state finals.

Last night, the boys clinched the first boys volleyball Sectional title in school history!
It was amazing!
Current Record:  30 wins - 6 losses

They played a tough team last night (that was one of their 6 losses from earlier in the season).
But they played smart and consistent and beat them this time in 2 sets.  (It's always best 2 out of 3, for those who don't usually follow volleyball.)
They have won all of their post-season games in just 2 sets, and that is pretty amazing.  Never letting up, or slowing down to let it get to the third set.

And now they are on their way to the State Finals this coming weekend.
The scoop:
They play Friday evening at 6pm (Quarterfinals).  If they win, they move into the Final Four and play both Saturday morning and Saturday evening.

If anyone is interested in going to any of the games, let me know.

For those who can't make it, it will be televised and you can watch any of those matches online at IHSA.org.

Sectional Champs.
State-Bound.

We are pretty excited!

Sectional Champs ~ 2013

our love story: chapter three.

To read our love story: chapter one Click Here.
To read our love story: chapter two Click Here.


A year had passed.

It was volleyball season yet again, and I was back to work a game but this time my friend Sarah had joined me at the scorer's table.

We were in the High School gymnasium this time.
We were chatting about our day, fingernail polish colors (a deep purple was totally in this Fall), and doing our duty as scorekeepers.

When in walked my hot, deaf P.E. boy. 
I realize every part of that label is not considered the most appropriate, but let's be honest that's just what we do when we have crushes.  We attribute characteristics that become a name you use (in your own mind) until you really truly know them.

He looked exactly the same.
Tall, handsome, athletic, sweet, smiley.
He was friendly.
You could tell by the fact that he would say something to every person he passed, instead of just walking by like many people do.

As he got closer, his eyes met mine.
I remembered those big warm eyes.
And now he was walking my way.

This time...
he sat right next to me,
he stayed the entire game,
and we talked the entire time.

A year had passed, but it was like the last time we had seen each other was just a few weeks ago.

He was so sweet, so kind.
And this time I had the chance to see something I hadn't had the chance to before,
he seemed so genuine and honest and innocent.
I could see that he looked at life differently than many people do.
Always looking at the positive, making the most of every second, being there for other people.

And in that moment I knew we shared something,
something so important.
Life was the same for us, no matter how different our pasts were, or how little we really knew of one another.

But the truth was,
at this moment, and in this time,
I was casually dating someone else.
And I think he may have been too.

It wasn't our time,
just quite yet.

a family week in May.

The week before last (the week of no blogging) we had a wonderfully fun-filled and busy week.
Unfortunately, I did not tote my camera around with me and therefore I do not have pictures!  I am bummed. 
First we had Grandma (my mom) in for a week long stay.
There was a day long trip to the airport, to Arlington Heights to Quinn's great-grandmother's gravesite for Mother's Day, to the neighborhood and park my mom grew up in, and to Woodfield Mall.
There was lots of time spent outside, especially picking out the dandelions and Quinn is a pro.  We dug them out and Quinn walked around and picked them up. :)
There was baking and visits to the library and a trip to our little doughnut shop.
There was a big project, with help from my mom and brother (that I will post soon).
And there was hosting a bridal shower.

All together we had 24 visitors in and out of our house in the week.
Including my family, a little visit with Todd's mom, Genny and Derek, and all of the shower guests.

There was some time spent with Drew and his fiancé, Kristen.

Less than 50 days till wedding day!

And these little cuties were in town with us too.

To find out why Quinn did not join in on the bath, you will have to read an upcoming story of The Band-aid Dilemma.

So good time shared with family, it's never really long enough.
Gorgeous weather for the week.
And fun had by all!

I am super bummed I didn't get any pictures of the bridal shower that Amy and I hosted.  It was a cute travel theme with lots of maps.  Oh well.  When you get caught up hosting you forget to do those little things like take pictures.  I was a wonderful shower and the happy couple received many great gifts.

Another project complete...

The wall gallery I made for Drew and Kristen.


and some sprinkler fun on a warm day :)

sweet sixteen.

