Water Weekend

Great weekend - spent most of it near or in the water. Saturday we were treated to a river cruise with some friends. It was a beautiful day.

Then, we went back to the pool and hung out with the kids.

We finally found a way to get our son to agree to join the swim team. Her name is Sarah, she's the coach for ages 6 and under, and she's a tall and tan 18-year-old blond. That was the only motivation he needed. Oh, yeah, and the Skittles candy she hands out after practice. (I should get Sarah to serve him green vegetables while we're at it.)

How was your weekend?

Counting down the hours until vacay. Can. Not. Wait.

Images property of JMW A Place to Dwell

Virginia Recap

Well, we're back after a whirlwind three-day weekend in Lexington, Va. We attended a family reunion, which was great fun. Our kids had the chance to reunite with beloved cousins, as well get to know new ones, which in kids' time, is an estimated 5 minutes before they're fast friends.

This is where we stayed while there - fabulous place.

Besides swimming at the pool , we made it down to the Maury River and enjoyed dipping our toes (or for some folks, their entire selves), into the refreshing mountain waters.

Miss E. escorting a little cousin. Little Man in the background, running the driveway.

Miss E. with Aunt A, her godmother and Hubby's sister. A's also an awesome tennis instructor. If you live in the Charlotte, NC region, definitely seek her out!

It was a great weekend, but I, for one, am pretty darn tired of Interstate 64. Road trips - ugh. And, we have another one in the near future, but, I'll just focus on the destination. Family, fun and good memories to be made.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and you're ready for the new week. Cheers!

All photos property of JMW A Place to Dwell

The Future is Bright

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
 - Dr. Seuss

I recently took this snapshot of my daughter before her dance recital. I love the image of this little ballerina, who still small, has already grown so quickly. I need to stop myself sometimes and soak in these little moments in time and relish them for all they are worth. Because soon, I’ll be snapping photos of prom, graduation, a wedding…it all goes by so quickly, as our own parents can attest.

Many of you out there will be celebrating your child’s graduation this month. Cheers to your children and all that they have achieved. Best wishes to them as they start an amazing new journey. And, congratulations to you, parents, for raising great kids and getting them to this point. They couldn't have done it without you.
Image property of JMW A Place to Dwell

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

My baby turned 4 today! I love you, Little Man.

Tonight, we shall celebrate your big day with cake, presents and all things Spiderman - after your sister's soccer practice, of course. I promise, we'll go to Red Robin on Saturday. :)

It goes by so quickly, as so many of you can attest. I gave Little Man several extra squeezes before heading out to an early meeting this morning. Can't wait to see that smiling face this afternoon.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Photo property of JMW A Place to Dwell

Get Your Game Face On!

Houston, you have a problem. The Wildcats are coming to town.

Did you hear? The Kentucky Wildcats are in the Final Four! What? Oh, did I already mention that? A few hundred times, you say? Sorry, I just never get tired of saying it!

C-A-T-S! CATS!! CATS!! CATS!! Folks in Houston will be hearing that cheer a lot this weekend.

I’m actually nursing a cold right now, so an ideal weekend for me would involve propping myself up in bed with the remote in one hand and my Kindle in the other while I doze on and off throughout the day. At the very least, I hope to catch some extra sleep so I can get try to get rid of this God-awful thing. Then, stay up late Saturday to cheer on my Cats!

In other news, congrats to my dad who officially retired yesterday. Woo hoo! Many golf courses await his arrival. And, Dad, if you want to watch my kids or run a few errands for us now that you have some extra time, be our guest. :)

It’s spring break around these parts. We don’t have plans to travel anywhere this year, much to the chagrin of our daughter. Oh, well. Maybe we’ll get our act together and plan something for next spring break.

Fabulous Friday has arrived – enjoy the weekend, folks!
Images from Sea of Blue and SEC Sports Fan

It's a Great Day

Two very special events are taking place in our household. Today, my eldest child celebrates her 6th birthday:

Love you, Miss E!

Last night, my brother and sister-in-law became parents for the first time, welcoming a baby girl into the world. Here's my niece, SGM:

My family is very blessed. I plan to bring treats to my daughter's class this afternoon and then spend the rest of the day with her. This evening, we dine at her favorite restaurant, the oh-so-fancy Red Robin and return to our house for cake. Yes, it will be a sugar-filled day, that's for sure! Then, I hope my week ends with a visit to the little munchkin above.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week - the weekend is almost here!

Cheers,

Jen

Weekend Recap

Over the weekend, my mom and I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law. Pretty soon I'll have a new niece or nephew - can't wait! It was great fun seeing aunts and cousins from near and far. And, of course, having delicious cake!

The parents-to-be.

My cousin, E., and her six-week-old baby. It had been a while since I held an infant. So sweet!

Here I am with my lovely cousin, P. Girl, we need to plan a get-together soon! Shopping! Art galleries! Good food! Let's put it on the calendar soon!

The new generation of cousins. This was toward the end of the shower, after Hubby returned home with Little Man. They went to see "Gnomeo and Juliet" while the girls partied down. 

Again, it was wonderful seeing everyone and I hope they all enjoyed themselves.

By the way, for those of you who live in Louisville or in the vicinity, I have a great gift shop to recommend, Cartwheels. I stopped by there to purchase some giveaway items for the shower, having heard about the store from friends. A gal I went to high school with (and whose kids go to my daughter's school) along with her mom, own this great little shop. From jewelry and purses to fantastic gift items for babies and kids, there is such a fun varitey from which to choose. In addition to the party gifts, Miss E. picked out two items she wanted to give the new baby and I scored a couple of votives on sale.

And, Hubby, FYI, Cartwheels carries W&M jewelry (also locally-owned, and yet another grade school connection with my daughter), in case you're needing ideas for my birthday in June. Never too early to start planning. :)

Hope everyone is surviving the week so far!

Life is Good

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends! Hope you are enjoying this lovely day. In addition to it being a time to celebrate the ones we love, it's also a day to celebrate nice weather, at least around these parts. In fact, I saw some of my daughter's classmates walking to school this morning, which is such a welcome sight. So, Spring, thanks for making an early appearance this weekend and hanging around until Monday. Relax, settle in and stay for a while. We're so happy to see you!

For those of you who celebrate this day, any special plans or gifts exchanged? I would love to hear about it as I sip from my new Starbuck's ceramic travel mug that Hubby gave me, accompanied by a large bag of Sumatra beans. He had to present these Valentine's gifts early because we were out of coffee yesterday morning and he knew there would be a total meltdown by yours truly if I didn't get my caffeine fix before church.

Again, you're a good man, Hubby. (Yes, we're wearing matching sweaters, as did the kids for a family photo session a few years ago. I know, I know, try not to gag. I just had to brag on Hubby a bit. I am blessed. Life is good.)

Happy Valentine's, everyone!
Image from Martha Stewart Living

And How Was Your Week, Honey?

Hubby's home, safe and sound after spending most of the week in California on business. So, knowing I'd had a full week of single-parenting it and craziness at work, he took me out to dinner for an early Valentine's Day treat last night. Chianti, great Italian food and cannoli for dessert - perfection.

Before we left for the restaurant, Hubby pulls out his phone to show me a place where he and his colleagues ate dinner one night.

It's in Malibu. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Yeah, wise decision not to e-mail that to me while he was gone.

He did make up for it with the dinner and by presenting me with a new pair of earrings. You're a good man, Charlie Brown.

It's a Snow Day...Again

Our front yard, before the kids make their marks in the snow.

Another snow day in the 'Ville...here's hoping that we can avoid going to school into June. Hubby wanted to take the kids sledding, but it's 9 degrees outside, with a wind chill well below zero. I think we'll all be huddled inside today.

Just brewed another pot of coffee as I work from home. The kids are enjoying the day off, lounging in their PJs and watching episodes of "Curious George" and "Martha Speaks," while every now and then spouting "Don't touch me!," "Mom, he kicked me!," or "Mom, she shoved me!" Ah, snow days.

I seriously need to book our beach vacation now, because if I don't have an actual date on the calendar with a visual in my head in which to retreat during moments like this, I may go ape-sh*! crazy.

Happy Friday, all!

P.S. - Remember when I made a plea to Trader Joe's last year to bring one of their stores to my neck of the woods? Well, looks like it's going to happen. Woo hoo!

Snow, Snow and More Snow

We had another snow day on Tuesday. Kids home. Hubby and I working from home. General chaos that ensues when kids are cooped up too long indoors.

