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Holidays, Project 365

Happy Valentine’s Day

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Tim surprised me with a lovely evening out last night. Saturdays are often crazy in our house these days with VERY frequent teen overnight guests, kids who like to go to youth group, and other activities, so, Tim was clever to pick Friday (Valentine’s Day Eve) as our date night. A long drive in our Valentine Red car, a thoughtful movie, and some delicious Mexican food, what more could a girl ask for?

Presents from Daniel and David

Presents from Daniel and David

This morning, on Valentine’s Day itself, I slept in. Ah, it was wonderful. When I finally meandered downstairs, Tim told me David and Daniel were off on a secret mission. Shortly after they walked in with a Venti Americano and beautiful red roses for me and pink carnations for their sister Sarah. Such thoughtful boys!! They win the prize for sure.

You're never too young for flowers and chocolate on Valentine's Day!

You’re never too young for flowers and chocolate on Valentine’s Day!

Following my family’s tradition, we love to celebrate Valentine’s Day with little gifts for each other. Tim usually buys something sweet or special for the girls and I buy for the boys. The sun was shining today, and we were all glad for a lazy morning.

Daniel loves his Vanilla Clusters from Trader Joe's.

Daniel loves his Vanilla Clusters from Trader Joe’s.

I think David knew what his gift contained.

I think David knew what his gift contained.

Dark chocolate for my Sweetie!

Dark chocolate for my Sweetie!

Since it was my turn to take a picture and write today, I couldn’t resist a search on the blog for old Valentine’s Day posts. It turns out Tim and I both like to write about Valentine’s Day. In 2014, Tim shared how Sarah gave him the best Valentine ever. And I blogged in 2007, during our first Project 365, about all our Valentine gifts & God’s LOVE. And how could I forget our romantic Valentine trip to Leavenworth in 2010.

Of course, not all Valentine memories are sweet. In painful, recent history, was the holiday I was far away from Tim and the kids. In 2011, I spent a month (missing both Valentine’s Day and David’s birthday) in Minnesota with my mom at the hospital bedside of my beloved father. Tim, ever the thoughtful husband and son-in-law, had flowers delivered to our hotel. Sigh. Little glimpses of God’s creation and beauty in the midst of our deep, deep sorrow. When we are weak and mourning, we need those around us to bring care, comfort, and sometimes beautiful flowers.

Beautiful Valentine flowers

A bouquet for each of us.

Oh the tears we cried that February.

Oh the tears we cried that February.

Looking through these old posts, savoring the pictures of our family over the years, and thinking about God’s blessings in our life, I remember why we blog. We want to capture the tapestry of all that God is doing before our eyes, around and through us, amidst the pain and the joy. These simple posts we share are like a living, growing journal of our family. As the Psalmist David cries:

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Ps 143:5-6

Happy Valentine’s Day 2015

Project 365 – Day 45
Kathy

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David, Holidays, Project 365, Sarah

Nutella Valentine Mailbox

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Each year our homeschool co-op has a fun Valentine’s Day party. The halls or sides of the gym are lined with creative Valentine Day boxes – from small paper bags covered with hearts to large Dr. Who’s Tardis. Last year we made a tall Starbucks cup out of a laundry basket with a pvc pipe wrapped in green paper as the straw.

And we won a prize, oh yeah we did.

This year we decided to make something chocolately and silly in honor Tim.

A Nutella Valentine’s Day Mailbox

We started with a tall rectangle laundry basket – it was the perfect shape. We searched and searched for brown paper. Who knew that would be the difficult aspect of this venture. We went to The Dollar Store – no brown poster board or table cloths. Next, on to Michaels – no brown poster board or table cloths. Next a trip to Target. We looked again. Nothing. Seriously? Seriously? I suggested Good Will for a brown curtain or random piece of fabric. David thought maybe Hobby Lobby. Sigh. We’d already been to Michaels. Thankfully all of these stores are close by.

