oh my gracious.... April 2016

it's been so long.
i hate that.
this is how i document life in my nest and all the things going on in our family.
i've failed.
i'm trying not to be too hard on myself.
this season of life is a bit crazy with two busy girls. a husband who is on a good, but challenging path in his profession. a job that is part time but feels like full time (and i don't mean that as a complaint).

so where to I begin, hmmm....

April 2016
we had our first travel tournament with Grace's volleyball team.  All the way to KC, a good 4 hour drive :). my kind of sports travel.  i've appreciated her coach recognizing this team as a developing team, one that is a work in progress.  they are learning and growing.  they learned alot from this tournament. the experience was fun, crazy busy with lots of teams there all hoping to bring home a medal.  we did not and it was okay.  we learned, had fun, made memories, laughed and walked away a better team.

i was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the parents to go to 6th grade camp with Grace's school class.  there were alot of parents who wanted to go but i luckily got my name in first.  i find spending time with her class gives me insight to her life at school.  i walked away from the experience pretty proud of my girl and the choices she's made in how she handles conflict and how she chooses her friends.  i saw alot of disrespect with the students towards the adults.  at one point i wanted to put on my preschool whistle and give them a what's what but i watched and let the teachers lead.  the experience also made me feel the need to pray more for this whole class.  i've seen it before where a few make the whole look bad and i'm worried this is the case with this group.  

well onto the lighter side now (if you can call it that)....  we had three cases of strep in our family in April.  all got it but me which makes me wonder if i'm a carrier.  i've never had it in my life and hopefully never will.  i've heard it's horrible for adults, ouch!

April was beautiful with spring blooms everywhere. i love spring, it's my second favorite season - the first being fall.

in late April we had some pretty strong storms come through.  one was so strong it knocked numerous trees down in our neighborhood making it impossible to get home one night.  power lines ended up on the main road causing it to be shut down for hours.  we sat, waiting, gave up and headed into town to meet Art for dinner.  we got home late that night and slept in one room with no power.  it was an adventure which the girls loved.  uno by candlelight was our time filler.

Sarah's 4th grade class had their spring musical - The Agape League.  a group of devil fighting crusaders out to save the world for Jesus!  it was cute and her last official Spring musical as an elementary kid since next year she is a middle schooler.  yes their school recognizes 5th grade as middle school, SIGH.

what have I been up to?

I feel like the question should be what haven't I been doing since April 1st!

I've been documenting life via instagram.

I will spare you with the picture details since I will get my April and May layout done someday soon.

Here's the highlights though:

Easter parties at school
Hikes down the ravine (our back yard) to Grace and Sarah's secret spot
Easter egg hunts
Restart - new theme introduced at church
New job - more on that later
New swimsuits from the Easter bunny
Lots of exercise at the gym
Time at our lake getting the boat in the water
Cardinal season beginning
Power green smoothies
Spring break
St. Louis Zoo - penguins and sea lions
Perfecting my egg in a nest breakfast
Lots if rain
Storms - overnight guests in our room
First trip to Sugar Fire BBQ
Trip to gluten free bakery
Starting a garden
Spring blooms
Sarah turns 9!
Barbie makes a visit to yoga with me
New apple cider vinegar drink found
Sarah's school Spring musical
Painting patio furniture
Pool is open!
Pollen
Busy Tuesdays
Yoga
Healthy lunches at Sams (not)
Car full of groceries
Grace and Sarah performing at LHS Music Festival
5th grade D.A.R.E. graduation
Broken glass
Gluten free cupcakes
Birthday sleepover
Birthday girl celebration
Irises blooming
Creating, collaborating on fun ideas at work
Arkansas
Hannah's graduation
Mothers Day
Barbells
Strep
Wafflecakes
Last SCCYO performance by Grace
Amerikids performance at church
Last day of school - here we come 4th and 6th grade
Lazy days outside
Pool time
Sickness, like the yuckies sick
Car shopping
Car trade in
Car purchase
First batch of strawberries
Finding more green smoothie recipes
Cleaning out/organizing spaces at work
Swinging at Sams Club
Beautiful, brilliant blooms
Aly's graduation
Summer Library program
You Rock - Grace Marie is moving up at church
Serious shopping
Fruit yummies
New breakfast omelet
Dead battery
Plants/herbs

and as of today....

