I love sneaking up on Molly with my camera when she is being naughty. No, I don’t laugh (in front of her) to encourage the behavior. But, I do snap her picture, usually with my iPhone cause it is always near by.

She is so darn curious, independant, and risky, that I can’t help but envy her a little bit. Life, as I know it these days, is anything but “risky”.

Here are some classic “Molly” shots I found as I was going through my iPhone’s album. {forgive the blurry, grainy style of images}

Molly, what did you think was going to happen when you stole the lid to the leftover birthday cake?

"Cheese!" Oh, wait Mom's not smiling. {What did I think was going to happen, leaving my purse out?}

Caught red-handed. The girl scaled the table for mini-golden oreos. I can't say I blame her one bit.

Playing in the plastic bins? Really...didn't Ryan shove you in, against your will, once already? I'd stay out Molla. Say, where are you clothes?{btw: this bin has air holes provided, just in case}

And so, what led me to string together this post in the first place? Her recent serious of events below.

How To Get Yourself in an iPhone “Naughty” Album

1. Pull out warming drawer below oven, for a step, while your big brother is unknowingly distracting Mommy
2. Open spice drawer without anyone hearing
3. Unscrew several spices and pour them out in the stored pans in the warming drawer
4. Pour out one more to wipe around the counter
5. When busted…look surprised and super cute.

How could I stay mad for long? After all, there was no rule saying she should not pour out spices in a terribly risky situation.

P.S Don’t you love how big brother is very readily “pointing out” all of Molly’s transgressions? Gotta love ‘em.

I went with a castle-type menu. Ry loved the Roasted Pig the best. He ate it without hesitation (after the candy, of course).

Dirty Berries (chocolate chips, dried berry mix)

Garden Scrap Greens (no dressing)

Yams (butter and brown sugar)

Roasted Pig (ham in the shape of a crown)

Crumbs of Bread (torn french bread)

A Jeweled Sceptre (sugar-free sucker from my dental office)

Sword (straight piece of a red candy cane)

So time has been flying around here. Wait. No. Time is tick-tocking by in an alarmingly slow, “please, oh, please let the temps be above 0 degrees today” rate.

I know! I know! Enjoy them (my kids) while they are little! Well, I have had plenty of “enjoyment” with my two little cooped-up bundles of joy.

So, I want to share about something else I am enjoying around here. My new door…er, my old, new door or my new, old door. Oh whatever, here are the photos…cause that is what counts anyway, right?

Did we have an earthquake (in MN) while I was taking this photo? I am not sure what happened to my cupboard door, but in real life it did not have a freaky shift in space.

Keeping It Real Clause: That dry erase board totally fell off after the photo. I used *gasp* tape. Yea, that doesn't work.

Thanks fil Phil for your ingenuity! He conjured up the idea…and did it for us. Neat Pete installed the hardware. I, Messy Jessy, added the clutter, of course.

All in all, this corner of our kitchen is my fav, fav, favorite.

Finding Joy & Homemade Fruit Cleanser

Items needed for Sunday Afternoon Fruit Salad:

• Chemical free fruit spray
• Big bowl 
• Watermelon, Banana, Apple, Purple and Green Grapes
• Fruit Dip on the side (just the girls like it)
• Joy to the World –  song by Go Fish

Throughout the rest of the winter (and life for that matter), I will be trying to cultivate or “notice” fruit of the Spirit in my life. 

Bible, Book of Galatians, Chapter 5, Verses 22-23

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Today I noticed, Joy! I love a Sunday afternoon at home with sunny spots streaming in the window and stray snowflakes trickling down outside.

P.S. Want to try a homemade fruit spray? You can make some with the ingredients and directions printed on the label below. I added some decorations with “puffy” paint and foam stickers. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1 TBSP, baking soda
• 20 drops grapefruit seed extract

Directions:

• Spray
• Leave on for 5 minutes
• Rinse

Join me as I do a little mid-winter heart tune up. Try to notice how the fruit of the Spirit is ripening in your day.

Seven Things is current web/email/twitter/blogger meme that is sweeping online communities everywhere. It all starts when an individual “tags” another individual by asking them to share 7 things about themselves with the world.

I was tagged. Thanks to Kate at, My Messy Nest, I will be sharing my “7 things”.

