That famous age everyone claims they're not a day over.....

Quickly approaches. Two days away, in fact! Oh goodness. Where does the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was 25?? That's all I've got for today. Going to hide & have a mini-tantrum now.

Out There....

There's something just a little scary about putting yourself "out there"...in the form of a blog, a post on facebook, sharing a photograph, ....having a conversation. O.o ha.

  As I'm very certain I've said, multiple times, LIFE is BUSY. Taking time to share my thoughts seems to take away time from my *real* life. (ahem--children, soccer, the never-ending business of managing home/family/business and BUSY-ness). Occasionally I need a chance to unwind, and sometimes that means putting something "out there".

This is step 1. I always end up here, don't I? Overwhelmed and in need of a chance to collect my thoughts. The difference this time---I'm a little older, we've added to our family, and the children are growing up! Wait- that's nothing different. ;)

So these days, I really enjoy browsing Pinterest , working on the company web store, playing with my kids, teaching my kids, watching them grow...randomly starting some big crazy project or cooking adventure, learning to be more frugal and mindful of how I spend time and money, and focusing on investing time in others.

More Later...I mean it this time. ;)

Hello Again!!

Since I last visited here, we have had LOTS of changes! My husband and I celebrated TEN YEARS of marriage, yesterday....and nearly three months ago, we welcomed baby #4 into the world. Our third daughter, Silvia Caroline Elise, was born on January 12, 2011. She's a perfectly precious little baby girl, with the cutest personality! Our oldest is now 9 years old, GC is 7, and E is 3...I'll not make any promises, BUT, I do hope to get back to the blog more often. I've found that I have LOTS to say, lately...but life is so busy there's rarely anyone to listen. Not that anyone really reads this little blog of mine...it is nice to get my thoughts "out there". Goodness, now I'm thinking of all sorts of things that I'd like to write about. haha! I need a notebook to write them down....

I should start with the most recent, first, I suppose...

::Our ten year anniversary::April 7, 2011:: 

I'm not sure what you're "supposed" to do on your ten year anniversary...Wednesday, we spent the day driving here and there, taking care of our home business and renewing DH's license...We brought our homeschool books along, so we wouldn't be too far behind. I enjoyed spending the entire day, as a family, for once.
   Thursday, our anniversary: DH had to work at the warehouse all day; then worked three games at two venues, as a soccer referee. He left for work at 9:30 AM, and didn't get home until 11PM. I got several sweet text messages and phone calls throughout the day, so that helped. ease our not spending the day together. haha DH told me to save room for dinner....so I took the kids to our oldest son, Trip (age 9)'s soccer game--fed the kids dinner and I had a snack. I worked to get the house straight and the kids in bed, but they were so excited after the game and it was a battle. The older two were finally in bed by 10:30.
  So he comes in all happy to see me and hands me a milk shake from Steak'N'Shake. I said thank you., that's sweet, but I thought you said to save room for dinner....he gives me his classic little smirky grin and pulls out a bag with our favorite sandwiches from there. I know you're thinking, "What a weirdo!!" --Steak'N'Shake was our regular date night place to eat. We love the old soda shop feel and the music they play. Yes, we're old souls I guess. So it was meaningful and sweet of him. THEN he asks if I'd like some dessert, and hands me macadamia nut cookies from Subway. I know, "WEIRDO!!"--But again, it was meaningful and sweet, because DH proposed to me--not with a ring--but with a cookie. A macadamia nut cookie from Subway, and a song he played on his guitar and sang to me at the park. I felt it was perfect--What can I say? I LOVE that man! We've come a LONG way in these ten years of marriage. Four children, various business ventures, growing up together, etc. Eleven years is certainly a long time to know a person...I'm so glad we didn't give up when it would have been so easy to. "Looks like we made it!"

Simply me. (a short update, more later)

I've been missing for quite a while, it seems, from both blogs. Lately my facebook has been missing regular updates from me as well.... I just got too busy and overwhelmed to sit down and write anything. Plus, as I've mentioned elsewhere, uploading pictures has become quite a chore. My wonderful father-in-law was able to fix my computer yet again. I am so grateful that he was able to do so, and that he even WOULD go out of his way to fix it! :) I seriously have the best father-in-law EVER. Must be where DH gets it....
   I have slowly been transferring old blog posts from my original, A Little South of Sanity, to this little piece of web space with intentions of simplifying. I'd like to keep record of my ramblings from what seems like so long ago. That title is an absolutely perfect analysis of happenings at that time in my life. Much the way "Loopy Lorraine" is a terrific way of describing the two years following "A Little South of Sanity". I believe that now, as I near age 27, I am finally finding my way back to me:: simply, Kristiraine. :) A nic-name my dearest cousin gave me so, so long ago when NKOTB was the hottest thing since cinnamon applesauce. ha.

