Questions for The Lady of the House...

I got this idea from Misty at Rainy Day in May - she's a doll. Thanks Misty!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:03
2. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls! I think they are one of nature's precious gifts.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Julie & Julia (I was about 7 months pregnant and it was with my sister, Casi. It was perfect.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Castle, My husband and I both really enjoy it!
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Toast with coffee
6. What is your middle name? Jo
7. What food do you dislike? Beans and Ham... ICKY! I'm really trying my best to learn to like them since beans are a healthy food ... blah. blah. blah.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Matisyahu
9. What kind of car do you drive? 2004 (I think) Buick Rendezvous... (yes I had to Google how to spell it!)
10. Favorite sandwich? A bbq'd chorizo (Basque Style) in a hot dog bun! Yes, I'll eat 3! Please and Thank you!
11. What characteristic do you despise? Arrogance.
12. Favorite item of clothing? My Grandpa Bill's green army hat he gave me. Love it!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Europe.
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Target clothes, I think that is Mossimo.
15. Where would you retire to? Where I live now! I love Idaho because it has all the seasons!
16. What was your most memorable birthday? When I turned 18 - I had all my family with me for my graduation and that was the same week as our High School Rodeo in our "home" town so I was so excited. It was amazing! Memories from graduation, rodeoing lots of fun and also tears.
17. Favorite sport to watch? Football!!! booo hooo
18. When is your birthday? May Baby!
19. Are you a morning person or a night person? Totally both! I have to be up to nurse whenever needed and I NEED my alone time... let's just say it is 11:58 right now and I don't mean a.m.
20. What is your shoe size? 10ish... Just depends on the shoe and if I REALLY want it!
21. Pets? Dapher Doo. 8 year old Cocker Spaniel.
22. Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us? ummmm no. That question was creepy - creepy question asker...
23. What did you want to be when you were little? a mommy
24. How are you today? Well it is 12:03 a.m. I think I'll get back to you on that one. But so far I'm watching Gilmore Girls (some of my favorite things) so it is looking up!
25. What is your favorite candy? Anything Chocolate!
26. What is your favorite flower? daisies.
27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Not sure on exact date but Spring Break! When Auntie Holly and kids are coming to visit!
28. What are you listening to right now? The sweet sweet sound of Gilmore Girls. Ahhhhh...
29. What was the last thing you ate? Wanna be Captain Crunch...
30. Do you wish on stars? I do.
31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green. Because I said so.
32. How is the weather right now? It's dark outside and I don't want to go check. I'm betting on cold!
33. What is your natural hair color? I have brown hair.
34. Favorite soft drink? no likey. I love water!
35. Favorite restaurant? Rockies Diner, the girls wear roller skates Hellooo.... & they were on Man vs. Food! I lurrrrrrve food shows so Of Course they are my favorite!
36. Favorite color of nail polish? RED! I only paint toe nails!
37. What was your favorite toy as a child? Do kittens count as toys? My sisters and I would dress them up in our baby doll clothes... We had to keep a good eye on Jodi though... tee hee... She liked to squeeeeze them.
38. Summer or winter? Fall... oh! That wasn't a choice... I DON'T Care!
39. Hugs or kisses? From my love: a Hollywood Kiss - To you: xoxo
40. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate!!!!!!!!!
41. Coffee or tea? Coffee - I think I have an addiction.
42. When was the last time you cried? When I was having one of those Am I doing this right? mama moments...
43. What is under your bed? bunnies. dusty ones... oh! and cars - Cars are everywhere in this house... but that is a post for another day.
44. What did you do last night? Well since it is now 12:22 Monday morning do you mean last night or the last last night...? Sunday night: Super Bowl - uggh let's not talk about it... and then Saturday night: SNL. I heart SNL!
45. What are you afraid of? Spiders. Scare Me. Spiders - remember Bailey Jode?
46. Salty or sweet? sweet then salty, then sweet then salty, then sweet and salty and round it round it goes... Am I the only one that does this...
47. How many keys on your key ring? like 4 - I don't know. too tired to think.
48. How many years at your current job? 3 ish - Stay at Home Mom, the pay sucks but the memories priceless... and I have it in with the Boss *wink*wink
49. Favorite day of the week? Saturday. I LOVE boppin' around Saturday morning eating lots of bacon, toast and coffee - watching cooking shows with my hubby and blogging. ahhhh heavenly!
50. How many towns have you lived in? Like 4 or so.
51. Do you make friends easily? Sometimes I'm shy, sometimes I'm not. Just depends how I feel... right now, tired.

