Happy New Year...Enough Said!

What are your New Years Plans?  Parties?  Low Key? Dinner & a Movie? Relaxing on the couch? 

Maybe your just planning to pop the top on some Asti and kiss the one you love as the clock strikes Midnight?  Maybe you have a Gala event where you get to dress up and drink bubbly out of real glasses, wearing masks and confetti fills your hair and glass at Midnight? 

How about plans for 2015? Aspirations?  Goals?  Resolutions?

Think it through. It is not an easy process. I mean, how many years have you made those darn resolutions and then...come April...your have already ruined them? (Maybe even sooner!)

Why don't you be clear and honest with yourself?  I mean setting goals is a great thing, setting limitations and working hard at staying on track, but don't forget to be REALISTIC!

I chose a banner with Art on it because my 2015 is going to be HUGE!  I am listening to God and following his lead when it comes to my future.  I am going to start being more artistic, more shabby chic and putting the things that I LOVE TO DO on the forefront.  Gray Gables Glass and Goods is my aspiration.  I have this old Carriage House that has been roofed, but that is it and it is time to make it my own.  It even has a loft, which will come in handy with inventory, as I grow.  My plans are to get started with the new year and hopefully have sales, small at first, by February and by mid- to- end year have my shop set up.  The best part is that my Hubby has tapped into my dream and channeled my own creativity and is ecstatic to help me make this OUR reality. 

I would also love to say that I want to get fit again...(like every year!) and work on being a BETTER Mom (Hey, I have made HUGE leaps and bounds this past year!), of course patience still needs some handling and I would love to get things here at Gray Gables Farms tied up.  We are so close but yet...so far away!  

Another BIG goal is to unload our former residence.  Right now it is a Rental and I hate that!  I mean, it is such a great house, clean, nice and a lot of love went into that home that I am hoping to put it on the market and find a buyer that will appreciate it as much as we did.

Let 2015 be THE YEAR of greatness!  It is time to make my Dreams come true, do what I truly love and become more inspired than ever in my life!

Here's to hoping you are able to make your dreams come true, your resolutions meet fruition and a great start to a great year!

Happy New Year all!

~Kel

Diary of a Sick Kid (from a BAD Mom)

Am I a BAD Mom?  I am starting to wonder.  The treatment that I have experienced in the past 24 hours from Family and Friends is making me feel as if I did something wrong. 

I have kids.  Kids, who are sick ... A LOT!  We started with this coughing crap (pardon my french..but that is what it is!) on the 18th.  I debated every morning...do I let my five year old go to school or do I keep her home.  I chose to let her go.  We talked and I found that a) she is not the ONLY kid sick at school and b) it is 2 days and then break. 



The sickness followed well into her break, through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day even.  Long days.  She was wore out and it showed.  She was a trooper though- cranky, but not to bad and she knew when to fold 'em and head her butt to bed for some rest!



So, that brings us to Monday.  We had a sick weekend.  We laid low, relaxed, watched movies and she was carrying a less than normal appetite. We tried to just get food in her belly...broth, tomato soup, spaghetti o's.  Anything she liked that was warm and easy to eat/drink and would provide substance but not weight in her sensitive belly. 

I called first thing in the morning to the Peds office. Busy....  I tried again... Busy... I decided to get sneaky and find another number. BINGO!  It was shortly after 10 when I finally got through, thanks to my Super Mom Detective work, and tried to pull the feel sorry for me and just write me a script...please!  No go.  But, we did get an appointment for early afternoon, same day! 

Off to pick up my girls and head to the office.  Surprisingly happy, my children were, and sat pretty well while we waited for my oldest's name to be called. 

Off to the room we go.  Number 13...as my daughter pointed out. I have no idea what the significance is, but she made a mention of it twice, so it must mean something to her. As the nurse is going through the motions she notices that my youngest is stuffy as well and lucky for me, pulled her chart for a quick go over with our doc too! 




At last, the Doc comes in.  She is good.  I mean on the level with my kids, asking them what they got for Christmas and not looking to me for answers. (If you are a MOM, you get this.. It's a language thing)




The News...

