When Life Gets Crazy... Savor It

Over the last week we've had over 300 guests at the farm. It really seems insane, but we love it.
I LOVE having people here.
We hosted our student ministry family kick-off. Have I mentioned how much fun those teens are?

Families building a sense of community in a large church is so important

Human foosball was a big hit

Ultimate frisbee and flag football for the big kids.

Volleyball, bouncy houses, and food for everyone

We are finally figuring out the large-crowd thing and it actually runs pretty smoothly. We've learned that baked potatoes on the grill feed a hungry crowd. My farmer is a grill master.  Seriously, he cooked enough chicken and hotdogs to feed 200+ last Saturday like a champ.
We are also big fans of the good old fashioned covered-dish. But we've learned the hard way that people really do need to sign up for specific dishes. We've had a party with one side dish and 7 different salsa/bean dips and another party with meat and dessert.  I love dessert, but it doesn't fill up the kids like mac-n-cheese or green beans.
Do you know about Sign-Up Genius? It is the best kept secret for party/sports/covered dish functions.

Aside from hosting large group gatherings, late August and most of September sweep me away.  Not to a tropical location, but into my car, who we affectionately call Ruby. I can easily put 100 miles on my car just traveling to practices and school within 3 days.
The start of school for our oldest has been good. She loves her teachers and feels right at home. So thankful.

Volleyball season has started for our younger daughter and that means practice or games 4 days a week. It is a crazy couple of months, but it sure is fun. I love the girls on her team and the healthy friendships being established.

I can't maintain this pace, but when I know this is only a season, I press on and truly try to savor it.  My sweet mom said the other day, "I know you are overwhelmed and life feels crazy, but enjoy it.  It really is one of the most fun seasons of life. The quiet season will come and you will look back and realize how great it really was." Such sage advice. I realized I don't want to savor it when it is over. I want to savor it now. Some days I long for solitude and quiet ... and not being in the car. But I need to live life now. I want to eat up every moment God has given me with my kids. I want to enjoy it to the fullest.

July Recap

It's been a super busy month around here.  I thought I'd share the good, the bad, and the beautiful.  My brother is currently deployed, so if some of this seems trivial information, keep in mind that peeks into our everyday life are like a little treasure for him.

1. A sly fox that has discovered our hens.  Last week, she waited until my husband pulled out of the driveway and attacked.  I just happened to be looking out the window and thought "Why is there a red cat chasing the chickens?" Then reality hit and I tore through the house yelling, "Get the gun! Call dad!"  Who am I?? Get the gun?  Our hens are secured at night, but they free range during the day.  So within 7 minutes of the hens being released, she helped herself.  She continues to outsmart us, but we've called in an expert.  Time to get serious because she's cutting in on our egg production.

2. I've had a few little "Me Dates" lately.  That's what I call an unexpected little date with myself while I wait on various kid activities.  It's been the busiest mom-taxi summer, so I finally got wise and started carrying a book with me.  A cup of coffee is much cheaper than shopping and tastes twice as yummy.

 On a side note, about the mom-taxi thing... I was having a lil attitude about all the driving and kid-shuffling.  Then I realized that my oldest will be driving next summer and I won't be needed.  Won't. Be. Needed.  That thought kinda stuck in my gut and my perspective immediately changed.  Now I savor these across-town car rides.  Well, most of the time.

3. We have been in our house less than two years.  Last March (17 months after installing brand new carpet) I started noticing the carpet in our bedroom.  Like noticing how unattractive it had become.  I contacted the place we purchased the carpet from and they then connected us with a service rep from Shaw Carpets.  I'm not a frequent flyer of the complaint department, so for me to work up the nerve to contact the company, you know it was bad.  The traffic pattern on our carpet looked worse than the carpet we left in our last house after 11 years.

Picture taken immediately after vacuuming.

