Sand

Every year when we go to the beach, Brian builds a big sandcastle with the boys. This year they built a village and they built it a little close to the water when the tide started coming in. It was the funniest thing because they were all trying to protect the village by building a wall to keep the water out. The water would come all the way up to the wall and sometimes knock it down but never get to the village. They would then rebuild the wall. I sat there forever with the camera just waiting for this shot and suprisingly the village never got knocked down. They kept it protected and the waves only got as far as this picture! And it was CLOSE. Knocked down the wall but never the village. I am sitting here smiling remembering the boys shreaks, smiles and running around working so hard!

Friend

I have always asked Blake how his day goes at school and who he plays with when he comes home. Yesterday, he FINALLY said that he played with Logan. That is the first time I have ever heard him talk about a kid in his class. And i even try to ask him if he plays with "name of kid" etc....He always tells me he doesn't play with anyone. (which I find hard to believe) So I asked him what they did and he said, "we killed all the bad guys". Guess they were being superheroes at school!

Family

There is nothing more important then family. Nothing. I love the beach. I love the sand. I love the sun. I love the waves. But I love my family more than anything else. Thank God for those we have.

When I grow up....

The first job Michael told me he wanted to do when he grew up was be a doctor. That actually seemed like he wanted to do that for a long time. Then he decided he'd be a fireman or policeman. Someone told him the job was dangerous so he went back to a doctor. He figured that was the closest thing to being a hero without it being dangerous. He said he wanted to work from home as a doctor too. Then he wanted to be a cashier. I wondered about this until one day he was talking about how all the money in the register would be his and he'd be rich. When I explained to him that the money in the cash register wasn't his, he changed his mind about that occupation. Then he wanted to be a FBI agent. Spying sounded fun. Then he wanted to be a singer. He went thru a stage where he wanted to be what his Daddy is. Then he decided to be a leader of a band/singer. Last night it changed to an actor. He was watching the Kids Choice Music Awards and he liked how they won awards. But today he told me in the car that he wants to be a book writer (nonfiction), a spy, and an engineer. He wants to make robots, invent lots of stuff, a big huge rocket, and a mind reading machine.

WEATHER

I love the 70's weather. I love wearing shorts. I love finally putting the kids in different clothes for a new season. And I love going to the park all the time!

Peaceful

I love the sound of the ocean. It is the most peaceful sound. When I go to the beach I like to close my eyes and just listen to the sound of it. The girls and I at work always say ,"White sandy beaches" when we are stressed about something!

Today I am thankful for my friends who accept me for who I am. Who love me for me but help to make me better.

Taking a Break

Today I am thankful for VACATIONS! I read an article once that said that people are much more efficient at their jobs if they take a vacation. Those people who didnt take vacations had more stress and less efficiency. The article basically was saying to all boss's...."Hey, give your people a break if you want them to be more efficient!" I thought that was great. Vacations don't even have to be where you go somewhere. (sometimes a hot bath with a locked door is a vacation for me!LOL) But whether it is close or far away or in your own house, taking a break is important for us all to rejuvenate!

Magic Tree House Series

This is the book Michael and I are reading together. Notice it has a unicorn on it. Dawson gave me this book. He gave it to me a year or so ago and since my kids were too young to read it, it got set away until they were older. Coincidentally, Michael took a loving to these books and when I pulled it off the shelf i noticed it was the same series that he likes. Inside of the cover, it reads "TO My Aunt Michelle" Love Dawson. I have no idea what inspired him to give me this book but I love it. I have always loved unicorns, reading and especially reading with Michael since he has such a love for reading too. Thanks Dawson for adding a great book to his collection. And thanks Dawson for putting your handwriting to me on the inside. This book we will always keep!

Cowboy

Here's my cowboy. Michael wore this hat when he was little too. I love this hat! And the boots, they crack me up. He loves those boots. So did Michael.

Kids Say The Funniest Things!

The boys had us laughing today.....

