Today... unwrapped

today my heart melted, today in the middle of chaos i was blessed with love... handwritten love on pink little stars taped to the kitchen cupboards.  i can't begin to tell you how loved my precious little seven year old made me feel.  it was 3 small pieces of "beautiful" hanging in the midst of a messy house.  it is moments like these, small simple things that make up a beautiful life... so often we are too busy and miss them... but not today.  today i hugged my boy and kissed his cheeks and told him those little pink love notes were going to hang there all.week.long. (maybe forever)

Live in the moment.... be open to the miracles that surround you each day... find love, find joy...and then embrace it.  Stop. Pause. enjoy the moment... God is walking among us and He is blessing us with little bits of love, joy and beauty.... are you looking?

Weekending

the weekend was...

 overindulging on warm double chocolate muffins served with vanilla ice cream..

choosing to ignore the fact that i really want to lose 10 lbs.

the weekend was...

dragonfire chicken and coconut jasmine rice...my new favorite meal

the weekend was...

coffee... really, need i say more? 

the weekend was...

a hat trick (aka: 3 goals)

a "header"

cheering on the sidelines

2 more goals

wins and losses

the weekend was...

projects taking on a life of their own...

always more work than you expect

the weekend was...

too short...

feeling like i need a "do-over"

but one thing i've learned is that there are no "do-over's"

we need to make the most of every moment and give it our best

so there will be no mulligan for the weekend...

all i can do is embrace the upcoming week and give it all of me!

grab a cup of coffee... lots of pictures today...

i have so many favorites... here are just a few...

crazy editing on this one of Luke... but for some reason i love it

lovin' his missing 2 front teeth

 i adore the smiles on each of the boys... genuine happiness

every year i go out and do a little photo shoot with the boys.  i try to get a great shot for a christmas card.  i take 100's of shots (literally).  How on earth do i get the boys to do this you might ask... well... i pay them... yup i do.  i figure it is like a job, they are on a modeling shoot and if they accomodate mom they receive a paycheck.  i feel stuck this year though, i have no clue what i want to do for a photo shoot this year.  It is alot of work figuring out where to go and what clothes to wear.  Life is crazy busy and the thought of pulling this together makes me feel exhausted and yet i always love the end results.  We have gone to a barn, a field, the christmas tree farm, the "ghetto" and even bridged railroad tracks... (see pic above... it was actually a nerve wracking and dangerous photo shoot)
So where to now?  downtown maybe?  Artprize?  Any cool idea's?  Leave a comment with any and all great idea's!!

Future of Forestry - Slow Your Breath Down : Travel 3 Tour Rehearsal in LA

i am loving this song and loving this band...
what is your new favorite?

Weekending

the weekend was...

more soccer of course and the little guy above having his own moment to shine.

It is hard when you compare yourself to your brothers all the time but this year he is a soccer star in his own right.  He had sat out for one quarter and after that quarter ended one of his teamates came over and said "it is really hard out there without you, you are a good player!"  Jaeger was smiling from ear to ear.  By the end of the game he had scored 3 goals " a hat trick, mom" he said. I could not have been more proud!

the weekend was.... frustrating

 the older boys and their teams struggled in their games this week

then there was the painting of the "cozy room" and hating the color once it was up

the house that never seems to EVER look clean

the laundry that just won't stop

the girl who keeps gaining weight but eats cinnamon rolls anyways... uggh

the weekend was... reconnecting

church on Sunday morning, reconnecting with God and friends

dinner and birthday celebrations with family

skyping with our aubrey... really missing her

the weekend flew by and here we are in another week...

i'm hoping to make it a good one, how bout' you?

Today...

i do take comfort in rituals...

i crave routine come fall

i am excited about the happy return of the pumpkin spice latte

i love crisp autumn air and sunny blue skies

i breathe deep and let the fresh air fill my lungs

i sigh... life is good

Today i am home... i have the entire day to myself and it feels really good.

i love my days off, especially when it is beautiful and sunny.

i am still trying to get back into routine, i need it, i crave it.

the to do list is always so much longer than there is time in the day

but i will not let it defeat me today, i will tackle one task at a time...

and what gets done gets done... i will have done my best.

i will embrace today along with it's challenges and blessings...

 i will celebrate it by enjoying one delicious pumpkin spice latte!

CUTE

i found this adorable gift idea on a blog somewhere and knew i had to make one for each of the boys teachers.  Here is what you will need:  a small bushel basket from Michaels, 5 small apples, a pkg. of Kraft caramels, a recipe for caramel apples...typed up cute, tag from pages in time, tissue from Michaels, ribbon from my stash...  it looks so cute all made up and i'm hoping it adds a smile to each teachers day!

Weekending

my weekend was...

a bonfire, smores and good friends...

cheering at soccer games in the pouring rain...

hot coffee poured from my well loved thermos...

freezing and wet... ready to be home and dry...

forgoing the to do list and crashing the couch...

football and an exciting win...

laundry, laundry and more laundry...

then, a beautiful sunday...

dinner with my extended family...

more football and a frustrating loss...

getting ready for the week ahead..

needing to take that deep breath in order to feel ready...

ready to take on Monday...here we go...

What did your weekend look like?

Back to School

Jack Ryan... 9 years old... 3rd grade

Jaeger Jay... 7 years old... 2nd grade

Luke Benjamin... 11 years old... 5th grade

heading to the bus stop

back to school breakfast at the Lubbens

Jack still looks sleepy... he's not much of a morning person (so much like his mama)

all lined up and ready to go!

my beautiful boys...my heart wants to burst... i love them so much

peace out jaeger... mom loves you too!

i can hardly believe it is already time to head back to school...time sure does fly.  i will miss summer but i am welcoming fall... the cooler weather and the routine that fall brings.  i really am craving a little more structure... i'm ready for all that fall brings... the smell of my macintosh apple candle, eating pumpkin muffins, watching football, getting cozy under a fleece blanket, crisp cool air, brilliant fall colors... there is so much i love about this season... each season has it's own beauty .

  i am missing my boys already... i'm thankful for some peace and quiet but i still miss them...  they are growing up so fast and the years pass by... my prayer is to relish, really relish/cherish the time i have with them... family is a blessing and i am so BLESSED!