friday's top ten 04.24.2015

1. if you have never cooked hard boiled eggs in the oven, DO IT. 

so easy. and even when you're using free range or farm fresh eggs, guys, 

so. easy. to. peel. so easy. like, crazy easy. 

i decided the kids needed more than peanut butter protein in their lunch 

boxes, so i wanted to batch make eggs for the week.

and since a) school lunches are so costly and b) one of my 

children is showing the signs around his midsection that the school lunches

are doing him no. good. at. all. i've been trying to be more diligent in 

sending them with lunches from home.

2. guys. creepy parking lot stalkers. gosh. i don't like parking closer to the

back of the lot simply because there are so many people asking for money

or donations of some kind there. and dude, it's not cool when i have small children

with me and am in the eighth month of pregnancy. i do have my tazer, but still. 

there has to be a better way to get your donations.

3. so yesterday was interesting. i'm sitting in my bed for reasons i forget now.

(other than it being comfy and i'm largely pregnant and my feet get propped up).

and brennen, he's four, walks in and tells me that greyson just went pee in the toilet.

what the what?! he's been watching all the other male species in the house go pee,

but has utterly refused to do it himself. til yesterday. then he just kept right on truckin'. 

using that toilet like it was his job. i was so proud. he was diaperless all day long.

basically training himself, i'd say. except for the pooping. he so won't sit on the toilet.

so midday when he started saying his belly hurt, i knew why, but couldn't get him on the toilet. 

he'll get there. i mean, jonyn potty trained himself in a week at this age, too. true story.

i'm a really big believer in not forcing your kids on the toilet simply because of an age that

people "think" they should start using it. that's silly to me. if the bladder is not physically developed 

enough to keep from squirting out pee every 2.5 minutes, then hey, save yourself some heart ache

and wait til their little developing bladders are ready to hold it and

 squeeze it out only when prompted. my two cents on parenting for the day.

take it or leave it.

4. and in other news, let's talk about my oldest child. y'all. his hair stanks. like, all the time, 

even right after a shower. i can smell the shampoo, but then i can all smell the muskiness. mustiness? 

my pregnant brain doesn't know right now. musky, i believe. help a girl out.

also, smelly armpits. so that's started. *sigh. 

it's a new adventure in the chambers' household.

5. so. i like to paint my nails. and i don't like when they chip. 

so when i saw a gel hack on pinterest several months ago, i knew i had to try it. 

(and i have been meaning to share it with you).

momma can't be going to the nail salon every two weeks. 

ain't nobody got time for that. or moneys. 

here's the original post: CLICK HERE.

my modification:

polish, gel, polish, top coat. 

but only THAT brand of top coat she mentioned.

it dries ridiculously fast.

(get the gel coat and top coat at Sally's).

and also, my personal favorite polish is the Sally Hansen complete salon manicure.

(you can get that from target).

my nails last a week without chipping or peeling. 

which honestly is about the time i'm ready for a new color.

because i really love and thrive on change.

it's why i am not a consistent person in life. 

it's why i continually change what i want to be when i grow up.

it's why i rearrange my furniture all the time. 

it's why i paint my walls more than what is probably necessary.

but i digress.

6. y'all. seven weeks and six days left until my estimated due date.

pray with me now that she comes on june 20th. that's my date. 

that's what i have my sights set on.

{photo from yesterday, at 32wks}

7. i have been trying to get outside more. in the afternoon, after the kids after school chores are done,

i have been letting them go out front and and ride their toys and kick and throw balls around.

and i've been sitting out there with them.

natural vitamin d is so life giving. i always forget how much so.

8. the latest episode of grey's anatomy. gaaahhhhhh. 

that's all i'll say about that.

9. so i have been drinking third trimester tea on the daily hoping my over worked

uterus will be nice and toned by the time it's go time.

i have my clary sage essential oils all ready to slather on my ankles to give labor a jump start.

and i'm doing a daily-ish squat to try and help my pelvis stay open and help her descend.

