to pack or to stall?? hmmm....

Good Morning to all! What a busy weekend! The BRICKS was great friday night. We have been having about 300 jhi'ers coming the past two weeks that the school year has started. Its been a mad house, but so much fun! I can tell this is going to me a great ministry year at the BRICKS!! -for those that don't know, Davon is the director of an outreach ministry for junior high age at our church. It is mainly unchurched kids that come, hang out in a safe environment, and get to hear the gospel. Such a cool thing that we are a part of! 

Saturday morning I had training at church for childcare and then met Davon up at the park were he had set up a volunteer appreciation lunch. It was a great time, the boys were sweaty and exhausted, I forgot my camera- but we are getting our iphones September 1st! So I have no fear that my documentation of everything will be taken to the next level! 

Saturday night we attempted to start packing, but instead gave up and knit a coffee sleeve...coming to a rickrackstacks store near you!

so fall and so fabulous!

pumpkin spice tea....so excited about cooler weather!

Sunday, I woke up with a summer time cold, thanks to both of my boys sharing with me! Ugh, I hate feeling nasty in the summer time. Stuffed up, achey, and Davon thinks its weird when I say this, but breathing hot air out of my nose. Does this happen to anyone else? When I get sick the air that comes out of my nose seems hot? Ok, maybe weird, now that I typed that out I am tempted to delete it?? I do sound a little strange. But whatev. So, had a long nap, had pancakes and salad for dinner (I know-weird combo-I am NOT pregnant, just wanted something healthy along with the pancakes). Put the boys to bed and sang sweet songs with Miles, snuggled up in his toddler bed:)

Then after two hours of getting them to go to sleep. They finally did, but it was exhausting!

So instead, Davon and I watched reruns of our all time favorite show, Psych! Its airing again on October...watch it, you will not regret it. Its on USAnetwork. 

Anyway, I would be packing right now, but Davon and Jay ran to get newspaper, and Miles is sleeping, so hey, why not blog?? ...ok I think I hear the door, and since I nag him for not working just cause I am sitting, I better not be caught red handed, not working and playing on the computer! Have a great day!

Heroes in a half shell

Lately it has felt like fall is in the air. I love this time of year so much, especially when the mornings have a slight chill. I am mainly a "social" coffee drinker. I love it as a dessert, or a midafternoon snack, but if I drink it in the morning, its messes with my system. I feel like i have a 7 month old fetus kicking around in my belly with all the churning:) (sorry to much tmi?) So on cool fall mornings I drink a cup of pumpkin spice tea or chai. So delish. I just love the fall. Fires in the fire pit, jackets, oranges, browns, purples, apple picking, stews, soups, baking, candles that smell like cinnamon, halloween, costumes, candy, Hocus Pocus, Casper, snuggly nights, and on and on. I mean really who doesnt love it?!
Last weekend Davon and I went to a consignment sale and stumbled upon this number.

Its so rockin cool and for 5 bucks, who could beat that. Cowabunga.  Its original intention was for halloween, but Jay stripped almost immediately and has asked to put it on almost every day since. I know the outfit is Raphael and the eye cover is Michaelangelo, and Jays actual favorite is Leonardo, but he LOVES it. When he went to have a nap he told me that "Ninja turtles dont sleep with Jeffeys (his lovey that he has had since birth)." Then he also told me that "Ninja turtles DO NOT kiss there mamas" umm yes indeed they do son!
We also got a super rad Spiderman  joystick game, that Davon has spent some time trying to "teach" Jay how to play it. Honestly I am pretty sure that the whole time we have had it all I have heard is "Daddy, can it be my turn?!"

I love having boys!

come on.... cutest ninja turtle ever right?!

Dont forget to click on my Made! link underneath the banner to see more creations! Get yourself excited and start saving your money for all the items you want to buy from rickrackstacks on etsy:) wink wink!

An outfit and a winner!

