9.28.2012

april memories are slowly making their way

into the scrapbook binder.

it always seems that scrapbooking is on the bottom of the to-do list.

it always seems that there is a floor to wash, laundry to fold,

emails to answer, office work to finish, errands to run....

it always seems that there is never enough hours in the day

to complete a layout or two.

it always seems to overwhelm me when i realize how far behind i am.

well, it seems like i need to make a change or two!

heres to moving scrapbooking up on the list.

9.27.2012

just because i don't want to forget this memory.
-
at 6:57am this morning, colin called me from the bottom of the staircase, "mom come upstairs quick."
i was in the kitchen, first cup of coffee in hand, just finished packing the lunches.
i was not ready to hear these words, tackle a large bug, capture a gecko or stop an overflowing toilet yet.
i quickly ran up the stairs, mentally preparing myself for whatever "quick" could possibly mean this early in the morning.
and there was colin in his bedroom pointing out his window.
"look"
and just out east, beyond the neighbors rooftop, was the early morning sky filled with shades of pink, red, blue and purple mixed in with the clouds.
"its beautiful, isn't it?" said colin.
"yes it is - Gods painting early today" i replied.
-
just because i don't want to forget this memory.
just because i don't want to forget colins appreciation for a morning sunrise.
just because i don't want to forget the simple things that bring a smile.
just because i don't want to forget the beauty of nature.
just because i don't want to forget how my day started today.

9.26.2012

because we enjoy modern family - 

it is the only show that gathers all 5 of us together for 30 minutes -

we watched season three finale last night -

just to get us ready for tonight -

homework was done, dishes were done, lunches packed,

showers taken and we all were in the great room promptly

at 8pm -

we watched - 

we laughed - 

we quoted lines -

we gathered together as a sippel family.

heres to season four!

9.26.2012

catching up on a couple library books from last week.

two completely different books but yet alike in so many ways.

the lifeboat was a quick & easy titanic-like story.

great first novel for this author.

the diving bell and the butterfly was a one sitting read.

it was hauntingly good.

a personal life memoir by author.

3 out of 5 stars for both.

9.25.2012

last weeks book is this weeks dinner.

i loved this book.

it was a cookbook mixed together with a memoir.

it was real life meets the dreaded dinner hour with

a cocktail and a plan.

loved the book.

xeroxed some recipes.

tried the buttermilk oven fried chicken and

the zucchini strips tonight.

quick fun and easy to make.

everyone liked it but no one loved it enough

to make it a keeper in our favorite dinner routine.

off to try another new recipe.

9.25.2012

nfl week three:

mom 10/16 correct picks.

justin & nathan 9/16

steve 8/16

colin 5/16

-

i had to wake nathan up early this morning so he

could catch up on all the controversy regarding

last nights game.

lots of upsets.

lots of overtime.

lots of bad calls

lots of football.

9.23.2012

steve, troy. todd & mike hit the golf course today for a

good cause.

steve. troy. todd & mike made the night local news

tonight for a good cause.

all good stuff.

9.21.2012

justins love of music has produced a fall music cd for all.

i have burned it to my honda library.

nathan has added it to his playlist.

we are all enjoying his mix.

my favorite is track #8.

lifehouse - between the raindrops.

you can listen here.

he has everything from mayer to jepsen.

nice job dude!

{and i promised not to blare it as i pick you up at school!}

9.20.2012

{internet photo - source unknown}

downtown austin this am.

shuttle overhead & capital in the background.

looks like a hollywood scene.

9.19.2012

{today - early release - 95 sunny degrees}

as the boys get older, they are no longer a fan of the camera.

when i try to snap a picture of them, they put their hand up.

sometimes just the sound of the camera lens will send them running.

so

this is how i can get a picture of them.

from far away.

through the front window.

while they are yelling football plays.

or hanging in the shade of the tree.

while they are distracted

when they think no one is looking.

i capture a moment in a photo.

a memory to hold on to.

a glimpse into our life.

-

i am my boys paparazzi.

9.18.2012

today one of nate's buddies said to me yesterday as he jumped in the minivan:

"mrs. sippel, you're already reading a different book than last monday

when you picked us up."

(nathan hangs out with very observant dudes!)

just finished reading american dervish.

and yes, i had to look up the word dervish.

well written novel about growing up muslim in america.

3 stars out of 5 for me.

9.17.2012

because sometimes you actually get a great email in your inbox!

9.17.2012

my art journal is on its last page.

i started this one on january 1, 2012.

it is filled with articles, daily doodles & ripped magazine pictures.

it has gift ideas, favorite quotes & handwritten messages.

it has beauty products, diy ideas & home decor.

it has book reviews, recipes to try & writing prompts.

it has ideas, thoughts & leftovers.

i am so sad to see it full but looking forward to starting a new one.

heres to blank page number one!

