"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and so many others have not been doing this week!

This post does not feel like deja vu...Alex did not lose a tooth...again!


It was not this weekend...at 9:30pm...right before bed...again! Tooth #2!



We do not enjoy watching Alex play baseball...






hit some baseballs...



get some advice from Daddy...


and sprint around the bases...


while Emily plays in the dirt...



with a pretty dress on...



not ending an awesome game with a yummy snowcone!




I certainly did not wake up bright and early with the sun at 6:30am...in order to get ready for Alex's 8:00am baseball game...because his game was not really until 11:00am! {Thank goodness I at least had some sense to check the schedule one more time before I actually packed us all up at 7:30am!}

And...I absolutely do not consider the kids swimming in our pool before bedtime as their bath...because I remember the last time I bathed them...and the pool does not count...
Nope...not me...did not happen!

"You're Gonna Miss This...Moment" Simple Pleasures

Time to join Pam and share the moments we're going to miss one day...because life is so short! Sometimes it's hard to find those moments among our busy schedules, but that's what I love about participating in this...it makes me stop and think about it and appreciate them so much more! Don't forget to join us by visiting Pam and sharing your moment!

I feel like I say this all the time...but I'm really going to miss Alex and Emily being little...their sweet little faces, funny words, and innocent little moments.

As I watched Emily riding her bike from the window...I had to grab my camera and take some pictures...of course! She was riding so fast and had a huge smile on her face...it was the best thing in the world to her at that moment! I wish I had that feeling for something so simple and innocent!




I'm going to miss that day when she's able to trade her bike in for a car...and realize life is not as simple as when you're a little kid. I will miss her chubby little cheeks and sweet innocence...but I {heart} all that simple joy that she brings to me at these moments!

Just Breathe

Ah.... {insert deep breath!} It's officially Summer Vacation now! School is out and we are in our pajamas, and it's almost 11:00am! The perfect morning, as far as I'm concerned!

Last night I hosted Bunco, which our MOPS group gets together to play once a month at someone's home! I love, love, love this group and look forward to it every time! More than even playing the game, we have the best time just sitting and talking, laughing, and continuously spooning yummy food into our mouths! What's better than a spoonful of chocolate cake with whipped cream and Heath crunch topping? I know, nothing!

So my point is that I feel like I might be able to relax now and take a break from life and remember how to breathe again! I have this book called breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. I've actually had it for quite some time, but not really read the pages. It's been more of a decorative piece more than anything because I love the simple cover and the colors of it. But, as I was picking chip and cake crumbs off the floor from last night {it gets pretty wild with moms and food in one room!} I saw the book on the tv stand and decided to pick it up. For some reason, the words just spoke to me and I thought...I do need to stop and breathe...when was the last time I really even prayed...or sat in silence...and relaxed? I immediately found this page... "What can I invest my time and energy in that will last? And the Bible is pretty clear that the only thing that will last into eternity is relationships. What do you really treasure, when it comes down to it?
My kids, my husband, my friends, these are treasures that matter to me. Jesus, my friend and leader, is the best treasure of all. He's the pearl of great price, and his love permeates not only my relationship with him but also my relationships with people he's given me. People are more important than stuff. When it comes down to it, which is more valuable: my daughter or my diamond?" God has brought some amazing friends into my life through MOPS and even blogging! And now that summer is upon us...I hope to spend more time with them...and especially relaxing with my family...with less stress...more breathing! And even greater...spending more time with God!

With a busy schedule and late nights, I find myself depleted and with even little energy to pray or find the words to say. But reading the few pages that I've come across this morning, I've found that there's another way to pray and it can even work much better than trying to muster a monologue directed at God. "It involves breathing, and listening, and focusing on God, rather than on myself. This type of prayer is incredibly calming because it allows me to connect with God, even when I'm feeling stressed out."

So I welcome summer {Woo-hoo!} and hope to relax, be with those that matter most...and just breathe...

Wordless Wednesday {Not A Cloud in the Sky}

5 Favorite Things About Summer & How to Survive it Like a SuperStar!

Yahoo! Yippee! Yay! {Insert cartwheels, somersaults & back flips...because I can't do these in real life!} It's Summer...at least by the clocks set at Martin Manor! Who doesn't get excited about that? Well, Jessica from The Entertaining House sure does...so she's tagged me to list my 5 Favorite Things about Summer {only five?}
Okay...

