Thursday Thirteen - MOPS MOMMAS!

I went to our county fair yesterday and since I usually run into so many mops moms there, I thought I would do a Thursday thirteen on who I see. I did see a couple more than 13, but oh well. It was fun catching them all off guard when I said "Hello, SMILE!!"

(If you don't know what MOPS is, be sure to click on the word above and it will take you to the website. Great Group every mom should know about! This years theme is adventures in motherhood, so seeing these mommas at a fair was quite fitting)

I left names out for privacy reasons, but the last one is ME:)

Happy Thursday!

thursday Thirteen

Two weeks ago or so I did the Blockbuster Online thing.There were so many movies out that I wanted to see and I kept walking into Blockbuster so I decided to just do the online. Much better deal when you can rent unlimited for one price. So over the last two weeks we have been watching way to many movies waiting for this Ohio weather to warm up already!

Last year at this time the kids were wearing shorts to school. This year we are still wearing socks and shoes and jackets. I'm ready for some warmth!!

So I watched some really good movies and some that were just okay. Here is a list of 13 of them. A few of them I am reliving through my kids which is so much fun.

1. Juno - This was a surprisingly good movie.


2. The Water Horse - The kids liked it, but not enough to watch more than once


3. The Namesake - Real Good Movie


4. Hairspray - Gonna have to buy this one the girls have watched it over and over. Even my 3 yr old walks around singing "Good Morning Baltimore!"


5. 27 Dresses - Okay


6. Jane Austen Book Club - I love Jane Austen movies, but this was just okay


7. Charlie Wilson's War - my dh liked it


8. P.S. I love You - I haven't cried so much in a movie in I don't remember when


9. Dan in Real Life- This was a cute movie. I liked it


10. Monster House- I have actually seen this a million times, but we still don't own it and it actually is a good kids movie that I am surprised my kids don't get scared by.


11. ET - I can remember seeing this at the movies when I was a kid


12. Indian Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark


13. Indiana Jones - Temple of Doom - I have always liked the Indiana Jones movies, am curious to see how a 65 yr old Indiana does. We are gearing up for when it comes out this weekend. YAY! Just need to watch # 3 sometime this week.

So that is my list, I think I am movied out. Come on nice weather, I need some fresh air!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I am looking forward to doing now that the weather is finally breaking:

1. Going for walks outside! One of my favorite things to do first thing in the morning is get out and walk while the sun is still low. You can hear all the birds chirping and it is just a great way to start the day.
2. Getting the kids out on bike rides.
3. Hitting the parks! Natalie has been begging to go to the play park and so far they have still been too muddy.
4. Going to the ZOO. We have two zoo's each about an hour away and we love to spend lots of time there.
5. T-ball games! This year Ethan and Elena will both be playing. I am hoping on the same team. This should be fun to watch.
6. Baseball. Jason started practice this week, so That is always fun, he loooves Baseball.
7. On the subject of Baseball. Opening Day was Monday! Whoo-Hoo! GO TRIBE!! We try to get to a few baseball games each year.
8. Okay this is further into spring, really summer but we just got our renewal papers to Valley Beach and I wasn't going to get another pass this year, but I think we just may.
9. Cedar Point! We had so much fun last year we are definitely gonna plan a trip or two this year.
10. Park Play dates. I love to get out and have picnics with our friends.
11. Planting flowers - I love to freshen up the landscaping with new growth and color. This year we need a landscaping update.
12. Planting a small garden. Ethan is excited about helping me pick some vegetables to grow.
13. Camping! This also is really getting into summer, but we have at least two camping trips we are planning and I cannot wait!!

That is my list of things I am getting ready for. How about you?

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Easter treats our family loves

1. Chocolate Bunny

2. Cadbury Eggs - yes I do like these

3. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

4. Robin Eggs

5. Gummy Bunnies

6. Reese peanut butter eggs

7. Blow Pops (The kids, especially Natalie love these)

8. Chocolate Lollipops in bunny and duck shapes

9. Chocolate Eggs

10. Sweet tarts in Easter Shapes

11. Peanut M & M's - The kids are happy with any flavor, but the peanut are mom's fave.

12. Bubble Gum Eggs

13. Actually most anything chocolate works for us!!

Now don't get me started on Easter baked goods, that is a whole separate list!!

