A Life Worth Living

Date Night ~ Need Ideas, Girls!!!

2009-06-23T17:32:00.002-04:00

So, each summer, my sister gives us one night a week of free babysitting (I know! How lucky am I?) and Brian and I get to have one night every week that we can go out and be together, just the two of us, and be kid free, and go out to dinner, catch a movie, go for a walk, get an ice cream cone, etc.. but I need some new, fresh ideas. Also, I want to plan fun, spontaneous date nights for us, that won't cost an arm an a leg.. I know, I know, I said plan and spontaneous in the same sentence. But sometimes, we have to plan for the spontaneity don't we, girls?

So, here's where you come in! Give me a few ideas so that I can work them into our weekly dates? Please? I'll be forever grateful!! (And so will he!)

Oh, date nights will be on Thursdays this summer. Starting this week!! :) Yay for my sister, aka Aunt Becky, who is letting us do this. She's the BEST!!!

Wordless Wednesday (my first one!)

2009-06-03T00:11:00.003-04:00

Visit 5 minutes for mom to see lots of other Wordless Wedndesday participants too :)

(Hoping I did this right!!)

Too sweet not to share...

2009-05-20T09:01:00.003-04:00

They are watching SpongeBob or something else just as mindless --

but they always snuggle up together and he plays with her hair...

This is how Brian and I sit too when we watch a movie

(only I don't get so lucky to get my hair played with lol)...

Nursery School Program ~ Katie Grace

2009-05-19T08:56:00.003-04:00

All ready for the moving up program!

Me with my friends!
"K is for Katie!!" (her big line) ;)

I love my brother!

My "graduation" present..

my very own Katie Grace doll.. Baby be blessed -- The Bible verse on her tummy reads:

"The Lord your GOD is with you,

He is mighty to save,

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with his Love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

~Zephaniah 3:17

Staying Young

2009-05-16T22:27:00.002-04:00

Holy WOW -- 2 posts in one day?? What in the world? Well, my sister Susan sent this to me in an email and I thought it was a good one to put here, so here it is!

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We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice.

On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:

"Tried everything twice.loved it both times!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends.

The grouches pull you down.

(Keep this in mind if YOU are one of those grouches!!!)

3. Keep learning:

Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.

Never let the brain get idle.

'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud.

Laugh until you gasp for breath.

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh,
spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen:

Endure, grieve, and move on.

The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.

LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love:

Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.

Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:

If it is good, preserve it..

If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.. Don't take guilt trips.

Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county,

to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry.

You might not get a second chance.

Remember!

Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

All About Him...

2009-05-16T18:36:00.004-04:00

***The basic facts

Who is your significant other? Brian :)

How long have you been together? Let's see --since April '95

Dating/Engaged/Married? Married. Just celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary!

How old is your S.O.? 41

What’s his/her middle name? Timothy

*** You or him?

Who eats more? He does

Who says "I love you" first? usually me

Who sings better? hmm.. I think we both sing well :)

Who’s older? He is by 2.5 years

Who’s smarter? He is way better at math, and geography, and all that stuff... I'm better at spelling, grammar, writing, etc.

Whose temper is worse? Mine.

Who does the laundry? He does the boys' and I do the girls'.

Who does the dishes? Mostly I do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? When you're facing the bed at the foot of the bed, he sleeps on the right.

Whose feet are bigger? His. Big man feet lol.

Whose hair is longer? Definitely mine.

Who’s better with the computer? Me

Who mows the lawn? He does -- I'm not allowed to touch the lawn tractor, that's his toy ;)

Who pays the bills? He does.

Who cooks dinner? I do, normally, but he does cook once or twice a week.

Who drives when you are together? He does :)

Who pays when you go out to dinner? He does. (ermm, but it's our money lol)

Who's the most stubborn? hmmm. Not sure. I don't think either one of us is stubborn.

Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong? we can't stand arguing so usually one of us comes back and says "I don't like this" and it ends quickly.. Of course, I'm never wrong!! *wink*

Whose parents do you see more? Mine because they live way closer to us then his.

Who named your dog? umm... my niece named our *cat*

Who kisses who first? I usually kiss him first.

Who asked who out? He asked me out, but I was crushing on him awhile before it happened.

