Ladies Retreat

I had the opportunity and priveledge to help with my church's Ladies Retreat this weekend. I have now been a member for 9 years and have been to each one. We used to have them at the Holiday Inn in town, its actually a really nice one with indoor pool and everything! But this was our third year to have it at our church instead and I have to say I really like it better this way for several reasons. Its nice to have the time to really decorate how we like to and its kind of like being, well, home!  The theme this year was A Beautiful Heart.  It was a bonus that my dear friend Denise was one of the speakers AND I got to work with all my favorite people in putting it together. People I wish I could spend SO much more time with throughout the year.  Wonderful time with Godly women is JUST what I needed. There is just too much to say about this weekend in the short amount of time I have. I am in between games for a baseball tournament today and clearing the photo card for that! So here is just a preview of what I hope to be a more detailed  post in the near future :) 

Its like a HEAT WAVE!

Its only April and our town is making records in temperatures. The high today??? 101~ A time when I am actually thankful for the dryness out here! Makes it much more barable.  The best thing about this town are the evenings. It can be a scorcher in the day and the night is almost always pleasant with temps in the 70's.  Here are some pics from this weekend that make me excited about summer.  I have to give a disclaimer though. Hearing this music coming down the street is actually a bit creepy to me, but my fun loving husband always darts for his wallet and out the front door chasing him down just like the kid he is deep inside.  One of the qualities that makes him a great dad! Our sweet friend/neighbor Ella joined in but was waiting until after her dinner to open hers. We are a hungry lil family and usually eat at 6 or sometimes even earlier. I am going to love certain things about being an old lady :)  You know like eating at 4m eating pea and egg salad, coffee a few times a day, always having a blanket on me, oh wait- I already do all these things!

Whats up around here

Mostly laundry. This is actually all gone and put away now but a whole new set is coming :) I have a tiny little laundry room that is actually the door way to the garage. I have a make-shift mud room area in a 'freezer' space. I have had quite a list of projects in my head. The laundry room has been one since we moved in. I would really like to add a laminate surface over the washer and dryer to prevent things from falling down on all sides of them and I would love one of those little halltree things complete with hooks and a bench with storage instead of my antique chairs being scuffed beyond belief.  I have had too much time lately to think about these things. First because of a proceedure and then due to illness we have been stuck in the house the entire weekend and now an added day with my daughter. We are thinking its the fresh avacados we used in our soft tacos Saturday night but I am throwing EVERYTHING out to play it safe.  Anyways, back to project list. I now also want to paint my bathroom, bedroom, and dining room chairs!!! HOLY MAD COW, now its all I can think about. I have also wanted a banquette eating area in my breakfast area and would love to replace that lamp you see there on the table.   I am seeing a lot of $$$$ signs.  BLAST HGTV!!!!!  This would not be such a bad thing if I had the two ingredients to make them happen! Time and Money!  How do you keep up with laundry for five people, have a clean house AND soak up that two year old before you blink and he is 6??!!  Of course there is always that thing called a job too. I just work part-time, on purpose because it has always been important to me to be involved in my children's lives in their classrooms, and activities. Also would LOVE to be exercising.  I am struggling to juggle. Therefore, I often have laundry on my chairs :) Besides dishes in the sink its my LEAST favorite thing.
  I am including a picture of my laundry solely because I want to remember the REALITY of my life at 38 with three children.  I think its time for a change though. I am ready to start some of these projects and make time for being healthy.  I definately could use the added energy and with a beach vacation coming up this summer, I would like to actually wear something that is okay to get wet in! 
  Yes I complain about laundry, a dirty house, and even sometimes the screaming children in it- would I change any of it??  All a blessing to have.  Just want to changea the things about me to make all these better.

THE Cinderella Ball

Olivia has not asked to go anywhere ever, well maybe McDonald's but not any kind of event. She got a postcard in her backpack one day that we also received in the mail the same day about the Cinderella Ball and Luncheon. She BEGGED to go. It fell on Trent's birthday, this past Saturday April 14th. I asked him if it would be okay if we went since it was just an hour and a half. Of course he was fine with it. The poor guy actually spent from 6:30 that morning to 2 in the afternoon at our baseball team's garage sale for a fundraiser... His birthday will be my next post. This one is all about Olivia and the little girl in me that got to attend a special ball. We went with our sweet friends Krysten and her sister and mother who is also my friend, Danielle. These girls look more like sisters than most who are genetically that I know!! Such sweet little friends since they were twoin pre-school. Their mom is cute, young and trendy and helps me out in the fashion department often :) She happens to be the one who made the flower pins on my sweater from Easter as well! I guess you can add talented to that list! We did indeed have a BALL!! Complete with wand making, finger sandwhiches, a chocolate fountain, a glass slipper souvenier, and they even got to dance with the Prince! We also got to see him dance with Cinderella, another snipit from the Ballet taking place this weekend. Our same little group saw The Nutcracker back at Christmas time and fell asleep so we opted out on the performance this time.

