The Deans: August 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Little Bunny Foo Foo

For some reason this little girl loves to bop her little brother on the head. Jacob and I decided it must be some kind of fascination with the baldness. Not only does she love to bop it but she has also been caught dumping sand on it, soaking it with air freshener, rubbing chap-stick all over it, coloring it with crayons, covering it in stickers... etc. She has been so into pestering him lately! Poor little buddy. She does love the little stud though. And he loves her. She loves to sit with him and read him books. He loves to play with her hair. They love picking things out of the garden and eating them together. Curiously enough their most picked and eaten item... basil leaves. It would be tomatoes if those blasted squirrels would stop stealing them!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ahh.

(Photo by Shane Rickard Photography)

For some reason I feel like I'm back. I was away, far away. I guess it's not that crazy that I too was pretty stressed as Jacob was studying for and taking the bar, and starting a new job. I was stressed for him, stressed about my house, stressed about groceries, and cooking, and children. Well, the children part was the easiest. I pretty much let most things slide, except for them. But today I feel so refreshed. Maybe because the weather has cooled down. Maybe because I got to hang out with a good friend today. Maybe because I made time for me this morning and exercised.

I've really been trying to simplify lately and focus on the most important things. It's amazing how I can still feel fulfilled without going 100mph. I still have so much to learn. But I love that the first step is simply to desire something.

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
(Alma 32:27)

I DESIRE to have a simple, yet fulfilling life!

What do you do to simplify??

I have been trying to make things that seem overwhelming a little less so by setting a timer. I set a timer for 15 minutes and tackle a task for just that long and no longer. Then I set a timer and do something that I want to do for 15 min. (Inspired by flylady:) I have been getting so much done! Yesterday as I scrubbed my kitchen walls and cupboards I listened to this. An awesome group discussion from the Mormon channel about how to love creatively. How to find little ways to love your spouse and children. And lots of ideas for date night! I loved it because the girls speaking are people I can relate to. I want to be intentional, especially about the people that I love. You should listen to it! And then go to their website. Think of those two links as a gift from me to you... male or female... it's a great way to get you motivated to show your love to anyone!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Is Summer Almost Over??

I'm not going to lie this summer has worn me out! It has been crazy trying to keep myself and the kids busy while Jacob has been studying for and taking the bar. It has also been crazy trying to figure out how to keep my house clean without Jacob around. I didn't realize how much he did around here. I am getting better at it little by little though.

And now... he's back! Yes, he goes to work. But after that he's all mine for the whole night. That is a wonderful feeling, not to mention the feeling that some money is going to magically appear in our bank account sometime soon :) I think I'm going to have to celebrate. Maybe I'll buy myself some cake decorating tips or something. That would be fun.

Here are some fun and telling pictures of how busy our summer has been.

(Our kids looove corn)

(This was one night after we went to the pool. I was trying to get the kids in the bath and came out to find Eli in his skinny's munchin' on pool snacks.)