My Baby Girl had an amazing Birthday.....she has lost so much in her young life, experience more heartache and frustration than any person should, but when her smile lights up the room, you know she will be okay.

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl.............

The Watermelon Cake Emma wanted, let's just say that I won't be opening a bakery anytime soon!

The Birthday Girl!

Gifts.........

 The Reaction!

She is growing so fast

My baby is closing in on turning 7.  Just a few Weeks from now we will celebrate that next birthday.  As the time draws closer, I can't help but reflect on the last 7 years. 

She has changed our lives so much and everyday I am incredibly thankful and humbled to be her mom!

All Boy

All Boy Photo Contest

An Awesome Way to Give Back

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”  Dr. Suess,  I can read with my eyes shut!

I am a book nut!  I love to read and I read often.  I love it when my children read!  I love to read to and with my children.  Reading is one of the things I do for myself and never feel guilty about.


With that said, I found a great site today that allows me to read books to/with my children and donate a book to a worthy cause.  For EACH book we read online, one book will be donated to a campaign of our choosing. 


If you like to read, your children like to read or just want a way to give back.....check out this site :  Read a book, give a book.


Happy reading!
  

Taking Time with Nature

I don't care how a poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich!

~M*A*S*H,  Identity Crisis

We have been so crazy busy lately.  My oldest is now home schooled (what am I thinking), I started back in classes (clearly I am not thinking) and the other three are busy, busy, busy with school and spring. 

The other day I realized that we haven't really done anything lately that is fun. So yesterday, I decided that I could combine my school work, with some fun stuff the kids like to do AND give us all some exercise.  That's a Mommy Win!

Yesterday we headed out to a local Nature Center.  This kids love to go here and the trails through the woods offer plenty of twists and turns and ups and downs to get the heart rate moving.  The trail ends at the lake, which is the bonus and reward.

Once we hit the beach, the kids all began to do their own thing.  One searched for rocks, one dug holes for sand castles and yet another decided to give Sand Art a try.  And I of course took pictures.

The walk is about 1.5 miles total (not including up and down the beach), with a lot of stairs, needless to say the walk and the play wore us all out.  We all slept really good.

Sometimes, the perfect time for Mom, is spent with her children, enjoying life.

  

WOOT WOOT!  It's Five Minute Friday, I love this!  

Goal, to write for 5 minutes straight on a given topic...

Here we go.........

TOPIC:  Together

START:

Together: Togetherness: Family: Unity

I strive to bring togetherness and unity to my family.  Someday's it honestly seems like an impossible challenge.  With 4 children and their ages so spread out, it can be extremely difficult to get us all together and agreeable on the same thing. 

The teen likes to watch different Television than my 6 year old, my two pre-teen boys like yet other television from both of their sisters and of course, I prefer something yet completely different.

Board games are also very difficult for family time and togetherness, because again the youngest is in a different developmental level than the rest of us and her games are "baby".

So how do I promote unity and togetherness in my family?  Through nature and photography.  One thing all 5 of us have a passion for is photography.  It doesn't matter that here, we are all at different levels, because all photographers have a different eye and view.  

We head out to an area, armed with camera's and shoot the afternoon away, will bonding.  It may not be the way your family does it, but it definitely works for mine.  We all look forward to the days when we can go out together and shoot.  

STOP:

If you want to do your own five minute friday challenge check out: http://thegypsymama.com/2012/04/five-minute-friday-together/

Spring Break

Spring Break has arrived again in our household and the kids couldn't be more excited.  The girls went to Indiana to visit family (as seen above) and the boys hung out at home with mom.  

While I try very hard to make Spring Break a true break for my kids, it never seems to happen for me.  There is more laundry to do, more food to cook, more shopping to be done, but there is also less "rush".  

I truly hope those beautiful girls of mine enjoy their time in my hometown with their family and that I find a way to make the boys happy this week since they didn't get to Indiana, their turn will come this summer.

For everyone else on Spring Break, I hope you all have a slow, peaceful and restful time!

Always Too Long.......

We survived winter and are now officially in Spring, though it feels much more like summer with these 80
degree days!  I am not complaining per say, but I am definitely at my best in the 70's!  Just warm enough, not too warm to enjoy being outside and just cool enough, not to cool to enjoy being outside.

The kids are definitely getting ready to blow off the steam that has been brewing all winter, which is odd, since this winter, we had very little snow and much warmer than normal temps.  Regardless, they are so anxious and happy to be in shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops and to be outside where they can be and are quite loud.

Mommy is happy to see them getting outside and burning out that energy so she can get some much needed mommy time.  The house also is always in need of a good spring clean out and time is needed to re-group and re-organize!

Either way.........I am happy to say...WELCOME SPRING!

