Flashback Friday







I miss this little guy.  Sure, he was a lot of work...but he definitely made those long winter days more enjoyable.  We took lots of walks up to the Amish neighbor's house to visit the chickens.  On really cold days we would stay in our pajamas and sit by the fireplace and read books for what seemed like hours.  We played toys and cars and did puzzles.  We had lunch together everyday.  We waited by the big window in the playroom to wave to Daddy when he got home from work.  I don't ever remember "looking forward" to the day he started school.  Why did those first five years go so fast?

What's Red and White and Pink All Over?

      Valentine's Day at our house!



As most of you already know...I will find any excuse to celebrate!  What's that quote?  Life is a gift so go ahead and celebrate.....or something like that!   And, being the only female member in this house...it's not too often I can get away with all the pink stuff without any complaints! 

It was a "lovely" day.  Brady got in bed with me early in the morning to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day.  He rubbed my back and told me how much he loves me.  (Not that this is different from any other morning...but he was excited for the day.)  Eric left me a card on the counter that made me cry.  We had a chinese lunch date...Eric told me he and Brady were taking care of dinner.  We had dinner by candlelight that was so good.  They made grilled chicken with cheese and salsa...and Eric made me a sweet potato with this carmel, marshmallow, brown sugar, buttery goodness on top.  Heavenly.

(or maybe he's trying to kill me?!) 

I am loved...I feel it everday.  I certainly don't need all that hype of Valentine's day.  But celebrating, and going out of your way for someone is fun and feels good.  I think my husband does a much better job of doing this for me than I do for him.  I'm going to work on that.  Dr. Phil often says that you should wake up in the morning and say, "what can I do today to make my spouses life better?"  I love that thinking.

~Kerri

A Love Story

That's my Grandma and Grandpa...Lee and Mary Ellen Smith.   I never met my Grandpa...he died of a heart attack when he was 41 years old.  I know from stories I have heard, that he and I would have gotten along well.  My Grandma died when I was 9 years old.  She was the kind of grandma you hope your children are lucky enough to have.  How I wish she was still here on earth.  I wish she could meet my husband and son.  She only knew me as a little girl, never as a wife and a mother.  Do you ever try and think who you are most like in your family?  I do, and I think I am most like both of my grandmothers.

My Grandma liked to scrapbook....way back before there was even such a thing.    Boy would she be suprised today!  She kept little momentos and pictures and compiled them into a book.  About ten years ago I found out that the scrapbook my aunt kept in her attic had some water damage.  I am working on redoing that scrapbook now and came across a few things that I thought were fitting for Valentine's Day. 

This was an anniversary card.





A football game they attended together.

This one made me a little teary....

Lee and Mary Ellen had two daughters...Marilee (my mom) and Bonnie.



 

Their life was short, but their love lives on everyday.

Lee and Mary Ellen have 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Happy Valentine's Day!

~Kerri

Last Minute Teacher Valentine Idea



It does not get any easier than this...I promise!

Only 2 ingredients.

I can of frosting.  I bag of white chocolate chips.

I used cherry frosting because it's pink.

Melt chips in microwave until completely melted.

Mix frosting in with the melted chocolate...(do this everyday and

you will have some nice arms!)

Spread mixture into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Refridgerate for 30 minutes.

Done!  Cut into squares or hearts.

Can you imagine the possibilities with all the different kinds of frosting flavors and the different varieties of chocolate chips?!

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift itself.

~Pierre Corneille



Ten on Ten: {February 2012}

Ten pictures in ten hours on the tenth of the month trying

 to capture the beauty in the ordinary moments of the day. 

This afternoon I went out to lunch and shopping with a friend. 

 It was just what I needed.  I don't often make the time to do

this...and it never fails...afterwards I always feel recharged.

The older I get, the more I realize how important my girlfriends are to me.  



Okay, back to ten on ten....here goes!

Breakfast for the boy.

Packing the lunchbox.

Brady and I always play catch while we wait for the bus.

First time at the Ulta store.

First time at Sublime Cupcakes.

Heading home.

