Our Easter 2013

We had planned a weekend get away for Easter this year. But as we got closer to the weekend, we all decided we didn't fancy several hours in the car for our get away. We stayed home and enjoyed a relaxing weekend instead.

My sister, Jill, had us over to her house on Saturday evening so we could watch two of my great nephews hunt Easter eggs.

It was Mr. Jaxon's first Easter. How sweet is he in that bow tie?!

And Mr. Aiden is an old pro!

 These boys are so sweet and it is such a joy to share in their lives!

On Sunday we spent the afternoon fishing. I love being out in the sunshine with a pole and my fellas! We didn't catch any fish but we still had a great time. It's great family time being outdoors together.

 It's not a conventional way of celebrating our Risen Christ, but this year, it was our way.

Blessed and Thankful to accept the forgiveness He died for me to have. Thank you Jesus!

blooms

Happy first day of Spring! I'm commemorating the occasion with a few photos of the blooms happening around our place. Our weather has been lovely and definitely Springish the last few days. The weatherman says it will turn rainy and cool over the next few days, but I don't mind. Summertime is hellishly hot here so I refuse to complain about a cool rainy day no matter when it shows itself.

On Monday evening I took my camera out of hibernation and walked around the front and back yards snapping pics of our early bloomers.

The forsythia is blooming.

I have no idea what this tree is called but it is blooming too. :) 

Of course the daffodils are showing their pretty yellow bonnets!

For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of this tree - but it is an ornamental pear. I love its dainty cluster of blooms.

And finally, the Carolina Jessamine in the front yard is blooming.  Sadly, once our neighbor's giant pecan tree leafs out, we will no longer have blooms on our Jessamine. We've decided to pull it up after that happens this spring. I'm not sure what we will replace it with. Do you know of any climbing vines that bloom in shade?

So, what's blooming in your world?

true story.

Fun. And Jason Mraz

I can't get enough of these two songs lately!

Fun. - Some Nights

I adore the quirky little lead singer of Fun. I dig the song and music too. Makes me feel.  And want to stomp my feet and dance around my living room. 

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up

This one I love lots and lots. LOTS.  The video is growing on me. At first viewing I was Bummed. See the capital B?  But now I see the bigger theme. I guess. 

Do you like these songs?

What songs are you liking right now?

Almost 2 years later...

{I meant to post these pics loooooooonnnnnng ago] :)

On June 19 it will be 2 years since Colleen's wedding. I was blessed to be a part of the planning for my niece's wedding. But even as my tongue agreed to do the flowers, my mind was saying, "Are you crazy? You don't know anything about arranging flowers!" Still, I dove in, doing my best to combine her desires with the trends of the time. I ordered several different stems of calla lily before I decided on these. They were soft, realistic and reasonably priced. The arrangements I came up with didn't have a lot of the frills of professional arrangements, but I think they captured the simple feel she was going for at her beach wedding.

Her bouquet:

MOH bouquet:

Mother's corsages:

The boutineers:

Unfortunately, I cannot find any photos of the bridesmaid's bouquet.

Preparing for and attending the wedding was such a fun time with lots of memories! It's fun to look back and remember!

It's Saturday. We just got home from bass lessons, hobby lobby, hair cuts and Indian food for lunch.

It's chilly. Not quite 50 degrees F, but we have the living room windows open. A light breeze is making the wind chimes tinkle and Rainer is outside barking at squirrels and other perceived creatures that are the call of the wild to him.

Lately, I've been hearing lots of coyotes in the evenings. I don't recall any other year that I've heard them so close since we've lived in town. On Thursday night, coming home from working the concession stand (this is the season of life I'm in...concession stand volunteer) for a track meet, one ran in front of me on the busiest street in town. Odd. And then again on the highway that runs through town. Do you call where you live a city or town? With a population of around 1250, I live in a town for certain!

I started an afghan in January for a birthday that happens in September. I'm using Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn brand yarn. It's sturdy, soft and inexpensive.  Win x 3! BUT, now I'm having the hardest time finding coordinating colors because both of the stores nearby have had a very scant selection since Christmas. And they are also sold out on line. I started to panic and emailed Hobby Lobby headquarters. They said they had some trouble with a supplier, but things were straightened out and they would be re-stocked soon. I'm still waiting!! :) And while I'm waiting, I bought some other yarn to make a baby afghan. What's one more WIP?

I'm rethinking my photo wall and have been doing some heavy pinning on the matter. I haven't updated in a while. I'm going to keep some of the photos and mix in some new ones. I want to coordinate the frames in some manner, but not too matchy matchy either. I'm still researching the design, but the other night I did find one of the photos that will go up. It is from Pensacola Beach last year. I think I'll get a 16 x 16 canvas made of it. Looking at it makes me long for June and our next trip to the beach.

Happy Saturday!

Past silliness and current stuff too

I am home from work today. Sick. I'm saying it is a cold, and not the infection that kept Stephen home four days last week.

We had gorgeous weather yesterday. Up to 70 degrees on a February Sunday. Virgil cooked turkey brats on the grill. They are yummy, less fattening and so easy. I especially like easy.

I'm looking at a pile of towels that need to be folded. Patch has decided the pile of clean towels is exactly where he needs to sleep this morning. I should re-wash the towels, but I'll be honest and say I won't. Hey, Patch had a bath on Saturday. It's all good.

Weight watchers is going well. I follow the program great for a stretch of several days and then I have a couple of days of sweet tooth and pasta cravings in larger than normal portions and I decide not to track those day. So far I've lost a total of 10.4 lbs in just over a month. I'm not giving up. :)

My dear friend Cindy and I have joined the Rec Center at work and plan to start walking on the indoor track this week in the evenings right after work. We will work up into more activity. Are also considering a water zumba class there later in the spring.

My head feels like a hundred angry men are marching around up there. LOL...Patchy just snored and scared the begeez out of me.

I hooked up an old hard drive the other day and found some silly pictures of the three of us from the summer of 2008. Stephen attended Science camp at the university where I work each summer from 2nd to 6th grade. The last day of camp was a time for the parents to come see what the kids had learned and have fun exploring and learning. I love these silly photos I came across.

~happy day folks!