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Ok, so I admit that my updates have been sporadic. Life with four kids is so unpredictable. Coupled with that, my laptop crashed so my internet time has been sporadic as well. However, over the last few months I have had so many friends and family write me for updates on the kids. I’ve realized it would benefit many if I would update more frequently even if it’s a small update. So I am taking the 30-day pledge…and for the next 30 days I will attempt to post a kiddo update everyday. We’ll see if I can persevere on this one! 
It’s getting easier. Keeping up the pace that is. School started approximately two weeks ago. While other mom’s were partaking in the “Boo-Hoo Breakfast”, I was skipping merrily to my car. I had to really think about what kind of mom I am when I have reached the point of looking forward to school starting. To some, I am sure it doesn’t reflect very lovingly. I do in fact love my children very much. All of them. I am consumed with my children from the 6am time slot up until well beyond 9pm. During that time, I am engaged and involved with my children. I don’t sit on the computer chatting or surfing, I don’t put my kids in front of the television to occupy them and I’m don’t have them enrolled in Mother’s Day Out or preschool programs. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those options. My point merely being…I give my children 110% of myself from the moment they rise until the moment they fall asleep. So do I look forward to a partial break while they are being educated? Any Mom would be lying if she didn’t say “yes”.
Since school has started, our routine around home has begun to normalize. I am spending a lot more one on one time with Caira and Phoenix during the day. In the evenings, i am spending a lot more time with Cassidy and Micah. And from dinnertime onward, I am finding it easier to spend time with all four of them collectively.
I have begun to structure my own day a little more. I am working on a home management notebook as well as meal management. I am trying to reduce our grocery bill and plan a little more effectively what we will be eating from day to day. Some days, i have no time to do this, however, I would like to get to the point of planning meals ahead a week ahead of time. I am still trying to find time to take inventory of our pantry. I have had this on my “to do” list for a couple weeks now. I’m getting there.
We are also more involved with “going green” now more than ever. To some, the process of “going green” is no big deal expense wise. For us, however, we have had to make changes a little at a time because the cost of changing your whole lifestyle can be a little high. I am very proud of where we are now and I see us being “completely green” within the next few months.
I owe a large part of my success in going green to Shaklee Corporation. I have been using Shaklee product my entire life, thanks in part to my Aunt. She has been a distributer for as long as I can remember. It was only in the last decade that I began to pay attention and learn exactly what “going green” means. The first step for us, was ridding our home of dangerous personal and cleaning products. It blows my mind that some of these companies can get away with selling products stocked full of chemicals. Some of them even slapping the word “natural” on the label. Folks, just because something says it’s natural doesn’t mean it is. If what your family is putting on and in their bodies is important to you, please educate yourself a little more as to what ingredients certain products contain. I went years and years trusting labels that said “Natural” and have only recently discovered a lot of them are exchanging words for profit. A good comprehensive list of all products can be found at Greenpeople.org.
Farmers Markets have also been a wonderful resource for us to obtain locally grown and organic vegetables. It has been a wonderful way to meet other like-minded parents. I recently became educated by a generous vendor on how cucumbers are grown from start to finish. I have grown tomatoes in my backyard but never ventured beyond that because I felt intimidated. Thanks to this very sweet vendor at one of the markets, I actually think it is is something I can attempt to do next year. If you are in the Louisville area, you can find a great comprehensive list of farmers markets here.
Hope you all are having a great weekend!!
This weekend is a crazy one. Jamie’s parents are in town until Monday. They arrived Friday morning and will stay the weekend. Sunday we are hosting a fairly large cookout to celebrate mine and Caira’s birthday. My birthday is on Monday and Caira’s is on Tuesday. My little girl is going to be 3 years old. Thats so wild! I don’t know where time goes. Caira is maturing so much. She is growing out of that puppy stage…the “toddler on the loose” stage, ya know? She is growing into such a beautiful and sweet little girl. Anyway, today we went to the zoo with Jamie’s parents. It was wonderful spending time with them. The last time they came to see us, was over a year ago. So it was nice to watch Caira and Phoenix form a bond with their Grandma and Grandpa. It made me a little sad that they don’t get to see them more often, but I’m grateful that they have an opportunity at all. Our trip to the zoo was nothing short of how the whole weekend has been….crazy. Micah was somewhat grumpy because he was tired. Cassie was in a great mood but entered into her “100 question” mood LOL. Caira was Caira and Phoenix was all smiles the whole time. We had to cut the trip short because Jamie had to come home and get ready for work…but it was such a fun trip.
