Yesterday's Random Photos

We did very little yesterday. But I did manage to take some pictures. Just thought I'd share . . .

Started my kettle bell workout.  Thought it was cool that my toe nails matched my kettle bell :0) Completely random, but I was amused by it!

I pulled out some puzzles and Noah and I spent some time on this alphabet puzzle.

I read once that if your child is good at doing puzzles they will grow up to be good at math. 

And here it the completed alphabet puzzle.  And here is my sweetie Noah.  Boy do I love this boy, even if he does challenge me on a daily basis . . .

That's it for now!

Keeping busy

So we're in full swing of school and sports. During the days Noah and I have been keeping busy with housework, organizing, and working on keeping toys put away when they are not in use. That has been a challenge . . .

One day last week I pulled every toy out of Noah's closet, and that's a lot of toys!  I went to town organizing every single last toy.  I know it's unrealistic to expect that legos will stay in the legos bin, animals will stay in the animals bin, and cars will stay in the cars bin . . . so on-and-so forth.  But it's the way my mind processes things easiest, it's the way I imagine my kids finding what they'd like to play with.  So that's how I organize and clean their rooms.  Needless to say, it never stays this way.  But it's theraputic for me to go through all the toys and create order and function, even if it only last a week or so.

These playmobile toys were Nicholas' and I have kept them put away up until now.  It definitely kept Noah busy while I was getting his room cleaned and organized. 

And so that's what we've been up to; Noah and I.  Cleaning and organizing.  Noah is still being challenged everyday with picking up his toys and putting them away.  My expectations for him are to put them away.  In the blue baskets . . . and that is a task to get done!  We're working on it.

I spray painted a bit during all this and I just need to snap photos of the after.  They'll be posted soon!

Happy Friday!

Spray Paint

Yesterday when I left my house my one mission was to buy spray paint.  I have been wanting to spray paint some things around here ever since I read this post   Yet I came home with no spray paint . . . sheesh!  Instead I came home with a few things from Marshalls, a new book, and some fresh produce.  I always feel good about coming home with something healthy for the kids.  And we were so in need of fresh fruit for our house!

So I suppose I'll be heading to Home Depot today.  I have also been pondering what color to paint in my downstairs restroom.  I've decided it time to add some color to my house.  Change things up a bit!

Hopefully next time I post I'll have some pictures of some things I've spray painted.

Time Flies . . .

This morning I glanced at Noah and he reminded me so much of Nicholas. And it got me thinking, it wasn't too long ago that Nicholas was a little toddler running around. Now, well now he's in middle school. As of this morning those days of walking him to meet his teacher are long gone. Today, he jumped out of the van and said to me, "Okay, see ya mom!" And that was it. He was off on his own. It's bittersweet . . . Here are photos of our middle school boy!

Photo taken lastnight as Nicholas mapped out his route for his first day of school.  Such a planner!

French toast & fruit smoothies for the first day of school breakfast!  Look at the french toast stuck in Noah's teeth!  He's such a riot!

Nicholas age 11 grade 6 (sniff, sniff).

You'd think Noah was going to school as well!  These two boys, oh how I love them so . . .

One last shot! 

It won't be long before he's in high school and then off to college. Time sure does fly by . . .

Last Days of Summer

The last week has been pretty busy! But fun! As of tomorrow our summer will come to an end, and we will have a middle-school student in our home! I can't believe it.

Tomorrow we will resume a routine that involves early mornings, packing lunches, schoolwork/homework, sports activity . . . . and so on. But for now I'll share pictures of our last few days of summer.

The Cousin Crew . . . hanging out at Wild Rivers!

Ciara, Noah, and Sebastian at the lunch tables at Wild Rivers Waterpark.

My two guys . . . stopping for a picture-taking-moment for mom :0)

Noah had a BLAST on the waterslides! 

He can't wait to go back!

The Charfauros Fam-Bam - Wild Rivers Waterpark Trip 2010

Last Friday, taking care of business:  Hair cut for both the boys!

Noah chooses his own style, a Mohawk!  Is anyone surprised?

Fake smile . . . because this is a faux-hawk and he wanted the real deal!  :0>

Monday at the movies, Kelly is the chaperone!  They watched Step Up 3.  Noah went too!

Nicholas, Keanalei, & Aaliyah - growing up so FAST!

Another photo op, but I am beginning to lose Nicholas' cooperation!

The only photos I didn't post are the ones I took camping with Nicholas' baseball team and of our quick beach trip yesterday. I haven't downloaded them yet.

I have so much to do today to prepare for tomorrow!

Happy Tuesday!

My Career . . .

