Hard Days

Some days I think my life is so challenging and think that I am having a bad or hard day. Today I realize every day is the best day and that I am the luckiest person in the world. How could I not think that?! I have so many wonderful things in my life. I have the most wonderful husband in the world, two of the most beautiful and smartest kids (Ok I am biased), wonderful parents, inlaws, brothers, sisters in law, and brother in law. I love my house, my dog, my life. If I could just freeze time right now I would say my life is perfect. I am so lucky.

Today I spent some of the most special and meaningful time I have ever spent with one of my best friends. She is very sick with breast cancer and going through the most difficult time of her life. She is strong and trying to pull from everyone around her to be stronger. I can't help, but worry about her all day every day. My life could be her life. Why am I so lucky? Why can't she be lucky too? I just pray and hope each day that my friendship will help make a difference in her life and hope that I can help her through this process. I can't imagine being in her shoes and can't imagine to understand how she truly feels right now. But I want so desparatly to be a solid rock for her to lean on.

Life is so precious and I try to relish the moment, but sometimes get lost in planning the future. Today I am trying to remember to love the moment you are in and be thankful for all you have in life. Live life to the fullest!

Playing, Laughter, and Smiles

It has to be the best reward as a mother of two or more children to hear them playing, laughing, and smiling together. AJ has always loved Karina since the moment she came home. The moment Karina learned to laugh she saved her best laughs for AJ. Every morning when Karina sees AJ for the first time she kicks her legs so fast and start panting like she can't wait to say hi. AJ loves crawling in her crib with her and playing with her. They will wrestle with each other and laugh while doing it. Karina is learning to walk and walked right over to AJ while music was playing in the house and they decided to dance together. It couldn't get any sweeter to me, than to see my two children adore and love each other. It is moments like these that will stay in my memory a life time and I will always remember how adorable they are to me.

A Conversation with AJ

Today was an unusual day after lunch with my son, AJ. On a typical day AJ eats his lunch and then gets this huge burst of energy and does laps through the kitchen, living room, and hallway. Today was different, he sat and chatted with me. It was one of those moments I will hold onto for the rest of my life.

He looked at me and said "Mommy, I got to tell you something".

I said "What AJ?".

AJ says "Did you know that water can't break?"

I was in shock here, this is a 3 year old!! I said "Yes, I guess your right AJ!"

He then says "I have to tell you something else Mommy."

"OK, tell me." I said

AJ says "Did you know when water freezes it can break?"

In total shock again... I agreed with him.

After this conversation he decided he wanted to sit on my lap. Anyone that knows AJ, knows he doesn't do this with me or anyone really. He then wanted us to touch noses, chins, and cheeks. He then gave me about 10 of the most wonderful kisses on my lips. He told me a few times "Mommy you are so pretty".

It was a moment I will never forget and made me fall even deeper in love with him. Something about little boys and their Mommy's -- they become your little loves.

More Craft Room Ideas

This photo was found on makingmemories.typepad.com

I love simple yet functional scrapping areas. I am also loving the bulletin board in the background that is displaying some of the recent completed pages. What a great idea! So often we take all this time to make beautiful pages and then just put them in an album. This would allow you to admire your hard work for some time. I think it is also the teacher in me that loves displaying artwork as well :)

Always Behind

Does a scrapbooker ever feel caught up? It can't seem to be possible with all the pictures I have that I want to make scrapbook pages of. There is so little time to put all the effort I truly want to put into all my pages. I have lists of projects and ideas that I want to someday complete, but it seems with every day there is a new moment that needs to be remembered. I would just love to hear from someone who is all caught up and tell me how they did it!!

Scrapbook Corner

I have been slightly obsessed lately with creating the ultimate scrapbook corner in my bedroom. I have been collecting photos from searches online and magazines. Everyone in my house has a space to call their own and all of them have their space so wonderfully decorated for them. My passion is scrapbooking and I dream of a spot to sit and scrap that really inspires me.

I love this space that I found on http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/1603-My-New-Craft-Room-Completed. It is simple, but the organization ideas are really what got me. I love the shelf with all the craft tools in cups. You can see everything and take out the cup you need for your crafting. Luckily, I have a very handy husband and he agrees to help build this area for me!!