#100HappyDays2018: Day 94

#100HappyDays: Day 94
This guy. He makes me happy.
#100DaysOfSummer
#22Years
#TeamMeYeR
#HappyAnniversary
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 93

 
#100HappyDays: Day 93
A roller rink is opening tomorrow here in town!! I could walk to it from work 😊
#100DaysOfSummer
#GrandOpening
#RollerRink
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 92

#100HappyDays: Day 92
A game of chess with my youngest. He won, of course. 😊.
In other news, Beck's coffee house makes some amazing house-churned ice cream.
#100DaysOfSummer
#DTStrong
#SmartyPants
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 91

#100HappyDays: Day 91
The only photos I have from today are silly SnapChat pictures, but it was a good day. The boys had a great day of school, it wasn’t quite as hot as the surface of the sun, I had meal plans AND the time to actually make them happen, and while I was doing that, I did some prep work to make the next few day’s worth of dinners come together even faster. I even watched part of The Sound of Music and while all my people rolled their eyes, they sang along to the songs and laughed in all the right places. And that makes Mama K real happy.
#MamaK
#Musicals
#100HappyDays
#100DaysOfSummer

#100HappyDays2018: Day 90

#100HappyDays: Day 90
Oscar MeYeR and Rosie the Riveter were curled up together this morning as I got my day started and I was reminded anew that if two snakes of differing breeds can get along, we the people of the world should be able to as well. Let’s overlook our differences and instead, find all the ways we are alike.
#100DaysOfSummer
#Diversity
#ItsTheLittleThings
#LetsJustGetAlong
#100HappyDays2018

How to win a conversation with Dastroyah, otherwise known as the Man-Child

I love random silliness. If you know me in real life, or if you've been brave enough to follow along here for a while, you already know this. But it never fails to amuse me, especially when I get to enjoy some random silliness at my children's expense. This is how it goes. We have pizza and movies every Sunday night together. I make pizza, The BIGS bring snacks and friends and we all pile into the living room for some time spent relaxing together to end the week well. So last night, Dastroyah called and asked what I needed at the store, to which I replied that I have everything we needed for pizza.

D: I'm at W-M, what do you need?
MamaK: We're good, I already went shopping today.
D: Shall I bring snacks or drinks?
MamaK: You can bring chips if you want, but really, we are good today.
D: Mom, what do you need from the store?
MamaK: I'd like a million dollars and my sanity back. I sure am missing it.
D: What. Do. You. Need. From. The. Store...
Me: ---crickets---
D: *Huff* Fine...what does Dad need from the store?
MamaK: I'm sure he would like for me to have my sanity back, too. it would make his life easier, I'm sure.
D: *exasperated sigh* CLICK.

Me: Bwuahahahah! 



He brought milk. :)

So...A Funny Thing Happened Last Night

After I posted this photo...

First Family Photo after moving to NM in 2007. Derek 2, Dan, David almost 10, Patrick 8.5, Kristy

 ...on FB earlier this week to celebrate our 11 year anniversary of living in the great state of New Mexico, I had several requests for a humorous photo remake. And so, here in all of it's radiant and ridiculous glory is that much requested photo.

Derek 13, Dan, David nearly 21, Patrick 19.5, Kristy

You're welcome.

This super silly photo brings me so much happiness that there are no words.

None at all.

Just a bubble of laughter ever time I look at it, and a deep abiding joy that my family is just as it is. Silly, loud, occasionally obnoxious (okay, perhaps more often than occasionally) loyal, hard-working, and some of the very best people I know. *See Gentleman Savage* Every single of them would give you the shirt off of their back, tow and /or repair your car, feed your belly, snuggle your baby, laugh with you, tell you when you've messed up but that it's okay and they know how to help you fix it, cry with you and in general love you like you've never been loved before.

And THAT is a legacy I'm comfortable with being part of every single day.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 89

#100HappyDays: Day 89
The much requested photo remake of our family from 11 years ago. It’s not a great photo, but well, neither was the original. LOL!
#100DaysOfSummer
#TheManCrew
#PhotoRemake
#100HappyDays2018

 

PS. Yes, I'm aware that this picture is already up on the blog, but since I'm all about complete sets, I can't leave this out of the #100HappyDays2018 series. Thank you for kindly overlooking my neurosis. 

