ADDITIONAL Spring pics :)

Here is Val in her matching outfit (I took pics with these clothes in the fall, but they were hard to see in the leaves) at school picking up Lovely...a group picture with A included, and then the two girls together. So cute!

Here is Val seeing her sister coming up the hall - she always just laughs and giggles when she sees her!

*Sigh* Love my girls :)

Spring Picture Day :)

Hey is Lovely dressed for her Spring Pictures at school today. Little Val has the same outfit too - maybe I'll surprise Lovely by having her in it when we walk to pick her up from school today.

I love taking pics when the kids look extra cute. Cuteness overload!! (Not that I'm biased...)

Small Successes - "Day By Day" Edition

Wow! What a week!! It's been mostly good, and I've felt connected to Lent. Some days feel deeper than others - I feel life has tried to be very distracting (not the good parts of life - I'm referring to the stresses of life) from feeling connected every day - but I'm glad I can recognize the signs and do something for focus. I was a bit emotional this weekend which brought me down some, but the past few days have been really fruitful.

I think we're finally overcoming the stomach virus. It claimed Hubby this past weekend, so we did survival mode a few days, but it is nice to be "back"! I felt very achy and had a sore throat yesterday, but napping instead of working out helped. Sometimes I get run down and just need some extra rest to stop any illness from coming on. I'm ok this morning, but I have a PACKED day. I hope I do not collapse this evening!

It's great that my daily life "goals" sometimes overlap Lenten goals - like the 40 bags/40 days - so I guess I can count them in my daily successes :)

1. Still enjoying working out with my girl S. We're trying the 3 mile DVD aerobic walking workout I have and have built up to the 3 miles! It feels good! I appreciate her motivation and inspiration for me to keep going!

2. Lovely and I/the fam have stayed on course with her Lenten goals (I feel Mommy hasn't been as good!). She and the bean jar are a great match. She is really thinking through her decisions. We've been reading at night, and doing Lenten Adventures 3 times a week. We still had not gotten to the Lenten Lamb countdown, but got to it yesterday! I'm TERRIBLE at figuring out the grid/pattern for the actual days, so we'll just have to add cotton balls LOL - but she had a blast coloring in the face of the lamb and adding the cotton balls we needed to catch up. See pic:

3. I've been doing a fair job keeping up with the 1 bag a day - 40 bag/40 day Lenten practice. I got off track this weekend with Hubby being sick, and even after busy days trying to remember - wow! Why is this hard for me sometimes? But, other days I'll pack up more than 1 bag so I wonder does this make up for it? LOL. I'm also doing for my Lenten sacrifices/additions (the Faith and Family Live Lenten Meditations for "Give, Fast, Pray"). Yesterday's Fast was no reading blogs or message boards and using the time in a better way - and boy, did I. Aside from napping, I spent post nap time getting the tupperware off my dining room table instead of vegging at the computer after the kids' bedtimes and finally got organized in my pantry and in most of my freezer. I was able to toss a bunch of trash bags (40 bags/40 days!!) of boxes, containers, and other random clutter from these areas as I used the tupperware to store these items. Here are the before and after pics:

Before in Pantry:

After in Pantry:

Before in Freezer:


After in Freezer (still needs work lol):


So, that felt good!! I also did some de-cluttering in the bedroom, and Hubby did some on the garage - so we did some good catching up in the 40 bag goals.

It IS hard to do, but I'm finding peace in focusing on "letting go"and making myself actually clean out things (I'm a big procrastinator!). It lightens my spirit. I also love the Give/Fast/Pray meditations every day as well. I should journal some of those days - like the turning the radio off for a day in the car - Lovely and I had GREAT conversations. Also in making dinner extra special - GREAT and helped our family dinner time together. Reading and spending 10 mins in quiet..wonderful.

I hope things are fruitful where ever you are...

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm most thankful for...

1. my Hubby's patience with my emotions and hormones.
2. increased reflection time.
3. incredible family moments.
4. amazing friends! You know who you are.
5. my girls bonding so much this week.
6. prayers.
7. Lent.
8. God.
9. a fresh new start every day....
10. this pregnancy - I need to journal more of it with this little boy who kicks, but like his sisters, is so quiet (for now) ...I LOVE being pregnant!!! It's going by TOO fast!

11. For my parents, who graciously will babysit for a big school evening meeting. I'm thankful for them.

Blessings!!!

