Revelation

I'm not sure the actual reasons I first began blogging.  More than likely to share my family stories and because it was the "IT" thing to do.  I kept it up for a few years then LIFE got busy.  At some point I stopped blogging.  I always had good intentions to keep going but many good intentions come to an end. 

Then just recently Sean (my husband, many should know) wanted to show a co-worker some Disney pictures.  Sean called asking how to find the blog (yes it has been that long that a search was required). Luckily I did have it saved as a favorite with my other favorite blogs.  Then it happened...I read EVERY post.  I smiled, I got teary eyed, I laughed and then I got sad.  I got sad because there weren't anymore to read after March 2012.  That was 2 years ago.  A lot has happened since then.

Then it HIT me...yes like a TON OF BRICKS.  I figured out why I had blogged (even though I never realized it at the time)...to document/preserve memories. 

Scrapbooking is my typical method of preserving memories (yes I am behind on that) but I quickly realized that I had memories preserved in my blog as well.  That's when I decided the blogging must continue!!!  There have been so many memories/moments that have passed that I did not blog about and have not scrapbooked.

As I said before (in my very first post) I am not a great writer.  I often have a difficult time expressing my feelings and putting them into words.  Sean will, I am sure, find errors after I have posted.  He is normally my editor but unless I pay him he won't be proof reading each of my post.

I used to have some followers.  Not sure who will read my posts, if anyone.  But that is OK.  My goal is to be able to preserve those precious moments in my life.

So here we go...let the journey begin!!!

Almost a Year

I can't believe my last post was almost a year ago. Life has been really busy but GOOD!!! With school, work, extra-curricular activities, home improvement projects and family time there isn't much time left in the day.
I have so much I want to share and catch up on. I hope to start posting on a regular basis again.
Thanks so much for following my blog in the past and I hope you will join me again for future posts.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Since we had so much fun with "LOVE" at Valentine's Day we thought we'd give it a try again. "LUCKY" was a little harder but it was still fun. Hope you have a great day.

The Luck of the Irish

Well I am pretty sure I am not Irish (not even a teeny tiny bit) but that certainly doesn' t keep me from enjoying St. Patrick's Day. As the Valentine Decorations came down the St. Patty's Day ones went up.

Can't wait for the big day to arrive.....Lucky Charms for breakfast, cornbeef and coleslaw for dinner and a hunt for coins that will lead to a pot of gold for the girls!!!

Kraft Philadelphia Cooking Creme Goodness

Love it when I find a new product that makes life easier....and love it even more when it is cheap and YUMMY!!!

Sunday's newpaper had a $1.50 coupon for Philadelphia Cooking Creme and my grocery store had it on sale for 2 for $4.00....you do the math.

There are several flavors. I bought the Santa Fe Blend. It came with several different recipes but since I already had Enchiladas on the menu I chose that one. It took about 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes in the oven. Best part is was delicious!!!!!!!

If you go here and register you can get a coupon for a free tub. Can't wait to try the other flavors, especially after I get my coupon for a free tub.

Right Now....

I'm...

Reading: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Listening to: Bruno Mars CD - Grenande is my favorite
and addicted to Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" (the clean version) and Gwyneth Paltrow's version from Glee - my favorite version

Watching: waiting for Season 3 of True Blood (it's getting passed around work)
waiting for last Season of Brothers and Sisters to arrive in the mail

Playing: Wordsmith on my phone (generic/free version of scrabble)...oh, I'm addicted

Wishing for: warm weather and lots of outdoor time and March Madness to begin

Hoping: hubby recovers quickly

Happy about: spending lots of quality time with my family and planning our summer activities

Trying to: stay motivated in this cold weather...been going to the YMCA to get my groove on!!!

and

Getting used to: my newly red hair!!!!

WANTED....

lost socks:
* white sock with cupcake and pink edge
* pink and brown poka dot
* pink with flowers and swirls
* stripes with a hippo
.......ETC

These are just descriptions of some of the lost socks in our house. Everytime I do the girls' laundry it seems as though several go missing. I'm worried the dryer might be eating them???? Where could they possibly be???

I refused to put the unmatched sock in the sock drawer for fear it would be forever lost all alone. So I started laying them on a shelf in Emma's closest. This was definitely not ideal. So during a recent blog surfing expedition I found this and this. What a great idea!!!

So last week during an unexpected day off this is what I did:

When we remodeled our 1/2 bath we stained tongue and groove floor boards and put them on the ceiling. We had scraps just laying in the basement that worked perfectly. I painted over the stain with crackle then topped it with off white paint. I didn't like how that turned out. So then I painted it with a greyish tan color....much better. I stamped the clothes pins with brown swirls so they didn't look so plain. I used my Cricket to cut out the letters and Viola!!!!!!

I hung this in the upstairs hallway next to the bedrooms.

