It has been a week since I unplugged my laptop and decided to take a break from blogging. I missed you all so much :) I took lots and lots of pictures and it will take me a week to get caught up!
I did cheat a tiny bit. And the kids cheated a tiny bit. But for the most part, we did not have our faces constantly glued to a glowing screen. There was a lot more reading as you can see in this photo and this....
I discovered that I had a lot more time! It is like I was handed extra hours- free of charge!
Our littlest did great. She asked for a movie the first and second day- but by the third it was almost as if she had forgotten! She was too busy coloring or reading or building or picking flowers or putting together a puzzle.
The only cheating the boys did was to play video games on Monday night. That is the night I have my book club and Dave was watching them and that was OK. And then last night they played some Wii, and that is OK. They also got creative and played outside and did not beg all week to play video games like I had thought they would.
My cheating: Dave brought home a movie (again, I am not blaming him, it was not his media fast) and then there was Thursday pm when Dave and the boys had a practice for the Easter drama and I watched an episode of a detective show on the internet. And I did surf the web a tiny bit (on my phone). I found that I could shut off the internet access on my phone and I could have Dave set a password on there so I would not be able to turn it back on....but I did not go that far. Next time! Because- honestly, there was only good out of being (mostly) unplugged.
It showed me too how most of it is just habit. When I use my phone to call or text someone- I just automatically check my e-mail. All of that e-mail and blog checking is too much and I want to decide on probably 2 times a day to check.
Taking the break showed me that blogging is a nice little part of my life- it is a part that can keep my brain exercised and fresh- it is a creative tool and it can be an inspiration. But it is not a full time job - or a part time job.
So I will continue to blog and surf the web and watch movies- but I am going to do those things in small amounts. I am going to limit myself and not get wrapped up in media constantly. The pace gets too fast and there is so much going on that you forget to stop and be still and to spend more time with God and to have plenty of time to devote to your husband and children and family and friends.
This may not make a huge difference to this blog- I can usually sit down for a few hours a week and draft blog posts and save them to publish daily. So there may be weeks where there are lots of posts- and weeks where there may not be as many. This will make a difference on how many blogs I get to visit a week. I will try and keep up with you frequently- but maybe not get to visit and comment as much as I'd like.
I know things will change for our kids too. It was such a refreshing week. I want their childhood to be filled with those creative hours outside and in- they need to use their brains and not just stare at screens. Dave and I will have to talk about it- about times and restrictions. I am thinking maybe letting our girl watch a few movies a week- and the boys having a few days a week when they can play their games- but these things are not going to control us and I cannot have the kids putting all of their attention, longings, and energy into these games and movies.
Whew! That was a lot of typing :)
On a different topic all together.............
We made nests!
#1. Shred up some sheet music and old pages from a book.
Line the inside of a bowl with plastic wrap, spray with cooking oil, and then start gluing (I used mod podge) the strips of paper into the inside of the bowl. (I also cut the strips so the pieces where shorter.
Let dry over night and fill with eggs!
Easter place setting.
I have so much to tell you about Easter! Stay tuned...:)
Here it is! Our girl's new bed that we got as a hand-me-down from a friend. How cute it that?! The kids love it. All three go up the ladder, down the slide, up the ladder, down the slide. It is very cozy up there and underneath too. I think when she grows up and moves out, Dave and I should keep it for grand kids, don't you??
Yes, the red & polka-dots are at home in our house. The only problem is, I want to steal the blanket to use in every other room :) :)
I saw this in a quick cooking mag. Only it was a Tuna Piano. My fam doesn't care much for tuna (except for Sadie), so this was made with pb& j.
Dave made the sandwiches sound good- apparently he can play anything :) :)
dyingeggs
"Mom, can you just hold this egg right here, upright so it gets only the bottom red?"
beautifuleggs
easterdrama
Our church family worked really hard on an Easter drama. It turned out to be a huge blessing. I cried about half the way through it! Wow. Especially when "Jesus" was dragging the cross and Ashlyn was singing The Power of the Cross.....
I was just so choked up and blessed to see these church family members that I love so dearly - acting and singing their hearts out - for Jesus!
The handsome pharisee (just kidding, he wasn't a pharisee :)
egghunt
I know it seems that I am biased and only post photos of our girl. I promise the boys had an egg hunt too and I adore them as much as I do the girl- it is just that it is not quite as fun to take pics of their shorts and flipflops .....but they are cute too :)
Oh my dear- Sadie was mortified by the big bow I tied on her head.
She would not even look me in the eye...
easterdog
OK- one last thing. I found this recipe in my recipe drawer. We did not get a chance to make them last week- but we may still make them this week- better late than never. I love the concept.
It has been a week since I unplugged my laptop and decided to take a break from blogging. I missed you all so much :) I took lots and lots of pictures and it will take me a week to get caught up!
I discovered that I had a lot more time! It is like I was handed extra hours- free of charge!
We made nests!
Line the inside of a bowl with plastic wrap, spray with cooking oil, and then start gluing (I used mod podge) the strips of paper into the inside of the bowl. (I also cut the strips so the pieces where shorter.
Easter place setting.
I'll leave you with this one last photo of my new banner- the green Yellowstone map is my favorite part. And I promise to be back- don't forget about me :) :) It's just a week, right???
The art room/guest room is slowly turning into a school room/art room/guest room. This wall needed some help (that is a time line taped up there). I am taking this room a wall at a time. And I am spending no money on this project. I looked in my paint closet and found some leftover lavender paint from the master bath. I mixed some white in and look how dreamy this wall is now.................................
I love this color to death. You may be surprised because you have not seen this color in my house...BUT- I have used this pastel chalky white/blue in past houses for my baby rooms and also in a kitchen. I loved it in the kitchen- it is a perfect backdrop for red and bright green.
OK - so this blue and the tan that is on the other walls in this room perfectly lends itself to maps! The switch plate is covered with parts of Hawaii. The clipboard will be handy to clip up important dates or school info. And the sweet flower painting is from the talented Lindsay at Paint Me a Picture!!! I loooove it :)
The banner was pure fun- map paper, scrapbook paper, sheet music from the Hallelujah Chorus, paper ripped from an old book of the Borrowers, and fabric. All stapled to measuring tape and ribbon.
The crate! The crate! I love the crate. This little spot will be a perfect place to drill flashcards and map games and stories.
See! There are the flashcards! The little golden book about manners!
Do I get too excited about room makeovers?! Is that weird?
Sadie likes this room too- so cozy and relaxing.
Can't you see my little students sitting in a little semi circle searching the map and answering questions? Yes, Mommy! I see Australia!
There I give you just a tiny sneak peek into the next wall behind the bed...see the cubbies? They snuck up here. I think I may do some kind of alphabet on that wall.
Here were our Easter eggs last year. I think we may just color eggs the regular old fashioned way this year. Are you coloring eggs this year?
And this was our Easter pooch last year.
Can you believe she stuck her tongue out at me?!?
Thursday night we went to the Outback. Which is always special to us- and especially around this time of year because it was April 10, 1999 when we got engaged! The night we got engaged we ate at the Outback. We have almost been married 12 years. I thank God every single day for this man.
On Saturday we went to the mall. I was so excited to see Yogen Fruz!!!! Oh my goodness! I grew up on this frozen yogurt. This is like none that you have ever tasted. Get the plain vanilla frozen yogurt and have them mix in fruit- I had kiwi- but I remember strawberry as being good too. We would always get a yogen fruz at the mall growing up- that or an Orange Julius. Good memories there!
We saw this painting and I have got to try and make a similar one for Dave and I. He loves it- he loves the modern/abstractness of it. But I just love it because it is us! Totally! He is the piano and I add the color to his life :)
Yes, we had good date nights and it was extremely needed. We had already planned the Saturday night date and then on Thursday he called our friends out of desperation. I think he thought his wife was going to crack completely. The Outback saved my sanity. There was not a huge issue going on- just the daily-ness of life had gotten to be too much and we needed a break.
Happy Monday. We had a great weekend. Yesterday was the 5 year anniversary of our church!!!! We had a wonderful service. We have the best church ever. Thank You, Lord!
Also, Dave and I went on 2 dates in the last 4 days!!!!! Wow- we are spoiled. We hadn't been on a date in for-ever...and to top it off- this week is going to be very busy for him and I won't see much of him- so we splurged and hoodwinked some friends into keeping the kids Thursday nite and then paid our babysitter Saturday night. It was sooooo worth it. Thursdays date was extra great because I knew that as soon as it was over-- there was another on Saturday! More about the dates later- I took pictures........
It seems like life is going in fast forward motion right now. I am looking forward to the summer- I am looking forward to clearing the calendar and being able to spend time with the kids and not try to rush, rush. But a lot of good things going on too. Dave starts softball with the guys at church and that is always fun to watch and cheer! "DAVE MINCY IS THE BEST! GIVE ME A D!...." And our oldest starts flag football at the end of the month. So that will be fun.
Guess what?! It is Azalea time at our house!!! Oh my goodness! The absolute best time of the year. Bushes that just automatically give us flowers every year?! Priceless!
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