Who's more sensitive? Me

Who's taller? He is 6 ' and I'm 5'5''

Who has more friends? definitely me. I'm the more social of the 2 of us.

Who wears the pants in the relationship? He does, but if I protest loudly he will change his mind LOL

Tagging: Traci, Karianne, Carrie

A Beautiful Mothers Day!

2009-05-11T12:57:00.004-04:00

What a gorgeous day being reminded of my wonderful, beautiful mom and my beautiful babies. I love having a day that I can tell my mom how great she is... I know I don't tell her enough how amazing she is. I have one of the best moms on earth. God has blessed me so much with her. And what an amazing day to look at my babies and breathe an extra thank you to my Father in Heaven for giving them to me. They are so much my life -- and I'm so very thankful. Here are a few photos from our special day -- made extra special by those who love me!

My handsome husband who makes it possible for me to be a mother, thank you baby!

Me and my babes

My beautiful mom and my gorgeous girl ♥

My beautiful mom and my sister and my daughter ~ the girls ;)

All of us ~ a beautiful day

Sweet song

2009-04-22T16:03:00.003-04:00

I found this over on Kelly's blog and oh my goodness, both Brian and I watched it and it had us both sniffling. It's such a sweet song, and SOOO true. (And wow, is it really Hootie??? He still has such an amazing voice!!)

Some bowling fun...

2009-04-13T18:23:00.004-04:00

OK, so Brian and I discovered how lame we are, and we'd never taken them bowling! {Recently discovered when we started *bowling* together on the Wii. cough.} So over this spring break weekend, we took them on their first bowling trip! You can't imagine the excitement, LOL!

Daddy helping Katie bowl...

Katie watching it rollllll down the lane.. (it took forever)

Go Jonathan!!

Yeahhhhhhh!

Had some pretty good music going there, too.. when they weren't bowling, they were dancing!

she loved waiting for the balls to come back (almost as fun as bowling and dancing!)

Daddy's girl!

Momma's Girl too! :)

Happy Easter!!

2009-04-12T22:19:00.004-04:00

Katie with her handsome Daddy!

Our two Easter babies

Looking for Easter Eggs while Aunt Becky looks on...

Look at all my eggs, Momma!

A *red* car! (Red is her favorite)

Jonathan so happy, he found his basket!

Happy Easter, Aunt Becky!

A girl and her Bumpa love to snuggle :)

Dye-Fest

2009-04-09T23:12:00.003-04:00

Is this right, Momma?

I'm an old pro at this!

The Masterpiece!

Happy Easter!!!

Pray for Stellan

2009-04-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

I've been praying for this baby for some time now, and should have put this button up on my blog long before now. But I'm adding it today (over on the top right).His mom, Jennifer, needs our prayers in a big way. She's really getting tired and feeling more vulnerable the longer this sweet baby is sick. She is counting on the prayers of thousands across the country and even the world to sustain her.

Will you join me to pray for Baby Stellan and his family as they walk this road?

Thoughts To Live By

2009-03-14T22:37:00.002-04:00

I found these on a blog I stumbled across. (Actually someone else found them on a blog and posted it on Facebook, and then I posted them here)

Thoughts to live by:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________.

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: In five years,will this matter?

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

Will they always love each other this much?

2009-02-19T17:56:00.003-04:00

Happy Valentines Day!!

2009-02-15T01:46:00.004-04:00

Katie so excited at school for her Valentines Day party!

♥♥♥

Jonathan with his teacher for their Valentines party

I got to spend some time with him at school that day too!

February Meme :)

2009-02-11T20:11:00.004-04:00

1. Were you named after anyone? Yes, I was, and I love that I was! I was named for both of my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother, Catherine, although she was called Kay, and my maternal grandmother, Sarah, and she was called Sadie. I love that I was named for them. I sadly never knew either of them.

2. When was the last time you cried? I had a very teary day yesterday

3. Do you like your own handwriting? I sometimes like it. Sometimes it looks nice, other times it looks sort of blah, lol.

4. What is your favorite lunch meat? My favorite is roast beef, but I usually get turkey (healthier)

5. Do you have kids? I have 2 beautiful blessings and a little one in Heaven.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? You know, I'd like to think that I would.

