A Thank You Kind of Weekend

This past weekend was good.  We were all together which is rare.  Usually, Tim and I divide and conquer shuffling and chauffeuring kids to various activities.  But this weekend it was different and it was so good.

This weekend was one of those times where I looked around me at my little corner of the world and said, "yes, this is it, this is my dream life, and thank you, thank you, thank you."

I was less scattered, more focused; less nobody is listening or doing what I say!, more I'm going to sit back and take it in; less I'm so full of stress and tired, more I'm so full of love and tired (um, yeah, even though it was a good weekend, I don't think I'll ever not be tired, that just seems never ending).

Fifteen years ago, I watched my boyfriend playing football with my little brother who was seven at the time.  I watched how patient he was and how he looked him in the eyes.  I marveled at the connection he made and the time he devoted.  I fell in love with him and dreamed about what kind of father he would be to my own kids.  This past weekend, I thought of that boyfriend and once again marveled at the man, the father, he is today and found myself saying "yes, this is it, this is the dream life and thank you, thank you, thank you."

Tim is the dad that plays, teaches, coaches, reads, provides, comforts and did I mention play?
He really is Super Man
(just like his costume for the
Kids vs. Dad wrestle mania event).

And he makes the kids laugh and laugh and laugh.

This has sort of turned into a mushy, belated Father's Day post. But really it's a post about those weekends, those moments in time, where you look around filled with gratitude.  Those moments where the same messy closet that drove you nuts the day before just doesn't bother you; or the stack of bills that gave you a mini panic attack the night before doesn't even phase you the next morning.  Those moments where you look at your husband and you fall deeper in love.   Those moments when it's all good and you want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.

This is is drop the mic and walk away all big and bad moment, because well, he's Super Man.
Ha. Ha. I'm kidding this is on the way home from our walk to Dairy Queen.

****Giveaway Reminder****
In honor of living in the moment and loving it  I'm giving away a quick-change camera lens for your iphone--the olloclip.  A lens that can make the awesome pics you already take on your iphone um, awesome-er.  It is a $70 lens and is perfect for capturing all the summer memories you are making.

All you need to do is leave a comment here or like my Facebook page and leave a comment on the FB page and you will be entered.  You have until this Thursday to leave comments and enter.  A winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday.

Outside the Lines, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

I'm not an organized person at all.  In fact, I'm the opposite of organized.  I'm chaotic, messy, some might say scattered.  It's always been this way.  My desk was messy in elementary school where I got papers sent back to my parents for coloring way outside the lines.  In middle school I could never quite remember my locker combination, ever, and had trouble drawing a straight line (yes, even with a ruler).  In high school, my closet was a disaster and I drove my big sister crazy because I actually walked in a crooked path, leaning into whomever I was walking next too.

Outside the lines, straight lines who cares right?  I mean I was called the "creative one" from a very early age I was expected to be a little zany right?  

Usually it never bothers me.  Seriously, I usually  do not get bugged out by a mess on my countertop or a pile of papers next to my bed.  I like to have a clean kitchen before I go to bed at night but throughout the day it's more of an ongoing working space.  

But lately, it's been getting a little overwhelming.  And yesterday the shit got serious because it involved getting my roots done, or I mean NOT getting my roots done.  Nobody messes with my hair.

Because let's face it, it's about more than hair.  Getting my hair highlighted is me time.  Time to hang out with my hair dresser turned friend after 10 years Gloria and talk about all things pop culture.  Time to feel a little pampered.  Time to read the Star magazine hidden under the pile of Vogues and In Styles at the salon.  Getting my hair highlighted is two hours I look forward to every month. 

So yesterday, after a full day of swimming and puppy walking and breaking up fights between the kids, I got ready to leave for Gloria's.  I went to the messy pile of paper where my thoughtfully saved cash was stashed and it was gone.

"Those kids took my money," I said like a mad woman totally turning on my four kids sitting in the next room.  My husband looked surprised.  "Oh I've spent all day with them, they'd do it, they would, they would," I said totally irrationally.

I searched and searched the piles for the money.
"You know if you were a little more organized, you...," Tim said not finishing his thought after seeing my crazy lady glare.

But he was right.  I knew he was right, just like those elementary school teachers so many years ago.  I needed to be a little more organized and keep life inside the lines more.

I called Gloria and tearfully said "I have to cancel my appointment." Sniff, sniff.  Because getting my hair highlighted every 6 weeks is great, but it's also really damn expensive.  And until I found my budgeted, saved cash my roots weren't being highlighted.

I searched, swore, interrogated the children, even accused the puppy of eating the money, but came up empty.  Waaaaa.  I threw away papers, went through piles, actually filed stuff in folders I didn't know I had, cleaned up the craft mess left from Monday and still came up empty.  Then Tim walked in, moved one piece of paper to the left and found the cash just like that.

Tim took the boys to Peyton's baseball game.  I took Lucy to Dairy Queen--we took short cuts through alleys and around parking lots just for fun.  

After we got our awesome Blizzards from DQ, we stumbled upon dueling pianos in our park. 

Yup, it's that magic of outdoor music and a crowd again.  