My little Jay is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was potty training him, now he is getting himself dressed! As I have written in previous blogs he has a pretty good sense of fashion too. Most of the time he picks out cute little matching outfits, but sometimes he thinks that just because its a green color it should match. Oh Jay, hunter green athletic shorts do not go with an olive green polo, not in our house at least. So we're still learning:) Sorry I am not one of those moms that will let him pick it out and then just go about the day, I have to have some agreement with him if I am going to take him out! I mean even Davon has had to change and outfit or two! Jay loves clothes, and loves when I "rock" up his tshirts! He is always telling me something new he wants on his shirts and he gets really down and out when I make something for Miles and not for him. A few days ago I told him to get dressed and this is what I came in to find..

.

Not only was it laid out perfectly, but his underwear even matched!! He cracks me up so much. Now that I took a picture he wants me to do this with every outfit he picks out! What a goof. I am working on a cool dude motorcycle shirt right now for him...stay tuned!

OH! and the winner of the give away and the name of my new shop on Etsy is.....
RickRackStacks by mouseymom.blogspot.com! You can send me your address and if you want it girlish, boyish, or neutral! My email is tstack1904@gmail.com. Thanks to everyone who came up with a name! It was fun hearing all the comments! Be on the look out for my new shop...

my first contest and maybe a give away...if your lucky:)

I am a titch obsessed with the website Picnik right now. I bit the bullet and subscribed to their year membership. I have always wanted photoshop on my computer, but I have a 6 year old macbook and she is getting a little slower with age:). So i never want to add any additional software. I have heard about picnik for various blogs and LOVE it! I have stayed up the past 3 nights editing picture, giving myself sunless tans, changing my eye color, ya know the usual. I am almost tempted to take a picture of myself in a bathing suit just to airbrush the mess out of it, but I guess that would be weird - dont worry, if I do, I wont post pics:) Still busting out some new creations, and getting nervous about running out of money to purchase stuff for my hobbies, so I talked to my wonderful friend Melody over at ramblings and she recommended that I bite the bullet and start a site on etsy. This way when I sell, I use that money to feed my addiction:)! So I will keep everyone updated as I go. It will mainly be items for kids, little outfits, knit hats and gloves and scarves, ties, bow ties, just fun stuff. Right now I am trying to think of a name for the "store." I kinda want to integrate my last name in it, so here is my first contest ever,  think of a name for my store that has the word Stack in it and if its my fave and I go with it, then I will send you the first ever giveaway, and credit for the name:) oh Heck, if I dont like any name, I will still choose a second runner up and whoever that is will win!! My favorite name that I have thought of is pancakestacks....but I'm not in love yet....
ok get creative!!

The giveaway is......

go green and be trendy with these snack and sandwich pouches!
(I made them for my niece Marley, who's first day of kindergarten is tomorrow!!
Yours can have whatever type fabric and letter your want on it!)

They both velcro shut, and can just be thrown in the washer with the rest of your clothing!

Things that I am a fan of...

When I get home from the grocery store and fill up my fridge with fresh fruits, veggies, yummy spicy lunch meat (oops to hot for you boys, my bad), juice, chocolate for milk! It just makes me want to take a couple trips to the fridge and just look!
When I see the total of the grocery bill decrease as the cashier scans the coupons.
When I finish a sewing project in one night, its a much quicker fix than knitting!

Nap time, and the boys finally stop talking and all I hear are the birds and the hum of the air conditioning! (and maybe the 3 dogs barking at everything they see-but thats for another post:)
A nice shower and clean shaved legs!
Random calls from my husband, just to tell me that he loves me.
Sweet time with the Lord, when He really encourages my heart.
Looking through IPhoto of when my boys were babies and remembering sweet moments with them.

Sweet little smile, I cant believe how much he has grown!

I could just eat this little face!