Laundry baskets are versatile - useful in so many ways!

Laundry baskets are versatile – useful in so many ways!

Of course, this was AFTER a long day of school, mentor visits, Trader Joe’s shopping, science projects and cooking at a friend’s house.

We decided we’d try Hobby Lobby and, if we couldn’t find anything brown, we’d switch to silver wrapping paper and make a large diet Coke can. Sarah didn’t want us to give up, but David and I needed a Plan B. Ha.

Hobby Lobby proved to be a treasure trove of BROWN products. Who knew! First we found a package of dark brown napkins on clearance. “I think we can wrap the laundry basket in napkins if we have to,” I told the kids. At this point they were ready to agree with anything just to get started. “Mom, you do realize it’s almost time for dinner and we haven’t STARTED making this?”

What’s your point, children? Dinner can wait, we have a mailbox to make! There are prizes on the line here.

After napkins we stumbled on 12×12 pages of scrapbook paper in the PERFECT shade of brown. We gathered enough to cover the basket and matched them to the napkins (just in case). Before checking out, we wandered around the store a little longer. In the clearance section, in the back aisle we found a collection of poster size paper. What color was on the bottom of the stack?? Beautiful brown. And on sale. Hooray. Jumping up and down in the middle of Hobby Lobby is totally normal, right?

We (okay I) designed some Nutella Valentine Day cards and printed them out. Sarah organized them all and then David taped a Pixy Stix to each card.We’ll put them into the mailboxes tomorrow during the party. We didn’t have the time to make homemade Nutella brownies or cookies, or the funds to buy little Nutella single packs for all 69 families (or the 167 kids) at our homeschool co-op. Even I draw the line at some point.

Homemade Valentines are so much fun!

Homemade Valentines are so much fun!

While the boys played computer games, Sarah and I wrapped the basket in the brown poster board. Using some leftover foam board, we made a lid (cutting a hole for Valentines and treats). Sarah divided a piece of white poster board into strips, drew on lines and fashioned an edge to our lid. After taping it all on, we printed out Nutella logos and even found a place where we could request personalized Nutella labels. The kids kept exclaiming over the tape, “Mom, this tape is amazing! It works so well.” Oh dear, I guess that Dollar Store tape we used at Christmas was NOT the best. LOL.

Sarah and David's personalized Nutella labels.

Sadly we are out of real Nutella.

Finally we were all done. So festive! We were all pleased with the final product! Maybe we’ll win some sort of a prize this year. I hope the kids will share it with me. ;)

The final product!

The might be a big enough Nutella jar even for Tim!

Project 365 – Day 43
Kathy

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Sunshine Amidst the Gray Day

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The sun was out today! It’s hard not to celebrate. Maybe shed a tear or two.

Quick break from the math test to smile for a picture.

Quick break from the math test to smile for a picture.

I always wonder if people in other states (namely those in the south and south west) mark their days in an opposite fashion to WA residents.

“I remember we had a nice cloudy morning two weeks ago.”

Is that what someone in Phoenix or Sacramento says? Even in February, one of WA’s typical months of rain and gray days? Do they look at the 10-day forecast longingly, hoping for a break in the relentless sunshine?

Of course, my kids love the rainy weather.
Sigh. Born and bred Washingtonians.

“Mom, don’t you love this foggy, gray day?” And this without any trace of sarcasm. “Maybe it will rain later,” they say to one another hopefully. What is a sun seeking mother to do? Punish them? “Go to your rooms!” That doesn’t work; they just happily snuggle under covers and read their books.

David and Marco find a cozy spot.

David and Marco find a cozy spot.

When they were little, the children all thought it was summer if the sun peaked out from the gray blanket of winter skies.

Flip flops and shorts appear.

“What are you doing?” I would ask.
“Um, hello, the sun is out.” (The DUHHH was implied)
“Yes, but it’s January and cold.”
“I don’t think so, Mom, look” (pointing helpfully out the window), “the sun is shining.”

