Plan it.

It seems like just yesterday that my babies were this little...

Now they're getting ready to finish up their last days of the school year, and next year, I'll have all three of them in school.  How is it even possible that I will have a child in Junior High, when I can clearly remember my own (dramatic) seventh grade days?  Sigh...

Ever since they were these young ages pictured, we have had a summer break tradition.  Each person in the family gets to make a list of FIVE things that they want to do over the summer.  One thing can be outrageous, one thing can be an individual plan, but the other three have to be real things we can do together as a family.  I plan on hanging their lists on the fridge so we don't forget to do everyone's plans.  This Friday is their last day of school; I'll do a post next week of their lists...they're usually pretty entertaining :)

So, what are you going to do over summer vacation?  What will you do when all your kids are in school?  Does the thought make you happy or sad, or a little bit of both, like me?

Remember...

This Memorial Day weekend, we are called to remember each and every American who has served their country, be it as a soldier, a wife of a soldier, or their families.

For a wonderful tribute done with photography, click on the link below.  The Pioneer Woman has outdone herself with a Photography assignment entitled, "Coming Home".

(Get the Kleenex ready).

Pioneer Woman Coming Home Photos

Bathtime

I consider hot running water to be one of the best blessings in my life.

Bath & Body Works bath gel, a few candles, a big fluffy towel, and my shower make me a happy girl.

I'm not much of a bath girl, but if I had this tub, I might reconsider:

So, can anyone explain to me why it is so difficult to get my boys to get cleaned up somedays?  Or the dog?  I just spent over 45 minutes scrubbing the dirt from Gabe's feet and knees, then another 15 wrestling our ten-pound toy Fox Terrier into the tub.  Why don't they appreciate the feeling of being clean and smelling good?

I am utterly exhausted and smell like wet, albeit clean, dog and boy.  A hot shower would do me good, but I'm too tired to even turn the water on.

le sigh...

Excited...

to have seven days off in a row.

to be done with preschool, so I can spend lots of time with this boy, doing fun mom-Gabe stuff:

to finally have some warm weather and sunshine, making it feel like summer.

to only have to pack eight more lunches after today.

to look forward to a summer with my kids.  They're at great ages right now:  almost 12, 10 and 5.  We are going to have SO MUCH FUN!

Anything got you excited this week?

Blogtrot your way to Tennessee!

When Cara and MEP had the idea of a Blogtrotting vacation post, I jumped right on it.  I knew exactly which vacation spot I would post about, too...

I've been going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, since I was eighteen years old.  We have gone with Joe's parents almost every year since our first wedding anniversary back in 1997, and it is the kids' FAVORITE place ever.  In fact, I'm pretty sure they would choose Tennessee over Disney World.

What's the big deal about Gatlinburg, you may ask...

Well, that's what this post is all about.

First, we can drive from our home to our cabin in the Smoky Mountains in five hours.  That's a big deal when you're traveling with three kids!

Next, we love staying in a different cabin each time we come.  This one even allowed us to bring our dog, Ellie, and had a great yard (where we did Elijah's Mentos/Diet Coke explosion experiment...ever tried it?).

You can't beat a mountain sunrise, photographed from your cabin's porch while sipping hot coffee and listening to the birds sing.

I usually don't even have the van unloaded before the rest of my crew hops in the hot tub.  It's fine, because it gives me time to organize the kitchen and unpack the groceries (we always bring our own food and cook in the awesome kitchens...trying to be frugal where I can).

There are so many great kid things to do in the Smokies, like Putt-putt:

or hike:

take fun pictures:

make great memories with Mamaw Kay:

hang out at the Tanger outlet malls, eat ice cream from a vending machine, and even ride the carousel while Mom shops for some great deals:

It's even a great place to spend the weekend with your fellow blogging buddies!

7

(Estrogen Extravaganza 2009)

Wanna tell us about your favorite vacation spot?  Hop on over to the Blogtrotting blog and link up!

Goodbye, preschool...

I have spent three years with the awesome staff at LPC Preschool (one with Isabel, two with Gabe).

Today is the last day I will ever have a baby of my own walk through their doors.

When Gabe first started preschool, he was a handful.  Tackling his "friends", not being a good listener, refusing to learn how to write his name or even learn his abc's.  Even then, the teachers and staff loved him.  They've known him since he was two weeks old.  They laugh at his antics, and have endless patience with his orneriness.  And all that love and attention has paid off.

After a year with these two teachers, Gabe can:

write his name, recognize all his abc's and even read quite a few words.  His attention span is longer, and he has learned many social skills (such as NOT tackling his friends).

Part of me is excited to see my last baby go off to kindergarten.  And another part knows I'm really going to miss having him in preschool.

Thanks, Mrs. Tunison and Miss Shannon and Miss Cindy and all the other wonderful women at LPC...it's been a great three years!

Joy

It's a dreary day outside.  I am post-night shift tired, and have to go to class tonight.  I could complain (well, I just did, I guess), but instead, I'm going to focus on some things that are giving me joy lately...

My Keurig coffee-maker, Green Mountain coffee and hazelnut creamer.

Texting.

My sweet friends, Diane and Monica, and our hysterical husbands.

Impending summer vacation.

Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade with homemade popcorn.

Cheering at Elijah's Little League baseball games.

Planning our family vacation this fall.

Good books (currently reading "The White Queen" by Phillipa Gregory).

Having the beginnings of a good tan.

Working in my garden.

