Just a Little Aubs

Aubry has taken a liking to the sandbox, she'll actually sit in it and play- here she is listening intently to the sounds of the mockingbird chirping angrily at a squirrel.

She also love to ride Illana's bike that got left behind-- or most often I can be seen pedalling away while sitting on the back platform.

Hats! I love that Aubry likes to wear a hat, just like me!

Lastly, not only does Aubs just love the sandbox but the board that surrounds it makes for a perfect balance beam!

Playing Catch Up

I figured I would write this blog with a bunch of pictures to catch you all up on the happenings around here.

Steve has traveled to Detroit every month in 2013 to start and continue working on the building Detroit Love Inc. purchased this past summer. This thrills my heart on several levels and also thrills me to have some "no Steve" time.

I know, I know, some of you married people just can't grasp it, and I know others can; but I enjoy time alone in my house, particularly my bed- I can spread out in our bed however I want and watch BBC mini-series to my hearts content. I always miss him and we FaceTime daily but I'd be lying if I said it was horrible having him gone.

This last month Vaughan came over and we sat on the couch and visited for a few hours.

It's strange having your kid move out;

when they come home, it's still that: home.

They walk in the door and you're surprised, yet there is something so familiar about it.

Here he is with Aubry.

Speaking of Detroit, it's not just about the building, but the people. Steve sent me this picture of the last crew serving at the Detroit Rescue Mission. 

March also meant visits from family. My cousin Molly and her daughter Sophie were in town from Alaska and her parents came down from Maine. we walked the boardwalk, fed babies, rocked babies, walked babies, drove babies around, encouraged one another and I complained and vented more than I probably should have. We visited Downtown Disney and the second she left I felt the sadness of her absence in my day to day. The closest thing I have to a sister it was such a joy to have her and such a bummer to see her go.

And then there is Illana Belle.

Pure joy.

We have been doing our best to have her overnight on Sundays and well into the day on Monday. She is a ticket this little one. Talking so clear, curious, sassy and smart.

She loves her Papou.

This day we crafted and painted. What started as rainbow ended as this, a messy taste of pure fun!

And then there is this girl.

We started as enemies, for lack of a better term-

4th grade girls who, in an attempt to rule the playground, made lists dividing all other 4th graders into teams: either her team or mine.

We ended with a truce, or something,

and a friendship that has lasted since Naples Elementary School in 1984.

Blessed that her grandparents retired 2 miles from my house, time with her is as if we have never lived in separate states. 

So let me introduce you to Twanna, my oldest, non-relative friend.

Then there's May May.

Aubry.

Aubry May.

Loved by her big brother.

I didn't think I'd see this again.

Thought our backpack kid days were over in the 90's.

She's clingy, she loves daddy so here she sits.

So that's a brief catch-up on life around here at the Span Ranch.

Of course I have BIG plans ahead:
- an adventure day trip,
- perhaps a trip to Detroit for me as well as Steve,
- finishing my gallery wall,
- Pinterest ideas to complete
- and perhaps starting to write a book.
Yes you read that correct, I've talked about it for a while, mostly to myself;
but I have some thoughts on what I'd write about,
there are themes like forgiveness, love, "growing up Christian";
then there are life lessons learned through the school of hard knocks,
of course I have stories of unique people I've met and know and learned from.....but enough of that.

Book writing seems to be an idea for many people, what would you write about?

A Few Thoughts on Parenting

Reading to your kids daily doesn't mean they'll love to read- but read to them anyway

Being a druggie doesn't mean your kids will follow suite- but you need to clean up or they just might

Taking your kid to church every week their whole life doesn't mean they'll always go to church- but take your kids to church every week

Always allow your kids to pick out their own clothes- self made mis-matchers are the bomb and clothes are not worth fighting over

If your kid sleeps in your bed for the first 4-years of life- so what- enjoy the time you have because they grow up fast

4-year-olds who refuse to poop on the potty will decide soon enough they like pooping on the potty, so hang in there

Not doing drugs doesn't mean your kids will not do drugs

Don't worry about dirt and sand on your child, it means the day has been full and fun

If your child is sandy and dirty and you are not, go back outside- the mess is worth it

Feed your kid healthy foods as much as you can

Ice cream, cereal and popcorn are part of the food pyramid, they just get left out- I suggest them as a meal now and then

If you home school or public school- don't judge- good kids come from both- weird kids come from both

Above all pray for your kids, trust them to God; their Creator, who loves them more than you.
Thank Him for them.

Product Review: BooginHeads

I first started using pouch type foods for Aubry when I had a hard time getting her to eat spoon fed or finger food veggies. Not exactly sure when this happened but knowing the importance of vegetables in development I felt I needed something to help me get this healthy stuff into her system.

I have been buying and organic brand pouch at $1.68 a pouch (very pricey for me, but worth it), plus I've been trying to cook from Deceptively Delicious, anything to get the good stuff into my little one.

It's the drinking, the sucking; that's why she likes the pouches.

Add in the ease and convience and I am sold.

But the price.

So when I ran across BooginHeads Squeez'Ems I was thrilled.

I immediately washed them and filled them with applesauce. 

Aubs loved them!

She downed one and a half right away and loved investigating her new little snack item.

Easy to fill, 

easy to wash.

I purchased them for $7.99 for 2 pouches at my local Wal-Mart.

With the cost I'll be saving you can bet I will be purchasing a few more and taking the time to juice and make our own concoctions of "mean green" and other veggies combos, all kinds of drinkable goodness for my little gem of unpredictability.

So if you have a little one, preschool and below, 

and make your own baby food, juice or Popsicles

I highly recommend BooginHeads Squeez'Ems.

Check out their other neat products on their website.

Happy Eats,

She Pulled all the Laundry onto the Floor As I Typed and I Didn't Care

Some days I seem to be going all day right here at the house. Dishes, laundry, sweeping, friends over, playing dolls, crafting with little ones. 
Then the big kids come home and the same seems to happen, dishes, cooking, friends.
Then the end of the day hits and I look around.
Brownies have been tracked all over the kitchen, cups fill the sink, laundry grew and multiplied in the living room, toys scatter the house.
While this is not a post on the work of a stay-at-home-mom it is a post saying some days as a stay at home mom I wonder what the heck I did?
I mean seriously,
I thought I washed all the dishes in the sink.
I thought I vacuumed the floor.
I thought we had a group toy clean up, I thought I sang the song,
but maybe that was yesterday, no it was today.

So the dilemma comes right now.
Do I continue in the quest to maintain the home
do I sit down and breath (OK so technically I'm doing this right now by blogging)
do I start the bedtime routine?
I don't know.
I do know I should hop off this laptop and do something because if I don't this baby at my side will surely delete this post.