green dog

Isn't Green Dog a kids' clothing brand? Like at Mervyn's or something? Well, it's now what we are calling Charlie. After mowing our yard, take a close look at his feet. Not sure if the picture will show it very well or not...but the fur around his feet is a tint of GREEN! too funny...

*not sure why, but the blog is turning this picture sideways...I've tried everything to get it turned the right way...oh well...

holiday weekend

We began this holiday weekend expecting rain, thunder, and lightning...but so far we have had none of that! We have actually had fairly decent weather. We have spent time with friends, tried out a new church this morning which was lots of fun, and have been up to some fun adventures outside. Here's a sampling of what we've been up to:

Thank you, G-man for taking a picture of mom & dad!

Cooling off with water guns

Analyzing the view...

What a view!

Wondering what kind of footprint this is? The kids think a wolf, we think a large dog...hhhhmmm...

So sweet!

Another great view!

winding down...

School is winding down for the kids, and there are many things happening.

I'll have more fun pictures to share by the end of the week.

Grandma & Grandpa brought back some neat Russian spring "bead hats".

They said all the girls wear these! So cute!

G-man and some of his buddies

our fun-filled weekend...

Charlie...LOVES to be outside. I cannot emphasize that enough. This guy LOVES to be outside!! I think he needs a summer hair cut, though...he gets hot and is always looking for shade - poor guy!

G-mans's new grin...until another tooth comes out (or a new one comes in is more like it!)

Ms. K's toy grasshopper...my kids love these animal toys...too funny! :)

Ms. P showing off her tongue after having an Otter Pop...(so is Ms. K on the other swing!)

Wow - what a weekend we had! Did some expected & some unexpected things!

Here are the highlights of our busy, activity-filled weekend:

• Bought a new dining "suite" (okay, that's what our saleslady called it - trying to make us feel extra special or something...) - with MY wording - we got a new dining SET. But, of course, nothing can be easy and each piece has it's own story - so let me tell you. :)TABLE: the table was delivered and upon our inspection, it has 2 chips in the marble top (a real bummer...and not something you want in marble, of all surfaces) - a new table will be delivered this week. BUFFET/SERVER: the top of the buffet is great and has no chips in it, BUT one of the drawers has a crack down the side. So, a new drawer is being ordered. CHAIRS: the leather chairs are back-ordered...we'll get them in a couple weeks. So - this dining "suite" purchase will been quite the process by the time it's all over!
• We did yardwork all weekend and got a ton done. We're just about done with the big stuff we wanted to accomplish (for this season anyways!).
• Watched some friends kids most of Sunday. That was busy but really fun!! The kids were wiped out from a weekend of play, play and more play.
• G-man's last soccer game
• Barbequed.......so yummy
• Made home-made pizza.......so yummy
• Ms. P learned to ride her bike with training wheels - she's SO proud (and so are we!!)
• Ms. P got a "big girl" carseat - again, she's SO proud of it!
• Mr. G-man lost a tooth (this is#7)!
• Bought a lot of seed packets for our garden boxes - which are finally complete! Now we just need the compost mixture to go inside the boxes which we'll do SOON! We're so excited about this project.
• Couple trips to the hardware and grocery store (not complete without some candy, toy grasshoppers for each and a bug catcher - so fun!)
• consumed many Otter Pops - the white ones are my favorite (coconut flavored)...and now the kids always want the white ones b/c I make such a big deal about the white ones...I branched out and had an orange one - it was good, too. Otter Pops are one of my favorite warm weather treats - so much better than popsicles (in my opinion). :) I'm craving one right now, actually...not good...not good...I've given up lattes, now Otter Pops may be my new "addiction" - argh!
• Watched one of the Indiana Jones movies with the kids - they were so excited about this. Indiana Jones is a new favorite right now...Star Wars is "old news"...oh my...
• started buying some clothes for our upcoming vacation - fun fun!
• got a sunburn - that's always fun (ha ha)
• I know there's more.......

You're gonna miss this...

This is going to seem like a funny entry, but I just have to write about this song.

I just have to say...one of the songs on my blog makes me cry EVERY time I hear it!! It is SO TRUE!!! I encourage you, at some point after reading this, that you take 3 minutes out of your day to listen to the words of this song. Wow...such a great reminder of how fast life really goes by...It's "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins...it's near the bottom of my playlist. Wow...if you're female, get the Kleenex ready!

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

a new beginning

Sometimes in life, you need a break from something that you know is good and something you enjoy, but you just need a change-up for a while. Something to stir up inside you what you need to figure out. Time to decide what is important and what's not. We are at that place in life, once again. We visited this "place" one year ago, and now we're back.

We aren't quite sure where we'll go from here...we're thinking that we'll head back to our "roots" so to speak - back to the church sweet hubby & I have attended off and on between newborns, sick kids, life's happenings, and etc - since 1995. It's a church that reminds me of who I want to be, who I was in the past, and of who the 2 of us were before we had kids...not sure if that's where we'll end up in the long run, but it's a good start for now.

We did need a change-up for a bit...we gave it our all...we were really involved at another church, met some incredible people, our kids had a blast, but we're so excited to be heading back to something a bit more familiar and closer to our hearts. Summer will be the perfect time to transition, hang out with the kids, get into a new groove during the warmer months...and soaking up some of the stuff we've missed. Life is good.

I love how God brings you around...even when YOU think you need a change-up (and maybe you really do)...He grants you that time - if for no other reason, just to show you that what you had was what He wanted for you all along.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

Early Mother's Day

Ms. K & I had a great time last weekend at a Mother-Daughter Tea. We sat at a table with some of my friends -(and girls I hope Ms. K gets to know better)- they all were so sweet & cute all dressed up for this event. We were even treated to a vintage fashion show while we ate yummy treats and sipped DELISH tea!

Look at all the fun hats we got to try on and wear for the afternoon if we wanted!

*I cannot figure out how to get this picture (below) turned right side up - and it's such a cute picture, too! bummer...

Ms. K loved this hat! She wanted to take it home. When I told her we couldn't, she wanted to stop somewhere on the way home to buy a hat like this. I had to laugh...

a "problem"

This morning, I was surprised to find Ms. P asleep on the couch under a blanket (the one that we all fight for when we're downstairs - it's definitely everyone's favorite blanket!). Here is the conversation that followed:

Me: What's going on? Why are you on the couch? (and wondering how long she had been there)

Ms. P: (in a very serious voice) "Mom, we have a problem. My bed is totally broken. It is totally ruined." (totally is one of her favorite words right now)

My mind was racing...trying to figure out what was wrong with her bed. I had visions of it being soaked...she just recently finished up potty training (day & night - yippee!) and so I was imagining having to wash a bunch of wet bedding/comforters/pillows/etc...and praying that the vinyl mattress protector was actually on HER bed and not accidentally on one of the OTHER kids' beds.

When I got to her room - I was pleasantly surprised at the VERY EASY fix I had ahead of me! And also laughing at her interpretation of a "broken bed". It also made me feel good to see that to Ms. P, a bed with the blankets and pillows piled on the floor in a heap WAS a "problem" and something that most definitely needed fixed! Tidyness is starting early!! Hooray!! :)