I Don't Know Who's More In Love With Him

... it might be Eli because he plays Wii with him and then plays "pretend" squash outside with him.

... it might be Rick because he plays along with his sense of humor.

... it might be Brynne because she is smitten with any teenage boy, and he pushes her in her swing.

... it certainly might be me because he is a sweet kid with a beautiful smile and he compliments my cooking.

Or ...


... it might be her, for so many reasons she can't even count them all.

Rick Rocks ~ Because He Helped Me Create This Child

Go here to read all about Eli's graduation from kindergarten.

What a special event for a special boy!

And without Rick, Eli wouldn't be the boy that he is.

Rick Rocks ~ Because he helped me create this child.

Student of the Quarter

Eli was chosen as one of his elementary school's Students of the Quarter this quarter!

Each class nominates three students from their class. He got to attend a pizza party yesterday with his principal. He was very excited because he really loves his principal!


We are so proud of Eli for all of his accomplishments this year!

I had his IEP yesterday and all of the teachers were teary as we were discussing how far he has come. I just can't believe he has done so well and everyone is so excited to see how he will do in 1st grade next year.

He is an exceptional boy.

Tonight is his graduation from kindergarten. I am packing lots of tissues. He showed me one of his songs on Tuesday night and I cried. I can't imagine how emotional I'll be tonight.

Crusoe just ran a mile without stopping ...

and so did I.

"So?", you are thinking ... "I run two miles every day", or "I just finished my first 5K", or "I am training for a marathon."

But for me ... that one mile is huge!

I'm not a runner. In fact, when I see people running I wonder why in the world they do it because they look like they are miserable!

A month or so ago, while walking and being drug by Crusoe who wanted to run, I set out in a jog. After a short period of time I had to quit running and resume walking. But, he kept dragging so I started jogging again. Again, I had to quit after a short time.

Then I started hearing all about the benefits of interval walking/running. The big loop around our subdivision is 1.8 miles, and there are lots of stop signs. So, I started what I called "Street-to-Street Interval Running." I walked to the first stop sign, then ran to the next one, then walked to the next one, then ran to the next one, and so on.

One day last week I realized I wasn't really tired at the "walking" stop sign, so I kept running to the following one. I did that kind of thing for a day or two.

Then yesterday I kept going until I had run just under a half mile. And I really wasn't even winded. I stopped there because Crusoe had to poop.

So, while taking the kids to school, I measured how far a half mile was and decided that this morning I would run that half mile without walking.


You know what? I felt so good as I was approaching the half mile that I decided to just Go for it and turn around and run the half mile back to make it a full mile.

You all were my inspiration because I so badly wanted to be able to say today that I had just run a full mile.

In fact, with just about 50 feet left to go, Crusoe tried to stop to poop. I pulled him and told him "No way!" because I wanted a legitimate one mile.

Back when I started realizing that running was getting a tad easier, I started thinking about the possibility of running a 5K. I don't have lofty goals. My goal is to run one around my 40th birthday, and that's not until the end of next summer. But, that gives me a little over a year to work myself up to running our big block twice, which would be 3.6 miles.

This really is a big deal for me. When I was in high school all of the track coaches told me I had a runner's body. I wasn't very fast, so they wanted me to run long distance. But, Yuck!! I really wasn't into sweating. And, hello, it was the 80's ... my bangs would have never survived! And I had some shin problems, so it was actually painful. To be pushing 40 and realize a new love (well, that's a strong word ... maybe like) for running, makes me feel great. Plus the one place I really feel it is in my butt, which is my area I'd like to get firmed up (wouldn't we all?)

If you want to do something like this, you don't need a class or a personal trainer. Just start small. Run a little further than is comfortable for you each day. And, increase it as you can. If I can do this, anyone can, believe me!

Oh, and I plan to do this thing while looking like I am enjoying it (when really, that's a stretch!)

The difference between the unattainable and the attainable lies in a person's determination.

—Anonymous

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... after days and days and days of rain, the sun is finally shining (at least for a while!)

