MamaThyme

Love That Shot: Beautiful Bokeh

2011-07-01T08:59:00.002-05:00

Liam's first fish of the season. :) Almost as big as the worm he caught it with.

Camera Happy: My First Non-Family Shoot

2011-06-17T22:43:00.000-05:00

I've always LOVED taking pictures of my kids, my nieces and nephews, and close friends. Today, I embarked on a new endeavor. I had my first non-family shoot. It was fun!

I was honored when a co-worker asked me to photograph her daughter and grandson for a "Mommy & Me" portrait. I was nervous, as I am just an amateur and have no real training. But I do love taking pictures and trying new things, so I agreed under the terms that there were no expectations and it was just for fun.

I loved it. 11 week old Isaac was just a complete sweetheart. He cooed and squeaked through the couple hours that we played, smiled, and photographed he and his beautiful mommy. I enjoyed every bit of it, and I'm excited to see where my new hobby and love for families and children takes me.

Curly Cue

2011-05-22T21:09:00.000-05:00

It's crazy to see the changes in our little fellows around here. Our strong-willed, sweet, courageous, scared-of-ants, three year old has become more similar in his looks to his daddy.

It's no secret to those who know us that these boys are chips off the old block.

Daddy's little clones show different likenesses to their daddy, and Landon has his golden locks.

Wordless Wednesday: It's A Sure Sign of Spring

2011-03-23T09:16:00.005-05:00

Dirt. Everywhere.
(Although it snowed 6 inches last night)

Above the Law

2011-03-20T08:06:00.000-05:00

With each baby boy I have taken pictures of him with his daddy's dress hat from the police department. All of the boys have one at 6 months old and I treasure those photographs!

Can you tell which baby is which?

Before/After Photography Post

2011-03-17T13:19:00.001-05:00

Such a great photo of my aunt, Sara, and our little Lachlan. I was disappointed in the lighting with the picture turnout and with such a small window of time to capture it. I use my Canon 1000D set at 1/60 and was using no flash, as the lighting seemed right in previous pictures. I lightened the contrast and played with the color saturation. Not a great turn out, but a moment saved.

Time,

2011-03-10T07:35:00.000-06:00

Time sure flies when we're having fun!

Happy 6 months to my HAPPY, ENERGETIC, SMILING, SCOOTING, CHATTY, DROOLING, BOUNCING baby boy!

Brothers

2011-03-01T22:27:00.001-06:00

A Lot of Lovin'

2011-03-01T22:23:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that these babies of mine are getting so big and are getting to be such little men. I'm amazed at who they are as little people, how they contribute to the family, their friends, and one another. They are such a blessing. Despite the chaos, the craziness, the mess, and the refereeing, I am a proud mom of three beautiful blessings and I wouldn't change anything about my life with them. Each of our boys is intricate and special with personalities that sparkle. They amaze me.

Sir Gentle Spirit
He is the leader of the trio by far. With a gentle spirit and a sweet disposition, he helps his brothers to understand and learn, often correcting and making right what may be wrong. He is the pleaser of the boys, always wanting to make right his wrongs. Sensitive and loving. A once "hyper" boy has settled into a quieter, calmer state of being, but is not ready to give up his mischievous ways. Still testing the limits, but careful while doing so. Thrives on love, respect,
and attention from Mom and Dad. A true lover.
Favorites: Anything outside. Singing and dancing. Playing with his brothers, Coloring and drawing, special time with mom or dad, and French Toast.
Not-so-Favorites: Sweets (especially frosting), napping, and getting cold.

The Big-Hearted Tester
Maybe I should call this brother Most Improved. He's our tester. Always checking out what and Cans and Cannots are for virtually every situation, and when he comes across a "cannot", he's got to see what the consequence might be. We often times forget that Mr. Big Heart is technically a toddler still, but with his quick wit, exponential vocabulary, and mature ways, we often have to remind ourselves he's still just a baby. He's quickly learned what it is to be a big brother, but with brute force. He forgets his strength and is often found to be hugging and kissing the little ones a little too roughly. We keep a close eye on him. He has the heart of an angel. Always affectionate and great manners. He loves to pray to Jesus and thank Him for all of his friends and family (he'll go on for hours if you let him), and enjoys to sing praise and worship songs. He's got a personality that shines and often makes us laugh and shake our heads at the same time.
Favorites: Eats anything and everything, LOVES sweets, enjoys time with his brothers, loves cuddles with Mom and Dad
Not-so Favorites: Depends on the day and time. He's a toddler, remember!?

The Angel
For sure the most loved by his brothers. A true angel. His smiles light up a room. He sleeps through the night next to mom and dad, a great cuddler. He loves to giggle and squeal! Most recently he babbles and laughs loud for all to hear and giggle as well. He enjoys his brothers' crazy antics and often roots them on, even if the actions aren't "good choices", to his brothers' delight. He plays on his own. Loves to see new things, and can't get enough of new foods, toys, and anything else he can get his gums on.
Favorites: Pears, Applesauce, Blocks, and cuddling
Not-so Favorites: Being left alone, loud noises (brothers), and being in his carseat

We've got a lot to be thankful for and lots of loving to give!We are blessed.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward Psalm127:3

Coupon Crazy

2011-02-24T10:01:00.001-06:00

So, in the last few weeks I've become a little crazy about couponing. I'm excited about it. I love to save money. AND it's going to help our family continue to get even closer to becoming debt free. Yes, DEBT FREE! YAY! We're getting closer and closer, and our hopes to be debt free weren't dashed by a few setbacks. It's just part of the plan, part of the game, and we're still working hard on Baby Step 2! We're anxious and excited!

In the past few months I contacted some friends about learning about the real deal with couponing. The woman that came to share her knowledge with us at our MOPS meeting this past month got me (and several other moms) ready and geared up for couponing. Some of us didn't even realize what it all entailed (including me!). Although I can't share all of the things I gleaned from the meeting here, I can add to the list of sites that I've learned to utilize! Here they are

Couponersunited.com
Moneysavingmom.com
Frugallyblonde.blogspot.com
heyitsfree.com
orgjunkie.com
stretchingabuckblog.com

Although I can't devote my evenings and weekends to couponing, I'm going to give this weekend my very first "real good" shot. I've always couponed, but this time I'm using "prior knowledge" from those who go before me (aka PocketYourDollars and CreativeCouponing)

And if all this information goodness isn't "good" enough for you...here's a video to get your couponing fire burning!

Lifting Up.

2011-02-08T12:11:00.000-06:00

I've always had that sun shine attitude and the ability to share a smile. It's just who I am. What I haven't always had was the ability (or knowledge) to lift up others in thought and prayer. It's so simple. You don't have to spend money,or give up large amounts of time. It's as simple as a thought and/or prayer.

