We're Having a Heat Wave...

A tropical heat wave!  Temperature's rising, it isn't surprising.  She certainly can, can-can!

Irving Berlin's lyrics ring true here in the Sunshine State this week!  Geesh!  We've had record breaking heat for November!

I took this on Tuesday in my car...What?!?  It actually hit 91 that day!

Meanwhile everywhere else in the country...

Maybe I'll get to wear my "fall clothes" sometime in February!  

Sense of Humor

The kids and I were behind this truck the other day...It cracked us up so we had to snap a pic of it!  

Tough Love

My kids have reminded me twice in less than 2 days that my "tough love" lessons are paying off.

Yesterday Ra had completely broken his glasses at school and required new frames.  I can't remember the number of times he's tweaked or broken a part of them since April when he got them.  This time he broke the side piece completely off.  I told him that this wasn't going to be an easy fix like the replacement nose pad from last week.  I was afraid we'd be spending money for new frames.  Thankfully his were still under warranty!  I was only required to pay a $15 shipping fee for the new frames.  What took me by surprise was that Ra immediately volunteered to pay for the shipping fee since he wasn't being responsible with them.  Wow!  What a proud mom moment.  This is a big deal because our kids do not get an allowance.  They are expected to do certain chores as a part of being in our family.  We do allow them opportunities to earn money by doing extra chores - things that aren't their responsibility.  This means Ra will have to do extra chores to earn the money to pay for his glasses, especially since he just spent money on a stuffed pig for his sister earlier this week.

This morning I woke up to my children cleaning their rooms and bathrooms without being told!  We had discussed the need to do it last night, but the fact that they both woke and started doing it first thing without a reminder was awesome.  Ra told me that he knew it needed to be done so he did it first thing so he could enjoy the rest of his Saturday.  Sis saw him doing his room and bathroom and decided to work on her's.  He's such a great example for her.

As we are in the month of November and as Thanksgiving is approaching, I''m trying to look for the qualities in my kids that I've been striving for them to develop.  I'm looking for behavior to be thankful for in my children.  When I see those characteristics, I am pointing them out to my kids so they feel encouraged to repeat that behavior.  During those times when I feel like a failure as a mom, when I feel like I really screwed up an opportunity with them, it's moments like these that remind me that I've done something right.

I am often venturing through this parenting thing solo with all of Andy's travel.  It  makes it hard to teach those "tough love" lessons because the "mom guilt" often seeps in and makes me question if I'm being too hard on them.  Many times I'm calling Andy to check if he agrees with the decisions I've made.  I want us to both be on the same page.  I know I'm tough on them - mostly because I want them to be confident, independent, responsible members of society.  I'm often the only one with them and that leaves me to be the "heavy" most times.  The other morning it was cold and I told my kids to dress warmly in long sleeves and pants or leggings/tights under a skort.  Ra decided to ignore my directions and wear shorts and shorts sleeves, without a coat.  I dropped them off at school with the temps in the upper 40's with a light wind.  It was only supposed to warm up to near 60.  There was a part of me that wanted to turn the car around and take him home to get warmer clothes, but he made a choice to ignore my instructions so I sent him to school as is.  I'm sure the teachers thought "Why did his mom let him dress like this when it's cold out?" but I figured he needed to be cold for a day to learn to listen to his mom.  I knew he'd have recess and patrol duty outside.  When I came to pick him up from patrol duty, I found him inside because it was "too cold" to wait outside for mom!  Maybe there was a lesson learned...

Parenting is hard work.  Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we mess it up.  I have to keep reminding myself that we aren't perfect parents and our kids aren't perfect either.  If I was a perfect parent, my children would have no need for God in their life.  They need to see me looking to Jesus so they will continue to look to Him as well...None of us are perfect, but we are made new in Christ and that is the most important lesson I can teach my children.

Inspiring words....

