At the Car Wash

Who needs to pay for a car wash when you have a small work force?
Love these kids, love these traditions.
Building memories for a lifetime!!!

Handy Dandy Notebook...

Or Handy Dandy Hubster...

It's even better than the notebook.  It saves us tons of money and has an element of raw animal sexiness.  Love it!!!

Second To...

Mother's Day may be my favorite holiday, only second to my birthday.  Of course.  Well that's partly true, but only in the fact that both aren't really holidays but celebrated events.  Once again this is a day devoted to me.  And I like to think that most every day I am a pretty selfless mother and wife, but if you tell me that I can have a day to be selfish...game on.

My day was made perfect by my husband and children.  Basically they just pour the love on even more than usual.  It started with breakfast in bed, flowers from Bella.  I then came down to a table of donuts and elementary school kid craft for mother's.  And let's be honest I love this stuff too.  Hearing kids fill in blanks about their parents is a hilarious read for me.  But maybe it's just my kids.  Nothing too crazy this year, but lots of endearing things.

Then Travis and the kids managed themselves for Church that morning, Travis handled all kid behavior issues and we came home to a late lunch and finished the day by laying out.  The kids played happily on the trampoline and in the sprinklers as I read and eventually napped with Bella in the backyard.  And that folks is pretty close to perfection in my book.

After a light dinner and dessert we opened more presents.  Two awesome sets of sneakers.  The kids went to bed and I took the time to update my blog and catch up on the important but rarely urgent matters of my life, that I tend to neglect.  I then read in bed before falling peacefully asleep.  Ahh isn't it nice this mother thing.

All of that aside, it really is.  Best surprise of my life was finding out how much I enjoyed being a mom.  And it helps that I have the best kids, making my job pretty easy.  Happy Mother's Day out there to all the selfless, wonderful mothers who make this world a better place to live.  Your actions matter and have a far reaching influence for good.  Keep up the good work.

from left: pen, book, he can't remember, granola bar, cell phone, $5, and keys

This Yankee Girl

For those who don't know, my husband is from Texas.  And yes, he fits most every stereotype minus the boots, wranglers, and accent.  The first two he had, but I broke him of.  Sadly the third over time has faded away.  When Duck Dynasty became all the rage, everyone would ask us if we watched it.  Finally I capitulated, laughed my way through several episodes and decided that the Robertson clan had nothing on my in-laws.

As part of the Southern clichés predict, I was a Yankee.  Many times I have been visiting Texas when they have mocked me over my fear of Coral Snakes (apparently their mouths are too small to really be a threat), swimming with Water Moccasins (they're more afraid of you then you are of them) and scorpions (they only come in the house when it's about to rain) just to name a few.

So I can only imagine what how they would have been laughing on the ground over my antics the other day up North here.  My friend and I were walking on the rail trail path with her baby.  On the way out my friend (also a native Texan) yelled, "Watch out" as we side stepped over and around a snake on the trial.  I was a little freaked out, but continued on.  I guess I hadn't realized how bad it was until we continued on the trail.  With my flip flops any stick I hit or weird feeling on my foot I felt, had me skipping and hopping around like an idiot.  I logically knew I was being irrational, but I just couldn't help it.  I guess I am a Yankee girl after all.

On the way back we passed him again, but I guess in the interim someone had run over the poor guy.  And just like a Yankee girl, I felt really sorry for the snake. 

Warm Weather Happy

I always think the season I am in is my very favorite until the next season rolls around and then I think, "oh...this is actually my favorite season."  This cycle happens over and over again.  I guess it's a blessing to be so content in each stage of life.  And it's especially exciting on the change of each season.  So as Spring weather has taken root, I can't help but think that Spring is my favorite season with warm days, thunder showers, cool nights and mornings and green all around. 

I most love the burst of kids playing outside.  I love hearing the happy laughs and the made up games.  But sometimes you have to go to old standby favorites.  And my kids and the neighbors always return to Red Rover.  Can it be dangerous?  Yes, but they're pretty good about keeping it fairly tame.

I love me my warm weather happy.

Hershey Chocolate Lab

Field trips are tons of fun.  The chocolate lab at Hershey is pretty cool.  The kids get to make their own chocolate creations. 

I'm just glad I'm lucky enough and that we've chosen to let me be a "stay at home mom".  I may never be at home, but I am almost always with at least one of my kids!

Easter Fun, Fun, Fun

Holidays are great like that, lots of parties and gatherings.  So with Easter, by the time the day comes, the kids have had a couple of hunts and many days of celebrating.  But some things just don't get old.  And two of them are 1. Family and friends and 2. Food and Candy.

First is our Resource Parent Event (Foster care families and kids):

 Then our neighborhood gathering (love this kid friendly 'hood and neighbors):

Then our family get together:

And last the actual day with baskets and bunnies and church to learn of Christ's Resurrection.