Summer On My Mind

The school year ends a week from Friday. I am ready. I need Summer vacation. I need to not have a schedule (although that may not be possible). I need warm sunshine, trips to the pool, the smell of Hawaiian Tropic, snow cones and late nights under the stars. I took up the cow hide rugs in my family room this weekend. I already feel more summery. Sweet Pea even commented on the difference in the way the room feels. I put out some of my collection of shells around the house and the front porch. A little bit of the beach always feels like summer. Bring it on!

Are you ready for Summer?

Krissy

all photos via Pinterest

It's Broken and Mother's Day

Hello dear ones! I hope a lovely weekend was had by all, specially the moms out there. I know mine was davoon. Before I show you a pic or two, I want to catch you up on Sweet Pea's football finger. Yes, it is broken. This makes broken finger number three for baby girl. Don't for a minute think that this discouraged her. Oh no! She was back at practice and has no retirement plans in the works. I guess I better start looking for, what were her words, "cute and colorful" football cleats. Oxymoron. Okeedokee. I would show you a pic of my warrior child, but alas, she has forbidden me to show any pictures of her on any of my social media outlets. I am sneaking one in, but only because her brothers and myself are in it! I would welcome any and all input into how to convince her that volleyball is the better pick for next fall's sport choice. She says though that she will only play one season...to be continued.

My biggest blessings - you can see the famous pinky finger - 

Fisherman would like you all to notice that he is taller than me and I am wearing three inch heels.

Back to Mother's Day. It was loverly. My hubby thought of everything: my favorite finger sandwiches from a local luncheon place, cupcakes from a fabulous bakery, chilled Proseco and bountiful carbs to devour, flowers and my precious family in our home. Perfection! Thank you Mr. P! I am so blessed to be the wife of a wonderful man and mom to three amazing young people! 

 The table ready for guests

 Just a small sample of the goodies we munched on!

 My Mommom - the Birdie in Birdie Pearl

 My precious mom - Mumsie!

Flowers from my Daddy. These touched my heart, as my dad is not the "gift-giving" type. He brought these "lellow" (how I said "yellow" as a child) for me.

May the love continue all week and any sweets you ate this weekend not effect the way you look in a swimsuit!

Krissy

I Got This

I will keep repeating that to myself until it becomes reality. So, I know we are all busy and I know that I am no exception, but just when I think that "I got this," I reminded that I do not. This is the time to hit my knees in prayer. We have another crazy May week this week and yet, I am home today with one sick child (his mean mommy told him it was just allergies and to "suck it up", only to look closer and find that he does indeed have a fever) and another child, darling daughter, awaiting a trip to the doctor to x-ray her pinky finger. If it is broken, this makes broken finger number three for Sweet Pea. This was  NOT on the calendar for today - not even close!

I am thankful for my full life. We have had so much to celebrate and be thankful for and yet, there are set backs. Life is not happy sunshine 24/7, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it was? Even for say, a week or two during the craziest month of our year? I won't go into great detail about the rest of our challenges, we all have them and they hurt, but I think the hurt makes the happy that much better. LAst night, we celebrated Fisherman's new school at a school-wide picnic. We found out that some dear friends we haven't seen in a while will be at the school next year with Fisherman. Blessings abound!

