Day 541

Back to basics...
In the past few months the kitchen table has rarely if at all been used for a family meal. We (T & I) have been so busy that it's a quick dinner (if we even cook) at the breakfast bar or on the couch. I am heavier right now than I have been in about 10 years (discounting pregnancies). Out of shape and disappointed in where my priorities have been, I have made the decision to make a change. Back to the table we go. Home cooked meals and a return to learning table manners and conversing for 30 minutes as a family. Not to mention eating out and getting take-out all the time was getting ridiculously expensive, it simply isn't healthy. One day and I have already seen a difference.
Fresh fruit (and no, it's not decorative)...
A family prayer instead of muttered thanks...
Holy cow, can it be?? Siblings helping each other? Yep!

Day 540

Juggling...
Time got completely away from me today! After cleaning C's room and the girls' bathroom then cleaning the living room carpet and going out to eat, I was pooped! I am really trying to get into come sort of routine for the summer that allows me to work and keep the house up yet still spend time and have fun with the kids. It's quite a challenge, but I think we can do it. So, no pic for today, but hopefully I will be back with one tomorrow!

Day 539

Pianist...
Yesterday, before meeting the couple I photographed, we stopped at the music store to buy L a keyboard to practice her piano lessons on. It is a full 88 keys so the thing is huge and right now it is living in the stu. Of course while there, T & C went to the drum section to pick out the set they are going to share...OIY! Since we got home so late last night, L was unable to really try it out and this morning it was time to clean. I have implemented a new strategy when it comes to cleaning the upstairs. In past, I have tried to get it all done in a day and found that I could never get it finished and the kids were frustrated and bored and miserable so as a result, we all would give up half way through leaving it worse than when we started. Soooo, today we decided to do one room a day and then when we were finished with that room from top to bottom, we would enjoy ourselves for the rest of the day. We spent the first half of the day cleaning her room and organizing all her stuff and then as our reward, we all piled into the car and went to the outlet mall off Hwy. 290! After a quick bath, she spent a few moments doing some practicing on her new keyboard....finally!

Day 538

Happy 4th...
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any of the "real" fireworks this year because we were in the car on the way home from Conroe right about when they started. We did stop and get a few sparklers and a quickie one to do once we got home and unloaded the kids and the car. So here is my try at timed-exposure with a message from M. Not too bad!

She thinks it is so funny that her initial spell "me."

Day 537

Celebrate Every Day...
In my effort to stop cheating and posting images from sessions as my pic of the day, I took my camera with me when we went out to my favorite restaurant with some friends to celebrate. I am just so excited about the things going on in our lives right now from T's new job to how busy I have been and all the things the kids have been participating in and learning about this simmer! It's just been really terrific! You know when you have faith and believe that all things are in His hands, you are never, ever disappointed. Life is good (even when it's not so good, it's still better than I ever imagined it could be). Be happy! :)

Rice, wonderful rice, so good I always order two (oink, oink)...
The famous onion choo-choo...

Day 536

Girl Got Game...
My little sporty one, Miss L loves and does well at pretty much everything she tries. So since, she and M have been begging for a full size basketball goal for the cul-de-sac, this week we went out and got one. Poor T, the thing was such a pain that it two days for him to put it together!


Don't mess with this gal!
Nothin but net...swoosh!

Day 536

Splash Park Party...
Hmmm, I certainly seem to take quite a few pictures of C, don't I? Today was one of his good friend's birthday party at their neighborhood splash park and C had a terrific time!

This was such a cool water feature, but C was just terrified to go under the buckets.
Instead, he played with this one the whole time.
Yup, he's all boy!