I have certainly been neglecting my time-outs!

Running around crazy and exhausted.

Fall...........

Happy Fall!  Today is my favorite day of the year, sort of!  I love fall, it is my absolute favorite season and today is the first day of FALL!

So today I am going to celebrate with my fall favorites..........chili for dinner, my favorite jeans and hoodie, some apple cider and a walk in the brisk air before I settle in with a movie with the kids for the night, just an easy and breezy day!

HAPPY FALL!!!!!!

Favorite Season

Fall is my absolute FAVORITE season.  I love the change from summer to fall, the crispness that becomes the atmosphere, the warm days and cool nights.  I love the smell of pumpkin pie, taste of fresh apples and the crunch of leaves under my feet.  I enjoy the solitude for getting back to a routine and the pride in watching my tribe mark new chapters in their lives.    But most of all............ I LOVE FOOTBALL and here's why!

The most beautiful cheerleader........................

 The most passionate players...............

and the CUTEST FANS!  (only one is mine, but they are both adorable and both fans!).

I am going to enjoy every moment of the next few months!

First Day of School

Every year as I anxiously anticipate the return to the school year routine, I also get just a slight bit emotional!  While the daily grind mom in me can not wait until they return to school and have a focus and a routine, the real mommy in me breaks a little more.  Each year is a new chapter in their lives.  Another step forward into their future and eventually adult-hood.  The first day of school every year reminds me that I am one year closer to having my babies leave the nest and walk on their own and I cry just a little.

This year was particularly hard for me.  My oldest began her 4 year stretch in High School, she has rounded third and is heading for home and it both scares me and fills my heart with pride.  So this year I just got a little teary eyed (until I got home).

My second child is almost to second base.  He entered 5th grade this year.  All maturity and insecurity.  He was not at all interested or pleased that I accompanied him to his room.  He barely tolerated me entering his room and seeing where he sits, and I respected that by taking just 1 picture!

My third child is sitting pretty at 1st this year in 3rd grade.  He was more than eager to let me into his room and even said, "Hey all.....my mom is here" (don't think that will last long) and neither will his safe plant on first base.

My baby, that was the other tear jerker!  She stepped up to the plate this year and hit her first home run!  She was so excited and so ambivilant about starting Kindergarten.  She held my hand, my leg and finally she let me go (didn't she know how much I wanted to stay?) .

Yep this morning I cried real good and real hard!  But I am also really happy to have a moment of peace to do so!!!

Happy 4th

I love the Fourth of July!  I love how patriotic we Americans become, how together we stand for just one day!

I love the smells of BBQ'a city wide firing up and cooking all day, the parades, the warmth and of course the FIREWORKS!  I mean who doesn't love a BIG BOOM!

I especially love though how excited the kids get!  They dress in RED, BLUE and WHITE by their own choice and design and they wave little hand held flags all around.  They sing the classic American songs like Proud to be an American and Star Spangled Banner, and this year added Katy Perry's Fireworks to their repertoire.

Happy Birthday American Independence!

Hmmmmm

So, It has been 7 months since I updated my blog.........took me 20 minutes to remember the password!  Ouch!

Life has been busy, that is certain.  School is out for summer, dance is wrapped for the year, BUT rec has begun and cheer has begun!  Someday I will miss this, I know I will, but today I just want to sleep a few more hours!  I must though get ready and head to the Carwash to support my daughter!

But Hey.....I posted!!!!

Car Wash Pics.........

The car wash was very successful and it was a blast, I am tired as tired can be, but I really enjoyed getting to know the other cheerleaders and their families and that my entire family could be involved.

I have been so bad.........

  I am definitely in a mood.  Completely exhausted everyday of the week and absolutely nothing comes to mind worth writing about.

For a brief moment I thought about blogging that wicked woman in the Red Blazer today that cut off not just the crossing guard but 2 kids that were crossing.  It really irritated me that she almost ran over 3 kids and looked as if it was their fault!  I mean really, in what land do cars have a right of way over vehicles in the crosswalk?  All I can think is she must have really great car insurance to go at those kids like that.

I also could have blogged in the last the few weeks about the frustration with my broken appliances.  When my stove blew up I bought a new to me stove, well that one didn't work either, so they said they would replace it, I am still waiting for that replacement.  Now the dryer has stopped tumbling and I have no spare tools to switch out the dryer (let's hope when I figure out the tool situation that I don't discover that dryer stopped working also).

Over the last few weeks I too could have blogged about the frustrations associated with raising a teenager.  How frustrating it is to wake up one day and no longer know the right things to say to your teen.  To look at a child you have adored for so many years only to discover they have become a stranger.  It's so hard to tell you the truth.  I know this is simply a right of passage for both my darling teen and myself, but I really think this is a right I could pass on.

