Photo Dump....Week of Feb 10th

This week was fun and full of adventure...another iced snowed just-cold-wind-let's-cancel-school-again happened.  Whatever...we had fun together!

This was Monday night!!!  I can't look at this picture and NOT laugh!  We, as parents to a sixth grader, had to go up to the school and hear about next year.  We were all jam packed into the gym....and I decided to embarass Aidan.  So I leaned over to take a selfie with him.  He was not having it, but you can tell by his smile he thought it was hilarious too!!

So Tuesday was the "no school" day...and I did a whole post on it HERE!  But here is a quick pic of our AWESOME tent!  

Wednesday...I dressed her Valentiny all week!!

I prepared gifts for teachers and students!  Yummy...marshmallows, kisses and other chocolates!!  

Thursday was our V-day party at Grace Place!  I decorated the little tables with material.  We laid out their bags and a yummy treat.  I think they really enjoyed it...especially decorating their cupcakes with icing AND Valentines M&Ms!  

Joey sent me flowers to work...melt my heart.  I love receiving flowers.  Like...a.LOT!

Keegan gave me this sweet little package...and what was in this cute mason jar?

Well, I guess you will never know...because I scarfed it down!!  {Red velvet cake and cream cheese icing...my favorite!}

Friday was V-Day at LPE...and being room mom I had got to throw the kids a party!  Haha!!  I really did enjoy this one, it was pretty low key and the kids were more calm than Christmas!  B passing out her cards and eating a yummy treat.  

 Friday was also a half day...so we were blessed with great weather and we hung outside all afternoon!  

IGC....Happy Place

Let's Play!!

Saturday I made about a million 13 cards for an ex-employee of Joeys.  They were throwing another co-worker a retirement party and they each got her a charm and told her why they chose that particular one.  I was glad to be a part of her special day!

What a fun and eventful week!!  My heart was happy and full!

Aidan's Birthday Celebration!

Aidan turned 12 on February 6th and we celebrated the following weekend at Don Pablos!  Aidan, Finley, Joey and our nephew Jacob went to Flight Deck here in Fort Worth first and then we all met up for dinner!  It was delicious and we all had a great time...especially at Aidan's expense when he was forced to dance on a chair!  Ha!

And this is what I get when I ask Joey to take pics...a butt!!  Haha!  Those to-go boxes were his wings which he proceeded to flap around....and then the cone in his mouth...priceless!!!

He was less than thrilled!

He was very excited about his gifts and we all had a good time celebrating this tween.  I cannot believe he is 12....and taller than me. :((

Photo Dump...week of Feb 3rd

Well, most of this week is made up of Instagram Challenge pics...but that's ok, right?  Apparently my life was kinda boring this week, because I only have a few pictures!  Aidan's birthday was on Sunday the 9th, but I will do another post on that.  So....

IGC: Heart

 IGC...sweet treat: um, I'm currently drooling!!

Thursday was Aidan's actual birthday...so as tradition goes...it was donuts for the birthday boy (except I forgot to pull out the birthday plate...shame on me!!).  :(  The 12 candles were almost too much for this little donut!!  Ha!

And then it iced AGAIN.  It looks like beautiful snow, but it really wasn't.  But hey, that's ok...it was still pretty!!

We went out for dinner to celebrate this kid!!  Pulidos...his fav!!

 IGC: flowers....these are the flowers Joey got B for her first birthday.  I still have them, and I very much treasure them.  I hope they keep till she gets married...it will be hard, but I might put them in a shadow box soon. :))

I got a new vaccum Saturday afternoon...with it came Kohls cash...which I later spent on a new purse (see pic below!!).

IGC: Love going to...my church!!

And Sunday afternoon before we headed off to Aidan's party, I stopped back by Kohls to pick out my new purse!!  It was a difficult decision...but the winner was the bottom right!!!  I do love it a lot, and I am glad Joey, and the saleslady, and Breslyn AND Owen told me to pick that one!! ;)

And just something to make ya laugh!!!  

Another week down.  Whoop!

Instead of Blogging...

