Friday Fabulous Five

My last two Fridays must have been so great that I couldn't even pause to blog about it.

1. Our neighbor called last night to ask one of the kids to babysit this morning--from the time her husband needed to leave for work and the time that she would get home from her night shift. She only works one or two nights a week to keep up her license and skills and sometimes has a grown friend come over to stay with the kids during that gap. The friend is on vacation, which my kids LOVE! They argued about who would get to wake up (at 6:20 on Spring Break) and head over to babysit. Granted, they did want the money, but more importantly, they wanted the experience and the networking. Enthusiasm like that is just Friday worthy!

2. My muscles are sore today. I actually like sore muscles.

3. The basket of magazines under my coffee table is now cleaned out. (This is usually my kids' dumping ground when I ask them to tidy up in the LR.)

4. Spring Break has been lots of fun this week. I'm actually a little sad to see Friday this week, because that means that Spring Break is over. :(

5. It's a beautiful spring day...fresh and clean. Slightly overcast to keep off the glare, but warm and perfect. Today's weather is the perfect kind of day for me.

Happy Friday! Enjoy!

Friday Fabulous Five

This week, my Friday isn't quite the same. Dustin is working this weekend and Aimee has a math competition tomorrow that she needs to be at the school for at 6:30, so it's not quite the break it's supposed to be. But, it's still great...regular break or not.

1. This weekend is Stake Conference, so I don't need to prepare for Sharing Time/Singing Time for church on Sunday. (I know this is slightly contradictory to my previous fab 5, but really, there's a plus to both ways.)

2. Today the weather is only supposed to get up to 78. This is great news because 2 days ago when I was loading edging bricks into my car, it was 90... 90 in February is just too hot.

3. I crossed two items off my to-do list today. It's a very long ongoing list with things that would be great to get done, but other things usually trump the list.

4. Fresh air in my house. The windows are open and the house feels happier.

5. This morning, we are watching Aidan's friend for a few hours. They play so cute together, but she has breakdown moments when she misses mom. I have gotten in 2 really great walks this morning since they both love the stroller. (Right now they are enjoying a snack and chatting happily...and occasionally typing here with me.)

Happy Friday!

Friday Fabulous Five

Hooray for Friday!

1. It goes without question that the day I mop the floor, someone spills something major. NEVER FAIL. Of course with our busy house, I spot mop somewhere on the floor daily and sweep at least that much. But, something about Murphey's law makes our floor never clean for long. I mop, someone spills a pitcher of juice (don't ask.) I mop, two bowls of cereal end up down there. I honestly don't know what to think. This week, nothing! I mopped...the floor stayed clean...one day, two days, three days...have I entered the twilight zone?

2. The door connecting the house to the garage has been squeaky since we moved in. Instead of the graphite (or whatever the grey/black powdery stuff on the hinges is) working its way in and stopping the squeak over time, it just got worse. This week, Dustin finally WD40'd it (that can be a verb, right?!) I love it! Love WD40, love the door, but mostly, I love my husband!

3. I have a fun new haircut that is great!

4. Since the previous Primary President is now YW president, she isn't going to be doing sharing time/singing time this week. It's fabulous because I always learn something and feel re-inspired.

5. I did all the laundry yesterday (including folding, putting away, and ironing), so I don't have to do it this weekend!

Friday is always great!

Friday Fabulous Five

I absolutely love Friday! I love the thought that if I don't make a super great dinner, my kids won't care because they love that it's Friday too. I love that I don't have to set the alarm for school in the morning...if I have to set if for something else, it's fine...it's just a break from the norm. I love that tomorrow morning I won't have to keep reminding everyone of the time. The air feels a little fresher on Friday.

1. I had a cold on Wednesday night and now it's mostly gone. I will have a healthy weekend to fully enjoy!

2. Dustin has the whole weekend off!

3. I vacuumed my car and it's Se Magnific!!! I love that the windows are clean (squeegee clean, so no Windex streaks) and the floors don't have any rocks, grass, sand, crumbs...they are just carpet! It's fun to drive again!

