Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my Mom and FRIEND!



Hope your day is wonderful!

We love you!

He's Full Of Compliments

I'm not sure where he gets it from.

But, I'm not exaggerating when I say that this sweet boy compliments me twenty plus times a day.

This is not including the weekend when he's home all day!

It started about 3yrs. ago.  At first, we wondered, why is he doing this?

Did he love the reaction he got from me?  I have toned my reaction down over the years...

I don't want him to think I need compliments all the time.  Sometimes I feel bad, because

I hardly react at all.  Sometimes he's just so sweet...and sometimes it's just over the top

ridiculous.  We have tried to explain to him that sometimes too many compliments can

make someone not believe all those nice things are really true.  And, sometimes those compliments can

lose their specialness if they are said too often.  But, he doesn't care...he continues to shower me

with too many compliments everyday.

The wink in the picture above is a very common facial expression we see daily!

"Good Morning, Cutes" is the first thing Brady says to me everyday.

The last thing he says to me every night, "see you in the LOVE morning."

Here are a handful of things I hear often.

By the way, if you start to feel nautious, you won't hurt my feelings if you stop reading!

******************

You're so cute.

How'd you get so cute?

You're the BEST mom ever.

If there was a best mom prize...you would win it for sure.

You have the softess cheeks ever.

I could sleep on these cheeks all day.

You're a cooker and a looker!

Now I know why Dad married you!

Lookin' good!

I'm so lucky you're my mom.

You know what I love about you? __,___and__!

You're the best mom a sick boy could ever have.

When you wear your hat, I can't see your beautiful hair.

Are you sure you didn't go to beauty school?

Cause you are so beautiful.

I could just look at your cute face all day.

You know what I love?  YOU!

You are just too much fancy!

You make everything special.

You're my favorite person in the world.

Okay, those are all that are coming to me right now.

I wondered if  this might stop.

But it hasn't...he picked a big vase full on Sunday.

He's definately a charmer.  I'm not looking forward to the teen years.

I will say, I think he is going to make a loving husband someday.

I see firsthand little glimpses of this everyday.

He notices everything. A haircut or color, a new shirt, earrings.

I know someday someone else will be his favorite person in the world.

So for now, I will just smile and say thank-you and take it all in.

I know I've said it before, but being your mom is one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

I love you! 

*****************

To all my beautiful friends out there....

I hope you have a wonderful day!

~Kerri



Healthy Eating



I skipped my Weight Watcher meeting yesterday...because I knew it wouldn't be pretty!
I will have to do better this week.
New healthy recipes always help get me motivated.
I found this recipe blog that I love.  You've probably already been to Gina's site..it's pretty popular!
Her recipes are easy and she includes all the nutritionals.
She also calculates the points for those who are doing Weight Watchers.
I tried three of her recipes this week:

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

This was really good.  I skipped the tomatillos b/c I didn't have them.

Next time I might add a little avacado.

Roasted Chickpea Snack

Yum!  Make sure you leave them in the oven long enough....

They need to be hard and crunchy!

Low Fat Baked Onion Rings

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These were very light and crispy.  I enjoyed them!

Of course last night we went and ordered these:

It was Brady's idea...the wings...not the beer!

I'm not very good at this dieting thing.

I know it's about moderation...but I think if it weren't for the weekends...

my clothes might fit better!

Have a good one!

~Kerri



I Miss This Boy





When Brady was little, he was obsessed with vacuuming.  This is actually kind of funny since Eric and I met selling vacuum cleaners!  Anyway, every morning after breakfast, he would vacuum the entire house.  Brady was almost two.   This went on for about a year and a half.  Every morning. After breakfast.  I'm not kidding.  Even throughout the day, if he found a crumb on the floor or a fuzzy, he would want to get the cleaner out.  We started to worry that he might have OCD.  We talked with the pediatrician and she didn't seem to think it was cause for concern. 

 Fast forward 6 years later...and Brady has zero interest in vacuuming these days.  I sure do miss that little boy.  He was always so anxious and willing to help.  He liked to keep his things nice and tidy.  He once told my in-laws who were babysitting at the time, that they needed to put away the one toy before getting another one out to play.  He always put the toilet seat down.   He wasn't forgetful because his mind was distracted with all sorts of other things. 

