After my mom had the kids over for their summer sleepover (here), I asked if I could borrow her camera to download her pictures.  We always joke with my mom because she never deletes pictures from her memory card (as in NEVER).  I decided to look through some of the older pictures of my kids.  I unexpectedly came across pictures of my grandmother (my mom's mother) at my mom's house when she visited in 2009.  The pictures actually took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.  I didn't get to see her very often because we lived several states away.  However, she always sent me letters, newspaper clippings, and care packages.  I also spoke to her on the phone and visited every summer when I was a bit older.  I just LOVED every thing about her.  She had the most amazing stories, gave great back rubs, and read books with so much energy and expression.
After she passed away in 2010, it saddened me that my own kids would really never know her.  Both of my sons met her but they were so young I don't think they will remember being with her.  My cousins and their children lived in the same town as my grandmother.  They have countless pictures of their kids in her lap, reading books, at her house, etc.  Well now I have that too, the pictures include my grandma and my sons.  She is reading books, playing the piano, have conversations with them - all the things I remember her doing with me.

I have been having such a rough week.  Nothing seems to be up to my satisfaction.  Have you ever had a day (or a couple of days) like that?  You know, everything and everyone seems extra annoying and irritating (sorry but it is true).  I hate it when this mood comes over me because I even begin to annoy myself!  :)  But when I finally stop throwing my own pity party and I really try to listen, God always reminds me that he knows best. After coming home from shuffling kids back and forth from martial arts lessons, I was feeling extremely defeated.  I began to start dinner and decided to check some of my favorite blogs while I had a few minutes.  One blog, M.O.B. Society (here), shared a link to another blog, A Better Mom.  I had never read this blog so I decided to click and give it a try.  This link, The Better Mom , will take you to the post I read. Wow!  As soon as I started to read the post, I understood exactly what this woman was talking about.  My eyes began to water because I realized that God knew I needed this post.  I am not going to go into detail, I will let you click on the link and form your own opinion.  However, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  It refocused my priorities and reminded me that God specifically made me the mom of our household.  What an amazing reminder of the mom I should strive to be and that God ALWAYS knows best. *The "funk" will return, as always (usually 12 times a year :) ), but at least I have this wonderful post to refer to when I need a swift kick in the pants. :) Elizabeth

Have you ever had a vision or day dream about how your children will look and behave as adults?  Depending on the situation, your vision may be different from time to time.  I like to believe and dream about my children growing up to be successful and productive human beings.  HOWEVER, on this particular night (at the dinner table) I had a very different vision.  Without going into gross details, lets just call it an unfavorable vision. Due to my husband's work schedule, I endure breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with three children) all by my lonesome.  "Get me this."  "I need that."  "Oh sorry Mommy, did you just sit down?"  "Oops, how did I spill that?"  This is the conversation at our table for every single meal.  For lunch, I have resorted to standing while they eat so I can sit and eat in peace once they leave the table.  Thousands of times I have reminded the kids to "use their manners", say please and thank you, and most importantly, ask for seconds before Mommy sits down.  For the most part, their tables manners are not horrible.  It is not a scene from "Honey Boo Boo" or anything like that,  BUT... we could use some improvement. So, after feeling exhausted from yet another dinner where I played "short order chef, bus boy, and maid I decided we needed a change.  I had been harping on the kids about their manners and getting really frustrated.  The mood at our table was not great (especially mine).  The more frustrated I got I began to realize that even though I constantly remind them to use their manners I have never really sat them down and demonstrated exactly what "good table manners" include. After dinner was over, I told the kids not to leave the table.  I announced we were going to have an Etiquette 101 class during dessert.  First, I re-set the table, told the kids to stand up and push in their chairs.  I went over the following rules of good table etiquette: **These were the rules I felt were most important for the age of my children (8, 5, 3).