Aha!

I DID post more blog installments, only on a different blog. Some of my posts were of a bitter, angry, "everything is unfair" type....but know that I'm over it all now. The people it involves are much loved and all has been forgiven. (Well, the family stuff anyway) lol

So...I did, I did, I did post more!! See!!?? And reading back through a lot of it is very painful...because I know what was going on behind the words typed there. Anyway, there's some background of me, and whats gone on in my life the last 2-3 years or so...well, some of it.

A Little South of Sanity

Great name, huh? I just didn't think I could link to it. :)

Follow me....

To the new blog, until I get tired of paying for my blog service and transfer everything here....

Nesting---30 weeks and counting...I have lost my mind!!

I can't rip myself away from the sewing machine!! Except for 10 min here and there to swap out the laundry, feed the kids, and make sure that basic needs are met and my house doesn't get destroyed. LOL And you know how normally (I think I mentioned) once I start a project, I can't stop until that project is done?! Well---not so much the case this week....I have my nursery things going, a valance for the playroom, a few mei tai's, and whatever else I get the urge to do.....lol I just get bored with one and go to another. I'll get it all done soon, but I can't stay on just one project for some reason!! I think my sewing machine is gonna bite the dust if I don't chill out. Its not the best in the world......poor thing. LOL Thank God Christmas is right around the corner!! Momma's gettin a new sewing machine!! YAY!

::update::

LOL finished the curtain in the playroom, converted an old changing table into a cute little reading bench for the kids (I mean this is an ancient changing table, very sturdy, but unable to be used for a changing table anymore) I spray painted it white and painted circles on it to match the pattern of my fabric...made a cushion for the seat and had the kids help make some cute little pillows---and when I find that stinkin camera charger--grr.... And ordered some more fabric for some mei tai orders......tomorrow I really need to finish the crib bumper and valance for the baby's room and look for that charger!! And clean the kitchen back up and put away the laundry. Did I mention that Friday I brought ALL of the kids' clothes downstairs and sorted through them? I still had things for Gen in size 12-18 months floating around her room...LOL. She is so excited that she can pick out her own clothes now and THEY ALL FIT!! (sad, I know) I have to put Trip's things away for him and decide between having a yard sale or selling on craigslist or something. Am I brave enough to have a yard sale?! LOL May be a good idea for some extra money for the BABY!!!! 

Sorry for my ramblings, once again....I am definitely nesting---maybe I will move from behind the scenes and making things to getting things pretty and clean soon...I always do this. (well, I did with Trip and Gen anyway) In a week or two, all my closets and cabinets will be perfectly organized and neat, I'll have curtains and baby things made, and my house will otherwise be trashed--then I'll move to phase II:putting it all together. I love it!! LOL 

Sorry to ramble....like I said, I have lost my mind!!! 

::More getting ready for baby news::

The only things I've bought are material for the baby's room and some cloth diapers (bought both around 18-20 weeks I think) and I picked up a gender neutral sleeper and a sweater set a few weeks ago. I can't wait to be able to buy more!! I'm trying to remind myself that I can pace myself as the baby grows and don't need EVERYTHING all at once....hopefully that will cut down on my buying things and forgetting that I even have them!! Right now we need a place for baby to sleep, a carseat, and a few basic newborn things and nursing things....and I want a portable swing. Anything else I have decided I can get creative. They didn't have 20 different bouncy seats and all that stuff way back when. LOL I'm trying to sew a few good slings b/c I'm sure this baby is gonna be with me a LOT. I'm not sure how well I trust older kids and a hardwood floor to a baby in a bouncy seat or swing too much. And trying to convince DH to knit some wool soakers for me....I may cut up some of his old sweaters or take him to Salvation Army with me to look for some good wool sweaters to cut up.....lol He has a better eye for things like that.
sorry to ramble...LOL

Oh yeah, trying to decide between a basinette, cradle, playpen w/basinette insert, bedside co-sleeper, or one of those co-sleepers that goes on the bed between the parents....any suggestions? I'm leaning more toward the playpen...and I'm thinking of investing in the radian 80 carseats for all 3 of my kids...one at a time, of course--but it seems like the best seat for our needs.....any suggestions are welcomed!!! 

I'm getting lazy with my blogs...lol I'm going to post a blog that isn't also posted on my message board soon, I promise!! I just don't like having to re-type things over and over. SO I just copy/paste from here or there...whichever I type first!! LOL