Simple Joy #12

I love the innocence of children...I love listening to their process of thinking and their reasoning. On Eva's birthday we were on our way to church and the conversation went like this...

Matt and I were telling Eva about the day she was born. I said, "Eva when you were born mommy and daddy held you, snuggled you, and loved you!" Eva looked at Jaden and said, "and you too little buddy!"

I replied, "No, Jaden wasn't even born yet" Eva thought about this and concluded that he wasn't there because he was still in my tummy. I assured her that he wasn't even in my tummy yet at that point!!

Her eyes got wide and she said, "Where was he??!" I said, "he was with God...the same way you were with God before you were born"

After some thought Eva said, "what did I do with God?"

I told her I didn't know and asked her what she thought she did with God.

Without hesitation she replied, "I probably played basketball with him."

I got the biggest smile on my face. Eva loves sports and it would make sense that God instilled that gift in her. I told her that I bet she was absolutely right....I bet God is a pretty good basketball player and before she was born they probably played a lot of basketball together.

Such a simple conversation....but one I will always remember.

Happy Birthday Eva!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Merry Christmas

Since I couldn't send all of you a Christmas card, I thought I would post ours...Merry Christmas from the Blissfully Happy Housewife and her family to yours!

Christmas Traditions

I am not a big "tradition" person by nature...I like trying new things often. However, Christmas is one of those times that I tend to get a bit more sentimental and enjoy tradition. I thought I would share a just a few of our Christmas traditions with you (I put the captions above each picture this time)....

Christmas cookies boxed up and ready to deliver to our wonderful neighbors. Matt's parents do this for their neighbors and I always thought it was a good idea. I just feel Christmas is a great time to let our neighbors know how much we appreciate them.

Each year Matt and I buy our children a Christmas book. Sometimes it is a religious based book (like the Christmas Story), and other times they are just fun (like The Grinch). These books are ONLY out at Christmas time...so that makes them extra special and fun.

Christmas cookie decorating!! This is a tradition that has been around for YEARS in my family. I always enjoy it because it starts off pretty serious (my mom, sister, and I are all trying to make the prettiest cookie - we are pretty cut throat about it) and as the night wears down it just gets downright hilarious. Maybe it's that we are tired, or maybe it's the wine...but the cookies get more and more funny as the night wears on!
Each year Matt and I buy Eva and Jaden a special Christmas PJ to wear on Christmas eve or for a family Christmas if we visiting until bedtime (this picture was taken at my Dad's family Christmas this year).

Giving to others is super important to us. This picture is of Eva helping me wrap gifts for a needy family.

We have 2 Christmas trees. One tree is decorated more thematic (all bright red and lime green this year) and the other tree holds all of our special family ornaments. There are ornaments on there from when Matt and I were little, ornaments our children have made, baby ornaments, and ornaments that we have purchased during family vacations. I love it because each ornament has a little story behind it.

As I said, these are just a few...we have quite a few more! One thing regarding tradition that I try to tell myself is that when the tradition is taking the fun out of the holiday it is time to end it. For example, if baking cookies for the neighbors becomes too much this time of year it is not worth it (a special note would be just as appreciated) or when the children have outgrown the joy of having special jammies I will set that tradition aside too. Traditions should be fun and enjoyable...never ever a chore. And lastly, the most important tradition we share with our children is talking about the true meaning of Christmas and God's love. That is something that no picture could ever capture...but, to me, is the most important tradition of all.

Sweet Images of Christmas...

I think it is fair to say Jaden wasn't so sure about the big guy in the red suit! After prying him off of me and putting him on Santa's lap our happy camper screamed during his entire visit with the Big Guy.

Eva, on the other hand, had an agenda. Notice the papers she is clutching in her hand? After we got her screaming brother out of the way she took matters in to her own hands. She sat with Santa and patiently went through her entire list (which was two pages long) and made sure he knew exactly what she wanted for Christmas this year.

That's my girl!

The Easiest Christmas Cookies EVER...

