(Not Quite) Wordless Wednesday - Father

Again, I felt it necessary to write something for my "Wordless" Wednesday post.  I promise to keep it short though.  I had wanted to use this photo of my husband and sons in honor of Father's Day a couple weeks ago but alas, I did not.  So, in honor of my own father's birthday (tomorrow!), I post this photo in honor of all fathers out there stepping up to the plate and doing the manly job of being there for your kids and teaching them how to be fine, upstanding members of society.  It's not an easy job, but it's rewarding if you open your heart to it!

Thank you, Daddy for being such a fantastic role model and a strong guide in this journey called "life".

And thank you, Dave, for all that you give, teach, sacrifice, and work hard for every day!  We love you!

Simple Woman's Daybook...July 6, 2010

FOR TODAY...July 6, 2010

Outside my window...the three H's.  Hazy, Hot, Humid.  I'm glad to be in A/C today (we even kicked it on at home, if that tells you anything!)!

I am thinking...about the next few weeks! There are big changes coming down and lots to do and keep straight. Packing, moving, organizing, sorting, scheduling, loose ends to tie up, new plans to make. It's a bit overwhelming but exciting. I just want to get it done and over with so I can feel somewhat settled again. If we had a closing date I'd feel a lot better!

I am thankful for...the long holiday weekend we just had.  It was a great weekend.  Dave was off for part of it so we got a lot of family time, rest, relaxation, fun and adventure in. 

From the kitchen...my cupboards are pretty bare these days.  I really need to do some grocery shopping but hate the idea of buying things I'm just going to have to move in a couple weeks.  In the meantime I can't starve my children though so I'll have to compromise.  I want to start  meal planning.  That's my next goal.

I am wearing...comfy capris and an oversized t-shirt.  Love comfy clothes!

I am remembering...to bring my BFF's birthday present tomorrow.  I'm doing lunch with her today to celebrate and I totally forgot to bring it in.  I'll have to extend her celebration by an extra day and remember it tomorrow.

I am creating...lists.  Lots of lists.  Lists of things to pack, lists of things to plan, lists of things to do. 
I am going...to a concert with my husband on Thursday (my Daddy's birthday!).  My sister has made arrangements to take the boys for the night so we can do dinner, the show, and not have to worry about picking them up late and having to get them home.  (Thanks, Sarah!)  I can't wait!
I am reading...

I am hoping...to lose 10-15 lbs by our camping trip with the Ciravola's in August.  That would be 2 lbs a week so it's lofty but not impossible.  I have to change something though.  I'm spiraling downward FAST!  I started on the Gazelle last night and plan to double my time tonight, walk with Heidi tomorrow, and double my time again by the end of the week.  I'll check back in to update my progress!


I am hearing...the boys playing.  They're actually playing nicely together at this moment so it's relatively peaceful.  (Of course now that I said that it will change, I'm sure!)


Pondering these words..."At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal.  You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent." – Barbara Bush

(I totally stole this quote from my friend, Heidi, but it was fabulous and sums up my overall theory and perspective.)


Around the house...disaster, chaos.  Clutter, mess.  Dirt, distruption. 

On my mind...my carbon footprint.  I know that sounds granola-y, but it's an issue that is bothering me and I'm trying to reduce my impact on the environment in little ways.

Noticing that...we waste a lot of things in this family.  And we tend to be particularly frugal and practical, comparatively.  I can only imagine the impact everyone is making as a whole on this planet.  I drove down my street last garbage day and noticed all the stuff that people had thrown out at the curb.  I could envision it all filling up the garbage truck and thought "this is just one street, one city, one day of the week".  This goes on all across the country and the world...365 days a year!  It boggles my mind and leaves a sick feeling in my stomach.  I'm not usually all that "tree hugger" but this is one issue that really bugs me.

One of my favorite things...despite my carbon footprint issues above (I recognize the hypocrisy), today one of my favorite things would be my A/C.  Our new house doesn't have A/C and even though we have only used it a handful of times since we bought this house it's just nice having the option when the weather gets oppressive like this week.  Not having the option will make even average days seem hot.  Thankfully the new house is a ranch so that should help keep it cooler.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Zac Brown Band at CMAC, birthday celebrations, photos for Shelby, Walk 'N Talk.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

Check out more daybooks at Simple Woman's Daybook.