We are still far from the days of celebrating a 16th birthday around here, and let's keep it that way. :)

However, for those following how Todd's volleyball team is doing, they continue their winning journey and are now in the sweet sixteen (top 16 in state) and will make their way to the sectional finals next Tuesday.  Rolling forward...

victory.

He's done it again!

For the second time this school year Todd has led his volleyball team to be Regional Champs!!

Both the boys and girls teams this school year had great seasons, definitely something to celebrate.

 

This particular boys team has been so fun to watch this year.  They are so good.

They hustle like crazy and are just rockstars on the volleyball court.  It's so fun.

Last night they defeated a rival team in just two sets to clinch the regional championship. 

This team is ranked #1 for the sectional so we have high hopes and wishes of making it to state!

One step at a time, but they are very close now and they are very capable.

I've lost track of their record but it is somewhere around 28-6 (so awesome!),  and they have won both conference and regionals.

Not only are they capable, but they are so deserving.  Just a good group of boys with lots of drive and heart.

 

Hip - Hip Hooray for Daddy!

Today is Todd's birthday, and this was the most exciting gift.

It's all he asked for (it was kind of hard for me to control, but I'm glad it all worked out :)).

 



Don't let that sweet little face and cute piggies fool you into thinking that she sat calmly and watched the game.  She never even set foot into the gym.  She is terrified of the loud noises in the gym and last night was even louder than normal with a big cheering crowd.  I should have learned my lesson.  Glad she was there for this picture and moment, but this will be her last game to attend this season.

I'm thankful to friends and family who take her so I can go to the games, and for the ones who I will be asking this week and next. ;)

Happy Birthday to my husband today!

And our absence from the blog this past week is due to lots of family time. 
More posts to come.

dear mama, love quinn.

Dear Mama,

You are doing a good job Mom.
I want you to know that I am happy.
Which is all I know that you worry about and want for me.
Me being a happy girl in life (and kind and strong and confident and healthy... I know).
I'm sure I will face times of sadness and tough times in the future, even worse than when you say no to m&m's.
But I also know I will always have you to get through those difficult times.

I am kind.
I share with others.
I love my friends.
I smile a lot, even just to try to make someone else smile.
I am patient, I try to be.
I listen to others.
I learn all of this from you.

I love to hold your hand, everywhere we go.  (I know I am good at this :))
I know I stay close to you when we go places and when we are around a lot of people, it's because I love you and you make me feel safe.

My favorite place is in your arms.

You are a good mommy.
You let me wear all of your fancy necklaces, even though you know it will take you at least 20 minutes to untangle them.

You are always prepared with snacks when we go shopping.  I love Hobby Lobby too, but sometimes we are there for a loooong time.
You let me pick out what I want to wear sometimes, even if it means snowboots in May.

I do not like to get in trouble, but most of all I just want to make you and daddy happy.
I love you, and I know sometimes you need my smiles just as much as I need yours.

I have so much fun with you.
I love all the girly things we do together.
You would dance with me all day long if I wanted you to.
You always make me look cute, even on days when all you want to do is wear a t-shirt and sweats.
You painted my toenails pink and now I am obsessed with them!

I love our quiet moments together.
When we get to talk and giggle and sing and play with each other's hair.  (Thanks for letting me brush your hair even though I'm still learning to be gentle with the brush.)
And when we rock in the rocking chair, just you and me, and you sing to me (I love when you sing the little red box song, and Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper.)

Thank you for letting me learn to be brave and independent and try things on my own.
Like climbing to the top of the play gym at McDonald's all by myself.
Thank you for letting me eat more french fries than chicken nuggets that night too.

Thank you for being silly and funny just for me.
And for taking me to many fun and exciting places.

 

I love when we go for our walks together.
Even though the stroller may be easier to push you know that I love the wagon more.

 

  

When people say that I look like you.

It makes me happy. 

I am proud to have you as my mama.

 



Thank you for letting me grow.
letting me make mistakes,
to stumble sometimes,
to learn not to give up,
to be myself.

I know you are not perfect and that you are learning too.
You are my mama,
and I love you.