4. My son knew enough about his religion to know that his history teacher was wrong.

5. I hung up my beautiful mirror this week (well, Dustin did, while I directed) and I love it. It's been sitting in a corner since we moved in. I want to get everything out of that corner and up on the walls now!A Breath of Fresh Air

Friday Fabulous Five

Another Friday already. I didn't even post last week because I was so blessed with Fabulous people surrounding me in love!

1.I'm off to donate a big box to GoodWill...with more to follow...hopefully today or tomorrow. Cleaning out and getting rid of those things always makes me feel like my deep cleansing breaths are even cleaner and fressher!
2. Soap scribbles on the mirror. Not too tricky to clean up and pure enjoyment for the child. I love those reminders of simple joys!
3. A new year, a new day, a new start to be the best me.
4. Holiday sentiments and chats with family and friends from afar. I treasure all of you; you lift my spririt and encourage me to be more...even when you don't realize it!
5. All the days off over the holiday to spend with sweet husband. It almost made the weekend days worth it...almost.

Happy Friday! Have a fabulous weekend!

"Picture, Right There"

Thoughts of Conflict

At each of the four major intersection of the highway and the busiest stores, they stand, or sometimes sit, with their cardboard signs. "Homeless and Hungry" I don't judge them. I don't always give them money, either because I don't have any extra cash or because I'm in the wrong lane. Yesterday, I made certain to get in the far left lane so that I could hand the fruit bar, meal bar, and money out to him without holding up traffic. He might not use the money for a good purpose, food/shelter, but that's not for me to judge. (Yes, I know that some panhandlers can make a lot of money in a day, I know that they might spend it on alcohol, but when inspiration hits, you can't ignore it.)
This morning at the grocery store my "carry out" girl told me that she didn't have a lot of money and her boss (the owner of the grocery store) gave her a $200 gift card for Christmas. "GAVE, they just gave it to me." So, she went to Toys R Us and bought her 18 month old daughter $200 worth of toys...and let her open one the other night. What I wanted to say was "no 18 month old child needs $200 worth of toys all in one lump sum...don't you think they expected you to use the money for food or clothes, not just waste it all on toys?!" Of course I didn't. I just commented on what a nice gift her boss gave her and wished a Merry Christmas.
Yep. Judge not. I gave freely without judging and then judged another for the way she had received. It's not my my place to tell someone how to spend their money, but sometimes I wish I could just funnel some common sense into their brains. Until then, I will take deep breaths and continue to learn how to not judge.

I don't think this is his best work, but still a fun song, and who can resist a very young Bob Marley.

Friday Fabulous Five

1. I got some packages mailed today!!!!
2. Teacher gifts are done!
3. Our tree is finally complete after a couple of weeks of partial ornamentation.
4. 'Baby' slept in his own bed all night last night, which means I wasn't squished.
5. Christmas cards are going out tomorrow!

Friday's Fabulous Five!!

1. Friday luncheon with the ladies is always totally awesome! Many thanks to the Dutch ladies for hosting us today!

2. Crazy Holiday Sweater party with friends provided plenty of comedic therapy!

3. Shopping tomorrow to pick up "small item" for school gift exchange. School gift exchange??!Weird.

4. I totally got my wreaths finished and up on the door! Love it!!

5. Christmas baking and decorating is finally sounding appealing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I baked pies yesterday to free up the oven for the turkey today. It's rubbed down and waiting to go in. I'm taking a break before the busyness begins.

Although I'm not near all the people that I want to be today, I'm feeling totally blessed and completely thankful. Parents, sibling, in-laws, husband, children, home, freedom, religion, peace, happiness, good food, good company, friends, work, play, love, books, technology, health, strength, thoughts, feelings, country, rain, sun...

I could go on and on. I'm truly blessed. I love you all and wish you a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Friday's Fabulous Five

1. Laughter. I love the therapy that it gives me. My kids are often the source since they can say some pretty cute things on their journey of life.

2. I got to sleep in 15 minutes extra today and yesterday! It rocks.

3. Lunch date with my husband. Perfect time to catch up.

4. Music! I love how it can change my mood and wake up my brain!

5.TGIF!! The weekend is here.

Friday Fabulous Five

1. My perfect husband who loves and adores his wife and family. He lets me ramble about the good, the bad, the inbetween of the day, and his interest only looks slightly sarcastic.