1. Relaxing in the pool!

2. No schedules...which means a few extra zzz's!
3. The beach!

4. Wearing flip flops...or no shoes at all!

5. Popsicles!

Now, if you're reading this...tag, you're it! Tell me your 5 Favorite Things about Summer!

Speaking of Summer...after telling me your favorite things...are you terrified? Carey from Life in the Carpool Lane is! Join us and tell us your tips for surviving the summer with wee ones!


I remember when Alex & Emily were a little younger, it was much harder to get through those long, hot days. But now that they are a little bit older {seems like 3 years old, or potty-trained opens up a lot more doors!} there are more activities they are able to participate in.
My tip for today is to sign the kiddos up for VBS. Not just one...sign up for all of them in your area! It's the best way to interact with other kids, learn some wonderful Bible verses and...it's free! Alex and Emily always come home with cute crafts, songs and a new message about Jesus! It's a win-win...and mom can go have coffee with the other moms, hang out at Target...and even volunteer one day to see the kiddos having a blast! Can't wait to hear your tips! Just visit Carey and help a mama out! See you next Tuesday!
Now that I've told you the best tip you'll ever hear, I feel like a total Superstar! {sorry the award has gone to my head!} Kelli from Random Thoughts of a Supermom thinks I'm a Superstar Blogger, anyway!

Kelli has become a fun blogging friend who has three super-adorable boys! Her oldest little man just graduated Pre-K, like my little Emily...wah! Oh wait, she's not the one upset... sorry... but she's got two more little ones at home to keep her busy so she can keep her title of Supermom! So stop by and tell her how super she is...she's also hosting a super giveaway right now, better hurry!
And, if you're reading this, now go check out my sidebar and cute buttons and visit some other Superstar Bloggers! I really do want to list them all! Congratulations! And if you're still reading this...you're a Superstar, too! Thanks! Have a super start to your Summer!

I ♥ Faces - Week 21 - "Happy Birthday" & "Pets"

I ♥ Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. Each week, people from across the world have the opportunity to enter their favorite face photos into two categories ~ kids and adults.

This week's challenge is easy...who doesn't have a picture of their kid's birthday? Well, maybe not that easy...especially when I can take up to 100 pictures during a single moment, like blowing out the candles! But I chose this one of Emily during her big brother Alex's 4th birthday. This one always sticks in my mind because I have a photo of myself at this age wearing a birthday hat almost identical to this one, and we look just alike!

Now, this week is special, not only do we get to enter a precious face of our kiddos, we also get to include our 4-legged family members, too!
This is a favorite of mine, too! Skipper has been in our family for 10 years and he has been the best companion to Alex and Emily! This was taken a couple of years ago and Alex couldn't resist stopping to give Skipper a big bear hug! Skipper...say 'Cheese!'

If you'd like to join us just click here! It's easy to enter, not so easy to win {so many great photos}! But lots of fun!

"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and so many others have not been doing this week!

{sigh} Another Monday...I cannot keep up with the passing days...seriously people, please STOP the clock! Why...because Alex did not lose his very first little baby tooth ever! {sniff, sniff...sob...another milestone checked off...such a big boy!}
He's such a sweetheart...I mean not a cutie pie!
He did not work on that tooth all day Sunday until he could not go to sleep. Finally at almost 9:30, Alex did not let Dan pull it out! He was not so extremely thrilled, excited, beaming from ear to ear that he finally gets to have his name posted on the Who's Lost a Tooth? board at school...with just 3 days left! And that the Tooth Fairy is finally coming to our house! {Mrs. Tooth Fairy thought $5 was an awesome amount for a first tooth, Mr. Tooth Fairy thought $2 was good...Mrs. Tooth Fairy compromised...Alex will maybe not wake up to $3 under his pillow!}



I did not walk into the room and find Dan watching iCarly when Alex and Emily were not even in the room...I did not sit down and join him...we did not even chuckle at it once...not us!

Emily did not randomly tell Dan, "I did not hit your car with my bike!" Dan asked, "You didn't?" Emily, "No, I didn't." {Thanks, Emily for telling us what you did not do...or did you...}

I did not finally get some of my act together and switch out Alex's and Emily's winter clothes for summer clothes. {Yay!} They will not look so much better now in tank tops, instead of turtlenecks in the 80-degree weather we've been having! {No need to thank me, kids...you're welcome!}
Happy Monday!