Volleyball Camp

And we are current.

Summer is here.  Swimsuits purchased.  Warm temps. Grilling.  Eating fresh from the garden.  Slower schedules.  Sleeping in.  Enjoying life.

march 2015

instagram

I have taken to instagram.
When I started out on it, I would post less frequently.
Until Grace started asking about it.
For a long time we held off, trying to protect her.
Many times we heard her say, "but all my friends have it" (which we knew was not the case).

Christmas 2014 she got her new tablet she had been wanting.
With that and many, many conversations about responsibility and the scary side of instagram, Art and I agreed she could have an account.
It has come with many rules and many nights of me screening her posts and those she is viewing.
Her account is private and she only lets people in who we say are okay.
So far, so good.
Giving a little, even though we weren't 100% comfortable with it, is a good thing.
We've asked her to show us how she can be responsible but yet haven't really given her many chances to prove it.
Here was her chance and happily, she's respected and listened to our requests showing us she is growing up.

We need to give her more of these chances to prove herself.
Like tests and her school work.
We've really tried to teach her how to study this year, on her own.
We've released her these past two quarters to do it on her own with the expectation that if the grades start to slip, we will step back in.
At the beginning of the year she wanted all the benefits of being responsible but wasn't ready to take it on her own.
Now she is.
It shows me her maturity.
It is another step in independence which is bittersweet.

Independence with Instagram and studies - all are ways to help her shape her.
She's learning she is accountable to both and she's following through.
What was so painful last Fall is now much easier for our girl.
Wow.

God is good and his movement in my girl is amazing.

week 7

Okay, it's not a two page spread but I'm proud of the fact that I got it done.  Things have sped up here meaning my scrapbooking has slowed down.  I promised myself I wouldn't let this interfere with life and I have kept true to that so to have one page, I'm okay with.  I'm HAPPY with.  Enjoy!

 

 

what's for dinner (week of 3/23 and 3/30)

I have some new recipes on here I'm looking forward to trying the next two weeks.  I made my own adjustments on some of these, using turkey rather than beef and I made changes to fit our whole foods diet PLUS can’t forget gluten free.  Variety is a good thing!

 Sunday - Left over meatball subs (double batched a week ago and then froze)

Monday - Chicken parmesan panini (go here)
Tuesday - Turkey stir fry
Wednesday - Eat out (volleyball begins and church)
Thursday - Grilled cheese for girls, salad with chicken for A & I
Friday - Oven fried fish (go here)
Saturday - Chicken pizza

 Sunday - Cheeseburger flatbread melts (go here)

Monday - Roast beef and bruschetta Panini
Tuesday - Chicken stir fry
Wednesday - Eat out
Thursday - Mexican Rice with chicken and lime (go here)
Friday - Cowboy dinner (go here)
Saturday - TBD

 Happy planning!

goodbye 2nd grade

Our last day of school has come and gone.  The two 2nd grade classes ended it with a poetry reading.  Here's the gang in their entirety.

This is Mrs. Palmer.  She has been a big part of Grace's school life since starting at ILS.  She is wonderfully sweet and the kids love her.  She is retiring after this year which made Grace sad but she has promised is to visit from time to time. 

I wasn't able to get a picture of Grace and her 2nd grade teacher.  Mrs. Brand is very pregnant and was advised to stay put on the last day of school.   Luckily, we will see her next year plus her new baby. 

Second grade was a success.

we have a graduate

Sarah's Kindergarten graduation program was probably one of the best school led performances I've ever seen.  It was creative, funny, sweet and uplifting which was the theme of the year and program.  Here's our graduate singing with her top hat to "New York, New York."  The lyrics of the chorus were -

"Start spreading the news,

we're leaving today,

we want to be a part of it,

first grade,

 first grade!"

