My big, blank wall in the kitchen...

      ...isn't blank anymore thanks to an impromptu trip to the Brass Armadillo with Sarah this summer!  {ah, good times....miss you Sarah!}

It still needs a little tweaking {some hooks added to the bottom of the shelf} but it's definitely an improvement to the big, blank wall!

I also got my wall pockets hung...finally...and "operation after- school -paper- overload" is in full force!  The system seems to be kid friendly....and {more importantly} boy friendly...thank goodness!

So, some progress is still happening, which is encouraging considering how I've been feeling lately...

Seven years ago today we lost my father-in-law in a terrible accident.

For the years that I was lucky enough to know him I rarely saw him without a smile on his face.  He was someone who I always enjoyed being around.  He enjoyed spending time with his family...he was in fact the glue that held us all together.  And once grand kids came along, well,  he couldn't get enough of them.  He was best at being Papa.  It was rare for him not to stop by once a week, if not more.  He was a definite regular in our lives.

Seven years.  It seems almost impossible to have survived this long without him.  And yet he is the reason that we can.  He wouldn't have allowed us to wallow in our sorrow...and so we don't.  We carry a piece of him always in our hearts, he's still a regular there.

In Loving Memory

Steven F. 

4-22-1953 - 9-16-2004


                                                                                                                                                               
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Have you missed me?

woosh... 2 1/2 weeks fly by in the blink of an eye!

I'm here with a quick post of some things I've thought about, heard, experienced, and dealt with over my unscheduled, unintended, accidental 2 1/2 week hiatus...

Favorite Quote:
"Mom, I like how Eden is made."
                                              - Ty
Most Grateful For:
My Husband.  Having him gone twice a week in the evenings for a couple of hours really forces me {jk} to appreciate how much of a help he is to me when he is here.  I honestly don't know how women whose husbands work late or travel a lot do it {hats off to you, Kain and Sarah!}  I'm sure if it were my normal I'd learn to cope...and maybe even be good at it...but thank goodness we don't have to find out!

Biggest Lesson Learned:
"Don't put off to tomorrow what you could do today."
Duh.  Why don't I ever learn?  When I have extra time on a lunch hour and don't utilize it I may as well be inviting mental stress over for a big, fat cup of tea.

Ty's holey jeans + colder than normal temps in the forecast + not utilizing my extra time on Monday + Ty's fever on Tues. = no chance to shop for new jeans before Ty returns to school in colder weather so he has to look like a 5 yr. old hillbilly {i.e. mental stress}

Most Disappointed in {besides obviously myself...see above}:
ok...this is a toss up...kinda...
1. Colin's football coach.  Not his Dad.  I will hold my tongue for now and see how things go.  But, you may hear more on this subject...

2. Iowa State beat Iowa.  Boo.

What's Weighing On My Heart:
Trying to balance being the Mom and wife I want to be while working and trying to maintain an organized home-life.  That's a whole other post for another day.

Newest Obsession:
Pinterest. {ugh!  I'm addicted!}  Thanks, Alison...

Here we are two weeks into school and my last post was from the first day of school!  Oh well...tis my life right now.

Below is why I have not been able to post.

It is true...Colin has started football.  Good Lord...these days everything must be rushed.   I'm less than thrilled about this whole football thing...but I'm pretty sure I'm the only one feeling that way...

Colin is excited, Ty is jealous {"it's no fair that Colin gets to play football and I don't!"}, and Chris is acting cool but I can tell he's super pumped about it.  Practices are 3...T.H.R.E.E....times a week until the first game on September 11th.  Oh, and they run from 6-7:30pm.  And did I mention that Chris is helping to coach and that means he has to be there at 5:30?  

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  It stinks.  Last week Chris and Colin ate dinner at 8:30.  I mean, really...is this necessary in the third grade? 

What do I know?

I'll tell you what I know.  I know that when you get this look at 18 months old...

...it spells trouble...T.R.O.U.B.L.E.!

{Yikes!}

They're baaack...

It's August 15th.  

The first day of school.

I know.

Early, right?

And, here it is...the annual "First Day of School" photo!  

Ty's first day in Kindergarten {he was so e-cited}.  Oh, how bittersweet it is!  He is ready though and, honestly, so am I.  Give them wings and let them fly, right?  The kid needed some stuff to do!

And, Colin's first day as a 3rd grader.  So grown up!  Not as e-cited to go back to school, but he went with a smile {and I think he kinda was once today actually got here}.  He was nervous about two things, but I cannot tell you...mother-son privileges and all.  I think this will be a great year for him.  He's a wonderful boy...we are so proud of him!  And, this year he gets to play football and basketball...what could be better?

And, Miss Eden...well, she's off to a whole new world at Gigi and Dad-Dad's with no pesky brothers, thank you very much!  {she loves them a ton, but let's just say sometimes they cramp her style a bit}.