I've been working on this. I have to admit, it makes you feel great when you lift up others! So here are two ideas I have for you...

The first idea I gleaned from our female pastor at our church. She spoke at our MOPS meeting last year and shared the idea that she drives through our town and prays for specific people, but then also pray those people you see that you DON'T know. Pray for their day, their family, their needs.

The second idea I am sharing with you from Pixel Perfect , a photography blog I have stumbled upon and have found is so much more than tips and tricks for photography...it's also tips and tricks for your life. She shared in a post recently how to use social media in a different way. Let's be honest, Facebook and Twitter can sometimes be used as places that people use a little too much indiscretion. They complain, boast, swear, gossip, banter, and other not-so-beautiful things. However it's others' way of communicating needs. Needs for prayer, needs for support, needs for lifting up. You can use this social media tool to do this! You can take those negative statuses and lift those people up in prayer. Pray for their day, for a change in attitude, for a look on the bright side. You can pray for those who ask for prayer, for their needs. You can pray for those who aren't asking, aren't making a statement, but just plain being. Pray for them. Pray for their families, for them to be open to the Lord's plan.

Social media is a great way to reconnect, connect, and stay in touch.
But best of all, you can use it to glorify Him.
~Amber

Weeds.

2011-02-05T11:09:00.000-06:00

My, Oh, My

do they

grow

fast.

Happy 5 Months, Lachlan!

Addicted.

2011-01-23T08:28:00.000-06:00

Addiction to one thing or another rules so many lives. My life has been altered by addiction. I've come to a place as an adult where I see this, accept it, and hope for change in the person that has succumbed to it. Addiction comes in so many forms, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, gambling, food, and the list goes on. For many people in our lives, they may go through treatment, they may continue therapy and counseling for their addictions, however addiction has become a way of life for them. It's finding a healthier form of addiction that they look for, like exercise.
Then, there is an addiction to the best thing one can find. Jesus. Who wouldn't want to be addicted to him? The Way, the Truth, and the Life?
He's amazing! He changes lives, hearts, and families.
His love isn't conditional, His love is forever!
He forgives, always! He doesn't keep a record of wrong.
He knows you, from the very beginning of your being. There's no getting-to-know-you period.
He's always there. You don't have to go find Him.
He carries your burdens, your grief, and your worries. No strings attached!

He's changing lives everyday, and He is the healthiest addiction known to man. I'm praying for those in my life to see what He can do, so they too make a change. If addicts need an addiction, this is the best choice!

~Amber

On Pins and Needles: Liam

2011-01-22T08:22:00.000-06:00

Over the course of the last month many things have consumed me. A close friend of mine said it best, "You allow yourself to carry the burdens of others on your heart." That is so true. I know it can be both a positive and a negative aspect about myself, but I think that it is just who I am. I'm constantly on pins and needles for others, and sometimes myself.

Recently our oldest boy had us a little in a tizzy. Over the last month, through the holiday season he became more and more withdrawn. He slept more, was more clingy,ate less, and played with his classmates and brothers less. It just wasn't him. He is one of the most energetic, excitable children I know. And the fact that he just let the world pass by him wasn't normal for him.

I began making excuses.

He's sad about his friend being sick.
He's tired from the holidays.
He's fighting a cold or other illness.
He's growing.

Just the other day my husband said to me, "Honey, have you noticed how lethargic he's been?" And that was all it took for me to be on pins and needles. I called the doctor the next morning and we took him in for a more thorough exam.

Upon arrival, the doctor went through a checklist that listed all of his symptoms. It was incredible how many he had that were listed. As she proceeded you could see that she too, was concerned and the ideas swimming in her mind I was not sure that I wanted to know. Next we had the nurses take three pin-poked vials of blood for initial blood screenings. My little guy was so brave, not a trickle came from his eye. These tests were testing for mono, blood diseases,and leukemia. Leukemia!? The doctor came in with a look of relief on her face and shared that the last test was indeed negative. Praise God. She shared with me that she was most concerned about the possibility of this being a different outcome. But all tests were negative. She was still believing that something was "up" with our preschooler. We were sent to the hospital for yet more blood to be drawn and more tests.

Needless to say, the size of the needle that was used for the blood drawn from LJ's arm was a little alarming for the little man. He was scared out of his mind and sobbed while the great nurses at Maple Grove hospital did their work with him. They were consoling, considerate, and careful. This blood is to be testing kidney and liver functions, thyroid disease, mono, Lyme's disease, and other "blood panels".

Following the procedure, I took him out to get some goodies and some not-so-healthy food to smooth over the bumpy morning we had. It was hard for the little guy, and the mommy in me needed to give him more than just a hug for his bravery. We got some goodies from the "Dollar Spot", ate some pizza from Pizza Hut, and drank a mighty Slurpy. It was just the medicine he needed.

Still holding his arm, we ventured out to home in the cold. I watched his eyes become heavy, and slowly he drifted off.

So far the tests he was given have all came back negative, thankfully. LJ is starting to perk up and his appetite is off and on. He's playing with friends more and more each day. For that we are thankful. We'll wait for the remainder of tests to come back, but for the most part, we're content that we're seeing improvements and are no longer on pins and needles.

We're most thankful for his wellness and thankful for the prayers and thoughts of those who sent them.

Daddy

2011-01-21T22:01:00.000-06:00

There is nothing more special

than a little boy's

Love for

his daddy.

What I'm Reading

2011-01-21T21:48:00.000-06:00

Isn't it obvious that being a mom of three boys, I could use all the help I can get in successfully raising them...not to mention understanding how they work?!
I'm a huge fan of Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family and am re-reading this great book that is chalk full of insight on boys, how they're made, and how to effectively raise them.

Making It All Work

2011-01-21T21:43:00.001-06:00

Recently at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting myself and several other moms gathered to pray together, chat, support, and learn together. Our meetings are monthly and this month we had a fabulous speaker who shared the importance of financial peace. The woman who shared many words of wisdom about finances gleaned her perspectives on several ways to save money on every day living expenditures.

In past blog posts I have shared sites that I have utilized in saving money. You can find those posts here and here. I have since then found more sites and more strategies to saving money. Here are some of the strategies I use to get the most on what we've been provided.

1) I scour and search for steals and deals on gifts, necessities, and the occasional splurge. Some of the sites that I have added to my money saving scavenger hunt are
PocketYourDollars
Creative Couponing

2) I always buy a Saturday paper ( they're cheaper than Sunday) sometimes I buy 2, purely for the coupon inserts. Both of the above websites alert me as to the number of inserts that will be in the paper for that weekend, as well as the value of the coupons I'll find. It's always nice when someone else does some of the work for you.

