Christmas Morning 2010

We were blessed to spend Christmas together as a family, we have so much to be thankful for. Grandparents, friends, a new puppy, and a warm sunny California day is a blessed Christmas.
Photography by Coco's Photography :)

Christmas Party 2010

Santa was the special surprise guest at our party. Santa read the Christmas story to the children before taking photos. While the adults played a game called "Stuff the Santa" the children decorated cookies.

Haley Horsager

10 Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do | ModernMom.com

10 Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do | ModernMom.com

Daughters of The King

Wow! Where did the summer go? Being a home school mom, I feel like I just did Spring report cards and now it's time to do course studies for the new school year. I'm a little behind, I have to admit. I still have last years school books on the shelves and the new books have already arrived! Tomorrow is the day to organize the book shelf.

Along with organizing the book shelf and shopping for school supplies the thing I really look forward to in the Fall is starting a new Bible study. The thing is, I have found an amazing group of ladies that I love. After years of round table discussions with strangers, very nice people, but we just didn't have that much in common, I have found my place. Three years ago after moving to a new city I joined a neighborhood Bible study. This group of ladies range in age from early 30's to late 70's. Some have new babies and some have grand babies. I fall in the middle with teenagers. I am able to deliver a meal to the new mom who is lacking sleep and gain wisdom from the mother who has raised her children successfully. Even though there is an age difference, we connect. We connect and we relate to one another because we experience similar life situations. We lift each other up, we offer encouragement and support without any judgment, critique or condemnation. After all, we are all women, mothers striving to do our best with our children, our husbands and our homes. We need to cheer each other on, "You can do it", "It gets easier", " We are here for you".

The biggest connection I have with these ladies besides being wives and mothers is that we are all daughters of The King. We all have faith in God. Some of us were raised in the pews of the church, some have just started attending church. Some were raised Catholic, others Protestant. We are all growing together in our faith.

Thursday is the morning we gather for coffee, breakfast and the Word of God. We have found a favorite author of Bible studies, Priscilla Shirer. We have studied several of her books and she always takes us to a deeper place in our faith. Our walk with God grows stronger and we gain new knowledge of God's Word. This fall we will dig deep into Priscilla's newest Bible study 'A Life Interrupted' the Bible story of Jonah.

After having a wonderful, relaxing and mostly busy summer full of teen activity, I am looking forward to having quiet time every morning with the Lord. To wake up every morning before my feet hit the ground running and spend a quiet moment in the Word of God, this is what I am excited about. I know that for many summer is their quiet time, but for me, I especially look forward to the accountability of my group of ladies.

If you don't have a group of friends to walk through life with, I encourage you to seek it out. Find a good Bible teaching church and then ask if they have a ladies Bible study, moms group or small group. If the first one isn't a good match, keep trying, don't give up. Be courageous, step out of your comfort zone and you just may find a place of friendship and encouragement.

God bless you friend,

Susan

Laundry Room

I love these colorful & cute bags for sorting laundry and dry cleaning. There's a bag for every color. If I have to do the laundry, I might as well have an organized and colorful laundry room that I don't dread going into.

TheCompanyStore.com

July 3rd "Dive In"

It's an annual tradition at our house on the eve of the 4th to have a Dive In!!! We start early in the day with a swim and cook out. When the sun goes down we set up the big screen and watch Independence Day from the pool. We always end the night with smores around the fire pit. The 4th of July weekend is always the official start of the summer for our family.

Organizing My Family's Schedule

I love to get organized. I am a happy girl when I have a schedule and a plan. When the schedule is in a day planner with a beautiful cover and the plan is on pretty paper, I am in heaven. Every year when I start shopping for a new planner, I take weeks even months before I make a choice. In fact I have already begun my search for 2011. After all, this is something that I will be spending my time with every day, taking with me everywhere I go, this is a very important decision. It has to have every detail that I need, like month at a glance, week at a glance, cute notepaper, a place for a pretty pen.

I have two sites that I want to share with you that I love! The planners are functional & beautiful! And, they have amazing stationary too! Check out www.trulymom.com and www.momagenda.com

xoxo,
Mama Almighty

Coco's Candy Party

What do you do for a teenager's birthday party when they have already had every theme imaginable?

When the girls were little every party included a Disney Princess, one year, live Dalmation dogs Pongo & Perdita attended. We always had a bounce house to go with the theme, special party favors and an elaborate cake. They have had some great parties! I wish I had better photos of all those parties.

This year Coco wanted a Candy/Pool party for her 15th birthday. I purchased about 10 different types of candy plus cookies & brownies to fill the candy bar. Smart n Final & Costco had everything I needed. I found the best price on the glass jars at Costplus, the square ones with chalkboard labels were less than $5. They were twice as much at the store next door. I purchased clear cellophane bags and bright ribbon in different colors and printed labels that said "Coco's Candy Factory". Scoops were available for them to fill their own candy bags.

I found different size round cake boards at a party store and bright colored cellophane to cover them. I bought round dowels at the hardware store and a can of white spray paint. I attached the white dowels to the round covered cellophane to make giant lollipops. The lollipops lined the walkway to the front door. I cut out large letters from fluorescent poster board that read "OH Sugar" and hung them on the front door. I believe the party starts before the guests arrive and you want to give them a fun entrance. The minute they receive the invitation in the mail they will have a first impression of the party and decide if they want to attend.

Coco's Candy Factory was a success!

Photos by cocosphotography

Welcome

Hi Friends,

I'm honored that you have stopped by to check out my blog! I am new to this so please be kind in your critiques. I am not a writer nor was I an English major. I'm not an expert on anything in particular. I'm just a mom who is raising teenagers through trial & tribulation while trying to navigate home and family. In the midst of it all I try to find time to express my own design & entertaining style. I love organizing my home and family for fun and great memories.  I love producing a great birthday party, a musical or a Rock Concert! My husband and I have produced musicals for the past ten years and have now recently moved onto producing the OC School of Rock. 

I know that I cannot get through my day without The Almighty One at my side and most days carrying me through. I try and spend time every day in prayer and studying the Word of God. This belief and faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for everything in my life.  I have read and studied many inspirational authors that have helped me navigate parenting and my marriage. 

I will strive to encourage you the way I was encouraged as a young wife and mother. I will try to bring a positive word, hopefully at just the right time. I will also share fun ideas for kid's birthday parties, grown up entertaining and ways I get organized.

Hope you enjoy,

xoxo,

Mama Almighty

 aka Susan :)