Mullin Snack bag

 So Stacey over at I'm a Lazy Mom put out a new lazy mom job. 

So here's the gist of the job.

Make a snack bin. 

That's so easy!! Right??

When I started thinking about it I realized I have done this before.

I made one for Kris almost 2 years ago to keep in the car.

He drives alot for work and always comes home super hungry bc he just never has (or makes) time to eat.

So I thought SNACK BOX FOR THE CAR!!

I was so proud of myself. I bought a clear container (so car burglars would know it didn't have anything important hiding in there) with a sliding lid so even if it got over turned we wouldn't have a mess.

Then the hard part... finding snacks that could last in a car and not become a melted mushy mess. 

I even filled it with mints, napkins, and spoons.

Anyway I did it... again I was so proud.

Kris was proud too even if he did laugh at me.

And then as snack containers do (& are so intended to do)... it became empty.

I refilled it once and then forgot about it.

Kris never mentioned it so I thought maybe he didn't need anything.

Finally one day I looked in it and instead of snacks.. there were work papers

Anyway, this time is different. How?? 

My kids will keep reminding me that they NEED snacks and not let the bag get empty.

So here is the process of how we made our snack bag.

So we don't have a ton of storage space in our kitchen.

So we went upstairs to the under bed storage boxes that have all of our gift bags, tissue paper, and ribbon. (Yes I keep everything and regift it - seriously why pay for a bag.. anyway I digress)

I would like to say that I picked this bag bc of it's height and width, bc it would fit perfect in the small space we have between the pantry door and shelf.

But that would be lying. I picked it bc I think it is ugly and don't want to give it away to anyone (sorry to whoever gave it too us if you read this, we appreciated the gift, if it makes you feel better Adyson calls it her Nemo snack bag)

 So I let the girls fill the bag up.

 Here's Adyson mixing it around.

 

 Here's Abby getting into the action.

 And here's Abby starting to cry when I said all done.

She was upset she didn't get to eat any of the snacks now that the "game" was over.

I gave her one after the picture I promise.

Here is the final resting place in the pantry.

See how nice it fits and easily assessable to the girls on the floor.

The last 2 months

The last three months have went by so quickly. I blinked and it was April. We have had some really fun times; having the Malloy's over for dinner, Abby and Adyson's birthday party's, Christian & Eli's b-day party, going to the Zoo with the Hieser's, going to the Zoo with the Lemme girls, going to Chicago for the weekend, us and Chanda and Allen going out for Valentine's Day dinner without the girls, Going to a Toby Mac/Skillet concert with the Hiesers, the 30 hour Hunger Strike, having Indian food and a hockey game with the Lemme's, joining a home group, doing a woman's Beth Moore Bible Study, Fear Factor February at MnM, dying Easter eggs, hanging with family, started a money saving blog & how to really coupon shop, and much much more. Abby's hair has decided to curly and it is so cute that way. Adyson has started the why phase of her life.

We did have some real trust in God moments in the last three months. We found out we were pregnant and later lost the baby. It was horrible but we had alot of peace, the kind the passes all understanding which only comes from God. We also had to get really strict with our budget. We spent time in prayer, with me crying alot about not being able to feed our children, but then coming to a conclusion. As long as we put God first everything else will fall into place. His will is not for my children to starve (i would sell everything i have b4 that happened) but to provide for us. I have to say the most important thing I have gotten from Bible study is to pray that my children will love God more than anything, then everything else will fall into place like their decisions, the one they marry, their hearts, as long as they love HIM more than anything it will be all right!

Busy life

This week has been really busy, but good busy.

We had youth on Monday night like always.

Tuesday the girls and I went to church with Aunt Marsha to clean out a room that is used as storage but we need the space. We donated alot of it to Goodwill and threw away alot too. Then that night I have a Beth Moore Bible study called Breaking Free that I go to. It was really good, Beth talked about how we say I love you to God but instead try to say I love you 2.

