HELLO JUNE

HELLO JUNE

Hello to gorgeous summer weather lately

Hello to staining the deck, YAY

Hello to cleaning the garage for 8 hours, YAY

Hello to Sam starting HS soccer practice at 6:00am

twice a week

Hello to Summer's graduation party, YIPPEE!

Hello to church camp for Sienna and Sam

Hello to swimming, beaches, pools

Hello to GREEN everywhere, YAY

Hello to finishing up my WITL album

Hello to getting ready for grad party

Hello to no schedules or packing lunches

Hello to babysitting days full of play and fun

Hello to getting DQ ice cream

Hello to watching sunsets

Hello to strawberries growing already

Hello to VBS at church

Hello to summer vacation starting

Hello so sunshine and blue skies

Hello to being lazy

Hello to bonfires and smores

Hello June, so glad your here

Hello! Hope you are all doing well! I do love writing these HELLO posts, excited for a new month and new adventures and fun. What are you saying HELLO to this month? Take care and thank you for stopping by. xo

Week in the Life.... Tuesday and Wednesday

Hello Tuesday! Great way to start the day when the sky is this pretty! One reason why it's worth being up early each day, sunrises even if it only lasted for a few mintues.

Summer is prepping these last weeks for State Boards coming up. Lots of fun stuff here to play with and grood lookin dolls to practice on. Almost time for graudation!!! YAY!!

There's me saying HELLO!! Just back from the store and walking Lucky. Getting ready to start chores (cleaning the bathroom)  and the lady at the store said she liked my curls so I guess it means I'm having a good hair day.

I did a mini meal prep for dinner and lunch the next two days. It takes some time but so far Summer and I love eating these meals, nothing fancy just good food for you.

Rich is home and we take our usual walk (laps) around the garden 3 times with Lucky. Love shoe shots!
Today was kind of cool, sweatshirt and gloves were needed.

Sam asked if we could play Jenga, haven't played that in years. You can't tell but Lucky was rolling all over by us, he didn't knock it over but came close. Sam is officially 14 1/2 today too, YAY!

Hello Wednesday! Not a pink sky this time, but still nice.

Renee gets a cuddle in with Lucky before going to work :)

Renee made sure to be in the photos so far and send me some :)

On my list to do today was cleaning the coat closet.

So happy I did it, donated a lot and got rid of

broken things. The games are organized now!!

My mom came over for a few and help me pick out paint colors for the shutters and front door. So excited to have a new fresh look. Will share when it's done!!

Rich took a half day today, we spent most of it outside, so gorgeous out!

It was a good day and so we decided to surprise the kids with dinner out.

We walked the dog when we got back home. Look at that sky and the strawerberries are growing wonderfully. Excuse the toys and balls in the garden, it was while Rich mowed earlier.

A shoe shot with my sister at soccer practice for Sam and my niece.

Also did a quick shop with Summer for her graduation dress.

Sam is back at sports now after getting his appendix out.

Back home and outside for another walk and that SKY!!!!

Not sure why it posted it twice but it sure is pretty!

These two are watching TV and I read before we all went to bed.

Thankful for this day!

Hope you enjoy this peek into our days. I'm taking about 26 picutures on my camera, way less then previous years. Trying not to get the same things and really liking what I have taken. Still thinking of what size album to make, will see how the weekend photos come along and go from there.

Happy Weekend ! Thanks for visiting!

Week in the Life... Monday's photos and words

Hello Monday! I'm excited to document our story this week, always a favorite of mine. Last year I did this in August when the kids were just starting school and know they are almost done, love the closeness of the two and reflecting on that as we start our week. I printed of Ali's daily sheets to help keep track of our days and make notes to remember things when I look back and make my album.

Few things about today, it's a babysitting day so I will mostly have Sienna and Colt in my story today, it's the only decent weather day we will have this week so outside pictures is a must, I took way less pictures then normal for the first day of this project, again how we are ending the school year vs. beginning it.

I took 67 photos on my camera, deleted several that were doubles or wouldn't work.  I took 18 on my cell phone and deleted only a few of them. I was gone at bible study for the night which is another reason for lesser photos for the day. 

Also, I want to remember the weather right now, each day is so different and not much spring going on yet. We have the heat on in the mornings because the floors are cold and their is frost/dew on the car windows and grass each morning, ugh. So today's sunshine was so welcomed and enjoyed!

Now for some photos....

