Dear Lord, please make time slow down...

Ever since the age of two, Kyle has been swinging a bat.

His first love has always been baseball.

Here he is on his first T-ball team at the age of five.

I blinked and now he is a young man at 18 and in his senior year.

This is his team pic for the West Houston Thunder.

I can't help but still see the face of that little five year old, 

despite that beard of his.

I've always loved watching Kyle play ball.  Some seasons were good, some not so good, but with the Thunder he has soared.  

They are a great group of home schooled Christian young men. 

 He's found his niche with them.

Please, Lord, please make time slow down just a bit!

I'm not ready for baseball season to be over yet.

(Photo credit: C.Yohe)

"Recovering" and Crafting

Usually, on Mondays, I recover from my work weekends. 

And when I say "recover" I mean catch up on laundry, clean the house that the kids wrecked, and stock the empty fridge.

But THIS past Monday we packed up our beach chairs and snacks and headed down to Matagorda Beach for the day.

I did nothing but sip iced tea and dig my toes into the sand.

The kids played in the freezing water, painted seascapes, 

collected shells...

and dug three feet deep holes in the sand!

There wasn't a soul around for miles.

Just us and the sound of the waves crashing.

Now that's what I call "recovery!"

We came home with lots of treasures that day.

I have a shell wind chime that Doug bought me in Galveston last year.  I absolutely love it and thought that I could create my own version. 

 It couldn't be more simple!

All you need are your shells, driftwood, a drill with a small bit, 

and some fishing line.

Just drill holes in your shells, thread and knot them along the fishing line, and tie your strands off on a large piece of drift wood.

I added glass beads for a bit of color and sparkle.

And when the wind blows, the sound takes me right back 

to our spot on the beach!
I'm thinking "Matagorda Mondays"
might just become a thing, y'all!

Birthday Week!

Everyone in our family has birthdays grouped together, in January,

 it's me and my Danny-bird!

Our birthdays are only two days apart.  

I remember when he was born and the hospital staff I worked with had a lovely cake delivered to my room.  I nursed him and ate birthday cake and I tell him that was our first birthday together.....I'd also like to mention he hates when I tell that story!

Danny wanted a HUGE chocolate cake this year for his celebration,

and he got it!  

I used this recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

It did not disappoint!

We went out for wings and then an afternoon of laser tag, arcade games, ropes course, and bowling.

Just what every eleven year old wants, right?

My birthday, on the other hand,

was just what every 47 year old, girl at heart wanted.

Doug took me out for a very romantic dinner 

(NO kids invited!) at the Melting Pot.

We had cocktails, fondue, hand holding, 

wonderful conversation...

And I didn't have to yell at anybody across the dinner table 

to behave....well, except once for Doug.

Birthday is just the first day of a 365 day trip around the sun,

I plan on enjoying the trip this year!

Checking in

So it's been a couple of months since I checked in 

regarding my weight loss journey.

This is me now,

50 pounds lighter!

sweaty gym selfie

I'm not going to lie, I was a total slob over the holidays.

I ate, and ate, and enjoyed every tamale and sweet homemade treat.

But now I'm back on the 21 Day Fix 

and in the gym 4-5 days a week.

My goal is to lose 50 more pounds by June.  

At 46, my body isn't willing to give up the extra pounds so easily but I'm going to give it all I've got.

I feel great!

People tell me I look good all the time.

I've found a new love of skinny jeans and cowboy boots.

And my husband has even threatened to take me out dancing!

So far 2016 is looking like

a very good year!

For more on my weight loss journey, click on the "Health" tab in the label cloud to the left

Scenes from a very merry Creamer Christmas...

And wishing you a happy, healthy, 

and prosperous new year!

Let it BURN!

Every year for Christmas, the kids make handmade presents 

for our family and friends.

This year the boys have discovered wood burning.

I handed them a few pieces of scrap wood

(to kind of get the hang of it before burning our actual gifts!)

And as you can see from their "doodling,"

they got the hang of things pretty quick!

I purchased some pretty bamboo cutting boards and wooden spoons and let Mary Grace draw on them.  

She's currently into drawing gigantic heads with hands and feet coming out of them.

Cute, huh?

Then one of the boys traces her drawing 

with the wood burning tool.

What is left behind is a permanent etching of her artwork,

and a functional piece of kitchen ware.

The boards and spoons are already sealed

so there is nothing else to do except wrap them up.

The cutting boards will get a big summer sausage, package of crackers, and wedge of cheese wrapped up with a pretty ribbon for gift giving.

But this work-in-progress by Kyle 

(our family tree!)

 is going to get scooped up by 

THIS MAMA

before anyone else can get their hands on it!

Happy Elving!!!

Being Thankful

Be KIND.

Be GENEROUS.

Be THOUGHTFUL.

Be HAPPY.

Be LOVING.

But most of all,

Be THANKFUL!

DIY headbands

 Lately I have become a little obsessed with headbands.

So much so that I spent an entire rainy day afternoon 

making dozens of them:

I had tons of scrap ribbon in my sewing stash so I measured around Mary Grace's head until the ends of the ribbon almost touched. 

 I folded the ends over an elastic hair band (about an inch), and sewed it securely, back stitching a time or two.

Adorable, not too tight, super girly,

and best of all...

It didn't cost me a cent!

You'd think it would get easier....

We have been taking family pictures for our yearly Christmas card since Ryan was a baby.  

You'd think by now, and with 21 years of practice,

 that it would get easier...

...but you'd be WRONG!

Prior to taking this beautifully serene photo 

these perfectly behaved children

there was:

Ryan jabbing John Paul in the back with a stick.

Mary Grace putting pennies down my cleavage.

Danny and Kyle were arguing.

Danny was digging in the dirt.

I was yelling at everyone to behave for ONE freakin' picture!

Doug had to run back and forth to set the camera timer.

Oh yeah...and the dog crapped less than six feet away from where we are all sitting.

Luckily, Doug was able to dodge the dookie every one of the 25 times he had to go reset the camera timer.

Maybe next year will be my year,
but I'm not going to hold my breath.