Email from Shutterfly offering me a free photobook!
When people post comments on my blog or my status updates. I love this! Its so encouraging to hear other people "voices" and to know they take time to read and care.
Blog updates of my friends and the amazing crafters that I keep up with!
When people "follow" my blog. Its exciting to see the number increase, even by one!
What are you a fan of today??

another bite of that humble pie, thank you very much

actually this morning I was in the middle of writing a job well done post about how proud I was of my children. Miles was being super sassy to Jay and I asked Miles "What does the bible say about treating others?" He answered, "Be Kind, to eachother!" Ahh! Thats so great! He's really getting it, and not even 2 yet!! (This is the bible verse book that we use. This kids love it, and can look at the pictures and say the bible verse, well not all of them...but you get the picture!)

Then in our bible story we were reading about Saul/Paul and meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, in the boys' storybook Bible. Paul said something like "who are you" to Jesus, and Jay shouted out "Jesus is the Savior." WOW! I was just blown away! (and by the way to any mom looking for a great bible for their kids, this is the best, its not only great for the kids, but honestly, I love reading it too:)

So again, I was writing this this morning, such joy and pride in my heart about how much they were learning and how it was sinking in! In the mean time the boys were upstairs saying good morning to mom and she came down, Miles in tears and Jay sulking. Apparently Miles was fighting with Jay over a toy, screaming and crying, and Jay was talking back to Noni and being disrespectful.
So yes, I will have another bite of that pie please.

WIPs

I am what you call a naptime/bedtime crafter. When the boys are asleep, I try out new projects. Most of the things I have been sewing or knitting or re/upcycling clothes (click on the Made! option underneath the title of my blog, you'll see some of my creations).... BUT since we are moving into a house on Sept 3rd (WAHOO! yes you can all shout it!) I have been working on new things for the house that I wanted to share with you!

Wanted to share this (its for me, not the house, but hey, whatev)
I love this vest and the olive green color! Cant wait to finish!
Its such a boring knit though, so its taking me a while!

picture frames from goodwill. I plan to paint them both.
Not sure whether I will frame a picture, or some type of object?!

I got these corbels off craigslist for $10! I plan on painting the gold and the green on them and using them  as a holder for a huge beam that Davon is "aging," by beating it like a rented mule:)

This is the blue paint I am going to use on the boys' chest of drawers that we bought from good will (scroll down you'll see it)

Davon and I found this at a salvage yard. I plan on staining it and writing some sort of phrase or saying on the glass for the dining area.

This is the chest of drawers for the boys' room. I am sanding it, painting it that dark blue and bought steel knobs for it. Its gonna look great!

A cute tablecloth from Target is going to become my curtains for the playroom/my craftroom!

I loved the shower hooks, they will become the hangers for the curtains!

This is actually not a wip, its my moms old sewing machine that I have been using, but......

She bought me a new one for my birthday! Yay Mom! So.....

Davon is making me a table long enough to do all my sewing and projects, but skinny enough that it doesnt take up too much room in our new little house!

siblings.....

