Winter Vacation...

I've been luxuriating in winter vacation...those precious two weeks in the middle of the school year.  The break is long enough to feel full rested at the end - and to work in some great play time with the kids.  It's also short enough that I don't feel guilty while basking in laziness!

Next week I'll be back at my typical efficient working mommy-ness...but this week...

• I am enjoying long mornings in my jammies carrying my cup of coffee around with me
• I have been reading some great books...a couple light and fluffy ones and one that is very thought-provoking
• I have been reveling in "Crafting Coolness" with my new Silhouette :) Merry Christmas to me!
• We have plans to visit with friends and eat lots of great food
• There's at least one more great day of skiing this week
• The boys have some fun new toys and games that need to be tried out

What are you up to this week?

Christmas is coming...

Last night, thanks to grandparents and my husbands work schedule, I got to spend a few hours Christmas shopping.  It was a weeknight, so the stores weren't crowded and it was so much fun!  Shopping alone and relaxed, gave me time to think.  Here's some of my favorite things about the season...

• I love shopping at Christmas!  I never do any Christmas shopping before Black Friday, which is when I start with my husband.  I love being in the stores and the mall with all the decorations, and the crowds...it's so much fun!
• I love finding the perfect gift.  I have been looking for something that will keep my Gram warm...she's always cold.  Last night I found the perfect fleece, bed jacket that's soft and warm and blue.  I can't wait to give it to her! (If you're reading this and you're related to me...don't tell Gram!)
• I love holiday flavored coffee...especially when I am shopping!
• I love buying presents for my kids.  You could easily make the claim that they're spoiled...but it's the good kind of spoiled :)  They are just so stinking cute and fun, that everywhere I look I find something new I want to give them!
• I love having the best idea for my husband!  He can be kind of hard to shop for but this year I had the perfect idea.  Of course, he tried to buy one for himself and I had to hint and now he knows what it is...but I am trying to pretend that it could be something else!
• I love opening books every night with my kids!  They're excited and I am excited and it's so cozy to read in front of the Christmas tree.
• I love the way the house looks all decorated.  My husband does all the lights and outside decorations and even though it was about 10 degrees the day he did the lights, he went all out.
• I love the magic of Christmas...the sense of surprise, the ability to settle into the little girl-ness of the holiday and to relish the moments with family.

I really love Christmas!  This year I am remembering to take time to enjoy the moments rather than hurry through everything.  This year I want to settle into each moment and remember it!

What are you enjoying this season?

Vacation!

Are there more wonderful words than "Summer Vacation"? 

Maybe...if those words are Summer Vacation in Maui! 

My family and I just returned from the most amazing vacation and I would like to share a bit of it with you...

My husband and I renewed our vows on the beach in honor of our 15th anniversary.  How wonderful to know that you made the best choice and you would make that same choice all over again!

The boys learned the ancient art of Nose Flute :)

We went snorkeling with sea turtles...

...and Kyle went scuba diving.  Aiden was so excited to be snorkeling above him at the end of his dive.

We spent hours playing in the ocean and in the pool.  We even all took surfing lessons...the most fun ever! 

We ate the most delicious food in some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

The kids loved the Maui Ocean Center

Truly, one of the most fabulous vacations of all time!

The Big Photo Challenge...

This week's photography challenge was... Blue

Meet my cat Fyn.  Fyn is a Devon Rex cat who is about 18 months old.  Fyn is an odd-eyed Devon...with eyes that are two different colors...one blue and the other green. Her show-champion mother, also has odd-eyes.  She and her sister Rooney live in our house, and enjoy all the cozy spaces we have for them.  They are the best pets we have ever had...patient with our boys, they love to be with people, they're snuggly and wonderful!

 I was helping the boys with Mother's Day crafts for Grandma's when Fyn decided to help us also.  I snapped this shot of her without even thinking of the photo challenge.  When I saw her big eyes, I decided to use this picture to meet the challenge of Blue.

I have been experimenting with close-up photos, trying to fill the frame and ignore the background.  Usually I use the macro settings on the camera, but for this one I was in regular shooting.  I am trying to learn more about photography because I love taking pictures, but I really don't understand all the settings...I play with a shot until I get one I like, but I may not be able to replicate it again.

What I've Been Reading...

I have always loved reading.  Ever since I was a little girl books have provided a certain comfort, an escape, a way to relax.  One of my favorite things is to share reading with my kids.

Reading with Connar: Connar has been completely sucked into the Percy Jackson series.  Last week he finished Battle of the Labryinth by Rick Riordan and I got to read it.  I read out loud with Connar a bit each night, so I had heard pieces of this book.  The whole book was better than I expected however and I enjoyed every page.  I can't wait for Connar to finish the last book in the series, so I can too!

Reading with Aiden:  Aiden and I read together every evening.  Some nights he feels more like reading and others he wants me to read.  In the past year he's gone from a hesitant reader to a much more confident one.  His favorites to read to me are Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books.  {Little Critter is a bit like Aiden!}  He also goes through fun phases in what he likes to hear.  Currently we're reading lots of Dr. Seuss.