Love,
Quinn
(2 years old)


I encourage all mamas to write a letter to themself from their child.
It is a good writing exercise. 
Mom's can be hard on themselves sometimes, and sometimes the best compliments are hearing them from within.

Happy Mother's Day!

just a few days gone by.

Sometimes in mommyhood just a few days gone by can change so much.
It happens occasionally, where one day they are doing the same things they always have been and the next they are a different child doing 5 new things you haven't seen before.
It's all part of the fun ride of watching them grow.

This little love nugget here...

is growing up so quickly and so beautifully.

In just a matter of a few days she has become more brave, confident and silly.
She is doing so much better in a large group, feeling more comfortable and needs mommy a little less.
She is trying to hold back her tears and be stronger when someone else in the room cries.  (She is a compassionate girl who does not like sadness or trouble.)

What is so fun about this age and what she is doing now, is that she is discovering feelings, emotions, and social gestures.
The past few days when we arrive somewhere new and greet new people she puts on this big sweet (almost fake- to me because I know her) smile on.  And she keeps it on every time someone new talks to her.  This is so different from our shy girl who nuzzles into mommy's chest or rests her head on my shoulder with more of a serious look. 
She is brave.
She is trying.
She is so much stronger than she was just a few days ago.

This morning she was in a little timeout for dripping her cup onto the floor purposefully.
She sat there and teared up (like usual) but then quickly pulled the tears away and put this huge cheesy smile on her face, then made a silly wiggle her tongue face, then giggled (all for me, because she could see that I was not happy with her and she was trying to make me smile).  It was SO hard not to smile right back at her.  I did.  Because I'm also teaching her that her little gestures can have a big impact, that she can make someone smile and brighten their day.  I want her to be like the little boy in the video I had posted that goes back on the rainy road to help someone walk across it.  So, I smiled of course, but still was firm on the no spilling on purpose. :)

Last night we went to a family dinner for all of Todd's volleyball team and their families.  It was so fun, and so nice in so many ways.  It was a gorgeous evening outside, at their beautiful home.  It was fun to get to see all of the boys outside of the volleyball court.  Todd has such a nice group of boys on the team, so sweet and kind and just good kids. 
Quinn had the best time, she could have stayed forever.  She was a different girl.  This is where things can change in the blink of an eye.
She barely needed mommy, or sat in my lap.  She put on her happy smiley face every time someone talked to her.  She found a little frog and tried to say "frog".  When her favorite song came on, she let everyone know it was her favorite song.  When we were sitting around talking to all of the boys she kept pointing to her shoes, which I knew was code for take them off please.  She wanted to show the boys her new pedicure (which she loves).  And they were so sweet to oooh and ahhhh at her little toesies for her.  It made her smile.

Yup.  First little pedicure.  She loved it. :)

Back to our volleyball evening.
There was music, there was volleyball in the grass, there was swimming.  Quinn joined in with everything.  Well, she really tried to.  As in, she would have jumped into the pool with her dress on if she could have.  And she would run into the grass volleyball court to play with the big boys.
She was such a good girl and had so much fun.
The cutest and sweetest thing of the evening though was when she walked right up to one of the boys (Johnny) and reached out for his hand and led him to the steps.  She wanted to go with him down to the grass volleyball court.  And they did.  Her cuteness can be very persuasive. :)
Now, this was probably just a sweet little moment to everyone who saw, but to this mama this moment was HUGE.  Quinn does not go up to people she doesn't know and initiate play or conversation.  And she did this twice last night.  I was so proud of her.

In just a few days, so much can change.

Seeing her playing with all of these high school boys made me think of being little and growing up around my Dad's high school basketball team.  It is so fun.  It's such a great way to grow up and be around so many good kids.  Growing up around sports, not just participating, but being involved in other ways too is such a good thing.  I've talked about that here.
We are all lucky to be part of something so fun, rewarding, and that brings people together.


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

Life is so good.
Our days are always filled with fun, happiness and love.
But the last few days have just felt extra blissful I guess.

We had Todd home all weekend, always makes for an extra special weekend.