My oldest jumps on the table and Doc starts listening to her "deep breaths" and then I hear it... "Oh, it's Pneumonia" - OK...I was like "OH NO."  I am sure my face said it all.  Fear, scared, concern- all bubbled from me. She reassures me that this flu season has been one for the books, even telling me that her average for pneumonia is 5 cases PER WEEK.  That is insane.

 

Then comes my youngest and I swear I prayed and prayed audibly.  Lucky for us, she just has a cold. And let's hope it does not develop into anything further.



Our PLAN of ACTION.

My oldest is under an antibiotic (without penicillin, since last year around this time we found out she was allergic!) and breathing treatments on the Neb, 4 times a day.  You can image how this went over.  We have had the Neb since last year, when my then, two year old, had to use it.  My big girl was NOT HAPPY about this news.  It took a little tough love and explaining that she has a lung infection and we either do our breathing treatments or we are heading to the hospital for a stay. "OK Mom, I will do these Breathing Treatments, anything to not have to go to the Hospital!"  


We are now in day 2 and we are noticing some changes with her. Color is good, cough is getting better and she seems almost back to normal.  We have a recheck on Friday, and I have been sending a lot of prayers up for this to be behind us. 

Friends are now telling me that once you have pneumonia, your chances of getting again are high, or anything respiratory in nature. EEK!  I am still in utter shock that my five year old has pneumonia.  It is terrifying. I make her bundle up to even go near the outside air- scarf over mouth, hat and hood up, gloves on.  It's no joke there.

But, when we do our recheck and hoping all is good to go - I will be asking about the Pneumonia Vaccine- which honestly, up until a day ago, I had NEVER even heard of. 


Word from a Mother:  

If you kid is sick, maybe it IS best to take them to the Docs- better safe than sorry.  All I keep thinking is that if I had taken her in at the beginning of the week, maybe it would not have turned into pneumonia at all.  I guess that is the should-a  could-a would-a talking.

I wish all of you LUCK during this season.  I think it is going to be BRUTAL!

Until the new year! 

~Kel

T swift Mashup and its effin Ah-Mazin

If you have NOT checked this out yet...prepare yourself! 

Its the best thing I have seen and even has T SWIFT herself going twitter crazy over it! 

Well...what are you waiting for....

  

CLICK HERE:

Blank Space // Style (Taylor Swift Mash-Up)

So, who is responsible for this totally awesome mash up?  

Nashville-based singer Louisa Wendorff enlisted her friend Devin Dawson to help sing an acoustic mashup of Swift's 1989 hits "Style" and "Blank Space." 

The clip was uploaded on Dec. 23 but didn't get that much traction until Swift herself Tweeted out a link to it four days later, saying she was "obsessed." 

Would that not be AMAZING!!

In response, we find a pic of Louisa on Twitter:

With the caption "What is Life?!?" - I am sure she is asking herself this all to often now.  

Be sure to check her out on YouTube and her album is on ITunes also! 

Arrow- Louisa Wendorff

And last but NOT least- check out her website: 

http://www.louisawendorff.com/  

where you can WATCH/ BUY and JOIN her mailing list! 

This girl is one to watch!  She has a ton of great songs in her portfolio and definitely had our family in awww of her talent and beautiful vocals!

I can't wait to see where the future takes her!! (And yes, I approve, I endorse and I will promote!) 

~Kel

Christmas Break.... December 22nd-January 5th

Be back in January!  

With kids off of school and taking some much needed time off of work...Hubby is on shutdown- so we are going to turn off the cell phones...the computers...the tablets... and enjoy some family time! 

Don't worry! If you enjoy my Blog, I will be back December 5th with tons of updates on our holiday...our life and our projects!  I am working on pictures as we speak!  We have been BUSY working on Gray Gables Farm!

Happy Holidays ALL!

~Kel

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas?

Ehh....I am trying so hard to whip this place into shape.  It has been such a long road to even get to where we are sitting right now.

Pictures of our girls in the living room.

Chandelier in the Dining Room

Last night my Hubby hung the pictures on the bare walls, hung my valance and curtain rod in the dining room and I took on the challenge of cleaning the disgustingly dirty windows.  It started off super exciting.  I mean, I have brand new Hanson windows in this house and they are the ones that you hit the button and can clean both sides because they POP out!  

