Giveaway, Oh Giveaway!

I was reminded of the Primary song "Give Said the Little Stream" as I typed the title of today's entry. One of my favorites. Giving things away is another favorite thing of mine to do. Just ask my husband. I love the look on the face of the recipient. To me, it is better than receiving!

Let's get to it! You poor people have waited long enough! This is how it's going to play out. If you are indeed interested in what I have to give away, please post a comment answering this question. "What is your favorite domestic activity?" I figured since the prizes have to do with some of the domestic arts I enjoy, I would like to hear about what pleases you.

One week from today I will randomly draw three names from those who commented. Those three people will have their choice of one item from the following list:

• One embroidered burp cloth
• One pair of beaded socks
• One set of two hair bows
• One embroidered bath towel
• One dozen cakeballs (Sorry, local winners only)(I must say, these are quite good!)

Good Luck!

Finishing Up, Starting Fresh...

I have to admit that the last post was written by Eric who hijacked my blog after that incredible shopping experience. He would like me to blog more frequently and I must say that he's right. But in my defense, I will say that all of my posts are thought out carefully. (Eric would say, "Yeah, right! Thought out like a term paper!")

With that said, I have been thinking a lot about this update. Summer is now over and school is starting. Our family has had great fun over the past couple of months doing the ordinary things that we like to do best as well as other neat things like vacationing in D.C. and traveling to California to see my youngest brother get married. I've finished two pairs of socks for Eric, taught the boys to knit, and read some good books and seen some good movies.

Like I said, Summer is over and school is starting. I'm a fence-sitter when it comes to how I feel about it. I love Summer, but also glad when it's over. The first day of school is so exciting for me even though I no longer teach or attend, but school work and activities are not my idea of after-school fun. I'm excited to send my children off to another adventurous school year and yet sad to see the boys go and know another year has passed by so quickly. Some people reflect on the past year in January, setting goals and starting fresh. I, on the other hand, go through the reflection process every year at this time, thinking about the past year and what I want to accomplish and improve upon in the upcoming school year.

The boys had a great first day back at school. They have been counting down the days since the beginning of the August. Heber really likes his teacher and although he doesn't have any of his old friends in class with him, he's okay with that and has become friends with a boy in his class who also just moved in across the street. Noah is enjoying the new experience of middle school. Riding the bus, having a locker, changing classes, and more. It was the first time that Eric and I didn't accompany him on the first day of school. This is the beginning of a new chapter for all of us!

This month is my blogiversary. I am combining it with my birthday next month and will be having a giveaway. Keep your eyes peeled! Until then, I leave you with pictures of some of our Summer highlights. Enjoy!

Mt. Vernon

Swimming

Nightly ice cream ritual

A new scarf for Paw. Knitted by Heber.

Eric and me at the beach

Heber-first day of school

Noah-first day of school

Happy Birthday Noah!

Socks for Eric

Score!

90% off at Talbots Kids. Translated - 5 pairs of khakis and 1 blue shirt normally priced at $210 we get for $21!!! Fantastic!

We bought sizes 12, 14, 16, and 18 khakis which means that the boys have pants for church until their missions. You can never have too many khakis.

The 10 F's of our Fabulous D.C. Trip

• Fast - Time went by so fast on our trip! Sadly, we left without seeing everything that we wanted to, but then again, can you ever really see everything in D.C.?
• Fascinating - The Library of Congress was great as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials are very stirring. One can't help but feel a little emotional. Especially at all the War Memorials.
• Frightening - We stayed very close to the National Mall. That means that we stayed where all the action was, including several shootings that we either heard or saw the law enforcement aftermath. We can't go on a trip without a little excitement!
• Fantastic - One of my favorite stops was Mount Vernon. George and Martha did it right! I could sit on their back porch in a rocking chair and stare at the Potomac forever!
• Friend - A friend that Eric used to work with in the Maricopa County Courts moved to D.C. and still works in the Public Sector. We met for lunch and had a great visit. The boys had a hard time saying Mary's last name without butchering it. Calling her Ms. Mary was much safer!
• Frustrating - One word. SECURITY! Everywhere we went there was stiff security. Can't go here. Can't go there. Countless times my backpack was searched and x-rayed, and we had to go through metal detectors. I was even restricted on how I could wear my backpack! After a while, it takes the fun out of things.
• Fuddruckers - Boy was it nice to find a restaurant that we knew and liked that was close to where we were. McDonald's was getting OLD!
• Flight - The Air and Space Museum was a favorite with the boys. We spent almost a full day there. So many things to see in that place! While waiting for our Flight out of Washington, we saw Barak Obama's private plane land at our terminal and saw him get off the plane and drive away with full Secret Service detail.
• Feet - Miles and miles we walked. Our feet felt it by the end of each day. Although, the boys weren't so tired that they couldn't swim whenever we could fit it in!
• Fun - All and all, it was a great, fun-filled trip. We had a wonderful time and hope we can go back again some day!

400!

I officially hit 400 miles this morning. I've been at this since about March 1st and I'm pleased with how far I've come. I started out walking 3 miles 3 times a week and now I'm either walking or running 4-5 miles 7 days a week. I feel better and -25 pounds later, I think I'm looking better too. I'm closing in on my end of the year goal of 1000 miles. I need to come up with a really good reward for myself once I hit 1000. Any ideas?

Rituals

Anyone who knows the Ciminski family knows that we are severe creatures of habit. We find what we love and stick to it. Although after careful consideration we do try new things now and again...it helps us find new favorites.

• Now that it's Summer, one ritual that can't be missed is the weekly "Movies in the Square". Frisco has a town square and each Saturday night they show a family movie on a big blow-up screen. You bring what you want to sit on and at 9 p.m. the fun starts. If you are a local, check it out! friscosquare.com Last Saturday was "The Wizard of Oz". It made me think of my best friend Dawn who grew up in Kansas. (I forgot the Tootsie Rolls Dawn!)

• Before we go the the Square, we stop and get a snowcone from The Snowcone Lady. She has been selling snowcones in Frisco for 25 years and shows no sign of slowing down. The Johnson family introduced us to The Snowcone Lady soon after moving here and it's been downhill ever since. Ummm Cherry!

• Ahhhh the neighborhood pool. We go just about every afternoon. The trees there provide great shade when I decide to knit instead of swim. I didn't realize how much I knit at the pool until today after more than one person mentioned to me that they ALWAYS see me knitting at the pool. I must be approachable because people like to watch, ask me questions, and take a close look at my work. I take it as a very nice compliment.

• Quiet Time. Boy do I love Quiet Time. The kids do too because that was one of the first activities we decided upon again this Summer. Each day for one hour the boys spend time alone in their room doing whatever quiet activity they want. Reading, knitting, quietly playing, napping, etc. Last year it was brought to my attention by my sons that it would only be fair if I participated in Quiet Time too. So I tried it and I see why they like it so much. I'm a believer. It's a great time to read or knit. And hey! A daily siesta never hurt anyone!

• Lastly, the ritual that tickles me the most is one that we just kind of fell into. Each night after dinner I dish up some Blue Bell Ice Cream for the boys and they go ouside to eat it. Just the two of them. They sit under the arbor on some lawn chairs and visit while they eat. They have invited Eric and me to go out with them but we feel like it would be intruding. I don't know what they talk about, all I know is that they enjoy laughing and visiting together and I could watch them through the window forever. The boys are the best of friends and each night they are making memories that will be remembered for the rest of their lives.

300!

Today I walked my last 3 miles to make my monthly goal of 100. That makes 300 miles for the year so far. I am well on my way to accomplishing my goal of 1000 by the end of this year. Yippee!