Garden Grad

The middle graduated from high school this month - time just flew by. She planned a beautiful garden party and the weather was really cooperative - which is a big deal in Wisconsin.

I am becoming a picky eater....

One of my friends posted a Facebook status to "Go gluten-free for a month - you will be amazed." I thought, "Only a month? I wonder how hard it would be to eat vegetarian AND gluten-free?" So I tried it.

As it turns out, it's actually not difficult at all. I learned that I ate a lot of crackers, cereals, and pasta. They were all whole grains, but still processed foods. Instead of just switching to the processed gluten-free versions of foods, I tried to trade it out for healthier option altogether.

The best part? I DO feel better, and I lost 25 pounds in 3 months without changing my workouts. Amazing!

Post-it inspiration

I was helping my oldest carry groceries up to her dorm, and I had to grab a quick pic of her motivational wall.

What? We had in-class work time.

How the class assignment looks:

How my daughter's assignment looks:

In her defense it was only 5 minutes of work time. Not even worth tying to get started.

Lost in the mail?

Two months ago I started a traveling journal and I haven't seen or heard any updates. I am worried it wound up the same place as my weekly cards...

Anyone seen it?

Easter bucket

For Easter I mailed our college daughter a bucket of peeps. No box, just the address on the lid and the postage on the side. It made it. 

A quick break from the break

Rant zone... Enter with caution.

Some of the schools in our area are just finishing spring break, and some are just starting. I cannot count how many parents I have heard make comments about their kids going back to school. Today, I overheard one parent tell their child, "It's only the first day of break and I'm already ready for you to go back."

I have never understood that. I love having my kids home... for the summer, for break, for the weekend. Don't misunderstand. Kids are a lot of work. Parenting is hard. But if even YOU don't want to spend time with your kids, it might be time for some changes.

Maybe it's because of the work I do, that I realize how lucky I am to have time with my kids. Some families wish for one day and I have a whole week. And I don't care if it's spent making breakfast, playing HORSE, or hanging out watching tv... as long as its with them.

Ok. Back to spring break!

Another season done.

Well, basketball season is wrapped up - all that's left is the banquet. I am so proud of my middle daughter. Before tryouts she talked to the coach about what the season might look like for her, since she didn't play last year. He was honest about play time and expectations. She decided to try out anyway and made the team.

The first couple games were so hard for her dad and me. We know how much she loves the game and it broke our hearts to watch her never leave the bench. One night she quickly put it in perspective for us; she knew coming in that she would not play, but she wanted to be with the friends she had become so close to over the years of basketball together. "Please don't ruin this season by being grouchy every game," she said.

And so I embraced her positive attitude. I dropped my expectations and just focused on enjoying MY friends that I have spent so many years with in the bleachers. I have made some great friends through her years of basketball. This has been one of the best seasons, ever. I am so grateful for the memories, and a daughter who helped me appreciate them.

Humbled

I talk with my oldest, who is away at school, almost every day, whether its by phone, text, or email. We chatted on facebook a few days ago. She is helping a friend with a really tough situation. I told her that she gave perfect advice and she was a good friend. She messaged back, "Thank you. I try to do what you would do."

Is this the part where I cry?

Punn-y kid

Our youngest is studying Shakespeare in English right now, and part of the unit is puns. She was sharing some of them on the way to school the other day, like "a fish ran into a wall... dam." It took me back to the days of preschool:

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange shirt. Hahaha!
Huh?

I didn't realize how much I missed that, and it was nice to get one more little glimpse of it!

Rough start to the week

the Singing Butler gets a makeover

I have always envied rooms that can change with the seasons, and wanted to redo our room with colors and furniture that let me do that. A few months ago, we redid our bedroom, and incorporated things that would give us that blank slate to work with, but not be boring.

I painted the room a tan-yellow color that matches a blond wood cabinet that used to be my grandmother's and the print of The Singing Butler - which is one of my favorites. We already had the white comforter and the red one is the solid side of a striped comforter from last year. I found a great yellow and white solid quilt on clearance at Target.

I swapped our wood slat blinds for the white curtains that were in the middle daughter's room. We also had the little tree and bear rug that I took to the fabric store, where my oldest helped to pick out a great plaid that matched almost perfectly. We bought enough to make a few pillow covers and to cover the piece of wood that makes makes the dog crate into a table.

I love how the room has a just hint of lodge. When summer rolls around, we'll switch out the red for something else - maybe celery green or pastel vintage print quilts.

finally, some snow to lay around in

This dog has been waiting ALL winter for real snow! 

This is the $4500 pup that had ACL surgery number two in October. He was so happy to be out in the snow that I could not resist taking him for a run through the yard. I kept him on the leash because he's still not ready for an all out run, but he made the most of every single lap we did.

When he finished running around like a maniac, he just laid down in the driveway enjoying the snowfall. Worth every dime of the vet bill.

Another "goodbye"

This week my middle daughter had the basketball game where the Seniors are recognized. This has been an amazing season as we have watched her spend every week with girls she has become very close friends with over the years - some of those friendships were instant, others they worked really hard to make happen. I will miss this season very much.

great read

My oldest got the book "Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore" for Christmas, and I was looking for something to read. It turned out to be a cover-to-cover-without-a-break book! Magical, curious, deep, and plausible.

love your life

This week I started a new journal!

This one's a group effort. I found an old, half-used spiral notebook in the cupboard, decorated the front, put together a little bit of paper, and included some directions.

Now the only decision is who to send it to first. Watch your mail boxes....

Born lucky?

This week this kids and I had some discussions about opportunity, and whether some people are born lucky or if they make their own luck.

Funny that I had this quote and in my art stash waiting for the inspiration to use it. 

Back to it...

Well, it was back to our regular schedules after the holidays, and the week just flew by; meetings, family, neighbors, basketball, and coffee at the bus stop.

Positive-Negative

My middle daughter has been working on some art for our family room wall. It's not done yet, but I decided to hang it anyway!

Week one down. Fifty-one to go!

We spent the better part of the week watching Netflix: