Archives for August 2013

August 30, 2013 By 3 Comments

Peace Out

Today I’m planning on chilling out.  Like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air style.  We have a pretty not-very-exciting day planned, minus one doctor’s appointment today due to a mishap that involved a rope lowering a storm trooper over our stair railing and someone slipping on our floors in their socks.  It was a total fluke.  But I digress.

So my game plan for the day…get our chill on…make cookies…we’re totally having pizza for dinner and not the kind that takes any amount of work, but instead the kind that’s $5 and already cooked and waiting for you at Little Caesers…God bless Little Caesers.  I’m making all little Kelley boys take a nap so I can get my create on…I’m going to eat said cookies we are going to make…I talk a lot about eating sweets on here don’t I…geesh.  Let’s see.  I think we’ll watch a movie…maybe go fishing.  Play the lottery…I bet Huddy would pick winning numbers…I kid.  Kind of.  I digress, again.

You get it…today is one for a whole lot of good nothingness.  My mind is zonked.  I tried to think of a cool or fun or enlightening post for today and I came up completely empty headed.  I’m done for the week…and that’s just how I’m rollin’.  So I leave you with this Friday Fun Fact…a list of things Amon has put in our toilet since Huddy stood on the top of it to try and reach his toothpaste and cracked the top of the toilet seat in half and the repercussion is there has been no lid to close keeping Amon from the watery goodness he so loves and apparently none of us…not myself, Josh, Harper, Huddy or Sol can remember to close the bathroom door and therefore when you realize Amon is quiet, turns out he’s either A) sticking anything and everything in the toilet or B) asleep under the kitchen table.  Without further ado…

-His hands.  I may have even watched in horror as he licked them one time after doing so.  Not a proud mom moment.  I was overwhelmed with mortification and then feeling really sorry for this 4th child.

-His large stuffed Simba lion.

-$22 Bare Minerals make-up brush.  Busted him swirling that baby around in 2 Kelley boys morning urine.  Did you just throw up a bit?  I tossed it and upon checking out at Ulta with my new one I learned it was a twenty-two flippin’ dollar brush.  Who knew.  Clearly not me.

-Toilet paper roll.

-Bath toys.

-Bristle blocks.

-Spoon.

-My hairbrush.  Which again with the morning urine.  I need to teach my boys how to flush.

-And a mini M&M tube.

He did some serious toilet dunking in a short amount of no-toilet-lid time.  Don’t be fooled by his adorable face…he takes mischief to a whole new level.

And I’m peacing out.  See you guys Monday.  Enjoy the long weekend.

Happy Friday.

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August 29, 2013 By 2 Comments

Currently…

Listening:  The sound of the air conditioner.  That’s right.  Amon is asleep, Harper is at school and Huddy & Sol are at MDO.  I’m camped out on the couch taking care of business.  And blogging.

Eating:  Nothing currently, but that could easily change.  Amon and I did hammer some BBQ chips at lunch.  And sadly, I did not try either of those yummy recipes yesterday evening.  Don’t be fooled, it was not due to my amazing willpower, oh no.  Unfortunately, the Heaven in a Crock Pot was suppose to cook for 3 hours and the Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies had to rest in the fridge for like 3 hours as well.  Who has time for all that?  Not me.  So I resorted to a handful of chocolate and peanut butter chips straight from the freezer.  #classy  I am going to try the cookies this weekend though.  Hopefully.

Drinking:  Water.  That’s not very exciting is it? I should lie and say I’m maxed out all relaxed with a margarita.  Yeah, that’s what I’ll put next time.

Wearing:  My uniform…jeans and a tee.  I’m so predictable.  Always.

Feeling:  A bit light hearted.  Yesterday was for the birds and today I’m thinking about September and Huddy’s birthday and that is fun.  Maybe because he talks about it every single day.  Huddy is this amazingly, sensitive, compassionate, loving kid who just so happens to have an obsession with guns, knives, swords….ummm, pretty much any violent item.  I’m sure a flame thrower would rock his world along with some nun chucks and bombs.  He told me he wanted gun cupcakes for his birthday.  Oy.  I may have just purchased these at Hey Yo Yo to adorn his cupcakes.

Weather:  Beautiful.  August was a weird month in Tennessee because we had days like today which are crazy nice and then like 2 weeks of a monsoon.  Crazy amounts of rains for days and days and days.  I got in some good running numbers this morning, but I’m not going to hit my goal this month and I blame A) The rain B) Our local community center for closing down during the rain mess because they were refinishing the gym floor which you have to walk across to get to the track and C) myself…I’m tired.