It's the Little Things: Days 238 and 239

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  It's a Saturday at home, with nowhere to go unless I decide I want to leave.
• It's the hubster calling to say he was on his way home (quite a rare occasion) and asking me to please order some dinner and not cook so I could hang out with him. *You best I did! 
• It's a quick visit from a friend that was unexpected but very welcome.
• It's so many texts flying back and forth between your bestie and you since she's home from work for a few weeks due to a medical issue. She's healing well and feeling better each day.
• It's getting a little closer to your son's room being reasonable again after realizing is was WAY out of control a week ago.
• It's pizza and movies with the regular attenders again and having leftovers.
• It's getting 2 movies watched and everyone still getting to bed before 10. SCORE! 
• It's a friend that is soon to move away bringing over doodahs to share from her nearly empty apartment in a pretty striped 31 Bags bag that I've been drooling over and then giving me the bag, too. Thanks!
• It's a hilarious photo remake that the family indulged me by making.
• It's winning a phone conversation with the Man-Child. :)
• It's getting nearly caught up on the dishes after cleaning out the fridge and making myself tons of new dishes to do. 
• It's Hercules hanging out in the kitchen with me and helping out by making his own Kombucha and chopping up an enormous watermelon. 
• It's a grocery shopping trip that reminds of exactly why I don't take Dan grocery shopping with me, but that was so pleasant that I'm tempted to throw the grocery budget caution to the wind every week. 
• It's a full fridge AND meal plans to make sure we use up that food.
  
  See how easy it is to come up with things once you start looking around?
  What's on YOUR little things list?
  
  

#100HappyDays2018: Day 88

#100HappyDays: Day 88
My tiny little at-home family. This is how they watch movies. Like a pile of sleeping puppies...at least when they aren’t wrestling, tickling each other or snatching each other’s snacks. 😉
#100DaysOfSummer
#TheManCrew
#BookThief
#Snuggles
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 87

#100HappyDays: Day 87
A birthday party for J and T at Chuck E Cheese’s. The BIGS attended, hilarity ensued and fun was had by all.
#100DaysOfSummer
#TheBIGS
#JamesAndTitus
#BirthdayParty
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 86

#100HappyDays: Day 86
The Organ Mountains with some cloud cover this morning. Made the drive to work extra pleasant. We have been here for 11 years today and I never get tired of seeing them.

#100DaysOfSummer
#LasCruces
#OrganMountains #100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 84

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 84
I didn’t take a picture of anything today, but it was a good good day. I was reminded again of how much I have for which to be grateful. Friends called, texted and video chatted with me, came by to visit, and invited me out for dinner (all separately), I got some prep work done in the kitchen, school went as smoothly as the 7th day can go when one kiddo is sick and the other is sleep deprived, I went and had a sweet time with my BIGS plus some of the other Handsome, my S-G, and BethAnn at Swing On The Plaza, and I’m headed to bed at a reasonable hour for the first time in a while. And it’s hard not to be happy about a day like that. 😊
#BLESSED
#100HappyDays
#100DaysOfSummer
#100DaysOfSummer2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 83

 

#100HappyDays: Day 83
This sweet boy’s happy grin. We didn’t get to Skype today, but his thoughtful mama sent me a picture so I wouldn’t feel too sad about missing our weekly video chat.

I love you, ‘Shua, Lauren, Caden and Baby!

#100DaysOfSummer
#BabyCaden
#DaughterInLove
#GrandMamaK
#100HappyDays2018

— feeling happy.

Little Cadie-Wadie-Woodle is a solid 18.5 months now and into EVERYTHING. Love him.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 82

 

 #100HappyDays: Day 82
A fantastic sermon by our new executive pastor, Roy Duffey. Well done, sir! To hear the full sermon, head over here...
http://getrealchurch.org/media/ — feeling happy at Reel 2 Real Church.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 81

 

#100HappyDays: Day 81
Old friends reunited. It’s my 3 favorite vidiots from behind the snack bar, together again for one day.

Andrea, it was so great to see you and the kids today! Derek was so delighted to be with Natie for the day. — feeling happy with Sandra Wilcox Moulton, Derek MeYeR and Andrea Searor at Andele Restaurant.

#100Happydays2018: Day 80

#100HappyDays: Day 80
The last of the new-to-us schoolbooks have arrived in the mail! We’ve already completed a full week of school, but we were waiting on this shipment before starting our MFW curriculum.

#100DaysOfSummer
#NewBooks
#HappyMail
#MFWBooks
#Usborne
#100HappyDays2018

— feeling happy at The Man Crew House.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 79

 

#100HappyDays: Day 79
The day when Snapchat filters are nice to me.

#100DaysOfSummer
#SnapChat
#GoodHairDay
#PrettyMamaK
#100HappyDays2018

— feeling happy at The Man Crew House.

#100HappyDays2018: Day 78

#100HappyDays: Day 78
My child showed me a picture he liked from a book he was reading...on purpose.

This.

Is.

Huge.

#100DaysOfSummer
#ReadingOnPurpose
#Homeschool
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 77

#100HappyDays: Day 77

A glorious day indeed. Work and school went smoothly, I shipped out the first set of bread, I made more bread and spent a pleasant evening on the Plaza watching people dance, listen to good music, enjoy the cooler weather and have a wonderful time. And, I may have even danced a little myself. 😉
This picture of Z dancing made my day.

