Weekend Wrap Up

What's better than ending the first week of school with a sleepover?  Lene and Layla, friends since kindergarten, got to hang out and spend their first Friday with a three hour park play date, swim time,  followed by pizza and droopy eyelids at 9:30 pm.  That kid is welcomed to sleep over any time!  Ha!

After they cooled off in the pool, this was my view from my upstairs window.  They were listening to music and talking.  It kind of hit me pretty hard that my little lady is growing up!  She will be choosing her people over her family sometimes and that's even more of a reason to keep her close and keep inviting her friends into our little world. 

This weekend we tried to unwind after our first week of school.  It was the perfect excuse to stay close to home and hang out with the cousins. 

I can't believe that I took no pictures of Nessa and Cadence.  Saturday morning when I asked Nessa if she wanted to see her cousins, she asked,"Is Cadence going to be there?"  This prompted me to text my cousin Jen and then led to an impromptu barbecue.  The girls hadn't seen each other since the fourth of July!  And we live in the same city.  Eek!!! The ease of the barbecue coming together felt a little bit like summer. . .the kids had a ball! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  Even Papa stayed out on the patio with us for a long while.

Grandma's tetherball court saw a lot of action and kept the big and little kids totally entertained! I love when the weekend is a great mix of relaxing and productive.  I love encouraging family time and that feeling I get when I see my kids and their cousins close and able to count on each other.

July 18, 2012

Sometimes this little one can take or leave what is on our agenda for the day.  She would be content never getting dressed, hair uncombed, digging through her baskets of toys and cooking plastic food creations just for me--straight from her kitchen.  The life of a toddler. . .isn't it grand?

But we don't stay home every day, because there are two older siblings pushing to go here, to do this, or to do that.  So each summer day is filled with a precarious need for balance.  To do but not overdo.  And isn't that true with life, no matter the season?  Haven't we made a conscious decision to simplify? To cut out too many extracurricular activities that take away our family time?  To breathe deeply gulps of gratitude for this moment?  Summer need not be any different.  Rest is good.
And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.--Mark 6:31


So as we enter the last four weeks of summer vacation, I remind myself to take my cue from my children. If the calendar space needs to be clear, so be it. If there are more days spent home together than out and about, lucky us!  How we are in the final stretch of summer is beyond me.  It crept up ever so slowly filled with delicious days of swim and play.  Ice cream and barbecues.  Such sweet memories already recorded in our memory--Now, rest.  We become a little bit choosier with our time, our energy, and our days.  Summer is fleeting.  This balancing act, is not.

January 23, 2012

Due to the good nature of Friday's meeting with HR,
My husband and I decided that a written budget was  the next item on the agenda.
When we are on--we are really on: like pay off an RV and truck in the same year on.
However, after such great feats we got a little lazy. . .and although we still have the no credit card approach--our spending needs to be reined in since I am going to be working less. . .or not at all next year.

So, Sunday we decided there's no perfect time like the present.

I pay the bills and attack debt with a vengeance; however, that whole budget spreadsheet thing boggles my mind. So we started on paper and then he moved to the computer.

 I was so happy to have him in charge!
While we worked, the kids created a restaurant.

How did they know there's going to be a little more eating at home?
I could get used to this treatment though. . .ambiance and all!
The day ended with week three of the New Year's Resolution: bike ride.

Although a bike is in my near future--I don't have it yet so I followed in the car for awhile and did our grocery shopping instead.
They ended up riding all the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house where I came with the truck to pick them up.
We watched some disappointing football (sorry if you're a Giants fan) and Grandma invited us for her barbecued burgers.
We never say no to her barbecue!!
Had some skunk action in the back yard with lots of screams, water, and two skunks fleeing the premises. Fun times!

Budget in place, tummy's full, Super Bowl looming.
Just another great weekend to be grateful for!!
How was yours?

"Go on. Go to God. . ." JF

 

June 1, 2011

This had to be a part of Project Life.

There are no words. . .

but it sure will be a funny memory!