3) In order to keep to my $60-$80/week grocery budget for our family of 5, I plan the week's meals based on the foods that are on sale at Cub Foods and Target. Both stores offer deals and they also offer coupons either in store, by mail, or on the web. Many times you can match up a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon to score even bigger savings. I spend a good amount of time each week devising my plan for meals for the week in order to come out with a best case scenario, which usually keeps the pocketbook a little more full. I only go to the grocery store with a detailed list, and I rarely deviate.

These are just my top three things I've been doing to save money recently. It's all become so natural and routine now,that I don't really think before doing it, it's all become habit, and I'm working hard to make it all work.

~Amber

Holiday Showcase Party

2010-12-12T22:05:00.001-06:00

Earlier in the month our family hosted a dinner with some of our friends. It's one of our favorite things to do, and we're so blessed to have friends that have children that our children truly enjoy playing with! In addition to enjoying a delicious meal, we were given the opportunity to have our children test and see some great gift-giving options from companies through Mom Select. The products the children had the opportunity to play with were

NEW Small Frys from Build-a-Bear Workshop
Sneaky 3D Puzzles from Patch Products
Play-Doh Mega Fun Factory
Play-Doh Shape and Spin Elmo
Playmobil Child's First Day of School kit
Smart Mom Solutions

With the addition of our friends, the children's ages spanned from 9 years of age to 3 months old. The toys the children played with were a hit.

Littlest N loved her Small Fry from Build-a-Bear workshop. She carried her Small Fry, Sassy Kitty, around the house all evening and slept with it that night. She loved it. Middle N. received the Peace Bear and was excited to take it home with her. The Small Fry collection is Limited Edition, and like the other Build-a-Bear collection, these too have customizable options for clothing and accessories.

Right after dinner, the "big" kids worked together to put together the Sneaky 3D Puzzles from Patch Products. It was a lot of fun and they were anxious to put it together and took turns using the 3D glasses to see the finished product. The bright colors and sea scape was a blast for the kids to put together. They were able to put it together quickly and easily and were so proud to show it off when they completed it!

The biggest hit of the evening came not only from the delicious Christmas Cakes from Little Debbie, but from playing with the Play-Doh Mega Fun Factory and the Play-Doh Shape and Spin Elmo. The children were so enthralled by the way the Mega Fun Factory is battery operated and has an assembly line that moves the playdoh through the "factory". Elmo taught the preschoolers about shapes and colors. This was a hit and I put this on my list to purchase for other little ones in our lives. Here is a video of the kids playing with the Play-Doh items, making some interesting creations (video wouldn't load...will try later)

Eldest N. loved the Playmobil Child's First Day of School kit. He's an avid Playmobil kid and was really excited to see this kit, one he hasn't seen before, and one he definitely wanted to add to his collection! I was so taken with the Playmobil, that my boys will be receiving some from Santa this year!

The evening was a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the holiday excitement. Thanks to MomSelect and all the participating companies for such a cool way to turn a family night into so much more!

This review was provided from Build-A-Bear, Little Debbie, Patch Products, Play-Doh, and Playmobil as a part of the MomSelect program. I was given the opportunity to review the product for my personal opinion and share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

~Amber

More Thankful

2010-11-24T09:59:00.001-06:00

It seems each year as the holidays surround us, I'm always more thankful. More thankful for the obvious things and more thankful for the intricacies of life in general.

This year I feel more thankful than ever. I feel this is the first time in my life that I gave everything I had over to Him and away he went with my life. So many doors opened, so many new friends, new opportunities, and new ways of living. Amazing. That's the only word to describe what has been done in my life this year.

The things I am most thankful for are too many, but our little guy is the biggest blessing in our life this year. Almost exactly a year ago, I became pregnant with him and twenty weeks into our pregnancy we didn't know what God's plan was to be for him or for us. The ultrasound was missing some vital parts and the prognosis of our Little One wasn't one that we or any other expectant family wished for. We wept, we were scared, and we prayed. We summoned the prayers and hope of others that the follow-up testing would show that the first sonogram was wrong and our baby would be just fine. We prayed, begged, and pleaded. A week later with butterflies in my stomach, I laid on that bed in the ultrasound room and the second ( I'm not exaggerating) that the technician peeked in on our little guy, the vital parts that were once missing were right there. We were elated, excited, but most importantly thanking God for this blessing. Some of the people we shared our worries with said the technician probably just missed it, and maybe they did. I, however, believe it was His handiwork.

My top ten things I am most thankful for this year are (in no particular order):

My baby Lachlan
My busy boys
Another fabulous year with my husband
My family
My friends, old and new
A job that has brought me closer to the Lord
Dave Ramsey! :)
A piece of my personal life puzzle that was once missing
Health
13 wonderful weeks with my boys and just being "Mommy"

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! Remember your blessings and count them every day! God Bless!

Coupon Savvy

2010-11-21T18:42:00.000-06:00

Tis the season to spend money...fa-la-la-la-la -la-la-la-laaaaaa! I love to buy gifts for other people and I've been known to go overboard, to spend too much, thus taking away from the real, true meaning of Christmas.

Since becoming more frugal and taking charge of our spending, see here, I take advantage of any and all opportunities to SAVE MONEY. I'm not cheap, I just look for good deals on quality items. I am not ashamed to say that with some things I am a name brand junkie. I do prefer to buy my kids nice things that last.

I am one of those people who sign up for every "club" at the stores that I frequently purchase from. No, I don't get their credit cards, I only get the "perk" cards. I receive coupons frequently and I only use them when I need something...and Christmas is the perfect time!

Today I shopped for my nieces and nephews since we were iced in at home. I got something for each of them and I saved a bundle! I used both online and paper coupons. One of my favorite sites for online coupons is RetailMeNot.com . It's a great site to find super coupons for virtually every place online. It's free, you don't have to be a member, and you, too, can submit your coupon codes.

If you're looking for an item that is not coupon related, you can look at a bunch of different sites at once by using BeatMyPrice.com where you can enter the name of the product, the price you've seen, and where, and they'll comparison shop for you, listing out the places online that have the same item. It's fabulous! And a penny saved is a penny earned!

Another way to save is to use FREE SHIPPING! So many companies are offering it this season, and if you can shop from home, find a great deal, and have it shipped to you for free...why wouldn't you!?

Enjoy the holidays and be a good consumer! Save yourself money and have fun buying for those you love. I enjoy the "game" of finding good deals, just ask my little Santa's helper!

