Hosanna!

Since yesterday was Palm Sunday, it was awesome to hear the girls come home and say the things they did in Sunday School. Aliyah was particularly excited as they did a Passover Feast in their class complete with "uniforms" as she called them. Each child had a robe and head covering. Aliyah's was red and purple. They sat down on the floor at a table on the floor. The food was in baskets and everything. She really enjoyed all of the food--particularly the lamb. She informed me that it was really jut meat just like the roast that I make.

The boys and guy teachers got to be disciples I guess. I know she will remember for a LONG time! I love all that they did to make this such a special event. Aliyah also brought home a shiny penny. Her class took dirty pennies and put them in lemon juice to show how Jesus dying on the cross "purifies" the sin. They are supposed to look at the penny this week and be reminded of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Keirah came home waving a palm branch. It is in water on the windowsill. While they were playing outside yesterday afternoon, she kept saying "Jesus is Alive" over and over. It was adorable. She even told us they memorized a verse and started to say it and then I don't remember what happened. We were outside so any distraction could have taken place =).

I so love hearing what they have learned!

Friends

If one were to ask me what I miss about college, I would not have many things to say that I missed with the exception of the two big/only things I miss. Unequivically the answer would be my wonderful friends and the beach/weather (in that order). Unfortunately, since my college years those friends are scattered in all different states coast to coast & North to South. Many I haven't seen in years (some of them almost 10 years). I miss them.

We had the most fun together and the best of times. We were there for the rough times like when that jerk of a boyfriend broke up with one of us or when we missed home or simply had a bad day. I could tell story after story of the fun we had and the times we were there for each other. It would take up more than enough space and a lot of your time to read them all! These are the friends you wanted to talk to when those triumphant moments came and when the sad ones were there. I wish that I could have them all living close by so that we could get together often and just be girlfriends again.

Sadly, since then I don't have really any friends like that around. Time zones, work, and family make it difficult to have much of a chance to talk. I would love it if just one of them happened to have to be close by. It would be a dream come true. I could imagine us getting together with our kids and picking up right where we left off.

I don't really know if any of them read this blog...honestly I don't know how many I've even told that it exists...but if you do...I miss you!

Strangely Quiet

It is Sunday and very quiet in my house. Why? Because I'm home all by myself. I couldn't tell you the last time that occurred. I wish that I was with my lovelies at church this morning, however with my faucet dripping nose and constant coughing...I wanted to be considerate. It wouldn't be polite or nice to go be in the nursery with the 1 year olds and give them all of this junk. It appears that I've inherited the colds the girls had over the last week or so. On a side note, if you want to hear one of my pet peeves...not that you asked...here is one:

I can't tell you how many times when I was teaching kindergarten, parents sent their sick children to school. I'm not talking a little cough or runny nose here. Try pink-eye, bronchitis, etc... They really needed to stay home because as you could probably guess other kids as well as myself came down with these "lovely" illnesses. I hadn't ever had pink-eye in my life until then, but managed to get it 3-4 times. I did everything I could to sterilize that room Lysol the things people touch like door handles, desk tops, even throwing away and starting with new pencils and such. It took Christmas break for it to go away. So, sick...keep it to yourself don't try to share.

Anyway, it is really odd to have the house so quiet. I miss being at church. Our church is telecast so I can watch it, but it is not the same as being there. Actually, I'm almost 98% positive that this week's telecast was from last Palm Sunday. Usually we are on a 2 week delay and the service today wasn't from 2 weeks ago. It's totally different to be there with other church family and friends. Aliyah's class is commemmorating the Passover this week by having a Passover Feast of Lamb, sop, unleavened bread, and grape juice. I made sure to let her know what all of the items were so that she wouldn't be afraid to eat them. We so appreciate all of the work that the teachers put into these children! I know that it is something they will remember for a long time if not for a lifetime. I'm imagining they will come home with palm branches as well.

Our lovely new mattress was delivered yesterday and what a night's sleep we got! We love it! It is so comfy.

Projects for the year are gearing up. We have ordered our fence and it should be here in a week or so. Once Josh can find time and good weather, he will start. He also has a bathroom floor to tile and a bedroom floor to stain. The only other "projects" slated are to pour cement in an area by the garage/walkway and work on landscaping again along the back. It is getting there. There are only a couple more bush roots to dig up. Although we lost track of the exact number, we think we are around 60 bushes that we have removed from our property. Until recently, we left the flowering ones like forsythia, bridal wreath, and white spirea. However, they take so much trimming during spring and summer, it was time for them to go. I have enough items to take care of in the yard and home and such without having to trim bushes all of the time. If I neglected to trim, it didn't take long for that unkempt overgrown look to occur. All that remains are two lilacs (which don't require much), a quince, and a bridal wreath. I think I can manage those =).

