family chit chat | Revolution of Love

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

I bought this pretty hibiscus flower at Trader Joes this week and put it on our front porch. I love the red flowers! (Although I just noticed that the tag said to keep the plant indoors. I guess I’ll have to move it.)

{happy}

I must confess that I am a stationary geek. I was so happy to get this package in the mail because as much as I love the convenience of texts and emails, there is something soul-satisfying about putting pen to paper.

I bought these lovely sets of writing sheets and envelopes from Daniella (WritingsByBluebirds) at etsy.com. I already wrote a letter on them, which made every happy.

{funny}

Ever since Bella was a baby, we’ve been trying to deal with kids that will climb chairs and dance on the table. Since then we’ve gotten used to tipping the chairs over during the “climbing” stage. It is a major pain in the rear, but we’ve put up with it. However, I may have to think of another strategy because JP started climbing his tipped over chair to get to the kitchen counter – something he probably wouldn’t have done had he not spotted a jar of jelly beans on the sink. (Which I should probably dump out since I think they have been there since Easter!)

{real}

We are finally getting around to fixing our backyard deck. The main structure is fine but all the floor boards have to be replaced. We have to keep our sliding glass doors locked to make sure the kids don’t step outside and fall through the deck! (Thankfully the weather has been foggy and cool so it’s not so bad.) I will be glad when the work is over. All that hammer pounding at 8am is disturbing the baby’s sleep!

Hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary.

– 1 –

I’m writing this Quick Posts while listening to Mat Kearny’s new album Young Love. “Hey, mama. Hey, hey, mama…” (Funny, that’s the same thing Bella said to me when she saw me dancing around the kitchen. Only she said it with that “omg, what is mom doing?” tone. LOL!)

– 2 –

Speaking of the kitchen, the freezer section of my fridge has always been jam packed with stuff so I have been thinking about getting a stand alone freezer for the garage. I asked Brian if I could get one for my birthday and he laughed. (It was like Ethel asking for a toaster for her birthday, for you Lucy fans.) But since I had the money saved, he agreed. I debated over a chest unit or an upright and went with the upright since it seemed easier to organize and more importantly, it was the perfect size for the space we had in the garage. The freezer finally arrived this week and I’ve been doing a happy dance ever since! It is so nice to buy bulk items and make double dinners and be able to freeze them. Yay!

– 3 –

Speaking of organizing, since I had to rearrange the garage to make room for the freezer, I’ve be organizing the pantry out there as well. We have wire shelves that we bought at Costco and since the shelves have rollers they are easy to move around. I was going to make a master pantry list when I saw these freezer and pantry inventory lists through a link at iheartorganizing.blogspot.com. Although I could create them myself, I wanted to support a mom by purchasing these from Jennifer’s etsy shop. (Plus it saves me the time!) They were just what I needed.

– 4 –

Speaking of the pantry, I have been trying to use up some of the items that have been sitting there for awhile. I had two cans of this canned chicken meat that my father-in-law bought when he went to Costco. It seems a little weird to have chicken in a can (even though I eat tuna from a can) and frankly, I had been saving it for emergency food in case the “Big One” comes during my lifetime. (For you non Cali-residents, the Big One is the major earthquake that will supposedly cause part of CA to fall into the Pacific Ocean. But now that I think about it, I live near the ocean so I may not survive in the first place. But never mind that, I digress.) Anyway, the chicken needed to be eaten so I made chicken salad with it and it actually wasn’t bad. I added a little light mayo, some chopped red onion, some chopped sweet red pepper (I love red peppers!) and a few dashes of Spice Hunter’s Fajita Seasoning. Brian actually loved it so thanks, Dad.

– 5 –

Speaking of spices….last week my mother-in-law and I were talking about how we couldn’t find the Spice Hunter salt-free seasonings as easily as we used to be able to. I could sometimes find them at Trader Joe’s or World Market but they stopped carrying my favorite Fajita Seasoning and her favorite Fish Seasoning. I went online and luckily found them available through the company. I stocked up on what I needed plus I got free shipping and a free Grill Shakers as a sample. Cool!

– 6 –

Speaking of my mother-in-law, I have to get off of the computer and get the house cleaned since my in-laws are coming over for dinner this weekend. And the house has to be not just guest-passable but mother-in-law passable. 😉 So off I go.

– 7 –

Oh, wait. I need one more post….um….okay…speaking of cleaning, I also purchased the cleaning list from iheartorganizing to help me stay on top of keeping everything orderly. I tell ya, I am getting so on the ball I hardly recognize myself! LOL!
Have a great weekend!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

I haven’t taken any pictures with my regular camera this week so instead, here are the photos I recently took with my iphone, hence the blurrier quality.

{pretty}

When I was going to Mass at the Carmel Mission I couldn’t help snap a picture of these gorgeous flowers. Bella smiled and said, “Mom, you can use that as one of your pictures for pretty, happy…whatever it’s called.” She knows me well.

{happy}

We finally bought Andrew a new bike helmet so he could stop using Bella’s old pink one. Now John-Paul wants to use the pink helmet, not to ride a bike, mind you, but to walk around the house. He must be worried he’ll trip over the many train sets on the floor.

{funny}

I snapped this one of Matthew relaxing in his swing. I looove that thing! It makes me sing! (Wow, I’m reading too much Dr. Seuss.) Anyway, the funny aspect is the way he has his chubby little leg resting on the tray. California kick back.

{real}

From now on I am going to put a shower cap on John-Paul before he eats his yogurt. And why does he always do this after I just washed his hair??

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

Here is a pic we took when we went on a hike at Point Lobos State Reserve (CA), which is just outside Carmel before you get to Big Sur. If you are ever in the area, you really have to visit. It is gorgeous!

{happy}

My little Matthew is 3 ½ months now. (!) He’s a happy baby, always smiling. The wiggle worm can roll from stomach to back and is getting close to going from back to stomach. egads!

{funny}

Yesterday Bella had two of her friends over and Andrew wanted to come into the room. He got on the floor and yelled “Helloooooo” under her door until she let him in. Poor guy doesn’t understand the concept of girl-time yet.

{real}

Bella is attending a summer baking class and this day she learned how to make cupcake owls and penguins. Cute and yummy! (Oops, there goes the diet.)

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

My camera battery has been dead all week and I couldn’t find my charger so this week I am posting photos from the last few years. I had so many to choose from that I picked two for each category.

{pretty}

Here is Bella when she was the flower girl for my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding. She is holding the flowers to be given to Our Lady.

*****

This is such a pretty cake! My mother-in-law bought this for my birthday a year or two ago. I think I was turning 35 (again…and again…and again…)

{happy}

Here is Bella and Andrew enjoying a lollipop after a walk in downtown Carmel.

*****

Here is one of the three kids playing on the floor. 🙂

{funny}

I was looking at old Halloween pictures and found these two favorite ones. Here is Andrew dressed as St. Francis for an All Saint’s Day party.

*****

Here is John-Paul as a mustached fireman. LOL!

{real}

Here is a photo of Andrew when he was playing with his Walle toy. He dumped out the remaining animal crackers and crushed them up to make a desert landscape. What a mess.

*****

Here is John-Paul playing IN the dishwasher. And I just noticed that JP is wearing Andrew’s old pajamas from the photo above. Maybe it’s the pajamas that have a mischievous effect. 🙂

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Category Archives: family chit chat

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol. 9

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{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 8: iphone edition

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 7

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 6: flashback edition