How wonderful...ly...awkward!  

Mirror over entry table
and Otis too!

I mean, to clean the top outside you have to POP the bottom one and have the top lean on that one and doing this by myself was NOT THE WAY TO GO!  But, I fought through the challenge and came out on top!  Cleanest windows around!

Living room picture hung!

I am happy with the way things are shaping up.  We have a lot to do still, as we are hosting Christmas at our house- it's an HONOR and our FIRST time!   I have been OVER and OVER my Menu and OVER again!.

Dining Chairs

On our agenda tonight - recovering these 1890 Jacobean style dining chairs.  Wish us luck!  I have pinned a bunch of things- so here's hoping to a success on our quest!













I will be signing off for a while during the holidays, but have no fear, I will return and have pictures and content to share (to say the least!).

Happy Holidays from OUR FAMILY to YOURS!

Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  (2015 is going to be the BEST year yet!)

~KEL

Christmas Video Shares!

Hi All!

I guess today is shaping to be ALL ABOUT KIDS!

I made a video for Christmas and thought I would share with my Blogging Universe!

Our Family Christmas Video 2014

Merry Christmas All!

~Kel

The MUSIC stopped...

This post is going to be rather boring for those who don't have children, irrelevant to those, perhaps that do.  The purpose of my blog started with these little girls that I get to call my own!  While, I love hitting crazy topics, fun stuff and everything in between, but my sole purpose was to leave something behind for them to have that was ME.  Something that dealt with my feelings, my thoughts, my memories and it was perfect timing as we have this huge old house that is OUR focus! 



So, this post is going to be about my girls. (as many are!)



Thursday, December 18th 2014

You can home from school and I could tell the minute you got off that yellow bus that something was wrong.  You were not quite yourself.  You really have not been this whole week, but today was different.  The air was thick...the world was quiet. 

The MUSIC stopped. 

The Music that is YOU stopped. 



We walked inside the warm house (as it was snowing off and on all day but no accumulation) and you were talking about me not being able to see what was in your folder. I thought it was a Christmas gift for Dad and I, since you said he couldn't look when I suggested that he help you with it. We ordered you upstairs to take care of it.  You said something about it having to stay in there until Monday...  This made us look at each other, your Dad and I and I think it hit us both at the same time...Your BEHAVIOR Chart. 


We needed to see it...demanded to see it and you instantly started to cry.  My poor girl got BLUE... You were on a Green Streak (Green is the best) and have NEVER gotten anything but green.  You were devastated.  I was shocked.  

We did not yell.  We did not reprimand you.  We TALKED.  We knew it has something to do with the bathroom....as your Teacher put Not Making Good Decisions in the Bathroom.  You said your BFF crawled under the stalls into your locked stall while you were going potty and you did not have enough time to get out of the stall before your Teacher came into the bathroom.  Then you said that your Teacher said you were arguing with her.  I bet you were.  You knew that the consequence was not getting Green for the day. 




I must admit that I am trying to believe her.  I feel that if things went down the way she is saying...swearing they did, that this is a little unjust- but maybe she got a warning and argued and had to get Blue?  Our advise to her was if that happens again, tell her BFF that she does NOT want to get in trouble and move to another stall.  




We all moved on.  Her Dad and I, although shocked, moved on.  It really is no big deal, we make a mistake and we learned - all good, right!  









Well, tell that to a sensitive five year old who spent the rest of the night in tears because of this consequence to her actions.  She had a hard time getting to sleep because it was bothering her so much.  As I said, my poor girl!  I tried to tell her that it was a lesson and we learned from it.  I tried to sing "Let it Go" to her and told her to follow Elsa's advice here. 

She woke up this morning still harboring her feelings for her mistake.  

This was one tough lesson to learn, I guess, for her. 

I am proud of her for telling the truth to us, even if she did initially try to HIDE it.  I am a little disturbed that she is  not letting it go and hoping that today, she gets Green and can move on.  I don't want her to be the type of person that seeks perfection and can not handle constructive criticism, if that makes sense.  Feelings were hurt, I get that, she understands why but she strongly believes that she could not have gotten out of the stall before her Teacher came in because she was struggling with the lock.  It is one of those situations where you say I'm sorry and move on because it really is a lose/lose battle!

