Fresh..

There's nothin' like a freshly born year to make me fill my brain with all kinds of new beginnings. Already there are new habits developing. 5 Days in and I've cracked the lid on a couple new plans. The budget has been re-vamped and we've drawn in a few notches on the ol' budget belt. There are times when I quite enjoy being cheap, and there are times when I quite despise it. January 1st brings a sweet new feeling of el cheapo to life and I have no problem saying 'uh uh' to fast food and frills. (that's exactly why we shop at no frills..heh)

I also have a new zeal for re-vamping the extra padding on my body...I wish it were as easy as scribbling down a few numbers, like the budget...but alas, this new beginning involves hard work. So, the children and I are now members of a homeschooling program at the YMCA that gets us moving. (this Y just happens to be 10 mins away from us...and we live in the country, so it's pretty fantastic!!) The kids get to play sports, while their moms walk the track indoors then we go swimming. AND the best part is I don't need a pricey membership to go! It was a flat rate that was quite 'cheap' I might add :)

My new meal plan is keeping me in the kitchen a little more, but so far so good, the hubs and kids are enjoying my creative food concoctions, and I've stayed well within my new 'Crazy Frugal' grocery budget. Exciting!!

Wish me luck on this new beginning would ya? Let me know what you've changed for 2015!

2015..

All's quiet on the homefront as I type this New Years Eve afternoon. We had a fun morning of going to see a movie, (care of Oma and Opas gift for the children this year, they even bought our tickets!) the choice was 'Night in the Museum 3'. It was the typical humour we would expect and everyone found a one-liner to repeat afterwards :)

I shed a tear at the end when Robin Williams said his final line and put his sword in the air....who would've known while creating that movie, what a poignant moment that would become.

The children are all asleep .. including my big kid ;) They're all looking forward to staying up late playing Jenga, Uno and scrabble whilst munching on yet more goodies.

Here's to a New Year full of new memories, new experiences, and new life and laughter. So thankful for Gods love and mercies in 2014, May you and yours always know His Goodness. 

Eve Squared.

Then again, maybe it's Eve to the power of three? Christmas Eve's eve's eve? Whatever you call it, it's the 22nd of December today and the list of to-do's is long and curled around my ankles, and yet here I am for some writing therapy!

Yesterday, the kids had their Christmas recital and as much as I LOVE my children learning all matters of musical goodness, the recital is the culmination of their lessons thus far and always brings stress and diva drama to our home in the days leading up to it. Their teacher has been great for our kids as she is so creative and kind of 'out-there' so it pushes them creatively, in a creative way...creating creativity..... *crickets*)

Anyhow, she herself is a phenomenal singer, guitar player, and pianist so she rubs off nicely on my three. This was Edens very first recital and she played a duet with her teacher which always sounds lovely, because what would be just a finger picking melody becomes a beautiful tune with the harmony being played as well. She was a hit :) Gabe played a Jazzy version of 'We Three kings' and he did great, God's given that boy some talent in the music department and he just really enjoys his time on the piano.

Ashlyn began vocal lessons this year, following her stellar performance of Jamie Grace's 'God Girl' last year for the end of year recital, in which she sang and played piano.  This time around she chose 'All I want for Christmas' by Mariah Carey.

yep.

MARIAH CAREY.

Have you heard the difference between Jamie Grace and Mariah Carey? Both are amazingly talented singers, but the VOCAL RANGE OF MARIAH, PEOPLE.

My poor red, she has learned a few things over the last month or two about a vocal breaking point and that God has not given each and every one of his children a voice that knoweth no bounds. But, alas, the show must go on and her teacher encouraged her to push through and perform the song to the best of her ability. And that she did, without a nervous bone in her body....(which is beyond me. I couldn't have done it, now, or when I was 9.) That girls got nerves o' steel and she actually has fun performing!

Today brings me a day of no piano practice reminders, of which I'm grateful for. It's the little things, right? :)

Not what I used to be..

It was a Wednesday night miracle.

Supper was done early, the dishes were done and I was free to shop till I dropped. The Hubs sent me away promising to run the ship and tuck the kids into bed...ahhhh Bliss! (I had a twinge of guilt as I saw the kids pull out the farming board game, and that look of horror in his eyes, knowing what the next few hours would bring)

But for me the possibilities were endless, would it be home decor?or Christmas stocking stuffers?, or perhaps some new threads, I had a hop in my step and some Ramsey cash in my envelope wallet.

It wasn't long before I realized my shopping stamina is not what it used to be... I was out for a total of three hours and came back with nary a Christmas gift.  As a side note let me just say... I also came back home with a total drop in self esteem and a dent in my pride. There may have been some skinny jeans and knee high boots involved...I've come to the conclusion I shalt never don the gay apparel of the aforementioned. And that's all we'll say about that. Yes, I realize a photo would probably send my blog hits skyrocketing, but there are things better left unseen, those kinds of images can be hard to forget. 

Lucky for me I've got a man who wouldn't be caught dead in skinny jeans nor any of the latest 'metro' fashion and he loves me just as I am in my yoga pants :) 

'You'll shoot yer eye out!"

I'm a ready.

The holly jolly season is at the doorstep and I'm ready to fling the door open and let in all the madness. ... well almost all of it.
Gift giving on the fifty, in times past, was to buy presents..as many as needed to cover all the grounds of underthings, readable things, play things, and wearable things .. AND to try to find that fine balance of making sure each child has as much as the next.
That tradition is now dead to me.
This year, it's one gift each and a stocking. Can I just say I'm already breathing more joy from Jesus as I put the King first and the 'stuff' behind.
Deep breath in ......deep breath out......see?? that's pure joy right there.
The kids all have an idea of what they'd like their special gift to be, and I can see already it's going to be an internet Christmas. Love you, free shipping.

You wanna know what I asked for? 
A daisy BB Red Ryder Rifle. 

The thought of blowing a pop can off a stump in the distance brings me such glee, I can hardly explain it. Call it a country thing, or a farm girl thing, or maybe even a self-protection thing. Yes, I said self-protection... perhaps the BB gun won't protect me from much ... not even a wayward raccoon from what I hear, but it's a start. And yes, there's a proven need to protect myself and my kids from wayward coons here on the fifty...I don't believe I've told that story yet, but I will. It deserves a post all it's own.

Anyway, soon it'll be time to dust off the holiday totes from the basement and put on the Christmas music, and come December 26th, I sure hope it's time to raid the recycling bin for some shootin' practice ;)

Rubi-licious...

 There's a new fluff ball in town. Ruby. Part persian, part himalayan and all ploofy.

(Sorry about the photo quality, these are off my phone.)

Mornin'

Rolled out of bed this morn and rubbed my eyes open to a beautiful splash of pink and purple covering the eastern sky. I look at these moments of visual deliciousness as a gift from the master designer and my first thoughts are always to preserve these moments through the lens. So I grabbed my camera and my bible ...before even having had my cuppa joe I might add..a small feat in and of itself! 

 

This was through the iPad lens, which doesn't even come close to what my eyes attached to this morning. 

Then the fog rolled in and that coffee was getting pushed further and further away... 

Never thought I'd say this, but there are better ways than caffeine to wake up ;) Psalms under the sunrise is definitely awesome. (And probably better for my gallbladder!)