My Kitchen is Filled

When I got married I was 22.  I had lived in a dorm room or an apartment by myself since I had left for college.  I didn't cook and I didn't bake.  When I registered my mother almost had a heart attack.  My registry was horrible.  My mom tried to convince me to put more things on it and that indeed I would want these things later in life.  I didn't agree so I didn't change it. 

Each year after that my mom would give me things for my kitchen.  I didn't use them so I donated a bunch of them each time we moved (which was 4 times in 6 years).

Then I started cooking.  And baking.  And we started the tradition of our Christmas party.  And I didn't have anything.  Regret set in big time.  So I've slowly been accumulating some but my kitchen has been lacking.  My mother has given me things for Christmas and birthdays and I haven't donated them (and she never once has said I told you so because she is so full of grace).

And then recently my friend Joy started selling Pampered Chef.  After going to a few parties, I decided to host a show.  And we all know that I'm an over-achiever and a tad competitive.  So I decided to really go for it.  I have to say that it wasn't hard at all. 

The order came in today.  This is all stuff for everyone else.  It's over $900 worth of stuff. 

And here is my stuff (with the exception of 1 gift that I purchased).  I got $434 worth of stuff for $100!  And I feel like my kitchen is mostly filled.  I'm always up for cool kitchen stuff and what an easy way to get a ton of stuff for free and super cheap. 

I can't wait to cook dinner tonight!

Imperfectly Perfect

Today is my husband's 35th birthday.  So often we read in the blog world how perfect a husband is.  We all know that's not true.  So today I want to celebrate my Imperfectly Perfect husband.  And here's why...


You push my buttons BUT you push me to be a better person


You can act like a child BUT you father with love and strength


You work late BUT  you have the strongest work ethic of anyone I know


You won't play my "what if" games BUT you lead our family with logic and integrity


You compulsively lock the doors BUT you protect our family


You sing the wrong lyrics to songs BUT you entertain me


You follow a crazy diet BUT  you love my cooking


You talk to everyone on the phone but me BUT you pursue your friends and family with great consistency


You don't flush the toilet BUT you value God's creation


You make comments for shock value BUT you are grounded in Truth


You don't cry BUT  you comfort me when I do


You pick on me BUT  you picked me

I love you Imperfectly Perfect Husband.  Happy 35th Birthday!

The Name Has Passed

When I was a little girl, my mother used to call me Tracey Pumpkin. Most times it would come out as Tracey Punkin. It's always nice to have a nickname. It was something super special to me because I was the youngest of 3 girls.

When we had Ainsley, my mother started calling the baby her Ainsley Punkin. It is such a sweet place in my heart that she passed that name and love on to my child.

In addition to our Friday lunch date, I took Ainsley to the farmers market to pick out a pumpkin.  They had a pumpkin house and a couple cut out faces.  She had a blast running around.  My heart was full of the love that my mother passed to me and that I can now pass to my Ainsley Punkin.

 

Monkey See Monkey Do

A couple weeks ago we had our friends come to visit.  They have a 2 year old boy named Jack that is 2 weeks younger than Ainsley.  It was adorable to see them together.  Ryan wanted to play Simon Says with them and here are the results.  Too cute...

Smile

How Big are You?

 Rub your belly

Touch Your Nose

Touch Your Toes

Wiggle Your Ears



Hug Each Other

Too Late Now

I just realized that the word "butt" is in my blog address

That is all.

Seasons Change

The seasons are changing.  The heat of the summer is past and the crisp fall air has arrived. 

This summer my goal was to store the fresh life of summer in all the ways that I could so that we could enjoy it into the fall and winter.  I've canned tomatoes.  I've made pickles.  I've frozen pesto.  And today I took the remnants of the garden and made 6 quarts of vegetable broth to freeze. 

And now it's time to rest and reset before the harshness of winter comes in.  Even our chickens are taking a break.  They are in molting, a process where they shed their feathers, stop laying eggs, and start a new. 

Most of my friends and family spend the early parts of fall decorating their homes with the oranges and yellows that make up the colors of fall.  I don't do this.  Part of the reason is I just don't like orange.  But there is a bigger reason.  I need some time to breath.

And this fall it seems especially appropriate.  I have a lot going on in my head right now.  There is anxiety and fear.  I've been distracted from things that are really important. 

So I'm excited to just relax and enjoy the next few months.  To take in the colors that God gives us.  To take in the nourishment of the seasons past.  To enjoy the blessings of today.