On Wednesday we went to the Zoo with the Lemme girls. It was such a wonderful day to be out and about, the cold animals were very happy and playing! Then off to home group that night.

On Thursday after I got my crown put on my molar, the girls and I went to church to help finish painting the children's hallway. Finally it is done!! Looks good too if I do say so. Marsha was going to take us home but Kris was at church to meet with Brian our youth pastor and said he would be quick and take us home. We should have let Marsha take us bc Brian and Kris were praying and it was awhile. Then we stopped at Kris's parents so he could help his dad move furniture. It was 8:30 before we got home but they bought pizza for dinner which was great.

Friday we stayed home! I had so many dishes and 4 loads of laundry to catch up on. It was nice to be home but I was in a crummy mood, so the girls took early naps but at different times so I didn't get one. Kris and I prayed that night after we put the girls to bed. I was pretty stressed over our budget and the lack of money on paper. But we serve a God that doesn't always do things that make sense on paper! So we are just putting our trust in him, that we will be ok.

Today we went shopping. I am learning to coupon shop and get things for free. It takes some prep time at home but is well worth it! We have a blog where we put our money saving tips on it. Check it out. www.sharingmoneysavingtips.blogspot.com

My girls

Abby is growing so fast these days. In the last week she has decided to walk behind a baby doll stroller or a walker. She climbs on everything, the couch, her sisters bed, the stairs, or little chairs (and then stands up). She is the child i have to watch every minute or she's gone. She also is trying to talk more, we can't understand it but she will talk to us when we talk to her. She has said momma, dad, papa, hi kitty, all done, and more.
Adyson is definitely turning 3 next month. She is getting an attitude about what she does and does not want to do. We have been working on certain songs lately, like to learn the days of the week but so far she just wants to sing "away in the manager" over and over :-) Kris and I were talking last night about starting letter recognition with her, shapes, colors, and expanding on the sight words that she already knows (Colts, Walmart, and McDonald's). I want to keep learning fun, i am not a flash card kind of Mom.
They keep me busy. We are going to have a picnic dinner tonight, hot dogs, chips, lemonade, potato salad, jello cake, and beans. We got the picnic backpack out and showed Adyson all the stuff and she wants to use Abby's new blanket to sit on and eat. We talked about it last night on our way home from Youth and stopped to get some food. Adyson was so excited, even this morning when she woke up she asked if we could do it then. It will be fun.

just thinking

I laid in bed for an hour tonight just thinking. So I figured i probably should get up and do something. I thought about a couple things like how much i love my husband, Christmas presents, the Christmas store at church tomorrow where i get to help kids shop for presents for their parents, how people treat thier children differently, about how big my little girls are getting, about birthday parties the next few months, things like that.

I think how much i love my husband sticks out most. I have had friends over the years tell me how lucky i am and one friend even told her boyfriend one time that he needed to be more like Kris :-) Kris is wonderful, loving, respectful, and caring but not perfect. Not to discount anything about him but i think a big reason that i have heard too many times "i wish he would be like Kris" or "my husband is not like that" is bc i don't talk bad about my husband and I don't complain about him. There have been times when everyone is complaining and i have things to say but i bite my tongue bc if I don't like something then i need to tell him and not be disrespectful behind his back by talking about him.

I see it like a reality show, bear with me while i explain it. Almost all reality show couples end up breaking up, why? (Hulk Hogan and his wife, Jon and Kate, Jessica and Nick, the only ones I can think of that are together are Ozzy and Sharon) Drama sells right? The TV show picks out the faults of the couples and then focuses on them. There are things that all of us don't shout from the rooftops that our spouse does bc it annoys us slightly. But imagine the whole world is focusing on that trait that didn't bother you before but after it being magnified by the media it all of sudden seems really big and bothers you. Reality shows and talking bad about your spouse to other people are adding fuel to a fire.