****Since this photograph was taken 5 missing socks were found (in Emma's bed between the sheets and in the dress up drawer). Off course after the latest laundry washing 3 lonely socks were found and added to the board. I believe this will be a never ending mission!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

Valentine Art

It is amazing to see how a child's imagination and creativity progresses as they leave their toddler years. We went from scribble to stick figures to full blown scenery. Recently Emma was creating and made this wonderful picture. Though basic, I loved the concept. I loved it so much I decided it should be framed.



I hope she and Abby will continue creating and using their imaginations to their fullest extent.

I {HEART} the Library

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." ~ Dr. Seuss

I LOVE that my girls LOVE to visit the library.

I LOVE that my girls LOVE to READ.

I LOVE that my girls are CURIOUS and EXCITED about learning.

We usually make a monthly visit to our local library. They have a wonderful children's area with many learning and imaginative toys and of course, BOOKS. We spent an hour and a half yesterday at the library. The girls will usually read for a while then play. Sean and I take turns staying with the girls while the other looks around.

We came home yesterday with 49 books...should of grab another just to round out the number!!! We read 3 books before bedtime and the girls looked at several during the day.

I hope they continue to understand all the wonderful things they will learn and experience by reading. I was never a big reader growing up but in the past five years definitely have a love for books and reading. I also hope the girls will be encouraged and more interested to read when they see Sean and I reading.

When we bring the books home we keep the in a "library book" basket. The girls are very good about putting the books back there, so they don't get mixed up with their own books.

This is what was going on at our house yesterday afternoon after our library visit.

Has anyone ever seen these..... I've seen the books on CD but never a "Playaway". It is basically a recorded story on an "IPod" like device. You rent the Playaway and all you need is a AAA battery and headphones. The girls LOVED them. Didn't have a chance to see if they had adult books available on Playaway, but definitely will on our next visit. Also saw on-line you can download books from the library to your I Phone, computer or DROID (which we have). Can't wait to check that out as well.

Not that I really need ANOTHER reason to LOVE the library but there is....and it is the MOST important one....IT IS FREE. Don't get me wrong we have paid the library for a lost book and some fines in the past but that was pennies compared to what we would have spent at the bookstore.
I hope everyone takes advantage of this wonderful GEM and enjoys all the adventure and knowledge you can gain from a book.

Valentine Decor

Been doing a little decorating. Had originally decorated with the snowflakes after taking down the Christmas Decorations but I realized the house needed some warmth, especially with the cold temps and snow.

The lanterns are from IKEA.




The framed subway art is from Dittle Dattle Blog (free printable). I added the hearts at the bottom. The 5x7 framed quote, "Love One Another" is from Becky Higgins (free printable).





The "Be Mine" garland is something I saw on a blog last year and didn't get the time to do it. I apologize that I can't give credit to the appropriate Blog.

The decorations are up and Love is in the air.

WOW!!!

Has it been that long....my last post was November 1st!!! We were definitely busy with Christmas and all the holiday activities. Hope every one's Holidays were filled with family and wonderful memories. Can you believe we have arrived at 2011. Seems like just yesterday everyone was worried about the arrival of Y2K. Here we are 11 years later.
Seems like time just goes by so fast lately. Not sure if it is because I am getting older or because life is just so full of activity. Spending time with the girls is our number one priority but sometimes the craziness of life interrupts.
We definitely enjoyed Christmas and made lots of memories. We are hoping 2011 brings lots of new memories, quality family time and good health and happiness. I wish the same to you and your family.

BOO!!!

Can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. September and October were extremely busy with parties, weddings, soccer and fall activites.

We had a Halloween celebration week with several parties, a book character parade, ZooBoo and of course Trick or Treating. Here are some pictures.

Back to School

Yes, I am still trying to catch up with all the recent happenings.

School started for the girls on August 30th. Abby started Kindergarten and Emma is in 1st grade. Abby had a gradual entrance week and didn't have a full day until Friday. Emma had a great first week. I can't get over how serious 1st grade is and how much she will learn. There are several kids in her class that she knows from Kindergarten and her teacher seems really nice. Hoping she has a great year.

Abby got to ride the bus for the first time on Friday (her 1st full day). She was so excited. I did better this year then a last...if you are a regular reader you will remember that I followed the school bus last year on Emma's 1st day and watched for her to get off (click here to read that blog post). This year I DID NOT follow the school bus. I felt more comfortable about her riding the bus: her big sister was there with her, she knew several other kids, we know the bus driver and I know the routine when she gets off the bus. What I did do was drive to the school and park out front. I waited for the bus to arrive and wanted to make sure she made it to the correct line. Shortly after I pulled up Sean pulled up behind me....BUSTED. Then as the bus pulled into the driveway Emma and Abby both spotted us and started waving...BUSTED AGAIN!!!! I am happy to report Abby made it safely into school.

The hardest part was the realization that my "baby" is growing up. What I also realized is that having two children so close in age, they will be doing everything back to back and time is going to fly by. I held myself together as Abby got on the bus but as soon as I got in the car I cried. Where has the time gone, she looked so big getting on that bus, I can't see the baby in her anymore...all of these thoughts were going through my head and as the tears ran down my face.

I am very proud of how well she has done so far. I know it will be a busy year and hope I can keep up with them.