If you are reading this blog late at night and can’t possibly stand to read so many words without pictures, I hear ya. So, just for you, and my sister-in-law that gets antsy at long posts, I made one thought from each topic bright pink. Cliff notes, if you will. Feel free just to skim the highlights.

1. I do not keep a filing cabinet or like to save paperwork. What little paperwork I do save is shoved somewhere for someday. So why is my counter/washing machine top/desk/stairway so polluted with future recycling? Don’t ask. I do get a good buzz, however, from cleaning closets and organizing craft supplies.

2. I live in the moment. I will drop the mundane for the miraculous any day, i.e. dirty dishes left on the counter for twirling with my daughter while blowing dandelion seeds in the sunset of a summer’s night. That or for a good nap, t.v. show, movie or blog read. I do love a fresh kitchen and teaching my kids about responsibility, but I try to blend the mess-ings with the bless-ings.

3. My college degree was in Visual Arts Education with an emphasis in Photography, B.S. in Teaching. I love to get my hands messy with art supplies.  Since I don’t have a darkroom, my latest joy has come in the form of  messing around with “trash to treasure” projects (though I have way too many started and not enough finished). If I haven’t created something for awhile, I get the shakes. Really.

4. I am a church basement lady. I have been a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) leadership volunteer for 5 years (2 years of Creative Activities, 2 years of Co-Coordinating, currently doing Publicity). I love the chance to grow personally and bring other moms along for the ride. I also teach 2-3 grader Children’s Church on Sunday mornings.

5. I’ve held a few jobs, they are as follows: retail shop girl; fashion model; photographer; agency receptionist; and visual arts educator. Though,  the aforementioned jobs were stressful and demanding, the hardest job I have ever had was….guess. Yup, being a mom! I know, it sounds weird to classify ‘mommy’ as a career choice, but according to Websters a job is defined as, “an undertaking requiring unusual exertion.” That sounds like motherhood to me!

6. I am a life long learner. I work as a dental office assistant twice a week. Though the daycare routine and morning commute can be grueling, I am eager to help support my family. I look forward to the insights I gain from the conversations with patients in the waiting room. I try to keep my ears open and heart ready for positive impact everyday.

7. I just started Dave Ramsey’s, Financial Peace University this week. Only 12 more weeks to go! Oh, I guess that is the true #7: I love to shop. I am not materialistic, per se, but I do ‘love me’ a good gathering experience. You know, from the cave people days, men are hunters and women are gatherers. I am just living out my in-born response to ‘gather’. I like to hunt and peck through a thrift store or flea market like nobody’s business. So, maybe I am a bit of a hunter too.

Congratulations, if you have made it through all of the text above. You are a dear soul to care so much.

Now, onto, my Seven Things picks…

I’d like to hear from the following blogs (if they want to be heard):

Made with Love and Glue

Minnesota Mama

Just a Girl

Ummm….cool. Now we get to have a toddler bed at 18 months! Well, at least she looks a.dor.able in her baby barista apron. (which of course was NOT on her during sleep.)

P.S. Sorry  Grammies I didn’t give you a, “You might not want to see this!” advance warning.

Have a good weekend!

I know things, around the house and in my heart, are out of whack when I am too feisty with every one. When I feel:

• Too snowed in
• Too sick and tired of being sick and tried (I’ve got to beat this illness!)
• Too jumped on, called after, and whined to
• Too impatient.

Try as I may to lock myself in the bathroom for some piece and quiet, I find the most rest and relief when I actually “put in” more purposeful fun time with kids. Go figure.

Our latest ‘purposeful fun time’ was gained from a book theme based on, Put Me in the Zoo.

{edit: this post is now linked up with Just for Fun}

Copyright 1960, by Robert Lopshire. Published in New York by Beginner Books.

Put Me in the Zoo is about a magical creature that longs to call the Zoo it’s home. Throughout the story, the creature tells a young boy and girl that it should be let in the Zoo. To convience the boy and girl, the creature uses it’s special abilities to do wonderous things with it’s spots.

We took some time to make different spots of our own.

We mimicked the story by making the spots go on us!

The creature had amazing spots that made it special. I had Ryan draw and share about something that he did that made him special.

I am special because...."I love my whole family and friends."

Well if that doesn’t get you out of a snowy, chest cold, laundry pile haze, nothing will!

Happy Reading!