You're Gonna Miss This...Neighbors

The neighborhood I live in hasn't always been fabulous.  We've had break-ins, loud neighbors, street fights, drug busts, prostitutes, even violence too close for comfort.  However, our end of the street is much better than the other end and we have lucked out with some pretty fabulous neighbors.  

The street we live on has always had a strong Italian history.  Our house and many surrounding us were established in the 50's by Italian families and the heritage here is thick.  As this older generation passed away or moved into nursing homes, their houses went up for sale and in the last few years it's slowly transferring over to predominantly rentals with a few strong holds keeping the street homey.  

I think we've lucked out with our surrounding area and have quite a few good people around us to buffer the rest of the trouble.

Across the street we have a nice family who has made the biggest impact, I think.  Dennis and Michelle live here with an ever-changing mixture of their 4 kids.  Hannah, Lindsay, Sarah, and Adam.  Their granddaughter, Gwen, is a few weeks younger than Nathaniel and they always loved to play together.  They are a very sweet family.  You can always see them helping out the neighbors.  When Nate was born, Michelle brought over a present and she always ADORED the boys.  She had such an infectious spirit and they loved her back.  Sadly, Michelle passed away last Fall.  She was in her 40's and had a brain aneurysm that took her far too early.  She was a fabulous woman.  Very kind and caring.  High energy, and so sweet.  Her license plate on her car said "2cis2luv".  That pretty much sums it all up!  More on this family at another time...

Gloria is a sweet old lady who lives across the street and is one of those strong holds I mentioned.  She comes out and stands in her driveway from time to time and religiously drives to church every Sunday.  She's always been very nice to us!  

Mary lives next door and we rarely ever see her.  She never comes outside and is seen once in a while pulling in or out of her driveway.  I think I've had one or two conversations with her in the whole 6 years we've been there.  She definitely minds her own business.  She has been slipping, health-wise, in the last couple years.  She hurt her back or knee or something and hasn't been able to mow her lawn in a while.  Dave tries to keep up on it and keeps it in check.  I worry about her once we're gone.  Hopefully the kids across the street will help out without Michelle to prompt them.  

*Update (7/7/10) - Since writing this TWO days ago, Mary has passed away.  I arrived home from work today to find the Medical Examiner in her driveway.  It seems she hadn't been seen in a few days and they found her in her house this afternoon.  May Mary be in a better, pain-free, happy place.  

The house on the other side of us has provided some serious entertainment over the years.  It started as a nice gentleman who maintained the house very well.  He apparently lost his job and the house went into foreclosure and that's when the "fun" began.  After that an older woman bought the house for her alcoholic son, Ron, to live in.  He provided years of interesting stories.  That could be a post all its own!  Sadly he passed away in the house, the mother went to an institution of some sort, and the house was sold to a landlord who rents it out to another couple now.  I (sadly?) don't know their names but between Dave fighting with them about snow blowing their snow into Nate's windows and the incident where they shot at a woodchuck in their back yard in the middle of the day and put a bullet hole in our fence just inches from where my kids play,  I have no interest in being friendly.

Ah, Ernie and Phyllis.  Such dear, sweet people.  Ernie would be the neighborhood busy body, I think.  He always has to know what's going on and will often times come over to see Dave and ask him what was going on with cop cars or what to do about troublesome neighborhood hoodlums.  He's great!  

Good friends of ours, Tom and Amy, work with Dave at 9-1-1 and live kiddie corner from us.  We talked about having them over all the time but it rarely happened.  It was nice to have them there to keep an eye on things though.  They'd stop over if they saw the garage door open or wave on their way out.  

Intermingle in a few rentals with ever changing faces, loud music, and broken down cars, and you have our neighborhood.  Out in the country I won't have many neighbors so I will certainly miss these!  

Happiness is...

fresh strawberries during strawberry season!