I am thinking... about my current and recurring frustration.

I am thankful ... to have the daily family life I have.

I am wearing... my gray sweats, Fitz's t-shirt, Nike's from my walk/run this morning.

I am remembering... the first little hummingbird that was at my new feeder last night. So exciting!!!

I am creating... nothing right now .. can you believe it .. nothing!

I am going... to clean the floors, the bathrooms and the upstairs today.

I am reading... I have decided to put Winter Garden down and save it for our flight to Hawaii. I have only read a couple chapters of it anyway.

I am hoping... that our little Chloe gets to feeling better today. She got spade yesterday, but also had to have a hernia repaired so she is very sore and shaky.

On my mind... is the stress of leaving the kids (and now dogs) while we got on vacation for 10 days.

From the learning rooms... only 6 more days until I have a sophomore, a homeschooled 8th grader, a first grader and a kindergartener. Wow!

Noticing that ... I have felt tired, cranky, overdone and distant for the past week or so. This is the "old" me that I don't like, but I don't know why I feel that way.

From the kitchen... things are back to normal with a regular meal plan and a stocked pantry, fridge and freezer. Meals are yummy this week.

Around the house... is lots to do.

One of my favorite things... is my morning walk (and now run) with Crusoe. I don't like to get up at 6 a.m. (and am looking forward to pushing that up to 7 a.m. this summer), but I always feel so much more energized when I do it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today is the first day in a looooong time that I don't have to be anywhere or do anything all day! So, I'm going to get the house cleaned and maybe mow this afternoon. Tomorrow I have an IEP meeting for Eli, but that's it. On Thursday Brynne has her Carnival Day at school, my mom is coming and our little Eli has his kindergarten graduation that night. Then on Friday I am hosting a pizza party for Eli's class, to reward them for performing the Great Expectations so well all year (I have witnessed them doing them with Eli and it has warmed my heart all year. Mrs. Sansone has done an outstanding job teaching her children, and they have done an outstanding job learning!) On Friday afternoon I have to take Kyndal to get her driver's permit **Gulp!** And this weekend? Nothing on the calendar! Yippee!! Maybe we can fit in a date night! ** hint, hint honey!**

From my picture journal.


My little piece of Heaven on Earth. I love, love, love my back porch!

Get to know other special women at The Simple Woman's Daybook. (Not that I'm "special", but you get the point.)

Menu Plan Monday

Busy week this week, but cooking anyway!

Monday ~ Italian roast in the crockpot

Tuesday ~ French dip sandwiches with leftover roast

Wednesday ~ FFY

Thursday ~ Sub sandwiches before Eli's Kindergarten graduation

Friday ~ Taco salad

Saturday ~ Pizza bread

Sunday ~ Spaghetti

Puppy Dogs

I don't know at what point puppies become dogs. But, ours are about 5 1/2 months old, seem to have hit the last of their growth spurt, have had all of their vaccinations and are now being taken one at a time to get spade/neutered. I'd call them dogs now. Although, I think we will always call them puppies.

Here's Crusoe. He is such an amazing dog and we love him to death! He is my morning walking/running partner and he is so in love with Dawson he can't hardly stand it. He truly thinks he is a 13 year old boy.

Weight: 23 pounds
Best Trait: Super smart!
Worst Trait: Sheds like crazy!


This is Quincy. He is definitely more poodle than chihuahua, with all that wild hair. He is so stinking cute and has one ear that sometimes stands straight up. He is very well behaved and is probably the most potty trained out of all three of the little puppies. He sleeps cuddled right up to me in bed at night.

Weight: 7 1/2 pounds
Best Trait: Is always by my side
Worst Trait: Is always by my side


Here is Buck .. or Buckster or Bucksterooni, as he is often called. The little kids seems to be most attached to him, probably because he is the most versatile in who he loves and the most laid back (until he sees Clifford, our cat). He also sleeps with Rick and I at night.

