A Thorn Among Roses

I got tagged!   It's true...so here we go with The Number Four . (thanks again Bridget....i love your Lord's Beauty Blog !!!---stop by and check her out) 4 things I did today: 1. Got Starbucks from the real (drive thru)store...I pay just for the cup that makes the coffee taste better! 2. Watched DVR'd Jon and Kate Plus 8 3. Played on the floor with Little Miss...then did her therapies, that wasn't so much fun. 4. texted (surprise, surprise) 4 things on my to-do list: 1. clean (everything) 2. sew curtains for #2 and #3's room 3. catch up laundry (a never ending battle) 4. Pay school fees for #1 and #2 4 of my guiltiest pleasures: 1. coffee (i brew my own starbucks most days at home, but really love to get a venti from a barista) 2. TV...the Office, Grey's, DHW, Biggest Loser. 3. Diet Coke from a fountain (lovingly referred to in this house as a Sippy Sip. 4. Definitely blogging 4 random facts about me: 1. I mentor high school girls (15 + yrs now)...and they rock ...

starbucks...(venti bold with hazelnut and cream) and on a very special occasion, a boston cream donut from DD! ...a chocolate and sprinkle covered smile... ...and a pears/banana/oatmeal giggle and in case you are wondering...#3 was in preschool, so her treat comes after school...her fav sucker! and old #1, she gets a sippy sip for her special treat...diet dr. pepper!

When hubby works around the house (and he does soooo much), there are a few things that i always notice.   "stuff" everywhere!! lumber and supplies...lying around (also everywhere) little helpers...helping! (so sweet) power tools...and a working man! and, once the little grilling deck is stained, i'll post the picture!  good work R!

Can they be any MORE alike??? Dictionary:   similar   ( sĭm ' ə-lər )  adjective "Related in appearance or nature; alike though not identical."

Chalk is soooo amazing!   It's super fun... and it cleans up without hours of scrubbing! And all the kids show their creative and calm sides...i love chalk!

I am a lover of the summer...i love hot air and the sun shining on me and all the fun sports of the summer.  I really hate winter, so fall is a neutral zone for me.  I do love the colors of fall...and a crisp evening walk with the fam.   But this...the snow and the cold...oh, this i hate!!! Since it's fall, we had have a nice little visitor on the back deck this week.  The girls played with our little friend...Mr. Woolly So, my (not so) famous woolly worm weather predictor tells me that we will have a more mild winter this year...at least that is what I am choosing to believe!

I have learned a few lessons in my life. Some, I have had to learn more than a few times. Sad, I know, but true. I say to my kids all the time, "we listen the very first time". Sometimes God uses my own words to remind me of what He says. I know...you think at my age, I would get this stuff THE VERY FIRST TIME!!! So, here are a few things I have learned in the last week (and over and over again): *I've learned through happenings over the last few years, that I can stand and trust only in God. Everything and everyone else is imperfect, myself included. *God is always there...my husband has to work and my friends, well they have other things to do. *My prayer and study time directly affects how I view the happenings of the day and my life. *Speaking the positives and praying about my negative thoughts makes me and my family and those around me much happier. In Philippians chapter 4, Paul (one of my fav's) tells us to stand firm with the people of God. Uphold each o...

ok, i need to confess something.  i really don't know how to do (white) girl hair.  everything i do is something that i just tried.  so when I came across Hair Today's blog on SITS, i stood up and did the dance of joy.   so me and the #2 & #3 girls did a 'hair day'.  #2 was thrilled!  so, lift your glass with me and toast to many new hairdo's!  yeah! ok... tell me the truth... what do you think??? Join me at Angie's Wordfull Wednesday's!

Poor little miss has a right eye infection.  but she is still smiling!  i hope that lasts after the eye drops.  sad.

This morning, B and JK walked Ryan out to his car...fighting over who could open the front door. When the girls came back inside, B looks at me and says, "Man, Mom, Daddy is so stinking handsome." I agree...and still looking good with all the girls around...all the time! So, here's to handsome hubby, who is way more than I could ever expect...but every thing I really need. (gush gush)

Simple and sweet today.  One of my fav life scriptures. May you find strength in them.

Sofia made up a new game today... milk and raspberries the rules for milk and raspberries: 1. nurse 2. stop look for daddy 3. raspberry and spit 4. daddy raspberries back 5. smile 6. return to position 1 raspberries are killing me because she puts so much effort into them...they almost look painful, but i think it's adorable.  so, here's to milk and raspberries!  Yummo...who wants a smoothie?