Food for Thought...Gossip Girl

2010-11-18T15:36:00.001-06:00

No, not the show, but reality. Where does the line of caring for another person end and the line of gossip begin?

There are so many situations one wants to discuss with another close person, not openly with the world. And it's all about caring for another, but where does that care end and the gossip begin?

Let me know your thoughts....

I just really don't want to be one of THOSE people that talk about others with false information, share intimate details, or ruin trust that I've earned. I care.

I care about trust, relationships, and my faith. I want to be known as someone of good character that another can turn to in need of a hug, an ear, or a shoulder. And sometimes those conversations need to be shared with a third party, and maybe even a fourth, because I feel the need to help, to pray, and to lead.

It's gets sticky...and the line that separates is very fine. But I love and I care.

Gossip is vindictive.
Love is kind.

Consistency.

2010-11-17T14:01:00.000-06:00

Ever since my beautiful new spice joined us in September, I've been a stay-at-home mom of 3 boys. It's been pretty fabulous, very busy, and a tad crazy. Along with all of the fun field trips to the zoo, the Mall of America, daddy's work and all the delicious treats we seem to whip up almost daily, comes the tantrums, the talking back, and thus, the discipline. I loathe discipline. It was my downfall as an educator, and is my downfall as a parent. Certainly I do discipline, and I always look for new ways to be effective in it, but those ways wear off.

My older boys have taken their turns (thank goodness) in going through their behavioral transitions in adding a new member to our family. The oldest, was and has been the most difficult. I felt and continue to feel that I am always "on" him about one thing or another. It's probably been the most difficult with him because he's always been so easy, never one to tantrum, never a negative word. It hurt to raise my voice at him or to discipline him with anything more than redirection. So, I devised a plan that utilized my learning.

I bought a 24 piece puzzle of one of his favorite characters from the movie Cars. With each GOOD choice he made, he earned a piece of the puzzle. The number of pieces he could earn in a day were endless and it reinforced the POSITIVE behaviors rather than taking away due to the NEGATIVE. He could never lose a piece of the puzzle, as we were focusing on the positive. In the end when he earned all the pieces HE chose the reward, which the first time was a trip with Grandpa to Cabela's. He was thrilled to choose his reward and proudly proclaimed, "I chose it". It was great to see such a triumphant smile on his face!

It was a great choice! It worked! And it worked WELL! He was so driven to earn the puzzle pieces and the negative behaviors quickly dwindled to few or none in a day. Which in turn made my consistency dwindle as well. As soon as the behaviors were gone, I forgot to keep going, keep reinforcing the great behavior I was seeing. And although the old behaviors are quickly making a reappearance, I have realized he needs that positive reinforcement and I need to continue working on being CONSISTENT. Following the plan for a length of time longer than only 2 puzzles.

So, I'm back at it! Giving away puzzle pieces, rewarding the positive behaviors I see.
And of course, working on my consistency.

Baby's First Snow...

2010-11-15T21:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to God's Family

2010-11-15T13:51:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we welcomed our littlest (BIG) blessing into God's family and promised to raise him

in The Word.

Revealed.

2010-11-15T13:48:00.000-06:00

This past week I attended the celebration of a life of a woman I had come to know within my church family. I was at the celebration to support the family, and little did I know how much my life would be touched. I haven't shared much about the amazing blessings God has placed in my life this year, one certain situation in particular, but this celebration touched me in a way that set my heart on fire and made me take a leap of faith. As I pray through this fire, I hope to come to a place where I can reveal my blessings to those who don't know me as closely, but may in turn set their heart's on fire like mine.

A Heart.

2010-11-11T15:16:00.000-06:00

It doesn't take long for someone who crosses paths with me to observe and learn that I love children. Adore them. Cherish them. And the thing is, I don't just love the perfect children, the "normal" children. I love all of them. Especially those who need more. Need more love, need more education, need more direction, assistance, support.

In my first year of teaching, 10 years ago, I crossed paths with several children who needed more than they were receiving. They had families who loved them, provided for them, and they were in a great school, yet something was missing for each of them. I was a first year teacher in a highly demanding school, way out of the realm of my existence. The aloofness of this school and some of the parental make-up made my learning curve drastic that year. I learned, and I learned quickly. I had administrative "support" or more like a "frequent flyer pass" to the principal's office for some stern conversations and untrue accusations. But the best part of that year was the children. They pushed me, encouraged me, and trusted me. I became a better teacher and person because of them. I learned to provide for them educationally so that they were able to attain a level of success they previously hadn't felt.

I went back to school. I was determined to learn more to help each of them learn more. I went back for a Master's degree in the area of Special Education. I became more equipped with tools that helped me help each of them and accommodate their needs.

I'm not a saint, nor a savior. I just love kids. All of them. With all needs, all behaviors, all with desires to succeed, to be accepted, to be taught and loved.

And now, my first class that stirred my "pot" and got me learning and yearning for more...they're in college. Succeeding.

I love it.

And.

I love each of them for teaching me more.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

2010-10-26T13:54:00.000-05:00

Whether you remember Mickey Mouse Club from our childhood or have become a fan of Mickey and friends through being a by-stander watching your kids watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey Mouse is an icon. My children are not privy to oodles and oodles of Disney movies and toys, but they know the basic characters. When I told them that we won tickets to see Mickey's Magic Show, they were thrilled! Thanks to my friend, Sarah, our family night out was FREE! (That goes right along with our plan with Dave.)

Here are some pictures of the beautiful costumes and sets we saw to make Disney come to life in front of my children's eyes.

Our boys (in the Vikings apparel) with cousins Sami and Cullen

It was a blast! The music filled our ears and my kids' eyes were loaded to the brim with wonder. The program kept the children and adults intrigued with the funny antics,jokes, and audience participation. Prince Charming, Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, Snow White and the witch, made an appearance as well as Alice, The Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts.

Here's a little video to show you the fantastic show we were treated to.

Thanks to Sarah at Sassyfrazz and her sponsor Feld Entertainment for this fabulous opportunity and a fun family night out!

A Halloween Treat

2010-10-26T10:20:00.000-05:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Pumpkins Galore

2010-10-18T13:21:00.001-05:00

Today I took the boys on an adventure

Introduced the babe to the fall elements--can you say WINDY!?

All by myself...just me and MY three little pumpkins...


It was an adventure...but a fun one at that!

Bless them.

2010-10-16T11:52:00.002-05:00

This month, like every month has many meanings. The most popular being Halloween, but this month is also SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month. I wasn't real aware of SIDS until my first son was born in 2006.

