Thankful Thursday!

Four Generations!

This picture was taken last Sunday at Fairview Farms restaurant. My grandma, my mom, Maggie and myself....four generations.

The amazing part (in my opinion) is that my grandma was able to be there. She had two surgeries on her back last week, but she was able to come. And look fabulous to top it off.

She is a very special person to me, and I'm so grateful to have her as my Gram!

The "Only" child!

I don't know if you know this about me...

but I'm an only child.

And I can honestly tell you, that it's not fun.

I knew at a very young age that if I was lucky enough to become a mother, that I would definitely have at least two kids. I didn't want my child to be an only child.

This past weekend, Maggie had the opportunity to be the only child. Max went to Chicago with Papa to spend the night with his cousins and Maggie stayed back at home with Andy and I. It was a little weird to have only one kid.

There are plenty of times when I just have one of them...but it is really rare, in fact, this may have even been the first time it's been Andy and I both with only one child. I kept thinking we were forgetting something, and of course, I missed my little man a bunch.

Maggie on the other hand was thrilled. She decided that we needed to visit the root beer stand on Saturday for lunch and then follow it up with a trip to DQ. She was then off to a birthday party and then to the mother-daughter banquet at my mom's church.

On Sunday, after church, we headed out to one of our favorite restaurants (the one we missed on Easter Sunday) Fairview Farms. I happened to get this shot of Maggie on our way. I think she was enjoying being the only child a little too much.

She wasn't ready for Max to come home.....but I was!

I'm glad he had a great time with his cousins and I was glad to have the special time with Maggie...but I'm so happy that they are both home with me, the way it should be.

You're NOT going to believe this...

I'm saying "NO" to these....
and a great big "YES" to these! Have you tried them...they are my new chips!

Happy Friday all...have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Earth Day!

I can honestly say that I try to do my part when it comes to helping out our planet. And as we observe Earth Day today, I wanted to share the easiest way I have found to do that. Of course, there is the obvious, reduce, reuse, recycle...as Jack Johnson sings about. (Love this tune!)



If you have been with me from the beginning of this little blog of mine, you might remember when I first purchased these nifty little bags. I got two of them two years ago on Earth Day. One yellow and one pink....and they are still with me.

I have grown to love them so much...I now carry 6 with me at all times. I use them at Wal-mart, Target, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, anywhere you get a bag....I get my own out.


Now, when the cashier realizes I have my own bags...(especially if I'm somewhere with a LOT of stuff) they are not the most excited people on earth. However, I have learned to inform them of my own bags right at the beginning and then I help, or even "bag" the stuff myself. The cashiers are much more appreciative if I help.

These great little bags fit right inside themselves and are so cute, great fun colors, and they hold a lot more than you think they will. I get compliments all the time. If you want to check them out...click here!

Got a great recycling tip to share?...I'd love to hear how you are helping out our Earth!

For your listening enjoyment...

I love how certain songs tell a story. I love how certain songs make you feel. I love how songs take you back in time, or help you to remember a special person in your life. Music is such a wonderful thing.

These songs have become a few of my new favorites.

"The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets is awesome and every time I hear it, I think of my sweet Maggie.

Especially when it says:

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

Then there is "Love Never Fails" by Brandon Heath. It's just a beautiful song. And an awesome reminder of God's love for us!



And especially this song:

'Forgiven" by Sanctus Real

I really think these guys wrote this song for me. I love, love, love this one. And again, it's a great reminder that no matter what we have done...we ARE forgiven!

Good things come to those who....

forget!

Most of you know that I'm a bit crazy when it comes to organization. I like things to have a place and for items to be put back in their place when done. I'm also a tad bit crazy with lists, spreadsheets, labels and such.

So when I was packing for our trip in Arizona, of course, I printed the packing list spreadsheet and got to work.

Now, let me just add this little disclaimer. My parents drove to Arizona a *month* before we flew out there. They were gracious enough to take most of our stuff. They hauled out the kids' booster seats, sleeping bags, Easter goodies, and also all the kids clothes. I also packed my own clothes and sent them along for the ride. This made flying so much easier (and cheaper)...with only one bag to check.

With that said, you all understand that I had to think ahead. I packed mostly shorts for the kids, knowing they wouldn't need them here with Illinois weather and I did the same for myself.

When we got there, my mom had unpacked all our stuff. She hung up all the stuff so nicely and folded a lot of the kids' stuff and put it into the drawers. It was perfect.

