This Makes Me Happy...Spring Walks

Yes, spring walks make me happy. Especially when they double as a learning experience. I will be the first to admit that Science is not my strongest subject. It wasn't when I was a student and it certainly isn't now that I am a teacher to my kiddos. Good thing I am a strong believer that all learning doesn't have to take place between the pages of a textbook! I am always happy when a chance walk leads to an exciting and lovely learning experience. And I am also happy when I remember to bring my camera along. It may seem simple, but spring walks make me happy. Here are a few pictures of our recent after lunch spring walk/science lesson. : )

Oh...I just realized...I can count this for Phys. Ed. Too!!! : )

Happy spring, my friends!

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...Mother's Day. And how blessed I am to be celebrating it this weekend as both a mother to four amazing children and as a daughter to a most wonderful, amazing mother. I am always cognizant of the fact that I am indeed blessed to be living this life I dreamed of...a life of mothering the children with whom I have been entrusted. As a child, I knew that motherhood was my vocation. And it is one I embrace with every single cell of my being. I am blessed to have the example of a most selfless, loving, caring, amazing mother to draw on as I live out my vocation every day of my life. So to my dear mother, Margaret, to all of you dear friends who share this same vocation, and to all of you who hope and pray to become a mother someday, I wish you the happiest and most blessed Mother's Day this weekend. May your day be filled with love and joy, homemade cards and gifts, and maybe even breakfast in bed. : )


Here is what we have been up to the past week in our country home...

Leaves are returning...

as are our bird friends...

and a little lady is old enough to get the mail herself. : )

With her mommy right behind, of course.

We are snapping phone pics outside now...

and get distracted by random nature stuff on the ground.

Hmmmm...

Still curious...

but cautious...

Ewwww.

For the record...it was an old, discarded bird nest.

She was not impressed.

After bath game playing here...dominoes!

And Mom is indulging in her guilty pleasure...Dancing With the Stars. : )

Go Riker!

Happy Mother's Day, my friends!!!!!!

One Word Wednesday

Love...



The Schoolroom...April 2015 In Pictures

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...nothing much. Except spring! Spring is finally here in Pennsylvania! And this weekend we are going to sweep and scrub the front porch and set out my rockers. Good times. Good times. I am so looking forward to mornings outside with my coffee. : ) I hope your weekend is warm and spring filled too, my friends. Here is a peek at the past week in our country home...

I changed out the bedding on our bed. Goodbye warm flannels. See you in October. : )

Cranberry tea and cranberry muffins. : )

My baby.

And Grandma teaching her how to play Tic Tac Toe. : )

She also had a lunch date with her Aunt Sally. Steve's sister Sally and Flynn have always been close...even before Flynn was born. Sally blessed me with a clean house and homemade meals throughout my pregnancy...as well as tons of prayers. : )

The signs of spring are everywhere. Happy.Happy.Happy.

And finally...just a black and white selfie on the way to the grocery store. Because I had real clothes on. And makeup too!

Happy spring weekend, my friends!

The Firsts And The Lasts

When I was expecting Madison years ago, I received a milestone calendar to mark the important "Firsts" of her first year. You know...her first smile, her first tooth, the first time she rolled over, and the first steps she took. I was vigilant about anticipating these major moments in my baby's life, and was so excited each and every time I got to document one on her calendar. They even had cute little stickers to add! I was so excited to watch as she moved through the year and accomplished all these "firsts". It was the same with my Peyton, Rhett, and Flynn. Well...maybe the documentation slacked off a bit...but I still anticipated each and every "first" of my sweet babies.

Lately, as my baby approaches Kindergarten, I am thinking less about the "firsts", and more about the "lasts". The "lasts" sneak up on us, and we often don't even know that they occurred until afterwards. A few weeks ago, when Flynn took my hand to go up to receive Communion at Mass instead of lifting her arms to be picked up, it hit me. I had carried a baby in church for the last time.  And I hadn't even known it. When Madison was little and still in her crib, we had her big girl bed all ready for her. One day she simply stated she wanted to sleep in it. As excited as I was for her, I cried myself to sleep that night. That very morning, I had walked into her nursery and saw her smiling face and watched her jump up and down holding the crib rail that she had chewed on while teething. I had lifted her out of that crib for the last time. And I hadn't even known it.

When Peyton was little, every morning while Rhett napped and Madison was at school, she and I had coffee and toast. We would sit together in a big chair. She had milk and I had coffee. We shared toast, and she would always take the last sip of my coffee. One day, I got up from that chair and put that coffee cup away for the last time. And I hadn't even known it. When Rhett was a baby, he had a favorite book. It was called Big Farm Tractor. Every single day, we snuggled in the rocker in his room and read that book before his afternoon nap. One day I closed that book and set it down. I tucked my little boy into his bed for his nap for the last time. And I hadn't even known it.

I didn't know when I changed a diaper, or bought formula, or gave a bubble bath or carried a baby up the stairs or pushed one in a stroller that it would be the last time I would do it with that child. Or with any child of mine. And I am so thankful for that. I don't think my heart would be able to stand knowing that those simple moments of mothering were ending. As much as I realize that a large part of mothering means letting go, I still resist and mourn change. As much as I anticipate those "firsts", I dread the "lasts". I long to hang onto childhood. It is beautiful and safe and cozy. But as my dear friend Tara reminded me...these moments can be sweet too. And I realize that these "lasts" mean something else. They mean new "firsts".

The last time my Flynn had me carry her in church meant that the next week would be the first time she would walk herself. And she was so proud to do so. The last time I drove Madison to work meant that the next time she would drive herself. And she was thrilled to do so. Mothering is indeed letting go. And learning to embrace it. One "last" at a time.

One of my favorite parts of mothering each and every child...pushing a stroller on our morning walk.

Here is my baby Flynn just a few short years ago all ready for our morning walk. : )

Thursday Thoughts...And A Winner!

Today I'm thinking about...


...the upcoming weeks. And how I am actually prepared for them. In a few short weeks, my firstborn...my Madison...graduates from high school. I always thought this time would be tremendously difficult for me. When she started Kindergarten, and then middle school, and even high school...I dreaded the thought that her graduation would come. I couldn't imagine my little girl...my teenager being finished. Being done. Moving on.

But lately...I've realized that it isn't devastating at all. She isn't a little girl. She isn't a young teenager. She is a beautiful, independent, strong, creative, determined young woman. And...she is ready. She is ready to move on. To begin new challenges and new adventures. I think back to when I was graduating. I was so excited to start. To begin a new chapter. To see what the future held. And so it is with my own child. Yes...the years passed quickly. Yes...it will be hard not having all my children with me all the time. But this is life. And life goes on. And she has a life to start living.

So as we plan her party and pick out announcements and finalize graduation plans...I do it with joy and pride in my heart. And to be honest, a bit of sadness. I am a mother after all.

Here is a peek at our life this past week in our country home. : )

We finally saw signs of spring...

and my little Cinderella was thrilled!

And it appears she is a blogger in training.  : )

We had some quick, throw together meals...

but they were still yummy.

Some storms rolled in...

and we played a favorite all afternoon.

(Tara...please tell Abigail Flynn cannot wait to play with her!)

Binge watching is my favorite. : )

And we took our first "Before Mass" outside photos of the year!

For the record... Baby Gap clothes are the BEST. This is her third spring in this dress!!!

Oh...and then winter returned. Ugh!

Thank you all for entering the giveaway for the dishtowels! The winner is Erica!!! Congratulations! Please email me your info so I can put them in the mail. We will do this again soon!

And that's it, my friends!

Have a cozy weekend!

Thanks for visiting. : )