I want to desperately keep up current here - the trouble is I have a problem posting without a picture.  Not sure why but I figure it's the visual part I enjoy most about people's blogs - a close second to the true, honest emotional content that is often shared.  Working hard to be a better "sharer" of my emotions.

So the pics around here lately are not too existent - reason being is they are all kinda the same - pool, lake, pool, lake, see the trend... alot of fun, just not alot of variety in the way the pics would look. 

So I thought, what could I share?? The things I want to be doing but it's too hot to be doing them outside and well, let's face it, that's where we've been ALOT! Pool, lake, pool, lake, oh and the soccer field for camp this week.  And Braden went to VBS with his friend. 

But truth is, there's is this old window I have had since I don't know, like 8-9 years!  It looks like this in it's condition but the coolest thing is it still has it's original handle for pushing up and pulling down - even the rope going through it! (Don't be jealous!) I want to put pics in it but the glass is broken so I decided it will hold things like some "chicken" wire (or poultry caging as they called it officially, I like chicken wire better, don't you?) and maybe a magnet board or a chalk board.

Anyway, this is what I want to be doing today but instead we will be going to the chiropractor (bicycling for 15 miles has a way of putting a "kink" in the neck and shoulders), and a birthday party for my great-niece Lillian followed by one last night of VBS and youth for the kiddos - whew!  Tomorrow is "free" so hopefully I can post what I did with my frame on Monday?? Now if that's not accountability I don't know what is - put it out there for the world so you have to get it out of the garage - hubby will be super happy!

A First Time for Everything...

So Dr. Seuss says there's a first time for everything! I had one of those moments recently when I made meringue - I know - Martha oughta look out:) Not really, cause Martha never had three kids and a laundry room that explodes exactly once every 1.5 days! 

However, I saw on pinterest this really cute idea for "mini lemon meringue pies" and Father's Day was just the occasion I needed (as if I really needed and occasion) to bring on the lemon!  Oh, and I discovered for the first time in 38 years (egh hum - cough) that lemon meringue pie is my mom's favorite - how do you know that about your own mother???

Anyway, the meringue was not gritty - it baked well and the pies were a hit!  Super excited about that:)  Just baked them in cupcake liners so each person had a decent size but not too much. 

David told us during our Saturday evening Father's Day celebration that there was only one thing he thought he would get really excited about but he wouldn't say what in case I had totally missed the target.  But guess what??? I listen, I pay attention - and I hit that target - DEAD ON!!! A nice bike for the road.  We took our first ride together last night and it was sooo fun - no kids (to keep out of the traffice), just me and him and the open road (not exactly cause my heart rate stayed pretty due to dodging cars and traffic lights).  It was a fun activity I hope to have many more of. 

 And a card I made for my dad.  I had big plans for David but he really doesn't care about the cards so much so my dad's took precedence (as well as dinner being prepared for us all) so this one went to my lovely Alfredo.

So I don't live in a modern house like this one - but the turquoise is where we are headed! I am getting a bit excited.  I have chosen the color - its' not quite this saturated because it will be ALOT on on all these walls - slight understatement:) But I am loving the idea and hoping the translation is as good on the walls as it is in my head - ha! We all know how that can turn out sometimes.

I tell myself that southern and seaside are sorta the same when it comes to choosing colors and since I have a lovely pool in the backyard the color will be great.  See how the logic runs around here? But then I say to myself, "Self, its' your house, and if you like it, it will be perfect!" Again, after rationalizing with three kids all day, I'm an easy win!

A Clean Frige (and a Layout!)

So the summer is here! Which means I have a bit more time to do what I might want to do and I wanted to scrap:) I usually do everything in order but I occasionally go off track and here is what happens - a crazy lifestyle layout that has nothing to do with anything else.

When we were forced to buy a new refrigerator - I had to clean off all the stuff that accumulates on the outside - you probably don't have anything hanging on your frige but boy mine sure does - wink, wink:)  Obviously these things held some sentimental value or they wouldn't have been on the fridge - so who wants to to throw them away - not a scrapper!  So I made a layout - it's kinda an assortment of random parts of our lives, people we know and love, etc.  A little peek into our daily life.

What's on your fridge? I'd love to see it!

p.s. - Some of these things had been there since 2006!

Soooo, I know it has been a LOOONNNGGG time since I have blogged and I hope that I can get back in the swing again now that school is out.  Here's hoping!

We did have a major event recently and I though I usually blog in chronilogical order I am going to disregard that OCD behavior and celebrate my little man's birthday - YEP, he turned EIGHT on Memorial Day. 

