The P-word

Well, I guess better late than never......

So, blogging has not been something that I have been able to make time for recently, or not so recently;-) My absence may or may not have to do with a little something called Pinterest..... If you hear of any 12 step programs out there let me know. Serious addiction here people...although I think the actual definition of an addiction is that something has to cause you to start neglecting yourself or the ones your care for? Well, if that is the Webster's definition then I guess I don't have a problem- yea me!

Pinterest has been a beautiful thing for my family, especially the dinner hour. This thing is like a dream come true for planning my weekly menu! Tonight was the most beautiful night around our dinner table- there was silence- which also means there was food being shoveled into the little mouths, of the babes that I love! I even got a "That was good MOMMA", from my too tough teenager, who never calls me MOMMA! I almost fell out of the chair because he called me MOMMA- did I mention that?

I found this recipe on the internet and pinned it to my board called "What's for dinner?".

If you aren't into the Pinterest craze, but you want to be, here is how you do it:

1. Go to the Pinterst site and send yourself an invite or reply to my post with your e-mail and I will send you one. Once you get your invitation, accept it and it will take you through a series of steps to set up your Pinterest account.

2. To get started you can set up boards(think file folders) that you will then organize all of your "interest" on, get it, Pinterest? I have boards for recipes, decorating ideas, vacation spots, etc.

3. Now that you have your boards set-up you can then "Pin" your "interest" to them. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can pin from the Pinterest site- where you will find lots of different catagories to pin from. You can also pin things from anywhere on the internet- this is my very, very favorite part! A totally genius idea! HELLO? Why didn't I think of this?

To be able to pin from the internet you will need to add a "Pin It" button- The registration site will walk you through adding this to your bar on your computer.

4. Now you are all ready to start pinning and staying up way to late dreaming of things that you will never have the time to accomplish because of this crazy addiction called Pinterest!

HAPPY PINNING!

Jennifer

The Kindergarten Blues

Wow! What a difference a year makes! This time last year, I was in a totally different place. Quite honestly, I have been a little hesitant to write this post for fear that "I'm counting my chickens before they've hatched", but I now think the time has come- and I feel confidant that I'm on the other side.

Everyone knows about the "Baby Blues", that weepy feeling that some of us have had after having a child. It is temporary, but I think after experiencing them, that they are very real but they are usually worked out over time. I was fortunate enough to only have them once, after the birth of my sweet Kendra.

We hear a lot about the baby blues and how to deal with them; get more sleep, get a pedicure, eat a better diet, get help with the baby. We hopefully move on and out of those days, fairly quickly, but last year I had something similar to the baby blues and I had no baby. It wasn't until this summer I realized I was suffering from the Kindergarten Blues.

I can look back on it now and see it. I knew I was having a hard time with my youngest starting Kindergarten, but I now see just how much it affected me. For 12 years, I had been a stay-at-home mom and that was my identity. Not that my identity of "Stay at Home" mom was changing, I was still that, but suddenly I wasn't needed(as much) between the hours of 8:00-3:00 and that was a bit of a shock to my maternal system!

I have always wanted to be a Mom- I had tons of baby dolls as a little girl and I started babysitting the minute I was old enough. I have always loved children and couldn't wait to have my own. What no one told me was at the age of 5 these precious little ones haul off and leave you for 7-8 hours a day!

Here I am with 2 of my favorite babies and my older sister Terri

Now, I know that I could home school and I joke about it a lot. I really do think If I was dropped on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, say Oklahoma, and had a husband who was a rancher, and I just happen to have 4 children, and we all worked on the ranch, and I was an awesome cook, and I had a cookbook(:-)), I could home school my children and do it quite well. I think my kids would actually like it. But since I live in a metropolitan area, and my husband goes to a desk job, and we live in an area where great schools are located, I think sending them off is the best for us at this time.

