May Fun

May is usually a busy month for us.  With our wedding anniversary and lots of birthdays to celebrate it definitely keeps us on our toes.  One birthday in particular is my husband's.  He turned 35 this year.  After the not-so-good year he had I wanted to make it special.  I can't afford to go all out but I did manage to get him some simple inexpensive gifts and baked him a Banana Pudding Poke Cake (his request).  That same evening we went to see our local minor league baseball team play and they WON!  Both kids enjoyed the game.  Our daughter loved the mascot (this girl isn't afraid of anything) and wanted so badly to give him a hug but he never made it close enough to us for her to do so.

Over the weekend our son went with my parents to Long Island to visit family and attend my niece's baby shower.  He is having so much fun with his cousins and will be back sometime today.  I know he will miss it there but we all plan to go the end of August for my nephew's wedding. 

We also have been having beautiful weather.  It's in the mid 80's right now.  Perfect weather for bringing out the baby pool and letting our little girl splash around and have some fun.  She hates bath time but loves the pool.

 In just a few weeks our son will be finished with school and we can kick off summer.  I have so many fun plans in the works.  I cannot believe this month is almost over and the summer season will be here soon.  I love this time of year. 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 5/19/14

Linking up with Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

As I look outside my window:
Beautiful clear sky, bright and sunny.  The trees are blowing from the breeze.  Mid 60's.  Loving it!

Right now I am:
Taking a little break from housework and watching an episode of True Tori.  It's a recent reality show about Tori Spelling talking about her issues and problems after her husband Dean McDermitt cheated on her.  I used to watch the Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood so I thought I'd watch this just for curiosity.  Although it's hard for me to feel sorry for this couple.  Tori and Dean both met on the set of a movie they were making together in Canada; both were married to others and cheated on them with each other.  So this was to be expected, wasn't it?  Although I know I shouldn't judge others.  Yet at the same time, it's no surprise.  I'm also in the midst of doing the laundry and other housework ... surprise, surprise.

Thinking and pondering:
About how busy life has become.  It's nice to have these moments where I can plop down on the couch and take a few minute breather.  I'm also thinking of my husband who will be celebrating his 35th birthday at the end of this week.  It's been a rough year for him so I want to make it a special day.  Yesterday we celebrated 12 years of marriage.  I love him!

On my bedside table:
Remember months ago when I said my children's baby books were sitting on my end table in the bedroom needing to be updated?  They are still there and still need to be updated.  I should probably get on that while the baby memories are still fresh in my mind.

On my TV this week:
Tuesdays I like watching 19 Kids and Counting and The Little Couple.  That's probably the only shows we watch that I completely enjoy.  The other times are shows my husband and kids pick.

Listening to:
The TV and also the dryer downstairs.

On the menu:
I usually keep this blank and only write what I'm making on Mondays since I'm not a good weekly planner.  I dream of being able to plan my meals for the entire week.  It's easier that way; however, I don't.  Not always.  Tonight we are having corn on the cob and I'm going to have to decide what I want to make with it ... chicken or pork chops?

On my to do list:
Laundry - wash/fold/put away
Wash bedding
Spring cleaning in all the bedrooms
Order tickets to Friday's ball game

Happening this week:
Taking my son to tball practice tomorrow and a game on Thursday
Taking hubby to the doctor for a follow up appt on Wednesday
 My husband's birthday Friday
My son is going to Long Island with my parents this weekend
Have to check on the neighbor's cat here and there while they are away on vacation this week.

What I am creating:
Again, still too busy but I'd love to start a craft with the kids sometime soon.

My simple pleasure:
Listening to music

Looking around the house:
Toys are stacked in one corner of the room.  I moved the bird cage to that side of the room as well since our cockatiel was making too much of a mess where he was before.  I just swept the floor so that's free of crumbs and dirt.  I also vacuumed the area rug in the living room so that looks spotless.  I'm sure once the kids come around with their snacks that will change.

From the camera:

Our son is doing phenomenal in tball this year.

Prayer list:
For myself - That my relationship with God grows stronger.  That I improve on being a better wife and mother each day.
My husband - For the physical healing he needs.  That he also grows stronger as a Christian.
My son - That he isn't influenced wrongly by the world and his surroundings.  Now that he's in school and making several friends he so easily falls into doing what others are doing.
My daughter - That she continues to be healthy as she grows.  Also have been working on potty training and it's been tough.
My parents
Others

Bible verse/Devotional:
"Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name" -- Psalm 30:4

12 Years

Today my best friend and I celebrate 12 years of marriage.  I can't believe how quickly these years are moving along.  The best moments of my life were shared with this man.  We've had our ups and of course, downs but through it all I know he is my soul mate. 