Brian and I were driving down the road with the kids and Brian was asking the boys if some day when he was an old man, if they would always remember him tickling them. So Blake says, "And then you'll die, right Dad?"

Then 5minutes later Brian was telling them to be good for me and "if they played their cards right maybe they'd get a milk shake or something". And Michael quickly says, "What kind of cards?"

Reading

Michael started reading the Magic Tree House books that there are 4o or so of them and they teach the kids in a mystery about places and older times. The one I read to the boys tonight is about a unicorn and it brought me back to when I was a kid and how much I loved unicorns. I collected statues and stuffed animals and read as many books as I could on unicorns. I remember being 9 and moving to KY in a very hot summer where nobody was playing outside and I didn't have any friends yet so I read all the time. I use to look so forward to the bookmobile coming to the end of our street. I would get a bunch of books but I'd always have them read before the bookmobile came back. I am glad Michael has such a love for books. He has a Magic Tree house book in the car he reads. (2nd grade level) One in his room (that I started reading to them since its a 3rd grade book level)and one in his backpack at school that he reads on his freetime he said.

The picture I posted today is of the "flowers" the boys picked me in the backyard. Technically I think they are weeds but its the thought that counts! They have always been sweet about picking me flowers if they ever see them.

A Boys Pocket

Whenever I do the laundry I find alot of treasures that come out of the boys pockets. Especially Michael. He tends to pick up stuff on the ground alot. He will come home from school sometimes to show me his jewels he finds on the ground. Today when I did the laundry I just had to take a picture to show what fell out of his pockets. Fake jewels, bottle cap, eraser, and things that remind me of Bingo pieces. Treasures to a little boy.

I had to put this picture of Blake on here today too because when him and I were "playing school" he had the cutest expression on his face. He gets really excited when he does good in his workbooks. I always had done these with Michael and we had quite a few but suprisingly between the two boys we have almost covered all the pages! We may have to hit the Teacher store again soon.

Mom

Tonight I got to go have dinner and bathing suit shop with my mom. What a treat. I wish she lived closer so we could do it more often. I sure am lucky to have her!
Thanks Mom, it was fun!

Yawning as I write this...

Look at Blake's face. Does he not have the most innocent face? I have a funny story about last night. I went to bed at 10 and about 10minutes later, I hear the door open and Blake comes quietly into my room and climbs into bed with me. (he was asleep in his bed when I went to bed so he must've just woke up and headed for my bed) I must've fallen asleep pretty quick because it was a few hours later when I woke up. Apparently Brian had put Blake back into his own bed when he went to bed , because I was awakened to him coming into my room asking for a drink. So I told him to get some water with the cup next to his bed. Apparently he gave it to me in my exhausted state because I later woke up to find myself spilling it all over my bed and myself. (I vaguely remember him handing it to me to hold before he got into bed with us) So i get myself up and clean up the water and change my clothes and I got in Blakes nice dry bed. 10minutes later Blake climbs into HIS bed with me. So I fall asleep and later wake up worried I won't hear my alarm clock to get up for work so I go back into my bed. About 4am I am again woken up by Blake getting back into my bed for the 3rd time that night. I gave up and went back to sleep. I am thinking I might invent a new size bed...King Size Plus????

New recipe

I made a new lasagna recipe tonight that was so good. I love when I find a new good recipe. Something you can cook for other people and be proud of LOL! This is one of those. So if you plan to come to my house anytime soon, expect lasagna. It tastes like no other lasagna I have ever had. Just creamy. Michael ate some of it but Blake decided not to try it. He ate garlic bread for dinner. I know...some day they will be eating us out of the house and this will be a dim distant memory! But in the meantime I guess I will freeze what is leftover!

Baseball begins!

