donating treats

I know I'm not the only one with the agony of what to do with all of this stuff. Clearing clutter is constant, especially in the life of motherhood. Especially now, after Halloween. I know it is my favorite holiday and I kind of deserve having all of these sweets in my house, tempting the kids and myself.

So today we had a final candy party and boxed the rest up to donate. I wanted the kids to know what happened to all the candy so I wouldn't endlessly be answering the question, "Why is our candy gone?". Although I'm sure that question will be asked at least 5 times (better than 25).

Here we are packing up the box. (Yes, there is no picture of Kaya.....she was buck naked, of course...and I was just too tired to make her put her clothes on again).




I'd like to say I thought of this brilliant plan myself but I didn't---my neighborhood sent out a bulletin suggesting places to donate candy. We are sending ours to Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends supplies and treats to the troops. I hope each soldier comes home soon and keeps safe. Hopefully, our box of treats will put a smile on their faces.

a new blogging treat

I have found a wonderful blogging treat that I'm sharing with you! I'm sure if you've read my blog for a while you know I often switch out the layout and colors. I like change. But I often got bored with the same layouts.

Today while lurking around in blogger-sphere I found this wonderful site. This very creative gal has many backgrounds to choose from for your blog......and they are free. You can also find her link in my sidebar. I hope you enjoy the many layouts as much as I do!

recovery treats

A few things that have made me happy this week....


many wonderful cards from family & friends,

such beautiful flowers,


snuggling and watching Noggin with Zander,

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giving Kaya a manicure,

fun books recommended or given to me by friends,

watching Kaya sit & spin.

seven simple pleasures (part 7)

I had a wonderful day with my family on my birthday. It was a simple day of being together...

The kids help make my morning coffee


See what close friends I am to my blogging readers......this is craftykorisa as soon as she gets out of bed


Sweet kisses from zander and kaya



It was my idea to have ice-cream cake for breakfast (maybe that is why the kids were so wild.....more on that later)
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After our morning drama we finally made it to the children's museum. We loved our 4th visit there, of course!






After we got home and the kids went to bed, Mattie made me a wonderful meal. Happy Birthday to me!

seven simple pleasures (part 5)

A conversation with Zander......

"Mommy, why don't you go to work at Daddy's work."

"I work here at home. My job is to take care of you and Kaya."

"I like that work."

" So you like to have mommy here with you every day?"

"I love it."

I then squeeze him to me and kiss his teeny nose and say..

"Zander, how did you get so wonderful?"

"Because I'm just like you mommy, and I love you."

I love conversations with my 3-year old.

seven simple pleasures (part 3)

I love pictures.....as you have probably gathered if you've looked at my blog at all.

My house is covered with frames and photos. It is perhaps a bit obnoxious but I love surrounding myself with the faces I love.

For the past 2 1/2 years however, my living room has just displayed a hodgepodge of framed photos. There was no unifying color or theme......just pictures that I liked. The crooked, mismatched frames were beginning to make me a little crazy.




So, today, on the first day I have felt halfway decent for a while, I completed this little project. I put an assortment of photos in this black collage frame and some other black frames around it.

I am pleased with myself and I'm pleased with the photography display. A simple pleasure indeed.

seven simple pleasures (part 2)

One of my greatest joys in life is to read. I love reading....one of my favorite t-shirts announces, "Life is short, read fast."

Unfortunately because life is so fast-paced, I often don't get to read as much as I would like. That is one plus to feeling bad constantly......I have read a lot lately. And instead of wallowing in self-pity that I'm stuck in bed a lot of the time, I want to celebrate all the wonderful books I have read recently or am anticipating to read.

Here are a few titles I've read in the past month:

The Unwanted by Kien Nguyen, The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer, A Painted House by John Grisham, and The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall. My favorite among these was The Unwanted. It was a painful memoir about an Ameri-Asian in Vietnam. I had a hard time putting it down and didn't want it to end. I also enjoyed The Russian Concubine, but it took me a few weeks to read that one. A Painted House was also a good read.......I'm not sure how I missed that Grisham book, I thought I had read them all. My neighborhood book club read The Ten-Year Nap. It is a book about 4 women who left their careers to become stay-at-home moms. I thought it was an interesting character study but the plot was lacking. It will provide for some interesting dialogue at the next book club though!