Last night I went into Brady's bathroom and I immediately thought he forgot to flush the toilet because the pee smell was so strong.  Nope, that wasn't it at all.  There was a nice puddle of pee on the floor next to the toilet.  This never use to happen...but lately is it happening more and more often.  And, I'm tired of it.  The toilet seat cover was also wet.   Because he's always in a hurry and careless, I have to now clean this up?  Well, not anymore.  I made him strip down to his undies and wear the big yellow rubber gloves to clean it up.  I wanted to get a picture...but it wasn't the time.  The part that makes me so mad, is that he was insulted that I was so upset and that he had to clean it up.  After he cleaned up the floor and the sides of the toilet, he got a bath, and I did a more thorough cleaning and mopped the floor.  Eric took apart the toilet seat and we gave it a good cleaning. 

We're now making Brady sit his skinny butt on the toilet when he goes to the bathroom.  At least for awhile until he can learn to be more careful and respectful.  This is just one of those things I have little tolerance for. 

I sure do miss that boy that vacuumed everyday.   He loved to help...and he never talked back either.  Oh well, at least I have the memories!

~Kerri

Monday Funday...Well, Not Really!



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I'm feeling a little down today...it could be a number of things.

It's Monday.

My monthly friend is due.

Not enough sleep this weekend.

Brady's birthday is over. 

It's cold and rainy.

I ate horribly all weekend long.

Brady is home sick today...well, he was this morning...now he's better.

So, to make myself feel better...I had this after lunch.

You know the donuts that come in the box with the powdered ones and the chocolate ones?

Well, nobody eats them here.  I read somewhere that if you bake them for a few minutes,

they get all crispy and warm and are much better.  So, since I'm on a downward spiral as far

as eating goes...I thought I would try it.  And, it's true!  It tasted like it came straight out of the

oven at the bakery!  Only it came straight from the box and out of my oven!

Why am I  even eating this donut when I joined Weight Watchers two weeks ago?

I have been the same weight for years...and I just wanted to try and lose 10 lbs. before summer.

I feel like I am good at exercising...I'm just not very good at watching what I eat.

Anyway, I followed the program to a T those first two weeks.  The first week I weighted in, I lost

exactly one pound.  I had heard that often the first week people lose the most.  I was a little disappointed,

but it didn't discourage me from continuing on.  The second week, I lost .2 ounces!  As soon as I left the

meeting, I came home and had 1/3 of one of these:

I made a bunch of these for a bake sale at school.

Quick and easy.  I posted about them before...you

can find the directions here.

I know Weight Watchers works...I just need to stick with it.

I tend to give up too easily if I don't see results right away.  I need to

remember how good I felt those two weeks.  I felt in control of what I was eating,

I had more energy, and I felt better.    I will try and get back on track.

 Sunday afternoon I looked out the window into our backyard and saw this mom and three kids

playing on Brady's playset.  It must have been someone visiting a neighbor because I didn't recognize

them.  I just find it odd.  I can't imagine taking my son into someone else's yard without asking first.  I'm all for sharing.  In fact, I enjoyed watching them play...at least someone's getting some use out of it!  Brady has enjoyed playing on it here and there...but definately not like we had hoped he would.  Anyway, maybe I'm just being overly critical.  My husband didn't seem to think it was a big deal.  I just find it a little rude.  Just ring the doorbell and ask.  Oh well.   Maybe it's just my monthly friend coming out...she's not as nice as me.

Have a great week!

~Kerri

Happy Birthday Brady!







Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet boy!

What a day!

Donuts for breakfast.

Opened gifts.

Last basketball game for the season.  Parents against the kids. 

Out to lunch for your favorite meal. (ham & mashed potatoes)

Visited with Grandma & Grandpa.

Cake and ice cream.

Lots of phone calls.

Tennis clinic.

Went to see the movie Rango.

Out for pizza.

Campout and movie in the livingroom with Daddy!

(Only made it through 20 mins. of the movie before falling asleep!)

Too Young To Talk Marriage



Brady has always said that he is going to marry me someday. 

I think it's cute.  Eric rolls his eyes whenever

Brady says this...he does not think it's cute. 

Then yesterday Brady said that he loves tennis so much...

that he might marry it!  I told him that maybe he will meet

a nice girl someday when he's 25 that loves tennis as much as

 he does and then they can play together. 

 He said, "too bad I'm not 30."  As soon as he said it, he looked

embarrassed and probably wished he hadn't said it. 

I said, " who would you marry if you were 30?"

And then he said very quietly...

Maria Sharipova

What the heck?!  What about ME??

I've never even heard him say her name before.

I think I would rather him marry tennis!

He better not change his mind about online college and living with us forever too!