Only a couple more weeks until plants will arrive at the stores. I'm so ready to plant! The windowboxes are so awesome because we can sit in our living room and every window has flowers that we can see. I haven't decided on colors for this year, but once I get to look at what they have...I will decide--a feast for the eyes for sure! That is something that is fun to do. We visit this greenhouse and I love to go in there and let my eyes dance while they take in the vibrant colors. It is just unbelievable! The reds, salmons, pinks, yellows, oranges simply just create a visual like nothing else!

It is probably time to take the two spring coats from the dryer so I had better close this one. Looking forward to April and Easter--coming this week!!

People or Things

Should be an easy choice right?

What do I choose?

I have seen this one lived out before my eyes most notably by more mature people. The one I think of particularly is my grandma. Maybe it is a perspective that you gain as you age (although sometimes not), but a perspective that you can learn to take and appreciate before the older years. I've thought about it before and this is my conclusion...those with silver in their hair have figured out that they will not take their "things" with them. Whether that be those pretty breakable statues, carpeting, furniture, cars...whatever it stays. The children and grandchildren get to figure out what to do with it, but what the children and grandchildren really get is that legacy of how much they were loved...not how important the "things" were--hopefully!

What am I thinking of?? Well, all of those time in childhood clumsiness or accident the carpet gets wet on or something gets broken. How about when the little ones pick the special flowers from the garden? I have seen all of the above mentioned things happen and the reaction was the same each and every time...it doesn't matter...it's just a thing. I'm not referring to acts of disobedience or vandalism here so I think you get the point.

While we try to keep the "things" entrusted to us nice, I always try to remember "it's just a thing". These "things" don't love me back or talk to me or eat dinner with me. Believe me, sometimes its hard when that piece of "new & perfect" furniture gets blemished. It's just a thing.

The other thing I take away from this is how much time do I spend acquiring and looking after "things"? I can fill my home with "things" and be as empty as a dark black hole. If I fill my home with love and fun memories, I am as rich as can be! Will my children remember me for the fun things we did together or how wrapped up I was with all of my "stuff"?
Some of the happiest people I have ever seen are those with the fewest things. After all...things don't love you back!

All of that said, we do our best to teach our children to respect others things and property. Treat others the way we want to be treated.

Along the way, I have made at least some progress in the "it's just a thing" mentality, but it is something I do have to remind myself!

NEW

I have been so negligent here that I almost forgot my password. Never fear, it came back.

As with any spring or any warm weather, things feel new again. Lots of new. I like new and I like life!

We spend time outside as much as we can, but not over the weekend as it turned cold.

My mind is spinning with house project plans, garden plans, purging plans of my house, our 10th anniversary, and so many other things. My little beauties constantly remind me of the pool with their asking about it. Aliyah is ready to be more blonde again (she has figured out that every summer, her hair gets lighter). She may as well enjoy it while she's young. Josh and I were both blondes at various points of our lives, but not so much now. He's black haired and me brunette. There's not much of a hint of blonde left in either one. Sure, the blonde days were when I was a little girl and then in the Florida days, but those days disappeared more with each child. No, I don't have grays, but for some reason pregnancy brought out the brunette. I think with Aliyah it almost was black.

Easter plans for anyone? For us, not so much. Josh works. I'm thankful for his job, but working holidays makes it lonely. Oh well, there's too much to be thankful for to worry about it right??

Love to all of you out there in blog world!

Thinkin of a nap

The spring ahead is wonderful for having more daylight at the end of the day, but it's hard to adjust for the first couple of days to the loss of the "measly" hour of sleep. It's caught up today. I am TIRED!

I think I will fall aslep imagining that I am soaking up some warm sunlight on a sandy beach while seagulls squawk as they look for food and the waves crash into shore. Yep, I'm gonna retire to a climate like that one day. Yeah, and while I'm imagining that, I will imagine a pedicure as well.

What do you do...

...when the weekend is rainy?

Well, you go find some new fun things to do. We went to a neighboring city and found some resale shops to go check out. Mixed in with that, go find two new restaurants that you've never visited and eat!

We dodged raindrops and found all new places and all great eats. It was really fun!! We started out eating at Cosi. It's a cafe of sorts and nicely decorated. I think this particular Cosi is a bit different than others since this one is in the center of a college town and just yards away from campus. Nevertheless, it was yummy!

We visited kids resale shops, an antique shop, and a thrift shop that had all kinds of different things. A few purchases were made. I found some brand new Mary Jane Crocs perfect for my gardening and walks, a few books for the girls (.12 each), some clothes for the girls, and two antique baby dolls. The girls love the baby dolls and these are over 50 years old and have their original clothes.