Sending my children off to kindergarten(I've sent 3) has been met with totally different feelings each time I have done it. With my first child, it was more excitement for him and for me. He was so ready for the busyness of school and the social aspect was exactly what he needed. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't excited to have a little more "me" time. I was sad, sure, but there was an awe factor, as we really didn't know what was in store.

With #2 it was sadness and excitement only because I was fully aware of what starting Kindergarten meant. I knew that now she would be more influenced by her peers and teachers than by me, her mom. I also new that school meant a busy schedule of activities. I was excited for her because she was so excited to get to go to school like her big brother.

Now, last year when I realized that my last little one would be starting school, there really wasn't much excitement. Sure, I tried to put on a good face, but inside I was miserable. Emorie Claire is a May birthday and I was convinced that we should hold her back(grasping at straws). I am so thankful for her pre-school teacher who was sure she would do fine, convincing me to go ahead and start her in Kindergarten and sure enough, she did great!

So, even though I have never read any article in Ladies Home Journal on the Kindergarten Blues, I want you to know that they are real and they do go away. It was a rough year of trying to occupy myself, I even had someone(can't remember who) say just wait until 1st grade, before you make any rash decisions about what to do. I wish I would have listened.

I have already spent more days at home, just in the 2 weeks that school has been in session, than I did the whole year last year. I could not stand to be at home last year. The silence made me crazy and I would usually just wanted to nap. This year, I love to be home, in the quiet and I have been so much more productive this year. I haven't taken a nap yet, but the year is just starting;-)

I have made a peace with my little ones going to Kindergarten. I know with each stage of parenting the adjustment may be more than I think it should, but that even though it is difficult at times, I know that this too shall pass.

I heart Summer!!!! Part 1

An awesome summer is one kicked off with a trip to The Big Apple- for

a sisters trip!

Dessert in Little Italy!
We were really in NYC to watch Debbie be ordained as a Minister

of the One Spirit at the beautiful Riverside Church. It was a beautiful ceremony and we

were thrilled to be able to celebrate with her. Congratulations on a huge accomplishment!

and thanks for giving us an excuse to go to New York!

Camp Tallowood- Trey heading off to his first year of church camp!

It was a 5 hour trip on a charter bus(there were

6 buses:-0)

Swim Team - Go Dolphins!

A milestone birthday for my sister Terri.

Oh no it's the big 50!

The problem with that is that she drags be behind her by

10 years- so we know what that means for me:-0

Love the cake!

to be continued.........

The 3rd of July

Here in Texas, especially south and central Texas, the 4th of July was a little

uneventful. This

drought we have

going on does not go well with Fireworks, so in a lot of places, the local Fireworks shows were cancelled- Bummer!! We did have a great time on the 4th of July but

in looking at my photos, I took more on the 3rd this year!

We started our day out with pastries from Naegelin's Bakery- this awesome bakery is located on Main Street of New Braunfels and it has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. My Dad would go pretty much everyday while we were on vacation and now my super wonderful husband has taken on that duty and I love him for it- and the pastries are pretty good too;-)

After some relaxing in the cold waters of

the Comal River and hanging in the pool we

headed over to one of our favorite traditions......The Landa Park train!

Waiting for the train......For the past two years The Evans and Knotts have joined us in NB!

We love that they have been able to come and enjoy this tradition that

we so enjoy! It is so fun for the kids to have time to play with their cousins and fish- which we did a lot of!

Oddly enough I have no pictures of them fishing but trust me, we

spent quite a bit of time putting worms on hooks;-)

We then headed to a restaurant that is as much of a tradition as just going to

New Braunfels, The Gristmill, located in Gruene.

these two boys

are definitely

related!

Look at that

intense look of

BOREDOM!

Such adorable boys!

This year Rob and I celebrated our 24th year of

meeting each other. It truly does not seem that

long ago that I met this incredible hunka-hunka!

I am so thankful for him and each and every day that

we have together!

I love you babe!

Back to Blogging!

I will give you three reasons why I haven't blogged in forever!!!!!

So glad to be back in the saddle! Weird, but I find myself thinking in blog posts!