Our Weekend



I have a sick boy home from school today.  He's not throwing up sick, but has a head cold, sore throat, sore ear, and no appetite.  Poor guy doesn't even look like himself!  He started not feeling well late in the afternoon yesterday, right before his tennis match.  He wanted to cancel his match...but it was really sort of too late and he knows all too well what it feels like when someone cancels at the last minute.  I felt bad because he was sick to his stomach and didn't feel like running.  And, just when I think I can't be any prouder of him than I already am...he goes and shows us what kind of strength and determination and heart he is made of.  He played a boy that is 4 years older than him and one of  the top players we've seen in our area.  Brady played this kid once last  year and didn't win one game against him.  When we arrived at the tennis club and I heard Brady would be playing him...I thought...oh no, not tonight!  But, Brady went out and played so hard, and it was one of the best matches I've ever seen him play.  Most of the games were really close...but he lost 11 games to 4.   He told us later that even though he didn't feel well, he wanted to give the other boy a good match.  Oh how I love him! 

   Brady went to see the new Pirates of the Carribean movie with Grandma and Grandpa Friday night...and Eric and I went  to one of our old hangouts (before Brady) for dinner and then walked around Target.  Everytime we get the chance to have a date...I wish for more! 

On Sunday morning I got a text from my sister in law that Eric's brother went into the hospital during the night with chest pains.  So far the tests haven't showed any signs of a heart attack.    This afternoon he will be getting a heart cath.  We're praying that everything will turn out fine and hopefully it was just stress related.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

New Bedding- Finally!

Earlier this week, Eric and I headed out in search of a new comforter for our bed.  We bought our bed 5 years ago...and never bought bedding for it.  Instead, we used an old quilt, because we couldn't decide on anything.  Well, everytime I washed that quilt, it would get a new tear...and was pretty much just falling apart.  We went everywhere on Monday and finally found this comforter set at Home Goods.  It's not a color we would have normally chose, but, we're trying to lighten and brighten things around here so we went for it.  And, I love it!  It's so soft and luxurious...I feel like we're sleeping in a fancy hotel...compared to our old ratty quilt!   I wish I had a picture of how it looked before, but I was so anxious to see what the new bedding looked like I forgot to get a picture.  And now, there's no way I'm going back!  You'll just have to take my word for it! 

(Eric made our nightstands)

Our conversation two nights ago on the couch...as we sat watching  House Hunters...like we do every night at 10pm... for the last 15 years.  We're very exciting people!

Me:  I love our bedding!

Eric:  I love it too!  Good choice Babe!

Me:  I'm thinking I might need to paint our bed.

Eric: Why?

Me:  It doesn't really go with black.

Eric:  It looks fine with the black.

Me:  I think it would look better if the bed was white.

Me:  I can paint the nightstands too.

Me:  And we definitely need new lamps.  Silver w/ white shades.

Me:  Maybe I'll ask my blog friends what they think.

Eric:  Oh no!  They love a good before and after...of course they will tell you to paint it!

********

So, don't you think painting the bed and nightstand will brighten things up a bit and be a nice change?  I was also wondering what color I should paint the walls...they haven't been painted in 6 1/2 years!

Any thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated!

(at least by me, anyway!)

A New Girl In Town?



Actually, make that lady.  Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga has been seen around our neck of the woods for a few months now.  Her boyfriend, Taylor Kinney is from here and his parents live in Lancaster County.  She was first spotted at the Log Cabin, the restaurant where Eric proposed to me.  Since then, she's been seen at a nearby pub, the grocery and a cafe downtown.  Rumor has it that she is purchasing a home next door to her boyfriend's parents for 1.7 million dollars. 

I can't believe out of all the places in the world she could live, she would buy a house in our boring area! 

Anyhoo....if Lady Gaga and I start hanging out and become bff's...I will be sure to let you know!  Unless, she wants some privacy...I will just say my "new" friend Stefani. ;)

Happy New Year!

 We're having a laid back New Year's Day today.  I'm making ham, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole for dinner....and not the traditional pork and saurkraut.  I'm the only one that likes it, so it doesn't make sense to have that. 

We stayed in last night and had our own little party.

{Brady is having ice-tea}

Brady loves mozerrella sticks so I got a box of frozen ones for him.

Eric and I enjoyed this...

We barely made it to midnight to ring in the New Year.  As soon as the ball fell...we gave each other kisses and were in bed by 12:05!

I've been getting a TON of annonymous spam comments on my blog...like around 20 a day.  I guess I need to change my comment settings...but I've never done that before.  Any suggestions?



Does my header look familiar?!  It's the one I used last January.  I wasn't feeling very creative this week...and had minimal time for the computer with my two favorite guys home.

We drove up to Cabela's one day this week.  We had lunch there and walked around.  It was so busy we could hardly move in that place.  Must have been lots of  men people out spending their Christmas money.  We had a good laugh though...my husband noticed he looked a bit out of place with his argyle sweater on!  Next time he will know better to wear a flannel shirt, a bright orange hunting jacket (which he does not own!) or a fishing vest! 