This poem was one of JoePa's favorites and it fits him and his life well.  I can only hope the same for my son.  As he grows older, I plan to share this with him and keep it in a place where he can see if often.  With all the celebrating with the lifting of the ridiculous sanctions against Penn State, they neglected to do right by the man who brought Success with Honor to the world of college football.  If anyone worked harder to prove that football players can strive to be successful in the classroom AND on the field, I've never met him.  JoePa was the opposite of the "football culture" that PSU was accused of after the sanctions.  He donated what little money he made to build a library, not a sports complex.  His legacy will be remembered by our family in a way that honors a man who successfully achieved the grand experiment.

IF you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

This video link is a great illustration of JoePa and his favorite poem:
If...

The Obsession

It started young...This is me with my dad's bike.

Side Note:  We were living in the EXACT same apt that Andy and I lived in when we moved back to PA from NY...

Complete Utter Disappointment

I actually thought I was going to cry when I read the forwarded email from my husband this morning.  Last Wednesday, our builder sent us, the bank, his investor, etc. the "It's Official" date for closing on our new home.  He scheduled it for April 11th (after verbally saying it would be the 15th).  We worked frantically to get everything in order to be ready in 3 weeks:  coordinated movers, packers, gave our 30 day notice for our storage unit and our apt., almost canceled my hair appt. scheduled for the 11th...

Today's email stated that he's not going to be able to get it finished by the 11th and now our closing is scheduled for the 25th!  This is getting close to the LAST straw for us with our builder.  Thankfully he uses incredible subcontractors or I'd be worried about the quality of our home, as unorganized as he seems to be.  How do you make an official announcement for our closing and then 5 days later bump it back two weeks?  Don't people get their ducks in a row before making such an important announcement?  I can't begin to tell you how FRUSTRATING this builder has made this process for us.  We've built 4 other houses and this process has been more irritating than all FOUR together!  UGH!!!!

I know this isn't the end of the world, but we were on the 3 week countdown.  We had grand plans of using Easter weekend to unpack with Andy home and the bonus of a 3 day weekend.  It's so incredibly disappointing.  Ever feel like you are just waiting for the next phase to begin?  I've been in that stage since October 2012 when I found out we were moving to Jax.  It wasn't until April 2013 that the kids and I moved.  We've been living in our cramped apt since April 2013 and most of our stuff in long term storage.  It's so hard to be patient and be present in each day as I look ahead to life in our new house.  I've got to pull up the boot straps and suck it up.  I just want to get my family in our home, unpacked and settled.  It doesn't feel like "home" until then.  

Life Long Friendships

This past week was such a meaningful one for me.  I got to spend it catching up with some of my closest and dearest friends. Spending time with those who know you best and love you in spite of your faults, quirks, and flaws is the best thing in the world.  Allowing yourself to be vulnerable in front of others and allowing them to see you at your worst, all the while knowing they will love you and never judge you, is a friendship that will withstand any distance, time, or situation.  

To those I had the pleasure of spending time with last week, who I trusted with my emotions and insecurities over the years, I love you and treasure you.  I miss you terribly and can't wait to see you all again.    

And to my other bestie knew that I needed some TLC, thanks for the text messages.  I'm so thankful for you as well!  We need a catch up ASAP to get the details that a text can't express.  Love you too girl and don't know how I'd do life without you!

Things Only Utahns Would Understand

This is HYSTERICAL!  I loved reading all of these items.  So many are unique to Utah!

Things Only Utahns Understand

Here are a few more that I thought should have been on the list:

Sad, but this is VERY true.  If you wanted to be able to breathe in the winter months during an inversion, you needed to head up one of the canyons.  This looks like Little Cottonwood Canyon.  I'd have a killer headache in the valley, drive up to ski and my headache would disappear until we got home, then it'd set in again...Ugh!  I don't miss that!

Another sad but true Utah situation.  Every summer at least one or two scouts would get lost or sadly even die while at scout camp.

Oh my...Genealogy is such a big deal in Utah.

So many places are closed on Sundays in Utah - every store is like Chick-fil-A!

Only in Utah would a church share a parking lot with a restaurant!