The cutest little old man showed up to check out our carpet. Have I mentioned my affinity for old men?  He spent 35 minutes telling me his life story (in which I gathered he was 80+) and he fit the Jersey-boy-retires-to-Florida stereotype perfectly.  Concern floated through my head when I had to physically help him up off the floor after his inspection.  I was equally concerned when I had to walk behind him up the stairs, prepared to catch him.  He took evidence pictures with a 1999 digital camera and then left.  I was fully expecting the company to see the pictures and say, "We make better products than that!"  Instead I got a cold letter that stated there was "nothing visibly wrong with the product."  Um... see photo above.  So here's my thought: if you are thinking about installing carpet in your home, avoid Shaw Carpets.  Learn from my mistake.

4. I'm going to get bent out of shape if we talk about faulty carpet much longer, so instead, let me show you my favorite quiet spot.

 Our master bedroom is my true retreat.  It's not huge, but it is soft, clutter-free, and quiet.

5. A quick little trip to the beach with some friends was a real treat. The water was the most gorgeous I've ever seen it.  NC beach water can range from brown to green to dark blue.  That day we enjoyed Caribbean-like water.

6. The kitchen desk got a little makeover and decluttered.  Yes, this is noteworthy because this space used to be the hub of chaos.

7. We started a new school year, in a new space.  More on that soon...

8. I can't get enough of these:

Thank you, Harris Teeter, for putting them on sale so I stay out of the chocolate and into the fruit.

9. Our baby went to camp for the first time this summer and LOVED it. Volleyball season has begun for our middle child.  I love seeing those girls play together and hanging out with the other crazy vb moms.  We haven't seen much of our oldest child because she has been volunteering at a local camp all summer.  I miss her, but I am SO grateful for the life experience she is gaining.  Her growth in the Lord is totally worth missing a few family meals.

10. A couple of weeks ago the Farmer and I were walking the property discussing the needs of the farm.  Mulch and gravel were at the top of the list.  Two things that would cost a lot of money, but necessary.  The very next morning, three giant dump trucks arrived with mulch. Free mulch.

 God is so good.  

Then, last week, a guy called the Farmer out of the blue and said, "I'm tearing up a parking lot.  Could you use the gravel that is underneath?"  FIVE dump trucks of free gravel arrived.  Now our little lane won't wash away.

And we stand in awe.

S'mores Bars Recipe

 Don't have time to build a bonfire? No problem! Try these super easy bars... they're a crowd pleaser! Requires refrigeration, so plan ahead.

S'mores Bars
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup half-and-half
12 oz pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
1 bag regular sized marshmallows

Melt butter and stir in sugar.  Add graham cracker crumbs and press into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes.

Bring half-and-half to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in chocolate chips and melt completely.  Pour evenly over graham cracker crust.  Let set a couple of minutes.

Top with marshmallows.  Sit upright, making 5 rows of six.  There will be space between the marshmallows.  Place under broiler for a few seconds to brown the tops. Watch 'em so they don't burn!
Immediately use a greased spatula to press down browned marshmallows.  Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.  Cut into one marshmallow-sized squares.  Makes 30.

I'm linking up with Imparting Grace today!

Summer Keeping Room

 Welcome to our keeping room, ya'll!  Some would call it a den, or maybe even a sunroom.  It is the place we all curl up to watch a good movie, read a book, or sit by the fire.

 We planned this room to be open to our kitchen to help the flow of conversation and large crowds.
I recently lightened things up for the summer.  Natural fibers, light colors, and a bright rug bring in the sun.

This room is constantly changing.  I've wanted new furniture for... ever.  But since a room full of new furniture isn't in the budget for the next ten years, we just get creative and make it work.  The first big hurdle was finding a comfortable chair.  I looked high and low for two years but could not find a recliner (that doesn't look like Grandpa's recliner from the 70's) that would fit in our budget.

 On a recent trip to the mothership IKEA, I found this comfortable chair with an ottoman. I loved the fun lines, casual feel, and simple fabric.  The price was right, so we finally took the plunge and bought a new chair.

My mantle makeover was nearly free. The tobacco basket from my husband's grandfather's farm used to hang on our barn.  The direct sun and weather were aging it too fast, so I slapped on a coat of white-wash and brought it inside.  A dear friend was having a yard sale and gave me first dibs on her decor items.  The iron candelabra is over 2 feet tall.  I'm seriously in love.  White candles from the dollar store finished the project.  

This time of year I like to add in some nautical elements that whisper summer.  

