The Burn

Since Zack and I started going to the gym we have a mantra...

his voice when he says it it priceless!

I am so in love with working out again!  

I am craving our time at the  gym.

I feel stronger and have more energy than I have in a long time.

Pretty amazing after only three weeks back in the groove!

Thrive was a perfect word for this year!

Until next time,

Hello Back to School!

Hello fresh new week!

Hello first full week of school...

I have been blessed with another great group...

the kiddos and I are going to have an amazing year!

Hello new responsibility...

I was asked to be a support teacher for a new teacher this year...

Kenny said he knows I would have helped her anyway,

but this way I get to add an official title to my résumé.

Hello crazy storm...

thunder, lightning, and pouring rain in August...

just wow!

Hello craft show...

next Saturday Amy's Monkeys will be part of a end of summer boutique sale...

so much to do,

but it's going to be great!

Hello homeschool...

the oldest two are doing great at home.

I love that they have the freedom to keep moving forward once they

have a concept mastered.

They are both keeping me on my toes!

Hello everyone...

how's the end of summer treating you?

Until next time,

 

Summer Just Got Interesting

The story started, "I was playing with my brothers..."

Layer that with not telling us he was hurt and I had quite a surprise yesterday morning!

Nik had hurt his left foot and I knew it wasn't good.

It gets even better since we already had our block of 

dentist appointments set for Thursday morning.  

Poor kid had to go to the dentist before we could get him over to the urgent care for x-rays.

After the doctor saw the x-rays she questioned him again about what he had been doing.  

Same story of jumping over a couch cushion on the floor and landing weird. 

 Enter mom and dad guilt for having the house torn up 

during our deep cleaning mission this week. 

All set up with his key board, mouse, and my school ipad!

All I can say is my baby boy has an amazing pain tolerance and patience!

So today we head to the pediatrician to get the referral for the orthopedic doctor.

Hopefully we'll get into the same doctor that took care of Luke's arm.

These boys and their broken bones!

At least they give us a long break in between major injuries!

Bless all the mamas tht deal with doctors and appointments everyday.

It his heart wrenching to see your baby hurt!

I am even more thankful for the health my boys have been blessed with everyday!

Until next time,

My Baby is Eleven

I cannot believe that my youngest boy is eleven years old today!

Seriously, time is moving way too fast!

This kid is amazing...

ornery...

such the third boy...

He is stubborn and snuggly...

a builder and detail kid...

and learning to be more independent.

He is a scholar and loves being active...

He looks just like his daddy, but acts like his mama.

My Nikolas is my baby...

even though he is sneaking up on me in height!

Happy Birthday my spiky haired boy!

Love you more than you will ever know!!

Thankful and Relieved

 

Today I am thankful and relieved that all of the state testing is done...

more thankful that next year's second graders won't have to take a big test like that!

I am thankful for a band of parents that spoiled the teachers yesterday...

I am thankful for a principal that has set a great tone for our school...

I am relieved that my plans for open house next week are falling into place...

May at my school is psycho!

I am thankful my boys are usually so healthy,

and relieved Lukas is over his little sickness!

I am relieved that the end of the school year is so close,

it kind of gives me a push to get the last activities done with my kiddos.

I am thankful for all the little things that fall into place each day!

Until next time!

{twelve}

My Lukas is twelve years old today!

Everyday with this boy is an adventure.  

He is full of life and has opinions on everything!

This poor kid is also our crash kid!

So far in twelve years he has had...

one broken arm...

stitches...

more cuts, bruises, and injuries than his two brothers combined.

Now add in a growth spurt...

and you see why his daddy and I worry about him getting hurt

all. the. time!

This is also the kid that puts a smile on my face every time he does a 

hug sneak attack!

I love this thinker...creator...dreamer!

Happy Birthday my blue-eyed boy!

We love you more than you will ever know!!

Hello Monday {camp}

Hello Lukas going to science camp for the week...

we will be missing him, big time, but he will love it!

 

Hello custom orders...

I don't usually do custom orders anymore,

but a special request from a special lady got me sewing.

I love bringing joy to people by making something special!

Hello busy week...

recovering from last week and 

getting ready for my last parent conferences of the year.

Yikes!  This year is flying by!

 

Hello menu plan...

I love having one for the month,

so I better get to making the new one for March!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all have a great week!

Until next time!

Joining with Miss Lisa

 

Coffee Date {busy}

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you this was a busy week!

I am so grateful for another three day weekend!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you my school practiced a lock down.

What a crazy time to be a teacher, 

but our school rocked the drill!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you I went on a great bike ride a couple of days go.

I cannot wait to go again.

Sunny forecasts are raising my spirits and my bike is ready!!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you my boys were loud this week.

Sunshine woke them up and they were "battling" 

every. single. day.

I love them, but there is no volume control.

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you I surprised the boys on Valentine's Day.

Donuts from the donut shop for a sweet breakfast.

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you waiting and not knowing if there is a new job 

out there for me

is hard!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you my decision to homeschool 

two of the boys next year is being reaffirmed everyday.

It's going to be hard and wonderful all mixed in one!

The best part is they are excited.

