10 things not to say to a mom of all girls.

1. "Are you going to try for a boy?"

While having another child is sadly off the table for us, another girl would bring us so much joy as would a boy.

2. "ALL girls? Poor dad. You must be miserable. I hope at least the dog is boy."

Yes. People. People, we don't even know, have apologized to my husband that he has all girls. Like he had some kind of life altering illness. While I can't speak for him at the moment, you know because he's out buying us nail polish right now {just kidding} I know he would say he is more than happy with ALL his girls & wouldn't change it. The balance of male/female in our house suits us perfectly.  & guess what our dog IS a girl too!

3. "Girls are so emotional"

There is really no debate about this. We are scientifically more emotional than the male gender. But last I checked males can be just as emotional. Have you seen when a mans "team" has or better yet has NOT won the super bowl? & I dare you to take away that nerf gun from that 4-year old little boy & say that.

4."All girls? Bless your heart."

Thank you! I am so blessed.

5."Just wait til their teenagers"

While teenage years are in fact rough. There is just as many trails & tribulation while raising a teenager that is male. Another stereotype we can thank "Mean Girls" & Miley Cyrus for.

6.. "They are going to have lots of boyfriends"

As strange as it is for a complete stranger to be talking about such things, lets not feed into more stereotypes that every girl is a provocative, boy crazed teenage girl. There are plenty of young girls that are too busy with school & activities to have serious boyfriends.

7. "Boys are so much easier than Girls"

Is one sex really "easy"? Is raising any child ever easy? I bet those with all boys would probably say the same thing about having girls.

8. " I bet they have daddy wrapped around their finger"

We fall hard into this stereotype. Because they do, they really do. But I know our boy would be walking out of the store with whatever he asked for too.

9. Girls are so expensive.

Sigh. Aren't all children expensive? Each has activities, hobbies & their likes that cost money.

10. DRAMA.

Again have you taken that nerf gun away yet? Males can be JUST as dramatic as females.

Put all the sarcasm & blatant obnoxiousness from complete strangers, I love my girls

&  wouldn't change what these amazing GIRL blessings in my life. 

But I know I would feel just as blessed with if they boys as well.

Raising our children is hard no matter if they are girl or boy! 

Read more »

Top Valentines Movies for Kids

It slowing creeping up to us!

I am starting to decorate & my mind is going crazy with Valentines ideas!

I know some don't really count this as a holiday, but ANY holiday is a holiday at our house. If it gives us a reason to decorate, do a fun craft & a fun outfit we are the first to sign up!

I always look finding great holiday movies to gear up to the holiday!

These are great, wholesome shows {which is so hard to find anymore} that is themed for Valentines Days!

My girls love all these characters & even more so getting them excited for Valentines!

Some are funny, & some have great stories about loving each other!

Enjoy!

 1. Max & Ruby, Max's Valentine//2.Clifford, Be My Big Red Valentines//3.Franklin, Franklin's Valentines//4.Veggie Tales, Lettuce Love One Another//5.Winnie the Pooh, A Valentine for You//6. A Charlie Brown Valentine//7. The Bernstein Bears, Count their Blessings//8. Word World, My Fuzzy Valentine

Read more »

4 things your wife needs, but she won't say

This is a first in my series of encouragement posts. I started to make a post about appreciating your husband & realized there was a million of those out there. I will still post it. But it really struck me, that us at home sometimes gets left in the dust in bit.

Which brings me to:

4 things your wife needs, but won't say that will completely make her feel appreciated.

1.She feels overwhelmed. It's hard to say. & saying it makes her feel worse than what she already feels. Sometimes feeling overwhelmed can make mommas feel inadequate. Between taking care of the children, making dinner, and keeping the home together, she has a lot on her plate. She wants you to be her partner, not another person to take care of. That’s why she probably cried {good tears} when you offer to make dinner or do bath time, even though you may have worked all day. She likes when you take charge. Picking up some of the slack provides her SO much relief. Don’t wait for her to ask. Just do it.

2.She loves to be adored. I get it, some men just don't have it in them to be emotional & to express that. But you have to find a way to let your wife know you love, adore & cherish her. Tell her through words, written or spoken, or thoughtful gift or a romantic getaway. Even if it's a "hey I just heard this song that reminded me of you" or a text letting her know you missed her while at work that day. It doesn't matter how, just make her feel special. Men may be able to go without many of these things, but to many women this is her oxygen. When you cherish her and make her feel important, she feels valued and appreciated as a wife. When she does not feel cherished, she may feel resentful or insecure about your relationship.

3. She wants to be heard. Hear out her anxieties even if they seem so silly to you. Instead of telling her not to be worried, validate her fears and offer to help her. When she stresses out about next year’s birthday party or vacation, don’t brush her off. Genuinely listen and ask to help. Take steps together to relieve the anxiety, it calms her down and makes her feel taken care of.

4. She wants you to remember her. Sometimes it so easy to forget that your wife is your wife too & not just "mommy". Does she really like something? Have a hobby? Encourage her. Let her know you think what she does/likes is great. Is there a quality you love about her outside of her being mommy? Tell her. Let her know how you love her compassion when she gives the guy on the road a 20. When your out & see something that she likes, pick it up for her. She doesn't do enough for herself including getting that thing of oreos or lotion for herself. She is always getting the the families "wants" it is nice for someone else to get them for her.