Do any of you have any questions for me?

One Day Dream

Must have coffee! Must have coffee!

Hmmmm... which coffee cup do I want...

Stella! Get down off the table... Come with mama, let's go wake up the boys...

Pauly and Billy - it is time to wake up....

Make your beds, get dressed and don't forget to brush your teeth.

Ben! Honey, the coffee is ready...

Kids! No television till after breakfast!

What's for breakfast mama? You boys can sit on the stools while I make breakfast...

Okay... Breakfast is ready everyone go wash up...

Paul! William! Mind your manners!

Yummm... Delicious!!!!

Okay boys, why don't you go get your cars and play with them in the

Sun Room while I get the Guest Bedrooms ready for

Mimi and Papa and Granny and Grandad...Stella! Come and get your purse out of Granny's room!

Perfect. Can't wait till they're all here!

Stella Pearl! Time for your nap baby girl...

Okay... time for some mama time - Daddy, you're on kid patrol

and you'll know just where to fine me... ahhhhhh heavenly.

all pics came from Coastal Living

☺ Park ☺

He loves the whale - it makes him happy!

Swinging high, higher, higher makes him smile.

Playing at the park makes him jump for joy!

Peek - a Boo! I love you!

He really loves the park and someday...

he will too!

Going Bananas!

This is a little treat I actually learned how to make WAY back in 4-H cooking. My teacher was named Sherry and her little girl was one of my best (on and off friends - you know how kids are) in

elementary school.

So you get one or two bananas cut it up and put the pieces on a plate. Then you drizzle honey over the pieces. Then sprinkle shredded coconut over the whole thing.

Then if you're like me you put a tad bit more of honey over the coconut.

I forgot the other thing I really like to add to the honey if I don't have coconut and that is I like to put the honey on and then sprinkle cinnamon over the top.

Delish!

A perfect after nap time snack!

today's post is brought to you by the number 3 and the letter B

Hurray! This is my 300th post on this Blog.
And this Boy named Billy is 3 months old!

♫ Reminder ♫

You know yesterday I had reached that point where I was frustrated and at that turning point to either I was going to unravel or decide to carry on and have peace in my heart - well there I was - It was just some of that regular mama/wife stuff.... I was just tired after a long day and well... Satan was on me like white on rice.

Then this song came on and it lifted my spirit and reminded me that even when the trash needs taken out, dinner isn't started (and needs to be), the baby is screaming and Pauly is hanging on my leg asking "movie?" "cookie?" "juice?" over and over and over - as my husband sits in his chair and reads ... that is the time to show grace and shine for him. Enjoy!

I love this song:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain (repeat)

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blessed,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain (repeat)

Here is the link to the version that came on the radio.

Happy Day!

♥, The Lady of the House

Bette Davis Eyes

This was the #1 Song on the day I was born in May of 1981... I'm not going to say an oldie but a goodie (because that was mean I'm old!) and I'm not!!! I'm not!!! I'm not!!! I'll just keep telling myself that.

At 28, I'm excited about this stage in my life. I love being a mama of these two boys. Staying home with them is such a blessing. My husband has given me one of the most precious gifts that he ever could and that is time with these boys.

I can't believe how far I've come, (life in general). I was born, as I said in May of '81 - first of three daughters. My mom and dad brought us girls up in a small Bible Church in a tiny one horse town in Idaho. I had an awesome childhood, playing in haystacks, riding horses, sleeping outside on the trampoline on those beautiful, clear nights.

I went to the same exact school building as my mother for both elementary and high school and had at least 5 to 10 same teacher/administrators as she did and looking like her exact clone... well lets just say I answer to Jackie also.

