Happy Halloween

 These days, we have been working really hard to try to make life as normal as possible. Twenty-twenty has really seemed like one big trick! Am I right? Halloween has always been a favorite holiday for us and even though the scariest ghoul around is COVID 19, we still were able to have some fun trick or treating. Stella dressed as her favorite Addams, Wednesday. We all wore masks, and ventured out into our tiny town for some treats. It was a good time! 

Checking In

Hello, friends! How are you? We're doing okay here. Mike is still working everyday and my normal life as a stay at home mom is basically social distancing everyday. So, some things are still business as usual. Of course, I do miss regular trips to the store and going to church. On the other hand, the kids lives are anything but normal! They are out of school until, at least April 9. They are missing their friends, Mady is missing the field hockey season that she has been looking forward too so much, and Felicia will be celebrating her 16th birthday in quarantine without getting her learner's permit that she has been counting down the days for. It's a huge bummer!

As disappointing as all that is, I am trying really hard to focus on the positive. We are healthy, we are spending time together, and things WILL get back to normal! 

What are we doing to pass the time? The kids have had five days of  work from their school, today being the last day. What are the school's plan for future work, as of now we just don't know. We will wait patiently until we do know. I am not stressing out about it. As a family, we have been watching movies, playing cards, baking (and eating too many treats), taking walks, and just hanging out. Thankfully, the girls are able to Facetime friends so they are staying connected during this very strange time. 

I know that we all deal with stressful situations differently and it's okay to be scared. I am trying my best to not beat myself up if I let the kids have unlimited screen time or I don't follow a strict schedule for lessons. I really do believe that the more relaxed I am, the easier it will be for all of us to get through this. Kids are resilient, they will be fine.

We are all in this together. We will get through this! 

Stay well, stay safe, stay home.

Back to School

How is it the end of August already? Tuesday was the first day back to school for the girls and we were NOT ready for it! Summer just seemed to fly right by!

Felicia (10th grade) has been busy with field hockey to start the school year and she loves it! Madelyn (8th grade) is currently a manager for the field hockey team and will be playing in the spring. We are super proud of their commitment to the game! It's a lot of work and they are killing it! Stella (3rd grade) was probably the most excited to head back to school! She loves seeing all her friends and catching up after summer.  

Although we were not quite ready for it to start, we are looking forward to a great school year!

Beachin'

There really is nothing that recharges my batteries like a trip to the beach. From the moment we leave, I am counting down the days until we return again. (Someday, I will live there!)

This year on our trip to Myrtle Beach, not only were we able to spend the week with my parents and my sister, but some friends joined us for a few days as well. It was a great time!

 Being there over Independence Day is always a good time! The kids decorated our golf cart and we enjoyed watching the parade at the resort. We were a little bummed that we had thunderstorms that evening, so we did not go down to the beach for fireworks, but it was still a good day.

 We also spent some time at Broadway at the Beach, visiting Build a Bear and Ripley's Aquarium. There is so much to do and see at Broadway at the Beach!

 
Leaving the beach is always the hardest part. I really just wish we could stay all summer! One week is definitely not long enough so before we left, we booked two weeks for next summer!

Counting down the days...

Life Lately

Oh my, it's been a while since I've been here! Life has been so busy (as usual)! It seems like every spring we have so many things happening. I won't lie, I love to be busy! Here are a few things that have been keeping us busy.

Susie

This sweet and super energetic puppy has certainly kept us in our toes! She loves taking walks and is very playful. She is the perfect addition to our family.

Madelyn's Confirmation

On Palm Sunday, Mady become an official member of our church. We are so proud of her decision to deepen her relationship with God. She also confidently served communion for the first time during the service.

Easter

The weeks leading up to Easter were jam packed with things to keep us busy. We hosted the Easter egg hunt at our church so I was extra busy prepping for the big event. Thankfully, my family was there to help with all the details, like making candy for all the kids that attended. The hunt was over in the blink of an eye, but the good times preparing for it were so much fun!

On Easter Sunday, after church, we spent the afternoon at my parent's house. There was lots of good food and an Easter egg hunt for the kids. 

Field Hockey

Following in Felicia's footsteps, Madelyn has started playing field hockey. She either has practice or games five nights a week, which is both challenging and fun! We really enjoy watching the girls play. Felicia will be playing again in the fall so it's hockey all year around here! 

Getting Fit

For the past 11 months, I have been on a journey to get healthy! I've been making better food choices and getting my butt moving more. Taking daily walks with Mike have made me feel so much stronger and also give us some time alone to connect without interruptions. It's been great and I have lost 65 pounds so far! 