Weight: 7 pounds
Best Trait: Will let the little kids do absolutely anything with him
Worst Trait: Will not come when you call him


And then there is little Chloe. She is such a sweety, and is the tiniest of the three little puppies. She sleeps with Kyndal at night and seriously could make us millions at the dog races because she is faster than any greyhound I have ever seen.

Weight: 6 1/2 pounds
Best Trait: Cute as a button
Worst Trait: Will poop on any bedroom carpet as soon as she gets in there, even if she doesn't have to poop.

I can honestly say that we are very lucky to have gotten the dogs that we have. They are all so good and sweet! They are great with the kids, mind relatively well, are almost completely potty trained and are fun and cuddly. As much work as they are, I cannot imagine our lives without them. They certainly complete our family.

Rick Rocks ~ Because He Has An Amazing Sense of Humor

Any sense of humor that our kids have, they totally get from Rick.

He is the funniest person I know and can make any situation, no matter how dreadful, full of laughter.

He has a saying, "You have to laugh or you'll cry!"

I tend to think I'm pretty witty, but he always takes my little jokes and magnifies them to the nth degree to make them so much funnier. I just laugh all the time!

And he can find a movie line or verse from a song to apply to any situation. We've been together so long that now I usually know what line he's going to use before he uses it. He's rubbing off on me.

In a life of difficulties .. and we all have them .. it certainly is nice to have someone around who finds the humor in most situations! It makes life so much more bearable, and even fun!

Rick Rocks ~ Because he has an amazing sense of humor!

** He also gets a bonus Rick Rocks award this week for the amazing job he did cleaning out our garage and setting up hanging racks for my garage sale. I would have just thrown something together (probably at the last minute). But, he spent a couple of nights this week fixing it up. I will look like a professional garage sale giver. I am so grateful! Thanks, babe!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Eli and Brynne have been blessed to have the greatest teachers this year! Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. I always try to have the kids do something for their teacher every day of the week.

On Monday each of the kids took "My Teacher Rocks" cut out guitars (sent home by the school) to their teachers.

On Tuesday we made these. They said "You deserve a hand for being such a Great Teacher!" and Eli and Brynne's handprints were attached to hand lotion.


On Wednesday Brynne wore her homemade "I love my teachers" t-shirt. Eli grew out of his, so he just wore his teacher's favorite color (as the kids were asked to do).

On Thursday the kids wore crazy hats for "I'm Crazy about my teacher" and took their teachers' favorite drinks with a tag attached that said, "Thank you for quenching my thirst to learn."

On Friday the kids gave these to their teachers. The envelopes contained tokens to our local car wash.


Eli and Brynne love their teachers! It's been such a fabulous year!

May Baskets

Do you remember the days of May Baskets? Did you ever get one as a kid? I can remember neighbor kids getting them hung on their doors by their friends. But, I never got one. And I thought back then that I would definitely have my kids do May Day Baskets for their friends.

And I've yet to do it.

Until this year.

Victoria Magazine has this to say about the tradition of May Day and May Baskets:

"The tradition of May Day begins with a basket or container brimming with flowers and small gifts. The May Day basket is quietly and secretly placed on the doorstep of a neighbor or loved one, demonstrating the gift of giving without receiving. Children and adults alike can participate in the joy of the holiday by making a special basket for a friend."

Here are a few cute May Basket ideas I found:




My plan was to have my two little ones prepare traditional May Baskets and hang them on the doors of their neighborhood friends. We were going to deliver them the evening of April 30th. I was excited to have them hang the baskets, ring the doorbell and run back to the car before they were caught.

And then we had a crazy week and I realized the morning of April 30th that it actually was April 30th and we were leaving that afternoon to go to Missouri for the weekend. Gads. So, I threw them together and delivered them myself in the early afternoon.

So, the kids didn't get to join in on the fun .. but their friends got a fun surprise treat.

Here's how ours turned out. They were filled with candy bars, suckers and gum.


Next year I'll be more organized and actually do what the May Baskets were intended to do and teach my kids the simple gift of giving.