{Wednesday}

today i tried to stay home and tackle the house.
floors.
bathrooms.
fresh sheets.
and do a little xmas shopping via the computer.
about 85% success with my list for the day.
pretty good i guess.

scooped aubrey from school.
made a yummy lunch together then scooped up the big girls two hours early.
we grabbed a bagel and headed to the library.

these bonus middle of the week library days with all three girls make me oh so happy.

jane returned her new favorite book (yes she kissed it goodbye before putting it in the slot...only my sweet jane) and we walked out with 67 new books to read. yes. i said 67! what can i say...we have a book problem!

mac n cheese and fruit for dinner (daddy's out of town)
snuggles by the fire.
giant floor puzzles all over the place and ice cream for dessert.

pretty good wednesday in my book.

have a happy day friends,

cindy

{Hello?}

anyone still there?
we are.
i promise.:)

we have been living life and filling our moments with picture worthy things...but none of them seem to make their way here. and for that...i take full responsibility!:) being the chief photo taker and blogger can be hard work don't ya know.
especially when you've gone back to work.
kind of.

yep...i'm subbing here and there.
mostly days when dave can take off the afternoon to be with aubrey (she's only half day k remember?) but i' averaging a few days a week and for a mama who has been home full time for 12+ years that's an adjustment!!
but it's all good and we are makin it work!!:)
and guess what...it's fun!!
and i love it!!
especially when i'm in a kindergarten class!
no surprise there right??
my first love and my job for over 13 years!!
i'm hoping to see a classroom of my own again someday.
someday.
but for now...this is about all i can handle!!
a juggler of many hats i never claim to be!!:)
haha

this was my very first day of work.

such big hugs and kisses right?!:)

catching up on posts and photos.

slowly.

and hope to visit all my dear sweet bloggy friends soon!!:)

have a happy day,

cindy

{Tuesday}

we took our first summer walk/run/ride at the park this morning.
it was fun
and hot
and a workout
but fun!

we used to do these summer walks at around 8:30-9 when the girls were younger. back in the days when they didn't sleep in till 10!! (riley!:)) so this one was a bit hotter then normal. and windy. kind of felt like walking while a gigantic hair dryer was pointed at you full blast!

but did i mention it was fun?

we scoped out a different spot to try next time.
one with a bit more shade!

hope your tuesday was filled with sunshine!

have a happy day,

cindy

ps

still not quite finished with the "back-dated catch the blog up posts"...so keep looking back for birthdays...and father's day...and end of the school year fun...soon...soon!!!:)

{Today :: Grumpies and Music}

hi friends.
yesterday was a day for me.
ugh!
not sure why.
could have been all the kit kat mini's i ate.
who brought those in the house??:)
ev.er.y.thing was bugging me.

and like it usually is for us mama's, we never get a grumpy day alone.
seems like everyone just has to join us in grumpsville.
am i right?
oh to escape and be grumpy alone....but i guess if we were alone chances are we wouldn't be grumpy anymore....wait...what?
did i just say that?!:)

happy to say today is better.
usually always is.
thank goodness.

right now i am listening to these guys.
loving this one and this one and this one.
basically the whole album rocks.
and their new album just came out.
can't wait to listen.

what songs are you loving these day and how do you get rid of the grumpies??

have a happy day,

cindy

{Happy Friday}

another sunshiny day with temps in the 50's!
life is good.

grabbed myself one of these yesterday.
i've been so good in the soda department lately  (if you don't count pizza nights...i can't have  pizza without coke!) but it was finally "get my hair done day" so i had to treat myself!

 gray is gone and that feels better then any bubbly drink!

wish i could pull off a fun little headband like that!:)

middle of the week lunch dates are still the best.

spent some dreamy wandering moments in my fav place.
don't these colors just make your mouth water and your hands want to grab a popsicle...or some other kind of frozen treat!

and this little beauty flew right into my cart.
perfect piece for a mini bathroom make-over that will happen
some day.
soon.
hopefully!

i'm seeing white bead board...light blue walls...white ruffly shower curtain...barely pink towels and fluffy white bath mats. and lots and lots of girlie inspirational art!
can you picture it!?:)

tomorrow i am heading to chicago for the day with my girlfriend.
we are seeing this guy in concert (ever heard of him? new to me...but sounds good! i'm up for any kind of music and a day of shopping, food and fun) should be an adventure.

hope your friday was a fantastic one...and what's goin' on this weekend for you?

have a lovely day,

cindy

{What a Difference a Day Makes}

::yesterday::

swinging 

looking for signs of spring on the trees

bike rides

long walks around the block holding hands the whole way

hopscotch and bare feet by dinner time

::today::

snow, sleet and slushy ice

mittens and hats

snuggling by the fireplace

how's spring looking for you?

have a happy day,

cindy

{Monday}

the big girls bounced out of bed this morning. (had to wake up aubrey...poor thing...she's got the sniffles)
i think it was the thought of 50 degree temps and wearing capris that did the trick.

dave made another egg casserole for the week and cut a big platter of veggies for lunches. this post really inspired me. i agree with all of it...not that i do all of it mind you.  but that early morning workout thing...100%!!! if i don't do it early chances are it won't get done! i saw this workout in a magazine awhile back and checked out the dvd's from our library and i love it! very fast paced...and motivational. you hardly notice the 57 minutes!!:)

signed the girls out from school early for dentist appointments today.
the girls have an awesome dentist so that makes it not so bad.
aubrey has gone along for the ride for a few years now but today was the first time she actually hopped up in the chair on her own for a cleaning!! i was so impressed! and a bit surprised actually! she kept smiling and bouncing her new shoes on the seat and giving me the thumbs up sign! it was precious. of course she has three of us watching and ooohing and ahhhing over her...."ahhhh...isn't she soooo sweet?!"

we came home to daddy installing our new microwave,

um...why does everything in the house seem to break at the same time?!:)

dinner in the oven and the windows open.

i guess spring really is in the air?

have a lovely day,

cindy

ps

enjoy this dancing in the kitchen song

)

{Wednesday}

time in a quiet house.
mall pretzel with my sweetie.

waaaay too many escalotor rides.
just because.
yes, we are crazy like that.

 a rainbow treat.

pink castles where everyone takes a nap.

and this song.




heard it while we were enjoying our pretzel.
just had to sing along.
i know i'm dating myself here...but go ahead and date yourself along with me and tell me you LOVE this song like i do!
and for today it couldn't have been more perfect!

have a lovely day,

cindy

{Friday}

woohoo!
what's making me happiest this friday?
sunshine and blue skies.
ignoring the fact that 6+ inches of fluffy whiteness are headed our way tomorrow.
everyone home for the weekend...and a possible/probable snow day for monday.
and mochas with a munchkin.

or two.

in other random news...
every day when i pick up aubrey from school i ask her what the best part of her day was and she always says, "this moment". love it. but then usually i get some other good tidbits too like "taking a 'nap' in housekeeping then
rachel waking me up", "being line leader" and "getting to stay in the post office the whooooole free choice time". but i kinda like the first one best:)

get some other good tidbits too like "taking a 'nap' in housekeeping then

thanks for your sweet comments yesterday.
happy to report that they are still offering half day and we are officially signed up for it. may be the one and only...but who cares!:)

"take a picture of her sesame seed apron mom"

spent some alone time at target this am and found a lamp shade on clearance. 

70% off kind of clearance.

just the right new touch for our living room.

been sprucing that room up bit by slow bit.

pictures coming soon.

deep cleaning and lots of cooking and baking on the agenda for the weekend.

cause that's just what you do when it snows. 

and we got some oldie but goodie movies from the library for the big girls.

superman and raiders of the lost ark.

made me think of when i saw both of those in the theater with my dad!

ya know, when a ticket used to be $1.50!!!:)

hope they are as good as i remember!!

and one last pic...cause i'm pushing the limits of how many panera selfies one blog can hold!!!:)

have a happy day and a wonderful weekend!

cindy

{Wednesday...the "best day"}

early out days are our faves.
with all the snow we've had this year they turned the remaining ones on the calendar into full school days...so we made sure to take full advantage of our very last one.

panera for a bagel and some girly chit chat.
the library for arm loads (and bags full) of books.
and a favorite song playing loud to get us all smiling.

have you had a best day lately??

{Friday}

happy friday friends.

our drive to school today was a beautiful one.

crystal blue skies and that picture perfect covering of shiny bright snow.

but don't let those sunny skies fool ya...the van thermostat said -7.

yep.

you read that right.

but the sun was shining and to me that's all that matters.

got a call from a friends this am who needed to vent a little.

she's been having trouble with her tween daughter who is just a year older then riley.

boys.

emotions 

yes i said boys (!)

anger

unhappiness

tempers

ugh

this conversation made me sad and grateful all at the same time. sad certainly, for the pain they are going through. all of them. but so grateful that we are not in this place. now, i'm smart enough to know that we could be. very easily we could be. but it was such an eye opener to how easily things can change and a little reminder to continue every day to love and love and love and to keep those connections strong. read to them and snuggle them and pray for them and tuck them in every. single. night. even when you don't feel like it. cause someday, they may just grow tired of it. and oh how i'd miss it and long for it then.

