Summer Vacation part 2 {Blackberries}

Krysta and I tried to take the kids to pick blackberries last year.  The berry patch that she knew of didn’t have any berries that were ready when I was there last May.  This summer we happened to be there just at the right time.

This was so much fun for the kids.  Even the littlest two enjoyed picking berries.  Ady enjoyed eating them as she picked them.  Tess just like the routine of putting something in her bucket.  Tess would hold them up to her lips, but never did put it in her mouth. 

The older kids tried to see who could put the most in their bucket which totally backfired for Krysta and I because we had to pay the bill. 

It ended up costing us a little more then we both had expected, but we ended up with a lot of berries.  Which we used to make a delicious cobbler, freeze for later, and make jam.(btw- $4.31 is not the total;that is just the beginning)

….but as you all know Krysta and I don’t really care about the berries.  It is all about the pictures for us.

 

Here are a few of my favorites:

taken by Krysta

Summer Vacation Part One

Just as school was letting out for the year, we decided to take a little trip.  It was time to visit our favorite place and people in Houston.  We had a great time.  Here is a little peak of what took place:

(some photos taken by Krysta, my BFF)

Lots of board games

Cat naps

Getting to know Ady a little better(boy, she is busy)  I got her to hold still long enough to paint her nails

Tessa and Ady getting to know each other, and deciding if they like each other

In-home shopping (the kids each set-up their own shop full of handmade items including; envelopes, bookmarks, and art)  This sign could be found in one of the local gift shops:

Fashion Show with a VIP dance party following

…...and the tooth fairy.

These are the little moments between this kids that I don’t want to forget.  They love each other so much.  I am thankful that my kids have someone close by(well seven hours away; the closest that we have) to call family.

Stayed tuned for part two; the blackberry patch

 

A New Year… A New List.

I have been thinking about my new list for the last month.  Really thinking about what my goals are for this year.  When I think about what it is that I want out of this year in particular, the one goal that comes to mind is to:

BE A BETTER ME.

It is so important to continuously work on becoming better.  This year I want to make a constant effort to do that.  After much thought and contemplation, I have come up with a list that I think will help me do so.

I am scattering my list with some of our New Year pictures.  We spent the New Year with our good friends the Moes Family in their home town of:

It was a blast.  We spent some time at the Children’s Museum ringing in the New Year at noon.  Painting a few rooms, decorating a few rooms, and lots of girls chats.  We did fireworks, pedicures, had yummy homemade wings, and the kids played until their little eyes could not stay open any longer.  The daddies even worked in 18 holes of golf.  It was a great weekend.  So fun that Jex and Stella sobbed uncontrollably for 45 minutes on our way home.  Jex even got tears in his eyes today when he told me, “this time was the most memories time for me.”  What a cute way to put his feelings into words.  We love you Moes family.

Now on to the pictures of a great weekend, and my Better Me list.

   

I will become better if I can remember to just let it be.  What I mean by let it be is; letting go of the little things that really don’t matter.  This year, I am completely happy with my house; I don’t want to waste my time making new things or buying new things.  I want to enjoy it the way it is.  I want to let it be, and spend my time elsewhere.  I am feeling satisfied with what I have, and I want to avoid those thoughts of  wanting more.  It means letting the messes around me go so I can stop and enjoy what is really going on around me.  It also means letting go of the little things that my kids do to annoy me; letting them be themselves.  If I can remember to let it all be this year, I truly believe that the other goals on my list will be more likely to be achieved.  That is why it is at the top of my list.

I will become a better me if I can remember to see the world through my children’s eyes.

I will become better if I can have a little more patience.  I need to learn patience with my kids.  I also need to learn patience when I want something, and more patience with my kids.  Did I say that already?  I am going to try less yelling and more whispering.  I will let you know how that goes.

I will become better if I drink more water and less soda.  When my water consumption is more then my soda consumption, I think I will be happy.

I will be a better me if I continue to learn more about photography, and take the time to create the pictures that I dream about.  I hope to become less intimidated and really do what I want to do instead of thinking I don’t have time or thinking I can’t.  I really want to give things a try.  If I fail, at least I tried.

   

isn’t Krysta’s house cute during Christmas?

I will become better if I get out of bed to exercise.  I hate how I feel when my kids are up and going and I have to find time to squeeze in Pilates or a run; to much guilt.  I know a stupid thing to feel guilty about, but it really is better to just get it done first thing.

I will be a better me with the help of my Heavenly Father, and using prayer to ask for help.  I also hope to pray more with my kids and spouse.

   

These photos were taken by Krysta.  You can visit her photography site here.

I will be a better me if I find more time to scrapbook.  It is one of the hobbies that I love.  I have let other things take the place of that, and I want to get it back.

   

I will be a better me if I stop what I am doing and give love and comfort to my family.  I get so wrapped up in what I am doing at times that I forget that my family needs me.  I even find ways to put them off.  Are you judging me?  I know you do this too.  ha ha.  I really do want to stop.  I think that love and comfort can heal all wounds, finishing the dishes doesn’t.

     

I will be a better me if I can find more time for a little service.  In that respect, I will also be a better me if I can learn to say no when it just doesn’t work.

  

I will be a better me and more then anything my family will be better if I serve less convenience foods and more homemade yummies.  I really want to sit down and have dinner together 4 nights a week.  I want those 4 meals to be homemade.  I really believe in the role that a homemade meal with your family can serve in a child’s life.

   

photos taken by Krysta

Thanks for listening to my list.  I don’t think that I will perfect all of these, but I do believe that if I try to work on them I will be better by the end of 2011 and…. that is all I can ask for.

Merry Christmas to Me.

All I want for Christmas is:

Board and Batten in my dining room.

I reminded Jonathan that my Christmas gift will not fit in my stocking this year.

Casey asked what I wanted and he thought it would be the perfect project to tackle while he was here.

While Jonathan worked in the morning, Casey got started.

I helped him lay out how I wanted it to look.

We used masking tape to lay it all out.

Then he went to Lowe’s and bought all the lumber.

Soon after he got started, Jonathan arrived and they got to work putting it all up. 

They are a great team.  This is one of many projects they have done together.

Once it was up, we all pitched in and got it painted.  I woke up with my room looking like this:

…and went to bed with my room looking like this:

Well not exactly like this.

We did have to wait for the paint to dry, but it gave Krysta and I the perfect excuse to do some redecorating.

I love that we were able to redecorate with everything I already had.

I love this room.

I really wanted the shelf in here.  It is my favorite part.  it was Krysta’s idea to put plates on it.

It feels so Pottery Barn to me.  I also love all the small simple touches of Christmas in here.

This is the room I spend most of my time in.

This is where I park my laptop, do homework with my kids, and feed them meals.

I am glad I had already decided to put my tree in this room.  I love it here now even more.

I love sitting in here with the nice crisp white walls.  It makes the room so much brighter.

Just in time for Christmas morning pictures.

Thank you Jonathan and Casey for making my Christmas dreams come true.

Keep reading for more about our Thanksgiving visit with the Moes family.