We also went roller skating and to an arcade.

We took Brady to the tennis store to spend some of his Christmas money.

And, we have played this game a LOT!



We've also been laying around a lot, watching t.v. and reading our Christmas books.  I have enjoyed this nice break...but I am ready to get back into a routine.  I am feeling a bit lazy!

Last night I was sitting on the couch messing with my camera, trying to figure out why my pictures are looking so crappy lately oh how badly I want beautiful pictures like all my blog friends!...and I happened to get this shot of Brady....

Yep, he's rolling his eyes.  Eric had just asked him to go brush his teeth.  Just keeping it real over here!

I hope everyone is enjoying their day!

Happy New Year!



Christmas Highlights





 Brady was asking to serve a meal on Christmas Eve somewhere or feed the homeless...but we couldn't find anywhere for him to do that.  So, we came up with the idea of handing out goodie bags.  We filled bags with cookies, candy, crackers, etc.  We spent about 2 hrs. driving around...and when we saw someone that needed some Christmas spirit, Brady would jump out of the van and say "Merry Christmas!" and give them a bag.  After handing out the first few bags he said to us, "this feels pretty good!"  I must admit that beforehand, Eric and I were less than thrilled to be doing this.  I mean, Christmas Eve is our time.  How selfish is that of us?  But, because Brady was so persistant, we gave in.  And, we are so glad we did!  It was amazing to see the faces of kids and grown ups light up because of a simple act of kindness.  Brady passed out all the bags himself.  I only got out of the van once to go into a restaurant with him where we saw two kids sitting.  Eric and I talked later and we both felt that we were lead to just the right people...people that could use a small blessing late that afternoon.

 I have a feeling Brady will want to do this again next year.  

These are a few of Brady's favorite gifts....



We had a great Christmas.  Brady told his cousins that he's glad he's an "only" child because you get more stuff for Christmas.  I was embarrassed he said that. 

I'm always a little down after Christmas...I guess because of all the excitement and anticipation...and then it's all over in one day.  I do however need to find some motivation to get our cluttered house back in order!  Eric has been sick since Christmas afternoon...poor guy has been in the bathroom for three days now!  We were hoping to do a couple of fun things this week while he and Brady are home....so, he needs to hurry up and get better! 

I hope you're having a good week...and enjoying a little down time.

We certainly can use it after the holidays!

 

Merry Christmas!

Santa, Printables, Christmas Eve & Merry Christmas!

I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

It doesn't really feel like it around here.

Last night Eric and Brady played tennis for 2 hrs. at the

 outside courts in town.  Not something they can 

usually do this time of year...without their ears falling off! 

Oh, who am I kidding?!  They play at the courts even when

it is cold out.  As long as it's over 35 degrees...they're there playing

under the lights.

Last Sunday we had our Santa evening with friends.

You can read about that tradition HERE if you want.



Last year I was so emotional thinking it would probably be Brady's last year of "believing."  But boy was I wrong!  He just keeps right on believing and doesn't question anything!  I think we are in over our heads with this whole Santa thing we have created.  Eric said he thinks we should tell him sometime after Christmas.  I said NO WAY!  If he is still believing come middle school...then maybe we will fill him in. ;)

Here are a few things he has said:

Santa knows me so well...

How much older is Jesus than Santa?

Can you believe I'm the only one in my class that believes in Santa?

Santa gave me this watch because he knows my other one was cheap and it broke.

I wonder if Santa made my watch or the elves?

Santa asked me if I could get him tickets to the U.S Open...do you think he'll wear his suit when he goes...cause it's hot in August?

I found  THIS  website that's pretty cool.  You upload a picture of your livingroom onto their site, pick out a Santa and they place him in your picture....for free.  Then you can print it and show the kids you saw Santa.  I told Brady I was going to try and "sneak" a picture of Santa on Christmas Eve and he got mad at me and said NO...I could not do that.  Santa would be upset and it would ruin it for other kids...and it's about believing and the spirit of Christmas.  Oh my...like I said, we are in over our heads.  Poor Brady.

Here's a picture of the kids from Sunday...

not a great picture, but I get one every year.

Here's the same group of kids...just last year. :)

(okay...not last year...but it seems like it.)

Aren't these cute tags?!

You can print them HERE.

Christmas Eve has always been special for my husband and I.

When I was pregnant with Brady, Eric made me promise that Christmas Eve would still continue to be "our" evening.  It's not that we do anything spectacular...it's just something we both look forward to.  When Brady goes to bed, we finish wrapping anything that hasn't been done yet.  We usually have champagne and appetizers and talk about life, our future, and how Christmas always makes us wish we had another child.  (Christmas can do that to you.)  We also talk about how lucky we are that God blessed us with the child we have, the one all snuggled up and sound asleep in his bed because he cannot wait for  Christmas morning.   So, with the busy-ness of the season and sharing our time with others over the holiday, I just want my husband to know that Christmas Eve is one of the days I look forward to the most each and every year.

If you're still with me on this long post...I'm signing off now!

I probably won't be back on until after Christmas.

I wish all of you a very blessed Christmas!

~Kerri