• Before arriving to the table, please wash your hands with SOAP (I have two boys, soap always needs to be reminded).
• Calmly sit down at your seat and scoot in your chair (if you need help please ask Mommy).
• Fold your hands, bow your head, and say your prayers.
• Unfold your napkin and place it in your lap.
• Leave your left hand (my kids are right handed) in your lap at all times (unless you need to cut something, however, you are not allowed to use a knife - so you don't need to cut anything) :).
• Chew with your mouth closed, never burp or make other noises that come from your body, cover your mouth with your napkin and turn your head to cough or sneeze, etc. etc.
• When you are finished, wipe your hands and mouth with your napkin and then ask to be excused from the table.
• Extra rule:  My five year old son asked what you should do if you need to scratch something.  I told him it would be ok to scratch your itch calmly and without drawing a lot of attention to yourself.  Then I remembered.... with boys you sometimes have to wonder what they may have to scratch.  So I decided even though I really didn't want to "go there"  we needed to "go there".  So I explained what should and should NEVER be scratched at the table.  I think he is crystal clear, now.  (My husband says that anything from your neck down should really not be scratched at the table.)

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary.  We were high school sweethearts and then got married six weeks after we graduated from college.  We have always had a strong relationship but I have to admit it gets better with each passing year.  We were seventeen years old when we started dating...young whipper snappers. :)  It has been an amazing journey as we have become adults and parents together. Here is a just a little of what we have accomplished over eleven years:
*Warning, this is long.  We have had a lot of "life" in eleven years.  I have included some fun pictures at the end. 2002

• June 22 - Got Married!!!  
• Bought our first car (which wasn't officially owned by our parents) :)
• Both began our careers (my husband as a butcher and me as a teacher)

2003

• Bought our first house (looking back at it we both agree it was a mistake - WAY TO MUCH WALLPAPER!  However, neither one of us wanted to say anything.  Awww, how cute. :))

2004

• Welcomed our first child into the world
• Hugged and comforted each other as we learned that our child would be born with congenital heart disease.
• Made it through our son's first heart surgery
• Bought a bigger, I mean, "family car"

Oh my, if you could only see the layer of dust floating through the air in my house.  My husband is sanding, de-glossing, and painting our kitchen cabinets.  In order to get the cabinets ready for the new paint we have had to endure endless sanding.  The dust is literally on everything.  My husband even has a thin layer of dust in his hair.  He looks like he is going gray! It is his afternoon off and he has three eager helpers at his side.  I, on the other hand, am trying to stay busy and forget about the dust.  I am by no means a neat freak BUT....I definitely have my limits and this is one of them.  My husband looked at me a few minutes ago and asked me if I needed to go somewhere else.  I think he could see the look of pure stress on my face and thought it would be best for everyone if I were not on the premises.  Oh well, in the end it will be worth it... at least that is my new mantra. :)

My husband loves Nutella.  He will eat it on just about anything.  When he can't find something to use as a base, he will eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon.  Ok...confession, I have also been known to eat Nutella right out of the jar.  It is one of those guilty pleasures, except I don't feel any guilt!  It is worth every calorie!! For Father's Day, I wanted to make a dessert that I knew he would love.  As I was doing my weekly grocery shopping, I noticed our grocery store was running Nutella on sale...PERFECT.  So, I picked up a box of brownie mix and ice cream.  Brownies, ice cream, and Nutella, how could I go wrong? :)  I loving refer to boxed brownies as cheater brownies.  Homemade brownies are wonderful but the boxed mixes are great and so fast.

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries...the summer fruit season is so yummy!  For years, my mother-in-law has made the most delicious fruit dip.  She mixes 1 8oz block of cream cheese with 1 7 oz. jar of Jet Puff.  It is the best fruit dip and goes with just about any type of fruit.  After trying a grape salad recipe (Grape Salad), I decided to play with the ingredients to see what I could come up with.  I took the cream cheese and Jet Puff from my mother-in -law's recipe and the sour cream with vanilla from the grape salad recipe.  Then I decided to only use berries that are currently in season (although I think almost any fruit would be great).  The outcome was Triple Berry Delight. Ingredients: 1 7oz. Jet Puff
1 8oz. block cream cheese (softened)
1/2 C. sour cream
3 tsp. vanilla
7-8 C. mixed berries (I used fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.) Rinse and cut berries.  I quartered the strawberries, halved the raspberries, and left the blueberries whole.  In a stand mixer, combine Jet Puff, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and vanilla.  Using the whisk attachment, whisk ingredients for several minutes .  Once mixture is smooth, fold in berries with a large spoon.  Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour (enough time to let the mixture set a little).  Serve as a side dish or a dessert.  It is "berry" wonderful!!! :)

My mom loves to plan sleepovers for my children and they love sleeping at "Ma's" house.  Maybe I didn't make myself clear...they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sleeping at Ma's house.  She really plays it up big which is another reason they get so excited.  This year (when we arrived home after vacation) she gave each child an official invitation for the 2nd Annual Summer Sleepover at Ma's.  They felt so important to receive formal invitations.