 Have you ever been to a white elephant party?  A couple of years ago, someone brought this little weather vane as their "trash" gift.  I fought hard to be the one taking it home.  Sure, in December it seemed a little funky but I knew it would be perfect for my summer mantle.  Score!

 I love to sit on the couch and look out the windows toward our pond.  It's my favorite spot in the house.

Where is your favorite place to sit?

Hershey Bar Cake and Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

We celebrated my mom's birthday this weekend.  Chocolate cake and homemade ice cream are one of the best ways to speak love to her.  And so we sacrificed to make her feel loved.  I mean, we wouldn't want her to eat alone. 
I made her favorite cake and it turned out to be a crowd pleaser, so I'll share the love with you!

Hershey Bar Cake

1 Devil's Food cake mix
1 cup milk
1 cup oil
3 eggs
1 small pkg instant vanilla pudding

Preheat oven to 350. Mix cake ingredients.  Pour into three greased and floured cake pans. Bake according to the box directions.  Cool completely.

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
16 oz Cool Whip
5 Hershey bars

In a mixer, combine the sugar and cream cheese until well mixed.  Gently mix in Cool Whip.  Chop 4 chocolate bars and add to frosting. Frost between layers, top and sides.  Using a vegetable peeler, shave the 5th chocolate bar to garnish the top.
Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Homemade Ice Cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream or half and half
whole milk

Mix the first four ingredients and pour in ice cream maker canister. Add your favorite ingredients, such as crushed cookies or fruit.  Add whole milk until it reaches the "fill line."  Stir gently.  Plug it in and listen to the sound of summer!

For vanilla, scrape the insides of two vanilla beans or add 2 Tbs of vanilla extract.

My momma is happiest when her pool is full of family and friends...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom!

I'm joining the linky party at It's Overflowing today

10 Tips for Deep Cleaning the House with Older Kids

I don't know too many people who squeal with delight over the idea of deep cleaning the house; but the idea of having the whole house cleaned without having to fork over a pot of gold definitely makes me smile.

These suggestions are for families with older children, age 9 and up.  But if you have younger kids, I'd still try it. Who knows, you may have a cleaning prodigy on your hands!

1. Plan ahead.  The most important part of the plan is to tell them in advance.  My kids like fun surprises.  "Let's clean the house" is not a fun surprise on a sunny Monday morning.  I let my kids know in advance that we would be setting aside a whole day to clean.  I wasn't sure if it would take the whole day, but it was self-preservation just in case it took longer than expected.  Which it did. 

2. Explain the role of responsibility.  Part of living in this house is taking care of it.  Many modern day kids struggle with entitlement.  We want our kids to understand that living in a home requires responsibility. 

3. Require good attitudes.  While the day won't be fully free of bad attitudes, let the kids know that you expect them to have a positive approach to the day.  

Blast fun music. The bad attitude dude will run and hide.

4. Be the example.  I chose the three nastiest bathrooms.  My kids looked at me with reverence.  It was a holy moment.

5. Be specific. I gave each of my kids a little card with the expectations for each room, lest they forget...

6. Make it as fair as possible.  "Fair" is typically a dirty word in our family.  Fair is a place you buy cotton candy.  I printed out little slips of paper with each of the rooms and we rolled the dice.  The kid with the highest number got to choose one room first.  After everyone chose their first room, we rolled the dice again (hence keeping it as fair as possible.) Everyone chose their second room according to their order from the dice roll.  

7. Check it off.  To give the kids a sense of accomplishment, once a chore on the cleaning checklist was completed, they could check it off.  We used three different colors for each child.  For example, my son used yellow for the mudroom.  As he finished each chore in that room, a yellow check was added to his list.
8. Give some freedom of choice.  My kids each had two rooms plus their own bedrooms to clean.  I let them choose which room to tackle first.  They knew the rooms had to be done and approved by me before the day was over.
9. Follow through.  As the day wears on, they will get a little tired. Give them a fun snack while you go check on their progress.  This is an excellent lesson on meeting goals and finishing a task.  Hold them accountable.  If they overlooked a table that has an inch of dust, gently remind them.  Remember, this is just as much about teaching responsibility as it is about finishing with a clean house.
10. Celebrate! Let the kids savor the clean house for a moment.  Tell them to look around and smell the clean.  Let them feel the sense of accomplishment.  Celebrate with a reward for the whole family. Go get pizza or ice cream, or both.

