The Big ONE!

Depending on when you read this, my little girl will be turning One-Year-old today ... or tomorrow ... or yesterday ... her birthday is April 1st. And as I prepare for her rather large birthday party, I am a little sad!

Maecie has been such a sweet baby! She has a happy disposition ... loves to smile at everyone. She can have a terrible cold and still manage a grin big enough to change anyone's day. She has always slept well. She has always gone with the flow of whatever craziness her brother and parents may put her through. And tomorrow marks 12 months of her being a part of our family.

At 1 year, Maecie has 8 teeth ... she can walk/run ... she likes to put the stackable rings around her wrists and wear them as bracelets ... she knows where her shoes are, but not her eyes or nose (and of course this makes me smile!) ... she can say "dada" (her first word), "mama", "byebye" , and "hi"... she likes to eat and eats everything we feed her ... she enjoys playing in the sandbox in the backyard ... and is becoming more and more independent everyday!

Maecie Jane Beare is her Daddy's Little Girl ... her Mommy's Princess ... and her Big Brother's Friend (so he says now). She adds so much happiness to our family and we are so glad she chose to be a part of it!

Now I just hope that she will slow down and stop growing so fast!

Old Fashioned or Still Hip?

Being an almost-28-year-old with 2 kids, I try to stay fairly "hip". (I don't want to be an uncool mom.) I know most of the teenage lingo due to being a teacher and around kids. I like dancing and singing to the radio, but sometimes have to change the station so my kids don't memorize the risque lyrics. I like fun clothes that look cute and comfortable, but don't want all of my blessings being spilled out for the world to see.

That being said, I am curious to know if I am old fashioned, or still with it, in regards to one thing......the curling iron! It seems like whenever I go to the salon, my stylist is talking about being able to flip my hair out, making it straight, or curling it under. She constantly asks or refers to a flat iron. However, I have never purchased one. I have a curling iron and it does everything I need it to.

When the flat iron became popular, my friend asked if I had ever tried one out. My response was, and still is, why should someone with stick straight hair need a flat iron? If I do not use volumizing shampoo, mousse, a hair dryer with round brush, and a curling iron, I cannot accomplish having hair that is presentable. My hair will stick to my head and will look like it is dirty, needing a wash. So I follow the steps that have worked for me for many years.

This lack of change and being willing to adapt and purchase a flat iron ... does this make me old fashioned? Does this make me "unhip" to the times? Is my curling iron my 90's crutch??

Is there anything you worry about being your "old fashioned crutch"?

The Cutest Kids EVER!

I think I have the cutest kids ever!
Yeah, I'm sure all parents think so ... but mine really take the cake!

The other day, Clayton was inside the house while Patrick, Maecie, and I were outside. I went in to check on him. When he heard me coming, he hid. This is how I know he's doing something not-so-good. Then I looked and noticed he had my make-up in his hands. This is what I saw next:

When I asked him why he had my make-up, he responded with, "I wanted to look beautiful like mommy!" How can you not smile at that?!

Then we have the most adorable little girl! Even when she's not feeling 100%, she is cute enough to make everyone stop and smile. We went to the doctor today for a follow up visit and nurses, receptionists, and even other patrons were doting on her. Then we ran some errands where people couldn't keep their eyes off of her smile. We even went through a drive thru and the 20-something guy at the window was putty in her hands! Check her out sitting in the big chair at the doctor's office:

Yep, pretty sure mine are THE CUTEST!

Getting to the Garden

There is something about having a garden that makes me happy. Is it the feeling of being able to provide for my family without having to go to a store? Or is it the healthier food we are eating? Or could it just be that being able to grow something does wonders for the soul? Whatever the answer, I enjoy having a garden.

In 2007, we had a good garden. Okra, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini squash, basil, and rosemary. I actually canned tomatoes and make salsa and spaghetti sauce with them. However, for the last few years, things have just gotten too busy. Adding another child and Patrick's booming business has kept me from growing anything. So this year, I decided to remedy that!

I started about a week or so ago to plant seeds. I wanted them to sprout prior to putting them in the ground, so I started with planters. I planted tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, okra, cilantro, basil, carrots, lettuce, and spinach. I will still be planting green beans, peppers, and zucchini squash, too!

It has been interesting to see what has sprouted first. Of all things, it was the lettuce. I have been watering them well, keeping them in the sunlight during the day, and putting them in our storage building at night (just to keep animals away and protect from any bad weather).

Here are my cute little sprouts poking up:

Pushing up out of the soil on Day 1 of sprouting

Getting taller on Day 2 of sprouting

Really starting to fill in on Day 2 of sprouting

Now others are starting to sprout ... the corn, tomatoes, and basil. Can't wait for them all to be in the ground and growing tall!

My Favorite Things (Right Now)

Because my friend posted this on her blog, I am sharing my favorite things of "right now".

1. My sewing machine - I received a sewing machine for Christmas because I wanted to learn to sew. I completed my first project of sewing cute ribbon on to burp cloths for a baby shower. They turned out well and I plan to make some more in the coming weeks. Can't wait to try out the rag doll pattern I bought as well!

Don't look too closely or else you will see my crooked lines and overlapping ribbon. This was one I didn't include in the shower gift. Meant to take a pic of those, but ran out of time!

2. Hobby Lobby - Just recently visited for the first time in a long time! Got some great items to decorate my room and living room. These rooms were recently renovated/built and the walls were bare. With the help of Hobby Lobby and a great friend, my house is a home!