Hope you get all the Easter treats you wish for and the Easter Bunny is good to you:)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen ornaments or decorations my kids have made this year.













The last one is my fave. First he made the tree, then he made presents to go under, then last night he made the tree skirt and the people holding hands dancing around the tree. Love it!

Thursday Thirteen

Ok I know it is not Halloween yet, I usually plan so much for the holidays before they come that when it is here, I am tired of it already. But my thursday thirteen is Halloween related. As I am getting busy digging this stuff out. I am doing my first sales on Ebay because our Halloween box is overflowing, so I am selling some that I know will probably not be worn by our family again. I would post a pic of each, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

1. Baby pea pod
2. Baby bunny
3.Fireman
4. Train
5. Devil girl
6. Fairy
7. Belly Dancer
8. Space Lord
9. Tootsie Roll
10. Jeff Gordon Jumpsuit
11. Flower
12. Alien
13. Bumble Bee

Thursday Thirteen

I have been thinking about jobs lately as my time I will be at home will be over before I know it. I was offered a job recently and turned it down as I am not ready to leave my baby yet. (My baby is 2) I won't be going back into the workforce until she is in kindergarten, which next year she will start preschool already. AHHHH! Anyways. Right now, this season I am in is all I have ever wanted to be, wanted to do. Sounds a little Old-Fashioned Betty Crockerish, but its what I never had growing up. I even told Bill the first week we were dating, we were 20 and talking about what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said I want to have a career that I love, but first and foremost I want to be a mom and stay home with my kids.

Thirteen Things I Love about my Job - Stay at home Mom

1. I am always able to be somewhere I love

2. My kids don't have to go through being shipped around daily

3. I always know what everyone has eaten during the day and know they are eating right

4. I am able to work in some kind of exercise that involves the kids - Good for mommy- Good for kids

5. I am able to keep my house somewhat in order = some kind of cleaning daily

6. I never have to set an alarm clock

7. I get to take a nap everyday:)

8. During the summer there are so many fun things I can do with the kids. We don't have to squeeze everything into two days.

9. I get to enjoy all the joys of the seasons changing, little silly holidays all the wonderment that is little kids. I get to be here first hand.

10. I am always available when the kids are sick

11. I don't get a regular paycheck, but there is a thrill in finding ways to save money and finding good deals. I am amazed at by putting time into things, how much money you really have!

12. Am around to make sure hubby has everything he needs to go to work. Clean clothes, lunch packed

13. I am able to take care of my family the best way I know how Everyday.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen kinds of Ice Cream to Enjoy this summer....
1. Chocolate
2. Vanilla
3. Moose Tracks
4. Fried Ice Cream - yummy!
5. Banana Split
6. Cherry Vanilla
7. Butter Pecan
8. Birthday Cake
9. Snickers
10. Mint Chocolate Chip
11. Cake Batter
12. Sugar Cookie Dough
13. Strawberry

I know not a really exciting list, but it is prime ice cream season and we have been gobbling it down by the gallon! Happy Thursday!

Thursday Thirteen - Summertime is here!

Thirteen Things I plan to do with my summer:

1. Keep up with our summer Bible study - which I am really looking forward too!
2. Play dates in the park with the MOPS girls :)
3. Valley Beach! Hoping the weather will cooperate and we can go today!
4. picnic lunches at all the local parks
5. Lots of bike rides! Me and the kids love to ride our bikes and Ethan can go a pretty good distance, so I pop the girls in the bike cart and off we go!
6. Watch Ethan's T-ball games and hope to catch a few of Jason's ball games as well
7. Take Elena to play mini me T-ball. Now that she knows how to play she wants to also!
8. Camping. We love to go camping. We usually go on a few outings with our family and around the 4th of July Bills whole family goes on a camping weekend- which is a blast!
9. Taking the kids to lots of VBS! Ethan went to 3 of them last year and loved it! This year Elena can go too, so I know that at least 2 of them they both will go.
10. The zoo! We have a zoo membership so we will be hitting all the major ones I'm sure more than once. We love the zoo!!
11. All the local fairs and festivals. Love checking them out and sampling the Food! Yum!
12. Going to Kelley's Island. We take the ferry over then rent a golf cart, drive around the island and then hit the beach!
13. One of my favorite things about summer. Our lovely fire pit. Hubby is so busy during this time of year. This is the time we get to spend together, So we fire up the pit, get something cool to drink and sit on our swing and catch up. We try to do this as much as possible. So relaxing!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I would rather do today......

