Younus: Grace for the Journey

MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

Its been Fun....

School is just around the corner, and I cant say that I am sad about it either hahaha..However.. We have had a Great summer , filled with mini weekend vacations, Trips to Zoo, visits to Grandmas, play dates, Hours and hours on Water slide and pool.. and of course boxes and Boxes of Popsicles!..
But I think the most fun the boys had was going Boating!!! Paul's parents let us borrow their boat for a couple months!!.. Each of my boys have grown up on this boat, and I really do mean that!.. they have all been on that boat since they were about 2 months old!!..so needless to say, we have had alot of great memories on it!

We even got to go out with our friends who have a boat as well.. so much fun!!!

Its been a Great Summer!..

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010

Im Here!!

Hey Everyone!

Gosh, its been so long since I have Blogged!.. Sorry bout that!.. its just been a Busy summer, and we are in the final stretch of days till school begins :-)

Speaking of "back to school"..

Walmart -has Great prices on all school supply lists..

Sears- has the Kid vantage Program"- They replace shoes and clothing if it wears out before they outgrow it!!.. I LOVE THIS!

Consignment shops- Even though I buy each of the boys a few brand new outfits to start the year out, I buy alot of thier clothes in these shops!.. I find such awesome deals on great name brand clothes without spending a fortune!.. I get Old Navy, Children's Place, Gap, and may more at a fraction of the cost!

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010

Its Has Begun.....

Yes, its Officially "summer vacation" in the Schwarz Hizzay!
Time for no real schedules to keep, No packing backpacks and Lunches, No Homework, hopefully lots of Sleeping in past 6 am, and my fav.. Lots of Ice cream trips!!!

The Boys have been on Summer break for over a week now, and Already I'm getting a little Flustered as to what to do with them!
Its been a Mix of Rainy days, and Hot Muggy days.. so even on the Hot days, they can be out there playing, but not for Long times, because I don't want them getting overheated!

So, Its time for me to have a Game Plan for the next 72 days haha.....

*Renew our Zoo passes. This year we want to do Columbus Zoo, and Possibly Cincinnati.
A couple years ago we did, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Erie, and Akron one about 30 times..ha ha, Its only 15 mins from My house, so it makes for a nice Break in the day!)

*Mini 3 day vacations( those are the best and easiest to do with 3 boys) Plus, they are happy to go anywhere that has a Pool, and eat junk food and make a mess in the hotel room, and not have to clean it! :-)

*Weekly trips to Library( The boys laughed when I said, I want them to continue their reading even through the summer, they thought they got a "break" from Learning ha ha)

*Play dates

*Picnic/ Parties

*and Lots of Play time on the Water slide, and pool ( Rain stay away!)

72 days till School starts.. That seems so far away, yet usually ends up coming so fast!..Speaking of School, Dante' will be in 4th Grade, and Dominic in 2nd.. can you believe that?!?!?!.. only 2 more years and Luca will be in school too yay!!!

So, as I raise my bowl of ice cream, here's to a summer filled with Fun times, and Fun memories!

MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010

FINALLY, a company used their brain!!...

Check This out.. My New Favorite water enhancer!..

This stuff is soo good!!..
I don't know if you realized , but every single other water enhancer has Nutra sweet crap in it!..
Companies are being so sneaky about adding that
S H * * into our foods.. excuse the bleeped out french, but it makes me so mad.. artificial sweeteners are in everything, even Gum!!!!!!.. and not just 1 sweetener but 3.. aspartame, Acesulfame K ,and sucralose!.. That stuff is soo bad for your body!!!!

Next time you go to the store, read the back of every single gum, even plain ol Wrigley's.. it has all 3.. its insanity!..

So enough of my ranting on that subject, THAT Rant will be another post someday..haha... Now , back to this great find..

Crystal Light finally made a smart choice and made this water flavor.. it is sweetened with Stevia, and Cane sugar..

There is only 3 flavors so far.. Lemon/lime, kiwi strawberry, and grape..
Lemon lime taste just like lemonade!!..

I Like drinking water anyways, But this gives some options to switch it up once in awhile..
You HAVE to try it out!

But Make sure it says Crystal Light Pure Fitness... The other ones have the Crap in it!..
Let me know what you all think of it!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2010

No pain.. no Gain..really????

So, I have started exercising of some sort everyday.. and Let me tell you.. It Hurts!.. My whole body is sore :-(

I don't really have a "routine" I follow.. I mean really, don't you think when you put yourself on a Regimen, it feels like torture, and totally takes the fun out of it??

So I say Routine smoutine!!..

We have some workout equipment, that I honestly think has got more use, from the boys playing on it, than we have actually got FIT using it.. pathetic I know!

We have a Gazelle, Ab roller, stationary bikes, total Body machine and Paul has a Nice weight bench.. so here is my "routine" if you will..