9.16.2012

it rained all day today.

all day long.

heavy. light. drizzle & downpours.

we got totally drenched after church &

laughed with our soaked shirts, socks and shoes.

we welcomed the drops & watched the pond refill.

big drops, little drops & sideways blowing drops.

it rained all day today &

we had front row seats!

9.15.2012

a day filled with football practice, lawn cutting & sink unplugging.

a day filled with errands, chores & college football.

a day filled with capturing old memories & creating new memories.

a day called today.

9.14.2012

gratitude journal for today:

a pile of great books from the library yesterday.

weekend off from work.

3 boys who wake up on their own each morning.

the new 692 page restoration hardware catalog.

new water pic for new appliance dude.

bj brewhouse happy hour.

modern family marathons.

leftovers for dinner.

wintergreen lifesavers.
justin burning a new music cd for me.

9.13.2012

i just finished this book.

i loved cutting for stone and thought i'd try

one of abraham vergheses earlier books.

although i'm not a huge tennis fan, i loved this book.

it was personal.

it was beautifully written.

its a keeper on my bookshelf.

4 out of 5 stars on my goodreads page.

9.12.2012

today was one of those heart wrenching mom days.

today was colins forth ortho appointment & 

his appliance arrived and was cemented into place.

today i learned how to torture tighten it every night.

today he was brave but i saw the tear slip out of the corner of his eye.

today i found myself saying words i'm sure 

my mother said to me years ago.

today i said 'you'll be so thankful years from now.'

today i wanted to change places with him

and sit in that reclining chair.

today i found myself offering sonic milkshakes & extra

video game time as consolation prizes.

today i felt i had let colin down.

today i felt that maybe i hadn't prepared him well enough.

today i felt out of my comfort zone.

today i felt like i wanted to let a tear slip out of the corner of my eye.

- 

so we've survived the first 8 hours.

the advil has kicked in & we figured out how to brush it.

his speech has already start to adjust to this new

foreigner in his mouth.

an extra large pile of mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.

so life goes on.

we adjust.

we learn.

we give thanks.

and when he smiles, i think i see his jaw moving already!

9.11.2012

just finished reading today.

very quick read.

very eye opening perspective.

very first book that steve & i were both reading at the same time!

thanks for the birthday book!

9.11.2012

week one & we are off to a great start.

colin & mom: 11/16 games

justin: 10/16

nate & dad: 9/16

-

nothing better than a little friendly family competition

mixed with good olde fashion football.

9.10.2012

{colins homework today}

just a glimpse into our daily routine.

first alarm sounds at 6:30am.

i drive colin to school at 7:10am.

home in time to get nathan out the front door for 7:40am bus.

justin leaves at 8:20am for his bus.

steve leaves somewhere in the above.

and then we do it all again in the afternoon.

i pick colin up at 2:45pm.

nathan walks in the front door at 4:00pm.

justin follows at 4:30pm.

many things affect this pattern.

band practice. junior historians club. 

orthodontists appointments.

after school projects.

 homework. dinner. showers.

pack lunches & backpacks.

unwind. bed.

and get up a do it all over again!

9.7.2012

look what i found in my mailbox today.

it brought a smile to my face.

miss ya melanie.

i know you are drawing on the walls of heaven!

9.6.2012

birthday treats. 

birthday texts.

birthday calls.

birthday cards.

birthday posts.

birthday flowers.

birthday brownies.

happy birthday !

9.5.2012

little things that are making nathan happy today.

1) getting his math book at school and opening the cover only to

see that justin had it last year.

2) opening up todays issue of sports illustrated & finding

the nfl season poster.

the simple things that bring a smile to his face.

9.3.2012

its that time again!

the nfl schedule has been printed.

the folders have been stuffed.

we are ready for sippel winning predictions.

game number one is almosy here.

cowboys vs. giants on wednesday night.

lets see who will win this season & 

guess the highest number of winning games!

come follow along .....

9.2.2012

sunday in snapshots.

rainey street drives.

huts hamburgers.

whole foods shopping.

baylor game on tv.

hanging with friends on 6th street.

sunday night sleepovers.

doesn't get any better than this!

(unless we had lego fest tickets - maybe next time!)

9.1.2012

saturday night lights !

this has been on my bucket list and tonight was the night.

99 beautiful degrees at kickoff at 7pm.

wonderful city walks.

delicious bbq burgers.

college days are just around the corner.

great high seats for all!

9.1.2012

guess where we are today?