Listen, I know it's hard to see all that she is doing while you are at work everyday. But can you imagine doing a million tasks in one day, without your check & affirmations from coworkers/boss? It so crazy to think of all the small things your missing that she does & you noticing would totally make her day. It crazy but do you know the bottom of the toilet & around it needs cleaned too? Not just IN the bowl? Yeah she does that. It doesn't magically stay clean all the time. & actually really freakin gross. Crazy huh?

In any relationship especially a marriage & even more so with children. Each partner needs to feel appreciated for the work they do. I know I make such a effort to make sure Brandon feels appreciated for his work, because he IS the reason for our lifestyle & for me staying home. Some times I have to make it a priority when its hard to turn off being mom. Sometimes and many times I do, want gruff at Brandon having a busy day & him getting home late. & I'll have to push myself to give the "wow great job! Thats good you were so busy!" 

In the same token, that doesn't mean that the one at home whether it be mom or dad is to feel any less beneficial to the family for the work they do just because they aren't bringing home a check for their work.

I encourage you for month to make a valid effort to take the time to truly appreciate your spouse. At the end of the month I think you will be amazed at change it will make in BOTH of you.

Read more »

New Year Organization 0.2

I think the New Year has everyone one in the whole, must-organize-all-the-things state of mind.

But some don't know where to start!

You're not alone!

I'm here to give you some tips & hope the will be helpful to you!

Ok so lets get the ball rolling.

First the best advice I ever was given when I felt overwhelmed with organizing is:

Take everything out. Whether it's a drawer, a closet, a cabinet. Get it all out.

 It maybe overwhelming but trust me. take every little thing out.

As you do that here is a great guideline to get you started on some major areas so you go kick start into organizing the rest of your house/life.

Ill be posting several organization tips this month & next hoping they will be help for everyone gearing up to make the new year go great! 

Read more »

#gloriatheglamper

Late spring of last year we had an opportunity to buy a older camper. It needed alot of work but we were willing to take it on! Because well obviously I love this stuff!

I got straight to work on cleaning it out & cleaning it in general! My mom & dad did a TON of work too!

For whatever reason I never really got any pictures besides the dinnete area! But here you can see Kennedy in the back. {lets not talk about the cushions} There is two set of bunk beds in the back when you go thru the kitchen. Then off the kitchen was a nice sized bathroom with shower & tub. It was the perfect size for us!

Here is a before {barf}:

In process:

It took FOREVER to cover all this with white paint!

But I had to brighten the place up!

In the middle of the madness, my mom & I spent HOURS at the fabric store & FINALLY found what seems like the perfect pattern! We took them to a local recover shop that re foamed & covered them for me! I HAD to get rid of those red cushions!

We didn't get as far as we wanted to with renoing it this summer. Life & just actually camping in it got in the way. Flooring, new light fixtures & wallpaper was to be put in this spring!

We have a permanent lot at a local campground. It makes it very convenient for lots of reason mostly because a) we really have no place to store it b) with brandons work schedule going somewhere to camp is about dang near impossible. so this way he can just come right after work since its about 10 mins from home. it is also just enough away that we feel like we were away but if we forgot anything or needed to do something on the weekend we could. It has an attached deck & was really a nice get away!

The girls & I spent alot of time there this summer during the week. we swam at the lake all the time & just hung out. It truly was awesome. I grew up camping & really wanted my girls to! & they love it! 

There is no cell coverage at the campground so it is so nice to be forced to slow life down. Even when it rained we enjoyed just doing puzzles!

But after we closed her up for the winter. About two week later we go a call that another camper had called the owner about a tree on a camper after a big wind storm we had. We had told the campground & a few other had about the dead trees around our lot but they never did anything about them so we werent surprised. We didn't think there would be much damage but sure enough.....

It is completely totaled.

So we are on the hunt for another. I want another fixer upper! I still have so much in my head that I wasn't able to do! Hopefully I will be able to update with that soon! We can't wait to get another & get ready to camp this spring!

Read more »

New Year Organization 0.1

I think everyone one likes to start off the new year fresh!

& alot of you, myself included wants to start it off by organizing things!

Its a great goal to start the new year!

We have TONS of DVDs we are big movie buffs. 

My husband came into the relationship with alot & we have basically every Disney movie known to man & its growing.

DVDs take up SO much room. We are running out of room.

So this solution helps alot!

I think a binder would help as well! But I have these cute boxed from Ikea so I put them to use!

I keep the Disney covers in a box in the attics but the rest I pitch! 

There is a box for the kids & for adults.

Then in the inside. I just took small card stock card & wrote out the alphabet so they DVDs are easy to find.

Then with the kids movies, since my two can't read yet & over half of our Disney movies are plain gray with the name, it makes it hard for them to pick the movie they want.

So most of the movies come with one of these insert in the inside of the movies, or you could use the front cover or print off the Internet.

Cut the size of the holder & voila! 

Hope this helps yall with your space like it did me!!

Read more »