A Hode Podge Of Busy-ness

                                                                                                  

It's already May 9th? My oh my where did time go? I knew we were busy but WOW! I feel like all winter we store things to do and when those first warm and sunny days roll around...we're up and at 'em!  I have this swamped feeling all of a sudden and need to seriously take some time to sit down, organize my May calendar and make a SERIOUS "to-do" list before I feel like a tidal wave has swallowed me whole! You know the feeling, right? I mean it IS May 9th...WOW!



Courtesy of http://camerasandchaos.blogspot.com/2011/02/laundry-room-redo.html



This past week I decided to take a Facebook vacation. I thought I definitely needed to focus on a few projects that needed to get done here. You know like laundry, ironing , cleaning the cupboards and the like. Well I should have included taking a blog reading vacation too because something very bad good happened!  I have a routine in the early morning after the kids leave for school. I READ BLOGS. And while reading my bloggy friend Rachael's blog, I became inspired. Oh Lordy....She had listed some "Home Improvement" blog links and I was in...hook, line and sinker! One of her inspirations was a laundry room re-do. Well folks, I too was inspired! So much so that Hunk and I made our way to the local Home Depot and I too bought a gallon of River's Edge paint! Next on the list...wood for the board and batten! I don't think Hunk understands the magnitude of what has happened here! Check out this inspiration. It's beautiful and I'm hoping to maybe have my laundry room beautiful by the middle of the month!

                                                         

In other busy-ness, I have been consumed with graduation announcements and party planning. This is such a busy time of year. BG graduates the end of June but since her announcements have to go to friends and family in the US, that requires they be sent in the next week or so. Now I've had them for about 3 weeks and I put the box away thinking I had plenty of time to get to folding and addressing them, but I realized the other day that they really need to get done and mailed. I also have been planning the big party to celebrate hers and B3's graduations. B3 graduates from Grade 8 in June as well and both of them will have made their confirmations. We have family coming in from the States so I wanted to plan the party while they are all here. Well...no Velasco is ever small potatoes or simple. We don't have them that often and I LOVE to be Hostess with the Mostess so I have begun planning away. I have the invites ordered and an idea of food and the caterer. Now just to get some music going and we'll be all set!

Mother's Day 2011 has come and gone and boy was it a great one! Hunk started the weekend off right! I didn't cook one single meal on Saturday! We went to breakfast (just the two of us) and while we were there he asked what I wanted for Mother's Day. He opened the can of worms! I have been admiring stunning magnolia tree's/bushes in our subdivision for 3 years. This year I finally got one! We made our way to our local garden shop and Hunk had it panted by that afternoon! It is gorgeous! I am happy!! On Mother's Day I was showered with gifts from LG, BG and B3 and phone calls with loving sentiments from B1 and B2. We went to church, then an awesome brunch and spent the rest of the day out by our still covered pool enjoying the rays and warm temps while the younger kids played in the yard and I stared at my new tree! BG's gift to me was cooking dinner. I truly had the best Mother's Day WEEKEND and I am thankful and love all five of my children and feel in awe when each of them call ME "Mom.

                                                             
Speaking of mothers...I have been truly blessed to have 3 Mothers who are great role models and women of faith. My mother lives in SC and though we are far apart we remain close in heart. We have long chats on the phone several times a week and enjoy coffee breaks via the distance and the telephone. My Mother-in-law lives about 40 mins. away and though we don't see her as often as we'd like to I am blessed to have a wonderful relationship with her andto her often for cultural and cuisine inspiration. My late husband's mother is really my second Mom. I am blessed to have her in my life. She keeps me grounded and truly inspires me to be the best wife and mother I can be. When she was free to turn her back on me after Bob died, she held me closer and supported me and I will be FOREVER grateful to her for her unselfish acts of kindness. Today she has embraced our family as an extension of her own and the love is truly felt from her heart.

Thursday our pool is finally getting opened. Hip hip hooray for summer! I have looked at that awful green cover long enough. I long to look out my back windows and see the crisp blue of the water and some beautiful flowers. I can't wait...cold drinks and hot sun and a cool dip after some yard work...ahhhhhh SUMMER!

Tonight we have a contractor coming over to re-visit our basement completion. We have toyed with this forever. It has been rolling around in my mind for a long time and I have really just prayed about it. The prices have been so expensive and we just couldn't even comprehend how we could ever get it done. But I knew that I needed a pace for our company and we truly wanted to move our family room there so we are again re-visiting the idea tonight. Hooray! An answer to prayer or pure persistence? Either way I will be happy. By the way-I'll have 4 more rooms to decorate Honey!!

So, I guess it's now time for me to move my bones and get some things done here before the kids are walking in the door and I realize that, even without Facebook, I'm still as behind as I ever was! But before I buzz off upstairs, I think I'll organize my May calendar and make that "To-Do" list. Yes Honey,  it does include the laundry room and yard work!

Wishing you a Marvelous Monday!!