YOLO!

It's been too long.... hello my friend! Well as often with blogs it comes and goes and sometimes I just can't find the time to update all that I want. Let's see.... since the last time I visited:
1.) I went through medical hell. I saw over 7 different Drs/ specialists.  I had several medical exams, procedures, and a sugery. All of which focusing on severe shooting pains on had on my right side. After all said and done and soooooooooooooooo thankful for the outcome it turns out in addition to PCOS they have discovered I have Abdominal Neuralgia. In summary anytime I get over exciting, neverous stressed....let's see when am I not!?!? My neuralgia specifically in that right abdominal area would flare up. My Nanny (Grandma) had fibronueralgia so I watched for years her struggle with it in her face, back, and legs. I am so relieved to know at this time it is only in my abdominal area. I have REALLY been focusin on time management, removing unnecessary stress and responsibilities (hence disappearing for a while), I am really focused on my diet, and nautral remedies (essential oils). I still have my occassional flare up but nothing compared to what I was going through. I appareciate all of the Drs for doing what they do best and searching and ruling out so many scary things they were hoping were not the case. I am sooooo blessed with the family and friends that helped me with the boys and kept us all in their prayers. God is good!!!!
2.) The holidays were wonderful! After the medical scares I really took a much needed approach in life,You Only Live Once (YOLO)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shout, believe it, and act it. We ate up all of our family and friends. As chaotic as it was it was wonderful to be surrounded by them all.
3.) Baseball is in full swing (haha get it!?!?) :-) yes we are back in season to what our whole family loves so much. We are just starting the tournaments and I look forward to all the adventures that the team and friends will have together.
4.) I donated my hair again. Yup this was my 5th time doing it. It took me 8 months to grow it and I donated 11" BUT it was so thick it made 2 ponytails. I may have some medical ups and downs but helping some little girl/ lady out just seems like a no brainer to me and Im so glad I was able to do so.

5.) We sold our boat but have no fear we are in search of another..... Any chance we can get to hit the water is my serentity. It puts all of us in our happy peaceful place. Having that getaway is so important to me. My boys will only be young once. Yes saving for retirement is important but spoiling my boys rotten right now is much more important to me.... with that said.... WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY!!! Yup this December. We talked and talked and decided this is it! Stinker is at a prime age. Loving everything Disney, believing so much in that Disney Magic. I just cannot wait to see that sparkle in his eye watching everything come to life. THIS is the reason I go to work every morning to provide the best life for them. THIS is the reason why I coupon and cut corners and stay up late sometimes with my menu planning and searching.... making the best of what we've got and we I have is an amazing family!

For updates here are just a handful of the 100s of pictures I have taken lately. :-)

Theres Sport doing what he does best!!! #suchaproudmom

Hubby got not one but two deer this past Fall.

Yup that's Stinker! He just completed his very first race. A 1/2Mile all by himself AND then he completed another 1/2mile right by me.

One of our first ever family selfies. We hit the lake for Mother's Day. Such a blessing to share with these gems.

Have no fear I still play with food every chance I get. A little Spring pick me up breakfast for my buddy.

This was our first time donating time to such a wonderful organization. Sport, Jason, and I donated 7 hrs in the biter cold temps but our hearts were filled with warmth as we loaded up planes with tons of toys and other gifts for children in the MI area that are in foster homes. We cannot wait to do this again next year.

Look at that stud! We dont do it often but we managed to sneak out for a date night (for Jasons Birthday) and celebrated the way I know he likes best... EATING! It was a wonderful evening filled with laughs just him and I. #theloveofmylifeandbestfriend

FOUR!!!

OK I know my past two posts have been about his birthday which included the party planning and the party.

Today was much different. No planning at all and no one around. Just me and stinker.

Stop 1. Every morning is better with donuts

Stop 2. You can't have a birthday with a balloon.

Stop 3.  No time clock, nothing else to do we spent 5hrs at the zoo and he was in heaven. The weather was partially cloudy (even rained for about 30min) but that didn't stop him. No stroller (he is a big boy). We walked, and talked, and talked, and laughed.  The place was pretty empty which made it even more of a special experience.The animales were putting on a show for him and my little silly boy photographer captured all of it.



 

 

 

The party was great fun but my one on one time with the birthday boy was the BEST thing I could've asked for. His true colors come out when he is around animals... he is one himself.

Happy birthday little man.... I love you forever and always!

Drive-In Birthday Party

Mother Nature did not get an invite and apparently was mad at me. The forecast for today.... 84 with isolated thunderstorms. As we were setting up the party tent we heard sports games were being postponned due to weather conditions. Ahhhhhhh!

I can only plan so much! As I explained in  ............ I was all ready for today.

