As Easy As ABC

It's no lie, I love Pinterest. 

I do, however, need to get way better at executing what I pin or using a dash of restraint lest I become Pin-Happy. 

Recently I did find a great idea for a toddler ABC/123 notebook that I thought was doable.

A quick trip to Walmart and I landed my supplies x2:

:: Durable binders

:: Heavy Duty sheet protectors

: Binder Pouches

:: Washable Dry Erase Markers

A quick click to download the alphabet, numbers and covers.

Slip them in the handy dandy sheet protectors.

Finished project in no time!

My girls are enjoying them (insert happy toddler photo here), but because of their age I do keep them within eyesight when they are working in their binders. I see this as having wonderful prospect for the summer and a simple way I can also work on their letters and numbers with them. 

I definitely need to score some more projects like this that creatively tame and guide the busy toddler. 

Answer me this: 

How do you best use Pinterest? And how on earth do you not pin every.stinking.amazingly.awesome.thing on there??!!

Just wondering.

Gratituesday

A couple of videos of my girls singing. 

You know, because who doesn't want to see cute little girls singing after a long holiday weekend?

You're welcome.

(Please ignore the annoying mommy voice at the end of the first one)

Margaret working on her ABC's and not to miss out on the spotlight, Gianna sticks her head in:

Gianna's quick rendition of her favorite part of  'Do You Want To Build A Snowman?' from Frozen:

These were from a couple weeks ago and she's gotten more of the words down these days. 

She sings it at random times throughout the house in the cutest little girly voice.

Here's the real version in case you live under a rock  haven't heard it yet:

In especially Gratituesday mode: spring summer weather has arrived!! 

Extra bonus Gratituesday: we are done with school TOMORROW. 

In the words of Anna:

'I don't know if I'm elated or gassy....'

(from the song For the First Time in Forever from Frozen and my most favorite line)

I'm pretty sure elated. Happy Tuesday to you! Make it a good one.

Simplicity In Celebrating: Mother's Day

Sometimes lack of plans (expectations)  =  simple gratitude and a peaceful heart.

Have you found that to be true too? Again, I did this Mother's Day weekend. A couple years ago I wrote about my high expectations and I vowed not to do that again. Thankfully, I may have found my sweet spot for Mother's Day weekend after keeping it simple last year and again this year.

We kicked off the weekend with Field Trip Friday with the kids. I hope I can get around to write about that another day. 

Saturday morning started sunny and bright with plans to meet my mom for coffee. I invited any of the kids that wanted to join us to come along.

Of course, they all did.

That was just fine too. A cup of coffee, smoothies, muffins and time with Mom/Grandma are always a nice treat.

'Cuz my mom is pretty awesome, as I've said before. 

As my Gianna now says to me, "Mom, you're the bomb." So is my mom.

Afterward, we headed home to take care of some odds and ends around the yard. We also had a visitor, our favorite seminarian came out for a few hours to hang out. ALWAYS a bright spot to the day for my kids when he stops over.

We also opted for going to Saturday evening Mass not so I could sleep in on Mother's Day, but just not be rushed for one Sunday morning out of the year. I know, it's the little things.

This morning I woke up bright and early as always, but couldn't get back to sleep. I hung out in my jammies for a while and then decided to use my time wisely to workout. I hopped on the treadmill and tried my newest app, Running Interval Timer, pounded out just under 3 miles in 1/2 hr and called it good. 

Considering I hadn't even had a cup of coffee in my veins yet, that was a good workout. It seemed to set me on the right path to head into my day.

The kids and Reed made a delicious breakfast, as always. Again we went for Patty's stuffed french toast recipe (can't go wrong there), bacon and eggs.

The rest of the day was filled with rest, peace, bliss, with lots of time with my kids and husband. 

And kisses. 

My kids got me a Mary garden statue I stumbled upon a couple weeks ago online. If you knew how I've been looking forever for the "perfect" statue, this was a most welcome gift. I was kind of picky all this time, didn't want Mary too big or too small, she needed to have features, not the classic garden Mary statue, I preferred her to hold baby Jesus, etc, etc. 

So I was beyond thrilled when I found this statue here and highly demanded suggested it for Mother's Day.

She's perfect. 