The week after Liam was born, my husband's cousin lost her first son to SIDS on his first day of daycare. As a new mother, this event in our family left a mark on my mothering. I became fearful of this happening to my child and followed the Safe Sleep Checklist and read the statistics on SIDS. I gave him a pacifier, he slept in a separate bed, but close for me to monitor him, always slept on his back, and I removed toys, blankets, and the bumper from his crib and cradle. I was just as precautious then as I am now with Landon and now Lachlan.

When Lachlan was born, the hospital he was born at issued Halo sleepsack to the newborns to wear in the hospital. Halo currently works with over 400 hospitals as part of their Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. They were a beautiful white with the hospital's signature on the front and the words, "Back to Sleep" which is Halo's campaign to place babies on their back to sleep which has proven to cut the risk of SIDS substantially. It's a wearable blanket that you never have to worry about riding up over the baby's face. When we left the hospital, the hospital gifted us with a baby blue version of this fleece sleepsacks which we added to our collection of cotton sleepsacks which are perfect for warm weather.

Halo SleepSacks can be found at Target and other retailers. I highly recommend them. Lachlan is quickly outgrowing his sleepsack (he's already a whopping 23 inches long!) and thus, we will be making a future purchase of a larger sleepsack.

I feel better placing our littlest love down to rest in his Halo SleepSack. Bless this company for educating others on the safest way for babies to sleep and to reduce the risk of SIDS.

(Cousin Starlyn holding Lachlan in his Halo SleepSack)
Follow HALO on Twitter and Facebook!

Wordless Wednesday: Whatcha Lookin' At?

2010-10-13T09:55:00.000-05:00

Dave.

2010-10-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

Last winter my husband and I met this man named Dave. Dave was eccentric, a little arrogant, but lived for the Lord. He was vivacious, humorous, and sometimes, a little rude. But rude, in a good way.

You see, Dave has changed our life. He's given us some tools to live the way we ought to live and since we've met him, WE are better. What has he urged us to do? Well, we've set goals, made changes, and we're working as a team to eradicate some evil in our life. Evil we call debt. We're working to better our lives, the lives of our children, and eventually give more to those in need. I can't wait! I can't wait to give "away" what has been given to us, to better the lives of others. It's fabulous. Yes, we tithe, yes, we sponsor, and yes, we help. But this new sense of GIVING is even beyond that.

I can't wait. Dave has taught us to go beyond ourselves. We are living like no one else so later, we can live like no one else. In a DEBT FREE way!

Do you do Dave? You can meet him here!

Fresh.

2010-10-10T18:14:00.000-05:00

One of the best things in life are friends. Old friends. New friends. In-between friends (kidding). I have always enjoyed making new friends, watching my kids make friends, and having friends make friends. One of the most frustrating point in life as an adult, and as a kid, is the obvious "already determined" circles of friends of which you or someone else may never become a part of. It's defeating. I strive to be open to friendships, old and new. I certainly have been the "victim" of the predetermined circles of friendship, especially the circle of couples.

A few years back I attended a MOPS meeting (Mothers of Preschoolers) where the speaker centered her discussion on quality friendships that help you be who you want to be. There is the inner core friendships and relationships that are important to who you are as a person like Jesus, your family, your husband, your best friend. Then the outer cores circles are those who support you and progressively become more less involved in who you are, but nonetheless help you form your being. Get it?

I've had friendships and relationships that I've decidedly let dwindle to a further out circle from the core. I could see that I was not becoming a better person with them in my life. They are still important to me, I still care about them, but I needed to distance myself. I want to fill my core and the circle supporting it with those that make their faith and family most important. In addition to that, honor, morale, humility, honesty and a host of other values are of increasing importance to who I am, and who I want to share my life with. This doesn't make me better than others, above them, but wanting the support for myself to continue to better who I am.

I'm making a fresh start in who I am. Evolving who I was into who I want to be, and choosing to encircle myself with those with the characteristics and values that are center with the way I want to live my life and how I want to raise my family.

Forever Fall.

2010-10-07T16:44:00.000-05:00

68 degrees. Vibrant colors. A sweet smell to the air. Fall. We love it here!

A Cough in the Night

2010-10-07T12:35:00.001-05:00

In being a parent, we have those moments where we fear for our children. The other morning, I had one of those moments with our littlest spice

Since birth, Lachlan has been a sweet, rarely fussy baby. Just recently he's been cooing and smiling filling my heart of the joys of motherhood. My cup is teeming with love for these boys, I don't think I have ever loved or could love anyone or thing more than these boys.

Lachlan has these precious squeaks, grunts, and snorts that he shares during the day and night. When I heard more of them the other night/ early morning, I didn't think much of them. He seemed more restless, but it'd been a day or two since his last BM, so I chalked it up to bodily functions and relaxed. At his 5 am feeding, the snorts were joined with a loud, obnoxious barking cough. Croup. How could a 4 week old have croup? We'd experienced it with our oldest, numerous times. I knew to steam him or take him outside in the cold air, but I also knew that this babe shouldn't have croup just yet. I went into "mom" mode, woke up my husband and started the steam in the bathroom.

He held the baby while I called the doc. The triage nurse listened to the little guy breathe through the phone, and told me to promptly call 911. He was struggling to breathe. The paramedics arrived and tested his blood oxygen levels, which were low. He was transported via ambulance on his 1 month birthday.

Upon arrival at a great hospital in the area, Lachlan was x-rayed and given an oral steroid to open his airways, which were restricted. We stayed over night for observation and were given clearance to leave the next morning since his blood oxygen levels were great! Hooray!

Of course no life event is complete without pictures, so I had camera in tow.

Praise God for medicine, great care, and a healthy babe!

Our Freshest Spice

2010-09-11T17:26:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Lachlan Stephen!
10.1 lbs 22 inches of pure blessing
We Love You!

A Year.

2010-09-02T08:20:00.000-05:00

Nearly a year ago my husband and I decided it was time for me to find a job opportunity to better supplement our income, give our children some opportunities to play with others and learn, and to give me an out. I
loved being home with our children, caring for others' children, and reaping the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom. Somehow, I felt like I wasn't being "fed". My spirits were low, my mind was stagnant, and my heart thirsted for more. The problem was, I didn't know what that "more" would be.

I looked at jobs within schools, looked at jobs from home as to combine my love of being home with the benefits of what we were looking for. I couldn't find that perfect niche. But, as we neared the start of preschool for our oldest, I "found" more than a perfect opportunity. God led me to a place where opportunities abound. Our church has a preschool and daycare that would allow me to fill-in or sub for the teachers who were away AND my kids could come there with me. Could it get any better than this? Now the pay wasn't excellent, and it certainly didn't fill the professional void I was needing to fill, but it filled my cup overflowing with the possibilities I didn't know existed.

