A Chapter in Life

Kumquats oh my!

2012-01-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

I love going to Dade City, just an hour outside of where we live and Florida takes on a whole new view! Little rolling hills (which is so nice, since pretty much everything in Florida is FLAT!), trees, and just plain beauty. So today after soccer and voting, we headed there for the Annual Kumquat Festival!

We strolled thru the streets where all sorts of vendors lined the roads. There was everything from plants to tutus for dogs ( which Cailin and I thought was hysterical!) and also plenty of kumquat related items. I had no idea that so many things could be made from such a tiny fruit! There was wine, pie, soaps, jams, jellies and marmalade, honey and sauces oh, my! We made a stop at the tasting booth and tried a few different things and then of course we had to stop a get a slice of kumquat pie! Cailin and I were the only ones who kinda liked it. It was a cross between key lime and peach in our opinion.

Dade City has some beautiful architecture as well and I love to sit outside at the old courthouse and soak in the beauty of the downtown!

And of course no time with my kids would be complete without a little of their goofiness! I love these guys!

Just an all around fun afternoon hanging out with the family and making memories!

My Word for the Year

2012-01-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

This year I really want to work on making some changes in my life. Not major life altering ones just, growing changes. When Layla mentioned picking a word of the year it really made me stop and think. What would my word be? What do I want to do this year, to change. This year my word is....

This year I want to be intentional about what I do. I want to be more focused on my family. I tend to fill up my calendar and give them the leftovers. This year I will give them priority, and work on becoming the wife and mom I want to be

I want to be positive. Call me a pessimist, but I prefer to think I am more of a realist :) I tend to see all of the things that could go wrong and try to plan for that instead of looking at all of the things that could go right first. Sometimes I think way too much!

I want to be healthier, in my food choices and exercise (ughhhhh!)

I want to be more creative, to stop second guessing my abilities and take a step out and create! When I taught preschool, I was creative everyday. Now I struggle with the confidence that I once had

I want to strive to be the person that God wants me to be! I want to be still and more focused on my relationship with God. This past year has been a struggle in the faith department, I have questioned God ALOT and then not stopped to listen. I want to just be still and know that HE is GOD!

This year I just want to be!!!

What word would you choose?

Our Old School Tree

2011-12-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

We went old school this year with our tree. We had already had our tree for a week with no time to decorate. So it was now or never because with our schedules leading up to Christmas we would have had a bare tree.

After church Sunday it was time, the only problem all of our Christmas balls were still at church from our Volunteer Dinner that we put on the night before. I switch my tree up a little each year anyway, but this time we had to do it with out buying anything. So we got creative!

With paper and scissors in hand I suggested paper chains and snowflakes. The kids thought I was CRAZY! :) But we went to town and created what I think is my favorite tree of all!

The kids each have there favorite ones that they made, each of them ended up making beautiful crosses!

Making memories with the kids and writing another chapter!

A New School Year

2011-08-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

We have hit a major school milestone in our house. Christopher graduated from elementary school and is now a middle schooler!! Where has the time gone, it seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. I joke with the kids all the time that they get no more birthdays because this time with them is going by way too fast. At open house he was able to meet all of his teachers and get a feel for what this year will hold even before the first day. He is so smart, funny and we are so proud of who is becoming. He was nervous about starting a new school, but I think I was more nervous than he was going into the first day.

Cailin is now a second grader and thinks she owns the world. Oh, to have the confidence she has. Every single day she goes to school with a smile on her face, not so much excited about the learning side of it as she is the social side. She is just as smart as her brother but definitely shows it in different ways.

Every new school year I worry about what they will encounter, especially this year with middle school. I worry about what kind of friends they will choose, the things they will hear and see that we know they are not ready for. Our kids have to grow up so much faster then when I was in school. But in the end I know I have to trust God with my kids and know that He has their best interest at heart. So we will continue to cover them with prayer and teach them the best we can to make wise choices.

Sleep Walkers

2011-08-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

   It's really late and I am up watching one of my favorite movies, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". The house is quiet , everyone has been asleep for a couple of hours, and things begin to get a little weird!
   My daughter, Cailin, came stumbling out of her room still asleep speaking in gibberish, crawled up on my lap and snuggled. Out of the blue she starts to laugh hysterically but couldn't tell me why she was laughing. A few minutes later she starts laughing again. I asked her again what was so funny. She says "nothing" and continues to laugh. Finally she says, "chicken fingers". "What chicken fingers?" I asked. "Yummy Yummy chicken fingers!!" she says. "Where are your chicken fingers?" I say. "I don't have any because I am SO HUNGRY!" she says. Finally get her back to her room where she is completely out.
   A few minutes later my son, Christopher, sleepwalking. comes over gives me a big hug, says goodnight and heads back to bed. He then turned around and began asking me questions, not sure what they were the only one I caught was something to do with numbers.
   Not sure what is going on tonight, maybe it was something in the tacos we made for dinner. I guess I will know for sure if the hubby comes sleepwalking out! Just another day in the life :)

"Never the Bride" Review

2011-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Order your copy!

