Michele Holcomb

time is on my mind

 

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With an upcoming birthday, this concept of time has been on my mind as of late.

I want to soak in as much knowledge as possible.

I want to be fully present and engaged with my children, my husband, my extended family and my friends.

I want to make more of an effort to move more and eat healthy.

I want to live my life to the fullest.

This quote says so much about where I am right now.

april snapshots

i'm going to start off by saying that this was a hard month. i don't usually wish the days away but April...ugh...i'm so glad it's over! With that said, there are things worth looking back on and worth remembering.

April brought us:

• season premiere of Game of Thrones
• spring break (for dre and the girls)
• bowling, bowling, and more bowling
• easter service and lunch with the booker family (my parents, brother and nephew) 
• DRE'S NEW JOB (this deserves capitalization)
• 4th grade project on Rosa Parks - we called it "Everyone on the Bus"
• Instagram for Android users - i'm hooked:)
• lots of rainy days
• a new stove
• WITL Photo Documentation
• gymnastics spring fling
• new reads for me: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure by James Dashner

In May, we're looking forward to a weekend get-away, watching the Avengers, a birthday celebration, and more time spent outdoors.

***I'm joining in "a month in photos" hosted by Rebecca Cooper. Click on the button below to see more entries***

march snapshots

March brought us: 

• shiloh's two year anniversay with our family
• reading The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia series) with Nyna
• a new job offer for Dre (only 10 minute from home)
• lunch with my good friend Megan
• a work trip to San Diego
• Arianna's report/presentation on Haiti
• challenging behaviors at school/home
• elementary school open house
• The Hunger Games movie with Great Grandma Verlean and Auntie Wy
• groceries from Mama and Papa (so grateful for their unconditional love)
• Dre's first ever 700 bowling series
• a little more sister arguments which resulted in a brief separation
• my three great reads: Bent Road (Lori Roy); Maze Runner (James Dashner); The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins -- read this for this for the 2nd time)
• lunch with Nyna at Macaroni Grill
• the impending season finale of House of Anubis and Pretty Little Liars (we're addicted)

In April, we look forward to spring break, clear skies and sunny weather, more flowers in the house, a new work place for the man...and again...a little more financial security. So far...so good.

***I'm joining in "a month in photos" hosted by Rebecca Cooper. Click on the button below to see more entries***

he knows me well

[vintage boutique in Old Sacramento - February 2012]

Since returning home from San Diego almost a week ago I've been feeling really tired and unmotivated. Dre has been cleaning, cooking, laundering and just plain taking care of business while I on the otherhand take naps, re-read the Hunger Games series & my new pile of magazines, and watch TV. I'm feeling useless around these parts lately. This role reversal really has me thinking about how we both contribute to household functions. It ebbs and flows, where one moment I'm excellent at keeping the house tidy, the girls on task, dinner on the table (or should I say TV trays as of late - to be totally transparent) and he's the one taking it easy. And then there are those days, where he's totally in control and I can let my hair down.

It's nice knowing that we get each other in this way; in these unspoken moments, where one just needs time to recharge. I'm not there yet but soon...I feel the need for change. Physically and mentally.

celebrating shiloh

I'm not sure what our lives would be like without him.

He is such a cuddler and a fierce protector when visitors come by the house.

He hangs out between the dishwasher and the stove because that's where the best crumbs fall.

He loves his treats with passion and hides them around the house for a rainy day.

He can be found nestled in the closet, next to our feet as we work or play, or in our laps watching TV. 

Oh Shiloh...we just love you with all of our hearts. Happy three years with us!

ready for the weekend

Oh...the weekend can't start soon enough.

This work week, although it went by quickly, is just that...work. I'm ready to spend time with my favorite people. And being that it's a three-day weekend makes it all the more better. We have grand plans to eat breakfast at our favorite restaurant and tour the city, specifically the old downtown area. It's only 25 minutes from us but we don't get down there as much as I would like. The rest of our days will be filled with rest and relaxation in the comfort of our home.

I may even start a new mini project that's been on my mind lately. I'm itching to play with paper and glue and there is no time like the present. I hope your days are filled with adventure too!

Happy Weekend!

winter:: at the park

Sixty degrees. That was the afternoon weather a few Saturdays ago.

We took advantage of this "spring like weather" and took the girls up to the neighborhood park. Shiloh was definitely ready to get out as well, jumping and running back & forth to show us how excited he was to have his leash put on. 

I often forget how much I enjoy going to the park. You see, I'm a homebody - there really is no place I'd rather be. With the exception of running to the store, maybe an occassional movie or dinner out with a friend, or possibly an antique fair.

So when I'm asked to go to the park, I'm inclined to say no first. But on this day I said yes and I'm really glad that I did. Even more so when I talked Dre into meeting us up there. 

We walked home after an hour or so and I noticed how relaxed I felt. Actually, how we all felt. Everyone went back to their respective places in the house - Anna in her room, Dre in and out of the garage listening to sports radio, and Nyna and I settled in to watch a movie.

Other than the fact that we had to call AAA because someone locked the keys in the car at the gas station (not me by the way), I would definitely call this a good day.

written January 2012

january snapshots

[click image to see in flickr]

January brought us:

• amazing winter weather with only a few days of rain sprinkled in between
• Anna's new MAC lipgloss
• Nyna's research report on "How to Cure Dog Diseases"
• a new job for Dre in Concord (commute is long but it's all good)
• a little scare from Nyna - experiencing an anxiety attack had me calling the advice nurse
• the 2nd season of "House of Anubis"
• another term with Simple Scrapper
• Anna's beautiful curls
• many discussions about friendships, bullying, and treating people with kindness
• my highest bowling game EVER - 173!
• lunch with the girls at BJ's Restaurant
• an adventure at Folsom Lake Honda dealership
• reading Percy Jackson & the Lightening Thief with Nyna
• an amazing 49'ers win that brought them to the NFC Championship game & a heartwrenching loss against the Giants that following week
• two AAA calls
• gymnastics evaluation - Nyna only has 4 more areas of improvement needed before moving to level 2
• our favorite T.V. shows - The Game, Grimm, Once Upon A Time, Pretty Little Liars and admittedly Spartucus (for the adults of course - I'm blushing a little)
• watching the Breakfast Club - oh...i love that movie!

In February, we are looking forward to watching the Super Bowl, a concert, a refrigerator full of groceries, and a little more financial security. So here's to another month of capturing the bits of our life in print.

***I'm joining in "a month in photos" hosted by Rebecca Cooper. Click on the button below to see more entries***

so far in december

[desktop image from Geninne's Art Blog - love her work]

I caught another round of the flu and have been slowly feeling like myself again. With that said, my december daily photos currently lives on my computer and evernote app, and I'm actually okay with that. I've been collecting ephemera and just adding it to the book. I'll be putting it together during my holiday school/work break.

I've been feeling like we haven't accomplished much the first part of the month; but in looking back at my photo library and seeing the photos above tells such a different story. Work, school projects, holiday tv/movie watching, gymnastics, and a lot of library visits have kept us very busy. This weekend I need to pull out a few holiday decorations and some twinkle lights to bring a little bit more magic into our home.

Speaking of home, that little miniature house (last photo) reminds me so much of my childhood. To say that Nyna loved it is an understatement. We are now on the hunt for a mini house to call her own.

wishing you a safe and happy halloween!

[Ali Edwards Hand-Drawn Words - 2010 Halloween digital freebie ]