Getting to know you....

Sparky and Sam are slowly becoming friends. Sparky is protective of Sam and Sam is noticing Sparky more and more. Sparky turned 14 last month and although he is elderly he is still the best family pup and tries to be a friend to many.

Less is more!

Sam is like his daddy in many ways. One of them is that he tends to get hot easily. We seems a bit more carefree and smiley when the clothes come off! He is so funny. Love that boy!

Yummy summer food finds!

I love a great recipe! I have never been a fan of chicken salad however I had a friends recipe recently and she was a dear and shared it with me. I made it today and it was very yummy! I put it on a open sandwich on my favorite Milton's bread toasted. It made a yummy lunch before we headed out for a fun day. I also did a few chocolate dipped strawberries with some of the berries we got at Costco yesterday. We had a fun day out. We hit a wonderful sale at Gymboree (30% of everything, including sale items and I had a 20% coupon on top of that!) so Sam got some new duds. We ate at Rockfish and had calamari and fish tacos. So yummy! I love a day out with a change in routine and it is especially fun when we find some fun finds too.

The boys

Andrew is off for a week with his uncle in LA. I don't know the plans they have but I know he loves that area and is grateful to be going back. Jacob just started at week at The Ranch at Pine Cove in Tyler, TX. Pine Cove is his favorite place on this planet! We go for family camp next month but for now he is being a big guy on his own with hundred of other 6th and 7th graders! Sam is home with mom and dad. Right where our little guy should be. Letting go isn't easy! So glad we still have one at home although we are looking forward to a quieter week with just us around. Pssss, did you hear that Sam?!

Creativity...

We have a deal at our home. I cook and Trae and the boys help clean up the kitchen. Last night I was busy doing something and didn't have my hands free to hold Sam and he wanted to be held. Sam and Dad used our favorite sling (Baby K'tan) and got things cleaned up in a jiffy. Sam was asleep by the time they finished. I use it with Sam in the front either cradled or upright facing mom or out front. We didn't want dinner to end up on Sam so we put him on dads back and he loved seeing everything going on. There are 8 positions you can use with this sling. It is on our my favorite finds!

Sweet endings....

We had Andrews awards ceremony this weekend. He is now officially a Junior! Yippppeee! Although it is supposed to be the toughest year in school. I know he will do a great job. Our weekend also had lots of downtime since it was a holiday weekend. Sam was thankful for some extra cuddle time with big brother. Ahhh, priceless and warms this moms heart.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day! I bet each of you are Mothers. When I think of motherhood so many emotions well up inside of me. Honestly one of the first things that always comes up is....blessed. Being a mother is a blessing.....the fruit of my womb. I see motherhood as the hardest job on this planet and the most rewarding. It isn't for wimps that is for sure! Some days I feel like a failure...other days I feel like we will make it and on other days (rare)I actually give myself a small pat on the back and tell myself I am doing OK. I have a friend at church who has never given birth to a child. She is married and her husband had children prior to their marriage. She is such a lover of little ones that when I was pregnant I thought to myself many times I can't wait until Cathy holds my baby! Why....because her heart longs for little ones and she loves on them in such a special way that you can't help but want her to love on your baby! I wish she was blessed with her hearts desire. For now I will sometimes pass my sweet little one to her during a church service or in the hallway and we are both blessed. I don't think she will ever realize the blessing she is to others. I am blessed when my children are embraced, accepted and loved on. I have my 3 blessings on earth, 2 in heaven (miscarriages) and a lifetime of mothering. I know I recently said to my husband that by the time our sweet Sam left home I would have had children at home for at least 35 years! WOW! I need the Lord daily for grace, strength and wisdom in training up the hearts I have been entrusted with. This post reminds me of motherhood....it is going on and on and on.