It's easy to overlook what I do, my career.  It's easy to not think much of it.  Because  I don't get up every morning and get dressed to leave my house for a job outside of my home.  I don't race or stress to make it to a specific destination to clock-in on time, nor do I worry about the clock-in time for my lunch hour.  I don't have deadlines to meet, meetings to attend , or projects to start or finish.  I don't even have to deal with co-workers, nor do I have them to befriend . . .

Instead I have chosen to make my career my children.  I have dedicated myself to their everyday normal routine.  I wake up each morning to  iron school clothes, pack a lunch, make breakfast and sign homework assingments for my oldest son; and then I drive him to school.  During the day I multi-task between loads of laundry, housework, and conjuring up something eventful for my 3 year old son.  Typically we will alternate between the library or the park, depending what day it is.  Nap times are my lunch time, and yet I rarely use this time for that.  Instead, I'll squeeze in some me time, to read or get on the computer, or chat on the phone.  Then I make mad-dashes to get dinner started and prepare for my oldest to come home from school. Typically I try and have something for him to snack on while he does his homework; but most often we are out jetting off to baseball practice or game.  After the sports activity we hurry home to eat dinner, complete homework, shower and try and squeeze in some down time. 

It sounds so clean-cut; and yet our days never run so smooth; it is never that easy.  Everyday I manage attitude issues and temper tantrums; for every reason under the sun!  Everyday I work to teach them about being responsible, being on time, being respectful, having good manners, having good sportsmanship, being truthful and honest, trusting in God, being kind, being considerate, doing and giving their best.  Oh my! The list goes on!  Everyday I am working to shape their young beings.  My job is to raise two boys; a job so easily overlooked even I will sometimes define it as just a stay-at-home mom. 

At the end of each day I don't have work to discuss; like what new policies are being implemented at my job place, or how much I have saved up for retirment, or how much leave time I have accumulated.  I don't have co-workers to tell about or even cool job perks to offer or share.  I have none of these things.  I never have too much to contribute when these types of things are being discussed.  And sometimes . . . just sometimes, it makes me feel unimportant and overlooked.  I don't always feel like that because deep in my heart I know what I'm doing; I know better.

When Nicholas and Noah are grown men, when they reach the age of indepedence and begin to make their mark on the world I will be satisfied and content knowing I worked to shape them into good and honest men I know they will grow to be. 

I know my career; I know it's important.  Sometimes when I'm around certain people, it's easy to feel like what I do is not that important.

Side Note: I am aware that there are other moms out there that do what I do and work outside of the home. I commend them because that's no easy task! Sometimes they choose to work or have no choice; either way it's quite demanding of one single person. I suppose it lessens the load when you're spouse is part of your team, but today's demographics include so many single parent homes. That's tough . . .tough on the parent and on the child.

Home from Camping!

We're back from camping! It was good times for sure. Nice to get away from the hustle and bustle and rough it for a couple of days. It surely does make you appreciate everything you have at home!  It went so quickly; as does all the good times shared with family.

It's super busy here for us; we came home Sunday night from camping and Monday morning went right into school clothes/supply shopping.  We're not quite done yet, but I must say that Nicholas and I haven't argued once yet during this whole shopping expedition.  That's an accomplishment in itself; because I am so very practical when it comes to shopping and spending money.  And of course Nicholas is a pre-teen who wants to buy all that is fashionable . . . and that can get pricey.  But I think it has helped that he knows his budget; and it is what it is.  This has made him more conscious of his purchases.  Of course, the majority of his money is going to shoes . . .

We're going to the factory outlet today and trying to get everything else finished up by tomorrow.  We have a filled agenda for the remainder of his summer (which is exactly 1 week)!  Waterpark on Thursday and camping (again . . I know huh!) with his All-Star baseball team.  I'm also hoping to squeeze in another beach day; we'll see.

I have photos to share from our camping trip.  I alternated between my point & shoot camera and my slr camera.  I chose not to edit any of the camp pictures yet, I just wanted to get them posted since this week is already moving fast for us!

Happy Tuesday!

Father and son hanging out by the water.

Sweet Noah boy . . . he was in his element the moment we got to camp.  Dust and dirt and The Great Outdoors is surely his thing!

Noah enjoying the company of his cousins!

The first night, just hanging by the fire pit playing the uke.

The hikers . . . we must have hiked almost 3 miles that day!  We were famished when we returned from camp!

Noah helping uncle Jerry out of the water . . . :0)

Discovered cactus on our hike.

Hanging out waiting for the rest of our hikers to come back to us!

The water was rough in some areas; this made me a bit nervous.

Noah age 3 my spunky lil' guy!

Nicholas age 11 my almost middle-schooler!

Camping Trip 2010.  (Look at Noah's silly face again).