After flying all day, I wanted to freshen up a little before dinner and that's when I discovered my *HUGE* mistake.

Yes, I'm admitting it here for all of my 10 readers to see...

I forgot to pack my own underwear!!!

Can you believe it?!? How could I miss something so important? I know it was on the packing list...did I not follow my own list?!

Just another little side note, I have been a loyal customer of VS for years. Years I tell ya! And I wasn't about to change just cuz I forgot mine at home. Arizona is a big place, I'm sure there is a VS store right down the street.

But I was tired. I was hungry, and it was my birthday. I really didn't want to go searching for a VS...so we hit a nearby Target. I'm sure my hubby was so excited to be there with me, it took me FOREVER. I wanted to just get some cheapies to get me through a few days...we'd hit a mall in the next day or two for sure.

I ended up buying a 3-pack of Hanes. Cheap and easy! And you know what....I LOVE them. I love them more than my VS. Did I just say that? So I might be doing the ol' switch-a-roo when it comes to my undies. Aren't you just so happy to know this about me!

Max + shots = 3 days off school

So it seems I've been on a bloggy break...

It wasn't planned or scheduled, it just happened!

Last Tuesday afternoon, I took Max to the health department to get his kindergarten shots.

Four shots...two in each arm! He did great...he got a little worked up while I was doing the paperwork...but got it together and only cried a little.

We then headed to Wal-mart to get a little somethin' special...just like Maggie did. (They don't forget a thing the other one gets to do!)

So this is what he picked....

Even though I'm NOT a fan of buying guns for my kid....he wanted it really bad...so I gave in!

Then...

Wednesday he had a slight fever (due to the shots) and fell asleep right before it was time to go to school...he slept all afternoon.

Then Thursday...his entire arm was swollen (from his shoulder to his elbow) and we headed in to the doctor to check it out.....I'm so thankful for friends who are nurses, ones who check him out and make me feel like I'm NOT overreacting! Thankfully the doctor made me feel the same way. Even though the doctor didn't do anything....we had to just wait it out...I felt better!

Friday I took Max to school and as we were walking in...he tells me he doesn't feel well. At first I just thought it was a little separation anxiety...since we had been together all week....but I took him right home and he slept the entire afternoon...again!

So he missed three days of school because of these shots that are required for school...seems a little silly doesn't it?! And four shots...really just seems like a lot to me!

He's doing much better now. His arm is back to it's normal size. He does still have a pretty good size knot where the shot was given, but he's doing better.

So my little bloggy break was necessary to take care of my little guy!

I hope to now be back to our regular scheduled program!

I needed a little motivation!

Remember the fun house mirror as a kid?

You know the one that you walk into and it distorts your entire body and makes you really really thin, or super duper wide....

Well, while we were at the Arizona Science Center on vacation, they had one of these nifty little gadgets that would take your picture and then you could press a button and the image would be distorted.

One of these poses got me thinkin'!

This is what I look like when I yell at my kids. It's not pretty! At all!

(Warning...if you have small children peeking over your shoulder while reading this blog...you might just want to stop right here!)

See I told you...Isn't this scary...

So my plan?! To try really hard to stop the yelling...otherwise the cycle will continue and Maggie will look like this when she yells at her kids!

Vacation Recap!

We went to the Arizona Science Center...

thinking so hard...

laying on a bed of nails...

Maggie even did it...

We went hiking on South Mountain...

We went horse-back riding...

Maggie rode her own horse! I was so proud of her!

and swimming...

Andy even got to go for a ride in one of these...

It was a great relaxing week...and we did a lot of fun things, but it's good to be home!

Birthday & Easter 2010

We are in Arizona, and Max has already caught a couple of fish....

I had a wonderful birthday with a lot of cards, calls, texts and facebook comments...oh, and mom got me this delicious ice-cream birthday cake, that we weren't able to eat til after brunch on Easter!


Somehow, the Easter bunny knew we were in Arizona too....he hid a lot of eggs and the kids got Easter baskets full of all kinds of goodies.

We had a wonderful brunch on Easter morning with Grandma and Paca AND Papa and Jane. It was so nice to be with all of them!

Then later last night, we went to Organ Stop Pizza! Great pizza and even better entertainment.

It's been a great few days...with lots more fun to come! Oh, how I love spring break!