Lessons learned. 

Plus, it's almost time for the Big Guy to come down the Chimney!  Last day of school/last day of work for Hubby and I and we are in operation tie up the lose ends!

~KEL

My Big Girl- the one who holds the world on her shoulders....

The actions of others DOES matter in this WORLD...

This post is a serious one...one that hurts, one that involves the death of innocent children... One that the news kept brief in my opinion- maybe because it is not on US soil?  Perhaps because US people are not affected, but does that change anything?  

Blood stains the floor of the Pakistan Army Public School in Peshawar, attacked by Taliban Gunman...

I am talking about the latest Taliban Attack on the Pakistan Army Public school.  The images sicken me to my core. Those are children... They are the children of the Pakistan Army, the innocent ones in a society that is seriously EFF'ed up to be quite FRANK.  

148 people dead after being gunned down.  I mean, think about that... They were going about their school day when the Taliban gunman ATTACKED - going into the school and I would say causing chaos but I think more appropriate than that is they KILLED!   They HUNTED.  It gives me chills to even think about it.  To look at the pictures released by the Media is horrific. To think that this is what the violence has come to- killing children.  

The overturned furniture throughout the school and bullet holes puncturing the walls.

They did not stop until they sought death on all.  Including themselves... They took the high road, the easy way out - ANIMALS that they were.  Is torture enough?  Is killing them in cold blood enough for these Taliban Gunman?  I think NOT.  I am outraged, I am hurt, I am grieving for those family..for those mothers who sent their children to school yesterday, not knowing that that was the last time they would see their child.  

I know that some opinions are that this happened in Pakistan, and that they live in violence- but I feel that this is pushing the limits.  

What are they supposed to do? 

I mean, think about it.  There is this group that stops at nothing and kills everything/everyone, trying to overrun the Government and you are STUCK.  You can't come to America...It is not an option....what do you do?   I'll tell you...You try to LIVE a decent life. You join the Pakistan Army and try to stop it, try to find the good...and then YOUR child is killed by those who you thought you were protecting them from. 

Beginning of the 3 day mourning period- declared by Pakistan's Government.

Perspective my friends...

I am showing the media pictures because THIS IS REALITY...It is not TV, it is not some story about a girl who parties to much...It is about DEATH.. It is not kind, it is not easy, it will upset your stomach- but it is real. 

#PeshawarAttack
Words are not needed...powerful image.

Prayers to the families during this awful time.  I don't know, as a Mother, how you go forward.  This is tragedy at its best.

#heavyhearttoday
#theywerechildren
#eyeforeye
#PeshawarAttack

~Kel

Pictures from Reuters/NaveshChitrakar from Yahoo News.

Blog Poster Absent.... it's real people....

Oh my goodness...Pardon my absence, really... Last week, the SHIT hit the fan!  My life went spiraling OUT OF CONTROL and it has literally taken me a week to get back to normal (only to be hit right square between the eyes again this afternoon!) 

I am seriously stressed. I mean, I wish *someone would stop and think that maybe I AM STRESSED!  I think that a certain person ONLY thinks of himself...and forgets that for one, I am NOT a child, and two, I have a lot of stuff on my shoulders too!   I am balancing Home, Job, Kids and trying to get Christmas in order...of which that other person was not a participant at ALL-  I am a little bitter right now, so excuse my tongue lashing. 


Last week I had a falling out with my Bosses Boss...yeah, super fun!  She ripped me up one side and down the other for, as I see it, a mistake that I was unaware of- I would have to be inside her head to know how to read into her emails as she saw the situation.  It wrecked me pretty good.  I actually called in Sick the next day for a "Mental Health" day to lick my wounds. And, if you must ask...NO, I am still not OK, nor do I think the things said...should have been!  But, the end of last week resulted in this person being so disgustingly nice to me in particular...that I am trying to let it go..





I made it to the weekend.  Had a nice evening (or so I thought) with my Hubby on Friday night, since he was home and spent my Saturday baking.

