May Update

I will be completely honest.  I let life run me over.  Instead of taking charge, getting up earlier, setting the time aside for my health, I let the crazy control my moves and dictate my days.  Now that school is out and a new routine is in, its time to step up my game for June.  But first - May's result:

 

 

33.5 miles for May

 

237.5 / 2,017 miles

 

April

March

February

January

Lost

A week ago Jacob discovered he had a loose tooth.  His first one!!

 

 

The excitement quickly turned to tears when eating simple soft sandwiches caused his tooth great pain.  We had to give him a quick lesson on how to bite from the sides of his mouth, that he still had to brush it, you can wiggle it but its best to just let it come out on its own, and...

 

 

... lo and behold, a week later its out!

 

 

"It didn't hurt at all, Mom!"

First and Last

What a difference a year can make. 

Height.  Hair.  Style.  Friends.  Confidence.  Knowledge.  Likes/Dislikes.  Experience.  Compassion.  Strength. And so much more.  Here is the 'First' and 'Last' day of school pictures that capture only a mere fraction of that growth. 

 

First day of Preschool

 

 

Last day.

 

 

First day of Kindergarten

 

 

Last day.

 

First day of Third Grade

 

 

Last day.

Living up

With school soon coming to an end and the freedom to watch whatever you want without a fight ending too, this little one has been spoiled these last few days - picking show after show and movie after movie.  And if you can't tell what movie this is from the opening scene, I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore.

 

Here's a hint:  She's really living up to the theme of her name.

 

What I'm reading this week

More aptly named - What I'm torn between reading this week:

 

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

 

I'm not even sure how I found this book but I feel the need to read it because, well, the struggle is real.  And because Kristen Welch is a fantastic author.  So do I read that one first or this one:

 

Rise: How a House Built a Family

 

'Rise' is about how Cara Brookins escaped an abusive relationship with her children and built a house from the literal foundation up... with only the help of her children... by watching YouTube videos. 

 

Say what?!

 

This may just have to be a week of reading two books at the same time.  Both truly fitting together quite well.  You think you have it hard because you don't like the steak I cooked you?  Well then.  Go to your room - after you build it first.  Lets see what lessons we learn.

Special Treatment

What happens when you get dragged from errand to errand, store to store, appointment after appointment, day after day?

 

You get the 'Momma feels guilty ice cream cone with lots of sparkles' reward.

 

 

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of our God lasts forever.

Isaiah 40:8

 

Planning and prepping for Mother's Day started in March with this Pinterest inspired project:

 

 

Painted wood flowers that can be used as a door hanger?

 

I can do that!

With a little help of course. 

 

So I enlisted the help of my bestest sister-in-law to base coat each flower while I added the details and Voila! 
Here's what you get:

 

 

Flowers that may fade in time, but the love that went into them never will.

Punch List

Mother's Day.

 

Call it "Old Love" where the little holidays aren't so much about chocolates and flowers (although I did get those too)

 

 

Or call it saving a bit of Mom's sanity. 

 

Whichever you prefer, Mother's Day this year was about punch lists.  Knocking out all those little things that pile up, get pushed back, nag at the back of your brain and keep you awake during the night.  So all I wanted for my special day, the thing(s) that make dreams come true were:

 

having my kitchen floor mopped (mind you it was their messes being cleaned up anyways),

 

 

a suet feeder hung outside my kitchen window,

 

 

my summer party patio lights strung,

 

 

my wind spinner assembled and placed in the landscaping,

 

 

art hung on the shed (I'm working on another piece that will go on the other side),

 

and hang my mason beehive (Mason Bees are non-stinging pollinators - very environmentally awesome creatures!).

 

While that was being done, I was busy planting my radishes

 

and onion sets (I'm a bit behind). 

 

Now we are almost ready for summer.   Thank you to the hubs and kids for busting out the chores and a little extra to help my mind be a little more peaceful.  Its the best gift anyone could hope for.

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Moment Like This

Third Grade = Elementary School = Fun, new, exciting, big deal events

 

Events such as:

 

The First Daddy / Daughter Dance.

 

 

A huge shout out goes to my best big sister for assisting doing hair, nails, and make-up for this special evening. 

Growin' Up

The time is here.

 

It has finally come. 

 

The children are grown enough to be dropped off... and left...  without us...

at day camp.

 

 

This camp's theme was Shrektacular! complete with (pool noodle) dragons, pictures with (a) Donkey, lizard on a stick and swamp juice for lunch, outdoor javelin throws, marshmallow shooters, and more.  But the thing that made the day, or at least made my day, was the ogre ears that adorned every happy camper.

Dedication

This is our cat.

 

 

She is a calico that showed up at our house one day almost 2 years ago.  She was fixed, no fleas, clean ears, well fed, obviously someone's pet.  But the days and weeks went by and she never left our home so by some common law adoption of a pet, she became ours.  She eats our food, she sleeps in our beds, and she is always referred to as 'she' as she does not have a name.  Still.  Its been nearly two years.  Anyways...

 

This cat has some of thee best dedication I have ever seen in an animal.  She knows there is a family of bunnies living under the shed and will sit for hours - literal hours - waiting for those babies to come out to eat so she can do what comes natural.

 

 

I am sad to report that I believe the family has completely eliminated or has been starved to death which means kitty has moved on to the next nest.  But this time has brought us a live present.

 

We didn't know where the nest was to return him.

 

And after a little research we learned that the white blaze on his head meant that he was too little to be on his own.

 

 

So we did the only thing we could do.

 

We brought him in, made him a bed, attempted to feed him blackberries and celery leaves, and kept him company until nature took its course. 

 

As sad and heartbreaking as these moments are, I can't help but watch the curiosity in the kid's eyes and wonder what kind of career their future holds.