What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!!   It's cold and gross out today but a good day, nonetheless.   Snow flurries are flying everywhere and hopefully these  will disappear and it will warm up by the weeks end!!!   I am heading over to Jamie's to play  WILW and look forward to reading what everyone is lovin' this week.  

I am loving my new blog design by Leslie over at Lambert's Lately.   So beautiful!!!

I am loving that my wonderful hubby brought me this box of chocolates, just because.   

I am loving these adorable, vintage Easter outfits.

These can be found here

                                               

                                               and here.

I am loving surfer/beach movies. 

I found this on Encore and popped it into my DVR.   With the weather turning a bit "gloomy" lately, a good dose of surf and sand was all I needed to get in the "summer" mood. 

 Gidget is really sweet, lots of goofy surfer dudes and fun music.  I found this on ebay several years ago.   

I am loving this Walt Disney World guide book.   It is written and reviewed by everyday visitors and very helpful and huge!!   Disney can be a bit chaotic so having a plan can make it so much easier.   I had a complete itinerary for our last trip and it was a breeze.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Meet me on Monday

It's "getting to know you" time over at Never growing old.  Head on over and visit and Play "Meet me on Monday". 

{1} Crunchy or soft tacos?

Oh, definitely the crunchy ones.   Lots of shredded beef.  Maybe shrimp!

{2} Do you scrapbook?

I do scrapbook.  I have for many years.   I started out just putting a pile of pics in these huge, 20x18 books(or some size like that) and then added  a few stickers and memorabilia.   

They  have evolved a bit.   I now try to showcase one picture, using bows, ink, paint and brads, trying to give them more personality!    I wish I could be a bit more elaborate with them but I am so far behind; I just don't have time to spend all day working on them.  Wish I did.  I am practicing with some new techniques right now and will put them to use on some pages soon.    These are a few of the ones from last year.  

{3} Do you take any daily medications? 

After 5 years of being on an Anti-anxiety/depression meds, I was glad to wean myself off of them last September.   I was put on them after our little boy passed away and I was just feeling a bit "off".   Gettin' off those darn things was the worst thing ever!!!  I just didn't want to be taking a "medication" so I slowly dumped the little pellet things inside them.   It worked and I am free.    I do take Yasmin, a BCP, for my skin, as it has a tendency to break out like a mad man.  

{4} What is your favorite sound?

This is probably a pretty popular sound.  I really relax with the sound of ocean waves.   Don't hear them here in Indiana so I listen to "sounds" CD's if needed.  

{5} Where were you born?

Los Angeles,  CA

Thanks for visiting!!!



What I'm Loving Wednesday

                    Happy Wednesday!!!

What a wonderful week we are having here. Great weather.  Fun activities, hanging at the park.     I thought this would be a great week to play along with Jamie @ This Kind of Love.   Check her out; she has some really beautiful Spring pictures on her post.

I am loving all these beauties, all over our  yard.   Spring is finally here!!!!

I am loving that my kid went to school yesterday in shorts and a tank top.......in March......in Indiana!!!!    It was so warm out....finally!!

I am loving these super cute spring cupcakes from it's nummynum.blogspot.com. 



look how utterly cute those toadstools are!!!!



I am loving Tony Horton and P90X with helping me to get my body in to some kind of shape.   I was getting a bit "soft", especially in the belly area, and this brutal workout is doing great things for me.   Tony talks about his "workout buddies" and how they "love to work hard!".   Well, that is not me.  I can be a baby.  I get winded and I start to slow down or just stop and stare at the screen.   I'm getting better though.  

Darian snapped this picture of me doing yogaX, which is the hardest workout for me.   I had never done yoga before and holding those poses was tough!!!   I really do LOVE this workout and I am following it pretty faithfully....most of the time, ha!!!

Thanks for visiting!

ST. PADDY'S DAY and what it means to us now.

    
     My kids just loooove  wearing their green shirts and pinching all the "non" green wearing people.  Eating mom's cake with the green streaks.  Corned Beef and cabbage (ok, they don't like that so much!!!)   My "corny" decor.   As an Irish girl,  I thought our family celebrations with my family growing up were pretty cool, too.   My mom went all out.  
     Below are my kiddos in their green garb.
   

     St Patrick's Day is also the hardest day for us as our sweet baby boy, Brandon, passed away on this day.   Sometimes I forget that it happened on this day.  My mom sends cards to us around this day......that always reminds me.  

     I noticed all the people in their green shirts at the park today.....running around, happy and laughing.  For us it's a sad day.  It gets easier as time goes on but we still miss our boy.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband.   you are the best!!!

We made daddy a yummy meal of shrimp and grits (Thanks Amanda from Kevinandamanda.com) and a delicious Rocky Road cake.    We decided not to exchange gifts this year as we are taking a vacation in a few months and we are trying to keep on a budget.   The kids had a good time picking out balloons and food ingredients, along with a pretty cake. 

KID PARTIES

Oh my goodness,  I haven't posted since last Friday!!!   That is sad.   Back again with Kelly from Kelly's Korner for "Show us your life: children's parties".

Our kids'  birthday parties have mainly consisted of family parties with assorted family friends and their kids, neighbors and family members.   We have yet to have "class" parties.  That makes me a bit nervous.   But I am so excited to have all Kya's little friends over for tea parties or sleepovers.  

**As I peek through some of the other party set ups on Kelly's,   mine are a bit simple.   I am a bit embarrassed!



Our first born, Brandon, had 3 pretty big "family" parties for his first 3 years.   



He really did have fun.   He looks exhausted!!!!!

 An "Under the sea" party with a cute dolphin ring toss and dolphin cake.  His outfit had these little fish on it and got completely trashed by the cake!!!

For his 2nd birthday we had a "Firehouse" theme with trucks and Dalmations.   The kids (and adults) wore plastic fire hats.   Brandon had a rash on his face and was a bit cranky towards the end.  


Back then I was still using those pre-made invites.  These days they are all printed up on the computer and personalized.





I am trying to scan these from a HUGE scrapbook and they are lookin' a bit blurry!





Playing with one of the firetrucks he received.   He looks a bit sad here.  I promise he is usually a bit more "smiley".


His 3rd birthday was "Rubber Duckies", his favorite thing. .   He thought his party was the coolest thing. 

**Putting these pictures together for this post, I got a bit upset, thinking about the two birthdays to follow these ones.   For his 4th birthday we really didn't do much of anything.     I was going to California for a wedding and didn't have time to work on a party.   I remember we didn't even sing "Happy Birthday".   It makes me feel  sick thinking about it as he would only have one more birthday.     And I couldn't find any pics or remember his LAST birthday.    

Such a sweet boy!   Miss him so much.


These are a few of Darian and Kya's parties.   We usually go on day trips or are out of town around the time of their birthdays and will celebrate them by going on the trip.   Darian's is July 5th,  so a 4th of July theme is a popular one for the poor boy!!!!



Celebrating with big brother.

Darian had a big, backyard luau.  Very fun, lots of food.   I attempted so many "Hawaiian" type dishes that I accidently left one of them in the oven.  All day!!!



And, lastly,  Kya's first birthday was a "Ladybug" party at a park.  It rained all day and I was so stressed out.   It brightened up and was a pleasant day and Kya was so perky in her little red/white outfit. 



Oh man, we totally cute the cake before taking a picture of it!





Wow.....very long post!!!           Thank you so much for visiting.