Yep - I've seen signs like this one!

In Midway, they would host a big gingy house contest and there was usually something church related there.  I thought I was crafty until I moved to Utah...home of the Cricut and the Silhouette!

If you think we are Disney people, Utahns think Disneyland is the best place EVER!  They go all the time!

So true!!!  Everyone there has blonde hair and most of it isn't natural!  Kendall fit in perfectly with her blonde hair and blue eyes!

These were a fun walk down memory lane of our 4 years in Utah.  As much as I was happy to get back on the east coast, I do miss some of things that makes Utah unique and a special place.  It's like no other place I've ever lived.  Utah is one of the most beautiful places - the landscape is breathtaking!  There will always be a special place for us - a lot of our kids' firsts happened in Utah.  

Most Exciting Suburbs in America!

According to THIS article, Jax Beach made the Top Ten list coming in at #7!  Whoo Hoo!  I love Jax Beach.  It's been a great transition place for us to live.  Don't get me wrong, Atlantic Beach is the ultimate destination for this family and conveniently, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach both tied for the #21 spot!  No surprise there since the Beaches Town Center falls in between the two locations!   I'm just happy to live on the island and feel the salt air and to live in such an exciting place!!!

Business Insider  has the article if you want to read the criteria to decide the best suburbs.  Cambridge and Quincy ranked #1 and #2 - and I'd have to agree, I love the Boston area.  Berkeley was #3 and Miami Beach #4.  Santa Monica was ranked #5.  Those are a pretty big top 5 cities to even be considered in the same category!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

I realized that I shared what my kids got for Christmas but left out some of my favorite things!  I must have been really good this year because I feel like I scored big time!

I've been wanting this since my friend in Utah shared it with me.  She got one for Mother's Day and loved it.  I knew Andy wouldn't let me splurge on it without a special occasion so when it was Christmas and I still wanted it,he got it for me!

Breville Tea Maker

This thing is awesome!  I put the tea in the basket and it will heat the water, lower the basket for the correct amount of time, then raise the basket so the tea doesn't get too strong and will keep the tea warm for 1 hr.  I can also heat water with it for my Crio Bru and reheat the tea if it sits for more than a hr.  It has an autostart button so I can have it ready when I wake like all my coffee drinker friends!  You can customize brewing or use the preset buttons.  It's amazing!!!!  There is nothing more frustrating than brewing some yummy tea and then get distracted by the kids and realize it's been steeping for the past 20 minutes and you have to start all over!  

The other gift I received is one you wouldn't think someone would get so excited about...a toothbrush.  But this isn't just any toothbrush.  This is the Mac Daddy of toothbrushes!  

It's a Phillips Sonicare toothbrush. They are expensive as far as toothbrushes go, but my teeth have NEVER felt cleaner expect for when I leave the dentist's office.  Andy didn't have to ask about this gift - he actually surprised me by listening to what I had been saying.  I had asked him about his, tried it and liked it, but didn't want to spend that much money on a toothbrush.  I understood why he splurged on one - he's had a terrible time this year with dental care.  He's had some issues with crowns, etc.  I was incredibly surprised by this and continue to thank him for such a great gift.

As you can tell, I'm not your typical girl.  I don't ask for shiny things or extravagant things...Just some nice, practical things that make my life easier!

I'm Thankful I Married A "Planner"

It came to my attention earlier this month that I really am a lucky woman.  I have a wonderful husband who has taken the time and budgeted to plan for our future.  I had a recent conversation with someone who is married and has a family.  We got on the subject of life insurance and I asked if he had life insurance.  His response was "no."  Then he went on to say that his wife and family would just live off the government if something happened to him.  I was appalled that this would even be a plan B for anyone.  So because this person makes a choice NOT to purchase life insurance and make a tragic time easier for his family, he would allow us (the taxpayers) to pay for his family to survive.  I was in shock.  