Wordless Wednesday - "What Age Gap?" Edition

Daybook TUESDAY - "Ho Hum" Edition

Outside my window... cool and cloudy

I am thinking…nap this morning, or take Val to the library?

I am thankful for…feeling better emotionally than I did this weekend.

From the kitchen…we just had breakfast - cereal and sausage balls.

I am wearing…socks, PJ pants, t-shirt.

I am going...to have a very busy Wed, Thurs, and Friday during school hours, plus a community school meeting Thurs night (more info below - it is why I am "ho hum").

I am reading...daily Lenten Meditations, food blogs, waiting for my copy to arrive of Same Kind of Different As Me for book club.

I am hoping…I can get back on track with watching my Lenten Sacrifices. I've gotten behind on my bags for 40 Days, 40 Bags mostly. I'm also hoping our favorite neighborhood school both stays OPEN and does not get overcrowded with re-zoning.

I am hearing...the radio playing.

I am creating…survival plans for getting through this week resting wise. It'll be a fun 3 days, but I'm hitting that place where I need naps at almost 29 weeks along, so I need SLEEP!

I am praying…for a focused Lent, continued health for me and my family again, and for the school issues plaguing where I live. It's really frustrating currently (County wants to shut down a bunch of schools near us, or re-zone them - even with my home schooling plan, I want to support my community and keep our local school small and intimate).

Around the house…trying to keep it clean! Organized! De-stressed. HAHAHA!

One of my favorite things…my girls giggling together!!!

I am pondering...my plans for TODAY still lol. I'm not good at making decisions!

A few plans for the rest of the week…either a morning nap or morning out with Val in a bit, delivering a meal to a family this evening with a new baby and babysitting our Goddaughter E some this evening. Tomorrow is shopping with the grandparents and piano lesson and working out, Thurs is another shopping day with a friend and her daughter we don't see often and lunch, then our church's Montessori class and the school community meeting. Friday I'm hosting a playdate and a possible sleepover for Lovely and our Goddaughter on Sat morning. GOOD times! WHEW!


A “picture thought” I’m sharing…



Happy Tuesday - chase the ho hums away with me!

Best Day In a While

Who needs words?















Fantastic Day....AMEN!!

Ready. Set. Organize.

So, a few weeks ago I mentioned I hosted a Tupperware party for a friend starting her business. It was a lot of fun, despite a stomach virus keeping some friends from coming. D did a great job as a new consultant and she even got some online orders. It was a fun afternoon together. The orders came this afternoon. I just unpacked them all for everyone, including myself.

Between hostess dollars, my mom wanting to support D and buy some things I can use in my house (THANKS MOM!), and some purchases of my own - I got some modular sets for the pantry and freezer. They range from stackable modulars to hold pasta, potatoes/onions, cereal, rice, flour, sugar, snacks, etc.... to freezer mates that supposedly hold meats and veggies longer and healthier - I hope (and one bonus fridge pack hostess gift). I'm crossing my fingers they help me organize, clear clutter, improve access to food on my shelves, and keep food items FRESHER longer!

Without the before mentioned, I never would have been able to get this all at once - so I'm really grateful to them all, and can't wait to do a product review. I will say, it was hard getting all the lids on things - maybe they need to stretch? I think I'll leave them closed before cleaning them and then filling them to help the lids learn to "fit" better before I struggle with them.

So, here is a taste of what's to come. Let me introduce my pantry and fridge (before pics):




Now that you've met them, they need to now meet the following organizers:




When I can finally load all the food products, I look forward to posting "after" pics!!

The pantry modulars will help mostly the lower levels of my pantry. I'm hoping it will create a dent in the mess in there and help me access foods better than currently. As for the freezer mates, I hope to create a better freezer space for storage.

So, hopefully in the next few days I can say: Ready. Set. Organize!!! WOOT WOOT!!!

Appreciating Black History Month

Tonight, Lovely participated in a wonderful program for the lower grade levels for Black History Month. They sang wonderful songs like "This Little Light of Mine" (Lovely did singing) and also the Kindergarten students dressed up as different African leaders that impacted early history. They did such a great job! The faculty also participated by dressing in African dress for a fashion show that older students narrated. It was a wonderful community evening!

Lovely (center - looking at candle)

Lovely singing :)

All the students

Faculty Fashion Show

Valiant loved dancing and clapping!!

