Forever

(note ~ pictures are random, just go with it ☺)

 (gorgeous blue teeth via a blue ring pop)

It feels like it's been forever since I've sat down to write an actual post.  I've written many in my head, but finding time to get them out in black and white has been a problem.  

(Action hitting a single)

A lot has been going on in my little world ~ organizing games for 200 elementary school kiddos for  a week of vacation bible school, driving 45 mins one way to get Sassy to pitching clinics, sports every night and weekend, job stress, and simply finding time to breathe and simply enjoy the kids whenever I can (after all it is summer vacation).  

(Smiley ~ passing the time playing in the dirt instead of watching the game ~ gone are the every other night baths ~ it has to be daily)

What I'm trying to say is my little blog here has definitely taken a backseat to life.  It's not that I haven't been making things ~ I designed a banner for Sassy's Fastpitch team for their State and National tournaments coming up later in July, I've created some fun chalkboard subway art for our home and as a gift for some friends (they haven't seen it yet), I've make a few cosmetic updates to our teeny tiny master bathroom, have redone Smiley and Action's rooms (except for a few accessories for Action), not to mention all of the recipes I've made off of pinterest (definitely some highs and lows there).  And it's looking like I may be transforming our guest bedroom into a home office and hopefully incorporating the guest part into it too. 

(Sassy ~ proud of her 1st place tournament win)

My camera has been gathering too much dust, I'm missing the weekly "Embrace the Camera" link up, as I rarely have any pictures of myself or hubby anymore.  I do believe the host of that link up stopped doing it, but I may have to revive it ~ so important to be in pictures ~ I personally love looking at old pictures of my parents alone, or with myself or my siblings.  To me pictures are such a treasure.

(Hubby playing catch with Action's baseball team)

Anyway ~ The fourth of July is almost upon us.  We've got some family and friend time coming up in the next few days and I am very much looking forward to a little relaxation.  We've got  two more fabulous months of summer vacation with the kids and I plan to enjoy them.  Hopefully I can get back here more consistently ~ I'm missing all of you!

(Action, just chillin' between Sassy's softball games)

What We've Been Up To

Each day, the daylight hangs around longer and night comes later.

The temperatures are slowly creeping up.

The end of the school year is within the kiddo's reach (7 more days).

Spring sports are in full swing.

And we are savoring the minutes we are together and not rushing from here to there... and sometimes back again.  

I admit, I have not been very good at pulling the camera out, but here is a little snip-it of what we've been up to:

Watching and Cheering  Sassy at her Softball games:

(Action has had many baseball games, but it's been too chilly and rainy to pull out the camera ~ maybe tomorrow......)

Riding 4 wheelers at Grandpa and Grandma's house:

A weekend of fishing:

Smiley's first catch of the day ~ a little Walleye ~ which she was absolutely NOT going to touch! She almost wouldn't take her picture with it, because it was "too close":

A little golfing:

Shade Rockin' while doing some yard work:

Honoring our Service Men and Women who have and still fight for our Freedom and Safety:

A day at the Horse Races with friends:

Having fun at the race track (and acting like they like each other ~ ha!):

And learning ~ our friend was teaching Smiley how to braid in between races.

What have you been up to?

Balance

balance |ˈbaləns|nounan even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady

Every so often I find myself trying to find just the right balance. Balancing my husband, the kids and their activities, family duties, time for myself, friends and volunteer work.  Lately my balance has been tested.  I know what is important, what needs to/must get done and I am finding that as I try to walk straight on the balance beam of life, I am beginning to lean.  Time for myself is dwindling as is time for my friends.  And I know all of the "things" that have been filling my schedule will eventually ease up.   

I am finding that I need to remind myself to enjoy the moments, the little ones, like the giggles of the kids playing together, the excitement in my daughter's expression as she heads out of the house for fast pitch softball tryouts, embracing new relationships when I feel like I don't belong, being open minded in meeting with a group of people I may not agree with, finally getting "on the same page" with someone, and a rainy afternoon with tea in hand even though I am busy working.  

Finding the balance ~ even when life is busy can be hard and it can be daunting.  But if we choose to  take one day at a time and find the small ordinary miracles of each day it makes it easier to stay on the beam. 

And if you do fall off, as we all do from time to time.  Shake it off and climb back on.

We all are

Busy.

Isn't that what we all say.
I am so busy.....
We are so busy........
I've have to do this
and this
and go here
and make this call/email.....

When life feels busy and full, things that aren't urgent take a backseat.  And yes, that is what has happened to my little 'ol blog.  It has taken a backseat in my life as of late.

We've been running here and there and attempting to enjoy life and remembering to be thankful for all that we have at this moment.

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to (the camera has taken a backseat too ~ boo)

Sumo Wrestling

Basketball playing for Action and Coaching for Hubby

Waterpark playing 

(pouting, playing, splashing, laughing, tubing running & balancing)

And more Basketball ~ this time for Sassy

(Breaking, Stealing, Winning by 2)

and celebrating a First Place end of the season League Tournament Victory.

