Our Summer Highlights

Okay. Summer is quickly approaching and school days are almost done for the year (yea!), so I thought it was about time to think up a "wish list" of activities. And of course, our family wants to do a TON of things this summer (some local, and some not) - to get us out and about and having some much needed family fun time! We really want to see as much as possible while we live in the area, so I wrote them all down and we're going to just try and tackle what we can and see where it takes us!

• Arlington Cemetary
• Virginia Safari Park
• Jefferson Memorial
• Appomattox Court House
• Williamsburg (Busch Gardens, Sesame Street)
• Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive)
• Luray Caverns
• Camping with friends
• Trip to the beach
• Westmoreland Berry Farm
• Home projects (redoing bathrooms, etc.)
• Richmond Zoo
• Library of Congress
• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
• Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center
• Chatham Manor (indoor tour)
• Carl's Ice Cream
• George Washington Birthplace...

as well as the simple pleasures of: bubbles, sidewalk chalk, kids playing in the sprinkler, backyard bbq's, movie nights, swimming, trips to the library and playground, slurpees from 7-Eleven...and just watching my children have fun!!! :)

Memory Monday

In honor of our family's theme word this year (choose), I am choosing to forgo "Memory Monday." It was something I wanted to do to gather up my memories and get them written down but it's also another thing on my plate that is in the big scheme of things not a high priority. I think everyone can agree that there are so many great things out there but we must choose the most important to us. Maybe some day down the road, recording my memories will become something I can do. But for now, keeping the blog up to date, writing in my personal journal as well as the kids, I think I'm good in the "preserving memories" department. Now back to my list of things to still get done today: unload the dishwasher, wipe runny noses, make dinner, check homework, get the kids bathed and settled for the evening...you get the idea. I do believe these are way more important and demand more of my time right now than Memory Monday does and this makes me thankful once again that I am a mother to my wonderful children!

Memory Monday

WHAT IS YOUR DESCRIPTION OF "A GOOD FRIEND?"

In my book, a good friend is someone that is loyal, trustworthy, compassionate, caring and honest. Does both listening and talking. Knows I don't always have perfect days and still loves me despite my faults. Encourages me to be my best. Accepts me for who I am. And is always there for me no matter what! Puts family first - always! Lives life with the cup half full and not half empty. Isn't afraid to tell me what's on their mind. If there's a problem, we resolve it and move on. Loves to laugh and have fun.

I grew up on the shy side so I think that plays a part in me choosing to rather have fewer good friends than tons of acquaintances. That doesn't mean I'm not up for meeting and having new friends. I enjoy meeting new people. I just notice that a "good friend" is sometimes hard to come by. Being a friend takes work just like everything else that is worth while. And I am truly thankful for all of my friends!

Here are some of my favorite quotes about friendship (sorry, I couldn't pick just one, but 17 IS my favorite number!) :

* A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. ~Marvin J. Ashton

* We have stitched together, laughed together, shared our secrets and eased our burdens. This is friendship. ~Unknown

* Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else. ~Judy Garland

* Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind. ~Dr. Suess

That's What I Call A Friend

One whose grip is a little tighter,
One whose smile is a little brighter,
One whose deeds are a little whiter,
That's what I call a friend.

One who'll lend as quick as he'll borrow,
One who's the same today and tomorrow,
One who will share your joy - and sorrow,
That's what I call a friend.

One who's thoughts are a little cleaner,
One whose mind is a little keener,
One who avoids those things that are meaner,
That's what I call a friend.

One when you're gone will miss you sadly,
One who'll welcome you back again gladly,
One who, though angered, will not speak madly,
That's what I call a friend.

One who is always willing to aid you,
One whose advice has always paid you,
One who's defended when others flayed you,
That's what I call a friend.

One who's been fine when life seemed rotten,
One whose ideals you have not forgotten,
One who has given you more than he's gotten,
That's what I call a friend.
~John Burroughs

* Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally.
~Leo Buscaglia

* Cookies and friends ~ They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Some are soft and sugar-coated. Some are snappy and full of ginger and some are just plain nutty. We can treat ourselves to many different kinds - and there is ALWAYS room for one more. ~Unknown

* A true friend knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes. ~Unknown

* A good friend is a connection to life, a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~Lois Wyse

* Friends - they are kind to each other's hopes. They cherish each other's dreams.
~Henry David Thoreau

* Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.
~Ed Cunningham

* The best thing to give your friend is your heart. ~John Balfour

* She who pushes you closer to God, she is your friend. ~Unknown

The Making Of Friends

If nobody smiled and nobody cheered
and nobody helped us along,
If each, every minute, looked after himself
and good things all went to the strong,
If nobody cared just a little for you,
and nobody thought about me,
And we all stood alone in the battle of life,
What a dreary old life this would be!

Life is sweet because of the friends we have made
And the things which in common we share;
We want to live on, not because of ourselves,
But because of the people who care.

It's giving and doing for somebody else -
On that, all life's splendor depends,
And the joy of this world, when you've summed it all up,
Is found in the making of friends.
~Edgar A. Guest

* You meet many people in your life. But only true friends leave their footprints on your heart. ~Unknown

* Change your relationships by changing yourself. ~Unknown

* What made us friends in the long ago; when we first met,
I think I know; the best in me and the best in you;
Hailed each other because they knew;
That always and always since life began;
Our being friends was part of God's plan.
~Unknown

Memory Monday

With Andrew's surgery today among getting ready for his birthday and the holidays coming up, I decided to make this an easy Memory Monday. One that requires little to no effort on my part. But still a fun one that I'd like to share with you.