Shortly after starting to sub there, I was offered a position in the toddler room with my then 15 month old. It was hard for them and for me. It wasn't an easy transition, it tested me in so many ways each and every day. However, I learned innumerable things about myself, my faith, and how much I shorted myself from learning new things. I learned to be patient with children of very different temperaments, tools for being a more successful mom, and most importantly how blessed I was to be given this opportunity. God is so good and HE knows what plans are needed, HE knows what benefits are to come from each experience. I had to open my heart and mind to all of these experiences HE brought forth.

I didn't have support that I needed to be successful there or keep my thinking positive. It's hard when others have their plan set before them and can make things "work". But I have to say, being steadfast and believing in HIS plan was what got me through. The greatest people that I work with made me believe in the plan, not quit and supported me so that OUR plan, that of God, my husband, and I could be successful. I am more than thankful for those people. They are what makes me know that I am a better person today than the person who walked into that setting a year ago.

It's Shrektacular!

2010-06-06T13:01:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard the news... Shrek the Final Chapter is out in full force in a theatre near you! General Mills is celebrating the release of this one 'Shrek' of a finale by offering you some fantastic ogre-sized savings on the foods you love!

Our family received a Shrek-tacular prize pack made up of a re-useable Shrek grocery bag, fabulous Big G cereals, Fruit Roll-Ups Minis snacks and Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffin Mix. The prize pack also included a $10 Shrek-tacular Savings coupon book with fun Shrek trivia, a Shrek water squirter, a Shrek highlighter and a $25 gift card that you can use to purchase tickets to see the new Shrek Forever After film! It was awesome the our boys LOVED it! This was all compliments of General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

CONTEST AND GIVEAWAY!
The best part of this is the awesome savings AND one of you can win one of these great prize packs for yourself! Just become a follower of Mamathyme and leave a comment about how your family saves 'green'. One additional entry if you post this giveaway on your blog (with a link) OR post on your Facebook page with a link to this giveaway. One winner will be chosen on Monday, June 13, 2010. Be sure that your email address is included so I can contact you if you are the winner!

Until then, To save even more green, visit www.everydaysaver.com/shrek to download coupons today. While you’re there you and your little prince or princess can get in the mood to see Shrek Forever After by taking a peek at the movie trailer.

I look forward to hearing about your Shrek-tacular savings and how your family saves 'green'!

~Amber

What I'm Reading

2010-06-03T20:51:00.000-05:00

Amazingly informative book and I highly recommend it. Lots of great discussion questions for you to ponder, discuss, dissect. Here's a link to Amazon for more information.

Cheesy Chicken--Quickie Recipe

2010-05-08T18:10:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick recipe I'll share! We bought the fixings for it today, so I thought I'd post it quick.

4-6 frozen chicken breasts
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (I buy the low fat/ low sodium version)
1 can Nacho Cheese Soup

Salt and Pepper each chicken breasts. Place soup into Slow Cooker with Chicken breasts (I cover the breasts with the soup) and let cook on low all day. **I do this in the morning and it is PERFECT by dinner time! Cut up chicken (it virtually falls apart) and serve over noodles or rice (we use brown rice). You could make this on the stove as well with thawed chicken, but the slow cooker is great!

Enjoy!

What A Momma Wants... Part I.

2010-05-08T16:09:00.000-05:00

Well, we're 24 weeks this week and only 16 more to go! :) Hooray! As we get closer, I'm thinking of things that would be nice to have for this babe. With our second little spice, we didn't buy much. We utilized what we had and bought few if any new frocks for the little guy. This third little spice has some really "well worn" britches, blankets, and goods to use. Hubby and I are big into sharing and taking the burden from others when we can. We have shared all of our baby items with anyone who asked and offered to many. Thus, this little spice will have frocks that were worn by 7 babies total. As you can imagine, the clothes are well broken in as well are the jumperoo, the carseat, the swing, and lots of other items. We wouldn't have it any other way! It's fun to share!

So, I've been looking at steals and deals at The Gap, Gymboree, and The Children's Place for clothes for our newest little guy. I've scored a great start to a newer wardrobe for him, never spending over $5.99 an item! It's been fun and I LOVE getting a good deal...I did mention that...didn't I?!

So, I have a few things that I would love to have for this little man., and err...for me? Is that selfish? Well here are a few things I would love to have, but may never purchase or receive. As my mom says, "Needs versus Wants". I probably don't need any of these things.

The Peanut Shell

I am the happy owner of a Classic Baby Bjorn carrier. We carried our oldest spice around Europe in it and it served us well with him and our second spice as well. Here's a picture of hubby and our oldest in the Baby Bjorn in Italy for a summer holiday.

The only thing I wish I could do is carry the baby on my hip when the baby is old enough to be sitting up and is getting a little heavy for the front carrier. The Peanut Shell does so many things! And it isn't bulky like some of the wrap carriers that offer the same versatility. At the price of $55.00, I'm sold. You can also find other versions on Etsy.

Outdoor Blanket

I'm totally looking forward to my 12 weeks at home with my 3 little spices. I have many fun places in mind for us to escape to, as Minnesota autumns are beautiful and mild. I can't get enough of it! I've always brought one of our old blankets, you know the ones, those purchased in Mexico on the beach or a baby blanket. When you lay out your blanket it's perfectly clean, but when you leave, it is filled with dry leaves, dirt, sand, and other debris that is hard to clean. These blankets can be wiped clean! Fabulous, especially with 3 little ones in tow! JJ Cole has a great one that is carried at Babies R Us for $29.99. What a great price for something so practical and a great gift (I'm thinking how perfect this would be for all of our friends that expecting in the month of October! There are like 6 of you!). Anyway, I'm sold!

Well, I think that's all that I've found that I'd like for the moment...I'll be on the lookout for new products and items that would make life easier with this new babe, his spicy siblings, and me! :)

~Amber

WORMS!

2010-04-30T18:46:00.000-05:00

Our big boy sporting his Fireman rain gear from Kidorable.. on the hunt for worms, worms, and more worms!

A Penny Saved...is a Penny Saved!

2010-04-29T17:43:00.002-05:00

Hubby and I just finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (learn more here) and we have been really proactive previously in the last two years in saving every nickel and dime that we are able to. When I was a SAHM with the boys before I got started in teaching at our church daycare and preschool, I LOVED looking for the best deals on everything and anything. I loved doubling coupons, finding great prices on the things we NEEDED, and learning how to get more for less. I felt like I had conquered the retail monster and learned how to shop with out dropping!

