My Happy Monday

I'm not sure what happened to my "Six-Week Simplification Plan," because my days and weekends are as busy as ever.  Good busy, of course.  This last weekend included soccer games, a piano recital, a 9-hour dance competition, some spring cleaning, a birthday lunch with some great neighbors and some much needed Sunday family/friend time.  Oh, and I learned how to play pickle ball.  Isn't that just fun to say? Pickle ball, pickle ball, pickle ball.  Try saying that 10x without laughing. Hehe. 

But, my Monday happened to be extra happy because, 1) the weather rocked, 2) I went on an outdoor run with my running buddy (Kim Bench), and didn't even get cold, 3) I showered, but didn't do my hair OR put make-up on all day (love those days), and 4) I got to go to lunch with this handsome boy:

Okay, calling it lunch is probably a stretch.  More like us sitting next to each other while he inhaled a footlong sub and 32 oz. Dr. Pepper in about 3 minutes flat.  That's a teenage boy for you!  But, oh how I love this kid.  This is my oldest son, Parker.  This boy suddenly turned into a man over the last year... where, oh where did my little guy go?  

Parker is 16 years old and is a sophomore at Alta High School.  He recently started driving and dating, which means he recently started getting parking tickets, pushing curfew limits, constantly asking for gas money, choosing friends over family on weekends and being gone all the time.  (Can I get an amen?)  But he really is a great kid, even for a teenager.  He's a straight A student, plays football and tennis, recently earned his Eagle Scout Award, is an awesome snowboarder, loves to wakeboard, has a tender heart and [I think] is pretty dang cute.  I could go on an on about all the things that make Parker great, but to spare you from having to read a novel, I will tell the story through pics.

Look at that adorable drooley face

Age 7

Biking w Steve - Moab 2009ish

Fishing Strawberry with Poppy

Yes, that's him upside down

Catching air in Lake Powell

Alta Tennis 

Love this young man so much!

On another subject, "OPERATION DE-CLUTTER" is in full force.  The pic below is a sneak peak.  Oh, btw, this is where the 'not judging' part comes in.  As you will soon see, there are many areas of my house that have become - GASP! - extremely messy and cluttered.  This fact actually drives me insane and I am currently seeking professional help (Jennifer, where are you??).  In the meantime, I am tackling one area at a time and de-cluttering and organizing.  Who wants to join me in this quest?  (I mean, not join my quest, but start your own quest for organization).  My goal is to be clean and clutter-free by the end of May.  (Yes, it's that bad.)  Here is my list...

*All closets (the jersey-wrap dress from 2006 really needs to go)

*All clothes drawers

*Under sinks

*Kid Play Room

*Office (yikes!)

*Craft Room (double yikes!  And, truth be told, I actually call this my junk room...)

*Bill & Paper Filing (shoot me now!)

My 2 little girls share this small closet

(and yes, I have a slight clothes shopping problem)

The Before

The After

What's your list???  Go and make it RIGHT NOW and let's check off our lists together!  There is no better feeling than getting rid of the junk in your life that is weighing you down (getting rid of 'emotional junk' is a subject for another post).  We can do this!

Aly