It's the little things

Little things that make us smile #12~

Scraping all the lint off an overflowing lint trap.

There's something therapeutic about finger-peeling that huge fuzzy patch of lint off the trap, rolling it into a ball, and tossing it in the trash.  Clothes are getting clean, and chores are getting done when this happens.

I needed to do a lot more of this during the weekend, but it just didn't happen.

I finally did it

I may have mentioned here before that I waste spend some time on Pinterest.  I'm not sure my hubby totally understands how this just gets my wheels a turnin' for some great DIY and home decorating (that I really don't have time to do).  Actually, I think it scares him as he never knows what I'm going to want to do next, how long it will take me, or if it will involve him helping me somehow. (Shall we mention the two years it took him to build Austin's loft in response to this?)

I know that life is so much simpler when I plan a weekly menu, make a grocery list, and MAKE it to the grocery store.  I know, I know.  It's really not complicated.  I just get so stinking tired of deciding what to have that will make everyone happy and many times feel like we get in a rut of having the same things over and over again. Because of this dilemma, this pin has been sitting in the back of my mind for a few months.  I was bound and determined to actually do this in hopes of making life just a bit smoother.

Waa Laa!  I finally did it!  It might have taken me months a little bit of time to get it all together and done, but lookie here.

I'm quite pleased with my new little fan-dangled menu system and bonus chore chart!  How did the bonus chore chart make it in there you say?  Well...I wisely decided to order the vinyl piece from here as I didn't trust myself trying to make one with the Cricut.  Not having faith in my ability to apply it to the fridge without ruining it either, I ordered two.  Little did I realize how handy that second one would be if I could manage to get both of them on there without messing up.    

In addition to 30 meal ideas that the family can choose from, I have my most detested  chores for the boys to select and do throughout the week.  Go me! 

It's the little things

Little things that make us smile #11~

Being able to open up the windows and listen to the calming sound of the wind chimes outside

Ahhh...it was a WONDERFUL spring break.  How I wish it wasn't over yet.  Alas, it's back to the working world.  I do hope it rains today so I don't feel so bummed about going back to work.

This guy

has always been pretty darn high on the boys' list of all time favorite people.  However, after they got to spend the entire day with him doing outside "country boy" things, I'm pretty sure he tops the list and none of us will be able to knock him off of that first place spot!

You know they must have been doing pretty cool things that they don't normally get to do as one of the boys told Papa, "We'd better not tell the girls about this!" Hmmm...I'm thinking that means Mom and Grandma wouldn't have approved.  I just know they came back to me tired, safe, and happy as larks.

Papa, you'd better rest up because I'm sure they'll be begging to come back to hang with you again soon!  Thanks for the super fun day.

What can I say?

I'm in love

...with spring break!

There is one slight problem though - the weather.  It's just too gorgeous out, which is preventing me from accomplishing anything other than engaging in our own version of March Madness here at the Clayberg homestead. I've been whooping up on my children in game after game of H.O.R.S.E.  I think we played 7 games yesterday.  I do believe my Harrison Barnes-like skills allowed me to win 4!  The only problem was, the longer we played, the better they got.  I should've quit when I was up 4-0.

It's the little things

Little things that make us smile #10...

Absolutely perfect silence

...which is exactly what I'm waking up to today!  No alarm clock.  The kids are still sleeping.  Aaron's off to work. No work for me ~ oh baby!  It's spring break :)  It's going to be an AMAZING week!  I need to enjoy the silence while I can because once the boys are up, my silence will end.

Ace's 40 v.6

FAMILY MAN

I am so blessed that Aaron is the father of my children.  He definitely knows what it means to have his family as a priority.  Because of that, I figured the last 10 pictures to round out my 40 of Ace in honor of his birthday should be family oriented.  Enjoy!

In St. Louis cheering on our UNI Panthers a few years ago in the Sweet 16 during March Madness.

Aaahhhh...New Year's Eve in Cancun!  Take me back please...NOW!

 Taking in an I-Cubs game several summers ago.

Getting ready to head out on the cruise last year.

Enjoying St. Louis on our Panther trek.

Taking those sweet little guys of our canoeing on the Boone River.

Two peas in a pod!

RAGBRAI this past summer.

The Clayberg clan...

The Doering clan...