It was always a tradition of ours for my Mom and I to go strawberry picking during strawberry season.  I always remembered it was time to go because strawberry season falls on or around my birthday.  Even in college I'd meet my Mom at the strawberry fields with a basket, bucket, or bowl in hand (except those many times when I forgot one and she had knowingly brought two!).  We'd eat pick our fair share of fresh, juicy ripe strawberries.  Ok, I'd eat them and Mom would yell at me.  I remember one year I brought my step-son, Nick, to join us and my Mom kept telling me I was setting a bad example for him by eating them.  I couldn't help it.  I volunteered to be weighed when I left and pay for the amount I ate, but somehow it doesn't work that way.

Anyway, since my wee ones came along, this little tradition has fallen by the wayside.  I look forward to being able to introduce them to this fun little task someday soon.  However, this year was not that day.  So, Dave and I stopped at a local farm market and bought fresh-picked strawberries instead.  There were so many of them that a couple days in they were starting to look all sad and pathetic so I decided we needed to use them up.

I enlisted some eager helpers and we they got to work.

Apparently we had a few quality control tasters on staff, too.

Then we Nate mashed those bad boys up...

to make this for dinner:

It was delicious!  Yum!  This makes me want to stop by a farm market again tomorrow to see if there are any strawberries left to pick!!!  I can't wait to bring the boys!

It's The Little Things...Love

This week's "little thing" to share for It's the Little Things Thursday is a warm fuzzy I received the other day from my oldest.  We were driving in the car and I have a habit of sporadically saying "I love you" to my children for no reason at all.  Primarily because I do, but also to remind them that I'm up there while we're traveling somewhere or just thinking of them in general.  Nate usually says "I love you, too" and Alex has adorably started saying "Too" in response.  I love it.

On this particular day I said "I love you, Bug" to Nathaniel and he didn't say anything.  I said it again figuring he didn't hear me over the radio and got no response at all.  The third time I said it exaggeratedly to get his attention and he looked at me, huffed and puffed exasperatedly, and said "I KNOW you love me, Mom!"  It was such a wise-ass thing for him to say so when I was done visibly scowling and secretly giggling, it made me glad.  I'm glad he knows I love him, even if I'm not saying it.  I hope in some small way that that means my complete adoration for my children comes through not only in my words but in my actions, as well.  I may struggle to be consistent, and fight to stay sane.  I yell more than I want to and don't always make the best choices or have all the right answers, but I love my boys with every fiber of my being.  And for that moment, I was thrilled to hear that Nate KNOWS it.  Without question.

Join me over at Starts at Eight to share the "Little Things" in your life that make this journey called "Motherhood" totally worth it in the end!

(Not Quite) Wordless Wednesday - Water Baby

Surely by now you've caught on to the fact that this boy loves him some water....

and I LOVE taking photos of it!!  

Whenever I hear Brad Paisley's newest song, Water, I think of my Alex.

He really is my water baby!

Avery Update

I realized the other day that ever since bringing Avery into our family in February, I haven't mentioned much about her since.  How rude!

Avery has turned out to be a fabulous dog!  She's obviously grown quite a bit and she's beautiful.  Albeit a little needy, a bit skittish, and a lot puppy, but she is great!  She was super easy to housebreak and we haven't had more than a couple peeing incidents EVER...not to mention at all lately!  She is fantastic with the kids.  They love her to pieces (and maul her way too much sometimes - especially Alex!) but she takes it all and comes back for more.  She loves to play with her fellow "puppies".

When Avery wants to play she is incessant.  She'll become very persistent and bring you her toy to play tug or fetch.  She loves constant attention and wants to be with the family at all times!  When she really wants your attention, she'll jump around and get really hyper and even start barking to engage you.

She loves to chew.  On her toys.  On the boys' toys.  On kleenex.  Or garbage.  Or anything she can get her little teeth on!   She's been known to eat baby wipes whole which come out the same way they went in.  (gross, I know!)  Needless to say we've nipped that and no longer throw diapers or baby wipes in garbages she has any access to!

Avery is very smart!  She listens well, comes when she's called, sits and waits when she's told to.  I love that we can let her out with the garage door wide open and she'll run right past the open freedom to the backyard where she's supposed to go.  She's very well behaved.