This will be Michael's 4th season of baseball. Hard to believe. He had his first practice tonight. They had to cancel his Fri practice last week due to wet fields. It was SO cold tonight. Where is Spring? It kills Blake to not be able to play on the same team as his brother. He wants to play so bad. Him and I practiced with his plastic bat and balls during the practice. Brian and I have always done that with him during Michaels practices so he doesnt feel left out. Blakes facial expressions are so great . He looks like he wants to slam the ball across the field. He loves it so much. I can't wait to see him play next month. They will only have 6 Saturdays they play. They dont have practices on other days. He also gets to play with two of his best buds, Mitchell and Brady. Michael is on a new team again this year so he didn't know any of the kids tonight. Of course, he made new friends fast. Brian helped out with the practice. There are many things I love about my husband but some of them are the fact that he helps with Michael's team whenever they need him and how we always go as a family (all 4of us) to the practices and games.

Huge Racetrack

Brian's dad gave the kids a HUGE racetrack which Brian put together today for them. Michael said he is the Champ of it now. They had fun racing with their Daddy on it. It is electric and very fast! I love the kids faces in these pictures!

Fri and Sat update

It ocurred to me today that I did not do a blog entry yesterday for the first time this year. I have been so busy the last two days. I really am not usually THIS busy! LOL! So the update is this....Friday-Blake and I went to Heathers to visit. We hadn't been to her new house since she had moved in so we enjoyed lunch and a play date with them. Then we went to get Pam a bday cake, pick Michael up from school, go to the park so I could exercise /walk with a friend, take the cake to Pam and then run home so I could finally shower. I had dinner and saw a movie with a friend for her bday while her husband came over and hung out with Brian and the kids. I was tired when I got into bed so I just forgot to blog! And just for the record...Remember Me is a SAD movie. Next time I have a girls night it must be a comedy!

Today, I woke the kids up, took them to their art class (which I am happy to say that Blake finally participated in after 4 classes of sitting in my lap while Michael did it. He would only do it if he could sit next to Michael), went to storytime and bookstore with some friends. (They had the story "If you gave a mouse a cookie" which is such a cute story. They got their picture taken with the mouse and got cookies to eat. Then I let them pick out a book. Had lunch with friends and let kids play at indoor playground. Then went to visit Nanoo. Left Blake there and took Michael to a birthday party which was VERY cool and I will send pictures tomorrow. It was an art party at the place he takes his art class with two girls from his school. Then back to get Blake and headed to another friends house to let kids play since Brian was playing cards with friends. Home, bath, and finally bed at 9. Spring forward on the clocks tonight! As if we need to lose an hour of sleep this week! LOL! But looking forward to more sun. Now if i could just find more hours in my days!

Saving money

I am really liking this e-mealz.com thing I've been doing for a couple months. Tonight I made a breakfast pizza for the family and everyone liked it . So far I haven't made anything I didn't like. I made the chicken salad for lunch today for the 2nd time. Yum! They give you recipes and the grocery list all based on what is on sale that week at the store. So it saves you time and money which I am all about! I've been doing alot of research on saving money and using coupons, etc. I read a few woman's blog coupon sites weekly . On my blog you can see a list of a few of them I check out. Anyway, I am always happy when the family all eats dinner together and the kids try something new, so tonight was a grand night!

Busyness

Before I went to church tonight I was thinking how busy our days are sometimes. I especially think this on Wednesdays since I work all day, run straight home, take a shower, get the kids together and run out the door to church. When we eat at church like we did tonight I have 30minutes from the time I get home from work to the time we have to be on the road headed to church. Then we get home around 9, do homework and go to bed. Well tonight at church our preacher talked on being too busy to see what is around us. He said how sometimes we will notice the beautiful flowers at a Botanical Garden but we won't see the beauty of the flowers in our own backyard. I have definitely been making a point this year of looking around me more and trying to remember to appreciate more (that was my 2010 goal) but what struck me in all that he said tonight was how in all our busyness... there isn't loneliness.

