Even though....

Even though Christmas is approximately 14 days away.....

Side note:
I'm not a day counter, nor is my husband or 2 of the 3 kiddos, but Smiley?  She is a counter.  Always has been.  When she was littler, the question was always, "how many more sleeps?"  Now that she is older (a whopping 6 years old), every morning she looks at our family calendar and counts the days until Christmas (or her birthday, or anyone's birthday, or a planned playdate or whatever else she can count down).  It is definitely an endearing annoyance :)

Anyway,

Even though Christmas is 14 days away, I still want to share with you the pictures I took of the kiddos this fall on our annual trip to the local falls.  Coming here makes me wish we still lived in our tiny city house, just blocks from this little gem of natural beauty.

Behold... some lovely fall colors (oh, and cute kids, don't forget the cute kids part ~ at least I think so!):

Fancy

With a 5 year old in the house, you learn to expect unexpected statements.

I was driving down the road with the radio on.  Smiley was all buckled in and singing away, very typical behavior for her.  I wasn't really listening to the radio, but I did hear her exclaiming,  "I'm so fancy!"

I checked the XM display and realized it was the song "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea (video here ~ it's the explicit version of the song, but I couldn't find an official video with a clean version).  Yes, I know this song isn't 5 year old appropriate, but I needed a short break from the "Animal Farm" on Kids Place Live..... And since Smiley is really good at hearing and picking up lyrics the station was changed shortly thereafter.

The back of the vehicle got quiet, which is quite uncommon.  About five minutes later Smiley says, "Hey mom, I bet she isn't even fancy.  I bet she just has on a blue skirt with a sparkly shirt......."

Monsoon Accessorize - Suri Sequin Vest Top (see more sequin tops)

Skirt (see more elastic waistband skirts)

Now I can't hear that song without thinking of Smiley and that just makes me smile!

Friday Funny

Happy Friday Friends!  I hope you had yourselves a good week! 

I don't know about any of you other mothers out there, but why does it seem that children don't realize they have a dad?  At least that is the case much of the time at my house.  I saw a version of this on Facebook the other day and created my own:

I guess kids at a young age know who has all of the answers ~ Ha!

And since hubby has been gone for a couple of days traveling for work, I've been hearing even more "hey mom's"

Have a great weekend ~ I hope have fun, find time to relax and remember to smile!

10 Things

Thankful.

This is the season.  The season when we take the time to look at the "things" in our life and remind ourselves of fhose which we are thankful.  I know many bloggers and have many Facebook friends who through this month of November have been writing about one thing they are thankful for on a daily basis.  Some of them are simple, some of them are more complex all of them have their significance.

My bloggy friend Jennifer Juniper is hosting a party.  A thankful/favorite things party where we have been asked to list 10 things we are thankful for.  I think this is a fabulous way to kick off this week of Thanksgiving.

So, in no particular order 10 things I am thankful for:

1.  My Husband. He is the man I can tell anything to.  He loves me, supports our family, makes me laugh, plays, works hard and keeps me balanced.  Life without him in it would be dreary.

2.  My Children.  All three of them are unique.  They are loving and giving.  Their laughter is contagious and their sadness makes my heart ache.  They grow up too fast and I am trying to not get lost in the rush of life and finding ways to enjoy each and every moment.  Even if it is arguing with my 3rd grader over math homework (oh the stories I can tell his future bride).

3.  My Health.  I love to exercise.  You can find me running, spinning, or lifting weights on any given day.  Last Monday I slipped on a patch of ice and attempted to do the splits, much to the disagreement of my right hamstring.  I felt a pop and haven't been able to run since.  I know it's only been a week, but for me to not be able to run is putting a damper on my mood.  Running for me is my release, it's when I pray, when I think and when I plan.  I take it for granted that I can run and not being able to has made me very thankful for my health.

4.  My family's health.  We have no disorders, no major illnesses or injuries and for this I am thankful.  Action was up vomiting last Friday morning at 1:30 am and stayed home from school.  Sassy's body gave in to the same bug in the wee hours of Saturday.  So,  yes we have our bouts of scrapes and bruises and colds and stomach bugs.  But overall everyone is healthy.

5.  Church.  For me church is a place of peace.  A place I can go and feel peace, no matter what is going on in my life, the country or the world.

6.  My Parents, Siblings and the rest of my family.  We may not see each other a lot, but we can always rely on each other.  We challenge each other, frustrate each other and make each other smile.  How dull life would be without family.