Lovely in her concert dress attire

Savor our rich history!!!! Much love!!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday - "Lenten Start" Edition

It's Lent!!! After last year's really fruitful Lent for our entire family, I've really been looking forward to the start of this Lent!! It's a favorite season of mine, and our family's too. It just took (and takes) on a whole new wave for us!!

That said, I have some successes to share, even in this time of "quiet."

1. After a week off for illnesses, etc - S and I got back on the workout wagon yesterday. She's AWESOME! She was so kind to find a time to match me, and we did a two mile "walking" cardio DVD. It's so nice to have both someone to work out with, and just talk with as we go along as a friend. So wait...if it is that fun....can I still count it as a success? LOL

2. Speaking of dear friends - I was able to keep the house together and feel good about jumping in last minute and hosting friends over for a Mardi Gras Mom's Night In Tuesday. It felt so good to just light some candles, and let really wonderful (and yes, AWESOME applies) friends in that feed the soul (as well as a nice escape from life). Oh yeah - they all brought REALLY YUMMY FOOD. And, my house is still basically straight downstairs. I'm trying for Lent to stay organized (I know..I'm a broken record) even though I get so tired. It's just nice to feel on top of things, you know?

3. Speaking of Lent - after the sickie weekend, I was able to sit down and write down my Lenten plans, and I even asked my Hubby for his and included them so as a family we know what we're doing. So many great links I found from others gave me great ideas. I am hoping we have another helpful, growing, faith journey! Many prayers!!!


Thankful Thursday
This week I am most grateful for...

1. Lent.
2. my family.
3. my friends.
4. Lovely and her spirit this week - I've blogged so many moments with her this week that amaze me.
5. that children can teach ME a thing or two.
6. all of those out there - my small group, my friends, and bloggers out there who gave us so many ideas for making this a great season. Thank you!!!

Much love...blessed Lent!!

Our Ash Wednesday in pictures

What a FABULOUS evening. I wish we could have started our day with Mass instead of ending it - because it does sharpen your focus, but it was nice to do it as a family where Hubby was playing for the evening. It's always nice to go to the Cathedral - we sit near where Hubby plays the flute which puts us in the front row - which Lovely LOVES because she can see everything, and for some reason still works out great with both girls - even little Val - maybe because they CAN see everything, they sit captivated - I barely had any fidgety issues that can come up at Mass usually for their ages. That makes for a great mommy Mass experience :) I enjoyed it so much - I could feel it in my soul.

I always carry my camera with me in the diaper bag, and aside from the top picture (I always take a pic on Ash Wednesday! I'm a mama dork) I found myself snapping my camera silently before Mass, and one time during. Call me SILLY - but I was really in wonder at Lovely. As we waited before Mass while Hubby practiced, she wanted to go pray across the sanctuary (!!!) at the altar of Joseph and young Jesus. She went all on her own - and I snapped a few pics. She touched me and my soul. Call me a proud mama, a touched mama, a cheesy mama with a camera - but I just wanted to capture it. I just felt so proud and touched and in wonder of childhood faith. Such a innocent thing to witness.

a little closer in...


These pics are just for me to remember these little moments - we're not a perfect family, we haven't raised perfect little church kids...., I'm trying to give up yelling for Lent (!!), but what I felt as I watched her I just wanted to capture somehow to look back on when I need to see this and remember. So please forgive my pictures.

Being in the front row, when it was time for the consecration, there are no kneelers. Being an older, traditional (beautiful) set up - people go and kneel at the altar from the front row. Lovely just went along with everyone else - I was a bit stunned. I needed to sit with Val in the pew - so I had to sneak out my camera again. Again - for ME. I loved locking eyes with my husband in the choir and both of us just feeling...something. Our little girl...being a part of something really BIG.



Anyways - it was a great worship experience. I'm filled with peace and pumped for the season. I got some pics after Mass of Hubby and where he plays, the girls and the beautiful altar (one could just take so many pretty pics here) and some family shots. Why not, eh?




The homily went over much of why we do Lent (and why we give up meat on Fridays - though how in the past it had a different meaning of solidarity/sacrifice with the rich and poor when meat used to be so $$$$$) but Father reminded us how the solidarity with all who practice Lent can be food for the soul. Each Friday - and daily with praying, fasting, and giving - 1 billion people are united in the world doing something to connect us with something great and bigger then ourselves in the same ways. What a feeling that is, when you think about that perspective. It's way bigger than little old me. But then, what Jesus did below....yeah...that's the biggest of all.

A blessed Lenten journey for you....much, MUCH love.