(although as of right now, she's butt down. and i have no doubts she'll flip when

she's good and ready.)

my 40 week mark is june 18th, my birthday is june 19th, and i so desperately

want her to have her own birth date, like all the other kids,

so on june 20th, it is go time for me, meaning, i will start seriously trying 

to naturally induce and get my girl here so i can see her sweet face. 

and yes, we are doing another home birth, if you were wondering.

10. i really, really love my husband. 

i am a lucky girl. super, super blessed. 

it has sometimes been a hard road to travel in our marriage.

but nowadays we rarely argue or fight. and when we do, it's not a blow up,

and it's over faster than i can even believe. he lets me lounge around right now

without a single complaint. he's not worried about our sticky floors, even though i am.

he does the dishes. he sweeps. and he still goes to work on the daily to bring home the bacon that

 allows us the ability to keep me here at home with the little ones.

i have much respect for his attitude about life. our life. the lives of others. his life.

i just want to brag on him. i don't do it enough. i don't tell him enough.

 i don't thank him enough. and i may not even hug him enough. 

but i'm beyond grateful for his heart. his heart for life, for me, for our kids.

he's the perfect spouse for me. he was made to be with me all of our days. 

i'm so appreciative of him.

love you, honey.

xoxo

friday's top ten 02.13.2015

1. last weekend, our power randomly went out when three boys 

were in the shower at the same time.

all you here is a squeaky little B voice, "turn it back on!" 

then three nekkid boys wrapped in towels tracked water throughout the house.

after it came back on, Jo was all afraid to look outside because zombies and ghost. 

naturally.

2. my wee little baby is such an active baby. i get still and she goes tap dancing.

3. my oldest was getting bullied by one specific kid,

but that has now been resolved. at least for now.

pretty glad about that.
also, pretty sure he gets a few extra freckles on his nose each year.
i big puffy heart love freckles.

4. guys. for real. how on earth did we finally make a girl. unreal. amazing.

5. i saw the midwife on wednesday, she said she thinks i might be a little anemic.
even with all the other boys, my iron has always, always tested fantastically high.
but with my weakness and sometimes crazy heart beat, it totally makes sense,
so iron supps it is.

6. pretty sure greyson thinks his job in life is to destroy all the things.

7. today, i get to go visit a friend and leave the boys with dad.
he's even going to take all five to church with him. by himself.
have i mentioned what a man i have? gosh. i'm extremely grateful.

8. i went to target the other day for meds and supplements.
and so i figured it'd be a good idea to browse the baby girl section.
i basically cried my through it. still so unbelievable to me.
i don't think i'll ever forget that moment of realizing our baby my womb is keeping
cozy is a little lady.

9. six kids, guys. like, my mind just continues to feel confused, yet amazed,
and just over all baffled at how our lives have turned out.

10. i'm co-planning a baby shower for a friend, and even though i don't want
{another} baby shower for myself, it's making think how fun one might
be with all the girly stuff and pinks and purples and bows and hearts.
(photo below not related).

enjoy your weekend. i'm going out of town to visit that friend i mentioned,
and i am so looking forward to it.

xoxo

friday's top ten. 12.12.2014

good mid-morning, friends.

i figured i'd pause between the cleaning of the disastrous kid room 

and the paint sesh that's about to happen to come visit this space.

1. clean out your vacuum cleaner. that'll remind you just how dirty your house is in a hurry.

we have a Shark. {best.} similar to this one. only, ours is older and all red.

we've never had a vacuum last more than just a couple of years 

because we are honestly hard on them. we've always had pets and kids.

and we always bought the cheap vacuums.

but when we moved here, we had so much carpet that we finally decided to invest 

in a good vacuum. we went with the Shark from Kohl's. my mom had even attested to

it's wonderfulness. and it has been rock steady ever since.

it's easy to unclog (but it rarely gets clogged, just when a rogue cheese wrapper or the likes 

gets accidentally sucked up. the thing is fast).

and it's completely washable.

like, i just washed the entire tank (the dirt holder) and all the spongy filters and

oh. my. word. grossgrossgross.

the point? get a Shark if you need a good vacuum.

and also, clean it out once in a while.

