wordless wednesday:pilots

Day at the Domain

Make a wish!



Can you catch the water?!



Peacock bench
-- Post From Kelly's iPhone via BlogPress

Religion

When you marry someone who is a different faith or religion than you, how do you raise your kids?

What role do Jesus and God have in your home when you blend the two religions?

Can you even blend the two?

Growing up Catholic, for me, was always questionable. I remember from an early time in my life questioning the things I heard in mass, or didn't hear because my parents were just trying to keep me entertained since there was no Sunday School.

I didn't enjoy church. I've never enjoyed being told what to do or how to feel.

And for me, that's the Catholic Church. I think going to a Catholic High School, really made me question a lot. Does Jesus really care what I wear to school or church? NO! It's just another way for the authority to tell me what to do.

I preferred to go with my friends to their churches that had Sunday School. It was not just fun, but I learned more about Jesus and God on those Sunday's than on days I'd go to Mass. Luckily, I had parents that were open to letting my brother and I explore those other churches and see how we felt. I never had pressure to always be Catholic from them. My parents wanted us to know Jesus and God and love them and lean on them in times of need.

Marrying someone who was not Catholic was perfectly fine with my parents. My hardcore Catholic grandma, not so much!

When we got married, in the Catholic church, there were mixed emotions to say the least. I wanted to get married in that specific church, not because it was Catholic, but because that's the church my parents were married, and my father's funeral was. And for me, that was enough reason.

Craig and I knew that we were not going to raise our kids Catholic. I just didn't believe in it enough to do it. So, when they were babies, we had them babtized in his Lutheran church. We started taking Drew to Sunday School, but something was still missing for us.

I yearned for a relationship with God. I had accepted Jesus many years ago, but we still weren't going to church, and we just kept making excuses.

I believe that people are placed in your life at certain times for a reason.

When I met my good friend Julie, just 2 years ago, she was just what I needed. We work together and she brought so much joy and light to my life. She helped me get through a lot and still continues that today. She was telling me about her church (Christian, bible based) and I was very intrigued. Still wasn't going, but very intrigued. Then this summer, something clicked....

Julie introduced me to my new church family and didn't even know she was! We have now been going to this new church for 2 weeks and I feel so good! I'm reading the bible and studying it for what seems like the first time in my life. I love the people, the sermons, love love the kids programs. My boys are loving church and their services, which are at the same time as ours. It's a great church. It's so refreshing to feel welcome and not judged.

I've met a mentor in Jennifer, whom I met only 2 weeks ago, and know so much about and just love her life story and think she's an awesome person.

I was really wanting a change in school for this coming year. I didn't get the change I was looking for, instead a small change will have to do. It's not my time to have such a big change. And I know that my new church family is going to help me through this upcoming school year and the many challenges that I will face in and out of the classroom.

I'm so happy and excited for my family and this new adventure in learning more about God and Jesus.

Religion can be a touchy subject, but it shouldn't be. We should be able to choose our religion or faith practices and not be judged by another religion, or family/friends.

Clean Kitchen

Ok. So, I might have a problem. I cleaned/organized my pantry yesterday. In turn, that made my fridge top clean and counters cleaner. Less junk. Those that know me well, know that I absolutely hate things on top of the fridge and ad far as the counters go, less is best. I hate clutter, it's why I don't collect things!
My pantry had become out of control, and I had to do something about it.
So, yesterday while Dylan napped, Drew and I went to work. We threw out a sad amount of foods, rearranged each shelf and organized. Stuff from the fridge and counter now fit, or they were thrown out too.
Now, I'm not embarrassed for anyone to see my kitchen. I love a clean kitchen. And it better stay this way!



It's so clean and organized now, it's actually a walk-in pantry!
See that basket on the bottom left of pantry...



It used to be next to the toaster and it drove me crazy! The Hebbe tile was by the sink, which also drove me crazy. Now, this counter looks much better.



Top of fridge completely empty, just like it's supposed to be!



Other counter has only what needs to be there. The basket to the left of the stove got a good purging yesterday too!



View from living room. That's what a bar should look like all the time. Even if it's too small for stools and really is just a big opening---thanks Lennar.
I know this might make me sound more OCD than normal, but I'm ok with that!
-- Post From Kelly's iPhone via BlogPress

Wordless Wednesday: ice cream mustaches

-- Post From Kelly's iPhone via BlogPress

Firefighters at the local library

We have been going to the local library weekly this summer. Yes, I'm proud of myself for making this commitment, and the boys are loving it. And it's really nice on days like this, when there is a presentation.

Today was Fire Safety day!

It was so good. Fireman Tim and Fireman Ron were the presenters. Every kiddo got a sticker. Fireman Tim got all dressed up step by step to show us what they look like when they are in a fire. My boys did great! They thought it was the coolest thing. Right now, Dylan wants to be a firefighter and Drew still wants to be a trashman!

the boys are reading some books before we leave. We of course got mostly firefighter/fire house/fire dogs/fire trucks books!

Fireman Tim showing us his boots and pants.




boots, pants, jacket on. showing us his mask.

Mask is on and this is where some kids started to cry.

ok, now he has all his gear on and was showing us his heat detecing camera!

he came into the crowd down on his knees and went to every kid and they all touched him and he was talking to them thru his mask.

AWESOME presentation Fireman Tim! Thanks so much for everything you do!

Dylan wanted to see his equipment up close!


then they let all the kids go out to the firetruck!


I always make them take a picture by the tire!

Thanks to all firemen everywhere and their families!

Go thank a fireman today! Take some cupcakes or coffee your local fire house and just say "Thanks!"

Wordless Wednesday:gymnastics

-- Post From Kelly's iPhone via BlogPress

Out of ideas

Ok. Time for some fun foods around here. I'm always trying to find new things to cook for the boys. Clever disguises of foods.


I've used this cookbook for years. It has some good stuff but also some stuff that I won't even try!
So to the kids cookbooks we go!
I sat down with the following cookbooks with the boys this am and made a grocery list. They will help me cook and bake the things they picked.



Found lots of things in here. I bought this at our schools book fair in the spring.



Drew's young chef's academy classes.



And this had some cute things too!
Of course, they picked more sweet treats than anything else!
So, if you see us at the grocery store over the next few weeks, make sure you ask us what we're cooking/baking!
-- Post From Kelly's iPhone via BlogPress

Tour of Schlotzsky's

on our very recent trip up to Waco, we stayed with some dear friends of mine. I used to babysit their boys (who are now 14 & 18!) and we have kept in touch and stayed in their beautiful house.

It was Dylan's first time there and Drew's in a long time. They have a pool, so we went swimming Friday night! oh, night swimming! The boys thought this was so cool! Both boys jumped off the diving board, a first for both of them! And they thought this was the coolest pool in the world!

My boys were excited to be in a big 2 story house.

The next morning, we woke up and had a Cinnabon for breakfast and went straight back to the pool! Then, we all got dressed and Kristen took us to one of the Schlotzsky's (they own both in Waco) to show the boys the inside workings of the restuarant. Oh. My. Gosh. This made the trip! I swear, the boys LOVE Schlotzksy's and we eat there at least once a week during the summer! As soon as we got there, she asked someone to put in 2 cheese pizzas for the boys!

how the soda machine works! I learned something about that!

Here, we are all standing in the refrigerator, looking into the freezer!

Fresh Buns!

making our pizzas!

Kristen took the boys back behind the cash register to pick their chips!




Boys eating their BEST pizzas ever! Made specially just for them with love from the Waco Schlotzsky's folks!

This really felt like a mini-vacay!

Thanks Pool's for your amazing hospitality! We love ya'll!