Fall = A time to be creative

Welp, the rain has started here. I'm not a fan of the ran, I dare say I HATE the rain. When I lived in Idaho, I thought rain was so amazing and I loved it...because it rarely rained. Now that I'm in good ol' Oregon, my feelings have changed and I've come to despise the rain. For one, I have naturally curly hair - not good for rain (a whole lot of frizz going on). Two, I have two little boys who move slower than molasses getting in and out of a car, so errands are awful! And three, I just have a hard time handling the gloominess around here. There, done with my venting.

On a positive side, my creative juices start flowing when I can't just send the boys in the backyard to play. I use the dreary weather to take time to make crafts with the boys. We don't do huge things because they are two and three. We color A LOT. We cut paper A LOT. We make paper plate masks and wreathes out of candy corn. The boys are so messy, but they absolutely love making things. They get so excited to create.

I am not very creative. I can see an idea and copy it because I'm a perfectionist, but I can't just come up with an idea in my head. I hope that spending time with the boys just letting them create whatever and however they want, will somehow spark a creative part of their brain. I want them to have the confidence to try anything or do anything! For some reason I associate that to creating paper plate masks. I want them to make what comes to their imagination and not say, "no, that's not how you do it". I want to encourage them to go wild and dream big even if it's just with a paper plate. Is that weird?

Maybe I am weird, but I know that I lacked so much confidence in high school. I missed out on so much because I was afraid to try. I always wanted to be the best, so if I didn't think I had a chance at being the best, well, I just didn't even try. I never want my boys to have that attitude. I want them to try whatever their heart desires, and I want to be their biggest fan in whatever they choose.

These are their "monster masks"

Elias LOVES to growl

Disaster, Not so typical until recently....

Um yes. The picture speak for itself. My life as a disaster. I am usually quite fond of a clean, organized homestead. My house has not been perfect since having my little fellows, but it's been enjoyable to be in. Recently, it's just awful!

I had a cleaning schedule that I was pretty good at sticking with. I knew what we were having for dinner by 11am. I could get laundry done in one or two days. I NEVER took naps unless I was deathly ill. I was pretty organized. Not so much now.

I have been so stinking tired. I mean, EXAUSTED! I know this comes with pregnancy, but man, does my house have to suffer as much as I am suffering? I guess it has, but today that changed!

I woke up with more energy than I ever remember having! I'm only 13 weeks along in my pregnancy, but it is still hard to remember what having an ounce of energy feels like. My boys woke me up about 8 this morning, and usually I just go straight from my bed to the couch. I lay there and cuddle or talk with them for awhile, then I get up and make them breakfast when they tell me they are hungry.

Today, I got out of bed, made the boys breakfast, started some chicken for dinner (we're having chicken tortilla soup), made myself breakfast, played with play doh, and not once did I take a snooze on the couch! This is a first since about 9 weeks ago!

Once the boys informed me they were ready for lunch, I walked into the kitchen and could not even believe that I was living in this mess. I made the boys their lunch, took a few pictures to document this horrid event, and began cleaning.

I spent the next hour and a half cleaning. I can't tell you the last time I had the energy to do something more than sit at my computer and work for more than and hour and a half! Thank you, Jesus, for some energy! I feel like a new woman!

Just to end on a good mental picture. Here is what my lovely kitchen looks like now. AAAHHH, now I can breathe!

Pumpkin Patch!

I love this time of year! I love the smells, the colors, and the sweaters! I didn't grow up going to a pumpkin patch every year. Once I had my boys and heard there were such things, I had to start a search to find the most fun pumpkin patch! Bryan and I found Bauman Farms last year, and it's definitely one we're going to keep going back to! Reasonably priced, so many activities (slides, mazes, ziplines, park, trikes, swings, hayride, apple cannon, etc), and they have apple cider donuts. Really, could you want anything more from a pumpkin patch? If you don't have a pumpkin patch you love, you should really try Bauman Farms out. FANTASTIC!

We chose to go on a weekday this time because it was the only time we could get together with my brother and his family and my mom. I love that my boys have cousins so close in age that they get to grow up with! It's like having more siblings! The only thing I think the boys didn't get to do was the hayride. I got a few pics of the kids riding in a wheelbarrow - I think they had just as much fun riding in the wheelbarrow as they would have on a hayride. Weekday was an awesome choice because they were hardly any people. We just let the kids run around without worrying about losing them in a crowd. It was great.

I think I love going to the pumpkin patch almost more than my boys do! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

One of those days

It's one of those days. You know the one that you wish you could just go back to bed and start over in 24 hours? That's it.

Today is Tuesday which means it's Bible Study Fellowship day. I should be there right now discussing with about 10 ladies the homework from last week. Instead, I'm just sitting here trying to hold it together because I am an emotional mess.

The day started off by me getting up a little late, no  big deal - happens often to me. Elias just couldn't pull himself together today. At first I thought he was sick, but no, he's just a mess today. I told him he couldn't use my deoderant and it was the end of the world. He started crying, and continued crying for the next hour and a half over every little thing.

Breakfast wasn't good enough, he didn't want his hair combed, he didn't want to wear the jeans I picked out for him, and on it goes. Everything was a melt down.

I know I'm supposed to be the mature one in these situations, but I really just wanted to sit on the floor and cry with him. I'm too tired, stressed, and emotional to deal with his breakdowns today.

Up my hands went in the defeated stance, and it was decided we'd stay home instead of going to my much needed Bible study.

Now, I'm looking at my boys and they are playing guitar and singing "Jesus loves me" at the top of their lungs. I'm so thankful that Elias has pulled himself together. Now, if only I could do the same and go on with the day....Here I go.

Gonna be a good day even though it started off rough!

So sweet

Yesterday I had the chance to go out with my dear friend, Jessica, to Papa Haydn's for a post birthday celebration for her. I didn't take any pictures, but this is the sweetness that I came home to. These boys just melt my heart!