{Ahh..the little things}

back to school 2010

This is the year that I have anticipated, talked about with great excitement, and thought might never come ;)   Yes, this is the year that all four of my kids are in school.

Do you know what that means?  It means that while Ava is in preschool, I could have 5 hours a week ALONE.  Alone.  Alone?  OMGoodness....ALONE! 

But, Ava goes to school on Tuesday & Thursday mornings, and Thursday  is when my bible study group meets, so I am down to 2.5 hours - but that is 2.5 more than I've had in the last 10 years :)

I can't wait to find out what I will do with all of that free time...

snow!

Tomorrow is our THIRD snow day in a row! 

I think this is a record as far as I can remember, and we already had a short week & long weekend planned.  The kids get out early Thursday for conferences, and have Friday off for the same.  THen, Monday is a scheduled holiday off. 

I am really hoping that they get to have school on Thursday because that is also the day that the Valentine parties are scheduled...and we know that kids all hate to miss party days :)

I was starting to feel a little stir crazy, because we also had a big snow over the weekend which canceled most plans we had.  I was able to get out yesterday for some much needed retail therapy!  I had some birthday money to spend...a couple of cute new t-shirts, and a pretty necklace were just what I needed. 

Yes, I just had a birthday last weekend - I am 30 all over again!  We were out of town on my actual birthday, visiting some friends & celebrating my God-daughter Katelyn's birthday.  We all went out for breakfast, and to a cool museum in Cincy.  It was a fun weekend.  This weekend we celebrated with Harry's family (that is where I took the picture of Ava above, jumping on the mini trampoline).  We had pizza and watched "Up" with them, it was a nice relaxing night.  The kids actually watched a WHOLE movie...no pausing & rewinding like home :)

I was supposed to have MOPS tomorrow, but that is also canceled.  I am bummed!  This week we were planning a spa themed meeting, and we were doing all kinds of things to pamper each other, and we were making some comfy fleece neck wraps (filled with rice & microwaveable - similar to these).  I am having SO much fun this year as the craft coordinator, it really inspires me to find fun ideas - and I love organizing them for all of the ladies.  I am also still doing my ladies Bible study on Thursday mornings, and really enjoying that too.  There is such an amazing variety of women, and it is a wonderful learning experience for us all.  I get many of the older woman telling me how they enjoy hearing me share stories from my life, and I feel just the same.  We are all in different stages of our lives and have so much to learn from each other!

Well, I really wanted to take some time to do a catch-up post soon...and it looks like I just did without really thinking it through :)  I hope that everyone out there is enjoying this winter weather.  Be safe & stay warm!

creative overload

I had mentioned that it has been quite a while since I have done much in the way of crafts, but have been planning & getting excited for some Christmas things.  A friend & I have also been e-mailing each other some great blogs with some fun re-decorating/organization types of craft ideas.  I have a few of them running through my head already on a "to-do" list for winter.

I also mentioned (quite a while ago) that I am the craft coordinator for my MOPS group this year.  Well, Wednesday is our meeting, as well as a craft day.  So tonight I have been busy getting all of the supplies ready, as well as creating a few samples.  This time we will be dressing up some hand sanitizer bottles because it seems that EVERYONE is worried about the nasty sickness going around and because I think they are just too cute :)   I *think* I first saw this idea last school year on Suzanne's blog and I am almost positive that she linked to "Just a girl" (this post specifically) where she shared the idea/tutorial.

But, before you go there (I am too late, right?) I must warn you that her current post is the inspiration behind my post tonight.  She is hosting a blog party she calls "I can make that" where there are sooooooo many crafty gift ideas.  Oh my goodness... I think it will take me a week to get through them all  :)  I've spent quite a while blog hopping tonight and have only visited maybe 20 of the 138 ideas.   My poor brain is in craft overload!  How do I decide what do I make first????

random, yet again

Outside my window...

the sun is shining.

I am thinking...

about all of the sick people around here :(

I am thankful...

for quiet time

I am wearing... jeans & a green Miami t-shirt

I am

remembering... that my baby turns 3 this weekend.

I am going...n

o where until it is time to get everyone from school

I am reading...

bout three different books at once

I am hoping... for good results.

On my mind...

what ornament to make for the exchange I am in

Noticing that...

Ava is adorable

Pondering these words..."

there's no such thing as perfect people"

From the kitchen...

"come clean me up, I am too messy!"

Around the house...

toys, cards & folded clothes on the floor, groceries on the counter... general every day chaos!

One of my favorite things...

sunshine!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am finally feeling better, and so are the kids :)  We even ventured to the grocery all together this morning, which has not happened in quite a while.  I am not even sure that we had groceries for the last two weeks, unless my sweet hubby picked them up here or there.  He really stepped it up where he needed to when I was feeling bad, I am so thankful to him for that. 

When realizing that Ava is about to turn THREE, I also am realizing that she is not potty trained.  And yes, it is just like that.  Not "we have been working on it, and..."  or "Ava is getting big enough to do it so..."  Nope!  It is like I completely forgot that was a duty of a Mom to a toddler.  Maybe it is because I've been there, and I totally dislike this stage.  Or maybe it is because I've been there, and know they have to be ready.  Maybe it is because I know she will not be in diapers forever?  Maybe all of them combined, but Ava is not potty trained.  Stay tuned on that one....

Oh yeah!  And the little questionaire above was taken from Suzanne's blog:)