Tension

It is Monday so that might explain it, but I have to admit I am so CRANKY today. It didn't help that I was verbally abused by a 7 year-old this morning. I tried to remain calm during the attack and since I didn't retaliate with physical abuse I think I did really well. Instead, I cleverly selected "grounded to room" as the punishment.

And wouldn't you just know it? The girl came home from school happy as a lark to spend the whole afternoon in her room. DUH, that is so not punishment. She doesn't have to deal with her sister or her mother. She gets complete isolation and it is bliss.

By now, the sky has darkened (finally) and it is raining (Amen). The tension is fading away and I have made a mental note to make the next punishment "wait on mother hand and foot".

Aghh - it is hard to run this ship.

Just Life

I just can't seem to remember to stop and write about Everyday Things. I used to be so good about it. I have a zillion pictures that I never even share and thoughts that I forget to tell. How am I going to remember all this? Like my impromtu date with my husband last night to see Rascal Flatts - Center Stage 5th row back. The seats were so good I could see the sparkle on the cowboy boots.

They played this song "Everyday Love" which is so old but also reminds me so much of our marriage. LOVED IT!!


This last week we had a great surprise and got to have Lola over. It was so fun just to have the girls play together and laugh. They will probably hate me for this picture when they get older...that's what they get for being goofy!

I finished this quilt for my living room. I used the Brick Path Quilt Pattern that is free from Amy Butler and the Blush by Basic Grey for Moda Fabric Line. It came out nice and light. Perfect for Arizona Winter Nights... which are right around the corner... right? RIGHT?
And finally, this was my last project. Thinking I would make a "faux" roman shade for my office window and thinking it would be so "quick" to just whip up. I have decided I should really stop thinking. It took FOREVER but it is done and I can't decide if I like it or not. It is here to stay - for now.

Heading back to my lazy Saturday ~ I have gotten hooked on Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and I am on number 5. Do you think the girls will notice if I sneak away?

Wish on a Penny

We met my Mom last night for ice cream at West Gate and afterwards the girls stopped and played by the fountains. As is customary with any sort of fountain, you must find a penny and make a wish. I dutifully handed them out. Also, as is customary, you can not tell anyone your wish or it won't come true.

Well, I forced Justin to tell me his. He said he just threw it in and made no wish. *sigh*

I have to be honest, It took me a really long time to think of a wish. Why is that? How come as adults we don't wish anymore? Is it because we are too practical? Do we have everything we want?

My wish ended up being for cooler weather. We broke a record this week with temps at 111 degrees. At 7 o'clock at night, while making my wish, it was probably about 102 degrees outside.

This morning when I woke up the news said it is supposed to be raining with a high of 89. Can you believe that? SEE PEOPLE!! Go and shine your penny!!

Our Vacation

A week in Georgia with Cousins - a pay back of sorts for when they visited us here.

I could say we went for the weather (mom, I am sweatin' like a pig!) or for the amazing buildings (I was fascinated by the doors)... This one in Savannah.

You would think then it was for the food. Ohhh Paula Deen's was way fun!!

But no, it was for this... Cousin Love. And sure enough, they did.

They entered each other's worlds. They explored and they played. They made the little ones laugh.

Vacations are oh so good. Especially the ones where the place doesn't really matter. And you can tell for sure, when you come home knowing that you have just grown a little closer, because you had a chance to give a little more, and everything in life is back in focus.

Raise you up

I am sort of glad I waited to write this post. Instead of taking the picture, waving her off, then blogging about it, I have been able to fully swallow the fact that I have a second grader. I have had time to watch her get ready in the morning, only to ask me if her hair looks OK. Time to realize I didn't have to remind her to get her back-pack or tie her shoes. Time to notice she can get off the bus on her own and walk to our front door without me.

Time to let it sink in that I only have just this one chance to do this right. And what is raising a child anyways but to show them how high they can go? What they can do. Who they can be. It is amazing to watch her soar but still so wonderfully sweet when she comes back to my arms for rest. I love you my second grader...

August is my New Year

I am totally motivated lately and I really think it is because back-to-school time is more like my New Year. January just really stinks to start fresh. What better time to get re-organized then when all the coolest office supplies are on sale? When all the fruit and veggies taste great and there is still time a little daylight to take a walk after dinner?

Carissa had her first day of Preschool yesterday and even though she talked like a baby for the whole tour (talk about embarrassing...) she was like an amazingly BIG 4 year-old the morning of. Confident and ever-so proud!!

It was not a sad moment, that is for sure, and we both greatly need the space to grow. I am super excited for the things she will learn this year. She is so ready. Just ask her... she'll tell you.


In preparation for all the wonderful school projects I will be receiving I had Justin screw two pieces of 4' molding on my wall and I used the best glue in the world (E6000) to hold on the bulldog clips. Me and my bare fridge are happy :)

Here's to the New Year ;)

Paint a Kitchen Table

We bought this kitchen table 8 years ago at Sam's Club for around $200. In that time it has moved 5 times and, we figure, has had over 5,840 family meals around it. It has heard discussions, felt hands held, been climbed on, spilled on, wiped up and wiped down. There has been moaning and whining, laughing and crying, all around this table.

When you start to think of a piece of furniture like that, well it becomes a part of you - of the family. What better way to honor it then give it a face lift? She needed one bad, dontcha think?

Justin sanded and I stained.

I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with the finished product! It turned out so awesome. I woke up early this morning and couldn't wait to look at it again. The whole project cost about $30 dollars and we have a brand new kitchen.

I can't even imagine what will take place around her in the next 8 years...

And to make things even sweeter the weather was amazing this weekend. Nothing better then taking advantage of every drop of warm summer rain!