I thought I would take a moment and update my blog. I did sign-up for facebook, but I really prefer the forum of a blog; it is much more pleasant, personal and pretty. :-) Just a few things that I actually took pictures of . . .
Charles and Sammi going to church. Daniel and William were sick, so I stayed home first and then Charles came home while I went back to teach my YW lesson. Cutie-heads . . .
Sure love these two!
Water days . . . the kids have enjoyed cooling off while running in the sprinklers . . . I have enjoyed sitting back and watching them squeal.
William's new hair-cut -- he is now a "real boy". Daniel got a haircut, too. He insists on having "bangs". Cute boys. It cracks me up that William will just tackle Daniel as if he is the same size . . . Daniel is usually pretty tolerant. :-) I can't wait until Daniel is 16 and William is 12. Oh boy!
Lovely Sammi and lovely roses. Sammi has been doing well and she achieved her Faith in God goal of getting straight A's for the whole year. She is a determined little person. Her nose is always in a book, usually fantasy. I wish I had had the amazing books to read that she has! I remember reading Babysitters club, Sweet Valley Twins, and other non-brain-stretching books! Sammi is a joy! She is almost 9 and will be in 4th grade! Yikes!
I have been trying to teach the kids little lessons here and there. We did a dinosaur lesson and I made homemade clay so we could create our own dinos. We watched a dinosaur movie, and colored some dinosaurs, too. They loved it.
The kids have been enjoying breakfast more during the summer . . . their favorite so far is German Pancakes -- amazingly easy and wonderful!
This is what our backyard looked like when we moved in (2 years ago). It was also infested with box-elder bugs (by the thousands -- no joke!) spiders of every kind (by the hundreds), earwigs, and huge black beetles. It was a bug breeding ground . . . I still cannot believe we cleaned up the crazy mess --layers and layers of rotted debris, rocks, 200 cinderblocks, tree chopping, stump digging, etc, etc. The first time I saw the yard I thought, "This has potential?!" . . .
Last Saturday I spent the day lying on a blanket on our grass, soaking in the sun and beauty . . . I looked around in awe of what we had accomplished, and I was so grateful for what we had done . . . our hard work is paying off. Sometimes you just need to have a "vision" of what is possible and then you work hard and make that vision a reality . . .
The front of our home before we moved in . . .
The front of our home now (it would not let me type above the picture)
The kids used to play in the dirt and rocks after we cleared out the top layer of debris . . .
Now they can lay and play on the lovely green lawn . . .
I have been amazed at the beauty that surrounds me lately. I am so grateful to live in this beautiful world. There is hope for the future. Have a vision for your life, and who you want to become . . . and make that vision become a reality. Anything is possible.
This is from MOM Even though it said Mari, the previous comment was from me. Somehow I got signed in to the blog from your e-mail address. This one probably says Mari too. Oh well. I'll fix it later.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see all the hard work pay off. Hope the kids are better. Will be talking to you soon.
ReplyDeleteFixed it Mom . . . :-) Love ya!
ReplyDeleteI loved the post. Your posts are always so uplifting. You are a wonderful mother and such a sweet person. I do admire you! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have been busy! The kids are sure growing up!!
ReplyDeleteWilliam really looks like Daniel with that little man haircut!!
Lots of love!
those dinosaurs looked awesome....wish i was there for the lesson!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat work Mari
ReplyDeleteI still need to come see your home
yes,keep a vision
kary
Your home is beautiful!! I love the backyard!!! OK, and the front!
ReplyDeleteI have to ask- how is it living with a family of 5 in a 2 bedroom place? We are moving to a new place about the same time I'm having a baby. But, we can only still comfortably afford another 2 room place. Do you find it difficult? The baby will bunk with us until he's big enough to move in with the boys, but I just wanted to know what your complaints are?
Katie --
ReplyDeleteYes, I love our house! Sometimes you have to seek out the diamond in the rough. That is what I do . . . look for potential. :-)
About your question: I think that ATTITUDE is everything. You can complain about the space and always wish for something else, or you can enjoy what you have. It makes ALL the difference.
I personally have loved living in a small space while my children are young -- I ALWAYS know where they are, I don't have to stress too much about it, I can always hear them. It is great for my overprotective-self.
I think if I have a complaint it is: Bedtime. Having all three kids in one room makes bedtime . . . interesting. Some of them like it dark, some like the light on and door open, some want to sleep, some want to read, some want to play . . . the list goes on and on. It can be a little frustrating, but I do not know that separate rooms would improve it much. Bedtime is interesting no matter what!
You do have the advantage of having all boys. We are approaching a time where Sammi is going to be 9 and she will need her space away from the boys! So, we have a large walk-in closet which I am going to make "her room". Just so she has privacy. It is time.
Anyhow, it has been great. We will probably not be here too much longer (2 years at most) but it has been wonderful. When we had 3 bedrooms for a few months, the kids WANTED to share a room, so we had an empty extra room!
Living in small spaces just makes you closer as a family. There was a time when a small home was the norm, not the large cookie-cutter homes everyone wants now. My grandmother raised her kids in a 2 1/2 bedroom house and 1 bathroom (there were 8 children!)
If you love your home, your kids will, too. If you make living in a small space seem amazing, then it will be for everyone.
Make your house your own, and LOVE it (no matter what size it is) and you will be happy! Some of my happiest memories are from our tiny 500sqft house in Spokane. Have a positive attitude and you will have a positive experience! :-) Good luck!
Wow! - those are my thoughts exactly! My mom sometimes thinks we are crazy for not moving to a 3 room place, but we have always been happy and comfortable in our spaces. And the townhouse we found feels like a home more than an apartment, which will be so wonderful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour home looks INCREDIBLE!! I haven't seen it in over a year. Nice work!! :)
ReplyDelete