1st Vlog and linking up with House of Rose

As one of my November goals, I wanted to get more serious about my blog and start doing more and different things, one of the ways I have decided to do that is by linking up with one of my favorite blogs, House of Rose for a vlog.

She has a schedule and each time, we stop and talk about something we are thankful for or that is making us smile this week.  So here is my VERY FIRST video blog.  I had to film it quickly, but I think for my very first time ever it turned out decent.

If you are visiting from House of Rose, welcome and I'd love to get to know you!  Please feel free to leave a comment and say hi!

Cheers!

Ashley

Black Friday

My hubby and I braved "Black Thursday" this year.  It was perfect, we were out from 7:30 - 9:45pm and got our normal amount of sleep.  We also are splurging a little bit on me this year, for a gift and I'm really excited!  We got this great deal on amazon:

If you read this post, after Amazon's sale, the price may look high, but we got a really great deal and it is something I have been wanting for a good while now. While I love my iPhone for easy pictures, it is getting harder as I have two wiggly kids and taking good pictures of both of them is challenging.  I have missed so many moments between when I clicked the button and when the picture actually took. Hopefully this will help me not miss so many, and take some better pictures over all.

Hubby also scored some video games and movies (also a power tool but shhh don't tell him!). We also got some gifts for the rest of our families, and have very little shopping to do left.  Hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving, and  fun weekend!  My big boy is finally better, so hopefully I will be able to post some more this week, as I have lots of fun things to share with you all!

Cheers!

Ashley

My sicky boy

So my newly turned 2 year old "big boy" (as I can hardly call him my baby boy any more, though as every mom knows, he will ALWAYS be my baby boy, even when he is old and wrinkly) is sick.  He most likely got some nasty bug, the poor thing.  So things have been a little crazy and hectic around these parts the last few days, as there have been many sleepless nights and schedule juggling to take care of the poor sicky.  He was so delirious and sleepy after waking up way to early Tuesday morning, he put himself back to sleep, like this:

He totally passed out standing and leaning on his bed.  The poor thing!  He also passed out a few other odd places, playing with straws.

Hopefully he will be back on is feet in no time, we miss our happy, crazy boy.

Cheers!

Ashley

Photo's in our family

Taking pictures of our little family, is very challenging.  I have been looking for a decent one, (to display in our home as we have no pictures up currently) and well other than the one of us in our halloween costumes, it doesn't exist.  We have cute pictures of the kids, but we have cute kids so that makes it pretty easy.

My husband really doesn't like getting his photo taken.  Which usually means we end up with photos of him making faces like these:

The classic eye roll

 The glare

While my kids are adorable, the are wigglers, and not always easy to get the best picture of, also my toddler always like to try and grab my camera.

I guess we just have real life pictures around these parts.  Any one else feel the same way some times?

Cheers!

Ashley

Today you are 2

My Sweet Boy,

I can hardly believe that it has been two years, since you made your appearance in the world.  What a crazy and wonderful two years it has been. From your first moments in the hospital,

to your first days and weeks ate home you have continued to meat my heart and bring us constant joy.

as you have continued to grow, explore and learn more about the world around you.

As you have grown, you have also developed your own personality, you love to laugh, be silly and have fun.  You are thoughtful, and such a great helper.

This year, you also became a big brother.  Your sister is so lucky to have you.  She obviously adores you, and you take such good care of her and you are such a great helper.

You have so many interests, so many things you love to do.  What will you be when you grow up?

A singer?

An Artist?

A swimmer?

There are so many opportunities for you, I can't wait to see what path you take, just always remember that no matter what, you are always going to be my baby boy.

Love, 

Mommy

Never Stop Talking

On occasion I am going to start talking about marriage, it's a new thing I'm trying with this blog.  I feel that I have somethings to say that could benefit others and I want to share them.  So here is my very first marriage post.

If you don't already know, I work at a local church as the Pastor to Early Childhood.  Most people just think that I watch and play with the babies (which I do), but I also do much, much more.  A few weeks ago, I had a mother confide in me about a truly horrible (is there anything other than?) divorce that her and her soon-to-be-ex had just started.  While my heart was breaking for her, she shared a bit of marriage advice that weeks later is still echoing in my heart.

"Never stop talking to your husband"

"My husband and I stopped talking years ago."  At first I brushed it off, thinking obviously my husband and I talk!  How can you live in the same house as someone and not talk?  It wasn't until later that the words sunk in.  How often do my husband and I truly talk?  How often is the conversation centered on what needs to be done, rather than meaningful conversation?  Sure, he knows what time the kids need to be picked up and what happened at work but does he know what is going on in my head and heart?  For those who are married, how important is your marriage?  How much time do you intentionally invest in it?  When was the last time you and your spouse just talked?

As a wife,  mom, worker employed outside of the home, and a challenged homemaker, it has been so easy for me to get busy with the house, work, the kids, this blog, my life, etc.  I wanted to share this encouragement with you, to never stop dialoguing with your husband.  Stay connected.  Go out of your way to connect with him, emotional, spiritually and physically.  Do not allow yourself to be so caught up in life that you forget about your partner.  Seriously, text or tell him how much you love him, or something you appreciate about him right now, I just did. 

Cheers!

Ashley

Doctor Who Halloween Costumes

So as I posted earlier, we are HUGE nerds and LOVE Doctor Who.  I made family costumes this year and worked really hard, but I think they turned out ADORABLE.  If you follow me on instagram, then you may have already seen this sweet family picture of us in our Doctor Who costumes

I went as Amy Pond.  I dyed my hair red (though it didn't come out as red as I would have liked), wore a purple shirt, black skirt and tights, with a red scarf and duster.

Matt was Rory, The Last Centurion.  We ordered a simple roman style costume from Oriental Trading, then I added a cape and sword to it.

Little Man was The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith), we bought the "official" sonic screwdriver from BBC America and then I put together the costume with a white dress shirt, red suspenders and made a bow tie.  He loved it!

Baby Girl was The TARDIS.  I used felt to make her police box and then had a friend help me make a tutu with fun head band to make it more "girly".  She wore white shirt and tights under it, and looked adorable (if I do say so myself).

It was a great night, and we had so much fun dressing up as characters form Doctor Who.  I will post more specifics on how I made the costumes later this month.

Cheers!

Ashley

November Goals

Credit

Each month, I strive to do a few things better in my life.  I always want to do better, as a wife, mom, homemaker, worker and in each of the other hats I wear.  These are things I strive to do, and to do better.  Last month I did the 31 day challenged and I ALMOST made it.  HUGE for me.  I really loved writing each day, even though I know my posts were not the best, it was stretching and challenging and I enjoyed it.  Here are my goals for this month of November:

1. Get things done.  I will admit it, I have gotten slightly lazy about some things, part of it is pure exhaustion from my work schedule and dealing with an infant who is still waking up multiple times per night.  However the other part is me using that as an excuse and choosing to be more zombie like after the kids go to bed, or going to bed really early.

2. Blogging.  I really want to make this blog better.  I'm not sure how to do that, I'd love suggestions/feedback from my readers please email me at homemakingchallenged @gmail.com (no space).  I know I can do better and I do have some really exciting things that I want to do, I know I can be more effective as well.  Still trying to figure it all out.

I'm just sticking with two this month.  Hope you all have a great one!

Cheers!

Ashley