Strawberry Jam on Saltine Crackers......

I guess we are heading to the grocery store, also the Library and the gas station. Oh yes, this is an exciting day.
I made Chili last night with all that was left in the fridge, so then I was able to clean the shelves in the fridge which was nice, but now everyone is hungry and searching the kitchen for anything worthy to eat. So here it is strawberry jam on saltine crackers! (Not for me, but the kids are happy!)

Garage sale went good, glad it's over though.

Anxious for June! That's all for now.

Garage Sale Weekend!

It's here.... our annual sub-division garage sale. Lots people, lots of stuff... lemonade stands and more!

Jalen's Song for Mommy

To the melody of "Tomorrow Tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow" from Annie.

"My Mommy, my Mommy, I love ya my Mommy, your always my great, great Mommy. OHHHH, My Mommy, my Mommy, I love ya my Mommy, your always my great, great Mommy."

He made this song up a couple weeks ago, and he sings it to me often. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. It is so precious.

Yesterday in the van, he told me that he likes to sing it to me and he will probably still sing it to me when I am a grandma. And then he said he will still sing it to me when he is like 8 years old and 10 years old, and then he said, "Mom, even when I am a 12th grader, I will still sing this song for you."
(I just hope he didn't mean that I will be a grandma when he is in 12th grade.)

Pictures of baby Addison

Change is in the air

There is a new baby in our family today!! Well, not our immediate family, but extended family. Welcome little Addison Elaine! 7 lbs 12 oz, 19 inches long. Congrats to Tammy and Ty!

As Spring arrived so did a change in our schedules and thoughts of summer plans are twirling through our minds. But also thoughts about next Fall. So many things to prepare for and plan for. So many things to decide on and say yes or no to. Soccer? Swimming? Baseball? Kids Triathalon? Homeschooling? Pre-school? Work? Art Class? Guitar Lessons? Tai Kwan Do Classes? Vacation? Camping? Michigan Adventure? Indiana Beach? Plant a garden?

I am forever making choices, some minor, but some are major. I look back over my life and see so many bad choices I have made. I think it is easier to remember the bad ones than the good ones. The bad ones mark your life. Everyone remembers the bad choices. The good ones just blend in with everything else and it is almost like you are just expected to make the good ones. But the bad ones, whoa.... those follow you forever. You still kick yourself in the butt every time you remember it.
Of course we never wake up in the morning thinking "I am going to make a bad choice today!" "I really want to look stupid and ruin my life and be in debt forever!"

Yet some how we all still make bad choices sometimes, even when everything in us wants to do the right thing.

I am so thankful my life is in God's hands. No matter how much I screw up, He loves me. I can go to him for wisdom and He offers it freely. I pray about all the decisions we make, even the little things. I want to honor God with my life, with all of it. I trust Him. I trust His Word.

Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Random Thoughts....

Great day today! Going grocery shopping tonight, not sure if I am happy about that or not. I am happy because our kitchen is bare and in need of re-stocking, but wish I could snap my fingers and have everything in place.

Gonna watch BIGGEST LOSER tonight. We like it. I know it's a reality show, but we find it entertaining and sometimes inspiring. I know I work out harder on Wednesday morning after watching it Tuesday night. I am amazed at what these ordinary people can accomplish. I also like watching the trainers and how hard they push these contestants. One thing I don't like about the show is the 'drama', the contestants have to vote people off and it doesn't seem fair to send someone home when they still have a lot of weight to lose.

Have a field trip planned to the Museum of Science and Industry, in Chicago. I think the boys will love it! (If you have any advice for me about it, please pass it on.)

Waiting for my sister to have her baby, she's not due till the middle of May, but I know it could be any day now. Can't wait to meet my new little niece or nephew! (I am really hoping for May 21st though:)

Hubby is going to see "X-Men Orgins" tonight. (Not my thing)

Enough of my ramblings for now.....

Spring has sprung in my heart!!

What a beautiful weekend we had. I had this burst of energy and got started with the yard work for the year. (Well we started 6 weeks ago, when spring came, but winter came back for awhile, so we are just getting back to spring). So Saturday I mowed the lawn. Now I don't really like to mow the lawn. Justin usually takes care of it, but he's been working alot... so I thought okay, I can do this. (I know my neighbors were thankful)
Next we started raking, weeding, trimming, (you know the drill, we all do it, we all hate it and love it all at the same time) I planted flowers, Justin dug out old bushes, we fertilized, we burned leaves/twigs (no wind advisory today, no Fireman! )
And we ended the day with a little BBQ.
The kids helped... alittle. They pulled weeds for about 15 minutes, they watered flowers (which they loved, and I had to stop them from flooding my brand new tiny flowers)and then they saw them... yes RED ANTS. That was it for Jalen for the rest of the day, he set out to destroy the red ants. Eradicate was the word Justin taught Jalen. So Jalen walked around saying, "I am going to eradicate those ants". He even got the neighbor kids to help, they all decided to spray water on the ant colony and drown the ants to death. They literally did this for 4 hours!
It was a nice day at home, making our home a little nicer and making me smile whenever I see my pretty pink and purple flowers. (I'm not much of a flower person - like don't buy me a dozen roses-) Except I like the ones outside in the ground, they last for like 5 months, and they grow and get big and so pretty! And I actually like watering them everyday.
So Spring is here, my heart is light. I am so thankful for the sunshine and the warmth! (For some reason, Fall is still my favorite season though!)

Kindergarten Graduation

5 things I learned about Jalen this year, watching him go through kindergarten.

1. He loves art, and may have a gifting in that area.
2. He is a great reader.
3. He loves to follow directions and rules.
4. He may have a future in public speaking.
5. He enjoys learning new things.