Bonus Hint: We made it a screen free day.  (Music was allowed.)  No screens = no outside distractions.  It was magical.

I'm linking up with Imparting Grace.  Come join the party!

Parenting Teens ... And Enjoying the Ride

 When our kids were little I was afraid of teenagers.  Most of them were bigger than me, and I thought they were just a bunch o' hoodlums with bad attitudes and filled with sarcasm.   I never imagined having teens would be this much fun...

As kids hit the teen years, it is natural for them to begin to pull away, but they still need to know that they are an important part of our family makeup.  They don't need us to hold their hands to cross the road, but they do need us to hold their hearts when the world begins to crowd in.  Parenting doesn't end when they turn 13.  It just looks different.

A couple of years ago, we made a conscious decision to be actively involved in our kids' teen years.  It is no easy task, but so worth the time and effort.  

Here's how it looks for us:

1. We want to know our kids' friends.  This is not the time to check out.  Friends are the greatest influence at this stage, so we want to encourage healthy friendships.  If their friends know us, it adds another layer of accountability.  

2. We try to teach our kids how to have healthy friendships with both sexes.  In the next phase of life, many of these kids will be finding their future mate.  Now is the time to help them develop friendship skills that will extend into adulthood and, hopefully, encourage strong marriages.  

3. We try to open our home as much as possible to these crazy kids.  Sometimes a quiet corner with a good book beckons... but I'll have the rest of my life to sit in a quiet corner. In this season of life, we are choosing to be "yes" parents.  There are a multitude of things we have to say "no" to, so it is important to look for the "yes" opportunities.  If the kids want to come, we make every effort to say yes. 

*Disclaimer: I fully believe in boundaries and having a day of rest.    

4. We are involved in the youth ministry at church.  As I type, my husband is on a youth trip with the middle school. Bless his heart.  I just got back from a 12 hour bus ride from high school camp. Sleep is overrated.  Our roles in the youth ministry ebb and flow, but we want these kids to know that we are connected and that we care.

5. We choose to invest in these kids.  Even good kids have baggage, tough home situations, and the need for healthy adult influence.  They may act like they know everything about everything, but they are still learning how to process the world.  We want our home to be a safe place for our kids' friends.  They need to know we are FOR them.

6. We fully believe in the power of fun.  It is our desire to demonstrate that good, clean fun is better than what the world has to offer.  

Good, not-so-clean, clean fun

Put into Action

When our kids say, "let's have a party," we try to come up with something that makes the guests want to come back.  Sometimes it is just pizza and a bonfire.

  

Other times we pull out the stops and get a little crazy.

Water balloons and summer just go hand in hand.

Shaving cream fights are the best!

Food is always a must.  If you can't afford to supply it every time, ask the kids to bring their favorite snack.  Host a Mexican fiesta and ask the kids to bring a taco topping.

One of our favorite games is Snowball Mountain.

The kids don a disposable shower cap (Dollar Tree).  Split the group into pairs. One team member gets a smothered dollop of CoolWhip on his head.  The other team member has to toss mini marshmallows onto the "snow mountain."  Once they have 10 marshmallows attached,  they must run over and eat the marshmallows off of the snowy mountain.  

Let them play.

 Life gets serious fast.  We want our kids to enjoy this last season of freedom.  Sometimes the kids just want to play in the pond.  Other times they want to play Ultimate Frisbee.  Their favorite group game is Manhunt. Basically hide-n-seek in the dark.  The basketball goal rarely gets ignored.  

It doesn't have to be a big production.  Just let them play.  Our job is to provide hydration, safety, and to encourage them to include everyone.  Sometimes we have to suggest games to get the ball rolling, but usually they figure it out on their own.

I never thought I'd say it, but I really do love having teens over to our house.  They make me laugh, give me a fresh perspective on life, and remind me that every season of parenting can be a blast.  Besides, they don't judge my dirty toilet and remind me that clean floors are  totally overrated.

I'm linking up with Imparting Grace. Come join the party!