Eric took this one with my cell phone.

Campout!

Go HERE to check out everyone's ten on tens!

Happy tenth everyone!

It's My Blog and I Can Brag If I Want...



Last week, on my birthday, I got a call from Brady's school saying that he was chosen by his teacher for Student of the Month for February.  I cried.  I knew how much it would mean to him.  Especially this year.  You see, we never have to worry about Brady academically or doing his best....no problems there.  However, Brady often comes home from school complaining about so and so being picked on or being made fun of.  One day he stood up for a boy who was told he couldn't sit at the lunch table with everyone else.  Brady now sits next to this student everyday at lunch so he has someone to sit with.  Because of this, Brady often becomes an easy target too.  (Kids say, "why are you friends with so and so?")  I have encouraged Brady to let his teacher know what is going on...but Brady refused until one day this student was pushed out of line and he fell back and hit the wall.  Brady finally went to his teacher.  (Kids seem to do most of their bullying during lunch and recess when there is less supervision.)

Brady came home and said his teacher told him.....

"It takes a strong person to stand up for yourself....and an even stronger one to stand up for someone else."

Last night we went to the school for the awards program.

That's Brady and Mrs. Ray, the principal.

Brady was so proud to wear his medal to school today!

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

~J.K. Rowling

I'm so proud of you Brady!

  Congratulations on your Student of the Month award!

I love you,

Mom

Flashback Friday and Thoughts



*We had a fundraiser Monday evening at McDonald's for Brady's school.  It's called

McTeacher Night...have you ever heard of it?  I guess McDonalds has done this for years.

The teachers worked behind the counter from 5-8pm and 10% of all the sales during that

time went to the school.  We had such a great turnout and what a fun evening for the kids.

My kind of fundraiser for sure!

* I haven't been taking many pictures lately.  I'm frustrated with myself camera!

*  I just started playing Words With Friends (I know I'm a little late) on my phone.

I can see this becoming a problem for me!

*  I'm only excited for the Super Bowl because of the snacks...I'm not even sure I could

tell you both the teams who are playing on Sunday.

*  My husband and son sure know how to make me feel special.  They get so excited for

my birthday.  Eric took the day off from work and we went shopping and out to lunch.  I'm so

lucky that Eric likes to shop.  We laugh a lot when we're out together.  We had buffolo chicken

pizza for dinner and they made me my favorite pineapple cake.  It's the best cake ever.

They also got me a People magazine, licorice, champagne and a month of tanning.  They know

me so well!  They both always make me cards too.  In 15 1/2 years I've never gotten a store card

from my husband...and I hope I never do.  I have a feeling Brady will do the same thing for his wife

someday.  One of the things Brady said in his card is that when he looks at me, his heart smiles.  I have a

special box that I keep my cards in from them. 

*Yesterday I went to a spin class.  It's the first time I've been to the gym in months.  It was a great class...

my friend that teaches it played all 80's music to her routine...which made it more tolerable FUN!  And then,

after class, I came home and had some birthday cake and licorice for lunch.  Ugh!  So frustrating.  I don't know why I sabotage myself like that?!

*  I bought a really cool pair of boots the other day that were originally $129.00...and I got them on sale

for $17.00.  There are so many good sales at the mall this time of the year. 

*  I quizzed Brady this morning on his spelling words like I do every Friday morning.  He amazes me.  He looks at those spelling words one time and knows them.  Words like neighborhood and acquire.  And he doesn't forget them either from week to week.  Same thing with time tables.  It took me all of 3rd grade to memorize those things!  Not him.  He just knows them.  Now, if we could just work on that handwriting of his.  Yikes!

*  Brady is playing in a big tennis tournament this weekend.  They have done away with 8 and under and 10 and under tennis tournaments...so he plays in the 12 and under.  Last night Eric was online looking at this tennis recruting website (for his high school players) and saw Brady's name on there!  How crazy is that?!  How did it get on there?!  I guess because he plays in the USTA tournaments everyone has access to such information.  Just a little weird to see our son's name on there!  Craziness!