I was noticing that 1) I'm not getting as many people in to read ye ole blog 2) I blogged half the amount of posts (Feb) this year from the same month last year 3) I'm too busy adjusting to this new life to get chances to write more posts....but I miss it.  I miss it so much.  I miss linking up with other blogs and having strangers comment on how much they like my mantle, or just to say they stopped by.  I miss taking the time to write....because I genuinely love to write.  I've considered being a writer...don't judge my spelling, that is what spell check is for!!! :)

But with this new life I'm living I just can't keep up the same pace as I did in the past.  With Joey working long hard hours, especially on the weekend...my attention goes to other things.  And during nap time I'm giving up TV/computer time to be in the Word....and I LOVE it!  I am choosing to make time for reading my Bible and talking with God, and it is what I need so much.  And some days I would just rather veg out and watch Reba or Criminal Minds (shout out to Traci) and sometimes I do, but I have to choose to focus on Christ first.  I choose Him, because He has chosen to carry ME through so much.  He has carried me through Joey losing his job (my biggest fear).  He has carried me through the unknowns.  He has carried me through screaming kids, difficult dinners and putting kids to bed by myself many nights.  He has carried me through times when my faith was/is beyond lacking.  But He doesn't just carry me through...He provides and blesses in every situation.  I would have to start another post on how He has provided for us in this difficult time...He is so GRACIOUS and GIVING and GENEROUS!!!  Thank you Lord for everything you have done and continue to do in our family!

I hope to get back to blogging a bit more...if time and attention allows, but for now I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!!  

Prepping for Pirates

Owen will be turning 4 soon {ignore my sadness, weeping and overall funk...no more babyness...ugh}...and he has finally decided on a Pirate theme.  He would probably prefer Jake and the Neverland Pirates, but we are going a little more generic than that!!  Ha!

Some inspirations pics....however,I've noticed...the majority of these pics are of food!! Guess I'm a little too focused on the cute food to worry about decor yet! Haha!! I'm will be headed to Hobby Lobby for invites, plates & napkins and material. I'm excited for the little matey to turn 4...even if it breaks my heart a ginormous huge big tiny bit!!;)

Photo Dump...Week of Jan 26th

Sunday..her one and only Matilda Jane outfit!!

We taught Kids church...lots of fun....can you feel my sarcasm?  It's there...trust me!!

After church Ashlee and I ran some errands...and I picked up party favors for the shower!

IGC (from now on I'm just going to refer to them as that, so I don't have to go into the details constantly)...

IGC..."memory"...my Grandpa and me!!  This picture really does melt my heart.  I'm a puddle.

Helping B with her first real school project...

I decided I no longer want to clean the kids bathroom, ya know, since I'm not the one peeing ALL OVER IT!!  I gave them a tutorial and set them loose.  They.were.thrilled.

Tuesday I hopped on the scale and drug myself off.  I had been working so hard on my WW plan, but I wasn't seeing anything on the scale...except maybe the number go up an ounce or two.  I was so discouraged I just stood there in my bathroom...at 6am...blubbering....hard ugly cry.  I tried to be quiet, but just as I stepped into the shower Joey came in wondering what was wrong.  I stepped back out (wrapped in a towel...dirty minds) and just bawled in his arms.  Later that day Joey sent me this SWEET text message.  It was so encouraging and I love him for it!!

Valentine Mantle...

Finn's progress report!!  So proud of him!

I addressed baby shower invites!!!

Miss. Priss taking selfies while I fixed her hair!

We met Joey for lunch on Wednesday!!  Yummy and the boys were very well behaved!

Friday was Western Day at school!!  I love that these two have each other to rely on in school.  It's nice to have a partner in the every day things!

B drew me a pic...loving the fancy blue hair!

Started a new IGChallenge on February 1st!!  Whoohoo!

Saturday I sweated with Leslie Sansone of Walk Away the Pounds!!

And I finished up working in Owen and Finn's room....Friday I moved a lot of "stuff" out and patched all the holes in the walls.  Saturday I did the rest...painting, cleaning the walls and baseboards...it was a project, but I am so much happier the way the room is now!!

I made a rag banner for the baby shower!!  Love these colors together!

IGC...selfie!

Superbowl at the Szymanski's house!!  We ate, talked and watched a pathetic football game...but we had lots of fun!!

Time for February Photo Dumps!!  I'm only a month-ish behind!!  Teehee!!