my latest project

I have a few friends who are super-crafty and even more creative. They amaze me with their homemade crafts and learning projects for their kids. (Haley, Jill, & Martha, you know I'm talking about you!)

So, in an attempt to be that fun, creative mom, I decided to make this magnetic chalkboard for our kitchen. After a few failed attempts and a couple trips to Lowe's, we got it right. My ever-supportive husband is also very patient.

Elise has just begun to enjoy coloring and getting her hands messy with glue and paint and everything else crafty. So, I hope that through the long winter months we'll be creating lots of fun things to post on our board. Maybe we'll even learn some colors and numbers while we're playing!

Labor Day Pictures (a little late)

Labor day is usually pretty quiet around our house. This year, it was especially quiet as Bryan and Elise headed to Terra Haute, Indiana to enjoy the weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Bryan's lake cabin on Dietz lake. Sadly, I had to stay home as Labor day weekend was my holiday at the hospital.

It's no surprise that they had a FANTASTIC time with Bryan's whole family. Elise was so excited to go to Indiana in "daddy's car" to see Mamaw, Papaw, Nanny, Big Papaw, Aunt Angela, Uncle Jon, Isaac, and Charlotte. After a long 6 hours in daddy's car, they finally got to the lake cabin where they went fishing, swimming, took boat rides, hiking trail 5, won bingo, ate lots of good food, and sat around the bon fire.

Here are a few pictures (thanks Angela!) of Elise and Bryan's labor day away. While I missed them like crazy, I'm so glad they had a wonderful time. Maybe next year all three of us can go!

Superhero party for Isaac's 4th Birthday!

Fishing with Papaw and Isaac

Isaac, Charlotte, & Elise

Swimming with daddy

Charlotte & Angela playing Bingo

Elise, Daddy, & Mamaw hanging out on the swing

apples!

Monday was a beautiful day! Elise and I took advantage of the nice weather and headed to Crane's Orchard to pick apples. We picked a bushel and a half of apples (honey crisp and empire) and then headed to Crane's pie pantry for apple cider donuts. Unfortunately, Elise only wanted to eat the apples and not her donut (just like her daddy!), but we had a fantastic morning.

balance is everything

What makes a good day? To me, it's all about balance.

It's getting the fulfillment of working hard all day and still getting to push Elise on the swing while she tells me about her great time at Miss Lauri's. (We love Miss Lauri!)

Balance is waking up early, but feeling rested and getting to relax in the evening as the dishwasher cleans up our dinner mess.

It's getting the mail and receiving our property tax bill but also the awesome jeans from my recent eBay purchase.

Balance is having great friends at work to laugh with and a surgery schedule to manage with interesting surgeries & unexpected challenges.

It's sandy toes in my bathroom at bedtime along with bible stories and prayers thanking God for mommy, daddy, grandmas, and grandpas....and Indy.

A great day is all of those things, and then tomorrow it will be none of them but a dozen different blessings that make tomorrow wonderful all by itself.