Chocolate Oreos and Basketballs



I like to give a little something on St. Patrick's Day

to Brady's teacher.  Most of you know...my favorite

thing to give is something edible.  We've been really busy...so

my treat for Mrs. Everly was a quick and easy one.  I dipped oreos

in chocolate and added clover sprinkles. 

To make them look better, take a pairing knife around the

edges after they dry.

I love using clipart to make tags.  I only wish I knew how to

make them printable so that I could share them on my blog.

Maybe someday I will figure that out!  

I also made basketball lollipops this afternoon.

Brady's last basketball game is on Saturday and so is his

birthday...so I thought he could pass them out to his team.

I mixed red and orange chocolate together to try and get more

of a basketball color.  At one time I had over 100 molds.  I've gotten

rid of some the last few years...not much time to make candy anymore!

I hope everyone has a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So Long Sassy Brassy!

Last month, I saw this post and got really excited.  My husband and I have been

looking at lights and have been wanting to replace our light fixture in our foyer and our

chandelier in our diningroom.  Both these fixtures are original to the house and are the cheap

brass ones that scream 1990's!  When I read how Melissa used Krylon spray paint to change

her light fixtures to look more pottery barnish...I knew it was worth a $3.57 can of spray paint

to give it a try!

This fixture from Pottery Barn is $269.00

Here's the before of our light in our foyer:

(I forgot to get a picture before my husband took it down.)

Here's how it looks after a few coats of spray paint:

It looks so much better hanging in our foyer than the brass one did!

Here's the brassy chandelier before:

(I know, I know...so ugly!)

And here it is after a little spray paint:

I'd like to get rid of the glass globes and put shades over the lights.

 

Such a big change for a small price.

(The funny thing is, I read somewhere the other day that brass is coming back!

Um, no thanks!)

Next up, I'm doing our outside light fixtures!

My Honey and Me

Brady took this picture of Eric and I last night.
I don't have many pictures of just the two of us...we're usually the ones taking the pictures!





We had dinner out last night with Eric's parents.
Brady was on his best behavior.  (That doesn't always happen when we go out to eat!)
After dinner we came back to our house and Eric opened his gifts from us and we had birthday cake.
Brady  probably spent two minutes "making" Eric's card.  As you can see, he's no artist, and that handwriting of his drives me bonkers...but it made me laugh...especially the "you support me" part and the  "you drive me to a vacation that is really far from here."  Still, a keeper to treasure.



Have a great weekend!



~Kerri

Look Who's 40!





Happy Birthday Eric!

We're looking forward to celebrating this evening!
We LOVE you!

~Kerri & Brady

Recycled Sub Containers...



...make great cookie giving containers!









 

Recycle your contianers!

The Deal With The Leprechaun Hat

Do you recognize the store?  This picture was taken at Home Goods.

Eric and I were out on a date when we stopped in for a quick look.

We were just about to leave when I spotted this big green leprechaun hat.

I knew it would be perfect for my March header!

It was heavy and made out of iron or metal or something.

I begged Eric to put it on so I could get a picture!

I was only able to get two quick shots before he took it off.

He said it was "hurting" him.

When we got out to the parking lot, we noticed his head was bleeding!

We laughed and laughed!  My husband is such a trooper.

And he'll do anything for a foot massage!

Have a great weekend!

~Kerri

Painted Kitchen: Before & After

After 21 cans of paint samples, you would think we picked the perfect paint color.

It's really hard to decide on a color from just a little patch of paint on the wall.

I think next time, we will paint an entire wall before making a decision!

We decided to go with Behr's Grass Cloth.

It's definately brighter than we wanted...and it accentuates all the things we didn't want accentuated!

But, it's starting to grow on us and we will leave it up for now as we slowly update our kitchen.

Here goes!





Eric made a wood box for above the windows.  I stapled batting and fabric to make valances.

No sewing required!  I would have liked them bigger...but we needed to have room for the

sunroom room door to open.  I bought this fabric to go with the first color we painted...and then

we went with a different color.  At forty dollars a yard, I decided this fabric would have to do!

I need something in the corner and on the wall by the chalboard...I'm just not sure what yet.

We need something nearby to put chalk in.

Friends of ours have a huge chalkboard in their kitchen, and I've always loved it.

I never really thought of us having one....until we had our LOVE tree in February.

We really enjoyed writing notes to each other and I was sad when it was time for the tree to go.

Now we can write notes, and quotes and spelling words, etc!

The total cost for the chalkboard was about $25.00...an easy fix for that big wall.

If you have any ideas for my walls and space...I'd love to hear them!

I'm not very good with the little details!

Thanks!

~Kerri