Is there anything more beautiful than...

a freshly cleaned carpet?
an empty laundry room?
kids jumping in the pool?
barbecued chicken?
having all the windows open?
your son telling you "I love you" at baseball practice? (In front of other kids, no less!)
hawaiian shave ice?
family?
bare feet?
a peaceful afternoon?
forgiveness?
watching the kitty play in a sunbeam?
just sitting there?
clean sheet day? YUMMY!
a good talk?
the smell of cut grass?
an answered prayer?
lemonade made from real lemons?
the seeds you planted weeks ago start to sprout?
hugs from little arms?
hugs from big, teenagery arms?
just a little, tiny bit of sun on cheeks and shoulders?
smiles from strangers?
a really good book?

Oh, the list goes on and on. But I'll spare you my mundane navel gazing
and let you think about your own beautiful stuff.

School's Out!!!

School is out, school is out, and did I say... School is out? Yummy! No more getting kids up and fed and dressed and combed. Until swimming lessons start, but hey, we have a week or two before that happens.

And I am off work for the summer. More deliciousness! I plan to get my laundry done, sit on my porch and read, take the kids to the pool, get my closets organized, be a totally available mom, and probably do more laundry. The best part of summer laundry? NO SOCKS!!! It's flip flops or nothing. I'm to the point of throwing away everyones socks and buying new ones in fall. I don't think I can match another pair.

All together, one more time... School is out!!

See my brain waves

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a creative hotbed of artistic talent. You're always making pictures in your mind, especially when you're bored. You are easily inspired to think colorful, interesting thoughts. And although it may be hard to express these thoughts, it won't always be.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

What is this?

We had a fair come to our town. I hate traveling amusement rides. They are dirty and rickety and just not quite right.

Pictured is the engine to one of these not quite right rides. I didn't get the picture of the guy holding a lit cigarette over said engine. Is that an ace bandage holding the handle together? The crazy thing is, I actually let my children ride these things. (After I prayed over them!) Crazier still, I actually got on the Ferris Wheel!

I did draw the line at letting the kids on the swing ride. The ride worker had to leave one seat empty so that when the ride slowed down, he could grab the swing to drag the ride to a complete stop.

I wonder if those guys get danger pay. I guess if you eat enough funnel cakes, you are ready for anything.

A special day

Happy Mother's Day! And happy birthday, honey!

Every now and then my hubby's birthday falls on mother's day and my son's birthday falls on father's day. Double the fun!

We are celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese's because we figure most moms won't choose to go there so we should be able to get a table. We have discovered that Chuck E. Cheese's is surprisingly empty on major holidays, especially on Independence Day. Go figure.

I am so blessed to be the mom of four of the greatest people I know. We all get along pretty well, love each other, tolerate quirks (for the most part) and in general, are an all around super family.

I like being a mom. I like bedtime hugs. I like the smell of apple juice, graham cracker, play-dough fingers. I like adventures with my kids. I like helping to pick out hair-do's and make-up and library books. I pretty much like it all. It is a pleasure to mother my children and I'm glad they like me.

So, I guess this is a big happy mother's day to me! And happy mom's day to you, too.

Locks of Love

My daughter has been growing her hair for only one reason. So she could donate it to a child who needs some. Locks of Love is a great organization that helps kids who have lost their hair by making wigs and hair pieces.

My oldest daughter donated her hair a few years ago and provided the inspiration for our next daughter to grow out her hair in order to donate it. Finally, after a really long time growing it out so it wouldn't be too short when we cut it, (hair has to be at least 10 inches long in a ponytail) we were able to go and chop it off.

I love it that she planned and reached a goal of her own choosing. She is one of the greatest people I know. Not because of the hair, but because of her little personality and spirit and charm.

The newest member of the family

Meet Dusty Hazel, the littlest member of our family. Isn't she the sweetest? Two pounds of pure sugar. She used the litter box on her first try so I am even more in love with her than I would have been.

Had a very brief meeting with the dogs. I think they'll be okay together. We won't let Dusty down with them until they are all fully acclimated.

Off to play with the little ball of love.

Show and Tell Thursday. I'm showing my keys.

I always hang my keys with a little clip on my purse or I lose them. I have my automatic car locky thing, my work key, my house key, and the car key. I also have the little black ambu sac in case I ever have to give someone CPR. (It's a little plastic mouth guard so that you don't get germs or other icky stuff in your own mouth when giving mouth to mouth.) I know that because I am prepared, I will never have to use it. That is the whole concept of life insurance as well. If you have it, you won't need it. It's when you are not prepared that you find you will need something.

For example:
Going on a quick errand. Leave the wallet at home and pass a fabulous garage sale.
Take it with you, NOTHING!

Pack everyone a water bottle for soccer, cold and rainy. Forget the bottles? 95 degrees.

Clean out the purse, run out the door, and the Time of the Month shows up. NOTHING. On the other hand, I've had the same couple of tubes bouncing around the bottom of my purse and never have needed them. Preparation!

The one exception. Last month my youngest daughter started having a fever when we went shopping "in the big city". We were far from home and I know she usually throws up with a fever. I think I can prevent this. I run into the store to buy a big three-pack of glad ware. I am prepared, we won't need it.

Boy, am I GLAD I bought that glad ware.

Happy May Day! Here are some pictures of flowers from around my town.

When I was little we would make little cone shaped baskets with a handle, fill them with flowers, and hang them on a neighbors door. We would ring the bell and run. If you got caught, you had to get a kiss. Most of the neighbors were nice enough to forego the kiss and give us cookies instead. Which made us not try very hard to be sneaky. What a fun tradition.