And eagerly waiting in a pile on my nightstand are the following:

Waking Brigid by Francis Clark
A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunsetter
Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr
The Alexandria Link by Steve Barry
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

It is a perfect night for reading. There is a light rain outside, the kids are both snug in bed, and Matt is out late playing racquetball. I plan on putting on my jams (oh wait, that's right, they're already on....it is past six o clock) and starting one of my books.

If you have any book suggestions for me to read as I spend most of the next month and a half in my room.....please share!

seven simple pleasures (part 1)

My brain has once again been on break. I have wanted to blog but I think my mind is too overwhelmed by my health and upcoming surgery. So I decided to take control of this writers-block and do something different this week.

This week, each day I'm going to post a simple pleasure that has graced my life lately. It is so important for me to take the time and realize what great treats I receive each day.

My first simple pleasure is my little helper. Zander loves to help me clean (unless that cleaning means picking up toys......but that is a different story all together).

Here he is a couple of nights ago cleaning the windows and door in my kitchen. His grin full of pride when he finished was absolutely precious. The other treat is the all-natural cleaner from Trader Joes. It smells great and works wonderfully---even after Z sprayed a third of the bottle on the window. No streaks!

mystery date

A few days ago, Matt told me, "Make sure you take it easy on Wednesday because after we go to Red Lobster with your parents I have something planned for you."

So, I was very curious about what my mystery date was. Even after arriving at Red Monster (that is what the kids call it) I still had no clue what was in store for the evening.




Imagine my surprise when I found out my date wasn't even Matt. It was my dad.


We went and had a blast watching my very favorite singer, Rod Stewart. Who I'm happily calling my other date.





This was the second Rod concert Dad and I have gone to together. He is such a performer and I always love his energetic shows. I could go many more times, with Dad of course, and be happy!

I think it is so special because we both LOVE Rod Stewart music. Dad got me started early listening to his greatest hits. I'm so fortunate that we have that special bond and such great music to share. One of my fondest memories of childhood is dancing with Dad in the kitchen while we listened to all of the "oldies" music.

Thanks Matt for providing such a great early birthday gift. Thanks Rod for the incredible concert. And Thanks Dad for always making our concerts together so special.

happy sunday treats

"Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so."
-Robert G. Ingersoll


My happy Sunday treats were:

* A delicious, free cup of coffee from Starbucks

* Eating lunch at my favorite sushi restaurant



* Sharing this wonderful lunch with our friends, Lynn & John, who we have neglected to visit with for way too long


* Coming home and having a 2 1/2 hour family nap on a rainy, cloudy day......

my early birthday gift

You know you have officially become stuck in "mommy mode" if you request an annual membership to a children's museum as part of your early birthday gift (my birthday isn't until September).

I knew this could be a safe, fun environment that I could take the kids by myself (without too much stress). I LOVE taking them there and seeing them play with all of the interactive exhibits. I think it is more like a really cool, large playroom instead of a museum.

You can see why I think this was a great gift by the pics below....I know we will use our annual pass several times. Both Zander and Kaya already asked me today if we could go back tomorrow. Oh how I wish we could.....but a mountain of laundry the size of Mount Everest is calling my name to be tended to tomorrow.

My little artist....



Zander drives the crane...


The water is fun...


See the foxes in the cave...


He loves to shop for groceries....




Kaya, Daddy, and the baby calf...


Cool!!! Moon sand...



Zander's favorite exhibit-the train table...


The many outfit changes by Kaya.....

First, the firefighter (who eats frogs, of course)


What a cute hat...


One cannot admire her beauty too much...



A very happy tap dancer...

blackberries for zander

Since Zander was little-bitty he has LOVED berries. All kinds of berries. To the point of sometimes you have to hide them from the little fellow to make sure he doesn't get sick from overindulging.

Also, his recent favorite book is Blueberries for Sal. He listening to the story. We checked it out at the library so often that I finally just bought it for him. I think it is so sweet that a classic children's book is one of his favorites.

So, going on a berry hunt yesterday with Pappaw was the best treat for Zander. Pappaw said he devoured the blackberries as quick as he could. It was a treat for all of us too to watch and see the pictures of the two of them.

I bet Zander will remember that berry hunt for a long time.