Wanting:  A nap.  And cookies.  And maybe a coke and a vacation to go see Ashley in Florida.  Yes, that would all do just nicely.  Oh, and I really want to quilt this quilt.  Swoon.  Big time.

Needing:  To work.  I always feel like I have to milk every last kid free or kid sleeping moment for all its worth.  I should be creating and getting my hands dirty right now.

Thinking:  About sustainability in Swaziland.  I read THIS today by Seth Barnes and it just makes so much sense.  My heart is always pulled towards Swaziland…our carepoint with Children’s HopeChest…towards these amazing people.  Cannot wait to touch ground there this year.  Exciting times people, exciting times.

Enjoying:  The stillness of our house.  It’s quiet.  There are no toys thrown all over the floor.  I can actually sit and think for a minute and eat a snack without having to share it or hide in my closet.  Heck, I could even go to the bathroom alone…right now.  Amon’s nap time on Huddy and Sol’s MDO days is a very good time my friends, so very very good.

Happy Thursday!

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August 28, 2013 By 4 Comments

Appreciation

I started to take a nap because apparently you can’t get rid of exhaustion in just a day or two.  Apparently you need more sleep 🙂 Brea and I have a carpool gig going and today is Brea’s day so I sent all the little Kelley boys off for a nap and I laid down on our couch with my Mom’s favorite blanket and I closed my eyes.  Pretty confident I slept for 17 minutes and then my phone rang.  It wasn’t the call I was hoping to get and I may have cried over the phone to the nurse on the other end.  Insurance can be pretty dang sucky sometimes.  I’m grateful for it, but they sure do make you work for services.  I started to sulk.

My head hurts and I’m tired, but God brought appreciation to my mind.  I gotta watch this attitude of mine sometimes…it can be a beast.  Thankful for a God who put me in check today.

I’m appreciative for the doctor who called me back because his nurse told him she could tell I was upset.  He went to bat for us and didn’t have to, but he still did.  Then called to personally talk with me about it and confirm my thoughts on the sucktasticness of insurance sometimes.  He made me feel better.  He told me he really felt like eventually everything would be just fine and that he was not giving up.  What doctor does that?  He could have just let his nurse drop the news on us, but when she voiced concern…when she mentioned I seemed really sad about the insurance company’s decision, he called me back personally.  I like this guy.  And I appreciate him today…for his kindness and thoughtfulness and his empathy.

I’m appreciative of Mr. Ricky at the post office today.  I had one million individual key fob packages to ship off to say “thank you” to all those donating in honor of Amon.  I was at his counter a looooooong time.  The proof is in the length of my receipt.  Each package heading out all over the world…Alaska, Canada, Australia, New York, Montana, Georgia and so many many other states.  Mr. Ricky just smiled and chatted with me about the kids and family and everything in between.  He inquired about why I had so many many packages today and I got to tell him about your kindness and love.  I appreciate Mr. Ricky today…for his patience and work ethic and for making me feel like a valued customer.  I appreciate you guys…for your generosity and love.

I’m appreciative of Ms. Sharon, Huddy and Sol’s new MDO teacher.  I appreciate how she called me at home after meeting the boys because I had stumped everyone there with the fact that there were 2 Kelley brothers…same family…same age…different birthdays 4 months apart.  They thought I had put down the wrong birthday for one of them.  She said everyone was anxious to meet them.  And she called because she did not want to discuss anything in front of Huddy and Sol or any of the other parents that may not be appropriate for them to hear.  She was being considerate and I truly appreciated her discretion upon first meeting us.  She has an Ethiopian grandson and she said she could see some traits in Sol, but wanted to talk with me first before she said anything.  I appreciate Ms. Sharon…her consideration of Solomon and Hudson and our family, her discretion about an unknown situation and for her kind words about my boys.