Spring has been fun so far. We are looking forward to more warm days and less rainy days so we can have a few weekend adventures. I'll be sure to share all the good times here. 😊

Welcome, Suzie

After our sweet Lucy passed away on Christmas, I was sure we would not be ready for another puppy for a long time. We were all heartbroken and missed our little buddy so much. We have so many fond memories of her and know that she lived a good long life. Although we knew we would never be able to replace Lucy, several weeks ago we started talking about getting another puppy. We were ready. After some searching around, we finally found the perfect match for our family and on Friday while the girls were at school, Mike and I took a little road trip to pick up our new baby. 

This is Suzie. She is a teeny, tiny Chihuahua who has stolen our hearts. I was a little nervous about getting such a tiny puppy that needed potty trained during the winter, but she's actually been so good! We even had a little dusting of snow this morning and she loved it! We are looking forward to all the fun things to come.

Goodbye, Lucy

Growing up, I can't remember a time when our family didn't have a pet. Cats, dogs, birds, and fish...I loved them all! As a parent, I wanted my kids to experience that same love that comes with having a pet. A  little over ten years ago, we welcomed Lucy into our home. She was three yeas old at the time and quickly became part of the family. She was sweet and cuddly, but also fiercely protective of our family (all 4 pounds of her)! If someone was not feeling well, she was by their side, a faithful family member. 

On Christmas evening, our Lucy passed away. She lived a good long life, but we were not ready  for her to leave us just yet. Although our hearts are broken, we have so many happy memories of our time with her and for that, we a grateful.  Rest in peace our sweet angel!

Snickerdoodles

It's cookie baking time again! I actually enjoy baking all the time, but I tend to do it more this time of year. Who doesn't love homemade cookies? I know my family sure does and Snickerdoodles are my hubby's favorite!

{Ingredients}

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

~sugar and cinnamon to roll the cookies in (I don't really measure this. I just pour some sugar in a bowl and mix in the cinnamon until it looks good.)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla. In another bowl combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined. Scoop rounded teaspoons of dough and roll them into a ball. Roll the balls of dough in the cinnamon and sugar mixture and place them a few inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy!

Ruby is Back!

Stella has been patiently awaiting the arrival of her Scout Elf Ruby. After receiving a note from Ruby's friend Jingles last week letting her know that she was going to be little late because she was helping Santa train the new elves, she finally arrived this morning. Stella was so happy to see her and she can't wait to see what kind of shenanigans Ruby has planned. Stay tuned...

When Fall Meets Winter

Oh my, winter has come early! There is nothing more magical than the first snow of the season. Although, it came a bit sooner than expected, I love it just the same.

 Of course, not everybody feels the same as I do. The hubby is NOT a fan of snow at all! Ha!

Halloween 2018

Happy Halloween, friends! I hope your night was as treat filled and fun as ours was. Trick or treat night on a school night always seems super rushed and the morning after "candy hangover" is no joke! But, it's all a good time and we love Halloween! Our theme this year was kind of spooky and sweet! 

The Sweet

Stella dressed up as her idol...Jojo Siwa! 

 She loves anything pink, sparkly, and with big bows. Jojo is her spirit animal!

We even squeezed in a little pumpkin carving between dinner and trick or treating. Fun times!

The Spooky

Aaron and Madelyn decided to stay home and hand out candy with a few friends. They went with lots of blood and gore. Gross! Aaron's face had huge bloody gash and in the end, he looked like he had been charred. Taking all that off was so much fun! 

Hopefully they didn't cause any nightmares!

No pictures of Felicia this year. Although she didn't really dress up, she did go around town collecting treats with her friends, so she did still have a good time!

Halloween 2018 is now in the books! Is it too soon to put my Christmas tree up?

Happy Birthday, Madelyn Grace

Thirteen years ago we were blessed with this beauty! She's always been the entertainer of the family and keeps us laughing every day. She's also very strong willed, sassy, and sometimes stubborn! This girl is wise beyond her years and I can't imagine our lives without her.

Happy Birthday, Mady!

The First Day Back

I know, I know...I haven't been here in a long time. What can I say? We wrapped up last school year, took our annual Myrtle Beach vacation, and enjoyed the lazy days of summer. Nothing too exciting, just good old family time. It was refreshing to not have a schedule to follow and just go with the flow for a few months. But, today I am back!

Also, today is the first day back to school for my girls!

Felicia is in ninth grade (her first day of high School), Madelyn is in seventh grade, and Stella is in second grade. I cannot believe how quickly they are growing up! As always on the first day, they were up and ready to go super early. I'm sure that won't be the norm! But, I am looking forward to a great school year, filled with lots new things.

I can't wait to hear all about their first day back!