Here are my favorite places to find deals, steals, and the greatest prices around!

Groupon.com
AFullCup.com
RetailMeNot.com
MommySavers.com
BeatMyPrice.com

I'm always on the couponing bandwagon, but since I went back to work full time, I haven't been as gung-ho as I was earlier. I'm back at it and hoping to score some fabulous finds and of course, I'm always willing to share them with you!

~Amber

Oooo-- my friend Aimee has a great site to share... dealsonradio.com Check it out, I'm on my way!

The Flowers are Blooming...

2010-04-27T17:12:00.000-05:00

Tulips. Daffodils. Hyacinths. Baby Number 3.

It's hard to believe it, but our Baby Number 3 will be arriving in just 4 months. He sure is blooming, kicking, and dancing in my belly all day long. :) I'm loving the movement and this is definitely my most favorite part of being pregnant.

I'm not a big fan of being pregnant in the summer. I'm a very active person. I enjoy exercise, rollerblading,biking, hiking, and other fun family activities that prove difficult when growing and carrying a bundle of joy. I am in love with this babe and I absolutely am relishing in his growing spirit and learning more about him as we move into the middle weeks of this pregnancy. Pregnancy is definitely a gift.

Blooming is a way to think of this journey. What a gift it is to bloom with such a miracle and such a gift in the end.

Mid Winter Hiatus is off...it's SPRING!

2010-04-27T16:54:00.000-05:00

Alright so I took a few...alright, many months off from blogging. I'll try to be better about it and get to posting some fun things. The GREAT news is that shortly after my Christmas post we're having another baby! Most of you know this...but some of you don't. Different than the other two pregnancies, I was really sick with this little one, which led to the demise of my newest attempt at a less stressful, less time consuming blog than the one in the past. :)
So away we go with some new posts and new crafts...and everything else bloggy.

Merry Christmas to All

2009-12-21T21:32:00.000-06:00

O Christmas Tree...I Want to Eat You!

2009-12-14T16:28:00.000-06:00

One of the things I always enjoyed as a stay-at-home mom, was to make crafts, bake, and be creative with my boys and all the other kids who came to our home for a visit. Today I took the day off from work, due to some little visitors we've had for a long weekend (my niece and nephew are with us, while their newlywed parents are celebrating in Jamaica). Today to be creative, we made Christmas tree cupcakes...but it's probably NOT what you are thinking!

I bought ice cream cones--the small variety, although I think sugar cones would be the best option to look like a real Christmas tree. We filled the cones with yellow cake mix, and topped with green frosting and sprinkles.

Here are the directions we followed:

1) Placed the cones in a muffin dish top side up.
2)Make the cake mix as directed on the yellow cake mix box.

3) Filled the cones 3/4 way full and placed them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean when placed in the center of the cupcake.

4) Remove conecakes from the oven, and let cool.

5) Flip over on a plate, frost, and decorate like a tree.

6) EAT & ENJOY! YUMMY!!!

Sunday Funday Blog Carnival

2009-12-13T10:27:00.000-06:00

What a fun way to get to know other bloggers...through a Sunday Funday Blog Carnival!
This week's posted topic by Keely is to post a prior Christmas card picture or video (like she did).

Here is last year's

We send our Christmas cards out to over 110 homes of family and friend past and present. I love sending them and the kids LOVE receiving the mail in return. It's so fun! :) Now let's see your's! Link up and hop around!

When You Wish Upon a Star...or Something Like That...

2009-12-12T14:25:00.000-06:00

This week my sister and her husband took their honeymoon to Ochos Rios, Jamaica. Between my twin brother and I, we are splitting the week and taking my niece and nephew who are 4 1/2 and 1. To start my portion of the duties, my sister-in-law took my two nieces and myself to see Disney's Princesses on Ice.

The little princesses themselves dressed up in fabulous princess attire including little petticoats to bring the whole "princess effect" into order. They were so darn cute, and so in awe of the magic that transpired before them. Here are some pictures of the evening.

It was a very fantastical evening, and all of the princesses showed up. You could really hear the sighs and giggles of the little ladies in the audience as each princes pranced across the ice in their amazing costumes. I was impressed by the sets, props, costumes and acting of the skaters. The only thing that I was let down by was the less fabulous skating technique, but I'm sure I was the only one hoping for triples, tricks, and fancy footwork. I'm grateful for the opportunity to take in such "pink" events, since I live primarily in a house of blue.
Maybe. Someday.
When You Wish Upon a Star....
or something like that.

~Amber

How Much IS Too Much?

2009-12-02T19:37:00.000-06:00

As a kid, our living room was filled to the brim with presents wrapped in bright shades of red, green and Christmas themed papers, and topped with a jewel-colored bow, you know the variety, peel and stick.

My very giving mom is the same or even more giving than she was while we were growing up. She buys for myself, my brother, my sister, all of our spouses and each of the lucky grandchildren. She amazes me with her thoughtfulness and generosity. Every year my husband shakes his head (in what I would like to think is amazement) at the piles and mountains of Christmas gifts for the family. She takes such joy in shopping and purchasing just the perfect gift for each member of the family. Rarely does she ask what we want, it seems she has a notebook in her mind keeping track of things we need, have wanted, or things she thinks would be just right for us. She just knows.

I, too, have taken to the love of shopping for others, especially for our kids. I love to shop for great deals, buying them things they need, mixed in with things they don't. But since I decided to stay home for the last 18 months, finances aren't what they were and money is tight. It made us re-evaluate what is needed and gave us the desire to scale down, but not necessarily take away.

We've decided to give gifts to our Little Spices based on The Bible and The Christmas Story. We'll be giving the boys three wrapped gifts based on the Three Wise Men, and the three gifts they gave to Baby Jesus. The Three Wise Men gave Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, and we'll...well, we'll give them three gifts that are age appropriate. But, the main idea is to keep bringing the excitement back to the REAL meaning of Christmas, the REAL reason we're celebrating, and the REAL present we were given so many years ago.

~Amber

Wild With Whimsy

2009-11-22T12:27:00.002-06:00

And these perfect photos are why I BEG..BEG..BEG the Lord for a little girl of our own to add to our bay of blue in our house. Our boys are pretty adorable...remember this...

I've made tutus for my nieces (See our oldest modeling one above)...but I love the wild whimsy of this tutu! I think I may have to make one of my own...well, not for me, but for my cedar chest that sits at the end of our bed (or hope chest as I like to call it!).

~Amber

I Can Feel It

2009-11-15T15:46:00.000-06:00

Dreams can mean so many things....or so they say.