The other day, John and I were discussing the shows we each watched as we grew up and I happened to make a list of my own. Upon completion, I couldn't believe how crowded the paper was - full of tv show titles. I was shocked to be quite honest! I was thinking, "How in the WORLD did I have time to watch these shows? I grew up riding my bike, climbing trees, building forts, doing homework, playing in the sprinkler, etc. - I just KNOW I wasn't sitting in front of the tv glued to the screen!"

But then the thought occured to me.

Oh yeah!

This was over a period of almost two decades!!!

(It was a fun walk down memory lane!)

Some of these shows I actually miss compared to what's on nowadays. And some I do not!

Enjoy my very long list! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Funniest Home Videos, Family Ties, Little House on the Prairie, Our House, Home Improvement, Full House, The Cosby Show, Beverly Hills 90210, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Charles In Charge, Different Strokes, The Jetsons, The Smurfs, Carebears, Roseanne, The Flintstones, The Golden Girls, Dinosaurs, The Brady Bunch, Threes Company, Blossom, The Love Boat, Cheers, Alf, Growing Pains, Benson, The Facts of Life, Doogie Houser, Saved By The Bell, 7th Heaven, Punky Brewster, Leave It To Beaver, Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry (and any other Saturday Morning cartoons!), Matlock, Night Court, Who's The Boss, Alvin & The Chipmunks, McIvor, A-Team, Baywatch, Life Goes On, Party of Five, Muppets, Inspector Gadget and Sesame Street.

Memory Monday

WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS DO YOU MOST ADMIRE ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE?

Where do I start? I feel that there are so many to list! For starters, he's always been my friend since the day we met in college. And from there, it's just gotten better and better with each passing day. Sure, lots of challenges included. But he can turn a rainy day situation into a rainbow. He's not only a great husband and best friend but he's a great father too! And I love him more watching him love our children. He always finds the good in any situation. He's genuinely patient. Loyal. Trustworthy. Funny. Caring. Loving. Responsible. Helps a stranger or neighbor at the drop of a hat. Is handy around the house getting various projects done to beautify and magnify our home. Makes me smile when I'm down. Supports me being a stay at home mother. Encourages me to keep my interests and hobbies despite the ever growing demand of things on my plate as a wife and mother. Loves me for who I am. Helps me to be my best. Kisses me first when he comes through the door from work. He is seriously the best husband and best friend I could ever ask for! And I'm so thankful that I call him mine!

Memory Monday & The Tree

I found this idea from a fellow blogger, Heather at unwrapped, awhile back and thought it would be fun to start up. So here it goes!

What is your earliest memory?
I really had a hard time deciding which memory was the earliest, so I'll just mention a few that comes to mind:

1. Going to the movies as a young girl with my Grandparents to see Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. Yes - on the BIG screen.

2. Sitting in my high chair and ripping out the pages to the Readers Digest and tossing them onto the floor and then proceeded by pouring my orange juice on top of the pages. All the while my Mom was locked out of the house by accident and tried to get my attention to open the door. Seems I was a little conveniently preoccupied! And boy was I in TROUBLE!!

3. Falling into my kindergarten's classroom lego box as we were all supposed to have a seat on the FLOOR for story time. Very embarrassing! Especially being the shy girl that I was.

4. I was getting off the school bus one afternoon when I was in kindergarten and an older student (4th or 5th grader) at my stop told me: "Hey little girl, don't bother going home because your Mom and Dad are dead!!" I ran home in tears! Gee, I wonder why I remember that. Maybe because it was a tragic thing to hear being only 5? Kids sure can be cruel sometimes!

5. Learning to tie my shoes. Going from velcro to shoelace is a huge deal! :)

6. Falling off the back of our couch while I was trying to imitate how our dog did it - apparently it was a little bit more difficult than it looked.

7. My Dad driving us around the yard in a wheelbarrow for fun.

8. My Mom made these yummy layered cakes for our birthdays!

9. I tried copying the way my Dad fell asleep every once in awhile by covering up my face with a magazine (my teddy bear worked too!) and here is a picture of me doing just that. Amazingly it worked and I passed out asleep with no problem!

AND...Last, but certainly not least...

10. Getting busted trying on my Mom's make-up and then throwing her make-up into the toilet. My Dad thought it was funny and I'm pretty sure I owe him for saving my life. (Sorry Mom...you forgive me now, don't you? Just cover your eyes when you see this picture and say YES!!) :)

So it appears that some of my earliest memories include falling, getting embarrassed or being frightened but I still remember them like they were yesterday. And most of them were very fond memories. Check back next week for another Memory Monday.

Tonight our family put up our Christmas tree. This year though, we're thinking of not decorating due to one major (and very good!) reason...

I think wrapping gifts and placing them under the tree will have to wait a bit as well!

I love how he's just sitting here mesmerized by the lights! How cute!

We had a blast putting the tree up for Family Home Evening and loved sitting by the tree watching the twinkling lights. I think we're going to get some ribbon to decorate it up a bit. I'm not used to starring at a bare tree. The spirit of Christmas is finally here! Music playing throughout the house, Nativity Scene displayed on the hall table, Eggnog in the fridge (or in John's stomach!) and a list of things to do for the 25 days of Christmas. One of which is to donate new toys to toysfortots - the kids just LOVE the idea of giving to those that are less fortunate. And really, giving is what it's all about: the TRUE meaning of Christmas.