Snapshot Sunday

I am really enjoying experimenting with my new camera.  I have been just simply shooting everything around the house as practice!

I love  how easily it is to switch from one setting to another.  This Mom needs quick and easy and nothing too complex.  I'm just too busy and always moving at 100 miles an hour if you know what I mean.

Love how I can focus in on certain colors.  Again with a flick of the switch.  Does not take much to get me excited!

The best part is Chris and I are going away to Vero Beach in Florida to celebrate my birthday.  We leave soon and I cannot wait!  Not only am I looking forward to relaxation, the sunshine, beaches, good food and friends.  I can experiment even further with my new camera and hopefully will have good weather to take beach pictures!  Yay!

40 Random Thoughts about Turning 40!

                       I must admit, I have not been one to worry about my age.  I always looked forward to my birthdays and the new beginnings and promises the new year held.  Some people say thirty was a hard transition for them.  I never really gave it a second thought.  I was in the mist of mothering and having babies.  Honestly, I did not have time to think too much about it.

Fast forward ten years and it is somewhat a different story.  My children are older, which somehow makes me feel older.  I guess I have more time to think about turning 40.  Over the past few months, I convinced myself turing forty was NOT a BIG deal.  However, when the day arrived I was surprised to find myself an emotional mess.  Does the number really bother me?  Is my life really half over?  How did the time pass so quickly?   I am still trying to process it all.  I really don't know, but what I do know is this :

1.  I have my health.

2.  I have a wonderful Husband who I grow to love more each year.

3.  Four healthy kids that have taught me so much. 

4.  At 40 I get more sleep (no more babies keeping me awake).

5.  I get to focus a bit more on myself and my needs. 

6.  I want my kids to look back and have fond memories of their childhood and know that although I am far from perfect, I tried to be the best mom I could.

7.  I want my parents to know how much I appreciate them for all they have done for me and continue to do so. I could not ask for better parents.

8.  Life is not always fair but how we handle this is what is important.

9.  At forty, I have overcome a lot of fears and insecurities. 

10.  There are still things I worry about.

11.  All of my visions and aspirations I had when I was young did not play out.

12.  Some dreams were even better than I could have imagined.

13.  Some did not come true at all.

14.  I have learned that is O.K.

15.  I have loved deeply.

16.  I have hurt deeply.

17.  Life has taught me so much in forty years.

18.  I still have so much to learn.

19. I am happiest surrounded by family and friends.

20.  I have a love affair with coffee.  I will never give it up.

21.  I enjoy all things crafty.

22.  I am addicted to pinterest.

23.  I hope to get back to teaching someday.

24.  I do not enjoy the fact I have a few gray hairs.  Nothing a little color can't handle but nontheless, I don't like it.

25.  I do not like regrets.  I like to think of my mistakes as a way to grow.

26.  I love the beach and hope to live there with my husband when the kids have grown.

27.  I have learned that is o.k to have a voice.

28.  I don't have to be perfect.

29.  I am not over.

30.  I am just beginning.

31.  I will continue to grow.

32.  I am right where God wants me to be.

33.  I am finding peace in 40.

34.  I refuse to grow up!

35.  I can't believe I was twenty when my mom turned forty.

36.  I still look forward with great anticipation to what life has in store for me.

37.  I can't believe in ten years I will be fifty.

38.  Forty will seem so young then, Ha!

39.  I am beyond blessed and cannot praise God enough.

40.  I am happy to be at this place in my life!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

It's been a while since I have posted on line.  I must admit it's taken me all week to get over the Super bowl loss!  It was a tough game to watch. We had such high hopes for out Patriots, thus it was not meant to be.  You know you have taken it a bit hard when your own kids are telling you it's just a GAME. That there is always NEXT YEAR!  Honestly, they took it better than Chris and me.  

I have moved on.   Valentine's Day is in full swing at our house.  The kids have their parties today as tomorrow is a short day.  Most of yesterday was spent baking and preparing for the parties.  My new favorite thing to make are cake pops.  I got a cake pop machine for Christmas which is a great help in making these babies, but boy are they time consuming.  So many steps and I am not really fancy like Bakerella!  They do taste really good though!

I simply love pinterest and might be slightly addicted!  I just get the best ideas and my kids valentines were no exception.  I  kept seeing the picture of the kids sticking out their hand with the lollipop and knew I had to do that for Finley.  I thought they came out pretty good!

For Ryland, I saw these cute shovels that said, "I DIG YOU" . . . . adorable!  Finding shovels this time of year was a challenge.  Thank goodness for ETSY!

                                    Even Starbucks is feeling the LOVE!  How cute are these cups?!?!

 
                    Finally, tomorrow is my birthday.  It's a BIG one and I'm not going to lie, it hurts a bit.  I know it's just a number, but I am finding it hard to comprehend that I am going going to be 40!  There,  I said it!  We celebrated with our families Saturday night at a new restaurant in town, The Copper Door.  It was fantastic!  The food and atmosphere were superb.

                       Chris and I have a special date planned for tomorrow, my big day.  Until then I am holding on strong to my thirties!    (Chris gave me an early birthday gift this weekend. . .  a new camera. The sony nex-c3 with a zoom lens.  I am so excited to have a nicer camera.  I feel like I was going through point and shoots like water.  Can't wait to experiment with it!)