Too Cool For School

I'm calling this week, a false start. The kids went back to school on Wednesday after a two hour delay due to the frigid temps. It was actually nice to ease back in with a delay because the first day back is usually a struggle. Thursday started the same way and on Friday school was cancelled due to the extreme cold. I'm so thankful that I didn't have to go out for more than a few minutes to take the dog out. Brrr! 

I was so determined to get all my Christmas decorations put away and start organizing closets this week, but the delays, cancellations, and a nasty cold have thrown me off a bit. So, Christmas will be hanging around until next week.

Until then, we plan to stay inside where it's toasty warm! Stella got a few new games for Christmas to keep us busy. She also got a latch hook kit which has totally taken me back to my childhood.

I love getting crafty with my girls! Speaking of craftiness, check out this adorable snowman family that Stella made at school.

They are so stinkin cute! 

Well, on to the weekend! I hope you all have a great one!

 Stay warm!

A New Year, a Fresh Start

Another year has come and gone and as always, I like to look back and see what I can do to live my best life. Being more organized, living a healthier lifestyle, and paying off debt are all things that I would like to work on. Of course, anytime is a good time to make improvements in your life, but the beginning of a new year seems like a good place to start. 

Whatever your goals for this year may be, I wish you all the best! 

Happy New Year!

The Santa Clause and Ruby the Elf

Day 4 of our countdown to Christmas was a busy one. Madelyn had an orthodontist appointment in the morning, followed by lunch out, a trip to Wal-Mart and a trip back to the orthodontist because something came loose on her braces. By the time the other girls came home from school, all we wanted to do was watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate. We watched The Santa Clause while munching on candy canes for the perfect relaxing evening.

Today on Day 5, we celebrated the arrival of a new friend!

Stella has recently started asking for an Elf on the Shelf. All of her friends have them and she loves hearing about their Elf shenanigans. While I was out shopping today I decided to pick one up for her to find after school. When she got off the bus, she was super excited to tell me that Jingle the Elf arrived in her classroom today. Imagine her surprise when she came home to find an Elf of her own. She named her Ruby! We told her, she must have flown into town with Jingle. So, a new tradition is born for our family. 

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf?

Christmas Bedtime Stories

Reading with my kids has always been one of my favorite things. I've been adding books to our Christmas collection for almost twenty-five years now. So as you can imagine, we have quite a few. Although we don't only read them one night during the season, tonight we read several. Stella's favorites are the ones with sparkly illustrations! 

Decorating the Church

Decorating the church in preparation for the Christmas season is one of my favorite traditions. Our church is such a beautiful place already, but adding the holiday decor makes it magical. 

Gingerbread House Making

Happy December! 

When I look at my calendar for December, it is jam packed. While I love being busy, I also want to slow down and enjoy the holiday season. I'm really trying to focus on the little things that make Christmastime so special. So, let the countdown to Christmas begin!

On Friday evenings for the past several years, my kids have attended Kids Club at a church in our neighborhood. One of their favorite activities is the annual gingerbread house making. Of course, they do more finger licking and snacking on the building materials than actually building, but it is the most fun! Stella came home sticky and super sugared up. Ha! 

*A little tip for you mommas of little ones that want to do this fun activity: skip the traditional gingerbread house kits and get a small empty milk carton, graham crackers, frosting, and assorted candies. Building on the milk carton makes it easier for little ones to do on their own. Less frustration=more fun!

For the Love of Fall

My love for fall has never been a secret. The colors, cooler temps, fall treats, and Halloween fun are a few of my favorite things. September and October were jam packed with all things autumn!

At the end of September, my sister Diane came to visit from Texas and we had our annual fall cookout at World's End State Park, along with my sister Karen and family, our parents, and a few of our kids. It was a great day...

..just a little chilly! Aaron, Madelyn, and Stella had to cuddle to stay warm! Ha!

 A few of the cousins.

 Pop and Aaron's usual shenanigans!

Honestly, this is my favorite place to be every fall. Spending a day unplugged, with my "circus" is a day well spent!

Our next fun, fall day was Stella's school Harvest Festival. I had the pleasure of being the tattoo lady once again this year. Thankfully, it was much warmer than last year and I didn't freeze my fingers off applying temporary tattoos to all the kiddos. Days like this, give me life!

Next up, our tiny town had it's first ever Halloween Festival! There was a pumpkin decorating contest, a costume contest, and so much more. It was followed by the annual Halloween Parade and fireworks. Another great day! 

We wrapped up October with pumpkin carving and trick or treating. Although, I love me some Christmas, I really am in no hurry to let go of fall! After all, my favorite holiday has yet to come! 

Happy Fall!