This is my attempt to get this blog rolling again. I have NO idea how it's going to look this time around, but figure that this is just my outlet for anything that might be on my mind for the day/week. I have been gone from this for a long time because, well, I just really didn't feel like organizing my thoughts this summer. But, I do enjoy the times that I am productive enough to get something jotted down, so I am going to give it a try again!
Time is especially limited for me, these days, because Vienne is down to just one nap a day - a short 1 hour and 15 minute nap, at that. Naps are basically the only time I have to get a lot done - ie: make and eat lunch, tidy up, maybe get a workout in (yeah right), read my Bible and journal (ahem), check and respond to emails, get some cooking done/started....and, yeah, blog. haha. I have a friend (ahem, Lacey) who, in my opinion, seems like a super woman to me with two kids (one being a newborn this summer) who has already started a regimented workout routine, knits amazing projects, makes skincare products and sells them on etsy, cooks for her family and roommates, does housewifey things, and manages a blog a few times a week!!! I am utterly perplexed and humbled by what she gets done. How does she do it...well, I'm planning to ask when I can get her out here for a visit. I am a pretty organized person but there is NO WAY that I could get done half of what she gets done. I feel like such a lazy ass.
Ok, anyway, enough of that. :D
Updates. How about some updates about this family of mine. Well, this week Vienne will be 17 months old! That is crazy to me. She is quite the fun little lady with loads of personality - aren't they all? She is completely buzzing all about the house now, full of creative insights each day. We have discovered that this girl loves to organize, loves to clean (I'm serious...hand her a rag and she will wipe any surface), loves to play dress up, loves to dance, loves loves water and the outdoors, loves her soccer ball and is learning to kick it...especially on the beach...and much more, of course. She is still pretty shy and hesitant out in public, but is opening up a bit more each time. She is not really talking or doing many of the "normal" things kids do at her age, like pointing to her nose or body parts when you ask, trying new words, running, or eating lots of foods, for example. Of course, we are not concerned about these things, we have come to learn that Vienne does things in her own time...she is a watcher. She soaks it all up and then one day she just lets it all out, at once. I know she is listening and watching and learning a ton and she responds very well...but she doesn't seem to feel the need to prove anything to us yet. She is still very petite, as well which just tells us that she will be a small girl. At 16 months, she was only 18 lbs. but, as the doctor said, she is developing just fine.
Anyway, so that's Vienne.
As for our family, we have a vision of some big changes ahead. Mark is making some huge career changes which will give us the opportunity to move to Portland when things really take off. Right now, the job is kind of slow-going but we are hopeful and prayerful. We have listed our house and if we don't find buyers at the time that we want to move, then we will look for renters. All of this is in God's hands and we are striving to remain faithful to His provisions and His will for us. It has been a stressful summer to say the least, but we know we are well taken care of.
As a housewife, during all of this change and stress on our finances, I have been doing all that I can to manage our food and household expenditures in a frugal and wise manner. I have been brainstorming for frugal meals and ways to keep the household going in an affordable and health-conscious way. Not just because of finances, but more out of the heart to keep our household safe and healthy as well as lessen our carbon footprint, I have been making further adjustments along with the rest. For example, I finally purchased my first 50lb. bag of bulk wheat berries to mill our own flour for baked goods, I have finally started making all of my cleaning products (save dishwasher and laundry detergents...which totally bombed for us...such a bummer....will try new recipes soon), shopping mainly at our local Farmer's Market throughout the summer, using whatever scraps that the critters left behind of our sad little garden...etc.
These past few weeks I have finally really been getting into sprouting and I think I will write more on that later. Fun stuff!
I've also been dealing a lot with my health lately and I think I will write a post on that sometime soon for anyone who can relate to hormonal imbalances as well as digestive issues. Woohoo.
For now, I will bring this update to a close and insert a few recent pictures.
starting to love her books
soccer on the beach!
playing dress-up in one of mom's shirts (what a distressed look, huh?!)
going out for our 4 year anniversary!
anything can be a phone
picked up a rag and literally started cleaning the car! that's my girl!
more cleaning....start 'em early!
dress up in dad's shoes