I will wrap this up, as I have to take Sweet Pea to the doctor, but I want to fill you all in on my daughter, and give you some unsolicited parenting advice. From the time Sweet Pea was in preschool, she has been asking to play football. Let me insert here that she is indeed a bow wearing, card carrying, girly girl who is tough as nails and out to prove it. Girl power! Anyhoo, girlfriend asked and asked to play football and I answered with "Oh no sweetie, how about ballet?" or "Wouldn't you rather play volleyball"(which she does, pretty well, I might add) Fast forward six years and our school is adding six man football to the sports next fall for seventh and eighth graders. Again, she asks to play football. However, instead of waiting for me and Mr. P's answer, girlfriend goes to the coach and asks him to play and apparently was convincing. Guess who was the only girl to start spring training with the team?  The coach planned on working her hard, thinking she would get discouraged and go back to volleyball. It didn't work. She is more fired-up than ever! It also doesn't help that she is better than most of the young men on the field. Really. She throws a mean spiral, catches like a guy and thinks getting hit is fun. Should I worry? I have been praying that God would be in control of this situation. If she is ever going to play, this is the time, as high school would be far too dangerous. All of this leads to yesterday at recess. She was playing football with her girlfriends and one of them threw a "wonky" pass and she caught it wrong and now her pinky is three times normal size and blue. Not good. Answer to prayer? Or just proof that you shouldn't play football with girls? I will found out in an hour or two. My unsolicited parenting advice? ALLOW YOUR DAUGHTER TO PLAY FOOTBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, when she is little and get it out of her system if she thinks she wants to play. It is much safer and a lot less of a headache!

Amen! Pass the Tylenol.

Have a great day!

Krissy

photos via Pinterst

Texas History

I spent last week chaperoning fifteen seventh graders on our school's Texas History trip. Do I have a child in the seventh grade class? No. Do I teach texas History? No. Was I compensated to go on this trip? No. Why in the heck did I go? Good question! Just for the record: Fisherman is in the eighth grade and Sweet Pea is in sixth. The students in our school have the opportunity to go on overnight trips in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Parents of students in that class are not allowed on the trip, so my thinking was that I would pay forward someone having to chaperone my own children on these trips, by chaperoning theirs. And, I do teach preschool at the school, sub quite a bit and I therefore appear to be "available" a lot, so I was asked. I really did have a fun time. I am tired, but I learned a lot and had the opportunity to see what my own children will experience. It was fun!

I won't bore you with a dissertation on Texas History, although I would love to. I am a bit of a history buff and find it fascinating. Yes, I do realize that most people do not share my enthusiasm. However, you might enjoy the pictures. We toured the Alamo (site of the famous battle between General Santa Anna and the entire Mexican Army against two hundred brave souls defending Texas freedom. The Texans lost but ultimately won freedom at the battle of San Jacinto). We also toured two other missions in San Antonio. These churches are still active parishes and were built in the 1700's.

The Alamo and my charges

We then traveled to Austin and went to the capital building, state cemetery and museums. Our state senator, Wendy Davis, took time out of her schedule to meet with us on the capital steps. Thank you Ms. Davis!

We also packed in some swimming in record cold temps, time at Main Event and lots of junk food. Whoohoo! Oh to be a teen again!

Top of the rotunda of the Texas State Capital Building

 

I had to thrown in one last pic. The eighth grade travelled to Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi to tour the Civil War historic sites there. This is Fisherman's class. Don't they look like a handsome bunch on this veranda? Fisherman is standing, second from left.

I feel so blessed that my children are in a school with these opportunities. Thank you for letting me share!

Happy Monday!

Krissy

In My Courtyard

When we moved into our home a year ago, we hated the "dingo, 1960's courtyard" and could not wait to tear it out. The decorative, cinder-block walls, the huge lava rock in the corner, the built-in gas grill, the enormous brain tree - it is a bit dated don't ya think? Well, flash forward one year and well, it has kind of grown on us. The space is cozy and comfy and we all enjoy spending time here.

Last spring, I planted a climbing rose bush. This was supposed to bloom from spring to fall. I planted the small bush, tenderly cared for it and waited and waited and waited. No blooms. The plant grew prolifically, but no blooms. I didn't give up though and my patience has been rewarded with beautiful blooms! The space still needs work, as most everything around here does, but I am going to share it anyway.

 Here is my French bottle rack, turned flower holder

 The "brain" tree - we still keep it trimmed to honor

all of the hard work of those that lived here before us

 The rose - tiny, delicate blooms

Happy Weekend!

Krissy

Blue Love

I have to be fair to my favorite color - blue. After my green post, I couldn't let these pictures just float around on my Pinterest boards without giving them their due. So, if the green didn't float your boat, perhaps these blue pics will make you swoon!