the hardest part about having two kids is the constant arguing over a toy? Oh your kids never do it? Congrats. My kids, all the time. Who had which toy first? Who hit who first? Why is Miles saying no? Why is Jayson crying? Why are you both yelling 'mine'? Do you both need to go in time out? Do you both want your bottom spanked? you get the picture. I have felt very convicted to speak into their hearts about these matters. Not just discipline with justice, ie: "Well, who had the toy first?" or "Who hit who" instead, why did you hit Jayson or why is it more important for you to have the toy? Although they both are young I think its so important to start explaining to them that they are sinners, in need of a savior. Before you read this and say, wow Tara has gotten super "churchy." I dont straight use those words with them. I ask them if they feel like their happiness is more important than there brother's, and then we talk about why that is wrong and that Jesus tells us to love one another as much as ourselves and to be kind to eachother. I'm pretty sure we say this scripture ever single day and more than a few times a day. But I want them to start understanding that we live in a fallen world and they need their hearts to be restored, and that even constantly trying to rip a toy of of anothers hand is sinful. Day in and day out I get pretty drained, and if you are a mother with children this close in age and say you don't I think you would be either lieing or crazy. But just when I feel like I am at the end of my rope and my hair will be ripped out before it has the chance to go gray, I get such wonderful glimpses of love out of both of them....
Miles loves Jay, adores him and (when hes in the mood) shares with him in such a precious way. He isnt at the age yet that wants praise for the sharing, it just comes to him and he loves to see the smile on Jays face. He says "here Jayson here." (If you know Miles well, this is how he talks, love you mommy love you, or hi meg hi, or hold you daddy hold you, always repeats the same words twice). I love how they, when they think no one is watching, play so nicely together. Jay will pull down candyland or shoots and ladders and they will name colors or numbers, or they will play with their trains. Jay makes a huge track for Miles to push his train around. Just today I snuck in to find them sitting on the couch, book opened up and Jay "reading" it to Miles, Miles then sees me and says "Momma, Jay readin it, book." Or shopping at a huge antique market today, Jay pushing Miles in the stroller pointing out things to him and Jay saying, "Miles, arent you so excited about it?" How can that not just bring a smile to your face?
I often think, and believe me I know this is so small compared to God, but that God's love is a lot like mine. Its constant training, discipline, molding, shaping, pointing out things that I need to work on, cleaning up my junk, showing me how selfish I really am, but in the same exact moment loving me with all His heart. Smiling at me in the quiet moments, being so proud of the person that I am, the person that He has created, loving me nonstop, even when I don't deserve it. I wish in so many ways that people would grasp this. That God loved us, Christ loved us when we were still sinners. That we were totally deprived, that we didnt have God steering us in the right direction, that we were destined for failure, and God restored us. Made us whole again....in no way could we do anything to earn His love and still He loved us just the same. I think being a parent helps you to understand the love of God, and I'm pretty sure thats why he gave us the blessing of parenthood. For His Glory.

So sweet.

grandparents canvas

Blank Project Canvas Print

Send custom cards from Shutterfly for St. Patrick's Day.

View the entire collection of cards.

roller coaster woman

I dont know if its just me, or if its all the hormones that women have, or if its just everything that is going on in life right now, but I feel like I am on a roller coaster, and poor Davon and the boys are strapped in behind me. Thats a perk about being a man I think, if they are ever emotional they can go and deal with it on their own, but we women, especially moms have so many things pulling you in different directions. These past few days have been so up and down for me! With the loss of my grandpa it has been hard to grieve. Jay, for some reason, has been fascinated with the idea of dieing. So of course as any person who loves the Lord and their child and wants him to come to know Jesus I shared with him what happens when we die and go to heaven. The first time it made me smile, even with the sadness of grandpa's passing I still was happy to use this moment as a teachable time for Jay. The second time was a good reminder conversation, the third time was a little draining, then on and on and on he kept talking about dieing, going to see Jesus, about how grandpa got there. Finally, and this time it was in the car, I had to pull over and started bawling. Poor Jay, he had no idea this was coming, he sat there stunned. Luckily we were close to church and Davon met us and had a talk with him instructing him to not talk about death anymore. ....deep breath....I love my children, but how do you deal with such raw emotion in front of these little faces? I feel like lately, I have been crying, yelling, or just being quiet before them. I know they are wondering where their mom is, where is the joy? Death is such a hard thing. Yes we can be joyful because we know that heaven is there, and eternity with the Lord is far better than we can ever imagine here on earth. BUT, death is also our greatest enemy. The Lord hates death! The only 3 times that Jesus ever wept in the bible was about death. So I am joyful that Grandpa is with the Lord, and yet I am so mad that death is even a factor here on earth, because of our stupid sin. So I am human, dealing with real emotion, and yet having to be example to children on how to deal with things the right way, the godly way. Sometimes thats exhausting. But sometimes God puts a smile on my face and shows me that He has blessed me, and my kids, though young, do understand and they can still have fun and still be resilient to what the world, or even mommy, throws at them. Thank you Lord for that!

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This is them on my worst day of yelling and crying. Now how can you not smile at that:)