My Journal It's Monday!

It's Monday! 

Can you guess why I am writing in green instead of my red?

That's right it's St. Paddy's week!

 

I am hiding right now from what I know I should be working on! 

My kido's are still a sleep after a big weekend!

Which is another reason I love home school! 

They are getting what they need right at this minute and in a bit when they wake up and feel rested. They will still be able to get in a full school day!

This week is busy! So keep stopping by! 

We have a lot to share!

See you soon!

Can you count how many fish there are?

Another photo from my trip to Hawaii

 

My Journal Long week Lots of Great Projects!

Hi Friends!

It has been a long week with lots of great projects! I have to say the taste of warm weather Mother nature gave me lit a warm fire in my under parts! Because I am giving my home a slight make over with some TLC!

Can't wait to show you what I have been up too!

As for today it's cold again!
And I am wishing I was back here in my warm Hawaii! 

This is the port where our Catermaran docked in and out of during our outing. More on that another day!

For now, Enjoy the view!

My Journal My Travels to Pete's New Haven Style pizza

If you are apart of my family growing up pizza was it's own food group!

My very first job out side of baby sitting was working for the famous Restaurant Rossini's Pizza in Cheshire,Ct. 

http://www.cheshirerossini.com/ 

They were the real deal when it came to Italian food. They still are and still yummy!

I lived for my night I worked there! At the end of my shift the owner Ralphie would always send me home with a pie all my own with what ever I wanted on it! 

When I became gluten intolerant 1o years ago, I had the shock that I would no longer be able to eat at my Rosinni's any longer.

Now, I have found an answer to my search!

http://petesapizza.com/clarendon.html

 They have gluten free pizza! 

It was delicious! 

What an amazing! 

Artichokes, pepperoni and onions, just the way I love it!

Southern Man ordered 4 more of these to take home for me! I wrapped them slice by slice and froze them. I had them for great quick meals. It last me almost 2 weeks! Yes I ate for 2 out of me 3 meals a day! I had not had pizza like this in 10 years! I could not help myself!!

 See our family style cozy booth! What a great time we had there! Good food, good music, great service!

This resturant was amazing! Even the soda was healthy!

Corn Syrup free!!

Pete's prides themselves on great service and healthy choices!

There were a ton of cute shops to explore and the neighborhood was friendly and clean!

This was a great family day adventure!

 

My Journal My Daughter's Song!

The other day, my little girl and I were waiting around for her Daddy(Southern Man) to arrive home and kill those few minutes before we sat down to dinner. She was so ancy for dinner. So I decide to seize the moment and write her a song to occupy her mind.

There we were two silly girls, singing along to the words we were coming up with to make her song. We were having so much fun.

Yesterday on a trip to the dentist, I heard her sweet voice coming from the back seat of my suv singing her sweet song. She was so proud! I started singing along with her.

We had a dear friend traveling with us and she was so tickled to hear the song we had come up with.

We are having our quite time after lunch right now. I sat down to write to all of you and what did I hear coming from her room, but the sweet song she had made for me....

"Mom, Mom, I love you Mom!"I love, I love, I love you all the time. Mom, Mom I lovvvvvve you!, Oh Mom, I love you".

I am sooo holding back the tears right now! Her sweet amazing voice just made my heart grow twice in size!

My Journal

Happy Thanksgiving 

from our home 

to yours!!

Coloring pages make great place mats! 
Here's a link!

 http://www.coloring-pages-kids.com/coloring-pages/holiday-season-coloring-pages/thanksgiving-coloring-pages/thanksgiving-coloring-pages-images/thanksgiving-coloring-page-14.php

I always set these as place mats for my children with a fresh box of crayons. So when they are done eating the holiday meal they can still sit with us and enjoy their family!

A few tips for smoother timing!

1.Monday,buy your flowers today and make your arrangements

2.Monday, do all your cleaning and check your napkin count and place settings

3. Tuesday, do all your food shopping that is left for last minute

4. Wednesday, do all your baking. Prep what ever you can for the next day. Lay out all the special outfits for your family for the big day!

5.Wednesday evening, Set your table, Paint your nails and watch a relaxing movie, with your hubby!

6. Thursday, TURKEY DAY, watch the Macy's day parade! Enjoy the day and don't stress. You want to look back and remember smiles, not tears!! 

Many Blessing from our home to yours!

My Journal Holiday Shopping Tips

Hello Friends!

I can not believe I am in the mitts of preparing my home for Thanksgiving next week and my son's sixth birthday. 

This year has just flown bye!!

I think I am a rare shopper, however I never stop or start my Holiday shopping. I have never felt the stress of holiday shopping, because I shop all year long for this time of year.

