would pull the car into Merle Hey parking lot, we would stop and say a little prayer for a good parking spot and some great deals. I need to remember to pray like that more. For the little things God is big enough to fix the little stuff, He isn't overwhelmed, over extended or over booked.  Of course He cares about me, and my parking spot,  I belong to Him. He knows exactly how many stars are in the sky and knows each their name for crying out loud! How cool is that?!?

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO what wednesday

It's that magical day of the week known around these parts as So What Wednesday.  I encourage you to participate in SWW too, just leave me a comment with a link to your post.  Go ahead and save the icon so you can use it too! I promise it will be fun.

So what if I decided yesterday after nearly having a panic attack in front of a display of cupcakes at Hyvee, that my newest New Years Resolution is to lower my expectations on myself. I feel like I am constantly doing this, and wonder when the day will come that I can start to raise them again.

So what if I had a great time away from all the people who call me mom last weekend.  I did a few things out of my comfort zone, and had a great time away to remind me that I am more than just a mom.

So what if this week feels so long.... It feels like each day is just dragging along.

So what if I am excited for Scott's work Christmas party tomorrow night.  I love a good date night, especially the ones that we don't have to pay for.

So what if I am considering renting a dumpster so I can do some major dejunking.  My word to describe 2013 is "lighter"  I want our house to look and feel lighter, I want our schedule to be lighter, so we can spend better time together, not in our car.  I want to be lighter.

So what if I am turning down birthday party invitations left and right.  I am not telling Karter about them, because I hate those "just because I know you means I want you to bring a gift for my kid" invitations, and if they arent his top 10 friends list, I dont want to get into that awkward, "you invited me and so I need to invite you" situation.  Just call me the birthday grinch.

So what if I am rocking some cherry cola red peek-a-boos in my hair.  One of the girls is a stylist and got me all sizzled up. I am really liking it.  It has been forever since anything exciting has happened to my hair, and I think its fun.

So what if our Christmas tree is sitting naked in our living room.  I am ready for it to get out of here- lighter.

So what if Gavin is terrified of being baptized.  He has been worried all week about Aubrey being baptized and doesn't want our pastor "to dunk him."  I can respect that since he still takes a shower wearing goggles.

So what if I am debating doing a huge birthday party extravaganza for all 4 boys this summer.  Their birthdays are all within 6 weeks of each other and it's exhausting doing 3 different parties.  I am thinking of renting the pool and just skipping gifts and having all of our friends and family come join for a big celebration.

So what if I have started to refer to our family as 6smeads. Scott, Sabrina, Karter, Gavin, Luke and Max is a lot to write out.  So what if I am just being lazy, conserving ink.

So what if my last post had 209 views... the "Smead family announcement" was just that Luke started walking. 



That is all for now.

Smead family announcment.....

We officially have a family of 6 walkers!!!

Luke is finally getting this walking thing down pat at 17 months.

 

 

 

New goals....

I think I like the idea of New years resoultions better than I do the act of actually doing them.  I still want to set some goals for this year, or at least until my birthday. On my birthday I am going to set some new year (for me) goals.

Here are a few things I would like to accomplish in 2013.

Personal goals:

• SSMT: I want to participate in the Beth Moore Siesta Scripture Memory Team.  Memorizing 2 verses a month will be good for me.
• Get healthy.  Eat better, take more time for me.  Start running this spring.
• Take time for fellowship with friends. 
• Be a better mom.  It seems like the days of being a kind and patient mother are outnumbered by the days I yell to loud, loose my patience too quickly, and dont hande myself like the grown up in the situation.
• Be in more pictures.

Family goals:

• At least one date night a month with my husband. 
• Create a chore chart for the boys and follow through.
• Keep a cleaner house.  At the first of each month declutter.
• Research international adoption.

Money Goals:

• Save for Vegas 2014
• Pay off all credit card balances, keep them under 30%.
• Be better and wiser spenders.

SSMT

One of my New Year goals is to participate in Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team.   The rules are simple and I encourage each of you to try to participate.  I am going to memorize 2 bible verses a month.  I need to do a better job of getting in to my bible.  Honestly, I have to find my bible.  The rules are simple and you can find them here.

Here is my verse #1.

“Even the youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings of eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 30-31 NIV

SWW

 

So what if I have like 37 blog posts floating around in my head.  I have a bunch of catch up to do on here, including Christmas celebrations, my letter to 2012, our anniversary post, and my new year goal posts.  I hope to be able to hammer through a few of those today and tomorrow,or even Friday if I am not too busy packing for my mini vaycay.

 

So what if one of my new years goals is to quit walmart.  I hate going there, they have awful customer service and I need to do a little research for how they treat their employees before making my final decision.

 

So what if I was so excited to send the boys to school today.  They have had it with each other, and I have had it up to my eyeballs with their fighting.

 

So what if Luke is currently having a conversation with a fun size Milky Way... hey, I get it.

 

So what if I am leaving for the weekend this weekend and Luke and Max I'm still nursing 2-3 times a day. We have tried all the nice ways to wean and so this weekend we are going cold turkey. I wonder if they make a patch for this.. Actually forget I said it, this may be my new money making adventure.

 

So what if I sleep with no less than 7 pillows, 2 of which are body pillows,  every night.

 

So what if Luke and Max got a potty chair for Christmas, and I plan to start using it soon.

 

So what if I am convinced I have a great family.  I am pretty lucky like that.  I love hanging out with my cousins, and my kids do too.  They have adopted Scott in like he has always been here and we all have the best time together.