Simple pleasures

It's been awhile since I have had anything blog-worthy to write about. Or I guess I should say, anything worth taking time out of spending time with my little monkeys to sit down and type about! We have had a wonderfully busy couple of weeks--including squeezing in a long weekend with some amazing friends up in northern MN. A busy week is already in the works right now as well...including me working a few days, 3 kids' dentist appointments, a t-ball ice cream party (at my house!!) and heading to Nebraska on Saturday for a friend's wedding. Phew! In the midst of the busy-ness though, there are some things that make me pause and be thankful. A few simple pleasures that make me happy are:

*someone returning a phone call when they said they would--can I get an Amen?

*seeing my child be compassionate to another child, when something doesn't come easy for that other kid

*eating donuts at the Lodge in MN with my family

*watching my Charlie-Man become a champ at the kayak!

*a co-worker bringing me cough drops at work yesterday as I have been nailed with a nasty summer cold (why is it that summer colds are 10 times worse than winter colds??)

*hearing the exact song I wanted to hear on the radio...it's like they were reading my mind!

*seeing blessings heaped on some friends...watching God answer prayer

*Tate's curls...the more humid it gets, the curlier our little Goldilocks gets! :)

*The book "Heaven is for Real"--I am a little behind the crowd on this one but I just finished it and LOVED it. Read it!

There are so many others but these are just a few...hope you find some things to be happy about too on this gloomy day. Happy Wednesday, friends!

A random Wednesday...

I wanted to take a minute and show you some of the great blogs I check out sometimes...ones that I read but am too lazy to put on my sidebar (I will get around to it...maybe today!).

My cousin Shannon's blog is so good. She doesn't post a lot but when she does, it has substance and she is an excellent writer. A lot of her posts focus on dealing with the pain of her mother's sudden death. It is raw and honest and I really appreciate that. Go here to read her blog.

A fun one I check out occasionally is The Pleated Poppy. Click on the title to go to her site. She has a link-up party on Wednesdays where she and other bloggers share their fun outfits for the day. I love the inspiration, even though I am usually in my workout clothes most of the day, especially during the summer. But it is fun to look--and she has a great shop as well, which sells the BEST ruffled scarves, among other things. I have one and I love it.

Another blog I love that I need to put on my sidebar is Mama To 4. We discovered one another through an online adoptive parents forum and I stumbled onto her blog--I love that our family make-up is exactly the same--2 boys, adopted a girl from Ethiopia, and then had another boy. :) It is fun to see another family like ours and her photos are wonderful. But I really want you to read this post. It is from about a month ago and I meant to share it then, but I am sharing it now. :) Read it for some serious inspiration to be wise with your money. I am so happy for their family!

And finally--one last pure entertainment blog. I actually found this one from a patient who told me about it--it is completely dedicated to baby names. :) For someone who loves to hear what people name their baby, this is a fun one to get lost in. I don't read it very often so when I do, I have to get caught up and read like 10 posts at a time (usually late at night when I can't sleep). If you are expecting though, and need some baby name help, it would be a very fun site to write to and get some advice. Check it out here.

As if we all didn't wish to spend less time online--now I've given you 4 reasons to spend more time here. Sorry! :) Enjoy...

And more catch-up...

Finally posting on the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! Which was actually over a week ago now...so I'm not TOO far behind. All 3 kids had such amazing years this year--so much growth, so much change, so much FUN! We have been blessed, year after year, with truly gifted teachers, teachers who love our kids like their own, who are invested in their success--as academic students and as good citizens of our world. We're so very thankful for everyone who contributed to such a great school year for our most precious gifts.

Believe it or not, it was a little chilly on the last day of school but the kids insisted on wearing shorts--just to make a statement of summer!

Her last day of preschool--EVER!

Zoe's class had a performance for us on their last day. Here they are doing the Chicken Dance--the kids picked their 3 favorite songs of the year to perform for the parents. Not surprised they picked the Chicken Dance--they were really good! :)

And one of the most fun things--Zoe made a time capsule for us to open when she--GULP--graduates from high school. I can barely bring myself to think about it, let alone say it out loud, let alone type it. But "someday" will be here, Lord willing, and apparently that will happen in 2024. Oh my goodness. But what a fun idea! Now I just have to find a special place to put it where I will be able to get my hands on it in 2024. Goodness knows that time capsule has an unfortunately good chance of being lost in the next 13 years. I will give it my best effort though!

I hope everyone else has had a wonderful start to summer. Late last week, this weekend and early this week truly feel like SUMMER. We're talking highs in the mid-90's kind of summer. Loving the pool, loving the zoo, loving having my little monkeys home day in and day out. We were all ready for it. And now that I may be more or less caught up, I am looking forward to posting summer pictures!! Happy Monday, friends.

Still catching up!

Mother's Day weekend was a busy one around here...can't believe I am just NOW getting around to documenting it! Thanks to my lovely and talented friend Amber, I have photographic proof of the weekend--which I wouldn't have otherwise! Thank you, Amber!! Not only was it the same weekend as Charlie's fun field trip (on Friday) but my whole family was in town to celebrate my Granddaddy's 90th birthday. It was a more somber celebration than we would have liked and there was an empty chair at our dinner table--all of us missing Leslie terribly--but it was a celebration of my grandpa's 90 years nonetheless. It was so good to see family, cousins, and just be together again. But before the big celebration there was a dance recital to attend...

A few stitches didn't stop this girl from smiling like a champ! She did such a great job at her recital, other than being on the end of a row and nearly arabesquing off stage at one point! :) She has great rhythm and tries so hard!! And the cuteness factor doesn't hurt either.

And here's EVERYONE! This is my grandparents' legacy. 2 daughters, 4 granddaughters, and 11 great-grandchildren. Amazing.

My favorite picture of the whole event.

Here are my grandparents with the 4 granddaughters. We are so blessed to have them in our lives!

Last shot--Mom and her daughters. One reason I love this picture is because I'm standing on a little incline and it makes Melissa and I look closer in height than we actually are. :)

Mother's Day weekend was a weekend we'll always remember--an amazing time celebrating an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Even in the midst of sadness we were able to celebrate and count our blessings--there are truly so many!! We are all thankful to have one another.