We went to a birthday party for our little friends Greyson and Finn.
We got to see friends.
And we made and brought these Lego cookies. :)

Todd and I had a date night out with a group of 15 of my high school friends.
It was so special that we were able to get such a big group together.
We enjoyed a fun and delicious dinner at the Melting Pot.
I only took one picture.  With this pretty birthday girl, Danielle.

It was a late evening out, and we were so grateful that our little Quinny was in good hands with Great Grandma Ginny. :)

The next morning, this tired mama was still in bed when a little girl came running in with a smile and note asking if she and her daddy could take me out to breakfast for mother's day (Todd is working next weekend).  So we did, and we had a wonderful day together.

And the next day was filled with painting and pedicures, and pretty dresses.
We all know that I love a pretty maxi dress.  Quinn wore her first one to the volleyball party last night. 

 

What a wonderful few days.



the good in the world.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the beauty in the world that we live. 
The last several months have been filled with too many sad stories on the news, too many hardships, too many tragedies. 
It's important for us to not lose faith in humanity. 
To continue to see the kindness around us and give it whenever we can. 
The little acts of kindness are in fact BIG to those on the receiving end.  
I was on this blog, and watched this video.  I was so touched and moved and uplifted, I decided it was worth spreading the love and kindness in any way that I can.  
My friend Danielle, told me a story about how last week she was driving down the highway and came upon a horrible car accident that had just happened.  Immediately and without hesitation, she pulled over with her kids in the car, got out and ran through the mud, losing her shoes along the way, to help those involved.  She performed CPR on one of the passengers until emergency response arrived. 
She is the good. 
There is so much good around us. 
Sometimes our focus is pulled from that. 
No matter how big or small, every act of kindness is BIG to those on the other side of it. 

The video is from Russian dash cameras.
Turn up the volume. 
You may even tear up a little like I did at 4:26.

"It’s a cold, dark world, but people still take your hand and help you cross the street. I don’t know, I just think that’s kind of beautiful."

happiness is...

seeing spring for the first time in your new home.

a maroon 5 song playing on the radio.

a handful of m&m's (quinny)

being silly.

I'm not sure if she was so excited about all the flowers or just the fact that it was finally a warm and sunny day.  Is she sunbathing?

a volleyball game victory.

seeing little baby duckies.

dancing anywhere.

making someone else smile.

a dandelion-free yard. :)

Oh wait, that picture was taken three days ago.  Now we host a whole field of dandelions.  sweet.
Quinn and I picked some the first day we saw them, the next morning four times as many were out there.  She started to go pick them (well, she points to the ones she wants me to pick) and I said "nope, not today sweetheart", I was exhausted by the thought of how quickly they grow.
We are trying hard to be patient with a yard that went uncared for, for two years.  oh well.

Nothing that a scoop of ice cream from our favorite local custard shop can't fix.

ice cream.

ahhh...
happiness.

Happy Weekend!


PS. This is post #360 for this little blog.  How did that happen?

projects and crafts and parties...oh my!

That's my Wizard of Oz reference for today.

And it's really just my way of saying that I have revamped our PROJECTS page so that it is easier to view and easier to find a project to individually view instead of having to scroll through all of them.
Our projects page gets viewed pretty regularly so I figured an update was necessary. 
Plus there is always some kind of DIY project going on around here, usually several at the same time, so just by numbers alone, we definitely needed to revamp the page.

You can still click the page link under the header called all things DIY.
or you can CLICK HERE.
You can check out a new Subway Art project I tackled last week.

What is in the works right now?
- headboards (one tufted, one rustic plank, and one beadboard)
- a few bridal shower crafts
- redesigning/painting a bookshelf for Quinn's room
- 3 different art craft projects for Quinn's room

Also have been reorganizing closets around here, and there may be some projects involved in that as well.

And there are a few more things I just finished up that will need to get posted soon.
We hope that maybe someone might find one of our projects to be insightful or helpful for them, but we also like to just document them for ourselves too.

In the meantime, Quinn and I have been spending TONS of time playing outside.
We are off to a music class at the library this morning.
And Todd is in the last month of the school year, and enjoying a great season of coaching. :)

Have a wonderful day!!