I'm not trying to condemn anyone, I'm just reflecting on my marriage, and what people have said to me over the years and trying to figure out why they said those things. I just encourage you to next time before you complain, think about telling him first that it bothers you, he can change it, not your friend. I have told Kris what habits annoy me over the years and he has told me too. I have to say he does a much better job than me on changing the thing he does that annoys me than i do changing the thing that annoys him. I am still working on not "cleaning" things away to get them out of sight but where he can't find them later :-) We will always be a work in progress.

Over the last 7 years I would say i have my associates in Kris 101, now I am working on my bachelors, then my masters, then my doctorate, and so on. You can't stop learning about your spouse bc just like education fields out there they are ever changing.

Make a will

If you have not made out a will, go make a will. It will help your loved ones in a especially hard time.
Heard the oddest news today. My great grandmother is making a will. (not odd, she is getting close to 90) She and her husband (my great grandfather) bought the house that she still lives in back many moons ago. (It is a wonderful love story that I should share another day.) He passed away roughly 40 yrs ago of a sudden heart attack. Anyway I get a call from my aunt about my great grandmothers house, since it is in my great grandfather's name and he passed with no will, the state of Kentucky says it should go to his children and since his son (my grandfather) has passed, it would go to his children, and since my dad has passed it would go to us 3 kids and my dad's last wife (why she would be involved in anything of an inheritance of our family is beyond me, especially since she got everything of my dads and gave nothing to us kids - not upset just stating another fact why you should make a will)
The lawyer is sending us all papers, 11 people in all. We have to sign the papers if we want to give my great grandmother permission to give the house to who she wants to in her will. Ok I understand laws are there to protect us, i will give them that. But my great grandmother should be able to make her will and give her house to whoever she wants (she wants to give it to her 3 remaining children) and not have to ask permission. All the people she has to ask permission from never had the pleasure and honor of knowing her husband.

I just wish this was easier for her, none of us want a claim to what is hers. We just want her to live another lifetime and bless us with her stories, her unending love, give a thousand more of those soft kisses, and to watch her eyes sparkle when she tells us about her dad coming over on the boat from Germany or how she loved one man in her life and sometimes at night still wakes up thinking he is beside her even though he has been gone now longer than they were married. I love my Grannie and I can honestly say that everyone that has ever met her would say "Oh I love Miss Harmon too".

God listens

We had a friend that was moving and gave us a ton of stuff. It was such a blessing to us. We had been talking about what we wanted to get the girls for Christmas and what was important and what were just wants. We left her house with everything we had talked about wanting and more. I'm not talking small things either, things like a car seat for Abby, a kid table and chairs, a wagon we could never afford, play-doh tools, art supplies, art easel, toys, the list goes on and on. I love it when God listens to you in what you feel is the small stuff and shows you his love is abundant.

So we (or i should say i) have been trying to get organized lately. Kris has been shaking his head alot when I tell him how I want to organize but he always helps :-) The kid toys were taking over the dining room. So we split them and put some upstairs in the office. Which makes it easier for me. So when i am upstairs cleaning or putting away laundry (which is too often) they have somewhere to play safely. Instead of going thru the bathroom trash like Abby crawled and knocked over the day. It freed up a closet that has holding alot of toys that I would switch in and out. It's silly but I love when everything has a place.

Our Rufus

We had to put our puppy Rufus to sleep. It was the hardest decision ever but he had multiple health issues but the huge cancer mass was the driving force. He was almost 15. Kris got him when he was in high school. Kris and I have never cried so hard. It was the worse thing I have ever experienced. I was there when my dad died, but i had no control over it, didn't know when it would happen, and had prepared myself for months that it was going to happen. This time I had control, knew the exact moment, and had not prepared myself mentally. I just wanted him to die peacefully in his sleep but that's what everyone wants right? I cleaned up all his stuff today, put it in the garage, and threw away his bed (almost cried when the garbage men took it) I thought that would help Kris if everything was gone when he got home but I think it made it worse. Adyson didn't ask about Rufus all day until dinner, then she called for him. Then when we came home from Walmart she was looking for him. I know she doesn't understand, we keep telling her that Ru is in heaven. She told us at dinner that Rufus died and we told her she was right. I want to find a stuffed choc lab puppy for her that looks like him. I don't think we will get another dog for a few yrs, it would be like cheating on him. We are just dealing with guilt right now not that there was anything we could have done to stop it.
Being a grownup sucks sometimes. Now I understand what my parents have had to do over the years. But I wouldn't trade having him even when he annoyed me :-)