7. Do you use sarcasm? I definitely do as part of humor

8. Do you still have your tonsils? No, they were yanked at 23. (can you say OUCH to me???? Good times. )

9. Would you bungee jump? I think I would for a million dollars, sure!

10. What is your favorite cereal? Not really a cereal fan, mostly, but I do like Life :)

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? no

13. What is your favorite ice cream? Coffee heath bar crunch (Ben and Jerrys) YUMM-O

14. What is the first thing you notice about people? If they're smiling (friendly), and if they're looking me in the eye

15. Red or Pink...pink!!!!

16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? That I *still* care what other people think, and I'm almost 39!! That's annoying me!

17. Who do you miss the most? relationships that have changed in my life and are no longer really there.

18. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? LOL! These ones always make me laugh (who cares? about what I'm wearing lol) I'm wearing black yoga pants and bare feet!

19. What are you listening to right now? My playlist -- at the moment it's "You're Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews -- love that song!

20. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Blue or pink, depending on my mood

21. Favorite smells? Grace by Philosophy, freshly washed baby! yummy!

22. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? friend Karen

23. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I love Samantha!!!!! I miss her!

24. Favorite sports to watch? eww.
.
25. Hair color ? dark blonde with blonder highlights

26. Eye color? brown eyed girl :)

27. Do you wear contacts? No -- lasik surgery baby!!

28. Favorite Food? Outback steak

29. Scary movies or happy endings? happy endings

30. Last movie watched? *cough* Madagascar 2 sad, I know.

31. What color shirt are you wearing? orange with sparklies on the chest

32. Summer or Winter? Summer!!!

33. Hugs or Kisses? Kisses from my man and from my babies -- hugs from everyone else -- and I mean everyone!! Show some love!! ♥

34. What book are you reading right now? A Debbie MacComber one I've already read (sad but true) and reading through the Bible in a year.

OK if anyone is still even READING this blog, lol, I'm tagging you :) Have fun! :)

Photos from Katie's 1st Day at PreSchool

2009-01-13T23:20:00.004-04:00

Me and Miss Rachel

A little unsure...

Looks like fun, Mommy!

All ready and pretty in pink!

"See my 'pack-pack' Momma?"

Christmas Photos 2008

2009-01-09T00:12:00.001-04:00

A Big Day!!!!

2009-01-05T19:36:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow Katie is starting pre-school!!! We are all very excited, VERY excited! She will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:45am until 11:15am. She can't wait!! She almost backed out of the deal when she found out she wasn't going to get to go on a bus like Jonathan does everyday, but after an explanation that bus time comes with Kindergarten (in 2 years), she was back to wanting to go again.

I will take lots of first day photos, and post them.. I have a crisis, I haven't posted any Christmas photos because I can't find my little cord thingy that I use to upload my pics. Sooo, as soon as I find it, I'll be able to post Christmas pics too!!! :)

Happy New Year :) And happy preschool day for my Katie Bug! ♥♥

Question Meme (from Melissa) ;)

2008-12-11T14:02:00.002-04:00

1. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? My parents ~ on Thursdays Katie goes over there to spend the morning with them and today I just stayed myself and visited too, it was a nice little visit :)

2. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? Christmas, all of the holidays, having a break from the kids I watch, and having Jonathan home from school for 2 weeks.

3. Who was the last person you called? My sister Becky

4. What were you doing at 12am last night? I was on the phone with Traci!

5. What did you fear was going to get you as a child? My sister Becky used to tell me the "boogy man" was in our closet and would get me if she wasn't in the room with me when we were going to sleep (nice!!!)

6. When did you last see your mom? This morning.

7. What are you wearing right now? jeans and gray and teal shirt

8. Where is your favorite place to be? with family and friends

9. Where is your least favorite place to be? in stressful situations

10. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Disney!!! :)

11. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years? Let's see.. my kids will be eeeep!! 18 and 13!! ACK!! So we'll be in college mode and WOW.. that just made my tummy flip. I'm thinking I might be working outside the home by then. Hopefully just part time. Wow. Next???

12. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? Traci telling me about talking to the guy on the phone in the airport.. she did his Indian accent reallllllllllllly well.