1. Stay in my pajamas in bed and sleep past 6 AM (of course this was shot out the window 2 hours ago) Maybe lounge for a good part of the morning..
2. Go to the bookstore and just spend time looking for a great new book to read
3. Actually have time to lay around in peace and read a book- During the day not in bed at night when I can barely keep my eyes open!
4. Spend more time in prayer to help me focus on the issues that have been bothering me lately. (This is actually one on the list I could make happen though)
5. Take a looong uninterrupted bubble bath
6. Have a spa day. Get a massage, manicure and pedicure
7. Go to Sherry's and enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with a friend
8. Be somewhere warm enough to lay out in the sunshine and just soak up the sun
9. Eat at a restaurant for lunch and dinner. My kitchen is nice and clean, it would be nice to not have to dirty it up today
10. Spend time getting all my photos in order, they are all a mess right now. I need to order some prints and get them back in albums-sounds like work, but I really enjoy doing that
11. Kind of along the same lines, Go through our video tapes. The home movies. They all need to be converted from VHS-C to DVD. I just never make the time to do it. I want to convert them so its easier to watch. I love to spend a rainy day going down memory lane.
12. Getting started on some scrapbooks (are you detecting a theme here?) I have so much memory preservation I want to work on, just enough time in my life to enjoy the actual events - not so much reliving them yet. ....someday....
13. Be able to spend a good, fun day with my family. Bill is working a lot lately and the kids haven't even seen him for 2 days because of his hours. I'd like us to go to the zoo or somewhere together and noone fight (there has been A LOT of bickering lately) Just enjoy a day together.

So that is it. I tried to think of vacation spots, but never being on vacation, I just want to be ANYWHERE! I sooo am in need of a vacation.. Or maybe just a little break from being mommy 24/7. Seems like I have been with them all the time lately. I'll have to work on that.

Have a great Thursday!

Thursday Thirteen

I had a bit of a rough time this past week and have found myself getting frustrated over little things with the kids, so I thought I would make a list to remind me why I am truly grateful to be given the best job ever!

Refresh myself just a bit!

Thirteen Things I love about being a mom.

1. I always wanted to be a mom. Couldn't wait until I had a family of my own!

2. I love how when the kids are not feeling well, only mommy can make them feel better

3. I love when I see those smiles of true happiness over something little I did - like make them their favorite dinner.

4. I love being able to stay home with them and give them that security that I am always here.

5. First smiles, first steps, first words. All major things in the life of a mommy.

6. First day of bringing a new baby home. Especially when I brought Ethan home, I knew my life would be better than ever. (I am tearing up even as I type that!)

7. Starting fun traditions with each child and knowing that something so little can mean the world to them.

8. Knowing that God has trusted me enough to bless me with 4 little angels to take care of for him. That is such a great honor!

9. To watch how Jason has went from being an adorable toddler (I joke that I fell in love with him, before his father;)to a handsome young man. He takes such pride in his sports and school work and it's awesome to see where he is heading.

10. I love to see how Ethan grows each day in his love of art and music, how he enjoys his mom helping at school and teaching in Awana. That he is growing into his own person, but still likes his mommy to be close and involved (yes, I am creating a mommas boy- so hard not to do :p )

11. For my independent little Elena. It is so refreshing to spend time with her. She is such a little grown up and although doesn't go full force into everything, she carefully selects what she does with her time. Her teachers say she is a joy to have in class and she truly is a joy to have in my life! She looks at life in such a sweet and loving way, I have to stop and look through her view sometimes and it makes life so much better!

12. My little Natalie. Even though she is approaching the terrible twos, even when she is being naughty, she is so subtle and sweet. She truly makes me laugh every day. In her expressions, in her tiniest amount of speech (she doesn't really talk) She is my sweetest little baby and most likely my last so she can stay this size forever if she likes!

13. There have been so many babies born lately, I love to remember each of the kids birth stories over and over. Amazing how you can remember every detail of those days. I could tell you everything I ate, what I was wearing, what the weather was like.Every detail. Those days stand still in time in my mind. Wonderful, truly wonderful I hope I never forget them :)