How could I argue with such logic?

My kids are pure sunshine in my life!

My kids are pure sunshine in my life!

Perhaps the gray days of Washington or the bone chilling cold of Michigan and Minnesota (family homes) or even the blistering hot of warm climates all serve in part to remind us we live in a fallen world. There is no “perfect” home this side of heaven. One day. One day those who love Jesus will dwell in a new city.

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Revelation 21:23-24

Can’t even fathom that. Walking by the light of God’s glory. Oh my.

Until then I will enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. And I will learn from my sweet children, who delight in both the rain and the sunshine.

Project 365 – Day 41
Kathy

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Weekend Silliness

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Daniel and Sarah both had friends spend the night on Friday – keeping our house full of life and energy. Tim, in a sneaky move, escaped all that life and energy and spent Saturday in the Duckabush visiting his parents and helping with the never-ending internet challenges. I love, love, love that our kids really enjoy having their friends over and that their friends feel welcome and at home here. That said, I near-as-a-whisker got rid of the whole bunch of them to enjoy an entire day alone.

“Mom!” Daniel wheedled. “We’ll spend the whole day cleaning.”
“Um,” a raised eyebrow.
“Okay, not ALL day. But we’ll definitely clean for you. You won’t even notice we’re here.”
“Fine, but I don’t want you and James and David playing computer games ALL DAY. Even if it’s raining.”
“Sure, sure, Mom.”
“And you’ll play some board games? You know, ones that require cards and pieces and sitting around a table, not just a keyboard and mouse?”
“Sure, sure, Mom, you got it.”
“And you’ll put together David’s bed for him?”
“Mom, we will do whatever you want.”
“Heh. Right.”

Easy-going and flexible? Or pushover and permissive? Hmmm. Well, Friday afternoon Sarah’s friend Tarah came home with us after co-op, and Friday evening I found myself driving to pick up Daniel’s friend James. And, once again, the living room was stacked with mattresses – the boys have discovered they don’t really like sleeping on the floor or lumpy couch. They cheerfully carry down the twin and full size mattresses despite the hassle – I think they like being close to the computers and the kitchen. Last weekend they made pancakes at 3 in the morning to send Joshua off to the airport with breakfast in hand.

Crazy, awesome, silly kids.

Daniel helps James and David play the piano.

Daniel helps James and David play the piano.

True to their word, after I forced encouraged them to get off the computer, Daniel and James helped David assemble his bed. At least they got all the mattresses off of the triple stack on my bed. I think they hauled an extra twin mattress out to the garage where it will await Joshua’s return or another sleepover.

Happy to have his bed frame back in place.

Happy to have his bed frame back in place.

Later that morning, as the rain and grey day was turning me into a thoroughly sad and pathetic creature, a beautiful friend came by and swept me off to Starbucks. There is nothing quite like laughing and laughing with a beloved friend, hot, fresh espresso in hand. Ah. When I walked back in the house, the kids were all sitting on the floor playing 7 Wonders.

The little fakers!

The little fakers!

“Awwww, kids, you’re playing a game! I’m so happy.”
Loud, raucous laughter.

Turns out those rascals STAGED a board game to fool me. LOL! They heard me coming in and quickly sat down to FAKE their game time. I laughed and laughed with them and felt loved that they knew what I wanted and thought about me. The boys put away 7 Wonders and switched to a real game of DC Comics Deck Building.

I know these days are somewhat fleeting – of kids piled on mattresses, the counters and sinks filled with dirty dishes, the table covered with cards, and computer matches going late into the night.

Today David and Sarah joined us for a mini-road trip to pick up Tim’s new car. It was a long day. David and Sarah did school and worked on their play scripts in the back seat while I read to Tim from Francis Chan’s new marriage book, You and Me Forever. On the way home the boys were in the new car and the girls in the rental. Sweet time of conversation with my beautiful little girl, growing up before my eyes.