Trying to catch up on blogging

It's been awhile since our last blog and tons of stuff has happened. My kids are growing leaps and bounds. Adyson just finished swimming lessons. Abby is cooing and it won't be long till she starts to crawl, which is a happy sad thing. It's going by so quick.

Sitting here thinking of everything that I haven't blogged about the last few months and all I can think about is how happy I am as a stay at home mom. It's funny bc I always wanted to do it but we just thought it wouldn't work out with the budget. Funny how life throws you a curve ball and what seems like a bad thing like losing your job turns out into the best thing ever. I am more productive, happy, content, and a better mom and wife since I stopped working.

I am volunteering at church (which I always wanted to do but was so physically and emotionally tired after work that I just couldn't muster anything up to give to anyone) Kris has taken on the Jr High Youth Director position, which he loves. It is the greatest thing to see him light up again. Our relationship has changed too. I used to come home and complain and vent to him about all the drama and stress of work. He was a great husband and would listen, give his advice, and ask how much more I could take. It's so different now, we talk about God, politics, current events, everything under the sun. Kris said to me about a month after losing my job that he was so glad to talk to me about other things than work. I realized that I let it consume me even though I tried really hard not too. It's not healthy. I have talked and seen many people that quit before me and they are doing great. Two that I can think of were having lots of health issues and as soon as they stopped working, their health got immediately better. Isn't is crazy what stress can do to you? I learned alot while I worked but I think I lost alot too. But you can't change the past just learn from it and look to the future. I am excited about the future, watching my girls grow and discover, getting to teach them (hopefully they retain the good stuff :-) and just relaxing, serving at church, and serving my family, what could be better than that.

Late Easter pics..

We spread Easter events over a few days. We dyed eggs at Al and Sue's house with Addy and Maddie. We threw them in old tank tops on the countertop and let them go at it. Then had an egg hunt in their front yard. Then on Sunday we were at my grandma's for dinner and another egg hunt.

Adyson's relaxing days with mommy...

relaxing watching movies painting egg cartons - we called them caterpillars

making cookies out of play-doh

in her pajamas using her tools

Abby is getting big...

Abigail tried out the exersaucer for the first time today for about 4-5 minutes. She liked it and used her feet to spin herself around to see the tv (good she can spin but bad that she wants to see the tv). Adyson was so excited to see Abby standing up, after I took Abby out, Adyson said "Addy up" meaning she wanted in and cried when I told her she was too big. So I told her to go get her babydoll and put her in it, that made her happy.

What a day....

Yesterday Kris found out that his company is doing a 2.5% pay decrease for everyone, which stinks. Right now our budget doesn't work on paper but it works out every month so we are believing that God will continue to take care of us.

We had a long day today. I woke up this morning at 7:30 when Abby woke up (she slept from 10pm to 7:30am, it was nice) As soon as I woke up I smelled dog pee, so I had to track that down. It was in Adyson's room, so I had to green machine the carpet. (Rufus is 15 years old and has lots of accidents anymore so I don't get mad but its still gross and not fun to wake up to) The girls did not feel good. Abby would cry if you sat down while holding her, she was happy when she was being held and walking around the house. Adyson wanted the opposite, she wanted me to sit down so she could be in my lap with my arm around her or she would cry. So I took turns making them happy, which meant one of them was always crying. Adyson ate half a bagel and drank water but refused to go to the bathroom all day. Finally an 40 minutes before Kris got home I got both of them to sleep. So I ran thru the house trying to clean and the washer overflowed water all over the hallway, first time that has ever happened to me. So I cleaned that up and Kris helped me move the washer and dryer to get under them. The girls woke up in great moods, we had dinner and watched a movie. Adyson finally went to the bathroom before she went to bed. I went to check on her before I went to bed and she was running a 103.8 fever, so I got her Tylenol and a cool bath. As I was looking for where I sat the thermometer down she started throwing up in her room. So I was back on my knees with the green machine cleaning her floor. I rocked her to sleep and she is down to a 101.2 fever, so I won't sleep much tonight checking on her.

