Quick Thankful Thursday

Hello! On a Thursday! Just wanted to let you know my appointment went wonderfully yesterday! I was checked out and am good to go for another year! Thankful for dermatologists who are kind and patient, and knowledgeable. And for blog friends who leave encouraging comments too!

Thankful that my beautiful, amazing mother is doing so well! And that my children and their spouses all love spending time with her, which makes her so happy. Madison and Nicolas visited her last week. Doesn't she look wonderful?

And thankful for this little thing Flynn said sat on the steps by the door waiting for me yesterday. And who is always ready to snuggle and nap with me.

Have a cozy Thursday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Thursday Thoughts...And A Winner!

Today I am thinking about...


...summer. And how it is passing so quickly. I wasn't always a big fan of summer. I used to wait every day for the cool breeze of autumn to come and with it, the brilliant colors of the fall leaves. And I still do. But now, I actually cling to summer. I mentioned it to Steve one day, and he summed it up perfectly...as he always does. : ) He  reasoned...correctly...that back when I longed for summer to end I had littles who were not yet in school. Their days, whether it be summer or fall, belonged to us. I didn't need the three months of summer to appreciate having my kids home with me. They were with me on the bright autumn days and the cozy winter ones as well.

Once they started school, I realized that those lazy days of summer were that much more special. And although hot, sunny days aren't my favorite, I was in no hurry for them to end, as that meant my littles would be going back to school. And so I learned to love summer, by default, I suppose. : ) And I guess that was one more reason why a few years ago, we decided to homeschool. Now, no matter the weather, no matter the season, my littles...who are not all that little anymore...are home with me. Where...for us, right now...they belong. : )

Here is a peek at our past few days of summer...

I spent some time scrapbooking this past weekend...I really enjoy it, once I sit down to do it! I usually do an entire year's worth of pictures for each child this time every year.

 

 

I spent some time with my oldest this weekend...

 

 

we even had some milkshakes after our manicures. : )

 

 

There were summer dinners...

 

 

and summer desserts. Chocolate Zucchini cake is one of my faves. : )

 

 

There were mornings on the porch...

 

 

and evenings out. The big kids that is...They went to Chinese and a movie, while the littlest and I sat outside with our feet in the little pool and "chatted" about life. : )

 

 

Oh...and this little blog turned three! Thank you all for your kind words and sweet comments. I do appreciate them all. And...the winner of the fun Bloggy Birthday Giveaway is...

 

 

Kathleen!!!!

 

 

Kathleen was one of my first Bloggy friends, and I am inspired every time I visit her lovely blog.

 

 

 

Congratulations!

Please email me your information, and I will send it right out!

 

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

 

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts

Today, I'm thinking about...


Saturday. Because it is Christmas in July!!!! And yes...we celebrate Christmas in July. Because...why not? Why not celebrate the most magical time of the year in the middle of the most fun time of the year? We don't go all crazy with decorations or anything, but a little bit of effort creates a lifetime of memories. We will watch a few favorite Christmas movies, bake some Christmas sugar cookies, and unwrap a few small gifts. And of course, the Christmas music will be playing all day long. Told you I love holidays. : ) In the meantime, here is a quick look back at our  quiet, summer week...

We ate summer meals...

(Just add burgers!)

with gifted garden veggies from my super talented niece Maria. : )

This was zucchini lasagna and a fresh garden salad.

We had coffee...and milk...and tea...on the porch...

and took summery pictures before Mass...

(And if you think you have seen this dress on her before, you have. It is her very favorite and I got it from Gymboree. This is her third summer wearing it!!!!)

We watched scary summer storms from inside...

then ventured outside to enjoy the beauty left behind.

We took a walk everyday...

and jumped through the sprinkler at night.

(Note to self...have hubby scrub the side porch.)

And we had ice cream cones outside. Just like my mom used to make. : )

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for visiting. : )

Thursday Thoughts

Today I am thinking about...