I took this out the kitchen window while I was sitting there having my quiet time before showering. Love the peek of the sun coming through the trees. Thinking I will take this photo each morning this week and use it in my album to start each day. Always a favorite of mine to include plenty of outside pictures as it really shows my story in this and nature is a big part of it.

I get all my chores done before getting Colt on babysitting days, also just a good way to start my day. Love the sunlight showing on here too, love that sun any chance I can since it's rare now.

I stopped by Giant Eagle for a few things and got to see Renee busy at work, she loves when I see her there.

Back home with Colt and he wastes no time building something awesome with blocks and working cars into it any way he can. I'm amazed each time he builds something, always different and imgainenative. He doesn't even plan it, just starts building and thinking of it as he is doing it. He is growing us so much, will be going to kindergarden in the fall, sigh. He is sweet and cuddly and loves being here so much now!!

So happy to see the start of leaves finally growing on our trees, last year at this time the tree was full of them.

The strawberries are doing great, lots of white blooms already, Rich can't wait for them to grow!

Lunchtime was a my new favorite, turkey with peppers and black beans mixed in. I've been eating healthier for 2 weeks now and loving it. I also added a plum today, and blueberrries at breakfast. Alwasy ice tea as my bevearage choice. Colt had taco pizza which smells so good, he was to busy eating to get a good picture.

We did his homework after lunch and time outside. This is new for us, usually he does it at home but with a new schedule for his mom and tball practice tonight it's easier to get it done early. I for one love doing homework so I'm happy to help and thankfully Colt did great about it.

This is probably my favorite picture of the day!! He was trying to hide so I couldn't get his picture but I got it and love it. That smile and funny nature is all there, love this boy so much! We were at the school to pick up Sienna after her "just run" activity she's in. So cool that the school has this program now, great way to get the kids and teachers exercising together and having fun with it.

Once back home, Summer was there too and ready to head to work, kids had their snacks and Sienna did homework then color time started. I love seeing what they come up with and draw. Renee gets home soon from her day of work soon after this. That's how the days are now, a revolving door of kids working/school no set day is the same anymore, a big change for me who likes routine, some nights it's just Sam for dinner and the girls warm up their dinners once their home. Thankful for this time too even if it's diiferent, think we are all doing pretty well with it and staying close through it.

I got to see my mom dropping off Ryan while I was dropping off Sam, they are both on the same soccer team this year, YAY!! So nice that I get to see her for this brief minute before I head to small group. Wish I could just sit and chat with her, she works so much it's hard to see her anymore. Love you mom!!

Here we are at small group, usually it's at Barb's house but for now we have to meet at the church. So happy Annie is going to church now and even joined this group with me. Tonight she and I gave the lesson and she did a great job at it. These ladies are the sweetst and they bless me so much. We were missing a few tonight but this was a full class compared to the last couple weeks.

And that wraps up my day in photos. While I was here Rich picked up Sam, Renee and Rich worked out at the YMCA and Sam showered and ate. Summer got home soon after I did thank goodness it wasn't a late night. I uploaded these pictures to have ready and went to bed before 10, even that seems late some days for us. Hope you enjoyed seeing how our day went, thanks for visiting.

HELLO MAY

HELLO MAY

Hello to our new apple tree blossoms!! LOVE!

Hello to more warmer days, like yesterday

Hello to Kristin turning 27 this week, YAY!

Hello to graduation preping and excitment

Hello to Week in the Life next week, YAY

Hello to hoping to blog WITL

Hello to eating healthy again this week

Hello to filling out party invites

Hello to dress shopping

Hello to Mother's Day weekend fun

Hello to strawberry blossoms

Hello to Memorial Day picnic

Hello to last day of school

Hello to graduating!!

Hello to needing new glasses

Hello to my last quiet days of home

Hello to you again friends!!

Hello to my friend Nancy!

Hello to using my camera again

Hello May, please bring sun and joy

Thank you for the comments and visiting me again!! Made my day!

Slowly getting used to my camera again and blogging, YAY!!

Excited for WITL next week and hope to post some of it for you.

Happy weekend and National Scrapbook weekend to some of you!

AROUND HERE April 2016

Around here it's been too long since I posted, I MISS IT!

Around here I MISS YOU!! HELLO friends!!

Around here, I haven't gotten a new computer or laptop

Around here life is good, crazy, busy, normal

Around here the kids are getting older, sigh

Around here I'm very thankful each day and blessed

Around here Summer has her first car, YAY!

Around here Summer is graduating in May, YAY!!