About 5 mins on each of the listed things above, and then I Create my own Aerobics .. which is basically me putting on My ipod, turning up the jamz, and Boogie!!.. Its ok.. be jealous of the fact that you cant see my Super Fly moves!!

And I try to walk whenever its nice outside.. we have a awesome neighbor hood to walk in, that I even feel safe to walk in the evening on those warm Summer nights!.. "wella wella wella ooo.. tell me more , tell me more".. Sorry, I slipped into the Summer nighst Grease song there for a second" LOVE that Movie!!..OK Im back....
Or course, I always feel safe when I'm packing my Gun with me..LOL.. Ok.. I don't really do that.. But it sounded good right??

So there you have it..

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2010

Stress.....It doesnt do a body good!

I have been living with Too much stress!.. I could say I have 3 boys, and that in itself is enough of a reason right there!..ha ha

But seriously, its not just the boys, its many things that I let get to me.. NOT cool!

Lately though, The biggest stress culprit has been dealing with a certain, VERY active , strong willed 3 year old!!..

He is a Sweet boy in so many ways, and I DO love him so much.. He is my baby, my last one, my boo...BUT.. This sweet child with the angelic face, has been putting his mommy through the ringer!!!.

It has caused me to become worn out, daily stressed, and downright weary!..

It has caused some health stuff, which is NEVER good!...Recently I had to go to Dr, because after a time of High stress with the kids, I experienced some chest pains.. It felt like someone was squeezing my heart!!
I went To My Dr next day, and he sent me to a Heart Dr.. and they said it is Mitral valve Prolapse.. Sounds awful, But is more common than people know..
Basically it is when one of your heart valves don't close the right way, but rather "collapse"... It isn't dangerous, though.. Thank Goodness!
He did however say, many things can Trigger it, and Stress is a Big Culprit!..
So, his diagnosis??.. Exercise, Eat right, and try to limit stress!..hahaha Funny Doc.. umm.. yeah.. I will get right on that!...LOL
So what is a stressed out mom, with MVP to do????..

Well, for starters I loaded up my Ipod with Joyce Meyer teachings, and I'm gonna take daily walks to clear my mind, burn off some of this stress!!.. And I have Paul totally take over on correction when he is home!..

Also, Paul and I are gonna look for a sitter, so we can start going on Dates!.. We haven't been on a date in prob 8 months or more.. and the last getaway we had was like 2 years ago..
I am able to go out by myself, or out with friends, which is VERY much needed for me.. BUT Paul and I SOO need alone time.. something that we have not had much in the last 4 years!!..
Luca has consumed so much of me, and I am getting weary in my Mothering :-(..

I was just listening to a Joyce Meyer teaching yesterday, and she was talking on this subject, Talk about Perfect Timing!!!..
She said.. when a mom starts getting weary, and run down to a Frazzled state.. That it is S.O.S time to ask for help!!! actually, we should do it BEFORE we get to that point!..

So, I am doing just that!.. Asking for help!

I encourage you moms to do the same!!.. We need to be able to refresh ourselves, and when the loads in Life get to heavy, God doesn't expect us to Carry them all by ourselves!!!

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010

Me and Author?..

A couple Years ago, I started writing a book about life with my boys..
Its a light hearted look into my world that is surrounded by The male species.

well, I left off somewhere around chapter 8 or 9.. now, before you get too excited, the chapters are short! ha ha... but anyway.. I left off there, and for some reason I haven't picked it up ever since!..
I'm not really sure why, oh wait.. Yes I do.. LIFE happened!..

I do really enjoy writing.. it is sort of an outlet for me to write down my thoughts, as crazy and confusing as they are sometimes, but it is ..dare I say.. Therapeutic?? ..

I have had MANY adventures with these boys of mine, and honestly SO many stories just HAVE to be shared with everyone!! :-)

So, I had a little encouragement from a couple people, that I should pick it back up again.. and I am doing just that!!

I want this book to be about Realness!.. Real feelings of hopes and dreams I had for a girl, and how I came to the point of accepting What God gave me, and being happy about it, and I want it to give other moms a sense of hope, that they are Certainly NOT alone in this journey of craziness we call Motherhood!

I think every mom , whether she be one that Got exactly the kids she wanted, or whether she Got what GOD wanted her to have.. I think we All have a story to tell!!

I Love all my boys, and as Weird as this sounds.. it wasn't until Luca was about 2 years old, that I Finally ,totally and completely accepted my life without a daughter, and it was then, That I was able to truly appreciate what I have been given! and Consider it an Honor That God choose ME , and entrusted ME with these future men of God!!!

So, I'm not sure when the book be done.. hopefully before Jesus returns..ha ha

BUT, It is a work in progress!!