Miscellany Monday: April

It's Monday and it's April!

{one}

The ladies Bible study we started in January has been incredible.  When I was in high school, I remember our youth group doing a study over the gospel of John.  It was life-changing.  In a way, this has been life-changing as well.  We studied Chapter 18 & 19 last night.  If reading about the crucifixion of Christ doesn't overwhelm you, then you need to examine your life.  I've been left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and a feeling of being so unworthy of such a sacrifice and love.

{two}

Sunday is Easter

He has risen!

******************

Let's transition from meaningful things to everyday life.  I feel silly talking about something so important and then discussing the random daily happenings of our life. 

But, isn't that life?  

Life is a mix of the profound and ordinary.

*******************

{three}

You know that you're a teacher when you are thrilled that April 1st--April Fools Day did not fall on a school day but instead was on the weekend.  I was also happy that St. Patrick's day was on a weekend.  No pranks or pinching!

{four}

Weight Watchers Update

I've lost 4lbs so far!  I feel like it's been a long fought battle for those 4lbs.  I was getting pretty discouraged because I wasn't seeing results on the scales.  I think my clothes are fitting better, but I still wasn't seeing the pounds come off like I wanted.  Losing those 4lbs made me finally feel like I've accomplished something.  I know that 4lbs doesn't seem like much, but it's something I'm proud of.  My goal is to lose 16lbs total.  I'm not sure how long it will take me, but I'm committed to reaching my goal.

{five}

I'm ready for this weekend.  We have tickets to watch the Texas Rangers play on opening weekend.  Mark is a very happy guy.  We usually attend at least a couple of games each season but last year we only made it to one.  I'm hoping that we can go to more this year.

{six}

I love my flower beds this time of year.  Everything is lush and the flowers are vibrant.  Spring is definitely the time my flower beds look their best.  By the time the heat of the summer hits, it's almost impossible to get anything to thrive.  When I got married 10 years ago, my former roommate flew in from Seattle to be in the wedding.  She noticed as we drove around running errands how brown everything is in Texas in the summer.  She's from Washington--The Evergreen State and all of the brown must have made an impression on her.  I'd never really noticed it until she pointed it out.  Ever since then I've had a new appreciation for the green we have in spring.

{seven}

Summer vacation is on my mind.  We usually start planning our vacation after Christmas break is over, which I know is a little in advance, ha!  I think the anticipation of a fun trip is what gets us through the spring semester of school.  This summer we are looking forward to taking two trips.  Mark and I are going to Vegas for our 10 year anniversary.  Later in the summer we are going to Red River, New Mexico with Mark's parents.  While in Red River we plan to take a day trip to Santa Fe.  I'm really looking forward to that.  I haven't been to New Mexico since I was a kid so this should be a great trip.

{eight}

Several weeks ago I told you about my cousin Clay who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I finally had a chance to talk to his sister.  She filled me in with the details concerning his tumor.  It's a geo blastoma (I think I'm spelling this correctly, it's not glioblastoma).  She told me that the geo blastoma is rare--less than 1% of brain tumors are this.  Clay is recovering at home from the brain surgery.  He has started chemo and radiation.  Thank you for all of your prayers.  He still has a long road of recovery ahead, but we are hopeful and still pray for a full recovery.

{nine}

One of my BFFs Angela has a great giveaway going on. 

 If you are a mom of little ones this is a giveaway you definitely want to check out.  

You could win a Let's Go Activity Pack (a $22.95 value)

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

Thanksgiving, Silly Boys, Baby Shower and Giveaway Winner

I'm joining in the fun and linking up to InstaFriday at Life Rearranged

The Let's Go Activity Pack winner is

Shannon

Congrats, Shannon!

Now on to the photos.  I used the Hipstamatic app for most of the photos and the Instagram app for a few.

Thanksgiving

The boys helped me prepare the pecan pie for Thanksgiving.

We used my grandmother's recipe.  I wrote about Mama Winnie's pecan pie last year here.

We celebrate Thanksgiving with Mark's family on Friday instead of Thursday.  The pecan pie and rolls are my contribution to the meal.  Mark and I woke up at 5:30a.m. to set out the rolls so they could rise.  Here are 90 Rhodes yeast dinner rolls.   They completely cover our kitchen!

After we came home for the Mark's parents Ben fell asleep in the floor.  He was exhausted from having so much fun with his cousins.  Poor little guy missed his nap, but he didn't care because he was busy playing. 

Silly boys

My boys love the brostache app. 

We took advantage of a few days off at Thanksgiving to run some errands.  Will had fun waiting for our car to get serviced.  I'm so glad our dealership has fun toys to occupy the kiddos.

Baby shower

The last day of school before the Thanksgiving break we had a baby shower for a sweet teacher at our school.  She's expecting a little girl and this is her first baby.  These photos are for my dear aunt who has given me almost all of the pieces in my milk glass collection.  We've been waiting for two years to have an occasion to use the milk glass.  Jourdan's baby shower was the perfect event. 

Here's a shot with the tissue paper pom poms. 

Several of the teachers (including me) have DSLR cameras and we all forgot to bring them.

Keep in mind this is our teachers' workroom so it was a challenge to make it pretty for a baby shower.  We did our best to make it pretty and pink. 

Christmas

Christmastime is here!

You know I love Peppermint Bark Ghirardellli! 

Candy canes remind me of my grandmother who is 88.  She was very poor growing up and treasured simple things like candy and fresh fruit.  They often went without that and it was a treat given at Christmas.  When I see these it reminds me that I have so much and to be thankful for it.  Simple things, right?

We took the boys to see Santa. I'll have an entire post about that in a few days. 

There's a giant snow globe that you walk through before you seen Santa.  My boys are mesmerized by the falling snow.  I am too! 

