{A Belated Mother's Day Gift to You}

my friend lisa shared this with me and i just love it.
i've watched it tons already.




it makes me smile every single time.
and put down something or turn off something and look my kiddos in the eye too.:)

my parents are here for a few days.
and tomorrow is our last real day of school.
i can't believe it.
we are all a little giddy over here.:)

have a happy day,

cindy

{thankful for}

water

frozen mocha recommendations from friends

kettle corn

company

my flat iron

{Tuesday}

after reading this post i started to realize it's been awhile since aubrey and i had one of those one armed giggly photo shoots. taking pictures of yourself while holding the camera is really harder then it looks.:)
these are by no means flattering...but it was fun and sweet and hopefully when she looks back at them she will see the love.

we had a rather slow moving morning today.
many distractions kept us from the task of getting ready for our day.
crib sheets that needed to be washed. (most dreaded baby job ever btw!)
shirts that were too small.
socks that were to bunchy and looking for that "one" picture on the blog that we just had to see.
...sigh...

but we made it out the door and were all smiling by drop off.
i love it when one of the big girls has it all together, is being a blessing and showing patience.
today it was riley's turn.
thank you sweet love.

took riley for lunch today and we shared one of mcd's new holiday mcflurries.
so-so if you ask me, but they enjoyed it.
during our car chat riley informed me:
she can now leap from one big tire to the next without falling. (on the playground)
she loves long division.
she prayed and asked God for a good day and it worked.
and she really wants stilts and a gumball machine for Christmas.
hmmm???

it is cold and dreary out.
it started sprinkling as we walked into school and i swear it felt like it might snow.
oh please....not yet!
i got two extra big kisses and hugs as riley said goodbye at lunch time.
that was certainly worth that freezy walk into school.

this is the song i awoke to when my alarm went off this morning.
i just love it.
i have listened to it many, many times today.
it makes me cry.
and after that...no matter what happened with this day i knew in my heart it was going to be a good one.
play it loud my friends.

have you voted yet?

dave did early this am and i will in a few hours.

whatever comes of it all...God Bless America!

...happiest moment of the day so far...

riley's big, big hugs and kisses

 

have a happy day,

cindy

{thankful for}
1. warm soup for lunch
2. heat
3. life
4. the right to vote
5. our country

{Sweet Words}

my mom gave me this little sign for Christmas.
i keep it on my kitchen window where i'm sure to see it often.:)
i love it so much.

have a happy day,

cindy

The Joys of Jury Duty

Dave had jury duty last week and

when he was released early on Thursday

he came home to surprise me with the

PERFECT gift...

TIME!

alone time...for me...on a Thursday?!
{lots of yippees and squeals of delight}


so I headed to one of my favorite "far-away"
shops for just that

Now this store is quite a ways

from our home,

and with a nursing baby left behind

there was not a second to loose

I enjoyed the beautifully  silent drive

and the only ladies I occasionally heard

were in one...

{photos from Flickr}

After lazy walks through the shop
taking it all in

I came upon these little signs

and just had to have them

I love what I saw on the Nesters blog

about having encouraging 

and uplifting sayings

around your home, 

so these had to come live with us

(signs stacked for photo purposes only...they are indeed spread throughout the house!:) )

I also found this wonderful wreath for our front door

It was a wonderfully uplifting alone kind of day...

who knew jury duty could do that!

Have you had any good old fashioned alone time lately?

Can you Be in LOVE with a Tree?

A little background...

growing up my family and I headed out west just about every summer to camp

{photo from Destination 360}

of course I didn't know it then....

but looking back...

those were some great times.

I guess it was then that I fell in love

with the Quaking Aspen tree!

Now we live in IL

where you don't see many aspen trees

but we did a little research

and discovered that we are on the

tippy

tippy

end

of their "growing  zone"

so we decided to get two last year

hoping and praying they would survive.

We positioned them near our family room window

so we could enjoy them from

the inside and the outside

we even have a bench between them and

a windchime (mothers day gift!)

to complete the feel.

I love sitting out there and hearing them quake

and watching their leaves shimmer...

...no they really do!

some day we will live out west and have

too many Aspen trees to count

but for now I'll just be here on this bench

Murphy's Law Got Me...

I guess  right after you name your new blog
The Grateful Home
{update...name change! I have a committment problem!!:) }
 you are bound to be hit with a day
that inspires anything but gratitude!
Today was one of those kind of days!
clothes that just "had to be worn" by Janey didn't fit
hair bows didn't match
burnt bagels left in the toaster too long
Aubrey woke up early (and then later skipped her morning nap)
throw up on the carpet
falls on the hard wood floor
the list seems to go on and on...
and it was all before 8 am!!!

As I drove the girls to school and tried to regain control
I apologized to them for not being the kind of mom today
who makes a bad day turn into a good one
Riley replied with a "That's ok mom...we did it for you"
And they certainly did!

I know after this kind of beginning things can
only go UP right???

Today I live in the quiet, joyous expectation of good.

Ernest Holman

{daughter Riley's photo}