But I guess it shouldn't surprise me though in this day and age of entitlement.  I'm so thankful for my husband who has planned and has prepared for my future so I don't have to struggle or depend on anyone else.  What a gift that life insurance policy will be from him if something were to ever happen to him - to know he loved me enough while he was living, to be concerned for our future, to not have to worry about how the mortgage and college tuitions will be paid.  After our first child was born, we immediately created our wills so that no one would argue or fight over who would take care of our children.  I'm so glad that Dave Ramsey has influenced our finances and my husband has taken it upon himself to have policies for both of us.  What a comfort that will be in the event of an untimely death.  If you don't know much about life insurance or estate planning, check out this article from Dave Ramsey: Parents Who Fail To Plan

Maybe it can be a New Year's Resolution that you can actually keep?

My new Cocktail

Ever since we came home from Christmas with my family, everyone except Ra has been struggling with fighting off a cold.  I have had a clogged ear for days now.  K keeps getting congested and Andy's exhausted and wants to sleep all the time.  

I searched online for a remedy that would help me and Kendall with our congestion.  I came across this one and thankfully had all the supplies.  I must warn you - it's NASTY, but it WORKED!  My ear was completely clogged and less than 10 minutes after I took it, it cleared right up!  IT worked better than Sudafed or DayQuil so I suffer through it.  

Here's the recipe:
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
2-3 T organic honey
1/4-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Mix lemon juice and AC vinegar in pot till gently simmering.  Add honey, pepper and ginger.  Store in jar and keep in cool, dark place.  Adults take 1-2 T a day.  It's better warm so I heat it first.  I must warn you - it makes me shiver when I take it, but it has worked so far...better than anything else I've tried.  No, I haven't tortured Kendall with this nasty cocktail.  She'd hate me for it and spit it everywhere!

I found the recipe on the blog listed on the picture, but when I went to link it to this post to give credit, the blog didn't work.

IT's A Great Day...

To be an Iggles fan (who is married to a Dallas fan)!

***UPDATE: Riley got a Madden '09 game for his Wii from the used bin at Game Stop.  He's been playing it ever since and LOVES it!  He's also begging his dad to play with him.  Kendall keeps suggesting Andy play and be the EAGLES!  If she only knew she was adding insult to injury by her suggestion!

My New Favorite Gas Station

We found this Exxon, which I normally boycott (along with BP and Citgo), on the corner of Girvin and Atlantic here in Jax.  We go to this intersection every week for Gymnastics and I now make it a point to purchase gas here when I can.  I feel a deep desire to support local Christian businesses when I can.  We have to stand together and this is one way I can do that.  In this day and age of "political correctness," it's nice to see someone make a bold statement that years ago would have been the norm.

I Love Country Music

It's no secret that my favorite genre of music is Country & Christian.  Last night just solidified my love for country music.  Here are two examples of why:




This one is awesome too:

Are You Kidding Me?

As if I needed one more reason to keep my kids OUT of public school.  Here's a great one:  Common Core Curriculum.  This is a worksheet from a Common Core elementary language/English lesson.  Since when do we need to have a political slant on learning possessive nouns?  I pray that my friends with kids in public school look into what content is being snuck into their lessons.  Here is the FULL STORY.

Lingo From Home

There is this page on FB that I follow because it reminds me of "home."  It's called How To Speak Philadelphian.  The pics they post crack me up!  Here are a few of my favorites:

This reminds me of Andy's dad!

My beloved Iggles.  Andy calls them the Beagles.

Delish!

Boat House Row

I still say ice-ning

My Nanny Hershock use to say it this way...and hamburg instead of hamburger.

We use to call it Spacme in college!

Loved him leading my team back in the day

I still struggle to spell this month!

My mom-in-law says the days this way!

I grew up thinking it was spelled this way - but it's a faucet if it's inside the house, spicket if it's outside.

Dr. J - no Dr. Chapstick!

My college roommate said it this way!

We still call it a MAC machine.  What's an ATM?  "Gotta tap Mac before we go out tonight!"

Wooder?  Wader?  Always a debate, but rarely ever was it water.