These cookies are another goodie that I was introduced to by our Amish friends. They are incredibly simple, and I think they taste a lot like a Girl Scout Thin Mint (which is my absolute FAVORITE Girl Scout cookie)! These are actually so simple that, aside from melting the chocolate, Eva could have done the entire thing herself!

RITZ COOKIES

Melt large Hershey chocolate bar

Dip Ritz cracker in chocolate until coated

Lay on piece of wax paper

Sprinkle crushed candy cane on top

Allow to cool

Can't get more simple than that!! They are fun to make and taste great too!! Just a little side note, the chocolate seems to go fast (especially if a child is helping you because they don't always have the patience to let it drip off after pulling it out of the chocolate bowl) so I would suggest getting a few candy bars.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T LOG IN!!!!!!!!!

Earlier today I logged into Blogger and my password would not work.

Hmmmm....

I tried it again.

USERNAME AND PASSWORD DO NOT MATCH.

What?!!!!

My face begins to get hot. I am usually a rational person....but my rationality flies completely out the window.

My hands type furiously as I try and retry and RETRY my password. Stupid computer!!! Don't you understand how close it is to Christmas??!!! Don't you understand that I HAVE THINGS I NEED TO BLOG ABOUT!!!!

And more importantly...

DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND MY CHILDREN ARE NOW DOWN FOR THEIR NAPS AND I HAVE ONE HOUR (DID YOU HEAR ME...I SAID ONE HOUR) AT MOST TO GET MY BLOGGING ADDICTION IN FOR THE DAY!!!!!!

I begin searching Blogger for help. There HAS to be someone that can help me...someone that will just say, "Now calm down Happy Housewife....we can easily fix this problem for you while you wait!"

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO PHONE NUMBER I CAN CALL TO GET HELP!!!!! I don't have TIME to e-mail someone....I need help NOW!!!!!!

They obviously do not understand the depth of the situation.

In panic mode I call my friend Sarah and ask if she is able to log into her account.

She can.

The severity of the problem deepens and I buckle myself down for a fight.

This account Nazi has met their match....I'm NOT going down without a fight!!!

I try different avenues that say they can help people with "log in" issues. FINALLY, I find a link that can help.

In the end....it was pretty simple to correct the situation.

What did I learn?

I may have a bit of an addiction to my blog.
Does anyone have the number for Bloggers Anonymous?

The best Christmas gift....

Our friends Kevin and Kim received the best Christmas gift one could ask for this morning...a healthy and beautiful baby girl!!! Little Ella Katherine entered the world bright and early this morning and seemed quite tuckered out tonight when I had a chance to snuggle with her. She is about the most precious thing ever...and I'm not gonna lie, I seriously wanted to just take her home with me. She is that precious.

Congrats Kevin and Kim!! We love both of you, Tessa, and little Ella Katherine too!!

Questions...

This Happy Housewife has been pondering two questions lately and I was wondering if any of you out there can help me out:

Question #1: Do any of you know of a reputable site that can print your blog off in book form? The whole reason I started this lovely blog journey was to help document the little moments that I spend with my family and friends. Now that it is the end of the year I would love to have it printed, but I'm unsure where to go. I thought maybe some of you have done it before and could recommend a good website!

Question #2: I am wanting a soft and chewy gingerbread cookie recipe. I've looked and asked around, but have hit dead ends. Any of you out there know of one?!

That is it for now!! Thanks for checking in my friends...it's always nice to "hear" from you!

The Happy Housewife

PS. In case you were wondering, the treadmill and I are still in a love/hate relationship...but at this point we continue to be civil to eachother. :)

And so we meet again...

And so we meet again. The dreaded treadmill.

The treadmill and I have a brief, but violent, history together. I bought it nearly 5 years ago and after using it a short time decided it was the most boring piece of machinery man ever made. I had no desire to run in place like a rat on a wheel.

So there is sat in the corner of our basement.