But how do you explain this one...or am I just weird?

Often times while dreaming, I can feel skates on my feet, ice beneathe them, and then see myself jumping and spinning. It's the craziest thing, but I can feel it.

See, I skated from the time I could walk. And like all skaters, dreamed beyond the possible. I always wanted to be at the Olympics. When I was a sophomore in high school, my coach, my mom, could no longer skate along side me, and there my skating ended.

But, I can feel it. The ice under my feet.

I feel the rotation of the jumps. The pull of the spins. I love it.

I cannot wait to get my skates back on this winter. You'll see me at the outdoor rink, gliding, spinning, and rotating to the music in my heart. I love skating.

Until then, I'll keep feeling it in my dreams.

And my plan is to get my little spices onto the ice with me this winter. Hockey skates are on mama's Christmas shopping list this year. :)

~Amber

Leaf Me Alone

2009-11-08T11:36:00.003-06:00

The boys and I are enjoying the first of three weekends of quality time together. We've jumped in leaf piles, had a date night at Pizza Hut, and watched Mary Poppins all cuddled up on the couch.
I loved be Leaf-t Alone with my boys. Hubby is enjoying his time in the Northland, and we're enjoying our time together.

~Amber

I'll Adjust.

2009-11-06T19:55:00.000-06:00

I've always had a lot of change in my life. I switched schools often due to location of our home, my parents divorced, we moved, our family situation changed again and again. In fact, I've come to like change really, and seriously wonder how I will take life when it may become stagnant and have little change. Not surprising, life has rarely become even close to stagnant.

Today I was talking to a new friend (yes, I've been blessed with many new friends, recently...it all comes with change) and he asked how my new job was going and I didn't have an answer. Suddenly out of my mouth came a profound statement that I had not even considered, "I'm adjusting."

What!? "I'm adjusting?" Is that the best I could reply? Goodness me, you'd think I'd come up with something a little more professional, a little more...sugar-coated, but there it was. "I'm adjusting."

It's the truth. I am adjusting. I hadn't considered that, but I am. I went from being a stay-at-home-mom of two beautiful boys, the best gifts God has EVER given me, aside from salvation, and *POOF* I'm now working full time. It all happened so fast...and I didn't have time to adjust...so two weeks later...I'm adjusting. I'm now working full time with 14 toddlers at our church. It truly is an amazing opportunity that God literally placed in my lap in an instant. I couldn't be more...well, what would the emotion be? Happy..yes, I'm happy about being there. It's my church home afterall, and the people I work with in the childcare and preschool are above and beyond wonderful. I'm in rare company with the phenomenal people that comprise the ministry at our church. I feel blessed. That's about the best word to describe me right now. I am however, adjusting.

I'm adjusting to working again.
I'm adjusting to new coworkers, new children, new administration, and a new title.
I'm adjusting to not being solely in-charge all of the time and working as a cohesive team.
I'm adjusting to not seeing my our beautiful boys every minute of everyday.
I'm adjusting to having sick children (they are picking up every germ)
I'm adjusting to these new people not knowing the real, true, me.

I'm adjusting. That's just it, and as it came spewing out of my mouth, I was take aback. But, it's the perfect explanation for how I am feeling.

We're making headway, though, the boys, Aaron and I. I know I'm not alone in this change. We're a family.

We're adjusting....together.

~Amber

Wordless Wednesday- Enough Said.

2009-11-04T06:06:00.000-06:00

SKOL VIKINGS!

The Truth.

2009-11-03T16:12:00.000-06:00

The Truth.
It isn't something we all like to see or even acknowledge all of the time. It's something I sometimes like to avoid altogether, and to be quite honest, like to ignore.

The Truth is, is that the truth isn't always our ideal.

The Truth is, is that my "ME" has become someone other than who I really am, and really, who I want to be. I've become more crabby, more irritable, and more, Not Me. In fact, I have been struggling to figure out who "Me" really is and trying to get back to the "Me" I was before I became, quite truthfully, a stay at home mom. But when I am home with "my boys" I am happy, excited, full of life, and energetic. It's when someone or something enters the realm of "ME" that isn't something I planned on being part of "ME" that changes who I am.

The Truth.

The Truth being that we must all endure changes, events, and parts of life that, quite truthfully, are not "ME" at all. I'm blessed with God-given talents, friends, and family that keep me grounded in who I am, and help direct me back, when I go astray from the "ME" I want to be.

The Truth is, is that I bum myself out when I feel conflicted with sadness for the parts of "ME" that were "ME" before. A new friend of mine has talked to me about being content with the Now that God has provided me with. The Truth is, is that I am not content, I am sad, mad, frustrated and confused as to why I feel this sense of loss over who I was, instead of being content with who I AM today.

Get what I mean?

My Truth is that I love my family, friends, and all of the surprises on the path laid before me, but I need to learn to be content with the new. The new friends, the new happenings, and the facets of, well, ME.

~Amber

Not Me Monday- First Edition

2009-11-02T16:34:00.002-06:00

Today is my first "Not Me" Monday with all the friends and folks over at MckMama's site. It's a hilarious way to start off the week and to make light of the things that happen that may, well, not be very "me" at all.

I haven't been keeping tabs, and I've been so forgetful, that I'll have to start jotting down ALL of the "not me's" that occur and all the "not my child's" that frequent our household.

It wasn't me that took a break during Sunday's bi-annual Vikings versus Packers game. I didn't leave the dinner table with my delicious over-the-top nachos, go up to our bedroom, turn on the game and enjoy my dinner in silence, while watching the Packers and all their devoted "Cheeseheads" turn a little more than moldy.

It wasn't me that allowed our littlest spice to enjoy chocolate bar after chocolate bar during the time that the biggest spice was out trick or treating. He had a fever and we weren't letting him out to enjoy the festivities, hoping the warmth and downtime would heal his sick little bod. The deal needed to be sweetened.

It wasn't me who squeezed the paint bottle a little too hard, which exploded all over a sweet toddler's face, filling his face, blonde hair, and clean clothing with festive orange washable tempera paint. Nope, NOT ME.

A New Day

2009-11-02T15:36:00.001-06:00

Today I have decided to come back to blogging. I really enjoy it, and as I see it, it is my way to make new friends, share stories, and "give back" to society thru cyberspace. I closed my incredibly busy other blog formerly known as Miracles on Mama Street, where I shared much of what I will here, bur here, I intend to have a little less chaos and an easier format (I have a tendency to shoot for the moon).

So, welcome friends! Take off your shoes, make yourselves at home, interact, and enjoy a sense of community! I look forward to getting to know each of you!

~Amber