~A Peek into Our Week~

Here is Megan and her friend Avery this morning.  This week is Catholic schools week, so they went to mass at Holy Cross and then came home to change, then they are off to Starbucks for breakfast before having to report to school.  

Yesterday was Megan's doctor appointment with the pediatric Neurologist.  She was on a super low dose of medicine before, so he doubled it, and said it is still a low dose, but he hopes it will keep her from having those scary episodes.  That would be such a blessing.

Sweet little Justin has been in bed for five days straight.  He is getting better every day, and now has no fever and is eating again.  We think he has had the flu.  I've been tending to his care and his sister Lauren comes in to keep him company a bit.

This is the book I'm reading on my Kindle.  It is really good and I plan to read more of her books.

In the evening when I read, I turn on my virtual fire place complete with the crackling sounds and am really enjoying my little lights I have in my room now.

I've also been enjoying my 1940's music.

The girls and I have been spending some time in the down stairs family room.  There is something about being in a basement that I really like.  At times when life has gotten hard, I would spend time down stairs because it just feels so safe and cozy.

Here is the wallpaper I have on my computer.  I love it!  I found it on www.wallpaperseveryday.com  They are free and have a lot to choose from.  Today I am going to try to get Justin somewhat caught up on his school work.  He has been so sick, that he has not been able to do any.  I am hoping he will be able to return to school tomorrow and it would be nice if he could have a good portion of his make up work complete.  Thank you for visiting my little space, I hope you all have a blessed week.  Hugs.  Juli

~A Peek Into Our Week~

In our little kitchen, I've been burning Root Beer Float by Yankee Candle.  It smells so yummy!

I finally ordered the bread box I had been wanting from Amazon.  I actually have two bread boxes, but my other one I use for my coffee.

As always, I've been making home made food.  Here are some home made hashbrowns to go with Steven's Sunday breakfast.

Here is Justin one evening doing his homework.  He is such a smart little fella.  He got into the spelling bee, so I am excited to go watch him.

Here is Lauren helping Megan with her math.  They both tested into advanced math class in the 7th grade.  

I've been enjoying a bit of relaxation in my room this week.  I like to put on a winter video on my TV and play my new CD.

This is my new CD.  I love it.  It is music from the 1940's.  I got the idea for it from grandma Donna's blog.  

This last weekend, Steven and I went to our usual place to eat lunch.  We pretty much have a weekly date there.  Once in a while we try something new, but for the most part we stick with Quadoba's.

I took Justin out for his favorite meal this last weekend too.  He seems to never get tired of Fazzoli's.

I have been working on decorating my desk area.  I wanted to make it look a bit more cozy.  I found this website called http://wallpaperseveryday.com/ that has quite a few cute and free screensavers.   I really like the roses.     I've been just working on different drawers in our house this last week.  I organized our tool drawer, and of course I worked on my desk drawers.  It feels good little by little to let things go, and then organize the things you really love or need.  I have been doing a lot of reading and of course watching YouTube videos to help me come up with ideas for organizing our little home, or simply to get inspired to declutter and clean.  Lauren has been sick the past couple of days, but seems to be feeling better today.  We all just have kept passing sickness back and forth to each other.  So far Steven has still not gotten sick, I hope and pray he doesn't.  He is busy as always with his job and the apartments.   Next month we will be taking a trip down to Lawrence to visit family and friends.  I'm so excited as I did not get to go down at Christmas.  I miss them all so much.  I think I will have a cup of coffee.  I hope you all have a nice week.  Hugs.  Juli

~A Peek Into Our Weeks~

We took down our outside Christmas decorations.  I put it off because I just love the look of a Christmas wreath on the door.  The wind chimes are the ones that Steven got me for Christmas this year.  They sound so pretty.

 Here is Tristyn at work.  I was dropping off his dinner.  He is such a sweet young man.  I love him so much.

Lauren went on Steven and I's lunch date to Olive Garden the other Saturday.  She got a really cute drink, so I thought I'd snap a photo.

I've been doing a lot of decluttering and organizing of closets this last week.  This is the closet in Megan's room.  She actually uses the upstairs guest room closet for her clothing and shoes, so this closet is used for her stuffed animals and storage.  I let go of some things we didn't need and love then organized what was left.  I also have been doing the linen closet and the kitchen cabinets.    It is an on going process to let go of things you don't love or need and keep organized.  It feels so good to have things neat and tidy.  