While plain now in my barren garden, she will be adorned with so many blooming flowers this summer. I can't wait to officially have a Mary Garden in my yard after all this time of waiting.

As the afternoon wound down, one of my favorite plans of the day came to fruition. 

You see, Patty and I had devised a plan to take our friendship to the next level. The level that is beyond the typing/commenting/texting kind and on to the see-inside-my-crazy-life-in-real-time-and-hear-my-voice next step. I was so giddy!! My kids were excited to see her kids and hear their voices as well.

I almost put on lipstick for you, Patty. lol. 

We got ourselves all techie and gave Skype a whirl. It's an amazing thing when there is no distance when you see those faces on the screen. As if the miles between Minnesota and Texas are not so many at all.  And yes, she is just as sweet and amazing in person as she appears when she writes. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Patty. It totally made my Mother's Day to finally 'meet' my sweet TX friend.

The afternoon finished with roasted hot dogs and cake at my in laws, just down the driveway. Some time of visiting with family and just hanging out by the picnic table.

As the day closes I'm ready to put up my feet and rest a bit while I write all of these wonderful memories on my Mother's heart.

It was a good day. I hope you all had a very memorable one too. 

Wishes For Me From My Kids

Earlier in the week the subject of the looming Mother's Day came up with my kids. As the conversation went on somehow the idea of a guest post came up to celebrate their mom. It then became a wish list of sorts and I decided to just go with it and let them be creative.

Lily even approached the little girls with questions on what they wished mom could do. It was pretty impromptu, as the list would suggest, but it is totally my kids.

From Jonah:

1. I wish she would have a baby boy.

2. I wish she played Minecraft.

3. I wish she would play Legos with me.

4. I wish she was an actress.

5. I wish I could go on a trip with her to Rome (of course to meet the Pope :)

From Lily:

6. I wish she could snowboard with me.

7. I wish she watched Star Wars with us (and understood it).

8. I wish she watched Indiana Jones with us (and didn't get grossed out).

9. I wish she would have another baby.

10. I wish she rock climbed.

From Gianna:

11. I wish mommy would dance.

12. I wish she would go shopping.

13. I wish she would go outside with me.



From Margaret:

14. I wish she would watch Calliou with me.

15. I wish she would give me money.

16. I wish she was a butterfly.



You never know, my kids' wishes could come true.

Maybe by next Mother's Day I will be a pregnant, dancing, snowboarding butterfly-actress. They can only keep wishing!


To you, my dear blogging moms who inspire and encourage me every single day, may you have a Happy Mother's Day and may all your mommy wishes come true.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Toddler Girls

Some days you capture them at just the right moment. There the moment is frozen in time. In that caught moment a mother's heart breaks just a little because she sees that her babies grew up. With hardly a glance back and without warning, they moved on.

In the midst of a still needy season, I often forget that these days will not always be here.

I wish those sweet cheeks could always stay mom-kissable.

These are the two I waited for. These are the girls that I thought may never come. These are the children God knew needed me most and He borrowed them to me.

This is the reminder I cling to today because these two are a bucketful of energy that zap every morsel of mine. 

But they are so.stinkin.cute.

Nonessential Living Tip #41

You remember how I am no fitness guru, right?

Except that sometimes I pretend that I maybe am.

In recent months I found out this crazy trick that helps me push myself a little harder and run a little longer when in the midst of a workout.

I know, stop the presses everyone!!

Ready?

GUM

Yes, gum. 

Specifically Trident Spearmint flavor. 

I was amazed a while back when I discovered it and even text Colleen to see if I was totally crackers. It's not that it's some miracle and makes workouts super easy. I assume it has something to do with it keeping my focus or maybe creates more saliva or something really scientific, therefore making it beyond my comprehension. 

After struggling with getting back in the running groove over the winter, gum somehow helped put me over the hump. I even tried different flavors and the spearmint worked the best.

As long as I keep chomp, chomp, chomping on my gum I am like Superwoman.

Even if it is the weirdest oddity I have discovered to date, I don't care. It totally works for me and keeps me moving. 

I wonder if I can convince my husband to consider buying stock in Trident? 

How about you? Do you have an inexplicable (exercising/workout related or not) tip to share?