We sat down ate our ice cream and bobbed our heads to the music.  It was amazing.  Then one of the singers dedicated Katy Perry's Firework to all the girls and asked them to sing. What? Come on!  It was so much fun.

The boys met us there after the game.  

And you know, boys have fun in their own way--wrestling, chasing and such.  It was a perfect night.  And I didn't even care about my dark roots (that much).

Tim wasn't trying to be artsy when he took this pic, but the lady's shirt in the background says it all--LOVE!  And it provides a great distraction from my incredibly dark roots.

I know for sure that even though I lose some things and feel a little scattered and overwhelmed sometimes, it works because I'm open to the unexpected and the fun, perfect moments waiting outside the lines.

Here's what else I know for sure (this week):

• Being sick in the summer stinks, especially when you are 7 years old and you have to miss your last baseball game.  Half of the family suffered through a weird fever virus this past week and I found JT snuggling his baseball when I told him he'd have to miss his game.

• My puppy owes me an apology. Yup. This week's vlog explains it all.  Check it out if you missed it.

• Swimming and dancing go hand in hand with this family.  After everyone felt better, we finally went to the pool yesterday.  And Wade was so happy he swam and danced all afternoon.

• There are positive things happening in education and in Detroit. This is a powerful story about how some schools, some kids are triumphing.  It's 11 minutes, but it's 11 minutest that will make you hopeful and proud and feel such compassion for what some of these kids go through to get through.  I was so moved by this, I wanted to share it here.  

• I am not at all excited or interested in seeing the latest Brad Pitt zombie movie.  But the new Monsters movie? Monsters University, yeah, I'm pretty psyched.

• Wade is a future baller no doubt.  But for now it's all about the giant sandbox that is the infield.  

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. What's your week been like?  Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah from SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood, subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here and follow my Pinterest boards here.

Love More (& a Pinterest Poser Challenge)

I'm a runner.  I've run in quite a few races over the years.  I've run a marathon.  

Each race I run, my husband brings my children.  They wait on the sidelines to cheer me on, hold up their signs and scream "good job mommy!"  

This was a sign that my kids made for one of my races.

Big races are like parties, especially the finish lines.  The finish line at a marathon is a celebration of life--honoring dedication and devotion from the runners and the family members that supported their hours and hours and hours of training.

It breaks my heart to think about a finish line with terror and violence like at the Boston Marathon yesterday.

There's no wrapping your head around this kind of horror.  There's no understanding this kind of hate.

The only thing I know how to do is love more, live more and appreciate more, and keep running.  

I took this picture on Instagram on Sunday after a run with Peyton.  I love running with my kids.

Last night at dinner, my kids (unaware of any evil in the world) were telling silly jokes and laughing hysterically.  It went on for a good 15 minutes.  They laughed with their mouths open and their heads thrown back.  They laughed the kind of laugh that made their eyes water.  They laughed so hard their noses snorted and then they laughed harder.  It was the best sound in the world.

I had a project planned for the Pinterest Poser Challenge before yesterday's horrific events, a new DIY Subway Artwork. I saw this quote on my friend's blog (Capturing Joy) and fell in love.  So, I copied it. Except I misspelled it.  But imagine how great it's going to be when it's spelled correctly.  

This Pinterest project was almost perfect.

Click here to find out the how in this how-to, it's pretty simple and inexpensive.

Not only do I love how it turned out (minus the misspelling), all crooked and imperfect, I love the quote.  It captures what I'm feeling on a day after such tragedy.  I'm feeling grateful and aware.  I'm aware of this moment and that I am living a sort of fairy tale, my once upon a time, my happily ever after.  

Make sure when crafting, you aren't drinking too much wine and misspelling awesome wonderful quotes.

I will love having the new sign up to serve as a reminder on those days when I'm not so aware, when I'm not so grateful. I want this sign to remind me of my kids laughing and snorting with so much joy.  Because that is my story and my story is happening right now, and I'm so grateful.

What's your story?  What helps you remember the good in life?

Click here to find out how you can help the people in Boston.

In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**

Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

These Are The Days

Time is going so fast.  Too fast.  So fast it's easy to miss so much. 

A little cheesy, but true.

This past weekend was another very busy, somewhat overscheduled weekend in our house.  Another weekend where Tim and I collapsed on the couch at the end of the day wondering when we'll ever not feel exhausted.  Worn out from the pace.  Worn out from the intensity of parenting.  Worn out from all the fun.

Dance party Friday night with a bunch of squealing girls and a couple rowdy boys. Holla!

I am always at the ready with my below average camera to capture EVERY moment.

Ice, ice baby.  Loving winter when the pond is frozen.
Free skating + fresh air= happiness.

JT lost his two front teeth biting his older brother while playing football. Yup.

A family that plays together just has a whole lot of fun together. Tim is really good at playing and I love him more for it.  Funny enough, the kids weren't even with him here. ( I'm kidding.)

Brilliant mind or total weirdo?  Not sure what the significance is of Wade constantly color coordinating everything, even his Skittles (on the floor in the gym at his brother's basketball game).

These are the days....

Our time is now....

Don't sweat the small stuff...

You get it. You get it right?