I am blessed to have a very large family!! Aside from my core unit as a wife and mother. I come from 3 brothers and two step siblings I am very close too. Not to mention my massive amounts of cousins who are more like my siblings then cousins. 

So I am in constant preparation, I don't wrap gifts until November first. As soon as the Hallmark wrapping paper appears for the holidays!

That is my first shopping tip!

1. Hallmark wrapping paper is buy one get for for $.99! You read that right!  It is the sturdiest paper I have ever found, because poor Southern Man, bless his heart has dropped a few gifts in his day when loading up our SUV for holiday visit. And you NEVER can tell when it happens, great paper!

2. When you shop, check out the clearance and sale selections first! You will be shocked what you can find there!! I love landsend, overstock section, LLbean, free shipping and their sales too!! 

3. Sign up for emails, I have gotten a ton of coupon codes and free shipping offers!

4. Make your self a coupon bag out of a clear plastic bag to stick in your purse or keep in your vehicle and be disciplined about keeping them there, you would be surprised how much you can save!  

5. Your gift boxes are usually given away for free at department stores with your purchase, make sure you ask. If not shop at the dollar store for them! 

6. When you are online shopping make sure your email address is not the same for order confirmations that it is for your account information to your credit cards you are using to shop with. Always print out your order confirmation to keep as proof and for returns! 

6. Watch the flyers for sales!

Happy Shopping!! Be safe! Online shopping is always the best!!

Blessings,

My Journal Blessings, Protecting our children

I have found a great new site I want to share!

For many of you that have children that have food alergies, sending them out into the world, to activities,play dates,church groups,sporting events,travel and so much more, can be frightening at times. They may come in contact with food they are alergic to. And what if you are not there to go into rescue mode.

I have found this great new site with kids Friendly alert bracelet's! They act as great communicators in case your child forgets too, is to young too or you are not there.

Our on are the way now. 

I can't wait to share them with you!

For now, check out this amazing site and see if it fits your families needs. I think it just may!

www.allerbling.com

My Journal My Little Monkeys

My Journal

Hello Gorgeous!  

My new site is up and running!

What do you think??

The designer is still working out her kinks. 

I am loving my new style!

Cheers!

My Journal More Blessings from the week

Here I am again!! I just love you guys so much I made some extra time for my blog buddies! 

I want to touch some more on this week unexpected blessings. An abundance of acts of love and kindness I have experienced this week. I truly am in awe of the friendships I have made this past year.

I do not know what I would do with out the love and support of my home school net work. I have a special set of friends that I have a weekly gathering and not only are the children becoming a "pack", so are the Mommies. 

I would like to thank my special gals for blessing me with their friendship this week. It has meant so much to me with the journey we began this past summer, in the official registered home school community. 

This week one of those gals who is very talented blessed our group with an unexpected treasure. 

Her home made head bands. This is just gorgeous! To my talented friend I apologize for not molding it, however I am NOT in model form this evening. 

Thank you again ladies for your friendship and kindness!

Blessings,

Cynthia

My Journal Phat Straps

This week is turning out to be amazing!! And filled with treasures!! I am not going to relieve them all at once.

I started my week out as Mrs. GRUMPY PANTS!! Then the Lord quickly showed me that was NOT how it was going to roll out!! Not all these treasures are material ones some are just acts of love. Which I will also write about at a later date!


Now onto today. When Southern Man went to our mail box this is one of the treasures that he found. He brought it back to "spencer" our truck and proceed to hand the mail to is calm wife. Until I saw this box then I gave him one of my very powerful girlie screeches that he sooo loves and proceed to tare into this package like it was Christmas Morning!!

"And what did my wondering eye appear..." My very first flare for my blog!

It is my brand new camera strap!! From http://www.phatstraps.com/  I ordered it customized with my blog name!

So look for me around with my famous shot:

You will regonize me because I will be staring at you in this pose with my new camera strap on from the back!! 

See you soon!
Cynthia

My Journal

Rock, Paper, Scissor shoot!


Ever have one of those moments as a parent?? Rock, Paper, Scissors shoot!

Yes, I confess my Southern Man and I have those moments. At the end of a very lonnnnnng day when you don't feel like you can get your body back out of bed we play the traditional game of who will get up and tend to our sweet loving babies. 

We of course settle this match with the best two out of three. I always win too. Southern Man still has not figured out that I use the same strategy each time. He will for sure though after he reads this!

Rock, Rock, Paper!! He always uses, Rock, Siccors, Paper. Thinking I will use rock again and paper covers, rock!


He cracks me up!!

I also have to say our sweet little girl thinks we are "one"  Person! It always comes out when she speaks to us or calls for us..."MOMDAD!"

