5 on Friday!!

Happy Friday!! How was your week? Our's was full with a lot of activities...they were all fun...but I am definitely looking forward to moving at just a tad bit slower pace this weekend! 

Here are my 5 Favorites from this past week!!

ONE

Over the past few months, we have become friends with the NICEST couple.  They watched our kids for us at the end of March so we could go out for our anniversary.  Well, my friend texted me the other day and said, "I want to drop something off for your before Mother's Day."  I was thinking she might have gotten me a plant or a card. Imagine how surprised I was when I opened this canvas she made for me!! She traced my kids hands when they were babysitting in March and then put it all together and decoupaged it onto a canvas!! I LOVE it!  It is hanging up in my kitchen and definitely my new FAVORITE piece of artwork!!

TWO

Celebrating Mother's Day was one of my FAVORITE moments from this past week!! I had such a wonderful day...and not because the day was absolutely perfect (because it WASN'T!!).  I just felt so much gratitude all day long that I get to be a mother to my four precious children.  Motherhood is humbling, messy, really hard and the absolute best thing I have and ever will do with my life!

THREE

We celebrated my youngest daughter's birthday earlier this week and it was SO fun!  Definitely a FAVORITE moment of my past week, was seeing her so excited and happy that it was her special day!!  Funny story: we are working on apologizing sincerely and demonstrating forgiveness with our two older daughters- so my youngest daughter hears the saying, "I forgive you" quite a bit.  HA!  Anyway...she has started saying she "forgives us" but in the totally WRONG context.  On the night of her birthday, after her party was over and I was putting her to bed, she gave me a big hug and said, "Mommy, I forgive you for having my great birthday party!"  Hahaha!! I said, "Oh! You mean THANK YOU?"  And she said, "Nope! I FORGIVE you!"  Alrighty then....!! HA!

FOUR

A FAVORITE personal moment for me this week was when I had my "weekly weigh-in" for Weight Watchers and I finally reached my goal of being at my pre-pregnancy weight!!! I have been working REALLY hard on making healthy and smart food choices as well as making sure I am working out 4-5 days a week.  It felt SO good to see my hard work is paying off!! Now I have just a little over 3 pounds to get to my ultimate "happy" weight.  I am almost there!!  While it is definitely a major mental challenge at times to not just eat whatever the heck I want and/or skip my workouts, it is SO motivating and exhilarating to know I am focusing on being the BEST me I can be.  When I feel great, I am a WAY better mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend!

FIVE

As I mentioned earlier, it has been a very FULL week at our house.  With all the busyness, I have been appreciating the quiet time I have in the morning by myself.  I get up at 5:00 am, make myself some coffee, work on my blog, read my devotions for the day and just get myself centered and focused on having a great day.  I NEVER thought I would be a person who CRAVED waking up super early- 

but it has become one of my FAVORITE parts of the day!

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I hope you all have a FABULOUS Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

 I am linking up with April for Five on Friday!

 I am also linking up with Andrea and Erika for their Friday Favorites Link Up!

 Also, joining Karli for her, Oh Hey Friday Link Up!