I don't remember the exact moment that I asked Jesus to live in my heart as my Lord and Savior and I accepted him as my Savior but he is the only thing I've ever known. Maybe some would say this is a bad thing, that I didn't get to make that choice... well I'll tell you - I've chose him a million times over, since then.

I went through High School being snobby, stuck up and just plain ugly yet; all along those fruits of the spirit were tugging at my heart and I would give anything to do several years of my life over... who wouldn't? I have a list in my mind of several million things I would do over... it is so hard to let go of the past and to live for today.

But what's the use, it is just a dream to be able to go back and fix those things - those nights I drove my mother to tears, dating a man with - come to find out a wife who was pregnant (but, he said he was going to divorce her!) Sami Jo! You're a Big Dummy!!! is what I thought to myself after escaping that one, and so on and so on.

I thank the Lord every day that I didn't get into a huge mess when I was younger, not that I have everything figured out now (or anything for that matter) and I know there will be many more trials ahead - BUT I'm just so thankful for his hand guiding me through those years... he guided me to meet the Man I married, the Father of our Children and my Best Friend. I'm so thankful for Ben's grace an his unconditional love. I strive and strive to be a good wife and mother; a wife my husband is well-pleased with and my children will be proud of. I thank God everyday for these "every day 2nd chances" to keep trying, to get it right and to honor him.

So as a close to this heartful out pour of a testimony I ask you... Do you know him? - the one that can give you this peace to forget your past and carry on? Did you know he makes it possible to start each day over, every hour, every second, every life? He loves you more than life itself and he proved His love when he died for you on Calvary.

Something I day-dream about and it just gives me goosebumps is the dream of one day, standing in line, and finally getting to the front of the line to finally get to see him...he takes hold of my hand so gently and looks into these green "Sami Jo eyes" and says to me "Well done my good and faithful servant, Welcome Home.".... Ahhhhh chills I tell ya. I love this, I look forward to this and this is what keeps me "battling every day" (as my mom and dad call it).

Thanks for letting me share this with you.

Happy Day, The Lady of the House

Lovely

I was up late...

looking at this awesome gal's blog. She's super chic and I just love the combinations of furniture and decor she thinks up.

I was also up late looking at this: from here,

and these: from here,

and this:from here.

I went to bed dreaming of these:

from this fabulous place.

Loveliness ♥.

Mimi's Pantry

My mom has the sweetest blog (found here) that is always positive and encouraging. I love going there to look at some family pictures, get an up-date about her "Journey", feed my spirit and look at her fabulous recipes to feed my belly in Mimi's Pantry!

Today, I'm taking advantage of her Banana Bread recipe that she has (it is on the 2nd page). Over Christmas, I know I ate one loaf all to myself. Everyone was like - "Where did that loaf go?" and I just turned around and walked back up the stairs *wink*wink*! (I think I did that with my sister's Chocolate Cheese Cake too - I think, I don't really know because I was in a sugar coma most the time we were there - tee hee - Just Kidding!)

I do love this Banana Bread recipe and you should go to her Pantry and try it out too!!

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Love, The Lady

Lord, am I just talkin'?

Click here for Chonda!

I just love this. I want my kids to remember me this way.
Learning to walk the walk,
Love, The Lady of the House

These are a few of my favorite things...

Delectable Pears...

a fabulous tear-jerker by a favorite author...

a little coffee with my cream and sugar in a favorite coffee cup...

glass bottles...

beautiful crosses hung throughout our home...

pretty sea shells...

glass canisters that hold my sugar and flower,

basket weave,

lovely glass door knobs,

marvelously aged hinges,


gloriously, wishful, long eye lashes,

precious chubby cheeks,


a well groomed pooch,

(Craigslist for $25 - and she brought it to me)

and a fabulous find.

A surprise for our Daddy

On Saturday our daddy had to work all day... plus he was sick!So Pauly and I wanted to surprise him with some warm

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

So we called Aunt Jo Jo for her Top Secret Cookie Recipe...And Pauly helped me stir the batter and he helped me lick the beaters

*wink wink*...

Our Daddy got home just as the first batch was coming out of the oven. Daddy loved his special surprise!! and even Billy couldn't resist a little lick...