mocha friday was good and this little one was a bundle of snuggly love.
as usual.
we talked about her day.
what made her happy.
what made her not so happy.
happy =  when i came to pick her up. :) oh and playing with rachel in housekeeping
sad =  rachel didn't let her napkin be "on top" at snack time again like she promised. ok...here's a perfect example of 4 year old issues...apparently her and rachel sit very close together at snack time and when they spread out their napkins they both keep lifting them up and up and up so that theirs can be the one on top when they lay them down on the table...are you still with me?  aubrey never gets to have her napkin on top. never. :) my offered suggestion of just keeping your napkin small and unfolded was quickly dismissed. what do i know?!:)

janey is off to a birthday party for twins in her class.
it's a sleepover and of course our little homebody wants nothing to do with that.
she's worried about being the only one who isn't sleeping over.
so of course that makes me worried too.
riley came with me to drop her off and leave it to my ever practical ever sensible 11 year old to reply in response to my worries and fears..."mom, that's just life...she'll be fine!" again. what do i know!:)

we ran into walgreens after dropping janey off to grab a few things and stumbled upon these.

if you ever see them in the store run.

run very fast.

and don't look back!:)

the weekend ahead looks beautiful.
warming up a bit.
that means like 20!
ha

have a happy weekend,

cindy

{Friday}

it's friday.

and i'm glad.

made it all week with out a mocha which made this "mocha friday", as aubrey and i so affectionately call it, all the sweeter. we saw our favorite girl, kelli jo who is always ready with smiles for us and hugs. i just love this time together. we sit super close in our booth. (and if we don't get a booth we are super bummed and will get up and move mid-way if one becomes available...any other crazy booth stalkers out there?:))

we came home and played with our neighbors while the snow fell.

looks like another snowy possibly trapped in the house weekend.

but that's fine by me.

one more chapter of this to read and then we have a movie to watch.

maybe tonight?

now wouldn't that just end our friday with a bang?

or should i say a plie?

:)

stay warm.

have fun.

find joy.

show love.

have a happy day,

cindy

{Still Here}

well not "here" obviously...
but here.
ya know what i mean.:)


december blew in with all it's usual chaos and to-do's wrapped in miracles and blessings.
throw in crazy winter storms,
two half birthdays,
surgery for dave (sinus...he's good!),
a cross country Christmas celebration,
a wham bam thank you ma'am trip to disney,
more time with family,
then a 22+ hour drive back home.


ahhh...that collective sigh of relief when we finally reached home safely...the last day of the year...but then we quickly remembered that welcoming oasis was still decked out in Christmas finery which was now mixed in with 15 loads of laundry and
luggage and
stuff and
Christmas gifts galore!:)

deep.
breath.
cindy.

something had to give.
and luckily,
luckily, it was the computer.

fast forward 10 days and here i am.
staring at a blinking cursor trying to navigate this unfamiliar world again with about 700+ photos to go through and countless posts to catch up on. too much fun and love was had not to get it here. safe. so my memory doesn't have it's way with it.

so hold on friends for a plethora (love that word!) of way out of date backdated posts from me.
and please.
please, feel free to skip them all.:)
after all...who wants to read about Christmas now right?
but you may want to tune into the ones where the beach is involved...most of us could use a good dose of that about now am i right?!:)

have a happy day,

cindy

{Wednesday}

that snow is really surprising us....sticking around way longer then expected.
little missy was the first one ready this morning and spent some time exploring.
she found the coolest fall leaf incased in ice and brought it to school to share.
that's a pretty big step for this shy little one.

getting geared up in the car she said, "mom, it's really hard to put a mitten on when you have a mitten on." sweet, simple and oh so true!:)

after drop off i ran into target for black chorus pants for riley and ended up with two sweaters and a pair of jeans for me! who knew target had jeans in tall sizes. you would think of all people, i would know. usually just skip right by their pants. but the price tag of these sure beats the usual place i end up.

tried to stay away from all the holiday cuteness but these were on an end cap and i fell in love!!
to all my coffee and tea drinking friends out there...are these the cutest or what???:)

my few target finds spurred me on and got me in the mood to find a few more bargains so i headed to tjmaxx. i never usually have the patience for the clothes dept but today i did and woohoo!! super cute long sleeve tops for $13!! oh yes! came home with a few and it felt gooooooood! of course they are all pretty basic and plain...dave calls it my uniform...solid colored scoop or v neck tops with a cardigan....predictable i guess.

aubrey and i popped into the mall for a quick return and a pretzel and made it to the pick up line just in time for early release day.

we had a house full till dinner. 5 friends for the girls and aubrey's little friend from down the street. lots of horse on-line game playing, crafting, legos, tumbling, hide and seeking, giggling and chatting. but when the last one left...whew...i was beat!:)

dave made a beautiful dinner but none of us cared for the chicken. i guess we are mostly a white meat family! but nicolle's tomatoes sure were a hit!!!:)

hope your day was a happy one,

cindy