It's not a little thing today

It really is the little things in life that make us smile, but today it is a big thing that will make me both smile and cry. Today I will smile, through tears, as we say goodbye to my dear, sweet grandfather, Herbie Derbie.

There are so many little things throughout the years that have created special memories of my grandpa that I will always cherish.  Grandpa's nickname for me growing up was Brownie.  I used to live at the pool all summer long and get quite tan.  When seeing me, Grandpa would always say, "Well, there's my Brownie!" and proceed to pat my knee.  He's been a knee patter for as long as I've known him.  

Grandpa was a tank wagon driver for a time when I was growing up.  One of my favorite things to do was go with him to fill up the tank wagon before he headed on his calls.  He always slipped me a piece of juicy fruit gum on those times together which I thought was pretty special. Little did I know at the time, but Juicy Fruit and DoubleMint gum was known as his thing.  When he would make deliveries to the farmers, he would always give them and their family members a stick of gum.  Because of that juicy little memory, it's only appropriate to have these at visitation and the funeral. 

One of my all-time favorite memories stems from our Thanksgiving tradition while growing up.  Because my other set of grandparents wintered in Arizona, we always spent Thanksgiving Day with Grandpa Herbie and Grandma Marie.  We would have the most delicious meal at noon and then as a family we would go down into their storage area and dig out all of their Christmas decorations and decorate Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We would put up their artificial tree, which was always adorned with multi-colored lights, ornate glass bulbs, and topped of with silver icicles that I loved draping all over the tree.  We would then head out to a tree farm between Hubbard and Eldora to select and cut down our own Christmas tree and then head home to listen to my father mumble under his breath about putting the tree up and tangling with the lights!

Because of that memory, a couple of years ago I decided that Grandpa Herbie needed a special little tree of his own in his room at the care center to enjoy all year long.  We started at Christmas time and had all of his great-grandchildren make the ornaments and then changed out the decorations throughout the year to match the different seasons.  

Grandpa was also so full of stories.  It was probably the thing that I enjoyed the most about spending time with him.  Routinely we heard the same stories over and over again, which I would give anything to hear from him again.  His mother died the day after giving birth to him and his twin sister and he always choked up in telling how his dad was overwhelmed and his maternal grandparents offered to raise one of the twins.  Through tears, Grandpa would always tell us how he was the one who reached out his hands to his grandmother and that was how that decision was made.  He also had polio as a young boy, and he would tell us how they rubbed fish oil and rubbing alcohol all over his legs "day and night" as a part of his treatments.  There are so many stories that he would tell, it was simply priceless.  One of the last times that we went to visit, he was on a roll with his storytelling, even telling some that I had never heard before.  I will forever cherish that memory. 

Grandpa adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They could always bring a smile to his face. I am so thankful that my boys have been blessed with knowing him and his sweet personality.  He was a man of great faith, put his family first, and was always willing to lend a hand to others.  This world truly was a better place for having Grandpa Herbie in it, but I know without a doubt that he is rejoicing in Heaven, completely at peace and so ecstatic to be reunited with Grandma Marie.

I love you so much Grandpa Herbie and will dearly miss you!

   

  

Ace's 40 v.5

ADULTHOOD
Sort of...

Ace has never been accused of not having a good time, no matter what he's doing.  I'll let you take a look and see for yourself a bit of Ace's true colors shining through.

Such a poser...

Dreds...

It must have been quite sunny inside...

Yeah...ummm...well...I don't even know what to say :)

Taking care of his locks...I know it takes so long for his many "thick" hairs to dry!

Mardi Gras Prom...

Being pampered by his amazing wife as usual...

I can only imagine what those driving by us thought...

My cowboy...

We're never at a loss for laughs with Ace around!

Happy Birthday Braden!

We're finally rounding out the birthdays for a little bit!  This sweet guy...

...with a twinkle in his eye turns 6 today!  I can clearly remember being in my classroom in Nevada at the time and getting the call from my brother that they had a baby boy - which I was sure was a girl :) (I was sure his older brother was a girl too.  I think maybe I'm not the best gender guesser.) I was so excited to hurry over to the hospital right after work and meet my newest nephew.  

What a bundle of fun this guy is!  He has no problems whatsoever keeping up with the older boys and always makes me laugh.  I truly could gobble him up, but he runs pretty fast and doesn't like me to catch him!

Happy 6th Birthday my sweet Boopie!  We love you!