Avery (before)

We love having Avery in our family!  She's been a wonderful addition!  I promise not to be so remiss in talking about the third "baby" of the family!!

Avery (now)....My how she's grown!

You're Gonna Miss This...

As much as I have complained about where we live, I really love the home we’ve made here. When I look past the neighbors fighting, the disrespectful kids who curse as they walk by and throw garbage in your yard, the break-ins, the noise, the filth, etc, there really is a lot about this place that I’m going to miss.

Just like the lyrics from Trace Adkins’ song say:

“You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this”

I started making a list of all the things around here I really like and would miss the most.  I quickly realized that with explanations and the stories I would want to share with them, it would be one L-O-N-G post so I thought I’d start a feature here to highlight some of these things I will miss…Stay tuned for a series of “You’re Gonna Miss This…” posts to help me remember the great things about having lived here for 6+ years.

It's The Little Things...Brothers

Today's "little thing" for It's the Little Things Thursday comes from the bond I see forming between my two boys.  I spoke a little bit about it here, and as rare and fleeting as glimpses of this truth are, it still warms my heart.  I mean it when I say that a lot of time is spent fighting between these two.  They're loud, they bug each other, instigate arguments, fight over cars, chairs, or food.  They hit each other to acquire the other's sippy cup or scream at the top of their lungs when the a book, blanket, or toy is confiscated by the other.  It's chaotic and loud.  As with any other mother of more than one child, I often feel like a full-time referee.

What makes this all worth it at the end of the day is when one of my boys looks out for the other one almost instinctively.  For example, those mornings when Nate wakes up and wonders first and foremost where Alex is.  Or when Alex gets a snack from the snack cupboard and pulls out a second one for Nate, holds it up and asks,"Bot?" (brother).  I love that they care enough to have each other's back, to notice the absence of the other, and to worry about the other's well being.  I even adore that they love each other enough to drive each other nuts.

Please join me over at Starts at Eight to highlight the "little things" along your path that that make this journey of motherhood all worth it in the end! 

Wordless Wednesday...Duck Crossing

Simple Woman's Daybook...June 22, 2010

FOR TODAY...June 22, 1010

Outside my window...darkness.  It's been a long day but I have a lot to spew before I can go to sleep with a clear mind.

I am thinking...about going back to school for a degree in Photography.  I always wanted to get my Bachelors in Photojournalism but the expense of those classes was very prohibitive when I was younger so I went straight journalism instead.  I got a lot out of that education and while I realize it's not for me, it taught me a lot of skills I still use today.  However, I would like to round it out and focus on the photography aspect.  I love taking pictures and think I have an ounce of natural talent that could really go somewhere if I had formal training and a background in photography.  I took one class in high school but that doesn't count.  I lack so much of the technical background that I feel inept.  I'd like to gain some knowledge to put together with my skills and build my confidence.  My husband is adamantly against it but I don't really care.

I am thankful for...my husband.  Believe it or not.  He's a crotchety "old" fart sometimes but I realized on Father's Day while I was trying to be everything to everyone so he could enjoy the day off that there is a lot that I defer to him on a daily basis.  I'd be lost without him.  I hope he knows that putting up with him is the least I am willing to do to have him in our lives.

From the kitchen...dinner dishes are beckoning.  I started washing them while the boys finished up dinner but as soon as they hear water running they get all excited to join me and play in the water and I wasn't having it so I stopped what I was doing to get baths started and haven't made it back...

I am wearing...t-shirt, comfy pants, socks.  It's actually too hot and sticky for socks but I need to vacuum and the dog hair and crumbs sticking to my feet as I walk around is annoying me so until such time that I get a chance to vacuum, the socks are saving my sanity.

I am remembering...to go to the new office tomorrow.  Today was my first day there and I managed to unpack all my boxes and settle 95% of my things.  The office space isn't horrible.  It's loud and distracting but with my iPod it will be better and hopefully it will settle down some when people are done settling in their own offices.  We shall see...only time will tell!

I am creating...a wish list of things to buy when we get in the new house.  It's getting long.  And expensive.

I am going...to bed as soon as I'm done writing this.  I'm pooped.

