House Hunting "ahem" Adventures

Found this beauty last night. It's "For Sale" status is questionable since it has a For Sale by Owner sign out from, but no phone number. However, we were so taken with it that we are pursuing it anyway. Have a letter in the mail to the registered owners asking the status and if they are interested in selling for what is probably far less than the house was worth in it's heyday. Doesn't hurt to ask, right?
http://www.trulia.com/homes/New_Mexico/Las_Cruces/sold/251638-2600-Westmoreland-Ave-Las-Cruces-NM-88012#photo-2

Stay-cation Day 3: June 30, 2014

Stay-cation day 3: Flat tire made for a tough start, but then spent the day relaxing at the B-Bunch house with the critters and my 2 younger boys, made a new Crock Pot meal that was delicious and read 2 whole books, which erased the irritation of the morning. Then I had a fight with Dan and went to bed mad. Guess I'll call it a wash for day 3. LOL!

Serious Crock Pot Love

Thunder loves to be in a basket. Any basket will do!

*I'm on vacay from work for the next 2 weeks while BossMan and the rest of the B-Bunch travel for school reunions, to visit family and to take a break from the hectic schedule they normally enjoy. I'll be taking care of the house and critters in their absence and intend to remember how to relax a bit along the way. Join me :)

Stay-cation Day 2: June 29, 2014

Stay-cation day 2: House/pet sitting for the B-Bunch, cleaning the house, having the boys' friends over for "friend day" this afternoon, and the best, funnest, probably longest Pampered Chef party I've ever been at to wrap up the day. I promised myself I'd enjoy the B-Bunch's pool every single day so I'm off to sit with my feet in the cool water to wrap up this wonderful day. — feeling relaxed, just like I should be on a Sunday evening. with Jody Lila Jeffrey Stolp.

*I'm on vacay from work for the next 2 weeks while BossMan and the rest of the B-Bunch travel for school reunions, to visit family and to take a break from the hectic schedule they normally enjoy. I'll be taking care of the house and critters in their absence and intend to remember how to relax a bit along the way. Join me :)

Stay-cation day 1: June 28, 2014

Stay-cation day 1:
A shift at the gym, laughing with the kiddos and Miss Rhonda. House/pet sitting for the B-Bunch while they are away, which included a quiet afternoon at their house, where I was very nearly alone. Haircut for D. SNL, complete with a great sermon called "Love is....Love is not Boastful" and tasty Green Chile Enchiladas from Roberto's. Sunset swim with 2 of my favorite people. Life is good. — with Rhonda Clow and Patrick Meyer at Mesilla Park Community Church.

Love the look of the dark trees against the quickly fading light sky.

P and DT join me for an evening swim

*I'm on vacay from work for the next 2 weeks while BossMan and the rest of the B-Bunch travel for school reunions, to visit family and to take a break from the hectic schedule they normally enjoy. I'll be taking care of the house and critters in their absence and intend to remember how to relax a bit along the way. Join me :)

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
June 23, 2014

Outside my window...

The sky is AMAZINGLY blue, with puffy white clouds dotting the view. The Organ Mountains rise majestically in the distance. The garbage cans wait to be taken back from the curb after their early morning emptying. The B-Bunch-mobile awaits the next call to duty, picking up and dropping off.

I am thinking...

about this and that, everything and nothing. My mind wanders as I await a call from teenagers needing rides hither and yon.

I am thankful...

for sunny days, cool nights, a hubby that still makes my heart race, and boys that make me laugh. And grace. SO thankful for grace.

In the kitchen...
BBQ pork is in the crock pot, fresh bread is rising on the counter, and pasta salad is cooling in the fridge. Easy peasy dinner that comes together in a snap :)

I am wearing...
pink T shirt, navy jumper and my ever present sneakers.

I am creating...
dinner, helpful sons and a (hopefully) napped and un-cranky version of Little Miss. I am also creating (through the use of my labor saving devices) a bit more time in my day, to be spent with Handsome Hercules.

I am going...
back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And crazy. Always headed down the road to crazy. Want to join me?

I am wondering...
what this week will bring my way. I'm trying to be ready.

I am reading...
How the States Got Their Shapes, The Love Dare (again), 1st Corinthians, and recipe books.

I am hoping...
that our house hunting days are coming to an end. Quickly.

I am looking forward to...
VACATION! We're totally having a stay-cation, but at the end of this week, I'm off for 2 whole weeks. Pretty excited about it.

I am learning...
that sometimes Mama needs summer break from school as much as the kiddos do.

From the learning rooms...
basically, all that is left of school for now is the summer reading challenge, which the boys have all attacked with a vengeance. P won the first BINGO, but D and DT are hot on his heels. Little Miss is playing along this year and is doing well being read to each day. D will finish Driver's Ed over the summer, and DT will continue with his weekly tutoring with Jodi, but other than that, we've closed the book on school for the year. Woot!

Around the house...
it's actually pretty picked up for once :) However, there are always closets to de-clutter, school papers to put away and dishes to be done.

I am pondering...
why it's taken me so long to get back to blogging, which I love so much!

A favorite quote for today...
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. PERIOD.

One of my favorite things...
Pictures of my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
spending time with the B-Bunch kiddos, driving the Mama Taxi all over town, Sister-Girl Night, Game Night, Saturday Night Life, working at the gym, and otherwise trying to keep up with the insane pace that I call life.

A peek into my day...OH MY! This is the Man Crew way back when we first moved to Las Cruces, the summer of 2007. D and P are now starting to approach Dan's height, and that cute little dumpling will be 9 in August. And he's as tall as me. Oh my heart! Time flies, people. Hug those babies while they will still let you :)

PS. If you like this post, and want to play along, or simply to read others like it, check out the delightful Miss Peggy's site over at www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com   THANKS!

It's the Little Things: House Hunting Edition

I've discovered as I make this journey through life that it's not the huge things that make or break your day, week, month or life. It's the little things. So in honor of the little things, list a few with me that made your day, week, month or life brighter or sweeter. **Being that Dan and I are house hunting once again, I am really needing to focus on being positive, being grateful and to be 'in the moment' instead of fretting about the future.

• It's enjoying the house we live in now. Like the wonderful AC unit that cools the house so well, and the efficient way the house works, holding in all that cool air. And the tank-less water heater that allows us to enjoy the large tub without fear of cold water when it's halfway full. And the whole house vac that makes indoor haircuts a snap to clean up.
• It's laughing over funny things that happen each day, like when Anna misspeaks in her funny 4 year old way of conjugating sentences. Example: "Miss Kristy, I had an on purpose." (Bwuahaha, thank you potty training for the good laugh)
• It's sweet iced tea in a double walled tumbler (so it doesn't *sweat* all over everything) on a triple digit heat day.
• It's sitting on the back patio at the end of a long day, watching the puppy romp all over, and seeing the stars twinkle overhead.
• It's the boys being caught up on their chores (which isn't necessarily a small thing, but...) and seeing clean towels on linen closet shelves, having shiny dishes in the cupboards, and bathrooms that don't require a visit from the hazmat team. :) 
• It's knowing that it's Friday and that within a few hours, lots of our local friends will be gathered around the game tables with us, washing away the stresses of the week and welcoming us into the weekend.
• It's having food in the fridge/pantry/freezer when your boys (who are ALL growing right now) say that they are hungry. Again. For the 37th time that day. Praise the Lord for open-all-night Wal-Mart! 
• It's having a great real estate agent that you feel comfortable putting the needs of your family in her capable (and ethical) hands.  

I like the idea of this style of post. If you like it too, add your little things! I'm making it a goal to focus on the positive this year...Join me!