Best Seafood Ever!

Our Friend Mark sent us a generous amount of seafood

around Christmas this year. we were so excited to eat some of the goodness.

We invited The Grabers for lunch because they love seafood along with us!

Joe made celery with peanut butter, a favorite premeal treat of the Grabers.

The swordfish.

Oh my word.  It was amazing.

I am forever sold on it.

Now, this was good quality seafood, so it may have me spoiled.

And this boy, he was head over heals for it as well!

He kept asking for more.

Followed by sequence

And superhero dress up

Thank you, thank you Mark and Nicole for the delicious seafood.

We are spoiled now, for sure!

Spring Mantle Update

{Spring Mantle Update}

First time I have decorated with this special window.

This window is from our second home.

It was on the summer porch and we had it replaced with 

a newer weather tight window.

I finally have a spot to display it!

And that burlap is special to me,too.

My dad's brother, Uncle Carl, brought it to me

a couple years ago from the farm.

He thought I might be able to use it.

Yep.

And my wicker chair.

It has been at my sweet MIL's forever.  I brought it home. 

Love it's sweetness.

Moments important enough for a photo...

I have enough blog books to know that the major events in life,

the holidays, birthdays, school plays, sports events, are all 

very fun to read about...but it is the everyday moments from our life

that have been captured are the best treasures of all.

Sam has become very interested in chores.

He has asked about dishes and laundry and sweeping the floors.

I posted this picture on Instagram and said..

You are welcome future wife.

We have always asked the boys to help around the house.

It is super important for them to have their everyday responsibilities.

In addition to that, it is super important for them to be involved in

what it takes to keep our house a tidy home.  

I also must insert that Joe has always been my go to boy - he *almost* always 

jumps to help when I ask.  Love that, such a sweet boy.

Again, with the games.

We love board games, card games...love that screen free family time.

This boy right here comes out to perform

every.single.night. {ok, that is a stretch because we are not home,but when we are...}

Sometimes it is jokes, sometimes throwing the ball,

tonight it was juggling.  Pure joy, this boy.

And a charmer he is as well, he has been wearing a tie to school quite often.

Our school secretary, my high school bestie sent me this selfie with him and

our school nurse.

And we discovered a few mornings ago that he is longer than the blanket that 

Blake made him when he was just a babe.

A weekend away

Dan and I enjoyed a great weekend away at the end of January.

WB treats us to a managers weekend in Indianapolis each year.

I look forward to it every year, and knowing my babes

 were well taken care of with Blake and Noah made me 

look forward to it even more!

This hotel...it never fails to deliver.

We met our friends, Toni and Chris for dinner on Friday night

at St. Elmo's steakhouse.

It was delicious, but seeing my Toni girl preggers with her baby girl was even better.

On Saturday, I met with this dynamic group of leaders.

I enjoy their company, ideas, and the energy I gain from meeting with other managers.

Seeing and knowing our owners is also energizing.  

We did miss a big basketball game of Sam's and that was TOUGH.

DH almost drove home for the game, and of course Sam scored the most points he had ever scored.

But, alas, Blake and Noah were there to cheer him on...

we heard about it tough and when I got the message during a meeting break...

I sent him this message!

And then we texted a bit from Blake's phone...

I had told them that the Denver Nuggets NBA team were staying in our hotel

And my opportunty came during lunch when their team was eating lunch

in the conference room next to ours...and I NEVER ever DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS...

but I got the courage to ask

this guy, the gaurd, if I could request a photo with one of the players for my son.

And he said, of course, when they are done eating I get one for you.

Pfew, again, not my style...but for one of my boys, yep.

And then very nice player stopped and gladly took a selfie with me

Jusuf Nurkic #23 center for the Denver Nuggets

*he was a smidge taller than I*

He was very cordial, introduced himself and was polite while I fumbled my camera around, LOL.

And talk about a pumped little boy, Sam was so thrilled.  He said a paid him back

for missing his big game.

We finished the night off at an awards ceremony for WB.

DH even had on a suit coat, but had already taken it off in the pic..boo.

Breakfast before we headed home for big Joe's afternoon basketball games.

We left refreshed and relaxed ;)

And we later realized that DH had shared his cold with me...boo.

We have been sick since then, ugh.

Spring is coming!

Stella and Dot for my Girl

Niece Blake is selling this beautiful jewelry now!

Stella and Dot Stylist

Of course, it is not hard to support her! I borrowed some jewelry from her 

and also bought a versatile piece, took some pics to send to her!

Gym time

Sam's basketball season is in full swing,too.

He plays mostly for the 4th grade teams,

 but plays B games for the 5th grade when they have them.

I have taken this crew to practice afterschool several times,

wouldn't trade being able to do that for the world.

Love hearing their chatter and energy...love it.

This was at a tournament in Evansville.  They played some tough teams and came up short,

great competition, though.

Cousin love between games.

This was one of those, how are we going to be everywhere days.

I had to work and DH had practice with Joe, Sam played early in Evansville,

so Dan went down for that and then back for practice with Joe.

Good thing Uncle Will helps coach, so Sam stayed with him.

Loved the updates!

I am one of those weird moms who loves her ballers

and gym time.  No complaints here.