Around here Summer is graduating, WHAT?? how can that be?

Around here Sam had his appendix out, he's recovering well :)

Around here Sienna and Colt are doing good, growing, cute as always

Around here Rich can't wait to plant his garden

Around here the kids were sick/strep throat/ flu and coughs :(

Around here I'm cleaning my scrap space, making changes

Around here everyday is a new season outside :(

Around here it snowed 3 weeks ago, 5 inches, crazy

Around here Susan motivated me to blog today, thank you friend :)

Around here I have missed everyone and hope your doing well

Around here Sam and I play cards a lot and I love it

Around here it's weird having the girls driving everywhere now

Around here I'm eating healthier and exercising, walking

Around here Kristin will be 27 next week, how did that happen??

Around here I haven't touched the camera in 2 months :(

Around here we have secret sisters tonight, YAY!

Around here I will try to come by more often and have patience with the computer.

Around here I wish you a happy weekend and Hello MAY to you :)

Please Read! Thank you!!!!

Hello! Happy weekend, how are you? We are doing good, had another big snow, it was so pretty this time! The kids got a snow day from it too, YAY! Today it's like spring out, the windows are open and we keep going outside to soak it up before it's gone again.

I'm still having issues with computer, very slow and freezes or doesn't let me do what I try to do, like email or leave comments. Sorry about that, if we had some extra money I'd buy a new one but for now this will have to do.

I got a picture of all the kids together finally, it's been over a year since we did. Of course, Lucky had to squeeze in there too but wouldn't look at me. We took this the night of Renee's birthday, she's 19 now!! How did that even happen, crazy!  Thankful for each of them and each moment with them, even when they are cranky and moody, lol.

Hope you are doing well, will be by to visit your blogs but won't try to leave a comment till it will work right. Just please know I'm there and love seeing your posts and am thankful for your patience with my computer issues right now. Big hugs for you xo

Nancy, hello dear friend, big hugs for you too xo

Around here in photos, YAY!!!

Hello again, I'm back with a few pictures, YAY!! I want to say a big THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my last post, was so nice reading them and visiting your blogs again too, so THANK YOU!! It is so weird starting fresh here again, kinda like my first time blogging years ago, not sure why it does but it does. It was a nice surprise when I uploaded my camera for the first time here and to see pictures going back to this last Thanksgiving, so happy to see them and our Christmas ones too!! So at least those are here for me to enjoy, YAY!!! Hoping to get my email up and working again this weekend, not sure if it will have to change or if I can have the same one I've always had. How about some photos now :)

this sweet boy turned 5 last week!! Can't believe it, he's so AWESOME and fun and kind!! He loves to build with blocks as soon as he's in the door, he loves cars and trucks and the new dinosaur puzzle of Sam's, he loves his picture taken, loves hugs and loves my kids so much, he loves loves Lucky and tells her all day just like Sienna did at this age. So cool that he is 5 now, I love 5 it's the best age.

Renee has been making a sausage and cheese dish she and Summer love, it's a messy but fun dish to make.

I just made my first homemade soup, minestrone, so yummy. It was so nice to chop veggies and make some homemade and the house smelled good all day. Hoping to do more of this since it was easy and makes plenty. If you have a favorite soup recipe let me know.

These pictures uploaded very slowly and I had to do them each twice for it to take, not sure why that is, even leaving comments I had to do them twice and only the second one takes, weird. So I will leave it at these for now and come back next week with some art stuff. The warm weather left and it's a cold day out there again. Happy weekend, stay warm or cool where you are. HUGS!!

HELLO FEBRUARY

                                                        HELLO FEBRUARY

                            
                            Hello to a new month of fun, laughs, love and memories
                            Hello to Renee turning 19  and Ryan turning 12
                            Hello to more drawing, sketching and learning
                            Hello to hopefully more  sewing, it's been in  a time out :(
                            Hello to a whole month for my OLW... LOVE!!
                            Hello to a Valentines dinner at our church
                            Hello to Sienna getting baptizied this Sunday, SO HAPPY about this!!
                            Hello to one more month closer to spring
                            Hello to hoping for warm days and track days
                            Hello to reading more books
                            Hello to more orgazining in the house and in my craft space
                            Hello to my friend Nancy :)
                            Hello to whatever this month brings, thankful for each day


Hello friends, sorry it's been so long.  My computer wasn't working and still isn't fully operating yet. Rich tried working on it and deleted everything accidently, all my links, emails, contacts, classes, pictures, everything is gone. It's like a new computer with a blank space, an empty space, a new uninvited space. Around here we are all doing good, busy and good. Thank you so much for your comments on my last post, this table runner is so special to me and I love having it as a reminder of my grandma. Hope you are doing well and ready to welcome another month. Have a great week, will be back with some new fresh pictures and art to share. Feels good to be here blogging and sharing again with you. Take care xo

Sewing and drawing fun

Hello! It's the halfway mark in January already, crazy isn't it. The weather is finally winter here, kids had a snow day yesterday and we've been shoveling for the last 3 days now. Warmer weather is coming for the weekend and then back to cold.