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House Beautiful

xoxo,

Krissy

Green Love

here

Spring has been slow to spring around here. Just when we think it is here to stay, we are back in heavy coats and covering the plants for cold weather. That is NOT normal here in Texas, but I kind of like it. Bring it on!

I put together some green love to inspire you. Enjoy!

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xoxo,

Krissy

Where I Would...

Like to spend the weekend.

Hope you have a good one!

Krissy

photo via here

Children and Design

I pinned these rooms over a year ago when I was seeking bedroom inspiration for Sweet Pea's room in the new (we have been in for a year already!) house. If you read this here blog from time to time, you can easily tell which of these rooms is my style and which is my darling daughter's style. Any guesses? 

I want my children to love their rooms and take pride in their spaces. As much as I would like to dictate every aspect of the design and make their rooms "picture" ready, life just doesn't work that way. I love the look of more muted colors and paired-down design for their rooms, but that is not what makes them happy and inspires them. I tried to treat my children like little, pro-bono clients and let them show me what appeals to them and help come up with the design for their rooms. The result? They could not be happier and I am, too. Do I long for more muted colors and perhaps more sophistication in their rooms? Absolutely! But I do have the rest of the house to play with. I love that my kids are excited to entertain their friends in our home, OUR home, and they love their rooms, so in the end, isn't that what good design is all about?

Thoughts?

xoxo,

Krissy

photos via Pinterest

Spring Fever

I have a bad case of spring fever. Anyone else? I don't want to do anything unless it involves being outside. The second that I finish this little post, I am taking my fur children on a long walk. I just want to leave you all with a little Monday, Earth Day, inspiration. How is this?

I would never leave my home if this was out back. Enjoy sweet ones!

Krissy

photo via Pinterest

April is the New May...

A friend of mine gave me that little pearl last week, and you know what? She is right! One month of end of the year craziness just wasn't enough, so now it is spilling over into April. Well, not just spilling into April, but running all over April! Fundraisers, school auctions, sports banquets, recitals, fine arts night, school trips, 8th grade graduation and parties - and the usual sports practices and games. Add all this on top of Mr. P and Fisherman's April birthdays (along with my grandmother, brother, sister-in-law and step-mom-in-law) and I am one exhausted gal. I thought I had a grip on this chaos until I sat down yesterday and read the Parent Guide to the high school that Fisherman will attend next year. Holy Moly! My head was spinning! It was like getting ready for college! Whoa! That is a whole other adventure and I am not sure I am ready for my baby to be a Freshman in high school. I will keep you posted on that!

Back to the task at hand..catching you all up on the Pearl household.

Easter was a wonderful day at my mom and dad's home. We celebrated our risen Lord and the six family birthdays!

The Birthday Bunch Sporting the hats that I fashioned for them - lucky them!

My first born turned fifteen on the 12th. How can this be? High school. Driver's Ed. The Zac Brown Concert this Friday (I get to chaperone!). I am so proud of my boy. He is an amazing young man. He has had to endure far more than his share of tragedies and set-backs, and yet, he is still working, still striving, always loving life and all this with a smile on his face that lights a room. Love you sweet boy!

My fifteen year old Fisherman!

Sophie dog  and her stuffed frog had sneak-in on the action and attention!

Mr. P celebrated his birthday yesterday. I won't reveal his age, as he is only eight months older than I am, but he is amazing! We have reached the point in our marriage, that if you combine the three years of dating before we married, we have now been together longer than we haven't. Scary! Love you babe!

My girl has been working hard on her volleyball skills, making the honor roll, growing taller every day and keeping us all organized and in line. That's my Sweet Pea!

This little tater sported his first bow tie for Easter cuz he knows how much his momma loves a boy in a bow tie! He is tearing-up the soccer field in the net as goalie, memorizing all fifty states, capitals and postal abbreviations and melting his momma's heart!

This I had to throw-in for a laugh! This is my dad, Popie, in his Easter bonnet.

That just about does it. Oh, as if I had nothing better to do, I have finally made the curtains for my family room and will update soon!
Take care and not to go too crazy!

xoxo,

krissy