The room is done...and it is so fun.  (Paige begged for the scripture over her bed...i love that girl.)  Yellow walls with splashes of hot pink and lots of brown accents.  It is soooo pretty...and she totally deserves it!  A nice free lamp that i added hot pink embellishment to the shade (i learned that from Meg ).  Super fun!  The mirror in the background...it is crackled...the first faux job Paige ever did and it is soooo fabulous!   Screaming MEME would be so proud! Fun place to keep pics and stuff.  (Just cork board covered in fabric.) And, for the contacts...yes, this is just for the contacts!  (Hobby Lobby...$3) Super fab curtains (two panels for $9 at World Market) And, every lady needs to keep her jewelry close at hand...so 50%off Hobby Lobby iron hook/hanger...I think it's suppose to be for keys. And a pic frame collage for the wall.  She also picked out the cross on the wall next to the door. Strategically placed so she will be reminded of her faith every time she leaves...

So I am ready to remember the past...and laugh a little.  Today, I am remembering how much I love softball...I've played for well, too many years...and still love it!  Hubby and I used to play every Wednesday on a co-ed team when we had just one kiddo.  I think in a year or so we'll be able to get back to it...for some reason they don't want me nursing on second base.  Crazy softball rules! So, here's to yellow softballs, gatorade and time away from home...and good old fashion fun!

I am not a soccer Mom.  I am a softball and basketball Mom...I even do track and lacrosse.  Soccer, not a big fan.  But, Brooke begged (and I do mean begged) to play soccer this fall.  Like with all the girls, before we sign up for a sport they get "the talk". ME:  being a on a team means not always being able to do what you want.  once you commit, you must finish the season.  after the season, if you never want to play again, that's fine.  but, you will finish the season.  do you understand? (what she hears, "yada yada yada") B: yes Mommy.  i want to play sooooo bad. ME: you want to play.  are you sure? there is no quitting. B: I want to play.  please let me play.  i will kick the ball to the moon.  will my coach get mad at me for kicking the ball to the moon? So, i fell for it...i signed her up.  She loved practice...listened well...but HATED the scrimmage part of the practice.   Why? "There's only one ball, Mommy and that doesn't seem fair to eve...

As I was surfing last night, I ran across some more fun stuff to do with your pics that is super easy and super fun.   (check it out)

My kids love to carry around purses and bags and, well, anything, apparently, that will hold a bunch of little toys.  It drives me crazy...but they are kids.  I found a sock on the counter last week...mind you, it's a children's small, so not very big.  And it's not even a real sock, it's a sports anklet (note the fuzzy ball). In case you ever wondered, this is what you can fit inside a sock...

...i took the quiz and i am an addict.  i thought it was true, but now that the all empowering, all knowing internet has confirmed it...maybe now i can rest in peace. I'm an expresso...and i love caffeine. Hmmmm. Interesting. You Are an Espresso At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high What Kind of Coffee Are You?

...and Mom (me) celebrating that independence is sometimes hard.  But I love when my girls get the gumption to step and "do it".  JK is doing her best to be herself...and thus, this post.  A time to celebrate...and not notice or mention that the shoes are on the wrong feet.

Sofia is a preemie...she is 8 months now (12lbs).  She came into this crazy place too early and with a few things stacked up against her.  at birth...her head was the size of a baseball...she was so tiny and delicate.  it was scary, i have to admit...( look at this old link for more pics) Since RSV and bacteria, and well, anything at that point, are so incredibly dangerous for a preemie and an already compromised immune system, we were sanitizer nazi's, per doctor's order.  i tossed the last can a few days ago and hubby brought it to me.  he said, 'i don't know if i can part with this last can.  this helped keep sofie safe and alive.' i promised to put the old can down in history and make a pic for our memories. so, here's to you, de-germinator...saver of all that is good!

"Remember the Past, Live the Present, Look to the Future. " I went to write the teacher a note today...started with the date.  then, i stopped.  i shook my head and paused, remembering the horror of 9/11/01.  it's a day i don't think i will ever forget.  i don't know a single person who lost their lives that day...i don't have any personal connections...what i do have is a heart full of sadness and even still some anger.   One of the things that happen in today's world is that we turn our heads away from what is evil and call it something else...we call it anything but what it is.  on 9/11, we saw in flesh, in real life, the physical side of evil. I was on a mission trip last year with 14 HS students (they rock my face off btw) in NYC.  Here are a few pics that represent the power of 'come back', strength of the american people.   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;         his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1