Our Christmas tree is up!  We even have some gifts wrapped and under the tree.

Cuteness, Birthday Parties and Giveaway

Cuteness overload!

Ben tried on this hat at Target last Friday.  I should have purchased it, but I didn't.

On Saturday, we went to the Dallas Arboretum for Will's 5-year photos.  We also had family photos taken for our Christmas card.  It was a beautiful day, and the photo shoot went well.  I can't wait to see the photos and share them with you. 

The Arboretum still had pumpkins for fall. 

Colorful mums were in full bloom. 

The flower beds were spectacular (one poor little mum was squished). 

My in-laws went with us.  Mark's dad found this bur oak acorn.  Will and Ben took it to school to show their teachers.  I wish I had a dozen of them.

Icee 

My guys like Icees so much that I even bought the Icee app for my iPhone. 

I found these photos of Will's 5th birthday party on my phone.

He had a monster bash and we played "pin the eye on the monster". 

My niece took this photo of the top of the monster cake.  I forgot to take one so she shared hers. 

Will had so much fun at his party that the next day he recreated the party.  He set the table all by himself.  How cute! 

Ben must still have birthday party on his mind because the Little People had a party last night. 

He was singing "Happy Birthday to you..." and then he blew out the candles. 

Ben made a pair of binoculars out of building blocks.  He was pretending to be in the jungle looking for animals.  I just can't get over the imaginations of my boys.  They are so creative. 

Giveaway

Go here for a great giveaway!

I'm hosting a giveaway for a fun-filled activity pack for preschoolers. 

Check it out and enter to win :)

Let's Go Giveaway

Are you the mom of a preschooler?

If not, do you know a mom of a preschooler?

Chances are, you're either a mom of a preschooler or you know someone who is. I think that pretty much covers everyone who reads my blog.


I have a great product that you have to check out.

Let’s Go

Let’s Go Activity Pack has been created to encourage interaction between an adult and a child. The activity pack contains craft ideas and supplies, games, sign language, Spanish, kid-friendly recipes, and many other enriching activities designed for children, ages 2-5.

Look at the super cute "Fun on the Farm" pack!

As a busy mom, coming up with fun activities to spend quality time with my little ones is a challenge. Our time together should be enjoyable and meaningful. If I’m stressed out because I'm trying to think of fun crafts and projects, then my children are not benefiting from our time together.

Let’s Go is the perfect solution to my lack of creativity. These pre-made craft packs have everything you need for fun-filled quality time.

You have the chance to win a Let’s Go activity pack!

Even if you are not the mom of a preschooler this would make a great gift to a friend who is a mom or a grandparent of preschoolers. So enter anyway—it would be an awesome Christmas gift!


Four ways to enter the giveaway:

{ONE}
Go to Let’s Go Activities website and view the gallery. Leave a comment letting me know which kit you would like if you win (there are 5 great themes to choose from).
Click here to go to the website.

{TWO}
Become a fan of Let’s Go on Facebook.
Search "Let's Go Activities"

{THREE}
“Heart” Let’s Go on Etsy
Click here for their Etsy shop

{FOUR}
Blog about this giveaway.

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

I’ll announce the winner next Friday, November 25. So, if you are one of those brave people who takes on the crowds on Black Friday, don’t forget to check back here to see if you won.

Let's Go


No compensation was received for this post.

Don't Forget the Giveaway

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for
$25 shop credit to the Pleated Poppy. 

Don't forget to go here to enter.

I'll announce the winner tomorrow with my WIWW post.

Friday and Don't Forget the Giveaway

Beauty  and Sam's Club. 

Oxymoron, right? 

Nope, these beautiful sunflowers were for sale there last week.

This is huge! 

I'm doing my first ever giveaway!!!

I took a photo of the computer screen because I am a huge dork like that!  It reminds me of when my grandma would take photos of the TV when important events were taking place like a space shuttle launch or Princess Di's funeral.  Instead of taking a photo of the TV it's of my computer screen.

Go here for the giveaway.

Another photo of my boys in the coin-operated rides.  This is how I get any shopping done.  I bribe them or as one of my friends says, "Not bribes, negotiations." 

Ready for lift off! 

We washed the cars.  (my husband washed the cars and I watched) 

I'll share more about this on Sentimental Sunday, but here's the old barn at my great-grandma's.  We drove by her homestead this week.  The farmhouse is gone, but the barn is still standing.  Such good memories. 

An Anthropologie is opening 30-45 minutes from my house!  I live in the middle of nowhere but we are a short drive into the suburbs of north Dallas and the urban sprawl is making its way towards where I live. 

Thankful.

Yesterday we saw relief from the record setting heatwave. 

Let me say again, thankful. 

Don't forget to go here for the Pleated Poppy giveaway.



Flattered and Giveaway

Stop everything and go to my best friend's blog.

Angela's blog, Unexpected Elegance, is turning one!

She's having a generous gift card giveaway.



 The winner of the giveaway will receive a $50 Pottery Barn Gift Card.

Who doesn't love Pottery Barn?

The giveaway will close at NOON next Sunday June 19th.

Also, while you are there, check out the sweetest post she shared about her blog and our friendship.

Read it here.  I'm so touched and flattered by all of the kind things she said.  I truly appreciate her encouraging words.

Last summer I shared my thoughts about her here in this post titled LYLAS.

I think the world of Angela.  I consider her the sister I never had.  She's just one of those friends that will be a friend for life.  I can't tell you how much I talk about her (in a good way). I'm always saying, "Angela did this...Angela did that..."  She's so very talented, creative and inspiring.  I'm thankful to have a friend like her in my life.  She makes me a better person.

Now, don't forget to go to Unexpected Elegance, become a follower, and enjoy getting to know Angela.