It is just so precious!!

Love you Southern Man!!

Cynthia

My Journal Sharing Sisters

I am so very blessed with two of the most amazing daughters. God sent me my first daughter when I met my Southern Man. She was almost three years old at the time and full of life.

The only girly item's she had to her sweet name was a purple powder puff's girls purse and one pink match box car.

Of course you can imagine my horror, now I do not blame Southern Man at all. He is a man and did not know what almost three year old little girls needed.

So of course you can imagine the amount of shopping that occurred after I was made aware of the situation. The first item of business was to purchase a lovely floral plastic tea set for four. Following the purchase we had a tea party immediately with Ritz crackers, vanilla wafers and the finest bathroom tap water.

The shopping did not end there. We went on the purchase one of the largest Fisher Price doll house collections, my Little Poney and many more wonderful girly toy collections.


Now this sweet little girl grew and around age 6 God blessed us with a sweet baby to come. My sweet daughter for months watched my tummy grow and prayed God had sent her a sister. Now Southern Man was sure, that God had sent us a sister and convinced my young step-daughter that she would have a play mate very soon that enjoyed her same interest. 


Well ultra sound day came. And before the appointment my very proud girly told her entire Kindgarden class she was going to see her sister in her Step-Mom's belly and would bring back a photo to share. So we all piled into the ultra sound room,Southern Man, my step-daughter beaming from ear to ear and my strapping proud step-son. And there we all cling ed to the ultra sound screen waiting to see what God had sent us. Well that darling ultra-sound tec looked over at all of our faces while listening to Southern Man assure my sweet girlie that she was getting a sister, no worries. 


Well as we heard the word's it's a BOY, the tears rushed down my face and step-son jumped for joy and said one for his team. Southern Man's face dropped and turned white and my sweet girl yelled out a fierce,"what? Daddy, you promised I was getting a sister!!,How did this happen?? Is there another baby in there???"


The ultra-sound tec burst into laughter, and so did I. My poor Southern Man looked in horror at our poor sweet kindergartner. Well that poor child also experienced great laughter from her teacher when she returned to school that afternoon with a photo of her new baby brother. 

Month's later that baby brother arrived and my sweet girl did not even mention a sister again, she loved that baby like it was her own and they have a bond that is unbreakable.


A few years later God, blessed my sweet girl at the age of 9 with a baby sister all her own. And boy did that 9 year old bless her baby sister. There was months of shopping for her, just in clothes. Not to mention all the extra kisses that baby sister got.

Now these sister's are more then just sister's, they are sharing sisters. My now 12 year old make's sure her sister has all the most important item's of being a girl. A long with as many matching clothes as they can have. Right down to the socks. 

Just today my sweet girl passed down to her baby sister her doll house collection. What a moment that was. They also made a shopping trip to our local Target to get another round of matching socks. 

I am so blessed by these very sweet sharing sisters!!

Cynthia

My Journal A field trip with the Lord in the Court Room

I have this dear friend Miss Patty and she likes to say I am a good Shepperd because I take my faith with me everywhere.


Today I was given an opportunity to send God's word into a court room filled with people and had there attention. Walking out of there after that experience I felt like I was walking on water. I had more strength then I had ever felt. My two year old who I had on hip, who usually wears me out with her extreme 99% on the growth charts felt lighter then air on my hip.


I showed forgiveness, love, and God's strong message to an alcoholic who hit my vehicle drunk a few months back.On a suspended licenses to begin with from alcohol abuse..


I had the Judge in aw, with my grace and compassion. It felt amazing. And so proud to testify in front of my children God's strength and forgiveness.


I got to show that broken alcoholic that they had more worth then what they had gotten themselves  into.


I pray that they ask God to be apart of their life and get past their disease.

My Journal-Southern Man's Smell

(I did not take this photo, however I think it sets the mood quite well..)

Southern Man has this smell to him, it is not always there it only appears at certain times. When it does appear it sends my body into animal reactions. I can not help myself, it makes passion inside me that I can not control. Then he adds his amazing Southern Charm and away I go into another universe where I am no longer the clear and level headed Mommy that governs this home.
I become gitty, fluttering, tiger. A little music, some soft light, close dancing and this amazing aroma that my Southern Man's body exudes and well... Get those children off to bed..


This is a family friendly site so...I think we Mommies know where this is going...

Have you stopped and smelled your man?? You might be surprised!!
Cynthia
 

My Journal Treasures in my home

There are a few things in my home that I am absolutely in love with. Here is a photo of two of them.