Jamie’s parents hung out with us for a while and watched the kids so I could go do a few errands. My parents ended up showing up and they all hung out talking for a while. It seemed like everyone dispersed all at once. I was really hoping to spend some time with Jamie’s parents but they were tired and wanted to go home. I don’t feel like I have ever had an opportunity to get to know them very well…and it does make me sad because I really do like them. Tomorrow is the cookout slash party and they leave on Monday.
I haven’t ran in over a week and I am seriously feeling it. As soon as Tuesday rolls around, I am getting back into a regular routine. I am now sure how yet, given that school is now out for the summer…but one way or another I am going to find a way to get back into my routine. My stress levels really need it and I can feel my anxiety levels climbing too. I have just had so much on my mind.
Here is a wonderful picture of Micah, posting with an Orangutan. I love this picture because it shows Micah’s true personality!!
I love how cute Phoenix is when she gets mad. She starts off by scowling at you a couple times. Then she makes a very loud grunt. Then she starts trying to slap you as gently as she can. The hitting part isn’t going to be so cute when she gets older. If you don’t attempt to redirect her anger in positive ways (“Oh Phoenix! LOOK it’s Elmo!!), than her anger turns into tears..tears turn into meltdown…meltdown turns into throwing herself on the ground for a tantrum. Redirecting her, often results in laughter, smiles and hugs. Why don’t more parents realize it takes very little effort to turn that frown upside down?
I love when I lay Phoenix in her crib for her nap. Unlike Caira, I don’t have to lay down with her to get her to sleep. I just wait until she is more than ready for her nap and I follow the same cues each day. Her airblower must be on, shades pulled and lights off, and her blanket and favorite stuffed dog ready to put into her arms. Once said blanket and dog are handed to her, she is off to dreamland. She sucks her thumb and rubs her blanket on her cheek until she is out cold. I love this simplicity.
I love when Phoenix hears the little poodle next door bark. She lights up and starts yelling her baby babble. The poodle’s name is “Julie” and she lives with an elderly woman who is very protective of her. Anytime Phoenix is outside, and Julie comes out…Fifi runs over to the fence as fast as she can to talk to her. If Julie ISN’T outside, sometimes Phoenix will still run over to the fence and stand there until the lady lets her out. I think the longest she has stood waiting was about 20 minutes. Phoenix LOVES dogs more than most kids do….I have never seen a kiddo become so excited about dogs. Good thing we are dog people.
I love when Phoenix wakes up in the morning. She is half asleep and tries to stand up as quickly as she can…often losing her footing in her crib. She tries to grab her blanket and dog and hand them to me while she reaches her arms up to me to pick her up. Once I safely have Phoenix in my arms, she likes to cuddle with me with no more than 5-10 minutes. Then she is off to explore her day.
Okay, so I have neglected updating this blog. Well, neglect no more…I am back with bells on. I realized tonight that I’m letting precious memories slip through my hands. Everyday, I experience a moment that I want to preserve with the hopes of remembering it decades from now. My children, each in their own way….grow more special on a daily basis. It’s very neat how each one is at their own respective point in growth. I’m experiencing parenting on a wide spread scale. It’s very difficult to think of Caira and Phoenix being as old as Cassidy and Micah are. But, I know it’s going to happen one day. Anyway, my point is that I am committing myself to writing at least several times each week. And I am also committing myself to adding at least one picture each week.
I found a great website that I wanted to share. I haven’t reviewed the entire thing yet but I was really excited by what I did have a chance to read. It has all kinds of topics regarding the development of children. It was the articles on the importance of Art that really took effect with me. There are a couple you will find if you poke around but I will link you to the one I liked. This is a plethora of answers given by parents when they were asked what the importance of art was in their children’s lives.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I am always baffled by how many blogs I stumble upon online, who never take the time to tell their readers who they are. I am a mother to 4 vibrant children. I am 33 years old and my husband, Jamie, is 32 years old. Cassidy is my oldest…she is 9 years old….about to turn 10 yrs old in April. Micah is my only boy…he is 7 years old. Caira is my spirited kiddo….she is 2.5 years old. And Phoenix is my baby….she is 1. We are a blended family as Cassidy and Micah are from a previous relationship. Jamie and I share two children together as well. He has been in their lives for many years now. The four of them are about as close as children can get. It’s amazing to watch their relationship grow!