It's all going so fast. Don't miss the moments. 

Just like my new favorite shirt says:

From Old Navy, of course.

Not Boring

Some days aren't that exciting.  They are tedious, monotonous, um, boring.  They can't all be cutesy, anecdote-filled love fests.  

I just sat down to tell my husband, Tim, about my day and he fell asleep. Yes, my day (or my description) was that f#&*ing boring.  

But when I sat down to write about how boring my day was this picture popped up.

This isn't a boring face.  This is a oh-my-god-I-love-bubbles-and-bathtime-and-life-and-this-is-so-amazing face.

And then this picture uploaded:

This isn't a boring group doing homework.  This is a homework party with chips and dip and everyone hanging and learning and laughing and loving being together.

And then this picture came along:

This isn't a boring afternoon with a toddler.  This is front row seats to a hard-drumming, music-loving, life-embracing, determined 3-year-old.

Oh hell, this post just turned into a cutesy, anecdote-filled love fest.  It's just too good not to be.  

It's midnight and as I reflect back on my not-so-boring day, I'm doing my own kitchen dance.  My kids are sleeping, my husband is sleeping and I am dancing to bluesy Alabama Shakes songs.  If you could see my face, it's so not a boring face.  It's a god-damn-I'm-so-lucky-and-happy-and-tired-and-blessed face.  

Life is good and so not boring.

Listen to this song and dance while you think about all the non-boring, simple yet amazing moments of your day. I challenge you, do it, come on, just do it.

Weekend Update and The Kid Whisperer

This picture looks like the cover of an album from the 1970s or a pamphlet on addiction. 

With only one week left of summer vacation, we are living it up with lots of: baseball, baseball and more baseball; 

Baby Wade can't wait to get in the game.

BBQs, picnics and breakfasts outside;

You can't beat breakfast outside.   

boat rides on the lake; grandparents and cousins; and lots of hanging out.

Breakfast outside again AND cousins? Summer=awesome.
Yes, there are two babies underneath the plastic picnic table. Yes, there are.

Sometimes in this business of parenting, managing a family, organizing (or at least attempting to) a life, you can forget to sit back and enjoy it.  That is normally not a huge problem for me.  But I will admit to possibly not appreciating my partner in crime enough-my husband, Tim.  I also admit to possibly being a little overcritical and naggy.  You might say a bit of an overemotional, control freak (um the worst kind of control freak by the way). Gasp! I know shocking, right?

But it is jam packed summer weekends that remind me why I love this man.  Why I agreed to the whole "let's have another baby" suggestion over and over.  Because he's amazing.  I feel like gagging a little at the mushy sentiment.  Seriously, I would probably make fun of other people writing crap like this.  So have at it, make fun if you will.  I can take it.  

Because Tim isn't the perfect guy for everybody.  You've got your perfect or you're looking and will hopefully find your perfect.  Tim is a perfect match for me because he is laid back and supportive.  He's funny and more importantly he thinks I'm funny (most of the time).  He's a good listener I think.  One time I asked him how in the hell he could deal with my crazy mother when we used to visit her.  "How can you just sit there so calmly and listen to her go on and on and on?," I asked.  He proceeded to boast about his amazing secret talent of tuning out and just looking like he's listening. I was like wait, what?

Way back when I first fell in love with him, my littlest brother was 7 years old.  I was amazed at how well he played with him.  Not just played with him, but connected.  He was like a kid whisperer.  I knew he would be a good father and that made me love him even more and think he just might be my perfect match.

Even after this whole busy business of managing life has taken its toll (and believe me, we may be a perfect match, but we are so fucking far from perfect and a toll has been taken), he is still a kid whisperer.  This weekend with our own kids and his nieces and nephews, it was in full effect.  And I fell in love with him even more, even after all these years.

Fun with a patriotic ping pong game.

Tim looks thrilled to be holding two cute babies, although Wade looks a little pissed that his cousin Mia is getting his dad's attention.

That's what summer is about, right?  Relaxing into the moment, soaking up the sun and remembering what's good about life. 
***Okay on a totally neurotic, pessimistic note, I am a bit worried that I am loving life so much lately that I'm setting myself up for a terrible fall (oooh no pun intended,  seriously I meant the season).  Ugh.  Sorry, the crazy in me is always waiting for the other shoe to fall, if you will.  The superstitious in me is writing this to cover the bases, if you will.  


****Back to positivity, have you gotten in on the giveaway fun?  The chance to win not one, but two cute bags from Thirty-one is still available for a couple more days.  Read the details below:

Thirty-one products are pretty and pretty cool.  You can't go to your kids' baseball game or the pool these days without seeing at least a handful of moms with a thirty-one bag. You know why?  Because they are practical and fashionable. 
And it happens to be my first giveaway.


You could win not just one gift from Thirty One, but two.  I am giving away a thermal tote and a cinch sac in the adorable Flutter pattern.

All you have to do is, leave a comment here, like the Facebook page, or leave a comment on the Facebook page and you will be entered to win.  This is the perfect back to school prize.  And if you are interested in hosting a party (so you can get more free items, discounted items and hang with your friends)click here. 
 (Click here for more information on Thirty-One.)