We finished the day at a restaurant that we hadn't ever heard of --Skewers. It was phenomenal! They had a dinner special for 9.95. I got a New York strip and jumbo shrimp (which Josh ate) and baby yukon potatoes as well as a salad. The 9.95 special even came with dessert. It was a nice-sized dessert (mine was a brownie sundae). Everything was beyond fabulous! Josh had chili, tilapia, and baby yukon potatoes. He followed his with a strawberry sundae. We left stuffed!! The place a had a very nice ambiance--we will return!

Despite the raindrops, it was a fun-filled day with all new things!

Hibernation OVER!

It's no secret that spring and warm temps awaken me to the core. I have energy that is not around during winter. I fee alive and I soak up the warmth--kind of like those plants in the garden.

School is finished for the year for Aliyah & Keirah. We've been out for a week now and everyone is happy. It came just in time since the weather broke! She will still study flashcards since they had them learning a lot of multiplication at the end of the year in math, but time is now free for playing outside.

All the pent-up winter energy is being released. It's amazing, they have taken some naps and are pretty quiet in the evenings. In the winter, they have so much energy with nothing to do with that they like to run back and forth or jump up and down. They have spent time jumping for over an hour straight on the trampoline, then swinging, then practicing baseball, then going on walks, and just running around. I have enjoyed the walks with them and breathing in that fresh air. I have even gotten to do some garden prep-work. My windowboxes are getting a second life thanks to a can of spray paint. Hey, it's much cheaper than purchasing all new.

The house has been gloriously clean, and Chaney even moved back out on the porch. I guess that shouldn't go in the same sentence. Chaney wasn't making the house dirty. As far as cats go, luckily Chaney is really not a much of a shedding one. Josh is rarely even bothered by him--if at all.

Last night, Josh and I went out for a little date night. We totally love the girls and typically take them everywhere with us aside from work, but it is nice every now and then to have a quiet dinner and shop. We picked Monical's (I mean I did). It was a different one than we normally eat at, but it was still SUPER yummy! Josh was in dire need of new shoes (even though he didn't realize it). I noticed the other day that the shoes he's worn for months now for hours on end at work have started to look like he is kind of poor and can't afford shoes. He tried to tell me that they probably just needed polished to which I laughed. Once we got to the store and we looked at new ones, he realized how terrible they looked. He now has two new pair and I made him wear one out of the store--whew! Now he looks great from head to toe.

Back to that warmer weather thing...I see my little spring flowers in bloom, although I don't know what they are--not crocus. I see tulips popping up, and the rain is making the grass turn green. Did I tell you, I'm not even minding the rain?? It's warmer and it's not snow! The short sleeves have been out a few times too!

Well, off to enjoy Saturday with my family who is still sleeping. I think it is about time for breakfast!

Absent

Well, I guess I have been absent from blog land for a bit now huh? Come to think of it, not much on FB either.

I'm glad it is March and the spring-like weather is making an appearance. I feel like that is all I have talked about. Maybe that is due to the fact that warm weather makes me feel alive and ready to conquer the world. Winter certainly doesn't bring those same feelings.

We began talking and figuring out what our new fence will be. It has to be ordered. I think we will do it this week. This has been a planned project since last year. I certainly haven't missed having projects going on all of the time. This one will be outside so the mess can be out there =).

On a jubilant note, after a week of a LOT OF HARD WORK, Aliyah is finished with 2nd grade. I don't know who is more happy...Josh and I or her. She did extra lessons this week in order to finish. We always try to do it this way so that once the weather breaks, they are able to go outside and play (much needed) and we can start walks and fun stuff. We aren't planting any flowers this year for a project because since they have to sit in the window sills to get light, I can imagine a furry spotted/striped creature knocking them over when he jumps up to perch there.

In other spring happenings, I planted my day lily seeds that I collected from my lilies last year. We'll see what happens!

Oh yes, can't forget this one...my computer "recovered from a very serious error" today. What a blessing! I don't know what the problem was, but I did a few things in the control panel and it came back to life after the dreaded blue screen of doom...wouldn't let it open in normal mode.

We took a walk today again. I so need them! The girls need them as well, but not for the same reasons =). They need it to expel all of that energy.

It's hard to believe Easter is less than a month away. Josh works on Easter again this year--bummer. I ordered the girl's dresses from Nordstrom and they are here. My dress that I ordered 10 days ago hasn't even shipped =(. We'll see I guess.

I'm ready to start up garage sale season again. Going last summer has changed a lot of my spending habits for the better! We found great stuff--in the brands I normally purchase for full price at the store!

And lastly, the nice weather has brought the cleaning bug out again. The windows have been opened and I have been cleaning/organizing. I have done pretty well selling that unwanted stuff on Craigslist. I sure wish I could figure out how to not have to have a garage sale, but I think there will be one in the very near future!