Over the course of the last few weeks I could also vent my frustration and dislike at the upcoming holidays.  Of course I know that I want to pass on them because I am at a loss to provide for them.    With Thanksgiving only a week away, I am feeling pretty positive that we will not be able to do thanksgiving dinner.  I am slightly hopeful, but not too hopeful that a stove will magically appear.  It's already been so long I can't count that I have been patiently waiting.  Not to mention beginning next week I have the pleasure of enjoying my children's company for 6 days straight!  Lord help us all.

I also could have blogged about how worthless job hunting can make a person feel.  I know the economy is tight, but seriously, NOTHING in HOW long?  It is definitely hard to stay positive when the bills keep piling up AND Christmas is just around the corner.  I am so frustrated because throughout the year I remind the kids when they are acting up that Santa Claus is watching and he remembers.  Now come Christmas morning when there is nothing to open their little self-esteems are gonna shoot down the toilet.......or maybe they will look at it as a warning of future Christmases to come and be EXTRA good all next year.  Maybe not all is lost!

So anyway............that's about all I have been up to and all I can muster today.

Opening Day

All across these great cities,  women are celebrating a complete BREAK from their spouses/ significant others.

They are not mourning the temporary widowdom that Deer Hunting brings, guys get a clue, they are CELEBRATING a week of freedom and hoping beyond hope that you DO NOT get that big buck so you will leave AGAIN!

They are not sitting their crying for you (despite what they tell you on the phone) they are stretching out in bed, enjoying ALL the covers and the quiet night without you snoring.

They are exhilirated to not have to deal with a pair of your dirty underwear or socks for an entire week.

Women are not sitting home pouting, they are out with their girlfriends having the time of the life.

If only Opening Day could come once a month!

Happy Halloween

While today is officially Halloween, yesterday was when our town celebrated the much loved Children's Holiday.

The kids and I had a FULL Day! The little ones and

I started the day off at Church while Alexa spent that time in d

ance rehearsals. While she spent a lot of time at the studio, t

he potluck provided was awesome (at least it looked and smelled awesome) and she did not complain once about being hungry after we left.

At 3:30 we rushed from the studi

o to Downtown to prepare for the Thriller performance! What a blast that was. The troupe kids all dressed up as Zombies with HUGE dead hair (complete with leaves, grass and other icky stuff) dark and light make-up and trashed and dirty costumes.

All the kids hid in various stores throughout the downtown

area waiting for the music to que,

once the music began to play, they all began to creep out of the stores...........

slowly making their way through the crowd gathered to see what was happening........

As they made their way through the crowd, their were startles and screams of surprise from many of the onlookers...........

The kids made their way into the center of the street

and began to dance to Thriller........

...

soon they drug onlookers into dance with them and our little town was dancing in the streets.......literally!

It was a lot of fun and some GREAT memories for all.

The kids also decorated pumpkins, trick or treated and went on an amazing hay ride!

This weekend was full and fun!

What a Day

What a day today has been.

There predicted damaging rain/wind storm has of yet remained fairly calm. The winds are picking up now though and others without power would definitely disagree with me on how calm it's been.

The kids were excellent tonight at small group! I am so very thankful for this group and the ability to bring my children and attend. The peace I feel for those short few hours is enough to get me through until Sunday, where I can generally gain another time of pea

ce and worship.

This week is gearing up to be a busy one. We have something going on the rest of the week and I am hoping that tonight I will get a good or better yet GREAT nights sleep so that I can garner the energy needed to get through the rest of the week.

I have gone down to the beach a few times to take pictures of the water and lighthouse in high winds and the kids have always remained home. Today they insisted that they too should be able to go, so we went. It was for them not near as much fun as they had hoped it would be! The sand was blowing so incredibly hard it stung and burnt any skin left exposed. We will be picking sand out of our ears, nose and hair for a week I am sure.

The pic's though are beautiful and I can't wait to share them.  I predict we will remember this for a long time.........

Here's a Thought........

Though I managed to forget this blog completely existed (I wonder if I should see a doctor about memory loss....how does one forget a blog?), I did keep a written journal. So over the next few days, weeks, months (years if I forget about it again) I am going to transfer these handwritten journals here......not that anybody will ever see them.........from what I can tell.....their is nobody looking!

There is a sort of safety in knowing that nobody follows your blog or looks at it, I can be completely free in my thoughts and really let out my frustrations..........oh where to begin!

I know......

Dear Mr. President...................

Dear Governer of Michigan.................

Dear Hateful, Conving, Spiteful woman who won't leave me be....................

Ahh, the thoughts spinning through my head don't feel too overly kind and so I think I will follow sound advice, if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all. For NOW!