I always struggle to journal in a scrapbook. Poor penmanship, spelling, formatting, and let’s not forget cheesy content. (I have seen it done well, so I give all you that can, “do it”, major props!)

Let me think…

When did I ever pay to print out a photo that, say, should be anything less than flattering? Oh never.

Did I ever dare to write something negative? No way.

How many hobby stores sell, “My Precious Colicky Baby is Driving Me Nuts!” stickers? er…none.

or

Where can I buy, “I Blame My Kids for Hijacking My Clothing Allowance!” printed on vellum? er…no where.

Boy if could find them, I’d use them, with mini-brads and coordinating ribbon, of course!

Oh, how the flood gates have opened! I love the details of the nitty-gritty, daily grind. The beauty of the digital age: lots of photos that don’t need printing. So, why not capture the moments that I am sure to cherish and laugh at someday?

Recently, “Witching Hour” or “Arsenic Hour”, as some households refer to it, struck with a fury in my household. I usually let my neck hair stand on end and someone usually gets kicked out of my way, literally, nudged with my foot out ‘da kitchen.

On this particular evening, while doting over my freshly made peppermint, cherry, pretzel, chocolate, mint, almond bark, I decided to tune it out; and laugh at my little ones as they fussed. That, and take their photo.

Molly: Mom, you are cruel! Why don't you love me? Please let me have the peppermint tree, NOW!

Mom: Don't look at your brother. He is NOT helping anything.

Molly: Ryan stop threatening to pee on the floor and get me my peppermint tree, NOW!

Nice Mom. I know.

It’s just, I know the bathroom upstairs is not scary and the peppermint trees are for after dinner. That’s all I am saying. They are so dramatic…I wonder where they got that!? *blush*

When board game pieces, pawns, and cards have gone astray. Remember to hang onto the old spinners before you throw the game away! The spinners can be purposed for numerous activities. Just think of the opportunities!

I can picture old spinners as:

• chore wheels (sections of bathroom, kitchen sink, bed)
• picture wheels (each person of the family has a photo on the spinner)
• reward and consequence wheels for those happy and not-so-happy times in family life
• conversation starter wheels for family meals

Wow the ideas are virtually limitless!

I made a Prayer Wheel.

Prayers can be heard around my table almost any night. Some are sung. Some are rhymed. Some are memorized. Some are repetitious. Some are thoughtful. Some are short. All are beautiful in God’s ears. Still, I’d like to shake it up a bit.

Here is how to make one of your own.

1. Pop off the plastic spinner and glue on paper to cover the base.

2. Trace the spinner base on another piece of paper. Create a circle and cut it out.

3. Glue circle to base. Add strips of paper or line stickers to create sections.

4. Finish with stickers or collage images of “topics” you would like to pray about.

Topics included on my wheel are:

• free choice (to get my little one to tell me what is on his mind)
• the church and showing God’s Love
• United States, our country’s leaders, and the World
• sickly, hurting or injured people

Happy Spinning!

Got Junk? I do.

Take this dying old board game for example. I purchased this Bob the Builder game at a thrift store for $2.

Upon returning home, I immediately plucked the battery-operated, medium sized, Scoop (character) from the game, that was, after all, why I purchased the game in the first place.

So, what stopped me from throwing the rest of the game pieces away as soon as Scoop had been purposed to the sand box?

Hording? Maybe.

Lazy? Probably not.

Forgetful? Sort of.

Hopeful? Bingo!

I am just one of those people that love to create with “inspirations” all around them. Yes, I suppose “inspirations” could be code for clutter, junk, or just the plain old recycling bin. Neat Pete is currently being gracious (or just too tired) as he is letting me  keep 3 + empty milk containers on-hand, ‘just in case’. Bless him.

On with the game board dissection.

I have been wanting to make or buy a sign with the word, Love, Beloved or Loved, for my bedroom for quite some time. I looked at the six-sided pieces in the game box and thought, they are just what I had been waiting for.

• Cover with pretty paper (double stick tape)
• Embellish with letters
• Tape Together (duct tape)
• Make a Sign
• Attach Letters to Sign

I snagged a sign I already had in the house.

The sign was "wrapped" in butcher paper.

Ta Da! The sign I've been wanting! I may cover that wire with ribbon and add color in the letter D for definition, but I love my sign. Ha, it truly is, loved.

So there ya go. I also transformed the spinner from the game into a Prayer Wheel. More on that tomorrow!