I love to read, no doubt, I especially enjoy Christian Fiction! I get lost in the story and my most recent read was no different! I just finished reading "Never the Bride" by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay.

This book make me laugh, smile and mostly see the love of God for all. So often I forget how much I am loved by my Heavenly Father, Gutteridge and McKay reminded of that. Just like the main character, Jessie, I try to go it alone and miss out on so much of what God has for me. "Never the Bride" was a reminder to me that I need to stop, listen and give my "purple pen" to God, and let Him write my story!

"Never the Bride" was a book that swept me in. It was well worth the read and I would recommend it to anyone!

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnoma Publishing Group for this review

Becky's Bridal Shower

2011-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

My best friend and sister got married and I had the honor of hosting her shower along with a couple of the other bridesmaids!

This is the invitation that I created and then had printed on a cream pearlized card stock!

I tried to incorporate her colors and overall theme for her wedding at the shower.

We hung paper lanterns in varying sizes in browns, whites, and creams. I also made some tissue paper pom poms in chocolate brown and cream. We hung them in groupings over the food table, the brides seating area and also at the entrance. They were a great focal point as well as helping to define the areas.

We had a sign in table when you first walked in where the guests had their picture taken with the bride and then wrote a note of advice that we later put in a photo album.

My mom and I painstakingly created the B & B, they were part of my gift to her. They made an appearance at their wedding and are now hanging in there home. The letters were cut out of styrofoam and then sheets of moss were hot glued on. They are beautiful!!

Everything was done with Becky in mind even down to the food. We served a blue cheese honey crostini, vegetable crudites with tzatziki sauce, homemade spanakopitas, and a mixed green salad with fresh lemon garlic dressing. The shower was true reflection of Becky's style, simple and elegant

Thankful

2009-11-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

My house is quiet, ahhh. It has been a busy few weeks and I know that it is only going to get busier with the holidays. So I am enjoying my time alone, and also thinking of all the things that I am thankful for, so here are just a few

My God: I am so thankful for that His mercies are new every morning!! His grace amazes me every single day!
My family: we are all a little crazy but we love each other and that's what matters :)
My husband: God has truly blessed me!
My Kids: wow!! They fill our house with laughter and joy!

What are you thankful for? Write it down and let the people around you know! Happy Thanksgiving!

So proud...

2008-09-11T17:37:00.001-07:00

So I am a little behind in blogging, go figure that is the story of my life.

I just have to brag a little on my kids! A few weeks ago they decided to sell soda, water and muffins at a community yard sale and take the money and buy shoes for the local Christian Radio Station. One of the DJ's was trying to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes for orphans in Guatemala for a mission trip she was going on. After they finished at the yard sale we told them we would match whatever the amount they raised, and then a family member donated as well. When all was said and done they were able to purchase 42 pairs of shoes. They had a ball picking out shoes and making sure they got the best deal they could. Cailin and Christopher walked around the stores watching for red tags and making sure the numbers stayed low.

By the way the final tally for shoes that the JOY Fm collected was 8,600 GO GOD!!!!

Back to School

2008-08-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Christopher went back to school yesterday. He was excited to be back and see all his friends. It is amazing to me that he is in 3rd grade. Can you believe it? It seems like yesterday that we were getting ready to take him to his first day in kindergarten and now in a blink its 3rd grade. Where has the time gone?
We walked him all the way to his class because he had a couple of bags of supplies to take with him. I am sure this will be the only time we can do that. He has become very independent about walking to school and would much rather we park and let him out and not walk with him. My baby boy is growing up!!!!

School is back in

2008-08-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

At least for Cailin, she started her first day in Pre-K today! She couldn't wait to go back and see all of her friends She looked so cute in her frilly dress and PINK army lunch box (a little bit of princess mixed with tomboy). That's Cailin to a T! It is hard to believe that in one short year she heads off to Kindergarten. She is growing up so fast.

Christopher has another week before he goes back. So right now he is taking advantage of a quiet house without his sister to fight with. He is riding his new bike that he got for his birthday, and I am sure any minute I am going to get wrangled into some type of sports game.

This week will be spent shopping for school supplies and clothes, trying to get the kids back on a regular schedule, and getting myself back on "school time". It should be a fun week!!!!

Lazy Summer days...

2008-08-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke to 2 little faces telling me that I had to wake up and stay in bed because they were making me breakfast. How sweet!!!! What a way to start a new week :)
Today is just a lazy day for us. We need those sometimes and during the summer I really like having at least one lazy day a week. Today is ours so we are just laying around and playing games. We just finished 9 exciting holes of indoor mini-golf. Henry and the kids created this game thru out the house yesterday. So today we are laying low and having fun at home. We will get dressed sometime today but only because I am making a commitment to go to the gym on a regular basis. Well at least it will be lazy summer day for most of it.