After having Eva I decided to give it another try. I dusted it back off and got back on the horse, so to speak.

The treadmill had other ideas.

I am assuming it was ticked from sitting there unused for so long or maybe it was just having a bad day (we all have those, don't we?). Well, whatever the reason I climbed onto that piece of machinery all decked out in my workout gear...water bottle in hand...IPod blaring some great tune in my ear....and that piece of crap literally threw me into the wall!

Laugh it up my friends...I kid you not!!! It was ticked I tell you...ticked!

As I was running on it (ok, as I was walking on it) my shoelace got caught and that little rotating belt just threw my entire body right into the wall behind me. Hard. After getting up and licking my wounds I walked away from it with my tail between my legs (and a few choice words out of my mouth)...and haven't used it since.

Then I had one more child.

And I quit working.

And summer ended.

The amount of physical activity I've got lately has been a joke. My thighs seem to be growing by the minute and my tummy seems to think there is another baby in there (and I assure you, there is not)!

So today I waved my white flag of surrender, dusted off the ol' treadmill one more time, and got back on the horse.

I started off slow...warming it up ever so gently...assuring it that I come in peace.

So far, no injuries.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

A little something to make life easier...

What's for dinner?!!!!

Sound familiar?

When it comes to making dinner, do you ever forget what you have on hand to make? I mean you do all the planning, grocery shopping, putting the groceries away...and then 3 days later you wonder, "what meals did I buy groceries for?"

Tell me I'm not alone on this one.

I've tried various methods of helping me remember. When Matt and I didn't have children I would come up with a weekly menu and would grocery shop accordingly. It was nice, but pretty structured.

After we had children I would figure out what we needed, and then make a list of what meals I planned on making and tape it inside a cabinet door. I would even go as far as crossing them off after I made them (I love crossing things off lists...any kind of list. I will even make a list and put things on it I've already done just so I can cross them off...silly, I know). It worked OK, but I got lazy and quit making the list.

So here is my new method. As I am planning our menu for the week I just keep the recipes or cookbooks out that I am planning on using as I am looking at them. I have a basket on my kitchen counter that I keep Eva's workbooks in, my devotional book in, etc. Basically everything I don't want just scattered all over the counter. I put all of the cookbooks/recipes in that basket. I love it because they are all together and I have super easy access to the recipes during the week when I need them!!!

Gotta love a little something that makes life run just a bit more smoothly.

Out of the mouth of a 3 year old...

This little cutie patootie has been full of some great one-liners lately. I hope these give you as much of a chuckle as they did us!

Matt: "Brrrrr....I'm cold!!!"

Eva: "Mommy will warm you up!!!!"

Hmmmm....really??!

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Eva (yelling from the bathroom): "Mommy!!! My dookie smells like marshmallows!!!"

Ya, even at 3 that was a little more information than I needed!

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Mommy: "Let's all go sledding after dinner!"

Eva: "You're too heavy to go sledding mommy!" and then after thinking for a minute she continues on, "You'd probably break the sled."

Needless to say no sleds were broken, I did not go running into the bathroom to smell the dookie, and much to Matt's dismay he used a sweatshirt to warm up! Gotta love it though, don't ya?!

Work Um' Hard!

I am all about children having a carefree, happy-go-lucky childhood...but I also think putting a little responsibility on their shoulders is a very good thing. Even at the ages my children are they have responsibilities around the house. Jaden is only 1 and he feeds the dog in the morning, and again at night. Eva is in charge of letting the dog in and out during the day and recently took it upon herself to make sure her bed is made every morning (I'll post pictures later because it is too precious). She is also a huge help to me in the kitchen!

Last Friday I needed to clean the house and figured a little help would be nice. I've always thought the younger I start them, the more they will just understand that helping out with chores like this is a normal and expected part of our family life. The funny thing is that they really did help me!! So, enjoy a some pictures of this Happy Housewife breaking a few child labor laws...it was all for a good cause, my friends!

