Juice Box Wisdom~~

VISIT MY NEW BLOG!!!

2011-08-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

http://sweetwhispersinlife.blogspot.com/

Looking for some great giveaways........

2009-05-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

then visit http://www.designmom.com/ . Gabrielle has some awesome things this week in honor of Mother's Day!

Epiglotic Photographic: Lessons from Peter Pan

2009-04-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

I recently have reconnected with a lot of people I graduated with from high school. It's been so much fun to catch up with everyone and see where they all are now. I have one former classmate who is a pretty amazing photographer. He wrote this post in his blog Epiglotic Photographic: Lessons from Peter Pan recently and I thought it was great!!
I hope anyone who visits my blog takes time to read it!

Ohhhh I want this.........

2009-04-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these?

I really really want one. I found them at http://www.wowcoolstuff.com/LED_Illuminated_Color_Changing_Shower_Head_p/ks-h-15t.htm

Wondering how I can justify getting one to Brian? Hmmmmm.......

Summer time

2009-03-31T21:04:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or was summer a time to relax, sleep late, spend time with your family and just take a break from the fast paced school year? I can't believe how I have to schedule our summer now that the boys have started public school. There is so much being thrown at us for them 'to do' and 'keep busy.' Funny, but when we home schooled it seemed we never had to search for something to do or send the kids off to occupy them. Now don't get me wrong, I can certainly see the advantages to some of the activities and I can see the benefits they will get from them. But, a little stubborn part of me wonders why we can't just let our kids be kids and have fun finding things at home to fill their time. Maybe I'm behind the times and a bit old fashioned in that respect. I will be spending part of my day tomorrow planning out the boys' schedules~~camp at Rock River Christian Camp (3 separate sessions--one for each boy this year--3 trips down to Polo, Il and 3 trips back), summer school (fun classes!), Camp Invention, classes at Blackhawk Tech, Caden's guitar lessons, Ty wants art lessons and Austin wants to look into Space Camp (in Alabama!!) WHEW, wondering when I can schedule time to run through the sprinkler, eat Popsicles, play with friends and take a family trip. Oh well, guess we can't do everything ;o)

My 'New' Gardening idea..........

2009-03-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

I love the idea of having a garden. And I do love the benefits of having a garden. But, quite honestly, I don't really like having to go out in the hot, hot sun with the man eating swarms of mosquitoes in our yard to tend our garden. So, this year I'm going to try the new to me idea of hanging plants. I got lots of ideas at http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/urban/vegetables-grown-upside-down.htm on what you can grow hanging and what you can't . I'm hoping this will work for us!! I'll keep you updated on what happens and how it goes!

Another GREAT giveaway.......

2009-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

Visit http://christynelson.net/blog/ for a chance to win a great giveaway!!

Cool Moms go to Designmom.com

2009-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed and inspired by Gabrielle at www.designmom.com visit her blog and look for the GREAT giveaways she has!!
Love it!

MMMM, MMMMM Good!

2009-03-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

I went shopping with my Mom today. At Sam's Club (I'm a bit of a Sam's Club addict) we found the biggest, reddest, yummiest strawberries. So, after our supper of turkey filet mignon and Caesar salad, we had chocolate dipped strawberries. MMMMMMMMM, they tasted like summer!

Just a Casual Wednesday

2009-03-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

Completely unlike my testosterone laden family (I am the only female!!) we spent the day shopping!! YAY! We drove an hour and a half to Pleasant Prairie, WI and descended upon the Prime Outlet Mall!! OMGosh!! What a wonderful place! LOL We got tons of new clothes for the boys and for Brian (who BTW desperately needs new clothes after his BIG weight loss--woohoo, go Brian!) I even got the chance to buy a Coach purse for a GREAT deal!! It was a $200 purse for only $54. And since Brian is a store manager at Goodwill, even he knew what a great price that was!! So, he didn't even argue when I pulled him into the jam packed store and demanded he surrender his debit card. I must admit I've never cared about brand names and having 'things'. But there's something about a Coach and a Coach store. That feeling of camaraderie with the other women in the store as you push them out of the way to get the one you've eagle eyed. The look of all the just really pretty, girly purses. The way the saleslady lovingly wraps your purse in the logo laden C tissue paper and slips it into that white and red handled bag. Ahhhh, I can see why this could become an obsession for me! I've vowed that I will have more! We must all have goals in life.......................

My new Coach

(which BTW, is still in the paper in the bag)

This is it~my whole world........

2009-03-24T20:39:00.001-07:00

Yep, that's them. My kids~~crazy, wild and lovable. Funny how when you become a mom you realize nothing else in the world really matters except for the souls that God has entrusted you with.

