Live a life inspired...

As the new year approaches, I always get sucked into these things called--resolutions. It usually is the "I'm going to lose weight" or "I'm going to organize my house" kind of resolutions that I can commit to for a month or two. This year I want something that I know that I can commit to for longer...

I was in a store yesterday when something caught my eye. It was a bracelet that I bought that says..."live a life inspired." I {LOVE} this saying, especially after hearing the news of my mom's breast cancer.

I am inspired to do a lot of things this upcoming year including, running a half marathon for my mom! I have a race in mind in early fall (summer is my best training time), but I plan to do many 5K and 10K races throughout the spring and summer. Every step, every mile is for her and all she has had to go through in her life...I am inspired!

I just know that it is going to be a {GREAT} year!
What are you inspired to do this year?!

self-timer snapshots

I've been using my self-timer lately and I've been having lots of fun with it! I find that photos turn out best if you try to capture a moment rather than forcing the picture. This morning I took a few different snapshots of Brynn and I while we made memories together. These are some of my favorites because they aren't perfectly posed but more a peek into our morning.

It's feather time!

Today was an errand running kind of a day...mixed with a fun twist! Alexis and I were at the mall so we stopped by Regis and got her a feather! She spent more time picking just the right color out than it actually took to put it in.
Alexis has a quiet and shy personality, but her style is completely opposite...I knew this was totally her look!

I hope you enjoy it my dear, Alexis!

New Look

If you happen to be cruising around my blog, please know that I am going for a new look. As time allows, I am slowly pulling it together. It continues to be a work in progress! I can't wait to reveal the finished look!!

Lucky Me

He is the cheese to my macaroni

The horizon to my sky

The bacon to my eggs

The laces to my sneakers

The jelly to my peanut butter

The smile to my face

The gravy to my mashed potatoes

The bubbles to my bath

The milk to my cookie

The ink in my pen

The ketchup to my french fries

The water to my ocean

The icing on my cake

So lucky that I have him in my life!

Goofy Runs In The Family

There are many qualities and traits I hope to teach my girls. Like setting goals, being a friend to everyone, and making a cheap gift look expensive, but being able to be goofy is at the top of that list. It definitely will get them far in life if they are able to laugh at themselves and not be afraid of being silly.

The news this past week of my mom having breast cancer sure made me take a step back...in fact, it took my breathe away. The news slapped me in the face and it made me realize that once again, life should not be taken for granted.
It is times like this that I need to be able to be silly and it helps if others around me are as well! It brings me back to when my dad passed away...laughter really was my best medicine.
I am not at all putting my blinders on and not facing reality. Being goofy is just a part of my life...it really does run in the family!

BE SILLY
BE HONEST
BE KIND

Random Acts of Kindness

As we enter a season of thanks and giving. I am completely inspired to teach my daughters exactly what this season is all about. I hope to instill a heart of giving in my girls. I hope these random acts of giving will be a lesson that will stick with them for life.

The girls and I spent this past week completing these acts of kindness around our town.

Here is our list of random acts:
* Taping quarters to a vending machine at our local cafe.
* Taping money to the Sunday paper at the gas station.
* Putting diapers and wipes on a local changing table.
* Dropping off color pages and crayons to our clinic's waiting room.
* Bringing cookies to our police department and thanking them for keeping our community safe.
* Giving money to a local boy in need.

As I was buckling my daughters in the car to leave, a stranger walked out of the gas station with a paper and a smile. If he was the one to receive our gift, then that made our day!!

I have to tell you that after this week of our random acts of kindness, I experienced such an emotional high. I feel so wonderful that I am teaching such an important lesson to my girls. I can't wait to come up with a new list of random acts...my mind is just racing with ideas! Next time... no camera, no blogging!

It is far better to give than to receive...spread the word! :) 

Today a Reader...Tomorrow a Leader

Alexis is reading books for Book It! I LOVE that Book It is still around and that Pizza Hut still gives personal pan pizzas away if you make your reading goal! What a great program and motivator to get young ones to read!

Alexis surprised me tonight and asked if she could read during our storytime. She chose one of her favorite books about Disney Princesses and she did a fantastic job reading! At this early stage of reading she still needs help with many words, but I am thrilled at how far she has come! Reading takes time and practice, so practice she will do! I am thrilled to be listening to my sweet little angel read! 

Daughters

To My Daughters

I wish you

 the strength to

face challenges with

confidence...

along with the

wisdom to

choose your

battles

carefully...

I wish you

adventure on

your journey and

may you always

stop to help

someone along

the way...

Listen to

your heart

and take risks

carefully...

   Remember

how much you are loved...

I am so proud

of you!

Love you always,

Mom

*Disclaimer...the picture idea and quote came from Pinterest. I put them together for a small tribute for Alexis and Brynn.

Pick a Color

Painting finger nails is a given when you have 2 little girls in the house! Recently, Brynn has joined in the fun of painting fingers and toes. First, we get all the bright colors out of our ever growing plastic tote. Then, the fun begins when the girls choose their color.

Today's picks are: "Purple Potion," "Rah Rah Red," and "Go Green."

I imagine that we will spend hours upon hours painting our nails together in the future. I cannot wait to see how the colors they choose continue to change!
I will be sad when they start choosing more sophisticated colors.

My Favorite Art

"Every child is an artist." Picasso

 


As I was heading to the fridge to grab a bite to eat, as I usually do when I'm home on the weekends, the front of the fridge stopped me in my tracks. Its colorful and artistic style caught my eye and put a smile on my face. I looked at each piece of artwork as I realized how many different places my girls are creating art. I love how school, Sunday school, and daycare emphasize imagination and creativity! The girls carry that artistic style home with them as they color countless pictures for Chad and I.
I have to give a BIG shout out to Mrs. Junkert (Kindergarten Teacher) and Janet R. (Daycare Extrodinaire) for taking time, patience, and energy so my girls can make BEAUTIFUL art to hang on our fridge!





Persistence

Alexis came to me yesterday evening and asked Chad and I to teach her how to tie shoes. I instantly told her "absolutely"! I began to wonder why it took me this long to teach her this skill. Maybe because velcro shoes seem less stressful or I simply overlooked this skill because I was busy teaching her other things. Regardless, Alexis was eager to learn how to tie her own shoes!

As Chad and I took turns teaching her how to tie shoes, I took a step back and watched as she was determined to master this new skill. I began to think of this persistence and determination she had as a wonderful trait to have in life! When she puts her mind to accomplishing something, she is bound and determined to achieve it.

My hope for you, Alexis; is that you carry this eagerness to achieve goals throughout your entire life. If you do that, life has wonderful things in store for you!

Progress Report: Alexis is still working hard at tying her shoes. She has come a long way in just a short time! She is currently working at making sure the bunny has 2 ears, not 1...practice makes perfect!

I am Grateful!

i am

GRATEFUL

    for this

    for this

    and for this

Why, you may ask, would I be grateful for endless mountains of laundry, huge piles of unorganized books, and legos strewn all over the floor? Simple. If I didn't have these things in my life, it would mean that I didn't have my beautiful children.

Scenes From A Saturday Morning

Watching cartoons, reading books, relaxing and snuggling in pajamas, making mini-muffins, going for a run, and doing some housework.

Maybe some laundry later on. Some outside fun, a BIG chili feed with family, and definitely a trip to Target!

I {LOVE} Saturdays!!

But this part is the BEST!!