Eva Swiffering the bathroom...she even knows she has to wear shoes to do it because I don't like her skin near the chemicals. She enjoys it so much I think she would agree to wear a Hazmat suit if I asked her to.
Jaden grabbed a mop and bucket to get in on the action. You may think that looks like a toy (which it is), but you better believe I filled that bucket with water and put him to work! I tell ya, I'm not kidding when I say I'm starting them young!

This is actually Eva cleaning the grout of our shower with baking soda and a toothbrush! It sounds like a pretty bad job, I know, but she absolutely loves to do it!

Jaden is...ahem..helping her.

"If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, but some responsibility on their shoulders."

--Abilgail Van Buren

Reality

As much as I am living my dream, as I stated in my last post, I never want to give the impression that every day is just rosy. Let me give you an example of a typical weekday morning in the home of the Happy Housewife:

It begins relaxing enough...Eva wakes up around 7:00 and crawls into bed with me. We snuggle until Jaden wakes up. I go get him out of his crib and together we snuggle in bed and watch Curious George together. Ahhhh....pure bliss.

Then the madness begins.

As soon as Curious George is over my son's internal clock tells him that it is time to eat.

RIGHT NOW, AND NOT A SECOND LATER!!!

Jaden goes out and starts pulling cereal out of the pantry.
Eva is complaining that she wants to eat.
The dog is barking because she wants to eat too.

I am standing there still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes trying to explain to all of them that I will tend to their needs as soon as I can, but they need to be patient.

I'm not sure any of them hear my plea.

The conversation sounds like this:

Mommy: Jaden, please don't dump the cereal out
Jaden (in hysterics): MA MA!!!!!!!
Eva: Mommy, I'm hungry right now!
Mommy: Eva, you need to be patient and Jaden stop dumping the cereal out!!! (obviously losing my own patience)

Meanwhile the dog is jumping on me and barking in my ear.

Jaden then turns to an all out wail because he is certain I'm going to forget that he needs to eat since I don't have his cereal on the table in the 2.1 seconds he requires.

When I finally gets everyone their cereal and sit down to eat the conversation changes to this:

Eva: Mommy, I need a different spoon for my applesauce please
I go get the spoon and sit back down
Eva: Mommy, you forgot to get Jaden a drink
I get Jaden a drink and sit back down
Eva: Mommy, you forgot my vitamins
I get the vitamins and sit back down
Eva: Mommy, I'm ready for more cereal please.

Really? Because I haven't had a moment to even touch my cereal that is now completely soggy in my milk.

All in a days work!

What is your dream?

A friend recently did a post asking people if they are living their dream. I love posts that make me think!

I can remember being a very little girl and playing with my dolls...practicing how I was going to mommy them. I can remember being ready to graduate in high school and the thought of college was overwhelming because part of me just wanted to have a family (yes, THAT young)! I ended up taking a smarter route - went to college, got my degree, met a wonderful husband, and THEN started my family.

My point is I've always known I've wanted a family.

Always.

I've always known that, even with all of the work I put into getting a bachelor degree and a Masters degree (and as much as I loved my profession), I would put it all aside in a moment to stay home with my little ones....and I cherish every day that I am living that dream. To some that may not be ambitious...but to me it is heaven.

What are your dreams? Are you living them?

A few weeks ago our pastor asked us this question... "If you continue on the path you are on, what will your life look like in 5 years? Is it where you want it to be?"

I know...a little deep....but sometimes it's good just to take a few moments to examine where you are and where you are headed!

Muy Gracioso!

Tonight at dinner I made the comment that Jaden needed to eat some of his c-o-r-n. Yes, I've resorted to spelling things in front of my children - thinking that if they don't know what it is they will just happily shovel it into their mouths. Eva looked at me and said,

"What does c-o-r-n spell?

"It spells corn."

"I didn't know you could speak Spanish!!!!"

Well geez, me neither! Maybe tomorrow when we have p-a-s-t-a she will think I'm fluent in Italian!!

I love it.