Announcing, LADY OLIVIA.....
Making Wands

Her wand

with the Ballerina Princesses

Me and my girl

Dancing with The Prince

Ty's Field Trip

Ty and his partner/friend Jackson just after arriving to the Civic Center to enjoy the Arts Festival of Lubbock.
Ty and his second grade teacher Mrs. Matthews.
What a blessing she has been to Ty this year.

First thing we were led to the Arts Hall so see portions of the Ballet, Cinderella. It was a PERFECT time period to learn appreciation for Ballet, along with some basics in protraying emotions through dance, without allowing time to get bored for this age group. The entire Second grade in the city of Lubbock was there along with two other school districts. There were some REALLY neat exhitbits, like the Jelly Bean Art in the Mona Lisa and Starry Night! click on the picture for a more detailed view, really amazing!

and candy wrapper dresses! WOW!

If I wore this I might actually end up eating my jewelry.

and even wedding cakes! How cute is this topper??!!

There was even a lady painting TOMS!

My little man that I love...

This field trip was near and dear to my heart. I have a degree in Interior Design from a small school, ACU and the majority of my classes were int the Art Department. I sure have a love for it and wish I could go back at this point in my life for just shear enjoyment rather than memorizing to regurcitate for a test! I have not had the opportunity to attend the Arts Festival in the 9 years I have lived here and thoroughly enjoyed it!! Ty kept pulling me a long saying LETS GO MOM! YOUR TAKING TOO LONG AT EACH AREA!!! Ha! I guess I was. I just took it all in! I have a ton more pictures but too many to post. We also were able to sit and enjoy some folk music and watch four short films made by students. They were SO good and clever!!! What a beautiful day to experience and appreciate so many different types of art!

Sick Day

This boy did not come out of his room for over 24 hours!!!

YOU KNOW he is sick if he can sit still for more than 20 minutes.

Started throwing up at 3AM that morning :(

THIS boy had MAJOR allergies and a bad smoker's cough with mild fever.

So, he mostly napped but found some time and energy to do some riding.
We also played cars. We raced....
and raced........
AND raced. About an hour's worth of racing.

and I did some blogging- last post.

I bet nobody has quite the artwork and space I do in my office

and later I finally put my big girl panties on and finished the other side of the entry. It was a BEAST. But I did it! ALL BY MYSELF. :) WOO TO THE HOO.

Easter Sunday

OF course I know Easter has nothing to do with a bunny or eggs or baskets. However its a tradition I enjoy. Stockings and baskets are on my mind each shopping trip throughout the year. I am sure I had a basket at some point in my life but I don't really remember them. I grew up with church in the morning and a big lunch late afternoon at my grandmother's house. In later years we would eat at a nice resturant after church. Its just not a huge celebration where I live now which really kind of makes me sad. Last year my mother and I did a big dinner for our immediate family and it was wonderful but we just plain ran out of gas this year so it was sandwiches and of course devilled eggs from mom :) We go to early service so I pulled the Bibles out of their baskets to take and they went through the rest of it after lunch. I think it actually worked out better that way so the focus was not on them but church. However there was not a mention of Easter in our service this year. In years past our preacher has included it but not this year. The Church of Christ feels that it should be celebrated EVERY day so its not necessarily any different than any other. I disagree. I was actually wishing I had attended a mass with some of my Catholic friends this year who dove into great detail about it. I know it, but I think I probably don't focus on it enough and what better time to do it.

Once Levi saw his 'carrot bat' that is all he cared about! BASSSSEBALL!!!

Not bad! Look at that stance and where his eyes are!

running the bases

Dad and his clones :) Someday I will learn how to work the timer on my new fancy camera and maybe we can actually have a FAMILY picture instead of one with each parent!

He eventually got back to the basket......