I’m on my second week of no blogging so I’m popping in for a quick Online Daybook to catch up. 😉

I’m linking up with Kelly for Quick Takes and with Jenny for Daybook Online Journal and Like Mother, Like Daughter‘s {pretty, happy, funny, real} (Scroll down to #7 for that.)

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Grateful for…

• My hubs.
• My kiddos.
• My extended family.
• My little haven, it may be messy and loud but it is home.

Praying for..

• Those who are fighting serious illness and depression.
• Those who will die this week.
• Those who are victims of abuse and family dysfunction.
• Those on my prayer list.
• All pregnant moms, those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
• Many special intentions.

Pondering…Photo Source

Gilbert Blythe. Isn’t it strange how attached we can become to a fictional character? When I heard the news that Jonathon Crombie died, my heart sank, not only for the man and actor but for the character he played. It was as if Anne was really losing her husband and we were saying good bye to a beloved friend. It is strange that we can watch a show – whether Downton Abbey or The Walking Dead and the characters are as real to us as the people in our own lives. We follow the shows almost religiously and we cry when they cry and rejoice when they are happy. I sometimes wonder if I give the real people in my life that kind of attention. Do I make the effort to reach out to a friend going through a rough time or do I offer to help another when she is in need. Why is it easier for me to feel emotion from the comfort of my own couch than to step outside my door and help a living and breathing person? This week I’m going to make an effort to set aside the fictional characters and interact with the real people in my life. 😉

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Around the House…

I’m slowly making progress on my spring cleaning and organizing. I don’t have a lot of free time but during Easter break I devoted each day to a specific area and cleaned it up. Granted there are a hundreds of areas that need attention but it’s a start!

Family Chit Chat…

Last week my “baby” Matthew turned 4 years old! Our family tradition of dressing up Pooh Bear as the birthday host continued. This time he was a buff Captain America.

I had such a tough time when I found out I was pregnant because I felt like I wasn’t ready for another baby and the doc was freaking out since I was well over the 35 year old “cut off date,” but in the end, everything worked out fine and he was actually my easiest labor. (Well, if you don’t count him coming too fast and the nurses telling me to hold it until the doc could get there. (What the what?!) Anyway, now I can’t imagine life without my sweet spitfire.

In other news, Brian and I celebrated the 16th anniversary of the day we first met in person after 5 months of “online dating.” I knew by the end of that day that we would one day be married.

I woke up to a hot breakfast and a love note to start my day. Swoon. 🙂

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In the Kitchen…

Monday – Breakfast dinner.

Tuesday – Tacos, homemade beans and salad.

Wednesday – Chef salad and soup.

Thursday – Slow cooker BBQ chicken, roasted potatoes and green beans.

Friday – (Brian is cooking while I’m gone.) Hotdogs, chili beans, broccoli.

Saturday – (Ditto) Spaghetti and salad.

Sunday – To celebrate my safe return – Eat out. 🙂

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Watching…

Last night I watched the Blessed Is She Google Hang Out. It was great to see my fellow BIS ladies and to hear what they had to share! (You may find me participating at the next one.) 😉  If you were unable to watch, no worries. Watch it on Youtube! 🙂

Listening to …

I added I’m Good by The Mowgli’s to my walking playlist. It is fun and addictive.

Reading…

I’ve been hearing a lot about The Girl on the Train so I downloaded it, even though I have a huge pile of unread books to finish. I know, I know…

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I haven’t posted in awhile…life, you know. However, I’ve got a queue of half written posts in my draft folder and I promise that after my last big room mom/ school project is complete, I’ll be able to get back to it. (Cuz I miss it!)

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Did I mention that this weekend I am attending the CWBN California Conference?? I am so excited. For the longest time I was dragging my feet to make hotel reservations because I kept thinking that something was going to happen to stop me from attending. Well, I’m hoping that is just a little drama queen seeping out. (Kind of like the way I was certain I would be orphaned by the time I was 13. But alas, decades later and my parents are alive and well.) 😉

So… my blog reading time has been looking at the blogs of my fellow attendees. When I come back from the conference I will do a post of all the great ladies I met – some who you already know, like Kendra and Micaela and Jenna but lots of other bloggers that you may not know as well…… Did I mention that I am so excited? There’s talk of Friday meet ups and movie nights and more…Squeal!

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For Matthew’s birthday, we went to Point Lobos for a hike and picnic. It was our visit of 2015. I love it there! Here are a few shots.

These shots are being linked up with Like Mother, Like Daughter‘s {pretty, happy, funny, real}. The link up isn’t until Thursday but I know I won’t be posting that day so I am doing it now. 😉

The weather was perfect!

You can’t help but smile. 🙂

We made it to the top!

Mandatory group photo by mom. 😉

Heading back down.

  Random shot.

 Time for our picnic. The birthday boys’ favorite gift was his Iron Man from Grandma and Grandpa. He insisted that he come to the hike and picnic with us. 🙂

Andrew and Brian are like two peas in a pod. 🙂

Sweet Bella and John-Paul acting goofy as usual. 😉

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? What are you reading or watching these days?

Have a happy Monday! I mean, Tuesday. (I started this Monday.) 😉

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