Daniel missed us while we were gone (right, Daniel? Daniel?). Okay, Daniel spent the day with the friends (thanks Pritchards for having him over), playing Ultimate frisbee in the rain, and then babysitting for a church small group. I don’t think he even noticed we were gone for 11 hours.

Icing his back after a hard day of frisbee.

Icing his back after a hard day of frisbee.

Thankfully Tim still had some energy left for a good conversation with Daniel about school, sore backs, and some possible future plans.

This couch is good for napping, reading, and father-son talks.

This couch is good for napping, reading, and father-son talks.

It was a full weekend. And tomorrow the week starts again. Whew. Blessed, double and triple blessed to be the mama of this silly group.

Project 365 – Day 39
Kathy

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I’m Not Doing the Dinner Dishes Anymore

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Over the years we have tried ALL SORTS of chore charts, housekeeping ideas, and organizing plans. We have assigned rooms, meals, and areas of the house to various members of the family. We have scheduled out the days with corresponding cleaning jobs. We have done 10 Minute Tidy Times (using the timer, Two Hour Clean Ups, Daily Life Skills and full days of cleaning (okay, those are mainly on those occasions when we’re hosting a big party).

Some of my favorite friends at our latest party.

Some of my favorite friends at our latest party.

Here’s one thing we did in 2007 – Chore Charts. Complete with Excel spread sheets.

As a homeschooling family with five children, we really LIVE in this house, all day long, for hours upon messy hours, 7 people eating three meals at home (including my sweet husband who works from home several days a week). We generate a lot of laundry, mess and clutter just by the fact that we’re a big family home and together most of the time.

Or at least we used to be. Things have shifted dramatically this year. Rachel and Joshua are both in college in Tennessee (too far away to come home and have me do their laundry). Daniel is attending the local technical school full time, so only David and Sarah are home with me during the day.

Somehow we still manage to create a decent mess.

Or maybe I’m just a messy housekeeper, more interested in ministry, fun and relaxation than keeping a clean and tidy house. No need to comment on that speculation, beloved family.

So, when I read this article the other day, I couldn’t resist sharing it with Tim.

I Haven’t Cleaned the Kitchen in 12 Years

Basically the author shared how her husband decided to hand over the dinner kitchen clean-up to the children so the grownups could enjoy a little relaxing time. Brilliant! I’ve been looking for some way to deal with dishes these days. Understand that my children are (for the most part) gracious, helpful and more than willing to tackle cleaning and tidying WHEN ASKED. It’s the “hey that wasn’t my responsibility” or “come on, I did the dishes yesterday/this morning/two days ago/fill in recent time they did dishes” attitude and responses that are discouraging. I begin to feel like I have to constantly assign tasks or ask them to help.

My Christmas present from Daniel

My Christmas present from Daniel

So, two days ago Tim told the kids, “Mom isn’t doing dinner dishes or the evening kitchen clean up anymore. You all get to chip in and do it for her.” Then he swooped me off into another room where we had cheerful, grown up conversations about nothing important. It was heavenly.

Of course, it just happened that Daniel had been given the job of doing the lunch time clean up (he was off school early that day), so he had already spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen. When he was less than speedy to help at dinner, used a bit of a surly tone with his father, and rather curtly suggested David and Sarah do the work, Tim gave the younger kids the night off and put Daniel in charge of the whole job himself.

An excellent reminder (to all of us) to be cheerful and NOT grumble about our work.

Daniel loves to do dishes. Heh heh heh.

Daniel loves to do dishes. Heh heh heh.

This evening all the kids worked pleasantly and quickly together. Daniel even came back in after he and a friend had made smoothies and cleaned up their dessert mess. Yay! We’re a work in progress.

We’ll see how it goes in the weeks to come. And then next I need to figure out a good rotation for cleaning the rest of the house. No need to rush to solve all the world’s problems in one day.

Project 365 – Day 37

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