Around lunchtime, the kids and I bundled up and ventured outdoors. It was cold and still snowing, but it was fun to frolic with them in the yard. We tried to build a snow man, but the snow was too powdery; would have been perfect for skiing. After coming in for lunch, they ventured back out again for some more snow-time, but didn't stay long. It was time to come back inside and watch a movie.

Here's the aftermath of the snow adventure (I really need to invest in a nicer camera - my phone is a poor option for blogging):

The whole process of bundling kids up for playing in the snow is not fun, to say the least. The time, energy and sweat - whew! But, they had fun and were able to run around a bit, which was much needed. 

I was hoping that by the time they were finished playing outside, both of them would crash and finally get a much-needed nap. Little Man eventually succumbed to the day's activities, but it was right before dinner, which meant I had an unhappy camper on my hands when I had to wake him up much sooner than expected. 

The kids certainly are racking up the snow days. They'll be going into June at this point! They did return to their normal schedules today, thank goodness.

I heard today that every state in the country, except for Florida, has snow on the ground in some location. Yes, even Hawaii, apparently. Unbelievable.

Try to stay warm, folks. I'm already planning our summer vacation. I need something warm and sandy in which to look forward!

P.S. - Props to my University of Kentucky Wildcats for their win over Auburn last night. Yeah, War Eagles, you may have won the BCS Bowl, but you got nothin' on us in basketball. :)

Turning on the Imagination

This family is featured in today's New York Times, in a story about families and communities trying to restore playtime in their kids' lives.  

I found this article in the New York Times very interesting. It’s about an effort to restore playtime in the lives of children.

I’ve been hearing over the years that due to an enormous presence that technology has in kids’ lives these days, as well as kids being overscheduled with countless extracurricular activities, their imaginations have been stunted. But I guess I wasn’t quite aware of the extent until reading this article. It made me appreciate that our kids have vivid imaginations and that Hubby and I have fostered this along.

I have to admit, I likely allow too much TV, especially on cold or rainy days. But, we’ve been making a concerted effort to turn off the TV or the computer games and let the kids have their own make-believe time.

They may whine a bit at first, but it’s amazing how quickly they turn on their imaginations. I start hearing conversations between dolls, chugging noises from a choo choo train and playful banter throughout the house. One day, they built a fort in the basement made of chairs and a blanket. On nice days, they run around in the yard, make chalk drawings on the driveway and much more. Our house gets cluttered, but I'm okay with that. We have little kids who have toys strewn about and who play dress-up. That is life in our household and personally, I think that's how life in many households should be. But, hey, that's me. Not going to push my way of life on everyone.

This article also reported about some schools where recess is no longer permitted, because of a fear that kids will get hurt. Are you kidding me?? Groups are being developed across the country to bring back recess and playtime to schools and neighborhoods. Amazing. Maybe that’s why workplaces like Google, eBay and Facebook look like giant playgrounds because the staff at those companies missed out on playtime as kids. They have to go to work to learn how to play. :)

Please share your thoughts on this topic - would love to hear what you think.

Bowl Weekend
Enjoy your weekend, folks. Hope you have some fun activities planned. We’ll be cheering on my Kentucky Wildcats against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the BCVS Compass Bowl (whatever the heck that is) on Saturday.

Go CATS!!!!!!

Images from The New York Times and Lexington Herald-Leader

Ringing in 2011

New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.    ~Mark Twain

Wow, my friends, what a year it has been! Tomorrow we say farewell to 2010 and ring in 2011. It’s been quite a year for us to say the least.

The Good: Our new house, our daughter starting kindergarten;
The Bad: My mom’s illness and the after-effects;
The Ugly: The economy, politics, celebrities behaving badly, etc.

But, I am determined to see 2011 as a glass-half-full-year- red or white, whatever you prefer - and I pray for good health and happiness in the new year. The fact that my mom is returning to teaching part-time in January already has things off to a great start! And, my brother and his wife are expecting a baby in March, so another awesome event in which to look forward!

So, dear friends, how will you ring in 2011? Any special traditions, such as clanging the pots and pans at midnight? A champagne toast? Black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day? By the way, if you’re looking to start a new tradition for New Year’s Day, consider making a batch of Hoppin’ John. Mmm, good!