Sensual Amber lotion from Bath and Body Works.

And yes, even the rain (less watering for me to do!).

What things are bringing you joy lately?

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
 give thanks in all circumstances,

 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

  -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dog tired

It might be the weather, chilly and cloudy with the threat of rain pressing down all around me.

It might be the rich food and (bottles of) wine we shared with friends last night.

It might be the idea of having to drive to Chuck E. Cheese's for a birthday party this afternoon, then sit and listen to all those screaming kids for two hours.

Whatever it is, it has me wanting to follow in Gabe's footsteps and do this:

Sadly, it's not gonna happen.  Not for at least seven or eight more hours, anyway.

sigh...

Little League

There are many things I love about spring, but Little League baseball is definitely on my Top Ten list.

Elijah is good at every sport he plays (thanks to Joe's athletic genes), but he really excels at baseball.  He has a mind for the game, instinctively knowing how to make the next play or throw the next pitch.  My heart overflows with pride for him, and he claims he can hear my "pride" screaming from the sidelines :)

Whether he's on the bench with his best friend, Aaron...

or playing first base...

or up to bat, I am cheering for him and snapping pictures like crazy.

I sit on the bench and carry on with one of the other mom's, Chelle.  We have a great time, laughing and yelling and razzing our coach (in a very friendly way).  However, when Elijah takes the mound and pitches, I am up at the fence, focused and praying that he does well and stays safe.  Kid-pitch baseball can be dangerous, especially for the pitcher.  Elijah has quick reflexes and is even more focused than me, which you can tell by his many expressions:

(and yes, he is a lefty pitcher, but a righty hitter)

He doesn't even get nervous up there!  So calm and cool...this boy amazes me!

Elijah, you rock!

Project Update

Our garden has been a family project from day one.

Joe dug up the sod and laid the blocks.  I filled it with good garden soil.

Gabe helped me pick out the seeds at Lowe's, and Isabel helped me plant the seeds in my little greenhouse.

Then we watched them grow...

My clematis (which I planted during last year's garden makeover) is really taking off; this is also where the tomato garden will be.

The pole beans, carrots, squash, lettuce and peppers are here, below the deck.  We hope that by being close to the house, the bunny rabbits will be deterred by our "killer cats".

Yesterday, Gabe was thrilled to find the first three red (or almost red) strawberries in our patch!  I let the kids each have one, and they said they were delicious!

I couldn't for the life of me find a "before" picture of our master bathroom; suffice it to say it was linoleum, white shower insert and boring old vanity.  After months of hard work by my handy-dandy husband, it now looks like this:

Joe did every single thing by himself; moved the toilet, excavated the old shower/sink/toilet, laid all the tile on the floor, shower and walls, picked out the colors of the tiles and cabinets and walls and did all the installation (I did help hold the cabinets while he hung them and I picked out the decorations...it's the little things, right?)  I am so proud of him; it looks amazing!  If you live in the tri-state area, I do rent him out during the summer months when he's off school...

What projects are going on in your house (Suzann, I am anxiously awaiting pictures of your kitchen makeover!)?

Babies

Have you seen the previews?

Do you think you'll watch it?

Have you already seen it?

I think Isabel would love it; the boys, notsomuch.

I might wait til it's on Netflix.

What about you?

Can you tell I'm having blogger's block?

A mom is born...

"Before you were conceived

I wanted you

Before you were born

I loved you

Before you were here an hour

I would die for you

This is the miracle of life."

-Maureen Hawkins

(photo courtesy of Becky Higgins)

June 18, 1998.

December 21, 1999.

August 27, 2004.

Three times over, I was blessed with the gift of motherhood.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I wouldn't trade this job for all the money in the world.

Being a mom is the best thing that I have ever done.

Happy Mother's Day, sweet friends!

Loving to read

Our librarians know us by name, especially Gabe, who visits every week with his preschool class and loves Miss Barb to pieces.

Gabe is starting to read!  He knows all of his letters, and can sound out many words!  He is more excited than I am about this, I think...

I thank God that my kids love to read and be read to.  On our bookshelves right now are these books:

Gabe's current favorite, the Dinosaur Cove series...

And Isabel has read my series of Little House books at least twice through...

Elijah and Isabel both read the whole Percy Jackson series, and now Elijah is hooked on the 39 Clues series (they love a book which has a sequel, can you tell?).

They come by it honestly...I love a good series.  Right now, I'm into the Anna Pigeon mystery series by Nevada Barr.  And there's a new one coming out this August.  Can't wait!

So, what are you reading these days?  Do you like a series?  Do your kids love to read?

Countdown to harvest...

Carrots.
Butternut squash.
Grape, jellybean, Better boy, Early Girl tomatoes (I really like tomatoes!).
Tomatillos.
Pole beans.
Lettuce.
Red peppers, yellow peppers.
Sugar baby watermelon.
Strawberries, blackberries.
Thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, basil.
Seven bags of soil with Miracle Gro, one bag of humus, two bags of mulch, at least fifty landscaping blocks.
Three days of hard work (and a pretty good farmer's tan to go with it).
A family effort.
The garden is in.

Kool-aid...only 25 cents!

Our little entrepreneurs...

Sold a cup to mommy, daddy, mamaw and papaw, and some kids from down the street.

Had to split the profits four ways.

Gabe's big dream of buying a "big giant Lego set" is on hold, at least until the next idea...

What's the best "lemonade stand" idea you had as a kid?  What did you want to buy?