Born to be an ArTEEst!!

I love to hear about what my kids did and learned in school each day. Sometimes I am amazed at the things that they are taught and remember!! I also love it when they bring home projects they have completed, especially art. I have always been a big fan of art. As a child it was always my favorite thing to do in school, and that love has always stayed with me. I enjoy watching my kids produce art, and enjoy sharing my love with them. The other day Josh came home with this little work of art. Just looking at their work makes my heart smile. My kids sometimes think I am crazy because I seriously get so excited about their artwork. Anyway, Josh brought this painting he had done home, and of course, I gushed all about it. I really love it, and love how well he did! He made good use of colors, and you can tell what the picture is. He seems to be very talented (no, I'm not biased at ALL!!), and better yet, shares my love of art. Way to go Josh!! LOVE it!

the time has come, for... what?

With the kids being in school, I have a lot of extra time on my hands. I really don't know what I was so worried about... I worried that with them gone I would get bored, miss them too much, and just be plain miserable. That has so not been the case!! I have enjoyed and LOOK FORWARD to my time home with no kids. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids to pieces, and would prefer them to be home, but I haven't been miserable at all when they aren't. I have found time to keep the house clean, plan dinners, take a shower, put on makeup, read a book, and just enjoy being ME!!! This has been very good for me! I think also knowing that with a baby on the way, and that this time alone won't last too long also helps, and I am sure trying to bask in and enjoy every moment I can, because I know that this time 'alone' won't last very long. I think that moms and women in general need to take better care of themselves, and find time to do so. Find whatever it is that makes you feel like you, and then find the time to do it!! I promise that the rewards will be worth the sacrifice!! Good luck, and ENJOY!!!

Fall on its Way

I am so excited for fall. I have loved the nice weather, no more unbearable heat! It makes me nervous though to think that winter is right around the corner. I love fall, not so much winter. I was at the store the other day grocery shopping, and they already had a display out of pumpkins. It seems a little early to me, but I couldn't resist!! So now, I have this beautiful pumpkin out on the front porch in celebration of fall. I hope that this year fall lasts a little longer, and that winter is a little (or a lot) shorter. ;) I love the feeling of fall, it just gives me a warm, cozy, and peaceful feeling.

Beauty

It doesn't take a lot for me to catch my breathe these days, maybe it has something to do with being pregnant, I don't know. But I often find myself just STARING at the world around me in awe and amazement. It is so BEAUTIFUL!! I know that our Heavenly Father loves us because he sent us to this earth surrounded by things that are beyond words, and a person cannot help but feel good when looking at them. The other day I was outside with Josh, he was playing, and I was just enjoying the scenery and the perfect weather. I always have my camera on hand. I was looking up at the sky, and the clouds caught my eye, and kept them. I couldn't get over how utterly magical they are. I sometimes take for granted things like this, but that day I wanted to remember. I love to take pictures of the world around me, there is just something special about capturing nature in its simplicity!!

SUNFLOWER

Another beautiful thing that caught my eye in the last couple of days... a sunflower.
I love this flower. It is so pretty, bright, and happy.
It is like it is a way of God helping us say good-bye to summer,
by easing us into fall.
REMARKABLE.

ANOTHER Addition?

HAHA, OK, WHERE TO START??

When Ryan read that last post he could not stop LAUGHING!! I titled it 'new addition' so he totally thought I was going to make a DIFFERENT announcement, and was shocked when he read what I really wrote. So here it is, the big announcement!! We are expecting a NEW ADDITION to our family, in March. Not another dog, lol, but a baby!! I am almost 14 weeks a long, and the baby is due the end of March. We are ECSTATIC!! I know we waited a long time for the announcement, but we wanted to make sure everything was well with the baby beforehand. SO, in another couple of months we will be able to have an ultrasound and decipher the GENDER of this baby. We will definitely keep you updated!! :)

NEW ADDITION

We have a NEW ADDITION to our family!! She is OH SO CUTE!!!

The other day Ryan came home from work, and asked if I would like a DOG. We had never really considered having a pet before, they are a lot of work!! Someone Ryan works with is moving into a place where they can't have pets, and wanted to find their little girl a good home. The kids absolutely adore her. Her previous owner had named her Kandy, and so we decided just to stick with that. She is very good with the kids, and just as important HOUSE TRAINED! WAHOO!! We have loved having Kandy around, and I am sure there will be some great pics to post soon with the kids and her.

CHANGE

I have learned about myself that I have a hard time with CHANGE! It doesn't matter if it is a big change, or a little change, I need time to readjust. I got used to our summer schedule very quickly, and I don't remember a summer ever going by so fast. Now that school is again in session I must again readjust my schedule. Although I have been lucky that we haven't been late to school yet, it has been a struggle for me. Part of it is I think I just hate admitting to myself that I have a child OLD ENOUGH to be GOING to school! Where has the time gone? I am slowly learning that the kids (and myself) NEED now to go to bed earlier, so they can wake up on time in the morning. Fix lunches the night before, stay up on the laundry, all those good things that I became lazy at during the summer are now coming back and calling my name. Don't worry, I will be okay, I just need TIME. Rather than keep denying, I will instead bask! I will enjoy my kids each day, crazy schedule and all. Yes they are growing up, but we still have time before they move out!! So I will enjoy that time and these years I have with them, while also trying to STOP time in my own ways.

The time is?...

With the kids in school I have a lot more time on my hands. I expected myself to have a very hard time with having them gone... missing them way too much, being bored, and downright miserable. That is so not the case!! I have found time to clean the house, plan dinners, take a shower, put on makeup, read a book, and just enjoy being ME!!! Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my kids to pieces, and would prefer to have them home, but it sure hasn't killed me when they aren't. I think that this time has been rejuvenating for me, and exactly what I need. I think that with a baby on the way, and knowing that this time 'alone' is only temporary also helps. ;) So I really am trying to enjoy each and every moment of my alone time that I can, because I know it won't last forever!! I think it has made for a much happier mom and wife though. My goal is, even after the baby is born, to make more time for myself. I think that moms and women in general have a hard time doing this, and I am no exception!! I have learned though how important it is to take time for yourself. I would encourage and challenge all women and moms out there to find a moment to just relax, and breathe deep... do whatever it is that makes you feel like you!! The time has come to not only take care of yourself, but to pamper and spoil yourself.