PLEASe ignore my annoying voice....

(It's the "Mommy" voice....)

But, look at what our 20 month old is starting to do (still has to be bribed to do it, but we're on our way!!)!!

Go Val!!!

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!!