13. What cities/towns/villages have you lived in? Grand Island, New York.

14. Are you a social person? Pretty much, YES :)

15. What do you like about winter? snow, CHRISTMAS!!! Christmas carols, hot chocolate for the kids, hot tea with friends, toasty fun socks, snuggling with my husband and the kids under the blankets and watching movies together. Did I mention Christmas? I love it!! :)

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-11T13:53:00.002-04:00

Holidays overwhelm me...

2008-11-26T20:07:00.003-04:00

What is it about getting ready for holidays that makes me want to go back to bed and hide under the covers? I mean... I love what leads UP to the holidays.... but today.. the day before the big day, all I've wanted to do is hide. This is decidedly a pattern for me, this is nothing new. If it weren't for my husband who comes in and saves the day (and I mean dusting, vacuuming, and putting away the laundry).. people would come to my house on Thanksgiving day and find me in my pajamas, my children still in their clothes from the day before, and breakfast dishes on the counter, nary a turkey in sight.

When I want to spend the moments of my life snuggling my babies on the couch sipping hot cocoa and watching Charlie Brown, I instead find myself yelling at them because their toy room isn't cleaned up the way it should be. Because all that matters is the company coming tomorrow and getting every inch of the house scrubbed... WHAT? Who have I become?? Sigh. I love the holidays. I do. I just wish I could learn how to enjoy them a little better. So that my loved ones could enjoy them along with me.

My ABC's of Thankfulness!!

2008-11-23T10:41:00.004-04:00

I was rummaging around in some archives of some other bloggers (Kelly, Natalie) ;) and found this! So I thought I'd do my own!!

A ~ America!

B ~ Brian (my handsome husband)

C ~ Chocolate

D ~ Diet Pepsi

E ~ Eternal Life

F ~ Flannel Sheets

G ~ Girlfriends

H ~ House

I ~ Ice Cream.. yummy

J ~ Jesus

K ~ Kristin (my cousin whom I love!)

L ~ Laughing lots!

M ~ My Mom

N ~ Nature

O ~ Obedient children!!!

P ~ Pretty Clothes

Q ~ Quirkiness

R ~ Reading

S ~ Sisters

T ~ Thanksgiving Day

U ~ Umbrellas on a rainy day

V ~ Vanilla Creamer

W ~ Warm Babies

X ~ X-Rated kisses with my husband ;-)

Y ~ Yellow sunny days

Z ~ Zippers as opposed to buttons when we're in a hurry!

Thankful.

2008-11-21T14:08:00.002-04:00

that is the word of the month. It is so evident in so many ways. Not only during this week/month of Thanksgiving, but all through the year.

I had a test that showed the possiblity of some abnormal cells earlier this month..

Today was the day I went for the re-test..

Today everything showed all was clear...

Today I am so thankful... I'd like to say and hope that no matter what the outcome would have been I'd have been typing this post. I want to say my God is bigger then any test, any outcome, and any trial. I pray that is the test of my faith. That when the rubber meets the road, I'm one of *those* Christians -- the ones who when faced with trials of any kind, they stand in grace and love knowing that He is giving grace sufficient to each day and moment. He is so very good.

I am so thankful. God is good, and He is mine. I love Him.

Thankful.

Tea Time

2008-11-18T09:17:00.003-04:00

I have been a die-hard coffee girl for .. well, since I was old enough to drink it. Earlier posts on this blog sang my praises to it.

Well. I must announce that I have unbelievably! I am stunned myself! Given. up. coffee.

So, the short of it.. I am now a tea girl. It only took about 3 weeks to become addicted to tea like I was to coffee.

Before I opened this post I was waiting on the kettle to boil, and my mouth was starting to water (please, I have it bad)..

My current favorite is Costant Comment's blend of orange spicey something or other.. it is heavenly. Truly.

If you would have told me a year ago... heck, 6 months ago.. let's be serious, 1 month ago, that I'd be sitting here enjoying a cup of tea as much as I am, I'd have rolled my eyes at you. And thought NEVER me. I couldn't understand how tea could ever BE anyone's coffee. It just didn't make any sense to me.

It does now!! And it makes me happy! Just like coffee used to! It makes my dad and all my other Welsh relations so proud!!! *grins*