My Reading:  I most recently finished Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen which I loved!  I read it on the recommendation of my good friend Tessa.  It's sweet and compelling with well-written characters.  I had my next book all lined up...a highly recommended book for a Book Club with my work colleagues...and I just had to buy another Sarah Addison Allen!  {The joys of owning a Kindle...I can change my mind and buy a new book...from bed...at 9:00 at night!}  So, I am currently reading Sugar Queen and I'll let you know how it turns. 

What's on your bookshelf?  What books do you recommend?

Happy Reading!

A Sporty Mom...

I was never sporty growing up.  It might have been the 4th grade softball experience when I was on the E team...or the 8th grade basketball season  in which I scored 2 points {total...for the season!}.  Whatever it was, it wasn't sporty.

About three years ago, on a whim, I bought a Denise Austin workout video.  I'm already a morning person, and I discovered that a workout in the morning not only felt good but it bought patience for my kids in the afternoon.  A year...and many workout videos later...I joined my local gym.  The gym is literally 2 driving minutes from my house, and a nice walk when I have more time. The best thing about the gym, is that I have met a whole group of friends there who also love the 5:30 am time slot.  With my working-mom days and soccer-mom afternoons, 5:30 am is time that's just for me.  I get a great workout in, take a class and have some social time too!

I always do better when I have a goal, so last year I competed in my first 2 sprint triathlons!  It's kind of like 0 to sporty in 37 years :)  I am looking forward to 3 sprint triathlons this summer and an 80 mile bike ride in September.

This morning I had a great weights workout with my good friend Tessa.  We started with some abs, worked on our arms and ended with legs.  We'd done a hard workout yesterday, and didn't push it too much today.  My regular schedule is: 
Monday - Spinning (I love this class!)
Tuesday - Short Elliptical & a Weight Lifting class
Wednesday -  Weights workout with friends
Thursday - Swimming workout or Endurance swim
Friday - Run
Saturday - If I have time I like to take a weight lifting class
I also love yoga.  My regular class was canceled, but I work it in whenever I can.  Often it's in the hall while my kids are in the tub!

What's your regular workout?  Do you have any events you're looking forward to?

Books I Love...

I keep a reading journal. A couple of years ago, I was given a beautiful journal and I didn't know what to do with it so I started writing down the books I was reading. Every once in a while, when I don't have a new book to start, I look back through to find authors I'd like to explore or old favorites that are worth re-reading. On this quiet, Sunday morning, I thought I would share with you some of what I have been reading...

* The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Schaffer. I have already written a bit about this book, read all about it here.

* Tangerine by Edward Bloor.  All the 7th grade students at my school read this in their Language Arts classes and I was curious.  It's extremely well written about a middle school soccer player and a family secret.  Check it out for your kids.

* Twenties Girlby Sophie Kinsella.  I just finished reading this morning.  I love Sophie Kinsella for a fun, relaxing (if a little predictable) read.  This one started out a bit slow, but by mid-book I was in love with the characters and even got a little teary at the end.

* Percy Jackson ...the series by Rick Riordan.  I try to read everything my kids are reading and my 5th grader can't put these down.  I can see why.  Rick Riordan brings the Greek Gods right into the modern day with all their quarrels and pettiness and drops a great young hero right into the mix.  I get to start "Battle of the Labyrinth" tonight and I can't wait.

* The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I had been seeing this book around for awhile and finally read it on my friend, Colette's, suggestion.  It is so well written and gives a slice of understanding into life in the South in the 1950's.  I strongly recommend this one.

* House Rules by Jodi Picoult.  I love Jodi and I have read all her books.  Even though I figured out her "twist" to this story line early on, I love the way she challenged how we think and how we perceive people who are different.  There's also an amazing brother moment in this one!

That's what I have been reading lately.  What's you current favorite read?  Is there something you are looking forward to picking up?

Books I Love…

Ahh…It’s Saturday morning and I have a few minutes while everyone else is sleeping to indulge in my favorite past time…Reading!  I love to read (and trust me, the house doesn’t have to be asleep for me to do it!)  I just made a fresh cup of coffee, the sun is shining outside, my cats are curled up on top of my quilt and I have a good book to read.  This is perfect!
Recently, I finished one of the best books I have read in a while.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  The story is told in letters exchanged between several different people and the authors do an amazing job of developing the characters through this very narrow perspective.  The island of Guernsey was occupied during World War II and a group of people truly survived the occupation due to their literary society.  While the war is over in the book, it is about this group of people, the books they read and the relationships that were formed.  The quote, “I laughed…I cried” is completely true when it comes to this book.  It’s a must read!
Now I must curl up with my current good book…which I will tell you about later.  What’s your favorite way to refresh & recharge?  What’s the best book you’ve read recently?  Will you check out Guernsey?

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