Lauren is a bit of a minimalist with the decor in her room, but she was happy to have a large mirror put in.  This way she can practice her cheer dances and see herself in her outfits.  We found that mirror at Lowes.

 Here is my precious little niece, Lilah.  I love it when my sister Lori sends me photos of her.  She is such a little doll.

I re-organized my little shelf in my kitchen.  I'm still not sure if I want to paint it my favorite shade of blue.  I think I want to some days, but then think it might be a bit much.  

Here is the wax melt I've been melting in my kitchen.  It is Vanilla Cookie Crunch.  It smells so yummy!  I only put that little mat out when I'm melting wax, as it is too busy otherwise.

I've taken a little time to relax and watch YouTube in the guest room this past weekend.  

Here is Megan and one of her bff's in their matching Pajamas.  They looked so cute, but I couldn't get them to pose for a photo, so I took what I could get.  

   I wasn't sure if I'd share this, but Megan's hamster Oreo died.  She was so upset and cried and cried.  The reason I decided to share this is because of how she chose to remember her.  She wrote her name in his casket and drew a picture of her.  I frame the picture and put it in her room.  Oreo was her first pet and she truly loved her.  She also wrote a card about how special Oreo was and how she knew she wanted her the first time she saw her, and how she will always be in her heart.  It was just so sweet.

They were predicting a bad ice storm this last weekend, but we lucked out and didn't get much.  I was so thankful for that.  We have just been staying home a lot and enjoying the coziness of our little house.  I am so thankful for a warm, cozy home especially when it is cold outside.  I think of people in this world who are not as blessed and just wish everyone could have a nice life.  I do feel blessed and love our simple little life.  Have a great week and God bless.  Juli

~A Peek Into Our Week~

Monday morning I found out that dear sweet Amy Hale passed away.  She was such a neat lady, she was a teacher, a wonderful mother of four children and such a sweet caring person.  Amy had a cheer-leading accident and was in a wheel chair from the age of 19.  She never let that stop her, she lived her life to the fullest.  She had the most beautiful voice also.  She sang at everyone of my children's first communions.  She sang a song where she would say each childs name and it was just so special.  Amy always gave us the clothing two of her children would out grow for Justin and the girls to wear.  She was just such a kind gentle soul and I was blessed to know her.  She battled cancer to try to stay on Earth to be with her family, but there was nothing that could be done in the end.  Such a sad thing, my heart just aches.

Right after I had found out about sweet Amy, Megan's school called she was not doing so well.  I had to rush her to the hospital.  She has a condition called Hemiplegic Migraines.  This increased her risk of stroke by a lot.  The scary thing is that her condition has symptoms that mirror that of a stroke, such as numbness on one side of the body, inability to form words and think straight and headaches that are supposed to be even more painful than normal Migraines.  It was so horrible to watch her go through all of this.  Steven came to the hospital, so we were both there with her.  She is okay now, but I just am worried about her.  I hate that she developed this condition.  So needless to say it has been an emotional week.

The last bit of bad news is that Tristyn and Kaylee went to Colorado and hit an icy patch on a mountain road and lost control and hit a guard rail.  All I can say is I am so very thankful they were not hurt.  So they say bad things happen in threes so I am hoping that will do it for a while, because I don't think my heart can handle too much else right now.

Sunday night, Steven, Justin and I went out to eat.  It was such a nice time sitting and visiting with Justin.

I've been melting a Cherry wax melt in my little kitchen this week.  

I got these little tin decorations at Hobby Lobby for our little kitchen.

I rearranged the little shelf in my kitchen.  I still plan to paint the inside my favorite shade of blue, just not sure as to when.

 Steven and I went out and about this morning and got brunch in our usual place.  I got my hair cut because Monday is sweet Amy's funeral.  I'm not sure how I am going to bare to go, but she was such a dear person I wouldn't miss it.  I have a feeling it will be packed, because to know Amy was to love her.  I am not just saying all of this because she is dead, she truly was such a dear soul.  The world will not be as bright with out her.  Sorry for the kind of depressing blog entree, but I want to keep it real, so this week was just a bit of a hard one.  I hope you are all doing well.  Just remember when life gets hard always hang in there and just wait out the storm.   Hugs to you all.  Juli