#100DaysOfSummer
#SwingOnThePlaza
#MusicFriendsAndDancing
#100HappyDays2018

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 76

 

#100HappyDays: Day 76
Feeling fine and fancy in my new duds!!

#100DaysOfSummer
#NewClothes
#MamaK
#100HappyDays2018

It's The Little Things: Days 225 & 226

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  It's the sermon series wrap up that made me want to go back and re-watch the whole series. It's good stuff. "Forgotten God" http://getrealchurch.org/sermonaudiovideo?category=Forgotten%20God
• It's lunch with my friend Alexandra, who is too good to me. It's been almost exactly a year since we've had a chance to just sit and visit without being interrupted 48 times in 3 minutes. After our delicious lunch at Cracker Barrel, we went window shopping and somehow, I ended up with 3 new shirts, 2 pairs of pants, and a pair of pjs...and that was AFTER I'd insisted she put half of the things she picked out for me back on the rack. She told me in no uncertain terms that she was GOING to buy me some clothes and that she'd worked overtime so that she could do it without hurting her family budget. (Guys, have I mentioned that I am blessed? This lady and her family is such a blessing to Dan and I.)
• It's pizza and movie night at the Man Crew House and while it felt weird to have only Dan, Derek and myself at home, it also felt nice. Like a little intro to the next few years of our life. And it was a considerable change from last week when it was us three, plus PattyCakes and Nathan who were expected, plus David and 3 friends who were NOT expected. LOL! This week we introduced DT to Mrs. Doubtfire and he laughed his head off. He enjoyed it so much that he re-watched it on Monday afternoon. *Hooray for an unexpected gem in the $3.74 bin at W-M.
• It's wearing new clothes to work on a dreary Monday and feeling like a million bucks all day long. And even better, getting several compliments on the new clothes. And even BETTER...managing not to ruin my brand new clothes. If you know me, you know what a big deal this is. ;)
• It's the simple, small gestures, like Dan staying up late with me while I baked bread for a fundraiser we are doing. He feel asleep on the couch at the end, but he tried, and in my world effort counts. 
• It's waking up to reasonable temperatures in the morning. We've had a few days in a row of mid-70s temps in the AM and I am ALLLL about feeling like Autumn is just around the corner. 
• It's preparing for the new school year. We are all dragging our behinds after the past few work weeks have been completely OUT.OF.CONTROL. But, hope springs eternal and the bulk of our books have arrived and the rest should be here soon, so we started today. Just with some organization projects and reminders about what we expect this school year, but we started. And that counts. 179 days to go. ;)
• Free breakfast at Chick-Fil-A this week to those of us returning to school. YES PLEASE. Yum~O
• New school Supplies. Enough said. 
• Catching up on housework doesn't sound fancy or exciting, but it does keep the house running smoothly and makes being home more relaxing. I'm glad I spent the time on Saturday to make it clean and shiny.
• It's a schedule with fair regularity now that school has started again. Thank you, Jesus!
• It's looking forward to Swing on the Plaza since it was cancelled last week for the National Night Out celebration. 
• It's not having much money for groceries, but realizing you've got plenty in your pantry, fridge and freezer so that you only need a few small things at the store to feed your family this week. **If you're struggling to feed your family this week, check out these links. https://lifeasmom.com/this-weeks-dinners-for-70-or-less-bonus-trader-joes-shopping-plan/ AND https://www.menus4moms.com/meals-for-hard-times/ AND https://moneysavingmom.com/2009/10/how-to-live-on-beans-and-rice-for-a-week.html AND https://www.frugalfarmwife.com/article/how-to-eat-beans-every-day-without-getting-bored/ AND http://theprudenthomemaker.com/blog/entry/how-to-eat-beans-every-night  The Man Crew has tried all of these at one time or another and several of the recipes have made it into our normal rotation of meals because they are so good. 
• It's getting a good night's sleep for the first time in a while. Makes everything look better. 

 

What's on YOUR Little Things List today? 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 75

#100HappyDays: Day 75
A dear friend took me to lunch so we could have some uninterrupted chatting time, which we both seriously needed, and then she took me shopping for some new work clothes.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m so ridiculously blessed with amazing friends. I am so grateful for them and humbled often by their kindness to me.
#100DaysOfSummer
#BLESSED
#Friends
#100HappyDays2018

          

#100HappyDays2018: Day 74

 

#100HappyDays: Day 74
A to do list with so many check marks. For a list-making lover like this, this is a great feeling. Not bad for a Saturday at home 👍🏼
#100DaysOfSummer
#ToDoList
#ILoveLists
#100HappyDays2018