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you to watch this kid's TED talk...

so good!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you I sent handwritten notes to a few friends this week.

Why did I ever stop doing that?

It was so good to write a little note and send some love to special ladies!

If we were having coffee...

I'd tell you we'll be working on the garden this weekend.

Sunshine is here, so we have to take advantage.

Fresh vegetables in my backyard?

Yes, please!

If we were having coffee...

You would get a big hug and 

 I'd say your turn!  

Catch me up on you!

Until next time,

Joining Alissa

Joining Casey

{fifteen}

For fifteen years this boy has been my sidekick.

He is so me in many ways, a bit his dad,

 and completely sure of where he is going with his life.

His wit and humor have had me laughing so hard I couldn't breathe

and his willingness to help out makes me proud.

His reasoning and logic skills are scary brilliant and noticed by most that meet him!

I think we've raised a great kid that has an amazing future ahead.

Happy Birthday Zackery!

We love you and are so very proud of the man you are becoming!

Hello Monday

Hello new week...

I had busy weekend around the house...

blessed sunshine made an appearance...

so my energy was flowing!

Hello new kitchen curtains...

cleaning lead to realizing our old curtains 

were badly sun damaged...

so I took them down, but had very little cash to replace them...

off to the thrift store I went...

$2.98 later I had a plain white sheet and a plan.

Four valances later I love the fresh new look!

Hello spring cleaning...

reorganizing my pantry and spice cabinet...

so much better!

 

Hello fabric...

cut fabric for three new bags...

should be able to work on them after school this week. 

Hello real food cooking...

loving the veggies and flavors this weekend.

Homemade broccoli beef is yummy!

 

Hello birthday week...

the big kid is going to be 15!

Holy smokes, how did that happen so fast?!?

Hello back to school...

a three day weekend for me has me refreshed

and my eyes looking and feeling so much better!

Hello new week...

I hope you all have a great one!!

 Until next time,

Joining with Lisa for Hello Monday!

Coffee Date-Currently

If we were having a coffee date...

 you would surely notice my red puffy eyes...

I would tell you I'm going to see the doctor today, 

this allergic reaction or whatever it is

 is making me crazy...

I cannot figure out what is causing it!

If we were having a coffee date...

I would tell you the first week back to school was not bad...

and I still really dislike teacher inservices...

I'd rather be in the classroom with my kids.

If we were having a coffee date...

I'd show you my new jeans...

$2 at the thrift store and a little alteration...

makes me love them!

If we were having a coffee date...

I'd tell you about the boys having arguments 

about scientific terms in the kitchen...

I love my house of thinkers...

so blessed to have these boys.

If we were having a coffee date...

I'd tell you we've been getting in more veggies

and I've hit the treadmill everyday...

working on my goals has been good!

If we were having a coffee date...

I'd tell you the new shop has had a lot of traffic...

I can't wait to get some sewing time in this weekend!

If we were having a coffee date...

I'd hug you and say,

"Your turn.  Catch me up on you!"

Until next time,

 

 Joining up with Alissa

Joining up with Casey

So Thankful

 

Everyday I am thankful for my boys...

but to be totally honest they have been getting 

longer and tighter hugs this week.

I always try to listen to what they are telling me...

but this week it has been with both ears and my heart.

Being a momma is the best job I have...

but this week I am more grateful than ever 

that I have my boys here with me to mother.

Trying to make each moment count...

being present...

listening...

hugging...

laughing...

living.

I see them going off to college in the blink of an eye...

and I know I still have so much to teach them.

Getting them ready for the world is my job...

I don't take it lightly...

I am cherishing my role in their lives and theirs in mine.

What a blessing this family gig is to us all.

Until next time,

 

Joining Casey

 Joining Amy

Basketball

On Sunday I had the brilliant idea that playing some kind of sport with the boys would be a better way for me to get in some exercise and for us to have some time together.  

I decided basketball would be the best choice since we a) have a couple of basketballs and b) have access to courts close to the house and c) I loved basketball as a kid.

It was on!

Last night the boys and I hit the court for a little 2 on 2 action.  

Oh. My. Word.

I was laughing so hard!  

I have not really played basketball since college and the boys,

 bless their hearts, 

have no idea what they are doing!

We had a blast and I am certain we entertained all of the serious men playing in the next court.  

Best thing of all is that all of us had fun!

The boys already asked about playing again...that is huge for my non-sports kiddos.

I guess the fun part out weighed the crazy parent part from their previous experiences!

It felt so good to be playing and it was awesome seeing them listening, learning, and laughing together!

Do we have the next Michael Jordan or Larry Bird in our house?  Ya, not so much.  What we do have is a way for all of us to have some fun and time together.  Zack will be heading off to college before I know it, so every experience we can share is precious to me. 

 Making memories together, that's the best!

Until next time,

Joining Laura at Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday!

Hello...Hello

Well it's been a month...holy smokes...so much happens the last weeks of school!

We had the big kid's 8th grade graduation...

Little boys' last day of school...

Sewing to do...

 

Smiles to make...

 

New stuff to work on...

Loving my life pretty much sums it up!

Hopefully now that I am on summer mode you'll be seeing me around here a bit more!

Until next time,