Just Realizing

Earlier this week I read a quote from Michel De Montaigne (a very observant French man that lived in the 1500's).  He said "The least strained and most natural ways of the soul are the most beautiful."

When I really thought about this I know it to be true but have realized that I am not always making the most natural of choices and I have a hard time determining what it is that will cause me the least strain. 

 But when I watch these two beautiful girls I am amazed.  It is so easy for them to make a natural choice.  Do you want sauce on your noodles?  No!  I don't like the sauce...  How about these socks?  Gross!  They itch my feet...

 Are you sure you want to run for Student Council?  Why wouldn't I?  It will be so much fun.

These answers just roll off the tip of their tongue.  They are so intuned with their true self that it is not a strain at all to make the natural choice - and wow is it beautiful to watch!

Congratulations Audrey on Making Student Council!!  You really do shine.

Recover an Ironing Board

Here is how I recovered my Ironing Board:

1. Selected my fabric. I needed two yards because of the length of my board and I choose a bright cheerful yellow so the task of ironing wouldn't seem so dull. My fabric was on the JoAnn's clearance rack for 2.50/yard.
   
2. Selected my wine. I needed a nice crisp white wine because it is still 108 degrees at 7:00 p.m. here so I choose a Pinot Grigio by Kate and Cassie (mostly because I loved the label). The wine was purchased at Target for 8.99.

3. Take a look at your old ironing board cover and realize that might be the reason you never really took to ironing in the first place. Pour yourself a glass a wine and pull the cover off.


4. Grab your seam ripper and rip out the cord.
5. You should end up with a full piece of elastic cording and a "template" for your new cover. You might want to iron the old cover flat (if you are into that sort of thing). It makes it easier to trace.

6. Trace the old cover on the wrong side of your fabric. I used a fancy yellow Crayola marker. You might have a washable fabric pencil. First trace exactly around the whole cover. Then trace an outline of the cover about an inch out from the first line.

7. Cut your fabric using the outer line you traced.

8. Now is the tedious part so take a sip of your wine. You will use your iron (I know!) and fold the edge in a 1/4" first and iron flat. Then fold and pin so the fold is on the first line you drew. This will leave enough room to thread your elastic cord back in.

9. Go to your machine and stitch around the cover leaving a 2" or so gap to thread your cord through. Don't forget to back stitch at the start and finish.

10. Bring your wine and go sit in a comfy chair. Take apart your elastic cord from the little holder. (Very technical - I know.) Thread your cord through the casing and then reattach to the holder the same why you took it apart.

11. Fit your new cover back on your ironing board and hang in a pretty spot.

12. Finish your wine ;)

Linking up to:

First week of School

If you read my last post you would know I left off waiting for the bus...

Well, it came and dropped off Audrey at the corner I was NOT at... then it proceeded to drive by me with Carissa still on it! Apparently I was standing at the wrong corner AND they won't let your Kinder off the bus unless you are standing there. Justin ended up chasing the bus down and the rest of our week kind of went down hill from there.

The kids came home famished and tired everyday. I tried a new techinque everyday to help ease the transistion but nothing seemed to work. We ended everynight with someone in tears (Audrey or Me) and started every morning with more and more anxiety (Carissa and Me).

Did I mention I had bloodwork on Wednesday and fainted and Justin and I aren't drinking this week? (Who's idea was that?)

By Friday morning I probably had the whole week written on my face and Carissa could feel it. She announced right away that she didn't want to go to school and I just couldn't find it in me to be upbeat anymore. We both ended up crying in the school hallway. UGH!

Thankfully my neighbors walked by and one of them (a sweet angle from God) convinced Carissa to go back into the class and then they told me to go home. Good advice. I was a wreck.

To end the week Audrey was stung by a scorpion. Really? Yes. Here is my advice. Put the number to Posion Control in your phone. You never know when you will need it. She is fine her foot just remains asleep.

My one glass of wine Friday night did me in and I was so thankful for it. Sometimes it is best to just curl up and go to sleep. Carissa asked me this morning if Saturdays are like "Pretend Summers?"

Uhh no, we call this a Weekend - but don't worry - they are just as fun. Phew TGIS.

School Year is Here

It is so quiet here.

I have finished all my work.

I ate lunch.

Only 3 more hours until the bus comes.

You should have seen me this morning. I was so brave - Justin surprised us and came home so we could take the girls together. We dropped Audge off first to 3rd grade. She was all smiles taking her new room in. I just know she is going to love it.

Kissa was next. It was kind of hectic and crazy in her room (with 30 students and their parents!) She seemed a little overwhelmed. The teacher said we had to leave in 5 minutes. So we hugged and chatted then all of a sudden she said we had to go in 1 minute. My baby held back the tears so I just gave her one last squeeze and left.
Thankfully I could spy on her through the window. She looked so little but actually really big all at the same time.

I wish I could go there right now and check on her again. I could just spy on her through the window again... But Justin said she will be fine. He said to think of all the times they bugged me. But that just makes me really sad.

Oh good. Now there is only 2 hours and 45 minutes left.

So Long Summer

Just in 3 short days school will be back in session. I had high hopes for this summer and for some wierd reason I feel like it didn't go exactly as I had envisioned. Instead I got something far better - something not even I could have planned.

We were blessed with Justin getting a little 2 week job in Flagstaff - which happens to be one of the coolest place you can be in Arizona. The girls and I were able to join him and stay at the KOA.
Audrey snapped some shots while we were there on her new camera. We rode bikes and hiked. We breathed in the fresh air and just had a great time.

The rest of July the girls kept me busy. We had a neighborhood "Summer Bash" and lucked out because Lola was able to be there. We had the chance to spend a great Saturday with Gramps and Gram where I learned about the fine art of frying pork chops and family dynamics all at the same time. While I had to spend more hours working on the computer than I planned I was enjoying the soundtrack of my girls playing, playing, and playing some more. Justin and I were even able to sneak out for a few date nights.

This summer the girls really were each others "built-in" best friends. While I can't say it was all roses, for the most part they were inseperable and didn't mind it. I can see them changing everyday and I know that it is time, once again, for me to follow suit.

I can not put in words how thankful I am for my life. For the opportunity I have had to stay home with my sweet daughters for the last 6 years. On Monday, I plan on putting on my brave face, pulling up my big-girl panties, manning up... I can do this. I can drop off my baby to Kindergarten and know that if I am not there to put the straw in her juice box someone else will. Heck, maybe she will even be able to do "myself".

I will let you know how it goes...