Progress June 2011

We have had a rather unusual start to summer. The weather has been overcast and cool. We are still marching forward and hoping that summer soon shows its face around here!

A lily and phlox from my garden:

One pic is never enough of my flowers:

A little progress has been made at our home, going from this:

To this:

And from this :

To this:

Think I spent hundreds of dollars for custom coverings? Try ""cut to size" cellular shades from Home Depot for less than $130 for 4 rather large, hard to find window sizes. These would cost more than $1,000 had they been custom ordered. My sweet hubby hung them for me and the entire family is overjoyed that we have relief from the sun at dinnertime!

I am documenting one little project at a time, to show the progress that we make around here. In the meantime my oldest daughter has been doing a lot of babysitting, while my son has been working on a new hair color...oh my! Stay tuned for more pictures!

hugs,
Cathy M.

Inconsistent

I have been inconsistent with everything lately: parenting, moods, housekeeping, grocery shopping and even my list making. I will make a list and leave it where I made it. Not a whole lot is being checked off right now.

I am a bit down and feeling overwhelmed with the end of school, beginning of summer sports & activities, outdoor projects, endless laundry, and many other things that are too boring to mention here.

So I decided to write a bit and blog some photos, which always makes me feel better!

This is where Rich and I have chats about the children, one of our favorite date locations~the back porch:

The patio before being painted by my sweet hubby (power washed by me!):

After, please notice that he also put up the trampoline and washed all the patio furniture:

When you buy a home there are certain things that come with it that you either detest or love. Sometimes these feelings can change over years. One thing that I completely adore about our home is the massive rhododendrons that signal summer. It is one of the first things you see at our home when you pull up the driveway. They bloomed about 2 weeks late this year due to all of our rain. The window on the left is our garage and the one on the right is my laundry room. It is wonderful to look out at these flowers, as it changes my perspective after be inundated with laundry. 

A couple of years ago we invested in a new lamp post (made of Azek from Walpole Woodworkers). The original lamp post was boring black and didn't look very nice. This makes more of a statement, as do the irises. Rich threatened that if the irises didn't bloom this year, that they were getting replaced. They must have heard him because they have bloomed beautifully.

So lovely, rhododendron up close:

I usually plant zinnias from seed, but decided to get a jump start and buy the plants this year:

I have never planted cosmos here, but thought I would try them in this bed!

I feel better now after looking at the pictures of my flowers. I am in progress on some other projects, so I will be sure to post when I have something completed. 

We are embarking on girls weekend here. The girls and I will spend some time together tonite & tomorrow while the boys are off golfing and boating. Guess what is on the girls list? Shopping! You betcha!

UPDATES

update on healthy eating and working out: I weighed in yesterday at lowest weight in years!! I have still been working with the trainer, getting in extra workouts (kickboxing~love it), tracking all of my calories, drinking crazy amounts of water and trying to eat as healthy as possible.

update on coffee: not good! back up to 4 cups, ugh!

update on Mom: spent time with her in Michigan last week as she was in the hospital. They released her, she is doing well and only has 1 more round of chemo. So awesome to spend time with her, my Dad, my sis, my youngest brother and sister-in-law. Mom & I cleaned out some cupboards and cabinets and donated a bunch of things to Goodwill. She is a strong cookie. Who leaves the hospital after 3 days and then organizes cabinets?

GRATEFUL

3 things I am grateful for:

sunshine and gorgeous weather!

awesome husband that kept it together while I was gone for 3 days!

beautiful views

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Hugs, Cathy

Spring Update 2011

It seems that spring is finally here in Ohio on May 21st! We have had incredible amounts of rain (and lack of sunshine) for weeks! My husband and I are making our home improvement lists...prioritizing wants vs. needs while being budget minded, as well. I tend to get anxious wanting it all done now! Fortunately, I am reading a book that a friend loaned me, Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. Anxious? Then you should look for the book!

We have had a few busy weeks that involved a holy First Communion, soccer tournaments, a tennis tournament, choir and band concerts, school ice cream socials, and quite a few meetings for me. Soon we sign up for  swimming and diving. Summer is right around the corner, but it doesn't feel like it yet because of the unusual weather that we have had of late. We are so ready for summer.

Marissa on her First Holy Communion

My sister Lisa (Marissa's Godmother), Marissa and my niece Allie

Marissa in pink, she has strong kicking legs!

Foster in white, handling the ball with his feet. He is usually in the goalie box!

I have been cooking a lot of really healthy meals including these salmon cakes:

Ana had a duet with one of her sweet friends, Miss K, on left and my friend & their voice teacher, Mrs. H in the middle:

Ana is second from left with a serious look:

Sister and brother, ready for high school and junior high, next year:

Here is evidence of teamwork in a hard fought game in 40 degree pelting rain

(and notice the green lawn from weeks of rain!)

So that is a snapshot of life around here lately. I am hoping to show some pics of completed projects in the next few weeks.

I hope you have a wonderful and sunny weekend. I am off to kickboxing!

hugs, 

Cathy M.

Mother's Day 2011

A tulip, planted by my husband last fall.

Last year on Mother's Day I wrote a post about my Mom which you can read here.  Although I won't be with my mom or grandma tomorrow, I will be thinking of them all day.

As I was thinking about Mother's Day today, while scrubbing dirt out of soccer socks, I felt blessed and that my heart is full. I am thankful for each of my children and the opportunity to be their mother. Many days I don't feel I am worthy of the responsibility. Frequently I wonder if I am guiding them in the right direction. I am not sure that they will get a full ride scholarship to a Division I school or even make a varsity team or place well academically. But then I have to remind myself, that it starts with being a good sport and with earning and improving grades as time goes on. It involves turning over the reins to them and watching what they do with their skills and talent. This mothering career is not easy or for the faint of heart!

I must admit that when I yearned for children, I had no idea that having kids would be such a full on effort. I think most of us know it will be work, but we are naive about the amount of constant, on~going work.

My family on vacation in SoCal last month.

So as I celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow, I am going to relax and just enjoy being with my kids and sweet husband. I am going to take it all in and be present for whatever comes our way. And I am naively wishing that the kids won't fight and that vases won't get broken. And if they do, that I will remember that it is a vase that can be fixed with a bit of super glue.

Wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day!

hugs,
Cathy M.