I am a MOM!

I have talked a little on my blog about my feeling a bit empty in the "Me" tank lately.  All my kiddos are in school now and my other-half works long hours and is gone a lot.  My "work" hours are from 5am-8:15am and then from 3:30pm-8pm.  From 8:15-3:30 it's just me and the cat...yes, laundry, toilets, vacuums, brooms, and dirty dishes are also here to keep me company.

For a while this was really getting me down.  I felt like there must be something I could do between those hours that will fulfill me a bit more than the joy laundry provides.  Ha! 

The thing is it's very important to me to be here for my kids.  I want them to know that I am here if they forgot their lunch, homework, or gym shoes and even if I gripe (just a bit), I can help them out.  I LOVE our summers together.  I wouldn't miss those hot summer days for anything.  Yes, those days can get long and sometimes boring and by August I am ready for school to start but I wouldn't want to lose the chance to hang with them.

So yesterday I decided that I need to change my point of view.  My family needs me.  My family relys on me to provide important things for them.  I love that job.  It's the best job out there and it won't last forever.  My oldest is 13 and will soon want to hang with her friends all the time.  My youngest is 8 and that is only 10 years to go and then she could be off to greatness.  I am going to stop my complaining and just be proud of myself for having such fun, great kids and be thankful to my other-half for providing me with that option. 

There are things I am interested in doing though.  If you read my post yesterday you know I love to read.  So I just started volunteering once a week at our elementary library.  I don't do much, so far just organizing shelves alphabetically but that's ok.  For now, this is my course and it's good, and very important. 
The best part...it's a decision, my decision!
Who knows, maybe down the road, this could lead to a position at one of the kids' schools?
Hmmmm...the same hours and breaks as the kiddos get?!  The perfect solution?  Maybe!

What's your worry Mom?  Life is good!

TV or not TV?!

I think I have a problem...turning off the TV 

Here's the thing...I love to read books.  There is nothing better than a great book.  One that can make you think about life or bring you to tears or make you smile and laugh.  I love a good book!!

But...even when I have a good book to read and am really enjoying it, I will turn on the TV.  I will waste so much time just watching needless stuff.  It's really bad...it's crazy.

It all started this morning, I was walking around the library gathering books that I wanted and thinking "I shouldn't take too many because I will never read them all in the amount of time the library lets me keep them".  Then I thought, "well that's only because you watch TV too much".  Oh...sometimes those little men (lil' good guy-lil' bad guy) on your shoulder really point out important things.

So I can to the only rational decision...
I am turning off the "tube". 

For one week, I am going to turn it off and read.  All week.  Just read.  I want to see how quickly I can get through a stack of books.  The TV is an amazingly addictive, evil, little thing.  I have known this forever but it's hitting me how much time I just waste.  I limit it for my kiddos...why not myself.  I am the one with the problem, not them.

Now there are my favorite shows that I really enjoy but with the internet and now our Hulu, I can catch up on just about anything and do it at my leisure.
This will be good.  I need this.  I will survive.  

So here is my goodie bag of books!!!

Source: amazon.com via Alicia on Pinterest

"The Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks

Source: google.com via Alicia on Pinterest

"Fly Away Home" by Jennifer Weiner

Source: google.com via Alicia on Pinterest

"The Blue Bistro" by Elin Hilderbrand

Source: goodreads.com via Alicia on Pinterest

"The Family Fortune" by Laurie Horowitz
and...

Source: amazon.com via Alicia on Pinterest

"Silver Girl" by Elin Hilderbrand

They all look good right?  It's crazy because I really want to read all of them but I am already missing the stupid TV.
Ugh...I sooooo need to do this...but why is it so hard?  I guess it's hard to do the best thing sometimes.

So next Monday I will fill you in on how I survived Reading week.
I also need to stop blabbing on this post and stop surfing the internet.  Another one of my big time wasters!

Oh wait...Just remembered...can I watch KU get their butts kicked tonight by Kentucky?  That doesn't count right?!
Oh man...well, Good Luck Kentucky!  You aren't my wildcats but mine aren't the ones playing KU!

BFF

In honor of my bestie...she is the most funny, kind, honest, lovable, sarcastic, generous, and always willing and able to put up with me for over 20+ years! She never fails to pick me up when I am down, make me laugh when I feel like crying, and clean up after I puke on her mailbox (not my fault...blame the crazy neighbor ladies whom I shall let remain nameless but who know exactly who they are!!!)...she's a dream!

A real BFF truly make your life better! I Love her dearly!

Soooo.....in honor of her, here is a clip from a new show on NBC...looks like a good one too...I only wish S and I were not so far apart we could watch it together!

I just did this?!