This is ME with Cassidy and Micah at the zoo! This actually wasn’t that long ago…just a couple weeks. I rarely wear hats. 
And this Caira and Phoenix in the infamous wagon. You will hear much more about this wagon. It was a Christmas gift for Phoenix but it has become a favorite of all the kids. 
And last but most certainly not least, is Jamie. This was taken on our wedding night. Ok…not so much. But this is what he looked like the first time I saw him. 
20. I am 33 years old.
19. I have 4 kids ranging in ages between 9 and 1 years.
18. I’m married though we are going through some rocky times in our relationship right now.
17. I have recently lost over 30 pounds and am finally back to my pre-pregnancy weight!
16. I LOVE to write, draw and read!
15. I SUCK at math…and I never made it beyond geometry in high school…and basic math in college (took pulling some strings to substitute pre-req classes!)
14. My college degree is in Political Science…but I wish I had majored in art.
13. I played the piano for 14 years
12. I recently started running…and I am quickly becoming addicted to it!
11. I am running in my first 5k in March!
10. My family is in the process of going green.
9. I am scared of the dark!
8. I used to ride and show horses. I did “eventing” which is a combination of dressage, cross country jumping, and stadium jumping.
7. My horses’ name was “Dillon” after Bob Dylan. I miss him a lot.
6. I am serving on the “agape team” for an Emmaus walk in February…I am really excited!!
5. I breastfed 3 out of my 4 children.
4. I cloth diaper my babies.
3. I have a weird case of “phone anxiety”….where I don’t like to talk on the phone unless I really know you…in which case I then get a bad case of “I can’t shut the hell up”.
2. I dislike people that pull out in front of you and proceed to drive 15 miles an hour alongside another car going 12 miles an hour…so that I may not pass either of them and must remain behind them while feeling my fuse start to fizzle. LOL! Otherwise, I am a very cautious and “grandma-ish” driver.
1. I LOVE the outdoors…the mountains are my favorite place. My husband and I were married on top of a mountain in Colorado (Yeah for Yeggae Peak!) which is where I hope to live someday!! I love hiking and I have dabbled in rock climbing in my pre-kiddo days.
It’s so nostalgic….that first post in your blog that is. I have noticed everyone always puts some kind of ‘welcome’ message. “Welcome to my blog!”. I am not sure that I am actually welcoming anyone….because at this moment no one knows about it. LOL! So I am welcoming me! I am sure this is a pretty narcissitic action, but I am trying to be real here. Which brings me to the purpose of starting this blog. I have a blog for my business. I have a blog for parenting. I even have a photo blog. But somewhere along the line in all of those lines, I feel the need to watch what I say. I’m not sure why. I want a place where I can write 100% out in the open….with 100% honesty……and not worry about it having an effect on my business or my children/family. So here we go! I have delayed starting this blog because I didn’t want to use blogger, and I couldn’t come up with the right name. Since I use wordpress for my business blog, I was over the moon to realize I could use it for a personal blog too. I didn’t plan on signing up for it though…until I had chosen the appropriate blog name. But I found myself on the registration page…and when I got to the entry field for the blog name…I thought to myself…”what best describes ME in a real and candid way?”. So I typed “artist” and “mom”. I was totally positive it would be taken, but it was worth a shot. It wasn’t taken. And so it is.
I am an artist. And I am a mom. Both of which pretty much dictate my day to day life. In between those two roles, I am also a wife, daughter, sister, friend, dog owner, runner, christian, writer, and occasionally an aspiring chef-ette. Yes, I love to cook. I just don’t get the proper time to study recipes and carry them out. So I mostly just study and collect them. I love to read recipes though. And one day, when I am trying to cope with ‘empty nest syndrome’, I will have a very healthy collection of recipes to try out.
Anyway, I digress. I am hereby stating that my intention in starting this blog has one solid purpose that boldly defines many smaller reasons. That one solid purpose….is to be totally upfront and honest about my life. I will not hold back in any way. This is my blog. About my life. And my feelings. No one else owns any of those, except me. And so it is….