Our family has entered a new phase...the phase of hurry up and wait.  My kids are ages 8, 5, and 3 and all are involved in an activity of some sort.  For years, it was just my oldest son trying out different activities and sports.  It would only last a few weeks or couple of months and then we would have a break.  This past fall our five year old son tried soccer.  Since this spring, both boys have decided they love martial arts.  This week our three year old daughter began ballet.  This is the first time we have experienced having three kids in activities at the same time.  I feel like our life has been taken over by the "hurry up and wait syndrome".  We  hurry to get in the car and then wait while which ever child completes his or her activity.  Then we make the troop movement back to the car and prepare to do it all over again.  I feel as though my rear end is beginning to flatten due to all the sitting.  I sit in the car, I sit at martial arts, I sit at ballet lessons.  Sit, sit, and then sit some more (did I mention the chairs are never comfortable).  I have gone from teaching dance (being on the move all day) to being in the car (still on the move but not burning nearly the calories).  My butt, I mean bottom, is literally tired at the end of the day.  I can physically feel my metabolic rate dropping. Don't get me wrong, I love the activities and watching each child discover their loves BUTT :) I am not sure how many years my derriere can hold up to this amount of sitting. Sigh... Elizabeth

This is one of my favorite recipes!!!  It basically came from a night when I didn't have all of the ingredients for an enchilada recipe so I had to wing it.  The extra exciting part is that I am using my new Le Creuset pan.  My husband purchased it for me on our vacation last week.  We both love to cook so a new pot or pan get our adrenaline pumping (corny, I know).  You will see pictures of our beloved Le Creuset in this post...so exciting!!! Chili Enchilada Casserole What you will need:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 2 C. shredded cheddar 
• 1 16oz. jar chili sauce (or enchilada sauce)
• 10-12 corn tortillas
• vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• salsa 
• sour cream

About a month ago, I took pictures of my kids wearing my husband's clothes (view photos here).  We thought he would love the adorable pictures for Father's Day.  It was super cute to see their tiny bodies in his large clothes.  Since then I turned the pictures into large 16X20 matte prints on canvas.  Here are the finished products.

• purchased 3 -  16X20 canvases from Hobby Lobby (2 pack for &7.99 plus the 40% off coupon)
• purchased Elmer's Multi - Purpose Spray Adhesive and Tree House Clear Acrylic Matte Coating
• purchased 1 craft knife
• I had each picture blown up to 16X20 at Office Depot.  I asked that the prints be put on regular paper as opposed to photo paper (this really saves on cost).  Each print was about $4.00 each.
• trim each print to the exact size of the canvas (I went back at the end and trimmed off any extra edges with the craft knife)
• spray the canvas with spray adhesive and attach print (smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles)
• allow spray adhesive to dry for at least one hour
• spray clear acrylic matte coating, allow to dry for 24 hours

Not too long ago, a girlfriend of mine was telling me that a person should be able to count their closest girlfriends on one hand (I think she read it in an article or something).  When I sat down and thought about it, it is true.  I have five women that I completely treasure.  They are made up of friends and family members and they mean the world to me.  I constantly pour into them and they constantly pour into me.  These are the women I laugh, cry, and share all of life's moments.  They know the nitty gritty of my life as a women, mother, and wife (and they still love me :) ).  I don't feel like I have to impress them or keep up with their standards.  I love to share moments of laughter with them (you know, the kind of laughter that makes you almost wet your pants and makes your side hurt).  They are my "first responders", cheerleaders, and my faithful prayer warriors. They are my Fabulous, Fantastic, Forever Five and I am blessed to have them in my live! Elizabeth