...slowing time. Seriously. I am quite uncertain how it was May yesterday and now we are on the brink of August. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE this time of year...autumn is close enough to taste...back to school is closer and closer...but I am finding that these days are passing way too quickly. I know that there is no way to stop the passage of these fleeting summer days. I know that. So, I am making a vow to do the next best thing. If time won't slow down, I will. I will make a conscious effort to slow down every single day. I will challenge myself...and this is a big one for me...to live IN the moment. To sit still and watch my kids ride bikes. To sit on the porch and just be. I will stop the planning and racing and organizing in my mind. I will use the month of August to soak in all that I can of warm days and long nights. Of littles eating ice cream cones and staying up late. Of family meals grilled outside and afternoons spent watching movies. Join me won't you? Let's slow down. And just be. : )


Here is what we have been up to the past week here in our little corner of the world...

We went to a wedding on Saturday.

And here's me smiling because we were all ready on time!

We ate yummy pie on the porch...and this little guy was all about having some too!

Have you tried the Blackberry Lemonade at Wendy's?

You should.

You're welcome. : )

Summer.

That's all.

We have been enjoying watching old game shows on GSN.

It is so fun!

We are loving Card Sharks and The $25,000 Pyramid. : )

New wallpaper in the laundry room.

Made me happy!

We had grilled summer meals...

and Peyton's perfect brownies too.

My little lady worked hard outside...

and then came in and had a warm bath followed by my very favorite smelling Baby Magic Lotion and fresh jammies and nighttime milk.

Ahhhhh. Childhood.

Happy Summer Weekend, friends!

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...summer. And how much I love it. Summer means different things to different people. And that is good. To some, summer means days spent at the beach or the pool, soaking up the sun. To others, it means parties and picnics and entertaining outside. To us, summer is some of all of that, mixed with mornings on the porch sipping coffee and milk, afternoons together watching classic movies like Jaws and The Poseidon Adventure, and dinners filled with grilled chicken and fresh produce from the Farmer's Market, followed by hours playing outside and enjoying warm nights with dripping ice cream cones.

My memories of summer as a child are wonderful, and I hope to provide my own children with happy memories of their very own. These are some of the things we have done this past week to add to our collection of summer memories, stored deep within our hearts...

We spent some fun time at camp...

and back home, read books and drank tea on the porch.

We cleaned out the garage, swept yucky cobwebs away, hosed off bikes and scooters, and got summer toys ready to go...

so that when it was finally hot enough, we were ready!

We ate cupcakes for breakfast...

and marveled at the beauty God shares with us.

(These nights always make me think my Dad is saying goodnight.)

And we said goodbye...for now...to this guy...

He has spent the past six weeks here and these two had the most wonderful time getting to know one another. We are so happy to have shared our home with such a nice, respectful, fun young man. : )

My Madison and her Nicolas. : )

Have a great weekend, my friends!

Thursday Thoughts

Today, I'm thinking about...


...The Fourth of July! Because it is here! I love this holiday. It is like third place behind Christmas and Halloween. : ) I like it because it is simple. There is food and fireworks. That's it. We just enjoy. Our town has fireworks on the evening of the Third of July, so we celebrate with family and friends that day. The Fourth itself is always a quiet family day with food, sparklers and movie marathons. Whatever you and your people do this Fourth, I hope you have fun, stay safe, and make memories! Here is a peek at the week past in our country home.

We returned home from our cruise, and I resumed my daily coffee on the porch...

and making dinner, which both make me very happy. : )

Summer mornings...

and summer evenings. Off to the movies to see Inside Out. Which, by the way, got a thumbs up from this crew!

And despite the calendar saying it is July, it feels more like fall here is Pennsylvania. So what's a girl to do, but make pumpkin pie?

And finishing up with a few more cruise pics...

We made a wonderful friend in the ship's magician...

He visited our table every night and did the most amazing tricks...

this was my girl as she watched him! : )

Happy Weekend, my friends!

Happy Fourth of July!!!