#greatproblemtohave

This was going to be a post about how the kids asked if they could earn money, so we brainstormed chores they can do to earn said money.  We're on payday #3 (started Spring Break) and so far, it's working great.  They're working hard!  Now, it means the bathroom gets a bit dirtier than I like before Kayci cleans it, and the dusting is about 90% awesome when Noble finishes...but seriously, what a great problem to have!  I would note that they take care of their "regular" responsibilities for free--some things are just part of being part of a family.  These are extra jobs that I normally do that they are taking on for pay.  :)

Scenes from Spring Break...

I never went back and filled in the text for this one...we had so much fun with Lynn & her family at the end of Spring Break. Seeing them two days in a row was priceless!

day 13 + 14

I'm going to cheat and not only combine the post, but combine the photos.  It was too easy to pass up!

day 13:  a favorite place + day 14:  living thing

Here are 2 of my favorite living things hanging out (as they love to do each morning during quiet time) in my favorite place, our bedroom.  I try to keep our bedroom clean and clutter-free so we can relax in here, but not doing laundry for a week equals a mountain of laundry.  You can also see the crap that hides behind our door when the door is open, but that's okay--we're good enough friends that you can see my messes.  And my dirty coffee cup.  And the receipts I need to file, because we are SERIOUSLY tracking our expenses this pay period.  (Did I tell y'all we're going through Financial Peace again?  I'm excited...we have a different focus this time, and it's nice not to feel like we're at the end of our rope.  Now if only that nice down payment would just save itself...)

I'm very grateful to be in Brenham today instead of on the road.  I'm grateful for our growing Children's Ministry, even though it means unexpected work this week.  I'm grateful for time with my Clarkson family this weekend, and Easter traditions.  I'm grateful for some much-needed time with my Boy.  I'm grateful for time to serve on the kids' PTOs, and for a job that pays well but allows flexibility for me to do things during the school day.  I'm grateful for that job that I still love after all these years.   I'm grateful for the Love Language Minute devotional that I'm reading through for the 4th year in a row, and how it still ministers to me day after day.  I'm grateful for friends, old and new, for my church family and for my real family.  I'm grateful for how God heals, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I'm just...grateful.  It's a good way to go into a Monday!

days 11 + 12

day 11: outside

Finally, finally...this year, the bluebonnets DaddyBoy & the kids planted are GROWING!  It's just a few in a flowerbed desperately in need of some work, but it makes my knuckleheads so happy to know that finally, they had a good bluebonnet year.  It's the little things, y'all.

day 12:  I ate...

...fair food!  Yep, that's right.  I'm classy like that!  We went to the Bluebonnet Festival in Chappell Hill just to eat junk food for lunch.  In a word?  YUM!  It was overcast, and I feel like a big dummy because we all got sunburned (not very Kristi-like!).  But, it was a day that we spent time with just the 4 of us (hasn't happened in a while--it's been crazier than usual this past month) doing things that make us happy.  Spending time outside, playing with Daddy (Noble), shopping with Mommy (Kayci), and eating fair food (all of us!).  Oh, and the nap afterward was LEGENDARY.  

day 10: photo of a photo

Before we left for Disneyland (in December), I spent way too much money on Disney printables that were supposed to be compatible with Project Life.

I bought a binder and scrapbook pages.

We came home, and I immediately printed all of our photos and organized them chronologically.

And put them on my desk so I'd finish the project.

Several weeks went by, and we finally printed the printables. Several more weeks went by, and I finally started cutting out the printables. And whatever sorry wind was in my sails, barely moving this boat, went away. The printables aren't quite 3x4 and 4x6. Sigh. So now I'll have to mount them on cardstock...adding another step to this process.

The good news? Last week I
decided to get back to it and start plugging away. So that's what I'm doing right now, cutting printables. And blogging this photo of a stack of photos.


PS--my hope is to do the Disney album whenever Lynn & I have our girls getaway weekend. Fingers crossed!

days 8 & 9

day 8: ground level

I didn't get a picture, but this one was in my mind yesterday as I took my in-laws to their orthopedic surgeon for follow-up appointments. They're adjusting well to temporary life in wheelchairs, but we're all grateful they have a one-story house!

day 9: collection



I snapped this for James when we went to the credit union this afternoon. These shirts from Aunt Peggy are the latest in the boys' collection of matching clothes...Noble loves, loves to be like Daddy!!

day 7: green

A while back, I read this by Becky Higgins, and it answered a question I've been asking myself for years:

http://beckyhiggins.com/we-noticed-a-mothers-journal/

The very next day, I went out and bought 2 cute journals. And the very next day after that, I went back and exchanged them for cuter, more durable journals as Kayci's ripped when I took the label off...how on earth would that last until she's grown? Sigh.


Now every morning during my quiet time, I jot down something about our life or something I love or something funny or sweet they did...and I love every minute of it. I even have one for my big Boy--it's good therapy to start my day appreciating him, y'all. I highly recommend it!


Yes, I'm wearing Nick & Noras with cats on them from...geez...6? years ago. And yes, I'm having quiet time on the couch as my bed is full of knuckleheads. James is on his last day of two rounds of work travel, and I'm so ready for him to be home and slow down. As for me, I'm off to work after I drop off kids. I think I'm already ready for a nap!