2. My children who remind me that there are worse things than having to cook dinner with a jillion things going on...I could be in middle school again...thanks, but no thanks. (oh the drama)

3. Freezer food...for when I get too wrapped up in the other things and everyone is still hungry (go figure.)

4. The beautiful full moon that reminds me that simple joys are a natural prozac.

5. Clean water, nutritious food, warm shelter, and plenty of love. Sometimes these things are underrated.

Friday's Fabulous Five

1. Aidan is speaking in small sentences and it is totally adorable! He loves to copy everthing Allie does, so we're lookin' at a pretty big kiddo!

2. Autumn in Texas is like summer. We have yet to wear a jacket outside, so we're hoping that we won't have to cover up our Halloween costumes with layers of coats.

3. I loved my online chat with my friend today. It's always great to catch up and reconnect.

4. Alex is in the trusted hands of his scout leader tonight for a campout at the caverns. I love when my kids are involved and excited and having fun.

5. Healthy family and healthy me. I don't want to take a minute of it for granted.

Friday Fabulous Five

Today I'm feeling the need to appreciate the superficial blessings in my life. Call them shallow, but sometimes they are essentials.

1. Computer/Internet: Yeah, they're pretty much linked together in my mind. I can't do much that I need and/or want on the computer without the internet too. Our service was out yesterday afternoon and evening and I truly missed it.

2. Phones: Yep, cell phones were out yesterday too (and long distance lines). All I can say is somebody is in trouble and that somebody's supervisor is as well. I felt stranded in the middle of one of those disaster/end of the world movies...no cell service, no internet. I almost wanted to throw a party when it all came back on.

3. The Mall: I knew I liked shopping, but now that I have to drive to the mall 45 minutes away, I know just how much I NEED shopping. It is seriously a means of relaxation that I pretty much require sometimes.

4. Rosa's Cafe Chicken Enchiladas: Call me crazy, but I'm thinking they put some illegal energy stuff in there. I always feel on top of the world after eating there (and I'm pretty sure it's not just the Dr Pepper w/lime, even though that's usually the only place I have it.)

5. Hair Straightener: I love it when everyone thinks I got a new haircut just because I "did" my hair. Well, I kind of hate it, because, dang, how bad did it look before? But, yeah, I like my straightener.

Yep, they're cheesy and shallow...whatever... I like them.

Friday's Fabulous Five

1. Fantastic vacuum cleaner that makes my floor look like new. I seriously don't know what I was thinking when I tried to buy something else. Dyson (allergy and asthma) is the best...nothing else will do.

2. Fabulous new bagless technology that lets us see all the dirt that is no longer on the carpet and in the air. I love seeing dirt in the canister!

3. Fantastic children with minds of their own. They can think, ponder, and make decisions and choices. They are brilliant, although sometimes I wish they wouldn't share all of their opinions with me.

4. Fabulous, amazing body! Our bodies were designed so perfectly and it's incredible to see how much difference there is in one that works right and one that is sick. Thankfully, my head, ears, nose and throat are clear now, and I'm loving every moments of it.

5. Fantastic fall fun. Back to school adventures, football games, autumn decorating and talks of Halloween parties. It's still feeling like summer most of the time, but I walked outside yesterday morning and it smelled like fall. There was a crispness in the air and scent that is only there in September...no matter where you are!

Friday Fabulous Five

A fellow blogger, cousin, and dear friend wrote a fabulous five post. I have to dedicate a post to five fabulous and fantastic things in my life, because I, too, need to focus on the possitive today, rather than my whines of yesterday. I do have a fabulous life and feel a need to be thankful. I decided last night (in my 1am shower) that I had to only change the things that I could change, and enjoy the good things in my life. Anything else I have to just release and let go. So, my Friday fantastic, fabulous five:

1. My fabulous husband who loves me truly and deeply.

2. My fantastic children who amaze me everyday with their drive for knowledge and adventure.

3. Fabulous internet that lets me stay close to my other family and friends, even when there are thousands of miles between us.

4. Fantastic family afar, who love me and chat like we are next door.

5. Perfectly fantastic health in my family. We have been so blessed with health and strength so that we can enjoy so many things around us.