I’m appreciative of our friends Josh and Melody…the Barnes family.  Today is their youngest son Luke’s 18th birthday and Harper insisted we get him a present.  My kids adore both of their boys.  They are one of the sweetest families we’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.  They watch our kids almost every Sunday night so Josh and I can go to our couples Bible study.  My mom gave us a date night every week.  She was crazy fantastic.  It continues to blow my mind how I lost one person, my mom, but it feels like I lost everything.  She was just that important to me…to us and our kids.  The Barnes family…they ease the pain a bit.  They make over our kids like my mom did.  Their boys are older, college and high school age, and yet Jarred and Luke play and love on our kids like I have never seen.  They all indulge them and humor them and smother them with attention and love.  They never act annoyed or put out by them.  Melody and Josh are raising two amazing men.  I know it’s because they are amazing people themselves.  They make us feel like family.  I appreciate the entire Barnes family…the way they give of their time and energy and love to all 6 of us.  It means the world.

And I’m appreciative of Josh Kelley.  He doesn’t get near enough props as he deserves.  He’s been working nights this week and he really busts his butt for our family.  He’s so smart and hardworking and honest.  I love that he values honesty.  That being truthful is important to him and his heart.  And he rarely complains.  He puts up with a lot and he juggles with the best of them.  He works hard at his own job and then comes home and works hard around our house and for me and the kids.  He fixes lunches and does laundry and dishes and gives baths…when it’s monthly bath time :)…he understands how exhausted I am at the end of the day and we both work hard to share the responsibilities when were home together.  I appreciate Josh Kelley…his hard work and the way he loves us big and how he chooses to show us through action and not just words.  Incredibly proud to be his wife.

Finding appreciation in the day was just what my heart needed.  God brought these moments and these people flooding into my mind.  He made me see how much value this day held and it did my attitude good.

And now I’m considering saying to heck with this no sweets things during the week thing.  I’m thinking about making Heaven In A CrockPot…right?  With that kind of name surely it will be delicious.

(picture source)

Or maybe just some Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  I’ll let you know if I cave.  I can never be fully trusted around sweets when I’m thrown a slight curve ball.  Never.

(picture source)

Peace out Wednesday!

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August 27, 2013 By 1 Comment

Order Love

I’m happy to report I was in bed by 10:30 last night…baby steps folks, baby steps 🙂

The boys started MDO today.  They are excited and I am excited for them.  Josh is home for a bit this morning and then it’s just me, Amon and packaging a ton of key fobs to ship out all over the U.S today.

We have raised $3,280 so far towards our $5K Heart Walk goal.  You can read about it HERE.  There’s still plenty of time to make a donation on our fundraising page HERE .  And if you make a donation of $15 or more, as a thank you, I will mail you a rockin’ key fob.  After you donate just send me a message HERE and let me know your mailing address.

Orders have been hitting the mail.  I love sending out all these pretty packages.  If you order something from me, you will absolutely know when it arrives.  Pretty, bright, fun packages are the best kind.

This 8×10 canvas headed out to Ruth in Texas.  Love the map.  Love the colors.  Love the simplicity and depth to the words.  Hope it’s just what you were wanting Ruth.  Thank you!

Susan in Iowa ordered this 9×12 canvas.  Hearts and an anchor and polka dots and chevron and bunting were all on the docket.  Thank you so much Susan.

Two sweet baby gifts for Cheryl here in Tennessee and Becca in Texas.  Baby lovelies for sure.  Thank you ladies and hope the mommas to be love their goodies.

This camera strap and key fob set is heading out this week to June in Florida.  Thank you June…hope everyone loves them.

My friend Erica ordered this 11×14 canvas.  It was absolutely fitting for their sweet girls…newly sisters…and sure to be world changers.  I hope it’s treasured for a lifetime.

And this 8×8 headed out to a couple here in Tennessee who rightly so deserve some extra love in an incredibly tough season.  People need to be blessed.  People need to be loved on and encouraged.  And sometimes, by people who don’t really “know” them all that well.

 

Excited to get started on more orders and happy for these to have left my hands.  Thank you so much for your continued support and business.  It’s an honor to get to do something I completely love and enjoy.  Thank you!!!!

Have an awesome Tuesday!

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August 26, 2013 By 6 Comments

T to the IRED

One day I’ll sleep more.  I just know it.  Surely.  Right?  One day I won’t be absolutely exhausted…like falling asleep in the car rider line.  Like nodding off while reading books.  Like wanting to lay down in Harper’s 1st grade classroom floor and take a little siesta after school.

Someone commented on FB “Where do you find the time?”  Ugh.  I wish I had a time maker because then I would make more time and still get sleep.  I’m beginning to wonder exactly how long one can run on not so much sleep.  I know I’ll do my infamous crash and burn eventually…and it won’t be pretty…it’s a vicious cycle.