I am hoping...to make it through this summer without losing my mind.  I know I will, but there are times when I'm not so certain.

I am hearing...a fan, the dog snoring, kids walking around outside.

Pondering these words..."The secret to happiness is not in doing what one likes to do, but in liking what one has to do" 

My friend, Heidi had this quote as her Facebook status update today and the truth rings very loudly to me today.  Each of us has to make our own happiness and so much of it is about perspective and CHOOSING to be happy doing what we're doing.  I love this!

Around the house...laundry is behind, packing needs to be done, cleaning should be caught up on.  I'm falling behind miserably!

On my mind...a friend of mine is opening a cafe/bakery and asked me to provide her with some photos to put up and sell in her restaurant.  She said she wants to showcase my talents.  How fantastic is that?  I can't even tell you how excited this has me.  If I think about it too much I start questioning myself and that's no good so I'm not sure yet what photos I'll give her but I have a few in mind.  I can't wait to sit down and pick some to print and have framed.  How fun!

Noticing that...the Photography Gods have all been working in my favor this week.  Between the request of my friend above, starting the process to go back to school for a Bachelor's in Photography and being the official Staff Photographer at the golf tournament for work yesterday, I am oozing positive energy. 

One of my favorite things...ice cream.  I sure wish I had some right now.  It's been that kind of  a day!

A few plans for the rest of the week:   Walk 'N Talk, a baby shower at work for Shelby, birthday party for Ava, a weekend together as a family for a change!!  

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I took this photo at the Hillside Believe in Kids Golf tournament on June 21, 2010.  I was made "official Staff Photographer" which was so much fun!  I'm not a big golf fan but I still managed to get some good action shots and hopefully was able to capture the feeling of this beautiful day!

Flashback Friday...Our New Home, 2004

In April 2004, Dave and I purchased our first home.  We had looked in many places but finally settled on finding one in a decent location in the City because that's what we could afford.  Not having any kids at the time (nor thinking we'd have any soon), we purchased this little (900+/- square feet) ranch on Avery Street.  

I do love our house.  It has a HUGE garage, a nice-sized (for the City!) fenced in backyard that doesn't back up to anyone else, and a gigantic dry basement full of possibility.  Unfortunately I am not a big fan of sending Nathaniel to the City schools and the crime and problems in our neighborhood have escalated over the last 6 years.  We've moved from "innocent" little car break-ins and thefts of personal property from our yard, to actual home break-ins and shootings down the street.  I'll pass.  Anyway, I thought I would take a little walk down memory lane with this Flashback Friday and post some photos of our home from when we bought it.  

Our new home!

April 2004

The ugly mint green, maroon, and yellow kitchen with dark green carpeting!

When we moved in that refrigerator had been closed and RUNNING so it was nasty!  It took me HOURS to clean that out!  Dave took to tackling that green carpeting and tearing up the (asbestos!) tiles underneath.  He laid new subflooring and put down a new linoleum tile floor that really helped to spruce the kitchen up.  

This was Nate's bedroom, complete with pee soaked shag carpeting where the old man who lived here would sit in his rocking chair and not quite make it to the bathroom in time.

Our vintage 1970's dining room, with gorgeous (*cough*), gold velvet curtains, gold chandelier, green carpeting and scalloped blinds with fringe!

Here is Nick helping to tear up the pink (!) rug that was in the master bedroom.  Also pee-stained, thankyouverymuch.

Our less than drab living room that had no TV, only a sitting room where people must have sat around and talked (*gasp!*) to each other!

(The living room/fireplace after we painted - much better!  We had every intention of painting this room the soft powder blue we had purchased, but my artistic sister begged me to let her at it.  So she pulled colors of the bricks out to choose the wall color and complimentary accent color for the trim and I think it looks fabulous!)

I have many more photos like this to show the progress we made with weeks of painting, cleaning, replacing carpets/flooring, etc.  There are a million other things I would have loved to do to this place if we were going to stick around and wanted to invest the money (sliding glass doors, deck, finish the basement, etc.).  But the point is that over the last 6 years we have made this house our home and given it a touch of us and I will truly miss this place.

Wordless Wednesday...Bubbles