 

Today I wanted to share the quilt above, it's very special and so perfect!! When my grandma passed away, I was thinking of her clothes, since I washed them and would pick them out for her to wear and several pieces inspired some of my art either for it's color or design. I am thankful to have a cousin who does some sewing and she was here for grandma's funeral and to stay a bit. We talked about my ideas and she said YES to making me a table runner using bits of grandma's clothing. SO excited and it came out SO GOOD!! Just what I wanted and it makes me so happy!! Thank you Jennifer!! Click on the image to see it better if you need. My goal this year is to be able to sew and quilt like this.

which leads me to this, my little crafty sewing machine I got about 4 years ago at WalMart. I've wanted to learn how to use it and keep using it to make some homemade goodies for friends and family and to sew on my art projects. Stay tuned for more on this new adventure.

This year I am going to sketch more too, January has me going strong every year and then I slowly stop. This year is all about finishing and going strong all the way. I joined Susan in this daily sketch she shared with me and I've enjoyed it so much. Here is some of what I've done so far.

I loved making the chairs, as much as they were hard to do, made me love them that much more and determined to keep sketching and enjoying the process!!

Same with the shoes, hard but so good for me!!

Now the cats I'm not so sure about, lol.  I want to do the pitchers again and draw lots of them. That's all I have for you, will show you more later on. 

 

What else is going on around here,  we are all doing good. I know Summer graduating is going to come fast, just ordered her tassel, a year ago I ordered Renee's, yep it goes that fast. I've been reading more, YAY, spending more time in my bible each morning and afternoon, blesses me so much. Summer and Sam go to winter camp at church this weekend, I will be helping in the kitchen, YAY! Kristin enjoyed her first almost two weeks at a new job, so happy for her!! We didn't win the power ball, Sam was very excited about it and wanted to win so much. I wasn't into it, more trouble then it's worth I thought, would make life easier but complicate it in other ways.

 

Hope you are doing well and stay warm or cool wherever you are. Thanks so much for reading and will see you again next week. Stay safe and enjoy your week. HUGS!!

Happy New Year and PL 2016

Hello and Happy New Year!! Hello 2016! Almost a week into this year and we are doing good, cold weather is here, the kids just went back yesterday, feel good to be in routine again. We celebrated NYE with our favorite tradition of fondue "fundue"  love doing this each year. I know it won't last much longer but happy we were all here to bring in the new year.Hope you are doing well too!

I'm happy to start in my new PL for the year, a smaller easier album. This year I won't be doing it by the week/month, just the stories I want to tell as they happen. I have the first ones to share with you below and am so happy with this size already and no stressing about the weekly spreads. It's been 5 years so it's nice to change it and make it work for us right now where we are.

Here is the title page for it, simple and pretty!! I like that the journal cards on top say what I really want for this album. Celebrate our stories one at a time, and celebrate is one of my "words" this year so I knew it had to be in here.

Here are the first two stories. The right side is about Sam taking over making the "communion bread" at church. He already sets up communion each Sunday and wanted to do the bread too, he does enjoy doing this and doing it for the church. So happy about that!!! So this was our first attempt and we did good!!  The right side is about Kristin's first day this past Monday at her new job. So thrilled for her and the new direction she's going in and this job is so awesome for her right now. The card on the bottom looks white but there is a light design on it if you click on to see it.

My third story right now which is so AWESOME!! Sienna got a camera for Christmas, HOORAY!! She loves taking pictures too and hopefully we can get them scrapped too. She is a girl after my own heart, so big too, no more little Sienna. Happy to pass the story telling down to this sweet girl.

There you have it,  our stories already for the new year, love this size so much. Let's hope I'm still saying that in June, lol. 

 

Take care friends, thanks so much for reading and commenting. Have a good week and wishing you all the very best for a happy, healthy New Year.