Old Yeller

Tuesdays are always very busy for us. Between cleaning the house, doing laundry , playing Gormites with Blake, playing the wii, getting Michael from school, running to the library to get a book for the boys tonight to read with Daddy and then off to piano practice , we barely had time to appreciate the pizza we picked up for dinner before I was out the door to go to a PTO meeting. Wow! And to think, next Tuesday we add baseball practice to the list. That is not counting homework and bath either! Now I am sitting here listening to Brian read the book "Old Yeller" to the boys. (well, actually Michael only since Blake passed out recently) Michael said this is the best book he has ever heard. I think it is so sweet. Brian has been reading to them for about 45minutes. If it puts Blake to sleep every night we may have to keep rereading it! LOL! What a good Daddy.

Gorgeous day

I am very grateful that I was able to work for 5hrs today and then pick my kids up from school and take them to the park with friends. What a gorgeous day it was. The warm sunlight on our faces! I just sat there with my eyes closed with my head up at the sky letting the sun hit it. wow! I love Spring. I love to hear my kids run around and laugh. I love that my husband lets me work part time so I can be with my kids more. I love that we sit down as a family to eat dinner. And I love that I actually cooked dinner tonight! LOL!

Sunday

Busy day. Birthday party and lunch as a family. Bike riding in the culdesac with neighbors and now getting ready for a bath. The boys love a bubble bath. It is a special treat around here.

Baths over. I just asked the boys to tell me what they think I should write on my blog that we are thankful for. They both just went immediately to the list of family members. Thought that was sweet (and great that they know this). I always pray that the seeds that I plant will always grow in them as they get older.

Appreciating

Have you ever just looked around you and thought of the things you appreciate? I know we all appreciate family, friends, good health etc....which are my main loves in life but I mean the things we don't really think about sometimes. The "lesser" things we appreciate. Because I can not appreciate anything more then the above.... : ). I hope everyone knows that!

For example, I appreciate my tub. I love that tub! And my bed. I love that bed! And my laptop, oven, washer/dryer, full cupboard, roof, pillows, ponytail holders, and soft blankets.
We should all just take a minute to look around us to see the things we have we should appreciate!

About Mommy

I read an article in a scrapbook magazine last night on doing a page on what your kids would say about you to describe you. This is what I got from then when I asked. Michael said...."I like her. I like to cuddle with her. I like to play with her. And I love her." Blake said,

"I love to play with her. I love you. I like to go night night in your bed. I like to eat candy. I love you. I love to play with you." Not exactly things that describe me like I was asking, but sure was sweet anyway!

Shopping

Blake and I went shopping today with my gift certificates at Michael's and Hobby Lobby that I got for my birthday. He was such a good boy. We also had pretzel bites and he had a Icee for being so good.

Scents

Blake has a hard time going to bed at night as we all know. Which isn't what my blog is about tonight. It's about how sweet he is when I lay down with him. (He's too big to rock anymore, sigh...) Sometimes he will fall asleep when I lay down with him but he always has his back to me and he will reach behind himself to touch me to make sure I am still there. (since his eyes are closed) I always think that is so sweet. Everyone remembers how babies smell so good. And I think sometimes people have a special scent to them too. Like when you put on someones shirt and it smells like them. My kids still have that baby scent to them. The one you can breathe deeply in. The one I will remind myself of when they are older and sweaty and stink!

Our weekend

I had such a great weekend getting to see my family, have dinner and a hotel with hubby. I feel very blessed to have family that will let hubby and I have a "date". It means alot and is really great for us to do. And the sleeping in! Wow, I feel recharged! I am thankful for all of my loved ones!

Memory

Last week I took the boys to the library to take a free sign language class that a friend from Michael's class's mom was teaching. She was teaching them that in sign language you can say two things at one time. So she asked the kids to say two words at the same time. She said if they could do it , she'd give them a billion zillion dollars. In sign languare you can sign two words at the same time. So today when I was putting the boys to bed, Michael says out of nowhere, "Mom I wish i had two mouths". So i ask why and he says ,"So Ms Julie would have to give me a billion zillion dollars for saying two words at one time." The things he will remember!