Thursday, March 22, 2012

Serenity

I may have found my zen.




Baseball!



Laugh if you want, but I find it relaxing. I know there are those who say, it's a boring sport; it's so slow. Hence, why I find it relaxing.
I came home for a bad afternoon at work, hubby had the Cubs spring training came on. There were Len & Bob calling the game with the crowd noise in the background, the crack of the bat hitting the ball. Ahhhh... I felt much better after a few minutes.
Do I get excited and wound up about a game? Yes. But I still find it soothing.

Play ball!!!!!
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PS: The London Olympics are 126 days away! We are all looking forward to them at our house.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Wisdom

The older I get, I find that pieces of wisdom and insight come from many unexpected places, things and moments. Yesterday, I experienced a moment of wisdom from our daughter (who is sometimes wise beyond her years...).

We went to the zoo yesterday (it was a PERFECT day! - sunny, slight breeze, almost 80) and the animals were all outside and the plants are budding and blooming. More than once, our daughter said a couple of times, "Do you hear all those birds?" I think there are still sounds that amaze her.

Since she got her hearing aids two years ago, the birds are something she can hear now (a sound that she never heard for almost 6 years!). It's one of those things we took for granted. I will never forget the first time she heard them, she got to call me from school to tell me she could hear birds tweeting. I cried and laughed when she told me, then told my co-worker who did the same thing. It's amazing the little things we sometimes take for granted!

As we were walking around the zoo yesterday, she was armed with her camera, she said to me at one point - "I am glad that I can see. If I can't hear everything, that's ok, but I would have to be able to see everything." The wisdom of an 8 year-old, and I think I agree with her. It amazes me how sometimes a small comment can get me choked up.


Disclaimer: I don't share these stories for reasons of sympathy or pity - I'm not sorry she has a profound hearing loss (anymore than a parent feels for their child who isn't "normal"). I share these stories because they are part of our lives and I find that sometimes when something is 'new' to her, it reminds me to step back from my crazy/busy life and take in the 'new' and 'small' things that are around me everyday and appreciate that I can enjoy them. I hope you will, too!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

This guy...

Believe it or not.... was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society a couple of weeks ago.
We are very proud of him!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

23 days

until the Chicago Cubs opening day!!!!




Here's to a decent season...

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On another note...

You know it's going to be a good day when you leave the house with your slippers on and you don't realize it until your hubby yells out the door "You have your slippers on!"

Are you sure it's not Monday???? (thank goodness, it's NOT!)

Friday, March 09, 2012

In case you didn't know...

I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My "baby" brother and his wife are expecting - 2 days before their 1st anniversary. Exciting!!!!!


The baby gift ideas are running around in my head....

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Websites

Check out the websites of 2 of my favorite artists:

Expressions by Emily Rood
Phil Rood Illustration

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Not that I'm counting...

but....



123 days til I see my man


Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to me from my hubby!

Friday, March 02, 2012

52 in 52

A collage of the first 8 weeks of my 52 in 52 for this year. I am really enjoying this project!

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Picture heavy

Happy March!!! Wow this year is flying already....



We took the kids to Disney on Ice for DD's birthday. This is what I get when I ask for a "nice picture" of the two of them.... I guess I have to settle for this as my "nice picture"
Tiana's story (Princess & the Frog)


Cinderella & Prince Charming

Rapunzel & Flynn Rider flying


M & M




Finale - all the Princesses and their Princes


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We all went to our first rodeo. We all had a GREAT time!!!!




She bragged to everyone that she met "real cowboys" (I think she was a little smitten with a couple of them). DH told her that the table better stay between her & the cowboys! :)



















And pre-season baseball games start today!!!!! A month until regular season starts...