Summer Woes

We have really done a lot of fun things so far on our Summer break. I love being off with my kids and just enjoying them.... truly I do. However, some days are harder than others. I'm not a Pollyanna, Peachy Keen, Hunky Dorey type of mom, so let me just lay it all out there. They have been fighting like cats and dogs! And fighting kids+more fighting+more fighting=CRAZY MOM. I know it's completely "normal", but by the end of the day I'm at the end of my rope and can't take another quarrel. The other evening I was telling Brendan how tired I was of all the fighting. And he looked at me and said, "We fight all the time." Then he started wailing, "But I still love him!" I am so impressed by these statements. Statements of love that do come out of my kids' mouths. My sister wouldn't admit she loved me until after she left for college!:) Hee, hee. But I do know without a doubt she loves me now. So I just try to focus on the fact that they do enjoy each other even amidst these seasons of fighting. And I have proof...

Organization....or Lack Thereof

Recently my workaholic husband took a WHOLE week off. And during this week he went on a organizing frenzy. In one day he purchased a label maker, binders, and paper shredder. In my opinion, a label maker is a true sign of an organized person. I feel that in a marriage there needs to be lots of compromises. One of the compromises in our marriage has been that he needs to let go of some of the organized clutter going on in our house, and I need to try a little harder to stay organized. Honestly, I just don't think that way. I am a scatterbrain! I can't help it. But I do try. However, sometimes I just don't see things the way he sees them. For instance, we were putting the groceries away one evening and as we opened the cabinets he just shook his head and pointed out the obvious, which I didn't notice. I just laughed and of course, took a picture. Maybe he just faced way to many shelves at the grocery store where he worked as a teenager.....or maybe it's just me.

A New Medium

For our last art project for our art club the theme was, "Something is Missing." I've been wanting to try mosaics for a while now and thought I would give it a try. So I asked my husband to build me a frame for a mirror. He cracks me up, because I always have a simple idea in mind. And being the perfectionist carpenter that he is, he always exceeds my expectations. And he takes my projects very seriously. We make a good team! I enjoyed doing this mosaic mirror for Alaina's room and will definitely be working with mosaics again very soon. And the "Something Missing" is a pattern. I was going to make a picture out of the glass, but the tiles that I purchased didn't cut very well. So I just chose a random placement and I think it turned out nicely. Alaina was so excited for her new mirror and enjoys making silly faces in it!

The Highest

While on our visit to New England last Fall I was just in awe of all of the Church steeples everywhere. And I immediately felt at home when I saw them. I've been wanting to write a poem about them ever since my visit.....


I traveled home and there you were,
An unexpected treasure.
Everywhere I looked, your graceful white steeples,
Soaring and peeking over treetops,
Reaching elegantly towards the Heavens,
As if saying, “Here I am. I will not be forgotten.”
These villages were built around you.
In a time of radical change and turmoil,
Firmly you stood and still stand.
A comforter in a time of need.
I saw your beacon of light and felt a warmth flood through me.
I was home.
And there you were, my Inspiration, as always.

My 2 Different Little Boys

From what I've been told by SEVERAL teachers, this is how Nolan is at school most of the time. They say, "He's always so happy." I am so thankful for this! This is truly an answered prayer. Now, depending on the week, this is what I see at home AFTER school.


Last week was one of those weeks. We had a meltdown every single day after school, sometimes on and off into the evening. He has therapy 4 days a week after school and I know he's already been working hard at school all day long. Having taught myself, I also realize children act differently for their teachers and parents. It's still frustrating though. And I can only take so much. So after holding it together and remaining calm for awhile, I can reach my breaking point. That is when I just pray...out loud. And it helps so much! I am so thankful that God is there for me in my EVERY need. And I am so thankful for my little boy, every little bit of him, grumpy and happy.

Cruel Joke

This is what I found after rushing upstairs in response to blood curdling screams. Now how did Brendan's remote control tarantula end up in Alaina's bed? Hmmmm. Could it be perhaps her older brother torturing her due to the fact that she is deathly afraid of anything creepy crawly? Oh how he truly does love his little sister....but he just couldn't resist.

Running Plans

Because of illness in my running buddy's family, we are not doing an organized half marathon now. We are however, going to run our own private half marathon. We are still training, we will just have to bump it back a few weeks. We are looking for fun names for our race if there are any suggestions? Tomorrow I am running 10 miles by myself while my children are at school. Thank goodness for my IPOD which, by the way, has a wide variety of music on it. I have Christian alternative, celtic, folk, bluegrass, and rock. The only criteria is, it-must-keep-me-GOING! I do plan to Gu up halfway at mile 5 and hopefully the wind is not a deterrent. Next weekend I am running in a relay race and I am running 2 legs, AND I am the slowest one on the team. Hope they don't think we're breaking any records! I am just thankful and grateful to be out in the Spring air. I truly enjoy it!