all or nothing

As many of you know, I am a mother of five children. There are many roles associated with being a mom, so I have plenty to keep my life full. However, this fall, I threw the role of full time student into the mix. Talk about a change!

Many people ask me, upon hearing that I have so many children (it's really not that much to me), ask me how I get everything done. The answer....I don't. I can't. At least not without losing every bit of sanity I have. Pushing myself to do so is not only bad for me...but for the health of my little people. I once tried to be the perfect housekeeper, cook, gardener, decorator, organizer, etc. Gradually, as we added to our family, however, I found I couldn't get it all done without sacrificing the two most important roles God has ever laid before me...as a wife and mother. So, I don't get it all done. I choose to not get it all done because at the end of the day, if the dishes are still in the sink and the laundry isn't all washed and folded, it isn't really going to matter. More importantly, God is not going to be disappointed in me.

The other day, Cameron and I were chatting with a neighbor. It was the day I finished up with finals. Chris had been out of town all week, and I had gotten very little done at home. My kids were fed and played with, but my house was an absolute disaster. I had been studying every chance I could. I was explaining all this to my neighbor. When I turned to Cam and asked him to confirm how big a wreck our house was, he looked at me as if I was talking gibberish. He did not even remember that our house was messy...only that I had spent time with him. That's the legacy I want to leave. I do not want to be remembered for how great a housekeeper I was. I want to be remembered by my children by how much I loved them and took time for them. That I was kingdom-minded, even when I was busy.

a handmade christmas

Alright, so I've neglected you. It's been weeks. Months maybe? I have been busy, to say the least. School has me on my toes constantly, and I have very little desire to sit down at the computer for fun anymore. BUT...only TWO MORE WEEKS, and I have a well-deserved break! YAY ME! Perhaps that means I'll be back at my blogging?? We shall see.

For now, I am excited to show you what ELSE I have been up to! A couple of years ago, Chris and I started incorporating handmade gifts into our giving at Christmas. It started with handmade ornaments for grandparents and last year spread into necklaces, blankets, wall-hangings and of course, more ornaments. This year, our goal is to go ALL handmade! Here are a few of the wonderful projects I have been working on! I LOVE doing this! I could SO do this for a living!

These are prints I am making for my boys' bedroom makeover. Not really a Christmas present, but they have turned out so great, I had to share them! The pics don't do them justice...they are AWESOME! There are 5 in the series, and they are about 11"x17" each.

This is one of a set of coasters with different scriptures on them.

I love them so much, I may have to keep them for myself! HA!

Family name wall letter

Barrettes for my girlies!

I am currently working on a couple of pottery pieces, skirts, necklaces and applique shirts! Would love to hear what projects anyone else has working! What about family traditions? Got some good ones? Creating some new ones?

a bad haircut

Have you ever had one of your kids cut their own hair?

When I was in college, I had a sweet friend who helped me fix my car in a snowstorm! It was one of the most frigid days I can remember, so it was a really big deal. I worked at our local rec center, and always closed up the place at the end of the day...alone...so there was no one around. She happened to be at the post office across the street. Anyway, this is about haircuts. After helping me, I promised to babysit her three kids anytime she wants. A few weeks later, she asks me if I will sit for a weekend. Of course, I said yes, and I was super excited I was finally going to get to repay her! So the weekend comes, and I make good on my promise. The whole weekend was so fun...the kids were really great! About 30 minutes before my friend and her husband were due to come home, I had the kids all cleaned up and the house spotless. Cole, the youngest...about 4 at the time...is super quiet, so I go searching all over the house for him. I finally found him hiding under the dining table, scissors in hand. He had just given himself one serious haircut! (He had the cutest bowl cut...let's just say it was a TON of hair). I was flipping OUT! Mom and dad come home, I explain, Cole gets a buzz cut THAT DAY! He loved it...mom, not so much.

I hear a lot of horror stories (and have seen the aftermath) of other people's kids giving themselves haircuts...but none of my own children had ever given themselves a cut. Until today. Carleigh cut her hair above her ears! At first, I didn't notice it...but I found hair all over my bathroom floor and in the trashcan (she had tried to clean it up!) I was going to just give her a bob, but she protested. She has an appointment on Monday...and if the powers that be say it needs to come off....off it shall come!

GO POKES!

I think Carleigh's picture brought us some good luck this week! Our cowboys won against #2 Missouri!!! WOOHOO!!! It was a great night of watching football at our house! Can't wait to cheer on our team in person next weekend! For those who don't know, we are OSU fans. We even named one of our weims Pistol Pete (Pete for short). One of the mascot Pistol Petes (I believe there are two) is the son of Cameron's third grade teacher. That's right folks, Pete's not real. I know that some of you will be devastated at learning this, so it's okay if you need to take a moment to shed a tear.

This is Pete in a shot I took last year. GO POKES!

the rambling cowpoke

That's my husband, and he is new to the world of blogging. Welcome him with a visit and a comment if you so choose.

The Rambling Cowpoke

cowboys (and girls)

So, a couple of weeks ago we had family pictures, an adventure in itself! The kids were priceless, especially Carleigh. She threw up her guns spontaneously in this shot of her with her brothers. We about fell over! But it was perfect! Go 'pokes!




It has been a LONG time since we have even attempted to get all of us in a picture together! My sweet amazing photographer friend Amanda did these for us. I love the way they turned out...they capture the spirit of or family completely! One thing I love about Amanda's work is that we have a similar style. I knew she would capture what I see everyday of my life with my amazing husband and five precious little people. Anyway, these are a few of my favorites!

I'm an auntie!

This is my new nephew, Drake Richard! Isn't he the sweetest? I have five of my own, but this is my first niece/nephew, and I am super excited! My boys are thrilled to have a new little buddy, too. Oh, I love babies! The first shot is my sister Mary and her husband Nate. They are an amazing couple, and two of my dearest friends.