Now, I need to go set the table for breakfast and get my really, tired self prepared for the 5:30 a.m. alarm bells!

Back to school reality...

Colin is being so sweet and "allowing" me to use his camera until we can buy a new one.

And, I must say, it has reminded me how very differently children view the world.

They see the beauty in the ordinary...always.  

And I love that...always.

While doing some of my "light reading" this summer, I came upon a quote which I've quite literally repeated in my head 100,000 times or so since I read it.

I'm pretty sure I've read it before.

" A point worth pondering:  Upon completing 

the Universe, the Great Creator pronounced it "very good."    

Not "perfect."

- Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's been said that when the student is ready the teacher appears...apparently I'm ready to learn this, because when I read it this time it seemed to scream out at me from the page.

I've struggled with perfectionism for many, many years.  It's stunted me in ways I never would have believed it could.  How I dress.  How I decorate.  How I learn.  How I teach.  How I communicate.  How I live.

Nobody is perfect.  I'm never going to be perfect.  Not the perfect Mom, or wife, or friend, or co-worker {surprise, surprise}...and it's taken me damn near 40 years to really start to get it. 

Notice I said start.  I still cringe when Ty picks his nose in public because of how I feel it reflects on my parenting {even though lots of 5 year olds pick their noses}.  I still won't trust my ability to put together an outfit...I keep things very boring safe.  There are times when I feel so socially paralyzed that I come off as completely not worth getting to know.  I let other people make me feel inferior.  And yet I know that nobody is perfect.  Nobody.

God created this amazing, beautiful universe...complex, astounding, incredible...and proclaimed it "very good."  

Not perfect.  

And I'm starting to get it.  I can be "very good" instead of perfect.  God said so...

"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."

                                                                          - Genesis 1:31

love the one your with

...even if this is what his side of the bed looks like...

and this is where the dirty clothes basket is located.  :) 

{for the record I have no annoying habits and I always hang my clothes up or put them in the dirty clothes basket.  I never (no matter what you might hear from others), hang my clothes on doorknobs or over the end of our bed!}

I mentioned I'm without a camera now, right?  Well...technically I have a camera that works...if I don't need a flash...which I do...a lot.

Thank God for overhead lights.  Well, maybe not God...but, you know, the guy who invented overhead lights...whom God created, so....yes, thank God!  {obviously I type as I'm thinking so you just got an idea of what goes on in my head...fascinating, right?}

I had to snap these pics the other night as I was watching Eden in the tub.  She is at that really great discovery age.   Everything is so cool to her.  She wants to figure it all out.  She's really just starting to like the bath again.  Ever since she had her ear tubes placed and we've have to pour water on her head she has been less than trilled with the idea of a bath.  But, she's getting used to the routine and actually grunts and points to the tub to tell me she wants to play in the water.

She is this wonderful joy.   

Look at that face!  Your Mommy loves you so much it hurts!

{It also hurts that this camera has no flash and that every picture is fuzzy!}

I will have to rely on my memory {which also happens to be pretty fuzzy} to recall the swirl of hair on the top of her head.  And the sweet little curls.  And how she was so intent on filling the cup and dumping it herself.  How she was tickled to death by the bubbles one toy made as it filled with water.

Where did it go?

Good question, Eden, where has it gone?    <3

random thoughts

1. my camera is broken and i 'm a little more than irritated that i will have to buy a new one.  boo.

2.  day #3 of day camp in 100 degree weather still isn't enough to make bedtime for the boys any easier.  
     what the heck?  what will it take?

3.  does facebook make anyone else feel like a gigantic loser?

4.  i'm off to watch a movie with the hubs.  it's called hall pass and i'm hoping it's better than cedar rapids.
     {no...i'm not a prude but that movie had way too much hype!}

5.  my BFF is coming home to IOWA!!!  {just to visit but i'll take it!}  cannot wait!

     the end :)

I believe we are officially half-way through summer, and I have blogged not!  Boo.  But, I have  enjoyed my unscheduled blog break...what can I say?

We've been busy....

movie nights with POPCORN!

our town's yearly festival / parade {or candy collecting opportunity}

a trip to Adventureland with Omaha cousins

Cubs vs. Royals game in Kansas City {Cubbies lose! Boo!}

4th of July fun!

                                                                                       My loves!                                                                                        
{Sarah...do you see "the ball" light you couldn't live with?}

My Dad and his brother {my Uncle David} who visited us from North Carolina for the 4th!

Summer is going much too quickly!  We've so enjoyed our activities so far and really enjoyed seeing my Uncle and catching up with him!  We still have lots in store!  Next week Vacation Bible Camp and a visit from some close family friends.  Then Living History Day camp the following week.  Colin also has football camp to look forward to.  Before we know it the first day of school will be here!  Ugh!

I'm not ready.  I'm still in summer mode!  And, I intend to keep it as long as I can!  See you when I see you!