Time Out

Last weekend (Friday 09/11 and Saturday 09/12) I went to Time Out for Women in Boise. It is a women's conference sponsored by Deseret Book. This was my first time going. It was such a FABULOUS weekend! It was so rejuvenating and energizing. It gave me the fuel to keep going (in the right direction) and double check my priorities.

Krystal and I drove over together and spent the night at her friend Amy's house. Jamie met us Saturday morning in Nampa. I was so glad she could come. There was a group of ladies from our ward and we all sat together and had lunch together. It was fun to share that with them.

I picked up a few books too. After every speaker I wanted to buy their book! I think they do it on purpose!;) Krystal, Jamie and I are all sharing what we read each week with each other (time out commitment encouragement program!)

At the beginning of the conference they encouraged us to write down ONE thing that we KNOW for sure. Without a doubt.
"I know that Jesus is my Savior. That is lives today and He is at the head of this church."

And then during the conference through the talks and impression from the Holy Ghost share another "I know" statement that you learned this weekend. I really don't want to share my "I know" statement but I do want to (need to) record it. So here is goes,
"I know that I'm not done having children."

This was witnessed to me both Friday and Saturday (and I bawled both times.) I have felt so done with 4 children that apparently the Lord has to hit me over the head before I can get it. And I also know that it's not happening any time soon. I need time to let it all sink in. I don't feel ill about it if I don't think about it.

I am grateful to Kurt for helping me get to this conference and the support he gives me to become the best I can be. I definitely think a new Time Out tradition is born. They have them all over - if you want to meet up and go together I'm always up for a road trip!

Saucy Date

Last weekend I went to Time Out for Women (more about that to come) but it seems like ever since I got home things got extra crazy and busy. Hanging onto the edge of spinning out of control. Nothing short of a normal week. I did get 2 cavities filled on Monday plus a YW leader BBQ and took Rooster to the Dr. Tuesday (ear infections.)

It just seems like I'm being thrown a curve ball this week since I was all rejuivnated and reengerized from my uplifting weekend. Satan is shouting out me, "You will never master your time management skills!"

Whoah I can feel it!

But anyways my husband deserves a major shout out b/c he is always so supportive and helpful of everything I try to do. I wouldn't accomplish anything without his help. And I need to be better in recogizing and telling him that.

Tonight after I got home from mutual (@ 9:50 pm) we started canning applesauce together. It was a first for both of us. It was messy and saucy but it went faster working together and we actually got to talk and the apples are finally done. Definitely a great date in my book! I'm not so sure Kurt agrees. ;) Thanks for your help, you are amazing! I heart you forever.

Chore

I dream of an immaculate, organized life. No paper cluttering every counter, random little toys under foot and out seasoned clothes spilling out of the closets.

I'm not sure I'll ever get there! We run too much on survival mode. But I try to take small steps that'll help things run more smoothly.

These chore charts are one such idea. They were a long time in the making but they finally got hung early this week. I'm lovin' them! Of course the novelty of a new idea/system is still very much in full effect. Hopefully we can stick through it even after the newness wears off.


The kids and I made magnets together and after they complete the chore they place a magnet by that item.

I found some good ideas and printables from organizedhome.com. What are your favorite organization tips and sources?

Bully Creek BBQ

Originally I planned to do my last camping trip of the season over Labor Day weekend. After preschool started I realized that I had better stick close to home and get some things done (surely I'd played enough during the summer!)

I still wanted to do something fun since we had a long weekend. So Monday for FHE we invited the family and went out to Bully Creek (with the plans for the kids to go fishing. After a few fish were caught they were satisfied even though no one in our family actually caught one. That works, glad they're happy.)

It was a nice evening. We definitely need to do that more often!


The biggest, coolest Cheetos EVER!

The Annual Bob

It seems like every year (well for the past 3 anyhow) right before or after Emma Lynn's birthday we chop off her hair and go for the timeless bob. It happened on Saturday this year. I think it's the shortest cut yet and I did quite a bit more stacking in the back than usual. It turned out cute. Mainly because she is so cute! I love the bob for the fact that it is fast and easy. Emma Lynn isn't a huge fan of me brushing her hair which can be a problem with long hair! So when the battle of the brush begins we pull out the scissors. It always seems to be in September...interesting. Maybe next year before she starts kindergarten we'll splurge and take her to a salon instead of the ol' ma hack job.


Before


After


After back view

Salsa

When I moved to Vale 3 years ago I tried to embrace country life in an effort to love my new home. One of those embracing activities was canning. My friend Marji introduced me to the world of canning jars, gleaning fruit & veggies, and finding joy in kitchen sweat during the harvest season.

I was so surprised to discover that I truly did find joy in canning. Yes it is a lot of work. But the process of finding or growing produce, preparing and storing is enjoyable. There is nothing like a row was gleaming jars straight from the canner! You know what was put in there, it is healthier, most times cheaper and you cannot beat the satisfaction of knowing you are preparing and providing for your family's future.

I've been pretty basic in my canning adventures. A friend said she was going to make some salsa (which I had never done before) so I thought I should make some too. Another friend let us come glean from her massive garden yesterday and this morning we got to work. All the kids helped me make the salsa. Later we snipped the ends off 2 buckets of green beans (we cleaned some scissors and cut the ends off. So fun!) We made a great team and had lots of fun together! Thanks for all your hard work today!


Austin blanching tomatoes




Spencer running the Bosch (dicing peppers and onions)




Emma Lynn stirring everything


I can't wait to try it!

Our Preschool Home

We have officially completed the first week of our new preschool year. By having 2 preschoolers, 1 teacher and 3 different classes all in one household if feel likes we are eating, breathing, and living the preschool life. Well, at least to me!

My kids did great. Spencer was very excited and behaved well in class but that silly, I-need-to-make-people-laugh side is going to come out very quickly. Emma Lynn is a natural and jumped right in. She continues to be my right hand girl and is very helpful. I'm hoping she won't be too concerned about friends this year (and just be friends with everyone!)

Ruth was suppose to stay inside on Monday and Wednesday during Spencer's class with Emma Lynn. In theory great, in reality not so much! She knew I was in the classroom and that there were lots of kids in there and that she was missing out on something! She had to be right there in the middle of it all. It was a little chaotic. Needless to say she went to a friend's house on Wednesday. That made everything so much more manageable. I didn't realize (or didn't want to admit) how much she's grown up since school got out in May.

School is done early enough on M/W that there is still plenty of time to get things done so I think that'll work out well. But I think the key to surviving this year will be organization. Having class every day really cuts into my prep time. There is always another class to get ready for the next day (which equals lack of sleep and no time to run.) I need to get this schedule into a well oiled machine and then we'll be all good. I have really felt more accountable for my time and therefore more productive so maybe this is a really good thing.

I'm really excited about all the kids in my classes. It's going to be a great preschool year!


My preschoolers by the new sign outside (thanks again Krystal - I LOVE IT!)