Happy Monday to you Friends ~
How are you? It feels like it's been so long since I've been back in blogland. I've missed you Friends!! I hope those that celebrated Mother's Day yesterday had a wonderfully blessed day. We had my Mom and my FIL and MIL over for a meal and gifts. We also celebrated our dear Annie's 11th Golden Birthday! She turned 11 on the 11th. So she had a party with friends on Saturday and family yesterday. We will be getting together with my Dad and step Mom this week for the same things. It was a lovely weekend overall. :)
My life continues to be overwhelming at times, but doing much better. I will just say due to some family things, some issues with my health (better with correct med I'm taking - at least for now), as well as just daily life - kiddos' sports and things that I really needed that break...I may need to be less involved with the blog here and there in the future. But I'm hoping that will change in the near future and I'll be fully back on track.
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
We had some storms come through overnight. The sun has been in and out now this AM and temps to be in low 50's. But it looks like more storms on the way. The week ahead looks much the same. 50's for temps and chances for rain almost every day. Ugh!
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
Toast, raspberry yogurt. Coffee.
RIGHT NOW I AM:
Listening to Praise and Worship on Pandora - along with nature sounds.
AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:
Watching the sun go behind some clouds. Trying to soak it up when it comes out for a peek here and there...as I know stormy clouds are on their way.
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:
Cleaned up pretty nicely from the relatives over yesterday. My Hubby was wonderfully helpful all weekend with the party and getting things done for yesterday. My son went out on his own and got me the sweetest card and some candy yesterday. He wrote a beautiful message and it brought me to tears. I must be doing something right with this Mom stuff. ;)
ON TODAY'S (& this week's) TO DO LIST:
The usual household things. Going to catch up on visiting you my dear Friends!! I've missed blog time so much. Devotional time. Workout time. Also, kiddos' sports. Annie had her final volleyball tourney this past weekend as well. So it's nice she's down to only 2 sports. I need to run errands, work on some of my craft projects etc. I recently signed up to go through volunteer training in the Fall to work at a local hospice house. I feel a calling to help in this way, and with my past experiences as a social worker...I know it's where some of strengths lie. Another reason I want to get the other areas in my life currently under control.
CURRENTLY READING:
I just finished reading an old novel that I've read before just for fun. I have old Lavyrle Spencer books - she's a relatively local author (from MN) and she wrote a lot of kind of historical fun fluff books. I have a "self -help" kind of book lined up next...for some added knowledge and strength with some things. Daily devotionals too. I've also been slowly catching up on my magazines.
ON THE TV TODAY:
Some cooking shows. Call the Midwife to catch up on. We watched Billions finale. One of our family's favorite hockey teams - the Ottawa Senators - are currently in series playoffs and they have a game tonight!
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY: leftovers from the weekend
TUESDAY: tacos (bring to FIL)
WEDNESDAY: beef vegetable soup, muffins
THURSDAY: breakfast for dinner
FRIDAY: out for dinner
** I canceled Blue Apron for now. Due to the timeliness of when things needed to be prepared, it was too stressful with life currently. Maybe back to it down the line as I still found it to be a wonderful service and great food!
WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT
Etsy store albums and canvases
Legacy box stuff
My Grandpa's heritage album
My Mom's album & my family album catch up
(this is my continuing list)
NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:
Will share Annie's birthday fun and cupcakes I made for it this week.
TIP OF THE WEEK:
Interesting....
FROM THE CAMERA:
My Girl - in the middle in the mint green suit
Annie had a fun pool party sleepover at a hotel. We did a kind of fun pool/beachy summer theme to it all. I got a bunch of beach buckets and labeled many of them for snacks. So cheese balls had the label "beach balls" on it. Gummy life saver candies were "life preservers", crazy licorice were "pool noodles" etc. She requested strawberry lemonade cupcakes (strawberry & lemon are here 2 favorite flavors) - and I used strawberry lemonade licorice to be the "straws". I had special pj's for her all the girls could sign and balloons for them to play with in the hotel room. I got cute beach sandal muslin bags on Etsy and used them as favor bags to give all the guests. I filled them with blow-up beach balls, beachy sandal necklaces & flip flop soap (all on Etsy) and gum. I finally got a new "good" camera and I'm still figuring out how to use it well - but I was able to take lots of better photos - these are all from my phone. All and all a great success and my Girl had a special "Golden" day.
This AM one of our daily bunny visitors hopped on the deck to wish Ruby a good morning. ;)