There’s just so much I need and want to do and way too much to think about and honestly my mind runs just about all the time…until I fall asleep.  Then the alarm goes off far too early and I’m up and going again.  Sometimes I look back on a day and think, “What exactly did we do today?”  Some days are just like that.  I have all these little humans to some what care for and I’m pretty sure they are taking my brain cells as well 🙂  In fact, Amon just brought me two trivets from our kitchen.  What?  He cannot be trusted.

But I’m noticing how they are growing and changing and time is really slipping away fast.  Crazy fast.  I’ve been listening more intently to friends who have older kids…like kids in college and high school and the things they say and how they feel as their ‘babies’ are heading off to college or walking through this new generation which is so scary sometimes.  I’ve been listening to their words and advice they might not even know they are giving, but I’m tucking it away because it’s good, wise advice.  Advice from parents who have been there…they’ve weathered the “incredibly tired falling asleep in the car rider line” phase.  I want to take heed.  There are others who have gone before and I’m realizing I’ll be in their shoes before I know it because time is just a jerk like that.

So I’m incredibly tired today.  I could barely even put my thoughts together for this post.  In fact I’m about to read my 214th Berenstain Bear book for the day and we’ve rocked some therapy and I’ve worked on orders and room mom jazz and I’ve swept floors and cleaned other random things and I’ve fished more items than I would have liked out of the toilet today…cough, cough, Amon…and I am just so very tired.  And I look around at these little people…these little human beings which God entrusted Josh and myself with…and I know they won’t be little forever…and I like them…I really do.  But I’m still excited for bedtime and I don’t feel guilty about it one bit and I might even bump it up by 30 minutes and let us all get some extra much needed rest and quietness.  And for all those other tired mommas out there…working, stay-at-home, whatever you are…I hear ya…and I’m sitting asleep in the car rider line or traffic right along with you as the people behind you honk.  And to you I say, “Good job.  You rocked today.  You’re doing a damn fine job being the best mom you can be.  Kudos to you.  One day, surely, we’ll sleep.”

Happy Monday.

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August 23, 2013 By 2 Comments

Good Things

THANK YOU!!!!  You guys are crazy kind and I just really don’t know what else to say other than thank you, thank you, thank you!  We are already almost half way to our goal of 5K for the Heart Walk.  $2340 to be exact.  This is simply stellar.  I may have been pretty weepy yesterday as my phone would go off to alert me of another donation.  If you didn’t read what we are up to yesterday then you can READ THE POST HERE.

If you still want to donate in honor of Amon to help aid in heart research CLICK HERE to donate towards our family’s fundraising goal.  I am just so excited about this.  And if you make a donation of $15 or more in honor of Amon, as a thank you, I will mail you a pretty little key fob.  I’ve already got my list going and cannot wait to start cutting up fabric and sewing away.  And don’t forget, after you donate just send me a message HERE and let me know your mailing address.

Huge happy Friday thank yous.  My heart is so full.  You’re incredible.

Okay so other good things have been happening around our house.  I have been working like a mad woman getting so many orders done and accomplished and instagramming it up all along the way.  You can find me at pitterpatterart and follow along.

I adore when my kids want to create right along side me.  Sunday morning Harper and I chilled out and got busy creating.  I love when she does this.  I love her heart and I love her creative side.  They’re both really good ones.

Amon Kelley you are ridiculous.  Ridiculous.  We’ve had some pretty easy happy babies, but he easily takes the cake.  Minus the whole communicating thing 🙂  Crazy, happy, wild, into EVERYTHING, fun, loud as all get out, sweet and dramatic.  We’re all wild about Amon.  And we think he’s kind of wild about us.

We got a chance to eat lunch with Josh this week…not once, but twice.  I know three small Kelley boys who were thrilled.  Huddy, Sol and Amon easily think their dad is the best.  And I am coming to terms with the fact that Amon likes Josh better than me.  It’s rude, but I’m dealing.

My sewing machine recently broke and has been at the repair place for 3 weeks.  THREE LONG WEEKS.  So many things I’ve been wanting to sew.  So many trips to my MIL’s house to say, “Can I use your machine for a minute?”  But I finally got her back this week and she is sewing like a dream now.  Be still my heart.