Do you have a Family Tradition around the Holidays?  

Family Cookies 2014

We do...ours is doing cut out sugar cookies. I am not talking six dozen or twelve dozen...we did over twenty dozen cookies!  We then frosted and decorated them.  It was an all day event and it was BRUTAL!  



My kids tried to help, my little one did an awesome job- but my oldest got bored SO fast!  Then, the decorating was a DISASTER!  They were all over the place...licking the spreaders, eating the sprinkles...They had their OWN tray of cookies that are there VERY own.  We could not even send them out- stop spreading germs!

Anyways...we got home (the girls and I) in time to get baths in and get ready for bed.  







At least our Sunday was pretty quiet!  Hubby was working on the tile floor in the Kitchen and Laundry room and might I add- looks awesome! (Excited!)





So, I guess I would have to say that the weekend was a nice one!  A little busy..but nice!

That brings me to TODAY.   I am at the weird part of my Relationship... I don't know if I will get crucified by stating this...but we are at the stage where we are apart so much and when we are together...his temper is short and he is saying I have an attitude or I am acting distant... Hmm..I wonder why!  I feel like I can not say ANYTHING without him getting snapping/grumpy or just treating me like I am stupid or a child.  I keep this shit to myself though.  

I know that is not right either...but better to not wake the sleeping lion...sometimes, right?  I don't want to fight everyday.. I don't want to be told that I am unappreciative..which is crap!  I just wish someone understood me too!  I am tired..I am busy- raising children is not a walk in the park.  I am alone.  Completely and utterly alone in this life and all I want is to be loved... BY HIM.  

He is going through thing with his  body aching -he has arthritis..and I get it - this is the IN Sickness and Health PART- and I am trying...but he wakes up in a BAD mood...I get it, I do..or try to- but I hate that I am the punching bag...(I get a crappy attitude) always the punching bag. I am just trying to help/to be there.. I ask how he is -not to be mean..but to make sure he can handle it, I guess. 

I feel like i should just NOT talk at all.

Frustrating...right!   



I know that this is a test...and I hope that we will overcome this one like we have the rest- but the cycle is getting old.  Being alone is getting old.  

Bad days are GETTING OLD!

Hopefully I wake up to a good day tomorrow... 

Especially since there are 10 days till Christmas! (and my shopping/wrapping is DONE!)

Because I LOVE this- 13 things YOUR Spouse will NEVER tell you:

1. He/she wishes they could hear you say, “Spouse’s Name. I love you,” more often.
2. He/she wishes you could sit down and plan your schedules together, instead of fitting them into whatever is left of your schedule.
3. He/she wants to be involved in your life, but feels shut out (on purpose) or left out (by default).
4. He/she is jealous of the time your job takes or may be thankful for your job, but wishes there was more time to be “us.”
5. He/she longs to hear what they’re doing well. It seems you usually only comment on the negative.
6. He/she wishes you would just listen. Don’t try to fix the situation. Don’t interrupt  with your own ideas or suggestions. Just listen.
7. He/she loves your laugh and smile. Why don’t we laugh together any more? What’s happening to us?
8. He/she wishes you would just be a man/woman of your word. Even in the “little” things like, “I’ll take out the trash before work on Wednesday nights.” Or, “I’ll be home by seven.”
9. He/she is tired of excuses. Couldn’t we both just admit and take responsibility when we make mistakes or forget something?
10. He/she would love to hear about your hopes, dreams, and desires. When did we stop confiding in one another?
11. He/she wonders what you’re doing when you’re not together, and why you are not as open to share your plans as you once were.
12. He/she wonders if you care about yourself more than about them.
13. He/she wishes you could enjoy sexual intimacy without talking about the kids or work in the middle of it. Or just have sex, period!

From: http://u.hd-lives.com/flash/us/index.html?sid=1034&dv1=ad1032-us&kw1=ad1032-us-qyc&uuid=7f3902f5-d585-4c53-5b74-2f4cb7e9c6c5

Thanks for letting me VENT!  

Share your frustrations of LIFE - in the Comment Section!

~Kel

Check me out on Twitter: @KelleyAmstutz