i realized a few days ago that i couldn’t always tell them “NO.”  i feel like i say no way more than i say yes.  and let’s face it…”YES” is way more fun.  for the kids and the parents, really.  this time last year, colton was friends with a kid in his class who invited colton […]

today i put makeup on for the first time since grandpa’s funeral.  i think chad was starting to wonder if i was ever going to look any different than when i go to bed at night.  and trust me…it’s not a good look.  it’s true.  i’ve been in either sweats or pajamas, with my nappy […]

i have not really thought about the new year, resolutions…changes i want to make…etc. etc. etc.  but i have decided that this blog is going to be a tangible way that i can be grateful.  i’m hoping that being diligent in recording my simple gratitudes will transform my heart…that has been battling an ever present […]

as some of you know, and some of you don’t…depending on who is still reading this little blog…my dear, sweet grandpa died december 26th at 9:36 pm.  he was surrounded by my dad, my aunt debbie, my mom, my uncle steve, myself, my brother kevin, and my cousins christin and michael as he took his […]

this year, i said no to shelling out $200 for the picture taking, designing, purchasing, addressing, and mailing of christmas cards for 150 of our closest friends and family.  however…it doesn’t mean that i didn’t want to photographically chronicle our family at this time of year, as usual.  so…if i were to send christmas cards…this […]

this weekend, chad and i got to cash in on our valentine’s day present from my parents…which was money to go out and babysitting all 4 of the loves. let’s not even discuss how long it has been since we have been able to go out.  friday night…we went to the galleria to shop and then […]

…THEN I COULD WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS. is there anything better than a toothless grin? maybe a toothless grin at christmastime.

when you get a letter home in your child’s backpack addressed “to the parents of…” the immediate thought (for me, anyway) is, “uh oh.  what did you do?” however this letter from the school that was address to “the parents of aiden clarkson” had a nice, little, unexpected surprise inside.  (not that we don’t all […]

i’d be fine if my day started around noon.  let’s be honest.  i’m worthless before noon.  after getting the kids off to school, i pour myself a cup of coffee, feed aj breakfast, and then settle in on either the couch or the lazy boy in the living room and get out aj’s toy bucket […]

…YOU MAKE ME SMILE.  sort of. you’re kinda cold.  but none the less, i tried…quite unsuccessfully to get some really great pictures of the cousins.  all 9 of them.  which makes it a little more acceptable that i didn’t get any super shots of them all together.  but…here you go, in spite of the fussy, […]