Popsicles, Paintings & Playing at the Park

We've now begun our third week of summer break. A busy schedule with no more sleeping in for mom has begun. Calvin started ROTC (raiders) and Drill practice last week. He managed to talk Connor into joining raiders with him. It's keeping them busy and active so I'm all for it! I do miss my pillow but the mornings of listening to the birds sing while enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book are welcomed!

We've filled our afternoons with water balloon fights, popsicles, chalk drawings, painting, colored pencil drawings, reading, football and basketball in the backyard, keeping up with the gardening, and playing at the park. I still have plenty of time for crafty things too. I painted new flower pots and another canvas. This one is 11 x 14. I'm thinking I just might sell this one, so if you're interested let me know.















My mom must have saved everything from when we were kids! She recently gave me a big yellow envelope full of baby congrats and birthday cards from when I was born and a few years after. I finally sat down to read through them all and thought I might as well find a way to reuse them instead of just tossing them in the recycle bin. So these are recycled with care from 1979! How old I feel now! Ha!

Endless days

 Endless days of peace.
My heart goes out to all the tornado survivors and their families.
Healing thoughts are sent your way.

Too many rainy days to count. When I happened on this while strolling through the back yard with Hobbes, I knew I was on the right path. One of those you are right where you were meant to be moments.

 I had a visitor too..

An afternoon at Rockome Gardens

Many new memories were made sharing this weekend with family.

Beautiful

flowers

were found throughout the gardens.

This will wake up the neighbors!

learning something new today

seeing it all through a child's eyes again.

Happy Mother's Day!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

 Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!

Spring, Flowers, and Crafting!

It's been another week of fun filled days and we have finally started our Spring Break! 

A crafting adventure that started with wooden letters, a good friend, lots of paper and a variety of flowers.

 

Salvia Caradonna & Dusty Miller have graced the backyard.

 

The gardening helpers..just need to find the gnome hats!

Another beautiful sun catcher made for my niece.

Wishing Harley & Jeremy many days of happiness together!

The best part of waking up is...

Some where in my day I found time to start planting, inside of course since the weather is still wonky. Just not warm enough to set them out yet. Waking to the smell of coffee brewing, the sunshine streaming in through the window and hitting the sun catchers at just the right angle to make a wall of rainbows is the best way to wake up in the morning!

 An acrylic painting made for my 2 year old niece.

I was inspired by a fabric designed by Jac Que Designs.

Another beautiful sunset. Thank you Mother Nature.