Easter Memory

2009-03-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

I remember going to my Grandma's around Easter time and always finding the most wonderful things. She had out her sugar eggs that she carefully packed away every year. They looked similiar to those in the above picture, but for some reason I remember her's being much more detailed and whimsical. I would put my eye up to the whole and see a whole Easter world inside. I felt as if I could climb inside!! I found these at: www.blumchen.com/ny_times_panorama_sugar_egg.html

Grandma always had the chocolate eggs wrapped in metallic papers. Why did the always seem more vibrant at her house? They were always the solid chocolate kind. Long before they started putting other things inside of them--caramel, peanut butter, etc. To this day, the solid milk chocolate kind are my favorite!

Spring Fabric

2009-03-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

I love this fabric I found at
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-BR-SHADOW-BRANCH-SPG

it's so simply beautiful!! I wonder what I can do with it?

Any great ideas?

This can't be normal

2008-09-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've decided there are certain things in my life that just aren't normal. Maybe you can share some of your insight with me to let me know I'm not the only crazy one out there!! For example:

*I'm pretty sure toilet bowl cleaner isn't supposed to produce SMOKE when you pour it in the toilet--is mine just that bacteria ridden that the toilet bowl cleaner has to burn it off?!?!?!?

*My dog growls at me whenever I walk by him (okay, this may have to do with the fact that I call him 'that little dog' with much disdain in my voice)

*I found a stray cat sleeping in the middle of my living room floor this morning (she apparently broke through the screen on one of our windows)

*I keep dreaming that I can't remember my locker combo (I've been out of school for19 years!!!!)

Today is the day.............

2008-09-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

5:15 am this morning, my alarm goes off. I lay there a moment wondering why in the heck I have to get up at such an ungodly hour--then it hits me. Today is the day my children, my precious babies, go to public school for the first time. I get up and drag myself to the kitchen, pop my meds (for those who don't know, I've been battling high blood pressure and not winning that battle! I'm on my second med for it, which at least doesn't make me pass out and pee every 5 minutes but has yet to prove it will bring down my pressure from 168/120) and start making scrambled eggs with sausage. I wander out to the living room where I find my oldest son, Austin, all dressed and eating toast. He smiles and says 'Hey Mom!'. When I question why he's up already, he answers he doesn't want to be late for his first day of school! I stumble to the bathroom where I find Ty, my middle son. He is shivering and with his big blue eyes staring into mine he whispers 'Mom, I'm nervous.' I hug him and reassure him that he's a smart boy who makes friends easily. I send up a quick prayer to God to watch over him. Back in the kitchen I continue to make breakfast and check off in my mind all the things I have to do yet. In comes Caden, my youngest. He announces in his sleepy voice 'I'm not going!' I stop the protest with a simple 'Yes you are. It isn't a choice.' He stomps back out to the table and sits to pout while he waits for his food. Breakfast is quiet and the boys all seem to be daydreaming in their own minds. Showers, teeth brushing, hair brushing (which Ty labors over for quite a while to get the righ look) and getting on new clothes seems to fly by in a moment. Christopher arrives (little boy I babysit, who will ride the bus to and from our house) and his face mirrors all the anxiousness of my own children. I get him breakfast, dressed and ready to go with ease. We get back packs adjusted, shoes tied and pictures taken. We make our family cirlce and I pray aloud for Jesus to watch over them and protect them. Before I know it, we are out the door and down to the bus stop. That big yellow bus pulled up and on they went with a last call from me to be good and have a great day. The short walk back home was a tearful one. Homeschooling was definitely easier I can't wait unitl they are home to hear all about their day!

HE DID IT!!!

2007-10-08T14:40:00.001-07:00

Yep, Austin did it! He passed his black belt qualifications! I am so proud of him. Especially since it wasn't easy--but, he perservered and he did it! As soon as I get some pics downloaded, I'll get some on here!

2007-10-03T10:15:00.001-07:00

Saturday is IT! Austin's BIG day that he's been working for the past 3 + years. He is doing his black belt qualification test! This will be an intense, 3 1/2 hour long test. He has to know all his forms and combos that he's learned since he was a white belt. AND he has to prove his sparring skills against 2 degree black belts. AND he has to break boards. AND he has to do 10 tornando kick, spin wheels PERFECTLY in a row. Not to mention more that I'm sure I don't remember as just a regular non karate person. I am so proud of him and not to mention nervous! Although, oddly, Austin is not nervous at all!! But, mostly, I am in awe of Austin. At the age of 10, I think my biggest goal was to find a good spot to eat in the lunch room! Austin has completed a goal that most adults wouldn't even attempt. He had a dream and he went for it! Austin has taught me a lot over the past few years about not letting fear stand in your way. What an inspiration he is to me. I have decided do what Austin has done--go after my dreams and not let ANYTHING stand in my way! Thank you Austin--I love you!!