7.  My Friends.  People to laugh with, cry with and to find solace in.  Friends can come in and out of your life.  But I believe every one of my friends was put into my life at the time I needed them most.  Sometimes people change, circumstances change and people move on, but their significance and the memories made are everlasting.  And isn't it funny how with the internet, you can be "friends" with someone you've never met them in person.  The world is a crazy place :)

(found on Pinterest here)

8.  Clothes.  Yes, I am thankful for clothes.  I don't want to be naked and honestly some people, actually most people,  I just don't want to see naked.  'Nuff said.

9.  Food. Water. Necessities.  Could you imagine.... no food..... no water ~ or only unsanitary water?  I can't.  So for those I am thankful.

10.  Computers, Internet and Technology.  What an amazing way to connect with and meet people, to share pictures and information.  To learn, to research, to gather "facts" and I will absolutely admit, to assist with 6th grade homework.

There is so much more that I am thankful for, but these people and things are absolute.  Unfortunately, I don't always take the time to remember that I have clean water to drink, although so many don't.  That I have a sturdy home that I love (just realized my house didn't make my list!).  A house that provides us protection and warmth, but also a foundation to create and build traditions and memories.  Too many people in our own cities live on the streets and in homeless shelters wondering where their next meal will come or how they will feed their children.

I am blessed with so much and I am thankful.  And remember you can create better days for everyone you come in contact with ~ a smile given, a door held, an ear opened to listen, a simple "thank-you", the respect of putting down your cell phone when you are checking out at a store.  These little things can make someone thankful for you ~ for being in their lives at that exact moment.  Maybe you are exactly what they need on that day.


What are you thankful for?  Leave a comment here, or better yet, come up with your 10 things and link up with Jennifer (let me know you did!)

Friday Funnies

Here are a couple of the things that made me giggle this week ~

The other night  I made a new recipe for dinner.  It was some mexican casserole dish I found on Pinterest.  We said "grace" and began to eat.  This little girl:

Looked at me quite seriously and replied, "It's ok Mom, but it's kind of insipid."

Ummmmm WHAT?!  Little 6th grade smarty pants :)

Second giggle of the week.

Yesterday at preschool, each student was individually asked what they were thankful for.  Many children replied with the names of siblings or simply Mom, Dad or brothers, etc.  My lovely 4 year old daughter

Said she was thankful for "dress up"

Nice.

What made you laugh this week?

Embrace the Camera

It was a beautiful night, so we decided to go on a looooonnnnng family bike ride.

We took a pit stop at a beautiful location and I had my camera out and was snapping pictures when all of a sudden my hubby said, "Hey, give me the camera and I'll get a picture of you and the kids."
Ummm....

"OK!"

So here we are all hot and sweaty on on a fabulously hot summer evening:

Friday Funny

Wow, it's been quite a long time since I've posted a "Friday Funny", but here's what I found funny this week:

Let's start with dessert.

Action chose cheesecake bars:

Sassy, well, she chose pheasant jerky.

Yep.
No Joke!

Pheasant jerky, made by my hubby.

Really?

Then, she very seriously (we're talking school test serious) asked her dad this:

Dad, What can go up, but can't come down?"

Hubby..... thinking....

smoke beginning to form above his head from thinking so hard......

more thinking.....

Finally, "Hmmm, I don't know."

Sassy:

YOUR AGE!!!!

Enter hysterical fits of laughter :)  You know, fits of laughter that even if you aren't laughing, it is completely contagious and suddenly, you can't NOT laugh!

Man, that girl makes me smile!

Hope your weekend is full of laughs!

Last Day of School Tradition aka "Water Ambush"

There are about 11 kids that get on and off the school bus at the same stop as my kids.

On the last day of school when the kids exit the bus for the final time we welcome our children home and celebrate the start of summer vacation by attacking them with water.

Typically using water guns and water balloons.

Here's what you need to start your own Last day of school water attack:

• The last day of school
• Unsuspecting school children (ok, they are starting to catch on, but that doesn't make it any less fun)
• Willing adults (those that stay home and those that are able to break away from work) and siblings

• Water balloons

• Water Guns
• Buckets full of water for refilling
• A wagon to wheel items to the bus stop and to hold empty water guns, buckets and broken water balloons after the ambush

Here's what you do:

• When the bus stops and the kids start filing out of the bus, begin water ambush.  
• Continue until all (water) ammunition is used up

Warning:

• There will be lots of laughing, shouting and shrieks of happinness (or maybe shock as the cold burst of water hits you in the back)
• It is likely that the water fight will backfire a bit and the adults with this brilliant idea will be almost as wet as their children

Tip:

Bring a camera and when the kids take aim, yell "don't get me wet, I have a camera!" Although most children do not care.  Therefore, don't bring your fancy SLR, bring your basic point and shoot!

Here's where the parties are: