Still Learning

I think that being a mother means that you are ALWAYS learning.  It never ends.  When you think that you have it, another child teaches you that you don't.  In a positive and/or negative way sometimes.  Well I learned in a positive way that children are more capable then thought.  My oldest likes to peel his own 'cutie' (small orange if you are not familiar with them) and the other day my almost 2 year old wanted to peel his...well I thought why not let him and you know what?  He did it, and he did a good job.

I read that kids enjoy food when they get to help prepare it or be a part of the preparation...well now my kids have one more task that I will let them do and something that will keep them busy and out from under my feet while I get the rest of lunch ready.
But my learning tip that is greatest from this event is that NEVER think that kids are not old enough to do something.  It they want or ask...LET them TRY. 
If they can't, help them or show them, then next time let them TRY AGAIN...and maybe again and again as long as they want to. 
It is HARD to do this.  It is much easier, faster, ans cleaner if I just do it.  I just have to remind myself again and again that being a mother/parent is being a teacher and letting them LEARN.  I'm sure as they get older some of their "learning experiences" will come with far greater consequences then a mess on the kitchen floor.

Safety Can Opener-Product review

So my can opener broke.  It just was spinning without cutting so I knew it was time to buy a new one.  I walked down the kitchen tool isle of my local Walmart (since that is really the only store in my little town) and looked at the 4 choices I had.  In a way I am glad that I didn't have more options because it was regular can opener, ranging from really cheap to a little more expensive, or I could choose the new "safety" can opener for somewhere around $9.

I was nervous about choosing the safety can opener because what if I didn't like it.  Then I would be mad that I didn't just put the $9 toward the nicer regular can opener.

After contemplating my purchase (which I really did for at least 2 minutes or more...who knew that a can opener would cause me to stand in the store with my kids in the cart, probably whining because we were stopped to long!) I bought the safety can opener.

And I would have to say that I am glad I did.  Since I like it I thought that I would put my consumer review out there for anyone else who has had the same debate.

Why I love it:

*It is quite easy to use.  It was a little difficult the first time to figure it out but now it is so much easier then a regular one.  The instructions were a must the first time using it.

*It basically just takes the top off the can in a reverse manner that it was originally put on.  If you have ever canned before you will understand this.  That means there are no sharp/cutting edges!

*Because the top as been cleanly removed when you use a rubber spatula to scrape out the insides, you do not cut your spatula with the little lip that old can openers leave.

*My almost 4 year old can use it where the old can openers he couldn't.

*The lid can't fall into the can.  This is a bonus because I sometimes forget to wipe the dust off my cans and this way the juice doesn't start to come out before I take the lid off.

*There is nothing sharp on the can opener

Negatives:

It is a little harder to drain the liquid.  I used to open the can all but just a little piece and just slightly press it in the can to drain.  But now I just have to slide the lid off to the side a bit.  So it is a very minor negative.

DIY Fabric Bag

Since I grew up trick or treating with a pillowcase, I thought it would be fitting to modify a pillowcase tutorial in helping me to make trick or treat bags for my kids this past Halloween. (yes I am way behind on posting this tutorial.)  I took one of their library bags to get the size and bottom panel.  This is my first time doing a do-it-yourself tutorial.  So if you want to make a bag and have questions on anything, just ask :)

You will need 3 different coordinating fabrics:
For the Main Bag Fabric you will need:
1- 11" x 28" piece,
1- 3" x 11 3/4" panel (this will be the bottom piece)

Hem
1- 5" x 28" piece

Trim
1- 1 1/2" x 28" piece

Straps (using one of the 3 fabrics from the main, hem, or trim)
2- 3" x 20"

The trick-or-treat fabric is my main (also bottom panel and straps)

The Black boo is the Hem

and the orange is the trim.

Now to sew:

-Fold the trim in half lengthwise right side out and press

-lay hem fabric right side up along the top

-lay main fabric wrong side up with other fabric tops-then roll up starting from bottom until the roll is shorter then the hem (pictured below with the tops on the left)

Fold the hem fabric over the rolled up main fabric and pin (pictured below)

-Sew along the raw edges, leaving a 1/4'' to 1/2'' space.

-Turn tube right side out

-Press (you can also sew the trim flat against the main fabric)

-With wrong side out fold in half and sew the raw edges with zig-zag (this is the side of the bag)

-Pin in bottom panel starting from short side and with the main bag seam in the middle of the bottom panel, and sew with zig-zag. (the panel is optional you can just sew the bottom of the bag like the side and it will be more like a pillowcase)

Your main bag should be completed at this point.

For the straps:

-fold in lengthwise, right side in, and sew.

-Turn right side out

-Press so seam is in the middle (optional)

-tuck 1/2'' to 3/4'' of each end back inside tube (creating a hem) and press

-sew one end of strap onto one side of the main bag 4" from one side and the opposite end 4" from the other side

-repeat for other strap and side

I used a 1" square with diagonal (pictured below)

YOU ARE DONE!

You can add pockets and have a great little all purpose bag.

It was easy enough that I might make some more!

A New Chapter

Today my husband was called as the Branch President.  It is a bitter-sweet thing.  As with most aspects of the gospel- with responsibility come blessings.  I am not sure what trials it will bring into our life/marriage/family, but I do know that the Lord will be there for us and to help us.  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church.  It is a perfect gospel full of imperfect people.  I am glad that I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life through family members and friends.  It is interesting to reflect back on the past and see the changes that have come.  I keep thinking of my friend who is the wife of a Bishop and a story she has about someone telling her that "a Bishop's wife shouldn't dance like that" when she was out having fun (and knowing her it was just being silly, no risque moves or anything like that) during a stake activity.  I don't want to wonder if people are judging the gospel or the quality of priesthood leader my husband is by things I do.  I know they will.  I hope it won't offend or negatively influence them.
The Stake President gave us some counsel when he issued the call and the 2 things that stuck the most was:
1-it will be like living in a glass house
2- Satan will try hard to influence us because if he can get us to do something wrong, he can potentially 'spiritually hurt' our branch. (not quite how he put it but that is because I am not a eloquent writer or thinker, especially when I am tired :)

So, here goes the new chapter of our lives. 

Love

Love

Lately this topic has been on my mind.  One-because I know of 3 differing examples and 2-because of this craft I saw called the "I love you because" board.

The examples of love are 1- a middle aged couple who are currently not living together but still speak and go places as if they are together.  The are not in the same house because the husband was offended by in-laws "overtaking" his home during the holidays and his mild mannered wife didn't speak up, so he kicked her out.  There is a type of love here.
2-a young couple, who were high school sweethearts, with multiple kids, getting a divorce because he "hasn't loved her for a while now."  There was love here but it stopped somewhere.
3-an older couple who no longer have kids in the house but seem to be still dating and as much in love now as in the beginning of their marriage.  This to me is a rekindled love.
At one point "love" may have been in all 3 marriages.  But what I have learned about love is that it's forgiving, unselfish, understanding, is a continuously changing picture (i.e. what you love them for today may not be the same reason you love them tomorrow), is something that you can't take for granted and is something that doesn't fade away but stops growing.

The "I love you because" board got me thinking about the reasons that I love my husband and at first I felt like I was drawing a blank (very sad I know).  Then I thought of some of the trivial things that are at most temporary reasons to love a person.  But finally deeper, more meaningful, heartfelt things were coming to mind. 
Needless to say that with the "love because" reasons going through my mind and the relationship examples I am seeing around me right now, I have learned somethings about love.  Things that I hope will only make my marriage stronger, deeper, and more true.

I once heard an analogy that Love/marriage is not the two of you rowing the same boat together, but that you are in two separate boats trying to stay next to each other and on the same path.  If one person is working harder then they will find themselves gaining distance between the 2 boats and if you are not trying to be involved in what is going on with the other person (interested in or at least supportive of their interests/hobbies that may not be ones you care for personally) you will soon find separation between your 2 boats.

I see everyday how children tend to be the focus of my conversations with my husband, especially since he is obligated with privacy codes at work and church so he can't discuss much of what is seen/done.  Life seems to revolve around them...as it should for most moments, but there still needs to be couple time and moments where we can discuss about the new things that we are learning, have time to share in growing experiences and be involved in how the other is changing.

Our ultimate example of Love is the Savior and Heavenly Father and that needs to also be a large part of our lives.

This blog is my thoughts and ideas that I hope will not only help my marriage/family/life as I "journal" them, but give others insight into that someone else is experiencing/learning the same things they are.

Lately being a mom has brought me laughter and frustration.  Maybe it is because I expect my oldest to be the "oldest", the big brother, the more responsible one, the good example.  This is a tough task since he is not even 4 yet.  Maybe it's because my 2nd son is a little "Dennis the Menace," tearing books apart, throwing anything and everything, hitting, laughing and covering his eyes when I am trying to be mad and discipline him.
 I realized today (light bulb moment) that my desires to have a clean house, an organized room, well mannered children all of the time...on and on...doesn't work.  But I don't really know what does!  With that said, I know that anyone would probably tell me it is a part of parenting.  Constantly learning and adjusting and repenting and trying over and over only to have the next child be even more testing in ways that the others weren't. 
I gain more and more love and respect for my parents, for the things that they experienced raising me and my siblings.  For the fact that we all turned out without major deviations (at least not ones that I know of.)  This respect and love goes too for my in-laws. 
I LOVE my kids.  I love the innocent moments when, wanting to know what character is on their underwear they pull their pants down in a very public place to show me (even though I know already since I pulled them out of the dresser just hours before).  I love watching them grow and learn and gain knowledge...I just struggle with that aspect too, since it takes patience, experimenting, patience and repetition among other things.
I have tried to let the exploring/learning happen, but it seems that there is a point where it becomes to much.  Like emptying half of the soap in the sink because the way it sprays out is so cool.  I don't want my kids to feel like they live in a museum, but I also don't want to be cleaning up spills, continuously repairing book after book, or replacing broken things (just to name a few). 
I just keep wondering "at what age?" At what age...can they start doing more chores...do they understand each choice has a consequence...
Many nights I lay in bed thinking how I failed or what I learned or what I achieved in the day.
Wondering if my kids will turn out to be good kids, respectful, honorable, hard working...knowing that with each day the result may feel "failed" but that it is the lump sum of many days that will mold and shape their lives.
I pray in the end they:
1-know that I love them
2-know that the Lord loves them
3-love the Lord back

I need to be better at writing/recording some of the funny things my kids do, growing moments, and milestones (as they call them in the doctors office).  I write not for answers but that someday my kids will see what I went through and know I wasn't a perfect parent (since there is no such thing in my opinion.)  To see that parenting is challenging yet rewarding.  That I loved them through it all.

Today when I got home from the grocery store I had to take three trips into the house and I only had 2 grocery bags that were not even half full.  It is becuase all of my kids had fallen asleep and so one by one I carried them in the house, removed shoes and then laid them on the couch, except the baby she stayed in her car seat (who ever invented the carrier car seat gets my shout out here...it is amazing for sleeping children.)  I am suprised they stayed laying on the couch but I will be the last to compalin and the first to enjoy the peace and quiet!