We’ll be ringing in the new year at a dinner dance with friends and then spending the weekend taking down the Christmas decorations. Sad to see them go, but it’s time to clear the clutter and get ready for the New Year. As far as New Year's Resolutions, I bought a new pair of trail shoes today and have already put them to work on the treadmill. I hope to bump up my exercise regimen over the next year, eat healthier and have a more positive outlook. What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2011?

Thank you for such a wonderful year. I value your comments, insight and support that you provide every day. I may not always respond directly to each of your comments, but please know that I appreciate them so very much. It means the world to me that you read my daily ramblings and find it worthwhile to visit often.

I wish you and yours the happiest of New Year's! Talk to you in 2011!
Image courtesy of Google and recipe from Garden & Gun

Christmas Decor and Ice at the Door

Well, the kids are home from school yet again. This time around, ice and sleet hit the region, so the roads are pretty darn slick. The kids are watching "Curious George" while Hubby and I work on our respective laptops. Ain't technology grand?

So, while at home, I've taken some shots of random holiday items, including our tree. Please excuse the quality - these were taken with my phone.

I bought this pillow at one of the Christmas craft fairs I attended this season. I think it fits my kids well, considering the antics of late.

The other night, we stopped by our favorite Irish restaurant (where Hubby and and I first met) for some pub grub with the kids. 

This little elf was a tad to full of energy, not able to sit still and actually fell out of the booth. Friends asured me that that wasn't the first time that has happened at the pub. :)

Meanwhile, this little elf had difficulty keeping her voice at a normal level, clearly out of excitement over eating out and anticipation of the holidays. I'm pretty sure there is no button on this child to turn down the volume. It's set on full throttle. Needless to say, these kids are wired for sound heading into the holidays.

Back to holiday decor, I purchased these coasters at the same craft fair. I had them out for our holiday get-together last Saturday. I like them - kinda fun.

Finally, we have a print that was given to us by a good friend, Doreen. Doreen is great graphic designer that Hubby and I have worked on projects and her twin sister, Jeaneen, is a local artist. The sisters have collaborated on artwork for the Kentucky Derby Festival and St. James Art Fair and the posters always look amazing. Last year, Jeaneen released a Santa print that was very popular in this area. Doreen gave it to us a housewarming gift. This guy is the latest additon to our house and we are displaying him with Christmas pride!

If you're home with the kiddos for a snow/ice day, hang in there. Hopefully we'll get the free-and-clear for them to return tomorrow. Although, in our case, Miss E. only has a half-day on Friday and is then out for Christmas vacation. So, not much else to wrap-up at this point, at least for kindergarteners. And, if you don't have snow and ice, count yourself lucky as you count your days down to the holidays.

Take it easy, folks. The weekend is almost upon us.

Thanksgiving is Over; the Christmas Season Begins

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, full of food, fun and family. We ate until we about popped. Good times, for sure.

Hubby made some delicious turkey and stuffing and I baked some tasty biscuits. My parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law brought even more food and we dined like kings.

Before our Thanksgiving holiday weekend ended, I was determined to get a photo of the kids to use on this year's Christmas cards. The weather was nice on Sunday, so we headed outside to get some shots. The "photo session" started out pretty good...

With the kids being sweet together...

But then they started getting antsy, having had enough of Mommy and Daddy constantly saying "Cheese!"

 

It then devolved into a wrestling match...

And that was the moment when we decided to call "Cut!" and head inside. Luckily, we did get some decent shots, and one in particular we plan to use for the Christmas card.

A little later, while Hubby and I were viewing the selection on the computer, the kids came into the office, having yet again used each other as a canvas for their creative coloring. They looked like scary clowns (is that redundant?), so I had to scrub their faces yet again. Ugh. 

Now we're onto Cyber Monday to search for some great online deals. The holiday shopping season is officially here - best of luck to one and all!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, it’s been quite a year for our family and we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The most significant one being my mom’s continued recovery from the illness and subsequent strokes that inflicted her in the late spring; and for my dad’s strength to shepherd her through this ordeal.

 

Miss E. and my mom during Miss E.'s second birthday party.

My son as a baby with my dad, aka Grandpa.

I am thankful for this man, my wonderful husband, who donned a UK sweatshirt at a football game, even though he wasn't a big fan. He's coming around,  though.