They even did a dance with their hats.  So cute and we got it all on video.

Sarah in the hot air balloon with both kindergarten teachers. 

Sarah with her friends from class.

Sarah and her teacher, Mrs. Cross.  Sarah and I both loved Mrs. Cross.  She made the year fun and Sarah has learned so much, we've seen so much growth in her.  I can't say enough wonderful things about this woman.  I do wish she were moving up with Sarah though :).

The graduate with her twin, medal, diploma and top hat.  Fun night and a great ending to a great year for Sarah.

sweet surprise

For Spring break we headed to the Kansas City area.  I found out through a conversation with my Dad that my sweet cuz' was in town visiting her Momma.  I gave her call and low and behold it was true!  What a surprise and what makes it even more sweet is that I got to see her pregnant :) and she let me touch her sweet belly, my soon to be second cousin.  She glows, ahhh bliss...

My cousin, Aunt and hubby waiting in line for KC BBQ.  Yum!

Told you she looked cute, look at that perfect prego belly.  Love it!

Another view of the side.  Can you tell I'm excited for her?  I can't wait for this sweet girl to make her appearance.  I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make a visit to SoCal when she's here :). 

six

Sarah turned six at the beginning of May.  I surprised her with this balloon idea I got from Pinterest the night before the big day.

She was surprised and smiling even in her grogginess. 

Pancakes, sausage, orange slices and chocolate milk were on the birthday girls breakfast menu.

Sarah's pick for dinner, a favorite local mexican place. 

A week later we celebrated by having her friends from school come for a party at the Magic House.

The princessy gang.

Sarah and her bestie in the bubble room.  Love this room. Always a hit.

It was a hair raising good time, literally :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Six!

mother's day 2012

I was determined to get a picture of me and my girls this year.  It never fails that it gets forgotten and the day is at an end.  I look at this picture and can't believe how big they are. I'll have a 1st and 3rd grader next year, WOW, that blows my mind. 

I'm such a lucky Momma to have these two, what a blessing they are.

one month

Yes it's been a month since my last post.  Yes I am behind.  Yes I have a million excuses but number one is TIME.  I need to take a moment to put my thoughts together and play catch up.  Unfortunately that time is not now.  Busy, fun, girls day means it's time to get serious and play catch up tomorrow.  Maybe I'll get to it, maybe not.  Sorry, it is what it is.  Until then....

it's inevitable

I am going to cry tomorrow.

While I'm glad summer is coming.

I will miss these kids, they are 12 of my closest friends {3 are missing}.

School comes to an end tomorrow, these kiddos move onto Kindergarten.

It has been a fun year teaching them. 

I've loved watching them grow.

two bricks

I've been gone for awhile now. 

Life as I know it stopped the morning of April 3rd.  I received a call from my brother telling me my parents and my Aunt had been in a car accident on their way back from visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Texas. 

<Enter brick number one to hit me in the face.>

  It happened in Oklahoma and they were in the hospital.  Janene and I headed for Muskogee Oklahoma, not sure of what to expect, all we knew is that Dad had a broken leg and Mom a broken sternum BUT they were okay.

Nothing could prepare me for this.

I still have a very hard time looking at it.  I drove by myself to collect my parents things from their Prius.  I wasn't really thinking of how it would affect me.  I have to say my knees got weak, my head felt as if it were spinning, tears streaming down my face, in awe of what stood before me.  "How did my parents and Aunt survive this?" I had to turn around and breathe.  I kept telling myself, "Just breathe Nyla, just breathe."  I had a job to do and passing out was not an option.  I got through it but in the end I just wanted to scream and then throw up. 

You see they were hit by a drunk driver.  A young woman, 27 years of age who was 4 doors down from my parents in the hospital.  I saw her parents anguish, I heard their cries.  She's ruined her life by one stupid choice and she has forever impacted my parents health and well being. 

Senseless really.  Sad and senseless.