We celebrated by taking a trip to Tampa and visiting WINTER (the dolphin from the movie "The Dolphin Tale" and then Busch Gardens.  It was super HOT but alot of fun.  We had fun company because we went with Aunt Melissa, "Nana", and Taylor and Tori.  Here is one silly picture from that day - will post more later on that.  Here silly boy climbed inside a hippo statue and then almost couldn't get out!

Here is the FABULOUS Mrs. Register whom we love with all our hearts.  We will be so sad to move on next year but she has certainly made a lasting impression and he is in LOVE with her!

 We did celebrate with a small, very casual, party with a few friends.  Nothing elaborate just cake and snacks and a ton of fun in the water.

Dearest Braden,

I love you more than words could ever say! You are an amazing and quite extraordinary boy.  You have a zest for life that is hard to beat and you love to learn about anything and everything.  You worried you would be eaten by a predator because you wore a black shirt and polar bears have black skin and clear fur but you didn't have the clear fur so you could be eaten.  You soak up every thing you are taught.  You have a great heart towards the Lord and your depth of spiritual thought is often astounding to those who know you - please keep the Lord first always!  I am so blessed to call you mine and I pray I take care of you in a way that will nurture all your fabulous qualities.

Him + Me + 15 Years = CANCUN!!!!

So these are TOTALLY not in the order but this is the first time I have posted with the new format and I clearly have a bit to learn...

A few weeks back (feels like forever) David and I were blessed to be able to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in Cancun, Mexico:)

We had such a great time and so much fun stuff to do - and the people were so nice!

Here is the ancient city of Coba and the Mayan Ruins - I made it to the top (120 very steep steps) while David decided to rest it at step #50 :(  I tried hard to get him to continue but his lack of desire and fear of heights were too much to over come.

One of the days we took a ferry to La Isla Las Mujeres - I think that translates to Island of the Women.  It was beautiful and relaxing.  We rented a golf cart and toured pretty much the whole island.  We found a great spot for lunch, some swimming (David even got a little massage on the beach) and then it was off again.

I loved all the old boats with the outboard motors - tried to get the shot without them visible but it was tough.

Here was the view looking up to the top of the ruins - again, not in order but a cool shot none the less.

The total climb - 120 steps

A pleasant dinner by the lagoon - I have a cool photo of an evening before this where a crocodile spends his evenings - assuming he is waiting for handouts - they fed him and he put on quite a show - this would NEVER have happened in America!!

The view of the water - I thought this was a great shot - no bragging just loved the aqua and red in the same shot - it was red flag all week so not alot of swimming here but a great view!

 Here is our happy photo on the evening of our "real" anniversary.  I couldn't have asked for a better fit to spend the rest of my life with.

Hope you have a great week and enjoy this amazing weather - who knew???



I don't have to....

Do what other mothers do....I have to do what is best for this guy! I don't have to do what my mother did... she wasn't the parent to this eleven year old who needs something different. We have to do what makes them thrive.... because he LOVES this....

He loves to chase that ball - he loves to believe he is good at it - he needs to know I am his biggest fan - no matter the day or the trials - He is my heart!


I have to take care of this precious jewel - who is full of spunk, kindness, and such amazing thoughts and ideas.

Because she too.... LOVES to do this! Does it matter that it's not the thing everyone expects us to do... NO. Does it matter that she would give life and limb (and take a beating) to be there?? I think that says something about her passion... I should feed this and not torture us all with things that don't spark that passion.

Because I have more than one amazing child - I have three! How did I become so blessed??? This guy is phenomenal - he loves to learn... just the other day they were learning about the earth's core and all it's order. He came home, went outside, and came back in to inform that he was upset because he couldn't find the shovel to dig to the earth's core.... he takes it all so seriously and that is wonderful.

Because he LOVES this...Karate....he thinks about it constantly and I am proud that he has his own thing...that is important for children... I am learning just how much so...

We have to do what makes our family work...does it work for yours... maybe....will it work for ours...we can try...but when it doesn't, we can't be afraid to stand up for what works at our home. I have been blessed with an amazing husband who loves his Lord, his family and isn't afraid to work hard to keep it all together... when he says "you gotta let it go" ... I have to learn to listen...because family and home are so much more important than the appearances, the bank accounts, or other peoples opinions. Am I totally there yet??? Not on your life, Am I working on it....ABSOLUTELY! We will be changing, transitioning and learning more about ourselves over the next few weeks and months. I pray that in the end, it is all good, but praying even more that the journey to where we are going will be one of bonding and loving and learning.

Praying you have a day full of things that work for you!