It's Thursday...actually Thursday and I have some things to be thankful for...on time...whoo hoo!

Thankful for...
my Mother-in-Law
Spring Break
no homework
no schedules

So my MIL is in town visiting us this week and we have been having a ton of fun.  Not only have we been going places and seeing new things, we have been hanging out at home, chatting it up and laughing.  It's been so nice!  I have always loved her dearly but I don't think I have always appreciated her thoroughly.  She is silly, funny, spontaneous, willing to do anything for my kids, and just plain lovely!  Here is some of our fun!

We headed to The Magic House...the StL Children's Museum!  What an awesome place that is...WOW! 

The bubble room was one of my favorite areas and there were many cool areas!

This was very cool.  You just stood there and danced to the music.  This is Baba (the word for Grandma in Croatian) and Lili!

Cool!

very Cool!

Very very cool!

We also hit the fabulous StL Zoo!  It was such a beautiful day!  Some highlights...

Even though they are getting big, everyone still loves the carousel!

"Don't mind me, I'm just going to eat my corn!"

"Go Away mister", "Oh but I wuv you so!"

"Oh I am so beautiful, look at my big, strong arms...are you impressed?!"

"Why can't I come hang out with you?"

"Oh my, I can't always entertain you people!"

The very cool train.  It takes about 20 minutes and it gives you a full tour of the zoo.

We saw a few animals but a lot of them seemed to be sleeping yesterday.  It was still great fun!


Today I think is a hang out day here at home...specifically requested by one of my kiddos...crazy huh?!
So let me say, Thank you Carolyn for being a great and wonderful Mom and Mom-in-Law!   Love!

Thankful for...

~I started this on "Thankful Thursday" but as you will see, it took me a bit to get it all organized~

Today I am so very thankful for...
my feet
my new walkin' tennies
my new town and their historical society! 

Here is why...

From the Webster Groves Historical Society website-
"Beginning in 2001 with the “Heart of Webster Historic Walk”  and completing in 2007 with the Tuxedo Park walk, the series includes a wonderful cross section of our City, both architecturally and sociologically. The Walks highlight houses and other locations because of their architectural merit or their historical significance. They are helping the City of Webster Groves increase awareness of the outdoor architectural museum we call our neighborhoods. They are educational and recreational."


Here are some of my favs...

Alexander Pierce House, 1909.  He owned a plumbing supply business.

Albert Blackmer House, 1927

Robert Studley House, 1865.  Founder of the R.P. Studley Printing Company.

Edward P. Rice House, 1866, once owned by the founder of the Ralston-Purina Company.

Alexander P. Robinson House, 1890.  Alexander was the superintendent of the Waters Pierce Oil Company.

Edwin Gloor House, 1903. 

J.E. Holland House, 1926.

Gertrude, Blanche, Hattie and Eugenie Brooks House, 1901.  This is one of my true favorites...it was built for 4 sisters who's family had moved to Webster Groves in the 1880's.  Their family's original farmhouse seems to be very close to where our house is located today...maybe even the farmhouse next door.  I will look into this! 

Frederick H. Gore House, 1891.  This was a wedding present to Frederick from his mother, Katy Gore!

Kate G. Thompson House, 1897.  This was one of 4 houses built by Kate as investments and to attract successful businessmen to Webster from the big city.  In those days Webster was a train ride away from St. Louis which today is easily done and takes only about 10 minutes. 

Warren H Simmons House, 1893.  Mr. Simmons was the secretary for the St. Louis Cotton Exchange.  You can barely see this but at the top of the roof is the top of an atrium that runs down the center of the house allowing sunlight to flood the entry. 

The Catherine (Katy) Gore House, 1891.  Katy (mentioned above) built this house for herself the same year she built the house she gave to her son for a wedding present.  This woman sounds like she was quite the character...I think I will do some research on her!

William L Wright, 1901.  This picure does not do this house justice.  It's big, beautiful and has a separate carriage house with upstairs apartment.  Another one of my most favs!

This has been a major bonus for me as I have started walking once again.  These guided walks are so great because they mix together two of my favorite things, being outside walking and a little history about all the amazing house I see along the way.  There are 7 walks in the series...today's walk was a 2.5 miler called "Ridge at Rock Hill Road".  The guidebook lists homes and buildings, talks about their architectural features and gives a little history of who originally built the house.  I love it!


I also came upon the former house of artist Mary Engelbreit.  I knew she was from St. Louis but I didn't know she once lived here in Webster Groves and for all I know she might still be near...I will keep a look out for her!
Here is her former house...

I can so imagine Miss Ann Estelle, "the princess of quite a lot", playing in this yard!

It is so much better to do the actual walk than to see these pics but I hope you enjoyed the tour.  I will probably do a couple more soon!