Currently in May

Currently...

• I am thinking...about our new fire-pit area
• I am thankful...that I got all of the school portfolio stuff done and grades recorded
• I am creating...a list of things I want to blog about soon
• I am going...to finish my camping food list this weekend
• I am wondering...what Michael will do for his next job
• I am making...a list of things I want to remodel in our kitchen
• I am cooking...some Yam, leek, and sausage stew in the crockpot
• I am looking...at the beautiful new front yard with the new bushes
• I am playing...a lot of trivial pursuit games on my phone (love it)
• I am wasting...no time enjoying time outside when my allergies subside
• I am enjoying...American Idol with the family
• I am waiting...to see what God has for Michael for a job
• I am liking...that we are finished with school for the year
• I am wondering...how much it will cost to do the renovations on our kitchen
• I am noticing...that the cotton is flying around everywhere outside
• I am buying...new dining room chairs once Michael gets a job
• I am reading...some new cookbooks
• I am hoping...that we can get the fire-pit done soon
• I am looking forward to...watching what God will do in just 1 1/2 short months
• I am learning...that I have become really good at geography
• I am pondering...what to do for Michael and I for weight loss
• I am eating...a piece of dark chocolate
• I am drinking...a cup of hot peppermint tea
• I am feeling...a little tired. I must get back to exercising. I haven't exercised since Jar's surgery last Friday
• I am watching...the Steve Harvey show. He is so funny
• I am enjoying...blogging. I need to do it more often
• I am praying for...Michael every day
• I am working on...trying to sleep in bed again
• I am needing...to cut out dairy, grains, and sugar (they all make me feel terrible)
• I am trying...to be better about grocery shopping
• I am discovering...that we are all too addicted to technology
• I am starting...to get excited about camping at the coast
• I am listening to...my music on my computer
• I am annoyed that...I ever let myself gain this weight
• I am anxious about...the boys and careers for them
• The world needs...a good president
• I believe...in being yourself
• I am wanting...to work on a good routine for next week
• I am remembering...how the boys loved to go to the park and throw rocks
• I am laughing/giggling...at Steve Harvey
• I am designing...my new kitchen
• I am ordering...Michael's Father's Day gift
• I am celebrating...that Cam graduated this month
• I am tasting...strawberry shortcake
• I see...a dusty house
• I hear...the birds chirping outside
• I should...sign Michael and I up for a weight loss program
• I start...singing when I hear a song I know
• I despise...shaving
• I am NOT...wanting to cut Lily's hair
• It's been a big challenge...to get back to working out daily
• I know it's a little weird, but...I make the same food for myself everyday 
• I'll be one happy camper if...my house would just dust itself
• I love the fact that...today begins the weekend

Currently...

• Outside my window...it is overcast, but not raining
• In the kitchen...I see clean counters
• Around the house...I need to dust everywhere
• One of my favorite things is...reading a great blog post
• Today...I had to cut Jar's hair
• Tomorrow...I have to cut Lily's hair

What Marriage Has Taught Me

source

Marriage is work...no way around it. Men and women are so very different. Here are some things marriage has taught me over the years:

1. LAUGH...LAUGH...LAUGH 
2. Communicate...make sure the other person "hears" you correctly. LISTEN
3. Spend time together
4. "Don't sweat the small stuff"
5. Be goofy together
6. Be yourself...everyone else is already taken
7. Compliments are good
8. It is good to talk about dreams...together
9. Be realistic about your ideas of life together
10. Commitment is what you "signed up for"
11. After God, family always comes first (not church or friends)
12. It is important to appreciate what each person brings to the table 
13. It will not always be "peaches 'n cream"...be ready for some disappointment along the way
14. Learn to respect each others' differences
15. Compromise is critical
16. Honesty really IS the best policy
17. Don't hold a grudge..."Let it go"
18. Don't be with someone of the opposite sex alone...EVER (it goes to the dating rule, if you are never alone, nothing can ever happen)
19. Change yourself...not the other person
20. Be willing to say "I'm sorry"
21. Be understanding
22. Say "I love you" daily
23. Have patience
24. Be supportive
25. Always be available

My Sweet Baby

My sweet baby just had his wisdom teeth pulled last week...yes, he is my baby, even though he is 15 1/2 years old. The swelling in his cheeks is almost down...and he finally seems back to normal. Tomorrow, he can begin to eat "normal" food. He told me that he was so done with cold, sweet food (like jello, pudding, ice cream, yogurt). He wants all of the normal food that I make.

I was putting together a letter for Cam for his graduation, and I came across a cute photo of Jar. He has always loved to wear his hair spiked up in the front. What a cutie pie!!!

Life Lately

We happened to have left-over marshmallow cream from the fruit dip--I made the boys peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwiches.

All three of the boys pulled out the dead shrubs out front.

I made a big pot of creamy chicken salsa verde pasta.

The last day of school I got the boys an Italian soda.

The books I got from the Library this week

We had a huge thunderstorm with hail this week. That is unusual for Oregon.

We got a graduation dinner for Cam--Red Lobster.

crab linguine alfredo

Cam has always wanted an ice cream cake--we got him a Reese's peanut butter cup one from Dairy Queen

This is Jar right before his wisdom teeth surgery.

This is Cam waiting for Jar to be finished with his surgery.

This is Jar after his surgery--we were wanting some good videos to submit to AFV, but he gave us nothing. He was as normal as could be. We should have video-taped Cam. He was funny! The white thing around his face is holding the ice packs for his face.

on the way home after surgery

He wanted to prove how normal he was...what a goof.

This was his spot for the next two days. He watched TV and movies and played computer games.

Here is Lily on the end of Jar's spot on the couch...she is playing with my socks.

On Saturday, Cam and Michael removed the rest of the dead bushes, and then they planted Arborvitae.  