2. i'm on day three of painting. i just can't help myself.

 3. never did you see a happier boy than the one who decided it was time to try the swing.

 4. i've been letting b watch tv right after lunch. and giving grey the ipad 

(tv doesn't keep him occupied) so i could get just a few things done around the house.

and lately, b has been falling asleep like it's his job.

 5. the reality of being around other kids is hitting my oldest lately.

it seems kids are being mean to him and cussing at him and his little heart just

doesn't know how to take it.

i think it's time for a mom/son date to see what's really going on.

6. this weather, you guys. it is heavily overcast again today but it's supposed to be 72F. nuts.

 7. amazon is the best. i did a ton of Christmas shopping for the kids without having to go anywhere.

and i will be doing some small business shopping as well. i love to support small business.

 8. our tree is still not up. i think we'll be getting that done this weekend.

but i don't think i'll be pulling out every single Christmas decoration this year. 

i'm keeping it simple.

9. when i was pregnant with my second, i had what is called PUPPP, an intense pregnancy rash.

i had it from my eyelids to my toes. no joke. literally everywhere. it was misery.

and it has decided to come back this go around. i have a big spot across my belly that just.won't. quit.

but my midwife said taking some Liver Blend supplements will help flush out my liver 

and should help calm the rash. i'm waiting ever so patiently for it to be deliverd.

10. that is all. and all the photos are from my phone this past week.

xoxo

friday's top ten 12.05.2014

1. hi. today looks like:

my flannel sheets and down comforter with hot tea, netflix, maybe crochet,

but definitely a headache and throat problems. wah.

2. and that means my little boys are getting way too much screen time.
but really, who am i kidding, they've had too much screen time this whole pregnancy thus far.
the exhaustion is brutal for momma.

3. for realskies, grey really does just pass out, sometimes with a blankie or pillow if he's super tired
during the day.

 4. my friend, who is also expecting a few months before me, and i decided to go halfsies
on newborn cloth diapers. she will use them til mine is born (which will be about the time
her peanut outgrows them) and then i will use them, and in the end, because it's her first,
she'll keep the dipes for her future babes. i saw this idea on pinterest.
isn't it brilliant?

5. i am so sad. i purchased some yarn in gray to make a gray + black manly crocheted blankie
and then the store ran out of gray. and so did every online store that carries yarn.
so my blankie design will have to change. boo.

6. also, that yarn up there is really made for arm knitting, but i am using a giant S hook and
a double crochet stitch. geez, there is something uber satisfying about using the most giantest hook
and most chunkiest yarn. it works up fast and it just feels right in my hands.

7. so yesterday, jo jo came home with 6 pages of homework.
that does not count the nightly sight words, sounds, and letter recognition he is supposed to do.
plus the 15 minutes of reading (or being read to, at the moment).
why kindergarten, why?!
it's way. too. much. for a five year old.
i surely will be asking teach why so much at our next conference.
and i was sick yesterday, like fall asleep on the couch sick, and so we didn't
get his homework done til after they went to small group and got back. he went to bed after 9:30.
and i am the bedtime nazi, because i believe kids need sleep, so that is near unacceptable to me.

8. we still haven't decorated for Christmas. mostly because i feel like i need to tidy my house first.
i'd love to be one of those moms that is able to keep her house tidy all the time.
but i am not. so my laundry piles. the floor gets dirty. the bar is the catch all.
the dishes pile up. my room is a mess. that's my life.
and the tree shall wait a few more days.

9. i chopped all my hair off a couple weeks ago. it's more pixie-like in the back and on one side.
the other side is still a bit longer. it's so easy to maintain now. which is what i was going for.
i don't have the time or energy to spend on doing my hairs at this stage in my life.