Over a month has passed.  I have learned many things (I'm still learning) in the process of the after:

1) family is everything

2) Muskogee Regional Care Facility has a wonderful, caring staff

3) my Dad is my hero

4) health is taken for granted

5) my parents are loved in their community, by their church, by their friends

6) my siblings and I can laugh through the pain and tears (it's that Van Hooser blood)

7) my Mom is my hero (I can have two!)

8) I have friends and co-workers who love me and are there, praying

9) I have a husband who performs in a crisis even if it means doing the girls hair ;)

10) God loves me and my family, he is in the good and bad and there is a plan in all of this.

While my parents continue to heal I have had my moments of depression.  I have cried out for mercy for them.  You see there is more than just the physical pain I witnessed with my parents through all of this.  I continue to witness pain in another sense.  I won't get into it here but my heart is heavy for my two heroes.  I question how God could allow this pain on his faithful servants.  It has made me question my faith.  It has kept me from him.  It has kept me from worshipping.  I don't see his plan but I trust he will show me some day.  I move forward doing my best to help.

If you are reading this... please pray for my parents.

----------------------------------------

Yesterday I got some news.  Scary news. 

Remember my Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree?  The one that hangs in my classroom?  It was created by a talented, loving, tremendous woman.  I sing her praises to my kids when we use this tree.  She is my friend and she is sick. 

<Enter brick number two> 

If you are reading this.... please pray for Jonica.  Pray for healing.

I have more tears. Once again I am on my knees asking for mercy and healing.  I know he is listening because I have a peace. 

-----------------------------

I said goodbye to one of my fourteen friends today.  It was her last day with me, in my class even though we have one more week of school.  She gets to go to Disney World :).  She told me she was going to really miss me.  I blubbered like a baby as I hugged her. 

I am one big cry baby these days.  April was wet and I foresee May being the same.

"Your servant is praying Lord.  Please bring healing, mercy and peace to those I love.  AND keep the kleenexes coming!"

triple d

Friday night was Grace's school Daddy and Daughter Dance.

She was elated, we had talked about this for two weeks now.

Here are some shots taking you through it.

Gotta have curls! 

 

Lavendar dress she picked out.

She loved her curls. 

This picture made me gasp.  She looks like a 2nd grader to me. 

Princess and her Prince Charming. 

Corsage from Daddy. 

Beautiful.

KA-CHING

We were on Spring break this week.  We headed to my parents for some Mamaw and Kapaw time.   My heart pittered-pattered when we headed out for one of the three Amish stores my parents live 30 to 45 minutes from.    I love going to these stores, Mom and I act like kids in a candy store. So much fun!  There is a lot of variety and organic products.  I took my camera in this time to share the yumminess.

Tea - I purchased Peach Black Tea and Strawberry Green Tea.  Both smelled yummy and sounded great for a hot summer day, iced.

Grains, grains and more grains!  Cheap grains!  I spent about 10 minutes in this aisle alone.



The only way to buy oats I tell ya!

The girls favorite aisle, the sprinkles and all things sweet one!  So inexpensive and fun.  I bought some cow and pig sprinkles to make cupcakes for my kids at school (and home).  Next week is Farm related. 



They always have handmade items outside to sell.  These gourd bird houses were eye catching.



In all I spent $59.00!  It's the most I've ever spent there but I couldn't stop myself.  I spent at least $20 on spices alone.  It's good quality and you can't get them at the regular stores for these prices. 

KA-CHING! 

Just saved myself a lot of moula and had a fun time in the process.

happy earth day

Plant a tree, recycle, take care of the world God gave us.
Happy Earth Day!

a beautiful thing

I went out today and took some pictures of some of the beautiful things in our yard. I can't stop looking at it all. It's just lovely how plants can transform an area and make you want to stay and stare. I remember a friend telling me at how she just kept being pulled back to new landscaping she and her family had put in. It's a very peaceful process, at least for me. Rose

Clematis

Dogwood

Rose

Pin oak

The girls first words after everything was done...

SK - "We have BUSHES!" (very excitedly)

GM - "We can put Christmas lights on them now!"

They love this path to their tire swing.