I am thankful for my green machine and that Abby isn't throwing up. All in all it wasn't a bad day just a few unpleasant moments.

Busy week...

We had a busy week last week.
Youth on Monday night, while I was doing childcare for all the youth leaders the Kiels brought in new furniture for the preschool room so I could arranged the room while I was there. The room looks awesome if I say so myself. I spent Monday and Tuesday cleaning my house b/c family was coming over. Tuesday night we ran around getting all the stuff we needed for the next night. Wednesday was our extended family Christmas stocking exchange (yes it was very late but that's when everyone could get together). I spent Thursday cleaning up from the party(ironic right.. we spend all that time cleaning before a party just to make a mess that we have to clean later but I love having people over) then that night we went to Nana and Papa's to do an Easter egg hunt and dying eggs while Chanda, Allen and Maddie were in town. Friday Kris took Al to the airport early in the morning thus leaving him tired when he got home so he slept on the couch while I packed. Saturday morning was spent rushing around running errands to get ready to leave for the weekend and then driving to Vevay IN to my parents. Sunday we went to my grandma's for dinner and an Easter egg hunt, then drove to Carrollton KY to see my great grandmother, then on to Louisville Ky to stay with my cousins Jenny and Joey. We stayed up way too late like 3am, Jenny and I got really giggly about nothing which is the sign that we need bed. We hung out all day and drove straight to Indianapolis to church for youth that night. Boy were we tired but it was fun. Kris preached that night, did great, prayed for the sick, and one boy gave his life to Christ!! Yeah!!!! That's what life should be about... spending time with the ones you love and leading people to Christ.

our really late family Christmas exchange

Going for a walk

We took a walk the other day. It was a bit chilly so we got all dressed up. Adyson had to wear her tutu of course. Abby fell asleep so we went outback to play on the swingset. I had to bribe my daughter to come inside, yes i gave in. It was before nap and she wasn't about to come in from being outside, which is her favorite thing ever, so I got her with a promise of a bath, which is her second favorite thing.

We play dress up all the time

Adyson loves to play dress up. Thankfully she got alot of dress up clothes for her birthday. She can dress herself which makes it easier too. Although she keeps trying to wear Abby's clothes which of course doesn't work. Anyway, when I was little I loved to wear my tutu everywhere so I let her do the same. We took a walk the other day and she wore her tutu. It was the cutiest thing ever (or so I thought). I love being with my girls, it is the best way to spend your day. The only thing that could make it better would be if Kris could be with us all the time too but you know that whole needing money and supporting the family thing gets in the way :-)

I LOVE MY DAYS!!

No more pictures, please!
She loves chocolate, I don't know how that happened.

she loves to play with play-doh

New pics of Abby

Abby is getting so big. She is smiling now especially when you call her a pretty girl. She is getting a little chunky now, she has three chins :-) I have no clue how much she weighs, she is three months so next month we have a doctor appointment to see. It's amazing how much she looks like Adyson when she was this age but Abby is a little chunkier and not as long.

Playing in the backyard

We played in the backyard today. Adyson and Daddy had a screaming contest as you can see in the pic below. Abby wore a skirt today so Adyson insisted that she needed to wear a skirt too, how cute. We can not get her out of her Car boots that Nana bought for her, it is so funny all the outfits that she puts them with that do not match but oh well, she's happy. The very last picture Adyson took of me and Abby.

Adyson took this picture, Good job!