10. i'm having a craving for mexican rice. smothered in cheddar.
i'd make some. but i feel like poop.
maybe tomorrow.

happy weekend, peeps.

frriday's top ten. 10.03.2014

hey you.

it's the weekly dose of random.

1. now that my husband is working from home (also, that is the big change i've been mentioning. 

he's totally freelance now.) i can up and head to the grocery store whenever i need

without company. which usually leads to waiting in line for-the-ever

at my local crowded-always-busy-as-heck Bux. which means more loud music

momma time. *happy sigh.

but sometimes, one kid will ask to come along. and i just can't always deny them.

brennen wanted to join me, so he got a surprise chocolate milk.

it was a little slice of heaven for him, too.

2. someone, ahem, is trying to be too big for naptime.

3. and also, if you followed me on instagram before i quit, 

you know that my greyson has never been a great sleeper. like, at all.

and he sort of got better for a bit. but now, he's all... no sleep for anyone!!

seriously, i'm not sleeping. and it is terrible. in fact, last night, i just up and went to the couch.

i was tired of being kicked. and i had already soothed a crying grey back to sleep once.

some day. 

some day, i shall sleep gloriously through the night.

4. i'm pretty much going to brag right now.

in case you forgot, we have 7 peeps in this family.

lots of clothes. lots of towels. lots of blankies and such. lots of napkins. lots of boys.

and this is what it looks like to be totally caught up on laundry:

mom win.

5. it was a productive morn for me.

i made this.

and this.

and this.

and i washed a load of diapers.

and took a shower.

6. tonight is famliy night. and it's the second born's turn to pick.

and that means an incredibly bad cg/animated movie.

because he's 9.

7. more big changes are going to be happening around here. 

like, life altering.

(no, i do not mean pregnancy. so stop that right now.)

details to come.

8. if you are going to Christmas shop, may i suggest looking to your direct sales friends first?

why? because this.

i will be doing so this year. because i know that when i shop with my direct sales gal pals,

i am supporting THEM. they get paid when i shop with them.

and it also keeps it local. and i know where my moneys are going.

9. we are doing something fabulous in our office. it was originally built as a den,

so no storage exist in the space. therefore, we're making storage.

i can't wait to share the results with you!

10. in less than a week, i will have two children that have double digits in their age.

when. did. this. happen?!

enjoy your weekend, peeps.
xoxo

friday's top ten 09.26.2014

'ello, peeps.
here's some random news about yours truly.

  (not him. I just needed a photo for this post.)

1. i really love to bake. mainly, i love making desserts. of all kinds. 

and as my small group knows, i pretty much like to try new recipes all the time.

like:

 this pin

  these

and this

also here.

2. i have only been on an airplane once in my life, and it was a year and a half ago.

i am hopping back on an airplane this spring.

and i. can't. wait!

3. i hate that my kids are growing up in a fence.

i mean, i grew up with room to run and play, with no fences,

just a big-o yard and woods to roam around in.

and i survived.

i want that for my boys. 

maybe someday, right?

4. i love house shopping.

online.

i love finding my "new" house 

and i love finding it where i hope to one day live.
i find my new house a lot.

5. pepperoni and black olive pizza is my favorite.

but beef (steak) is a super close second.

also, chocolate.

6. i met my husband at a grocery store when i was a 16 year old baby.

he was in the cool crowd at his school.

i was not in the cool crowd at my school.

7. if i could do it all over again, every single one of my babies would be home birth babies.

my fifth born was born in my bedroom, 

and i'd take a natural birth over medicated a million times over.

women are way more capable and powerful than given credit for by ourselves, other women,

and medical staff.

seriously, the female form is freakin' powerful and amazing when it's time to birth a baby.

just believe in yourself. 

that is all.

8. i despise the phrase, "my so and so is better than your so and so."
can.not.do.it.
it's really kind of mean.
and rude.
and i'm not a fan of rude.

9. the bedtime routine? not my thang.
daddy does bedtime,
i sit back quietly and kiss them goodnight when it's time.