It's been a fun whirlwind couple of weeks and I don't foresee things slowing down too much.   So life will continue to stay busy for us here ~ just like life is busy for you where you are.   We all are busy.  We just need to remember what is truly important and we need to remember to savor every second.

O{pin}ions

Hello.

Hello.

Is anyone out there?

Hello?

Yes it's me, Wendy.  I know, I know I haven't posted anything in weeks.  I figured that once school started and my older kids were gone for the day I would have lots of time to catch up on blogs and do some blogging myself.  However, life had other plans.  Life meaning a 3 year old and other priorities.

See someone had their very first day of preschool.  And she did really well!  She marched right into the classroom on the first day with her head held high.  When I picked her up, her teacher mentioned there were "a few tears, but she did great".  The next day she was excited to go and did fabulously.  And I must mention, that every day of school since the first one, when we get to school, she has asked where the camera is and if I'm going to take pictures.  Does this mean I have a camera overuse problem?  Ha!

We've also been baking,

reading, coloring, redecorating, picnicking,

and running every single night as well as all weekend long.

Volleyball camp and more fastpitch softball for Sassy:

3 on 3 basketball and football for Action:

Not to mention ~ regular season volleyball and church started this week for Sassy and church for Action.

I think I live in the car these days.

But even though our nights are busy rushing here and there, we ALWAYS find a way to sit down together for dinner.  Even if dinner is at 4:30.

This leads me to my O{pin}ions for the week.

First up, 

Cheesy Grilled Foil Potatoes

(Via ~ Simply Fresh Cooking)

These were good, we maybe cooked them a little bit too long as they were pretty soft.  They didn't pass the kid test as my kids didn't like them.  While they were good, they weren't anything special, so I probably won't be making them again.

Next, 

Buffalo Chicken Garbage Bread

(Via ~ finding a new life through food)

I will start by saying Action and Smiley did not like this.  For them it was too spicy.  Sassy, hubby and I enjoyed it though.  It is spicy, but easy and flavorful.  I will definitely make this again.  

Finally, 

John Legend's Macaroni and Cheese

(Via ~ Martha Stewart)

I made this as a side dish and everyone liked it.  It was a perfect addition on a cool night.  This mac and cheese had lots of flavor.  I didn't have evaporated milk on hand, so I replaced that with a combo of whole milk and 1/2 and 1/2 (which I had on hand for an ice cream recipe I want to try).  We all thought there was a lot of "oil" in this dish, but that goes with the amount of cheese that is used!  I will definitely make this again ~ it is a great fall/winter comfort food :)

Alrighty ~ I'm off for now.  But first, let me know what you've been pinning.  Have you tried anything?  Oh, and you can find me on Pinterest here

Messy

Everything seems a bit messy right now.

* My schedule ~ planning and organizing a fundraising breakfast, silent auction and kid raffle for 500 people.  I've been making decorations ~ promise I'll show you them soon, soliciting, entering and organizing information, getting volunteers and so much more.  Besides that, softball (Hubby is head coach for Sassy's fast pitch team ~ enter meetings and tryout that he has had to attend) and baseball have started up.  There go our evenings!

* Hubby has been gone off and on for the last two weeks for work, THANKFULLY he doesn't have any trips planned for the near future.

* We took the kids to a indoor water park and amusement center with 5 other couples last week for a long weekend.  It was a blast.  Nice to get away and not worry about house and fundraiser stuff.  Although, I lie, I did convince some  friends to volunteer to help the morning of :)

* Easter ~ I've been trying to be prayerfully aware during this season of lent and now Holy Week.  And while I've done ok, I feel like I haven't done this to the best of my ability this year.  I've been feeling pulled in too many directions.  And besides the religious significance of Easter, now my kids are beginning to wonder where their Easter baskets actually are....hmmmm me too!  The electrician rearranged my storage area to get better access and it is still in disarray (I think he is still coming back to finish some things up, so I haven't put it back together yet).  Maybe today I will find them...

* My house ~ a complete mess.  Well, it feels like it anyway!  I am having a hard time finding my home to be a calming sanctuary lately.

I mean,

Cardboard and plastic on the floor (yes, those ARE still Christmas trees in my entryway ~ ugh!) :

No kitchen:

A fridge still in my living room:

Plastic sectioning off my kitchen (pay no attention to the freshly folded laundry all over the couch!):

A kitchen island taking up 1/3 of my garage:

Appliances and "stuff" taking up the other 1/3:

Cabinet drawers in my basement:

My kitchen being stored in my guest room/office:

Sassy purged her room and piled up what she doesn't want anymore outside of her room:

Oh, and don't let me forget, we ran into some flooring issues (old floor doesn't match the new floor, even though it is the exact same stuff ~ darn sun fade!).  Which have been resolved, the best way I believe it could have been without having to replace the flooring on basically our entire main level.  Unfortunately this means the wood floor we planned on needing has doubled and of course it's on back order until the end of April.  Really no kitchen until May?!  I have a combined 12 family members from  my side and Hubby's side staying with us the last weekend of April for Action's 1st communion celebration.  This could be interesting!

So there you have it.  My life as a mess.  Hopefully things "clean up" soon, very soon!

Until then, sorry I've been so sporadic!  Thanks for hanging with me!