My beautiful kids - I am so blessed to have them.

I’m thankful for my loving husband, my amazing kids and the life that we have together. I’m thankful for my kids’ wonderful schools and the guidance that their talented teachers and caregivers provide to them. I’m thankful that my brother and wife are expecting a baby in March and all has gone well with her pregnancy. I’m thankful for our lovely new home and all of the friends and family we have welcomed to it.

I am also thankful that in this economy, I still have a good job, I like what I do and enjoy my coworkers. I’m thankful that I’m healthy and blessed with such a bountiful life.

I am also thankful for all of you wonderful readers and fellow bloggers who stop by each day, and leave such kinds comments. It’s because of you that I continue to write about everything and anything. Thanks for your support and know that I am also thankful to be part of such a great community of bloggers!

I hope you and your families have a safe, happy and healthy holiday. Enjoy the food, parades, football, Turkey Trots (for you runners) and everything this holiday has to offer. And for those of you planning to shop on Black Friday, my the Force be with you. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jen

P.S. - I also am thankful that this Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will not be flying anywhere, therefore I won't have to endure a full-body pat-down. Blech.
Image from Charles Schultz, via Google Images and JMW collection, not available for use elsewhere.



A Shutterfly Holiday Greeting

As the holidays quickly approach (Thanksgiving is a week from today!), I’ve been thinking about our annual Christmas card.

There are several brands available, but this year we’re planning to use Shutterfly. I like their designs this season, as well as their options beyond a standard photo card. In the past, we have received Shutterfly cards from friends and family – either featuring a single photo, as well a year-in-review collages, which are nice alternatives to the standard Christmas letter. Some cards also feature a timeline of the last year, which is great for a year that featured a wedding, the birth of a child or other big family milestones.

I’m quite partial to the toile design above. Now it’s a matter of getting my kids to stand still for a moment so I can take a photo!
All images courtesy of Shutterfly.com

To view a vast assortment of designs, visit http://www.shutterfly.com/.

How I Spent My Monday

On Monday, I took the day off to spend time with the kids, since Miss. E. was on fall break. I kept Little Man home from daycare as well so we could enjoy the day together. No, I didn't have a fantastic day at the museum or zoo planned. Well, I wanted to try the zoo, but it finally rained after weeks of drought - of course - so we took to a trip to the grocery, visited my mom and then took Mom to her physical therapy appointment. The kids really enjoyed this part because it involved a visit to the hospital gift shop for a treat. Mom is making amazing progress. Her therapist is working to transition her from a walker to a cane. To think where she was in late May to now is a true miracle.

Anyhoo, after my kids wreaked havoc at the physical therapy gym (don't get my son around those giant exercise balls - you're only asking for trouble), we headed home to get Miss E. dressed for her class's Halloween party. It was supposed take place at one of the parent's homes, but given that it rained (again, seriously, of all the days that it finally rains) they moved it to one of the fire houses. So, we took Dorothy and her ruby slippers to the party. As you can see from the photo above, it's late October, yet my kids are still wearing summer clothes. Today it's a warm, stormy day. Batten down the hatches, folks.

We then returned home and met some more of our new neighbors who stopped by to drop off Halloween cookies. They seem very nice and I look forward to talking with them at our other neighbors' Halloween party on Saturday. 

By the way, notice the doors in the photo? Yep, we did away with the yellow doors. Yes, they were cheerful, but not quite the color we wanted. Now we have the traditional black and I'm quite happy with the change. And those white things around the door are skeleton lights - they're actually pretty cool at night, but during the day, it's an odd look to say the least. :)

Happy Tuesday, folks. Hope you have a good one!

Creative Costumes

So, what are the kids in your lives wearing this Halloween? We have a Spiderman and Dorothy in our house. Thank God no Lady Gaga costumes this year.

Hubby and I are planning to dress up for our neighbor's costume party in a couple of weeks. He's wearing camouflage pants and I'm wearing a camo shirt and hat. Can you guess what we're going as? An Upper and Lower GI. Hee hee.

Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone!
Image courtesy of Southern Living

11 Years

October 16, 1999

Happy anniversary to my best friend, the love of my life and a terrific father. You mean the world to me. (Wow, look how young we look!)