As I have said before.....blogging is not easy. Here is a little something I wanted to do on the last day of school for Ben. I asked him questions but never came here to post. So here it is.
A little bit about Ben (June 25, 2014)
This is so mommy can hold on to her little boy a bit longer

A list of favorites.
 fruit~ cherries
Video game - Lego movie
Movie - the Lego movie
Best friend - Andrew
Tv show -marvel
Food -meat
Teacher - Ms. By as
Color -black
Out to eat- Raymond's
Toy - Lego
Song - don't stop by 5 SOS
book - the chocolate touch, where the sidewalk ends, Harry potter
Sport - volleyball
Vacation - Disneyworld, great wolf, Hershey park
Princess - Elsa & Ana

Looking ahead at 2014

January ~ Happy Birthday Day Cali, Cooking with Youth Group
February ~ A visit from the Coughlins, Ben winter break, Heart of Hope Dinner
March ~ Retreat, Girls Spring Break,
April ~ Easter, Ben Spring Break, Theme Day @ Coolidge
May ~ Happy Birthday Timmy, Memorial Day Weekend with the Coughlins???
June ~ Happy Birthday Cella ~ End of School
July ~ Happy Birthday Cassie ~ vacation???
August ~ summer fun
September ~ Cali starts Kindergarten,
October ~ visit from Natasha?
November ~ Disney World, Happy Birthday Ben on Thanksgiving
December ~ Christmas

Exercise is good for me (Or so I have been told)

There is a place near by called Next Generation Training Center.
They were on groupon a few times.
$79 for 20 semi personal training sessions.
One day on a bit of a whim I decided to buy it.
Why you may ask?  Its time to get moving.  I am older now and well
the reality is I need to exercise for the future.
But really ~ after going for my first session yesterday where the trainer let me take it easy,
this morning I can hardly move around.  bending at the hips or knees is painful.  I am waiting
with great anticipation for the Advil to kick in!!!!
I will go back for the other 19 sessions because well, I paid for them.  I am a frugal Dutchie after all.
But my productivity level is way down already this morning.  Loading the dishwasher was an exercise in caution.  Everything is taking twice as long.  Just want to crawl back in bed.

A Little Peek

Outside my window: my patio ~ empty right now but soon to be filled with laundry I need to dry

I am thankful:  That one of my bff's had a healthy baby boy this past week and also that it didn't rain the whole day.

On my computer: various websites are open

In the kitchen: a pile of clean dishes, chick peas for making hummus, blender waiting for me to make a smoothie in it, chili on the stove for dinner.  Last night's leftovers waiting to become my lunch

 I am wearing: jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, & flip flops

I am creating: Lots of projects are in my head.  Need to find time to execute!

 I am going: to and from 3 different schools all year long.  :-)

 I am trying: to have more patience, be careful with my words, to figure out where exercise fits into my life

 I am watching:  Breaking Bad, Dexter, Top Chef Masters

 I am hoping: to we all stay healthy this fall

I am praying: my brother who broke his leg yesterday and for my church as we have some huge mountains to climb 

I am looking forward to: Meeting my bff's new baby boy.  The weekend (probably bad since its only Monday),

 A favorite quote for today: 

 A few plans for the rest of the week: school meetings, back-to-school night, cross country meet, girls night with my bible study group

Sea To Sea Day 3....

Our day three that is.
Dropped Timmy at the airport on Saturday morning bright & early.
He's out for his first ride today.
I am very excited for him
Not so much for myself.
I am home, tired, with three kids who with only 1 parent to make demands of are asking a lot.
I am doing ok but i need sleep.
Partly my own fault for staying up late part from a draining week of Summer Playground.
After the closing program I was so tired!  It is a very stressful morning hoping that all goes well.
I miss my baby ~ I really wish he was here but I know how very much and how badly he wants to be part of this.  I pray for safety each day ~ I know time will fly with keeping up the house & kids alone.  We are going to have fun!  I miss my love!

Happy Summer! ~ a note to my kids

School's out for 1.  Two more 1/2 days for the other one.
Summer has begun.
I love the lack of schedule.
Love not having to herd everyone out the door in a mad dash to not be tardy.
I don't love everybody being together all the time
I am am not that Mom.
I am not the Mom that loves playing endless games.
I hate messes.
I hate chalk, bubbles, mud, sand, and other things that make more work.
I like my kids to entertain themselves.
It boggles me that they can't just play with their toys
I was an only child until age 8 but by then the age difference was too great to gain a playmate.
I played by myself for hours, days at a time continuing the same imagination game.
I loved playing with all the paper & notebook, & pens & makers my Dad brought home from work.
All of them had KLM printed on them  :-)
I will do fun stuff with their kids but I am not the entertainment committee.
The daily stuff does not stop.
We have a few camp things set up.  A week at the beach.
A few day trips maybe.  Nana & Pop's pool will be a frequent stop.
Making paper is on our list for the summer.
Also fruit picking of many varieties.
They'll play in the backyard a lot.
It will be fun but I hope my kids realize they have to make some of their own fun.
I cannot be responsible to make it happen.  Let you imagination go wild

Wait May is 1/2 over already???

Not sure where time goes.
May has been filled with a wedding, track meets both near & far, birthdays, mother's day, lilacs,
flowers, music, beautiful weather & rainy days.
I've taken a ton of photos of various things including my children.  (not all 3 wanted to participate).
I've worked in the garden, I've worked on trying to find motivation for a lot of things.
I have a cat who acts more like a dog and follows me around looking for pets.