4.30.2014

this weeks page turners.

the sharper the knife, the less you cry is a cute book.

its julie & julia mixed with eat, pray & love.

i loved this book & finished it in two days.

-

five days at memorial was a heavy, heart wrenching book.

nonfiction that reads like fiction.

its the story of the first five days after katrina hit new orleans in august of 2005.

it was the deadiest and most destructive hurricane & this is the story

behind the walls of a local, hard hit hospital.

the confusion. the lack of communication. the sleep deprived staff members

making life and death decisions that would later find them in court defending

their actions.

i couldn't put this one down.

4.29.2014

because there is nothing better than a sixth grade award ceremony on a tuesday afternoon.

congratulations on perfect attendance and "a" honor role awards colin.

well done dude!

4.28.2014

nothing better than fixing the water dispenser without having to call the repair man!

thank you internet and one old blow dryer.

we now have chilled filtered water again!

watch out sony blu ray player - i'm going to fix you next!

-

follow up: blu ray is fixed!

thank you internet and all those community blog posts.

we now have netflix on the big screen.

off to watch some mad men.....

4.26.2014

saturdays are meant for early morning neighborhood garage sales,

 signing nathan up for driver ed classes this summer,

 football games & the red poppy festival in georgetown.

love our weekend days together!

4.25.2014

                             

today. 

now.

on your way to the national honor society year end party.

because its not often you get dressed up.

because we are so proud of you.

because i know you'll be off to college before i know it.

thanks for always smiling!

4.23.2014

because my mother saved all her anniversary cards in a big blue jenss box on the top shelf in her closet.

because i loved as a little kid to look through the box at the treasures of years past.

because i know you cant save everything but you can save some.

because i wanted to have my own blue box one day.

because its easier to punch a couple holes.

because i love looking back at "our" everyday memories.

because i love hallmark cards.

because it was time to take the cards off the mantel today.

because i love growing "old" with you!

4.22.2014

a long awaited lego pick-a-brick order finally arrived

from overseas.

perfect to create a new lego gun creation!

legos + creative mind = one masterpiece

4.21.2014

                                          

because everyday when colin walks through the door he yells

"i'm home"

and even when i'm not there, he still finds a funny way to tell me

that he is home.

love the capital letters and misspellings!

todays everyday memory.

4.20.2014

hoppy easter!

a day filled with church, brunch, easter egg hunts &

confetti filled egg fights.

4.19.2014

wouldn't be a saturday without some family fun

on the fields!

everyone joins in the team spirit.

one scorekeeper, one chain man & one official video recorder!

4.18.2014

one book finished.

not my usual kind of book - a medical thriller.

an easy quick read.

predictable ending unfortunately.

4.16.2104

                                                 

this was the first time i ever tried an audiobook &

this was the first time i actually cried during a book.

perhaps it was because the author was reading her own words.

perhaps it was because such an unspeakable childhood.

perhaps it was because i have had such a sheltered life.

perhaps it was because of such strength to overcome such despair.

perhaps it was because it was such a powerful book.

perhaps it was because i'm a mom.

this was not a easy book to listen to but it was

one of the most powerful books i have ever encountered.

raw. intense. heartbreaking.

a book i will never forget.

4.15.2014

230am - i awake to the sound of colin saying "mom, i don't want to scare you"

as he is rubbing my arm as i am fast asleep in my warm bed.

"it's time to go look" he whispers.

and we put on our flipflops and out the front door we go in search of the 

blood orange lunar eclipse.

we didn't have to go far.

outside the sky is perfect.

there is not a noise.

we look up and there it is.

far away.

above his bedroom window.

the moon is shinning in a warm orange light.

we are happy for the cloudless sky.

we are happy to sneek a peek at nature at her best.

we snap a photo or two through our bleary eyes.

we sneak back in the house with a smile on our face.

the best 230am date ever!

off to mark the calendar for october 8th.

4.12.2014

because it wouldn't be a saturday without some football in texas.

perfect day to cheer the bears to victory.

love the family support.

 steve records the games.

 justin does the chains.

nate runs the scoreboard.

i snap the photos.

go. bears. go.

4.10.2014

               

todays laugh....

so justin walks into the kitchen and says

"thanks mom for buying me 'the stranger' book for my english class.

its all about existentialism."

and hook, line and sinker, i say

"refresh my memory on existentialism."

and its almost like he knew i was going to ask him that question

because he immediately pulls up this you tube video for me to watch.

-

ha, now colin and i won't soon forget this word!

love the internet.

love learning.

i should of listened more in high school.

perhaps i wouldn't have to watch these educational videos if i did.

4.9.2014

todays laugh...

i have searched high and low looking for colins football socks.

not in his football bag.

not inside his cleats.

not under his bed or dresser.

not in the backseat on the minivan.

not in the hamper - last place i usually look.

not on the bathroom floor.

not on the garage floor.

and yes, these are all places where i have found them before.

look were i finally located them.....

next time i'll start at the lego table!

4.8.2014

                                    

dear netflix, insomnia and patient who recommended this series,

i just wanted to say thank you for allowing me to catch up 

on my new favorite pbs tv series "call the midwife."

because of you three i was able to watch season one and two.

because of you i have now set the dvr to record season three on sunday nights.

because of you i have read book one in the series.

because of you i have purchased book two and three on my ipad mini.

because of you i now have a new addiction.

thank you for filling my time while i wait for the next season of downton abbey 

and house of cards!!

fondly, 

carol

4.7.2014

two great quick reads.

sometimes i just like a simple, light book to read.

both of these were fit the bill.

no heavy intense plots - just breezy beach reads this past week.

back on track to read 52 books in 52 weeks with the help

of these 2 books.

4.6.2014

church. brunch. rain. whole foods. the domain. papa murphy pizza. 

country music awards and one great game of ticket to ride as a family.

the perfect sunday family day!

4.5.2014

5am phone call from work - best early morning call in a long time.

6am early morning drop off at school for two teenage junior historians.

11am football games on a cold windy morning - colder today than any winter game.

1pm pickup at school to retrieve to tired boys.

5pm cocktails at bj's brewhouse to watch the start of the final four - not sure when i became

interested in basketball but having 4 guys around i'm sure had something to do with it.

8pm cheeseburgers on the grill & another game on the tube.

a great bonus day for me!

4.4.2014

                                       

this is what 6:19pm looks like on a friday night.

priceless.

4.2.2014

                                  

and God flipped the switch and it was spring with birds chirping

on the windowsills and baby green leaves multiplying on the branches.

hello sun.

hello shorts.

hello flip flops.

we are so glad you arrived!

4.1.2014

                         

hard not to smile at this photo.

i just wish i knew what was on the screen!