1. My Chandler in my kitchen. My Southern Man bought this for me the night we closed on our first home purchase.

2. My vintage white washed table. I got from a very special store. 

My Chandler is just so special to me. My Southern Man spent over two hours in Lowes helping me pick it out. It has those pineapple looking bulbs in it and for now off white hats. When we move to our farm house I am going to get more detailed ones to match the decor to our new dining area. 

My vintage white washed table took me over a year to find. I had what I wanted in my mind but could not find it anywhere. When I did I new the moment I saw it that is was perfect for our dinning area. The lady that restored the table is so very sweet. Her name is Joy and she brought me such joy with this table and the fact that she added a special coating to protect it from my children.

What are some special treasures you have in your home?

Blessing,

Cynthia

My Journal Disney Princesses on Ice

One Magical Evening on Ice!

This weekend Southern Man took us to Disney Princess on Ice. We had all four of our children. Marmie and Aunt La also joined our family adventure.

It was an enchanted evening to say the least. There were tears, singing, clapping, dancing, shaking of the butt, and much cheering!!

Years ago when our teen and pre-teen were young we did not have the advantage to take them to events like this. We had an unexpected blessing through my husbands many hats that he wears.Our blessing also came with unbelievable seats. Just a few rows up from all the action on the ice. 

The fairy dust out of Tinker Bells wand was flying and even the too cool for words teenager was smiling at the end!!

This morning I caught our teen wearing his mouse ears in the kitchen!!

Our 5 year old little man was taken back bye the amazing special affects they used. Our 2 year old was loving he music and dancing in the isle ways. Our pre-teen was excited to say the least and requested another visit very soon!!

Marmie and her sister Aunt La we reliving their own Disney memories from when they help to christened Walt Disney World when it opened, oh so many years ago. 

And Southern Man and I ended the magical evening with a Romantic Kiss!!

Cynthia

 

My Journal-My Family, My brother the Captain!

My brother the Captain. He is not, "my captain" Southern Man is "my captain", but my brother is a Captain. I am so very proud of him. He is younger then me and has come so far in his career. Last year I went to his flight school graduation. It was too funny to see him all dressed up in his flight suit.

When we were kids we use to dress up and fly lots of places in our cardboard airplanes. However I NEVER let him drive when we played in our imaginary planes and cars. I guess you could say, in my weird mind I wonder, if that maybe one of the reasons,  I think that is why he loves flying so much now because he finally gets to be in charge:)

When I went to his graduation I got to sit in one of the machines he flies in,I am not going to tell you  which one, because that is life as a military family member:) So there we were sitting in that big powerful machine he flies around and in some imaginary way I was almost waiting for it to take off and he finally gets his turn to fly me around:)

He is a very good Uncle to all my kids. I have to remind him of birthdays and assists him with picking out gifts, but what man does not need help in that area?? The point is he tries. He gives it the old college try. I could not be more proud of him!!



Here we are sledding on our old childhood hill this past Christmas.If you look closely you can see another one of my brothers in the back round who was laughing at Southern Man, his brother in law going down our hill backwards:)

Someday I hope he makes me an Aunt like I made him an Uncle! I am getting older now and I would like the fun of playing with a baby I do not have to wake up with in the middle of the night. For now though he has provided me with his dog "Bullet" , I love my dog nephew. He gives me just the right amount of dog nephew kisses!! All though I have to say, I am NOT allowed to give him gum,urrg. I can not wait to give a niece or nephew gum!!

Ok, so back to my kid(not so Kid anymore) brother!! Like I said, I am just so proud of him:) Love you, BUD!!

Please pray for him he is one of the many wonderful people serving our country and helping other countries to build values and freedoms like the ones we are blessed with in our America.
Blesssing,
Cynthia

My Journal-How Do you Say, I LOVE YOU???

How do you say, I love you? Valentines Day is closely approaching and I have been making sweet little gifts and cards with my children to celebrate this day. A tradition that my Southern Man and I started for Valentines Day with our children is, I buy a bunch of balloons every year.

From our local dollar store some that say I love, you. I also buy a few blank hearts in different colors.

This year I choose red. Then my Southern Man and I take a sharpie marker and write a message to each child on a balloon and tie it to the chair they sit in at our dinning table. The children all love this tradition. Even the 14 year old still gets a kick out of it.

How will you say I love you, this Valentines?

Cynthia

My Journal-More Snow??

Well they are calling for more snow. I am not sure how I feel about that.

 I get so excited every year for the first snow fall. I make cookies and coco. Sometimes I even feel the aroma of a good stew coming from my croc-pot.

However, we enter February in the morning and I know it is still winter, however I feel the desire for spring.

Are you ready for more snow??

Talk to me,

Cynthia