10. i tried to join the air force once so we'd have a nice steady income
from both of us.
but my thyroid condition got in my way.

friday's top ten. 09.19.2014

your {not so weekly, except lately it has been weekly} dose of random.

in words and iphone images.

1. last sunday morning.

2. he froze. the giant crowd in the auditorium on wednesday night did him in.

and he wouldn't budge. 

then kicked and fought when i picked him up to carry him.

too. many. people, he says.
also, sleepy.

3. brennen: {walking up to me} "let me see how old you are." {squats, measuring tape in hand. extends tape} "wow, mom."

4. at group last night, this mister fell asleep on one of our friends. 

sweetest thing. 

then i caught him laying like this when i came to bed.

5. kanyon had a dream that if they were extra good, we would reward them with a surprise.
this dream resulted in him cleaning the kitchen, picking up the floor, and cleaning his room. unprompted.
and before school even started.
that's like a win without even trying.

6. sometimes breakfast looks like this:

7. at first glance, boobs.

right?

but no, those are just pictures on the shirt he drew.

8. we start 'em young 'round here.

 just kidding.

he wasn't really doing english or copy work.

but i had you fooled, didnt' i?

9. rain, you guys. r a i n.
and not like the usual,
pour for thirty minutes.
done!
no, no, no.
rain for days. and nights. and more days.
be still my ever lovin' heart.

10. speaking of rain.
bring. on. the. fall.
allthefall.

enjoy the weekend.
xoxo

friday's top ten 09.12.2014

dang. three weeks straight?

on. a. roll. y'all.

not having the instant gratification of instagram has awarded me time to really think

about what it is i want to log and write down and post.

i try to only facebook check when it is business related or when i'm sharing my blog

with my family on there. 

sometimes, though, i admit, when i am completely by myself, i may pop in an extra time or two.

but i try not to scroll. i try to just check my groups and be done.

so. here it is:

1. guys. it's supposed to below 70F again this weekend (68 today, 70 tomorrow) and rainy. eek! 

i sort of start feeling like i'm in oklahoma again when it rains and feels like this this time of year.

2. so. i'm sort of obsessed with the myers-briggs personality types. mostly my own.

and mine happens to be the rarest of all types, INFJ.

and if you want to know more about my type, 

i made a pinterest board and, uh, it totally explains me. a lot.

and makes so much that i was confused about for so long make sense.

'tis also why i when i get weird or off feelings about someone, 

they are usually spot on. i could never (and still can't) explain the why behind it.

but now i know that getting those weird vibes is something normal among INFJ'ers.

 

3. if you can guess what is going on here, you will win a prize.

note: prize is a pretend prize. and i will reveal what is actually happening in a few posts.

4. i used to feel like this when accessorizing. 

but since i've become a jewelry consultant

i feel like i am in the know and i am fully confident in how to put myself together.

that feels good, y'all.

5. i love him. 

 and i'm hoping we actually get to go out on a date tomorrow night.

my ideal situation is to have a sitter always willing to sit for us.

but no such luck. yet. i'm confident thee perfect sitter is out there.

out kids are easy. and we pay.

6. i be going out with a girlfriend tonight!

{insert redonk happy dance to the tune of "shake it off"}

7. this dog. she literally lays and sits against me all. the. time.

and if i go into the bathroom? 

she sits against the door til i walk out.

she's just a tad clingy.

i love 'er. 

but sometimes i gotta push her off me.

8. also, and somewhat related:

after spending over an hour belly laughing

like a fool last night

over cat meme's on pinterest,

i want a kitten.
 

i want a black kitten. like so:

gimme all da black cats!

9. all the fall Target coffee is on the shelves now.

*oh happy, happy sigh.

10. peeps everywhere are popping out babies or turning up pregnant.

and i'm over here all,

am i done? are we done?

we said we're done.

why are my ovaries jumping?

did my uterus just verbally ask for more babies?!
no, we're done.

we're done!

i think we're done.

five kids really do eat a lot.

we should be done.

blasted baby fever.

peace.

xoxo