Our little birthday boy was picked up at 8am today to go fishing with his faorite Ms. Klare. This gave us a good solid 4hrs of no "extra" hands if you know what I mean (wink, wink).

OK fast forward its PaRty Time!!! As everyone (meaning approximately 70 people) run inside the house because it is raining as the arrive. NOT what I had planned. The kids were running up and down the stairs with toy swords, guns, balls, and anything else boy that is around the house with the girls screaming. Ah yes exactly how I planned it NOT!!!!!!

Less than 30-40min later we started to move people outside and this my friends is when the party got started....

Hot Dog steamer was a hit which had our Hot Diggity Dogs served with all the fixins on the side(ketchup, mustard, onions, fresh garden tomatoes, and cheese). I had an array of chip bags.

 The whole style was grab and go. Once people finished eating I had them move to make "cars" for the movie. Cute table all set up with supplies (glue, stickers, paper, sicorss, glitter and jewels). Instead I found the kids "sledding" with the boxes down the hill. Exactly how I planned it NOT!!! haha actually it was really funny to watch and they had a blast. You can't plan it all and the things they came up with made the party even better.

 

OK cars are made (kinda), movie is set up.


My cupcake tower (I made yey) was displayed, the "concession stand" was open and the popcorn machine was doing its thing. Let the fun begin!

 

We did something a little different. We sang happy birthday and then instead of blowing out a candle we released a lantern. He was soooooooooooooooo excited! Best of all exactly how I planned it NOT but even better than I hoped. Apparently there was another party nearby and they too released lanterns. Stinker thought his lantern went and got his "friends" he was soooo excited it was the best surprise for him (and me).

His lantern going away.

His lantern found "friends" at least 7 or 8 in this picture look like polka dots.

Birthday boy in his car with his tigers and glow sticks.

 

The movie played, the kids giggled and smiled and to me made it all worth it.

Look how big this screen was compared to the roof of my neighbors yard!

Of course no party would be complete without me forgetting something... if anyone would like to come join us this week we have prescooped ice cream in the freezer! Exactly how I planned it... not!!! ha-ha

To New Beginings

Hi! It's been a while! WELL, actually it hasn't. My Sister and I jumped into a summer blogging project together over at Sister2SisterJourney. It was tons of fun and we plan to share the pen on occasion on that site, but the truth is our day to day life we have different stories we want to share as well. So here is the place I will call "home". This is my spot to laugh, cry, vent, learn, and recap the projects/ crafts and much more!!!

A quick recap of the summer....

• This past summer we had 4 travel tournaments for Sport. We are so proud of him and his team for completing their first travel ball season playing over 50 games in the season!

• We had a great boating season making it out on the water quite a few times even for some weekend get aways.

• This past holiday weekend I am extra proud of mine and my sisters kiddos for placing 1st in the family skit night. They all did such a great job remembering their lines and performing.

• I gave my green thumb a try.... I failed miserably with starting with seeds but we didn't give up. The start of Spring we purchased a few pepper plants and two tomato plants... right now I have an overflowing garden of veggies. I did manage to get green beans from a seed and so far we have had 2 side dishes of them from the garden. YEY!  

• Stinker.... well he is stinker. On a casual Tuesday evening he was playing with his car and somehow he slipped into the TV stand. Thankfully no stitches but I feel the need to update you on this because he now has a super cool (wink wink) scar right in the middle of his nose for the next several years. What a ham!

 

OK so of course that was the cliff notes version of our summer. School is officially in session and we are ready to "Fall" into our routine. Sending good luck wishes to my NEW Middle Schooler (6th Grade) Sport and our Little Guy is in 4yr Old Preschool. More stories and entertainment from both later Im sure.

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School's Out for Summer

Suprises JUST BECAUSE are the best! Recapping on some of my favorite childhood moments, which Christmas and Easter morning are pretty high on the list, which of course resulted in new toys, games etc. As a Mom, I feel that those days still rank high up there, but not for the gifts for myself but to watch the faces of my kids.

Well, I decided to do something a little different than in the past which I had a color coded planned out calendar for all my summer help (sitter, grandparents, etc). Guess maybe Im the only one who LIVES off calendars and gets excited about them. This year my plan of involvement even way far away while sitting at my desk.... I kicked off the summer with a surprise for the boys. I created a "School's Out for Summer" themed basket. It included sunny and rainy day activies.

Included in this basket are the following:

* Squirt Guns

* Water Balloons

* Kool Aid Packets

* Books for quiet/reading time

* Brownie and Cake Mix

* Scoop Ball

* Popcorn (good snack for picnics or rainy movie day)

The ideas and options to fill this basket are endless and could also add up quickly, but I didn't want to overload them where they don't appreciate or use the items if they have too many choices. My plan is to make another basket in the middle of summer with completely different items.

If you have any suggestions let me hear it so I can start to research for sales now.