The middle sign, "Family", came from Hobby Lobby. Everything else was already framed and it just took someone with a more creative bone than I to piece it together. This hangs over my couch in the living room and I LOVE looking at it!

3. My new shoes - I haven't bought shoes in almost a year! Since being at home, I am generally not in a store that allows me shop time. However, I saw these and had to have them! And since they came from Payless, I could afford them! WOOHOO for Cute Shoes!!

Paired with a really cute skirt or capris, these shoes are sure to be the highlight of my summer footwear collection! (not that I have said collection, but I do have a shoe fetish!)

4. Baking - Baking helps me work with my hands and create something comforting, yummy, and usually healthy for my family. Today was a little on the chilly side, so I made some homemade bread. Clayton was able to bake along side of me, helping me add the flour and knead the dough. It was a great addition to my Creamy Wild Rice Soup for dinner.

I use a great recipe that you can find here. I use half bread flour and half whole wheat flour. Top with honey, especially when straight out of the oven ... YUM!

This, too, Shall Pass...

The title phrase, "This, too, shall pass," has been my go-to phrase for the last 3-1/2 years. When my sweet son was teething, he was a biter. And being in daycare, he bit his friends. So there were times I would get a phone call at work saying that he had bit someone. I felt like the mom of a bully! But was reminded that this phase will pass.

Then Clayton was 18 months and could climb out of his crib, walk into my room and crawl in the bed. I got little sleep, as I was trying to coax him back to his room. We decided to put him in a toddler bed to keep him from hurting himself, but this made bedtime tough! The phrase came back ... it's just a stage and this, too, shall pass.

Clayton is a mama's boy and would cry when I dropped him off at daycare. He would even cry when I went to the stage to lead the music at church! He could always see me, but he would cry. He would never go to nursery at church because of these feelings of separation anxiety, giving me no break at times. And I thought.... this, too, shall pass.

In every instance, the stage did pass. We made it through, and even though I remember the stages, I don't think they were all that bad after all.

Now Clayton is older. He has a younger sibling. I am at home with him all day. And of course, a new stage begins.

Lately, Clayton has become difficult to handle. He has always been an active guy. But these days it seems like he never stops. He bounces on furniture, he runs through the house. He likes to play fight but doesn't always know how to play softly and ends up hurting someone or himself. He doesn't listen to anything we ask and we have to repeat ourselves numerous times. He can destroy a room in seconds. When he is told he can't do something, he will go and hide under a bed or table and do it anyway.

I would like to think, this, too, shall pass. However, at this point, I think if I keep this as my go-to phrase, before long everything will have passed and he will be off to college or something. So my question to the blog world is, how do you enjoy each stage and not wish it away, no matter how difficult? How do you make the moment memorable?

I love my son. He makes me laugh! He plays well with his little sister. He loves to build, make crafts, read books, play pretend, work outside, and sing songs. When he goes to church, he attends his Sunday School class and does really well. Babysitters, teachers, and family all think he is great. He is well-behaved for everyone, but us. I generally try to highlight the good times, but want to enjoy each moment!

Maecie's How To's

How to talk on the phone:

How to Climb:

How to Make a Dog Like You:

How to Unroll a Paper Towel Roll:

How to Walk:

Play Time

The warm weather has definitely brought us out more! Loving our unplanned trips to the park!

Maecie checking out the top of the play equipment....
Hmmm ... there's a big red thing over there! Wonder what it does?

Let's go check it out!

Hey! Look at me! I'm on a slide!!

Clayton had to get in on the fun too!

Clayton actually likes to have Maecie ride down the slide with him. Wonder how long that will last? Not long, I am sure!

Meal Planning is...

Food is on everyone's mind, I believe. When you wake up..."what's for breakfast?" As you continue your day..."what's for lunch?" And then before you have finished folding the laundry..."what's for dinner?" These questions frustrate me daily!



Breakfast is no big deal because I feel like there are numerous options that my family will go for. However, lunch and dinner are another story.



I love trying out new foods, seeing what simple recipes I can find that are flavorful, and even don't mind a meat-free meal once or twice a week. Patrick likes meat and rice, and vegetables are optional. He has grown over the years and will sometimes eat a salad....covered in cheese and ranch dressing, that is. And then you have Clayton, whose preferences change from one meal to the next. And so my question is posed ... How the HECK do you plan a meal for such different tastes?!?

For example ... I made Orange Chicken the other night. You know, like the Chinese kind. It was so easy to make, with a yummy sauce. The chicken was cute into cubes and fried and eaten over rice. Clayton wouldn't touch it, but ate some rice with a cup of peaches. Patrick enjoyed it, but said it needed more flavor (after he buttered the rice, which is never done when you go to a restaurant, and added salt). I told him to put more of the sauce on it. To me, it was enjoyable. The chicken was moist with a subtle sweet, citrus-y sauce served over a bed of fluffy rice.

The day before, we got too busy and forgot to really make dinner. I made Clayton some chicken nuggets and then made beans and rice for me (not thinking Patrick would really want it, and then he would just fend for himself). I took white beans, added a can of fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, and a little S&P. (Borrowed this idea from my friend, Jessica, who has an awesome blog you can read about here.) Well, much to my suprise, Patrick really liked it! He commented on it profusely and has referenced it over the past couple of days. Highlighting what he liked. He did mention that adding some sausage to it would have put it over the top, but loved it just the same!

So just when you think you know what they eat, the turn around and prefer something else. How does one plan?! How can I ever feel like they are getting something nutritious and home cooked?!