Mentally Exhausted



It rained this evening...so Brady did a "garage workout."

This boy pushes all my buttons.

His need to do everything perfect is draining to me.

If he doesn't do something right the first time....or feels he hasn't done his best....

watch out...all  H E double hockey sticks breaks loose.

His tennis skills for an 8 year old are through the roof amazing.

Why can't that be enough?

He practiced in the garage for an hour and fifteen minutes.

He wanted Eric to help him with some footwork drills...

he fussed and argued and then mastered it and then....

was happy as can be.

Tonight was just one of those nights when bedtime couldn't come soon enough.

He drives me crazy.

~Kerri

Fall Is In The Air

Yesterday Megan at Living the Dream posted THIS recipe for taco soup.  Since 2/3 of our house loves everything mexican, I knew I wanted to try it.  So, when my husband came home for lunch today, I suprised him with it.  I say suprised because, if he comes home for lunch, we usually just have a sandwich or a salad.  Anyway, he was pretty excited when he walked in the door and smelled the taco soup.  And let me tell you, it was so good!  And so easy!  This soup is definitely a keeper!  Thanks Megan for sharing the goodness!



Yesterday I made a few of these pretzels things that I saw on Pinterest.  I used the white chocolate because it's what I had in my pantry...but I'm thinking milk chocolate would have made the candy corn stand out more.  Brady took them to share with the tennis team....I don't think they cared what kind of chocolate was on there...they were gone within minutes!   Oh, and one thing about Pinterest.   Everyone is raving about it...and I'm feeling like I'm the only one who doesn't get it.  I've only been on the site a few times...maybe I need to give it another chance?!  I don't want to be the only one who hasn't fallen in love!

~Kerri

Ten on Ten { September}



Ten on Ten: ten pictures on the tenth of the month trying to capture the beauty in the ordinary moments.

{Remembering}

{beautifying}

{Hula-hooping}

{giving}

{bug catching}

{Dusting}

{collecting}



{patiently driving}

{tennis playing}

{cheering}

To see more ten on ten photos or to join in on the fun you can visit HERE.

Happy Tenth everyone!

~Kerri

Flashback Friday {Cars Party}

When Brady turned 3, we had a Cars themed birthday party for him.
It was a simple party with mostly family and a few friends.
Aren't simple parties the best?!
Since Cars2 is out in theatres now, I thought I would post a few fun party ideas.



We filled the gas can with lemonade....the kids were a little leary about drinking it!
Just so you know...the gas can was new and clean.
I borrowed the tire from a nearby service station.

I made the cake....it wasn't the most creative, but it was cheap!

The birthday boy!  Three was a tough, but fun age. 

 Oh what I would give to go back!

Waiting patiently for guests to arrive!



Have a FUN weekend!

Severe Flooding In Our Area





These are a few photos I took off our local news website. 

Thankfully we live up on a mountain so we were not hit so hard.

Ten minutes from us had major damage and flooding.

I think all of the schools in our county were closed today.

I'm so thankful that my family is safe and that we have a dry house this evening...and praying for the families who were not so fortunate.



A Little Tour Through....

 We live next to a little touristy town called Intercourse.  After 19 years of living in this area...it doesn't seem so strange anymore that this small Amish town is called Intercourse.  It just is...and we don't think anything of it.   That is until someone comes to visit and thinks it's funny.  One time when my dad came to visit, he bought a shirt that says "I love Intercouse."  Except the "love" was a big red heart.  Gross, I know.

On the first day of school, Eric and I always go to Intercourse (hee hee..ok, maybe it's still kinda funny!) and have breakfast.  I thought I would show you some of this little town...since it's probably not on your list of must see places!  I could have taken about a thousand pictures...there's so many neat little shops.  Howwever, after about a hundred, my husband had had enough.

We had breakfast at the Kling House....so good!  They only serve breakfast and lunch.  The town pretty much shuts down at 5 o'clock.

Thousands of people visit Intercourse everyday...especially spring, summer and fall.  We were there early that morning...the crowd had yet to arrive.





Have you seen the Fix It and Forget It cookbooks?  The author of those books lives nearby. 

This is her store.

So, there you have it....a little peek into Intercourse, PA.

Pretty exciting, huh?!

Now I am feeling like I can talk about anything on my blog! ;)

~Kerri

Cookies and BLT's

I hope everyone is enjoying their long holiday weekend!  We have been sitting in front of the t.v. too much watching the U.S. Open.  Brady was really excited Friday night to watch Jack Sock play.  Sock just turned pro this summer after graduating from high school.  Brady met him last summer at the U.S. Open Kids Day and got to hit with him for a bit.   Brady totally pictures himself playing at the Open someday too.  I want him to believe in himself...but I also wonder about the day when he realizes not everything we believe will actually happen.  For now, I'll keep his dream alive!

Here's the picture I took of Jack Sock hitting with Brady...just forgot to get Brady in the picture!

Tennis pictures are really hard to get both players in the shot!

Not too much else going on around here.  We were over at Grandma and Grandpa's house for lunch today and my sister in law informed me that I am well behind my number of blog posts this year compared to last year at this time.  I guess I don't have anything too interesting to blog about these days!  I will try to do better Donna!

I did make these cute little blt's to take to my in-laws for lunch today.  I used chipotle mayo to give it a little different taste.  I found the idea HERE.  Eric made the bacon for me....he is always so helpful like that.



I tried another new recipe this week for chocolate chip cookies.  I've never been very good at making my husband and son's favorite kind of cookie...and it's not because I haven't tried!  My cookies usually turn out hard as a rock...unless eaten within a few minutes of removing them from the oven.  But finally, I found THIS recipe and the cookies turned out soft and chewy...just the way we like 'em!  This will definitely be my go to recipe from now on.

Happy Labor Day!

~Kerri