Mother's Day 2014

There is nothing more special and more important in my life than my children, next to my husband, of course.  I love being a mother and I feel so blessed that God chose these particular two to be my kids.  It gets tough at times but even through those hard times I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.  They are my everything. 

A few days leading up to Mother's Day my son told me that he and my husband were going to make me breakfast in bed.  I really didn't expect it, especially since my husband is still recovering from double hip surgery.  But that's exactly what happened.  They were both up early and surprised me with coffee, french toast with blueberries and a yogurt parfait.  It was delicious. 

I even did something I don't normally do.  I curled my hair and wore a dress.  My husband couldn't take his eyes off me all day.  He loves when I curl my hair.  It's a lot of work but I would rather it be curly than straight anyway.  Before heading for church my husband snapped a few pictures of me and our children.

The Associate Pastor gave an incredible Mother's Day sermon that I wish everyone in the world could have heard.  It was so beautiful.  Then after church we had a little picnic lunch in our backyard, laid my daughter down for a nap and then had a barbecue at my parents' house.  My dad insisted on doing everything so my mother and I wouldn't have to lift a finger.  He's so sweet. 

It was a great Mother's Day.  Probably the best so far.  I am blessed!  Truly, deeply blessed. 

I love being a mother! 

Season Opener 2014

One of the many joys of being a parent is watching your child as they play in a sport (or a dance recital, music recital, whatever.)  This is my son's second year in teeball and he's been doing a lot better this time around.  I'm so proud of him.

It's amazing to see how awesome he is at hitting the ball off that tee.  This particular shot went far and he rushed towards first base without anyone stopping him.

I miss seeing my husband out there as a coach and I know he misses it too.  He had to sit along the side with the rest of us parents and I know it was hard on him.  He wanted so badly to get onto that field and help the kids out.  I'd say maybe next year but our son has no intention of playing baseball again after this season.

And then there was our daughter having no interest in the game but enjoyed taking a walk, looking at the nearby horses and picking dandelions with good ol' grandpa.  Yes that's right, I said horses.  One of the houses had two horses in the backyard which was beside the field. 

I'm not sure what the score was at the end.  Was anyone even keeping score?  Oh yeah, it's teeball.  They don't care about that in teeball!  The kids had fun and that's all that matters.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 5/5/14

Hosted by Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom

As I look outside my window:

Beautiful sunny, breezy 55 degrees.  I love this spring weather.  We've had a lot of rain here but so far today its been clear skies.  

Right now I am:

Taking some time to relax while my daughter is napping, my son is in school and my husband is at work.  

Thinking and pondering:

Today is the first day since the end of March that my husband is back to work.  He had all that time off because of his double hip replacement surgery.  He's only working part-time (four hours) here and there until he's feeling better enough to start back up full-time again.  It is a blessing that he has a job and plenty of sick leave that allows him to take this much time off.  It's been nice having him home, wishing it was under better circumstances though.  He seems to be getting better but is having trouble sleeping at night due to not being able to get comfortable.  It's been very hectic around here and this is the first time I've had some peace and quiet for awhile.  

On my bedside table:

Trying to read A Time To Dance by Karen Kingsbury on my Kindle.  I've had it for awhile and only managed to get through a few chapters.  

My Bible

On my tv tonight:

I leave that up to my husband and kids

Listening to:

The sounds of my cockatiel eating his food. 

On the menu:

I NEED to go grocery shopping because as of now I don't have much to cook.  I am thinking of making chicken alfredo tonight or pork chops.  TBD.  

On my to do list:

Grocery shopping

Mail a package that will go to a friend in Virginia

Buy more mulch and add it to my flower bed.  Over the weekend I bought a few new bushes and added them to the flower bed.  Looks great!  

Pick hubby off from work and continue to take him and pick him up each day that he goes.  He didn't get cleared to drive yet.  

Laundry and other never-ending housework

Happening this week:

My son's first t-ball game of the season is tomorrow.  We can't wait.  My parents will be there too.  

Taking hubby to work until he gets cleared to drive on his own

Take hubby to doctor appointment on Friday

And let's not forget - MOTHER'S DAY on Sunday

What I am creating:

Nothing crafty lately but I suppose I can whip up a batch of chocolate brownies for the family this week

My simple pleasure:

Quiet time

Looking around the house:

It's actually quite clean thanks to my husband and children who cleaned the house yesterday while I was outside doing some yard work.  There still are toys here and there but they are nicely put away.  

From the camera:

Prayer list:

My husband's continued healing from the surgeries

My father who will need surgery for his shoulder next month.  He's also been the main caregiver to my mother since her stroke 2 years ago and being someone's caregiver is a tough, tough job.  I pray he continues to have the strength to keep going.  

Bible verse/Devotional:

"Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" - 1 Chronicles 16:11