This is the Arborvitae that we planted 4 years ago.

The finished Arborvitae.

Here is Jar on the couch...Lily beside him.

Here we are on Mother's Day. We are watching the TV Bible series.

Here is what the boys got for me for Mother's Day.

It has been a good two weeks. We got a lot done. We finished school...Cam finished his last year in high school...he graduated. I got all of the boys portfolios finished and their grades recorded. We got a lot of work done around the house. And this weekend, I took care of Jar after his surgery.

You Tube Video

This is just the best. This proves that it is important to give your children every avenue for learning possible when they are young. They can learn so much. I love this video.

April Boxes

I got some great stuff in my boxes this month. I really loved the nail polish, the face sponge, the feminine wipes, the dry shampoo, and the creamy blush. 

the Petit Vour box

the Ipsy box

the Birchbox box

May/June Goals

These are my May/June Goals:

1. Exercise daily
2. Eat clean/cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar
3. Juice daily
4. Dentist appointments
5. Jar orthodontist appointment
6. Jar testing
7. Blog 3-5 times a week
8. Go out with Mom
9. Pressure wash the house
10. Clean garage fully
11. Clean out back shed
12. Do fire pit
13. Do a junk yard run
14. Touch up trim outside
15. Paint house
16. Oil change on truck
17. Wax car and camper
18. Do upgrades in kitchen
19. Have Jar take career test
20. Play board games
21. Do something with friends
22. Plan menu out for May/June
23. Read 5 books
24. Journal daily
25. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
26. Clean behind washer/dryer
27. Clean garage cabinets
28. Wipe down inside doors
29. Cut Lily's hair
30. Cut all boys hair
31. Mow the grass
32. Jar wisdom teeth pulled
33. Amy Jury duty
34. Save money
35. Limit eating out
36. Michael job searching
37. Plan a weekend away - camping

These were my March/April Goals:

1. Exercise daily
2. Eat clean/cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar
3. Juice daily
4. Orthodontist appointment 
5. Blog 3-5 times a week
6. Go out with Mom
7. Pressure wash the house
8. Have Jar take career test
9. Play board games
10. Do something with friends
11. Plan menu out for March
12. Read 5 books
13. Journal daily
14. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
15. Clean behind washer/dryer
16. Clean garage cabinets
17. Wipe down inside doors
18. Cam meet with piano teacher about Theory tests
19. Take piano Theory tests
20. Do taxes/Mom's taxes
21. Cam open bank account
22. Cut all boys hair
23. Mow the grass
24. Call to set up Jar testing
25. Save money
26. Limit eating out
27. Jar and Michael day out
28. Michael job searching
29. Plan a weekend away

Friday's Letters

Dear Jesus:  Thank you for the beautiful weather. I have been suffering from allergies to the cotton trees lately, so I have not spent much time outside. I still love to look outside and see the sun shining. It just lifts my spirit.

Dear Michael:  Don't you just wish we could see at least a peek at what God has planned for your next job? It sure would make this whole process easier. I know He will provide...I have full faith in our loving Father.

Dear Cam:  I remember how wonderful it felt to finish my final tests in my senior year of high school. Today you had your final test in Language, and yesterday you had your final test in Spelling/Vocabulary. It was neat to see you so excited about that.

Dear Jar:  I love seeing you in your new shirts you got for Easter. I really love you in the Hulk shirt...as well as the new sunglasses. You get your wisdom teeth taken out next week. I will be glad when that is done.

Dear Me:  I have really been enjoying fresh strawberries...it is my favorite fruit. I have been eating them for breakfast with sliced banana. I have also been having them as a snack. Yummo!

Dear Lily:  She has been enjoying playing with the boys. She is in need of a haircut...I will give her one tomorrow or sometime next week.

Dear Zena:  Well, good for you that the weather has been getting nicer. This means that you will get to spend more time out front with Dad.

Dear Grocery Shopping:  This past week we were able to do the grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. I love shopping there. I really wish that we had one near us. It just makes the whole grocery shopping experience (which I dislike) so much better.

Dear Friday Night:  Tonight we will have personal pan pepperoni pizzas from Pizza Hut (for some reason typing that took me to the Pizza Hut in Mansfield, PA) for dinner. We will watch the movie "Paddington Bear" and "Shark Tank" and "Beyond Shark Tank".

Dear Wisdom Teeth Surgery:  Next week Jar gets his wisdom teeth pulled. I will be glad when this is done. He is also getting close to having his braces removed...he will be so glad when this happens.

Dear Mom:  I am glad that you were able to visit the family in Fresno, CA. I know you had a lot of fun.

Dear Job Search: This sure has been a worrying 6 months...many ups and downs. I keep praying for the right job...the right timing...the right place.

Dear Weather:  We had a few days of rain and a few days of sunshine. Today is a perfectly sunny day.

Dear When Calls the Heart: The new season started this week. Michael and I really enjoyed watching the beginning of the new season.

Dear American Idol: We have really been enjoying this season. We have a favorite, but I am not sure if he will make it to the end or not.

Dear Boys: Today I made the boys peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwiches. They have not had these in forever. We had an extra container left over from last night (we made fruit dip with marshmallow cream and cream cheese).

Dear Bills: I got you paid today. I have really found a system that works for me. I get all of the bills ready to pay the day before I actually pay them. I record everything in Quicken, and then I write down the payment on the bill. So, the day I pay the bills is just to go online and pay them. It makes it so much easier.

Dear The Flash:  This has become one of our favorite shows. Every episode lately has just been getting better and better. We can't wait to see what the upcoming shows bring.

Dear New Glasses:  I really am so glad that I finally got you. It has made reading the computer and reading books so much better. I don't have eye sensitivity and eye headaches anymore.