And last, but certainly not least, Amon decided to take his 4th kidness to a whole new level.  I was working and Sol and Huddy were playing play-doh at the table with me.  I realized the house was far too quiet.  I looked over at the boys and said, “Hey, do yall know where Amon is?”  They’re always my eyes and ears.  Huddy without even looking up from his play-doh said, “He’s asleep under the table.”

I peeked under and sure enough.  Dude was out like a light.  I proceeded to document with picture taking and then felt a little bad for him.  I promise he has a schedule and actually sleeps in his on crib, but he’s also this amazing little adaptable 4th kid who will apparently rock a nap out on our hardwood floors under the kitchen table.  I did scoop him up after lots of pictures and put him in bed.  I like him.

That about wraps it up.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for stopping by.  Thanks for being kind and nice and generous and thoughtful and encouraging.  This week didn’t start out so grand, but my my my, how it’s turned around.  Hope your weekend is super good.

Happy Friday.

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August 22, 2013 By 8 Comments

That Time I Asked You For Money

I’m smiling.  I really am.  A big smile too.  I shouldn’t ask you for money.  I mean, we’re internet friends and usually you only ask close, in person friends and relatives for money right?!?!?!  And I hear that can get pretty messy 🙂  Josh Kelley laughed when I told him I had set a $5K goal for this year’s Heart Walk.  And rightly so.  It’s a lot of money.  I definitely know that much.  But this is important to us.  Our family and Amon have been greatly impacted by congenital heart defects.  Amon and his heart are vital to our family.  He made us a “Kelley party of 6”.  I hope when I write about Amon…when you read my words…you’re able to see and hear and feel the love our family has for him.  It’s huge people.  Ginormous.  My heart is totally full…he’s our ace of hearts.  God blessed our socks right off with this kid.  And we could not be more grateful to Him.  We’re also over the moon about his doctors and surgeon and the hospital for all they did for his sweet little heart.  What they did for him, oh my goodness, we could never repay.

  Last year I literally watched out his hospital window as people walked to and from the Heart Walk.  I decided last year, that we would definitely walk and raise money in 2013.  I even put the walk and raising money for The American Heart Association on my list of goals for 2013.  It’s just crazy important to our family and many other families as well.  I know it might not be important to you or your family and that’s totally cool…I get it and no worries at all.  But if you feel so inclined, we would greatly appreciate any donations made in honor of Amon.

You can donate and check out our personal fundraising page HERE.  We are currently at $900 and that is simply amazing.  So a huge thank you for those who already donated.  I have already begun working on “thank you” notes…we are truly grateful.  You guys are the best!

So there you go.  We can now put this awkward post behind us…except when I bring it up again between now and October 12…but we can reminisce and laugh jolly loud laughs…”bahahahahahah, remember that time I asked you for money.”  Good times people, good times.

Oh and I totally forgot the best part.  If you make a donation of $15 or more HERE in honor of Amon, as a thank you, I will mail you a nifty key fob.  I stocked up on some brand new fabrics just last night and I hope I get to put them to use.  Maybe I’ll get to make 273.333333333333 key fobs and will knock this goal out together.  After you donate, just send me a message HERE and let me know your mailing address.  It would be an honor to reach this goal with your help.  Big, big thank yous in advance.

Happy Thursday!

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August 21, 2013 By 2 Comments

Nothing Worth Sharing…

“Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.”

-Avett Brother Murder In The City

Maybe my all time favorite Avett Brothers song.  Makes me tear up every time I hear it.  So many truths in that little sentence…so much to love.  But family can be so much more than a name or blood or same lineage.  Family is formed through relationships…doing life together…walking through the good and the bad and everything in between hand-in-hand.  Encouraging one another.  Loving one another.  Keeping it real with one another.  Loving Jesus together.  Family isn’t easy…at least in my opinion…it takes work and a lot of selflessness and God’s love working through it’s members, but it is so very much worth it.  Just feeling pretty dang grateful for my family today…my little tribe of 6…plus all the other people who care for us even though we don’t carry the same name or blood.

Yesterday was a much better day.  Today is going to be good too…I just know it.  I’m busy working all day and all my wee Kelley boys are busy playing.  Thank you for the kind and encouraging words.  Isn’t it nice to know we are just not alone in this messy, beautiful life.  I love it.  Thank you for stopping by and reading.  Crazy blessed you take time out of your day to read my tiny little piece of the inter webs.  I cannot say enough how much I appreciate you!!!

Happy Wednesday!

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