{tucking in for the night}

ALOT of activity around here tonight.

My session wanted to wait due to the rain that moved through.  She didn't think

her two year old would be too fond of the mud; or maybe he would? So, we

rescheduled that. 

Yesterday, I tried to make a quick sweep around the yard to mow. It didn't last long

as I got BARB-WIRE wrapped around the blades.  Not a good thing.  A friend here

tonight to work on that.

After a little research, decided to move the chicks to their nice abode. 

They are HAPPY chicks!   They are not sure what to do with all of that

room, so after they checked it out for a bit, they do what they've been

doing for weeks now.........snuggled.  So sweet.  Their sounds are changing and 

when I went back to refill their water, they were all nestled together almost purring. 

Then one, tried to fly out! 

I know I warned myself not to name them.  But, it's hard not to.  The one below with the hair on top all crazy is Phyllis.  She reminds me of someone. ;)

 The black one below is one of my very favorites, a bantam black silkie.  I'm thinking he may be a rooster though?

 They were actually being pretty polite around the water bowl.

 Our one and only Rhode Island Red.

Oh, and we had a little rip sticking going on in the middle of everything. 

Notice the ferns! 

It's always a happy, happy day the day I bring those home every year.

You can see that the coop is a little down hill.  However, the big tractor next to

it gives a better perspective on its size. 

These ferns are HUGE!! {southerlands}

And, I finally replaced the dead mums.  I went pink this year. 

{welcome spring}

I'm not sure what I got accomplished today, if anything.

I did determine that they do not make clothes pins like they used to. Period.

But, I'm sure the 70 mph winds today did not help too much. 
 

After I finished accomplishing nothing, tonight I planted 70+ strawberry plants with more to go tomorrow. I can now go to the garden and not be stressed. It's actually coming together. Tomorrow I am putting in an fence-panel arch to plant my peas. Classy, I know. But, it was laying there, and it will serve the purpose just fine. So cattle panel arbor it will be. :)

The boys played outside while I was in the garden. Noah had his first big {not really} bike wreck. He is recovering on the couch as I type this. {he's fine, but is in need of a little sympathy} Since I am the QUEEN of bike wrecks {and my legs will tell that story} I have to be intentional about my empathy. I know it hurts so bad, and he actually held up pretty well to it. At least we got the first one behind us. Little man's may be a total wipe out at the rate of speed and all of his little "trick" biking he does. Noah's probably happened because of he tends to be VERY safe.

I can't believe this hasn't happened before now.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!!!

{laundry: spring fling}

One of our only regrets in building our house, definitely the biggest regret,

is the size of my closet.  So, today, I tackled the attic - balancing the 

tubs of spring/summer clothes while climbing back down the ladder.

The winter will be ascending that same ladder.

And, because I have the need to wash everything even though it's been

tightly sealed.  I am climbing over piles and piles of color.  I'm thinking

I am ready to be out of the grays and blacks for awhile.  Now, if those

spring temperatures would just return!!

{could it be?}

a bud in a tree?

YIPPPEEEEEEE!!

{over it}

Yes, it's official. 

I am pretty much over the dreary days of winter.  

Just sayin'.

Bring on the sunshine, flowers and green!

{getting ready}

I've purchased all of the seeds for spring.

 

I think.

I'm going to start some of them inside over the next few weeks.

Although, I love snow.

I'm looking forward to the carefree, simple days of summer.

In a big way.

{dreaming of spring}

I'm thinking the balmy upper-forty degree weather has sparked the fever of spring.

Although the chicken below really freaks me out. It looks mean?? I am really wanting to give chickens another whirl. I definitely learned from my last run. {pardon the pun}

But, I am researching different breeds and am totally going for the very

non-aggressive, docile, friendly demeanors. All girls. I hope they get that right.

I have Scott working on Chicken Coop plans.

Of course, I want the fancy chickens. But, I am happy, happy about organic eggs without having to pay near $4 a dozen for them. And, thanks to Ang's ongoing chicken saga - I have a great go-to source. However, my chicken coop will be a tent in comparison to her Chicken Castle. :)

And, I'm filling my online shopping cart with fun seeds.

I remember the hard work all too well. But, the outcome, more than worth it!

{our days}

These were taken after Scott, Evan and I returned home from Noah's SOM breakfast on Tuesday. E looked so stinkin' cute I couldn't help but snap a few while he was actually dressed. Remember, the child rarely wears clothes. His spidey-underoos suit him just fine. (according to E)


Do you recall my model-boy who didn't have the goofy smile yet? A photographer {moms} dream. He would just stare. I loved it.



I knew very well that my days were numbered.

It's here! The one below is not the cheesy smile - it's a real one. Those are always keepers. But, after he busted that huge smile, it was all downhill. I didn't post any. They cause me pain. ;)

E waits all.day.long for N to get home. He asks for him a million times a day. Then, big brother does this to him! Who needs a beach when you have a big brother? ha!

I have to give Noah credit here. Notice the board he placed underneath E's head as a pillow? How incredibly nice of him???? And, E didn't even complain?

I'm not sure they will ever give up this sand pile?

So happy spring is here!

You can see the wheels turning!

Do all boys strike this pose? Those 9 or 37? :)

And, how I cannot wait to use this!!! As you know, we finished it, when, in November? We burned one fire in it last year. I bought a few plants over the weekend but have so much more to do like unload the wood on the back porch, find some candles, drag out all of the patio furniture and cushions, etc, etc, etc. But, I am hoping we have a TON of great evenings out there this summer. It literally took from last March - October/November to finish this project. Now, it's time to enjoy!

And, the bricks that make up the patio {the ones from Scott's grandparents store} are getting even more "aged". So pretty! So glad we went the long route after all! It is perfect and means so much!

Didn't we just have record snow 2 weeks ago? Seriously?

{out with the old, in with the new}

Well sort-of, for the season that is!

Up and down the attic stairs with bins of spring and summer clothes. I'm a little afraid of packing away all of my winter clothing as the minute I do, we will get 4 feet of snow. But the last two days of sun have made me ready to get it all out.

Of course, I am realizing I am missing one new skirt I bought at the end summer last year. If I have keyed in on that, what else is lost? There is no telling what is up there?

So, my washer will be running steadily as I have to rewash everything. Stupid, I know.

Soooo looking forward to lunch with friends tomorrow, a 3-day weekend with the kiddos, a date night with Scott and Easter services with the family.

{fancy delivery?}

Who needs FDA when you have sweet little boys who bring you tree branches, weeds, leaves and roots? Honestly, as simple as it is......this is one of my very favorite things about being a mommy. (clarification: "Mom" to one, "Mommy" to the other :) Seeing these truly brings tears to my eyes. It always takes me back to the days when I didn't know.......if I would ever experience these little joys. I am so incredibly blessed! Particularly with the branches, sticks and weeds.......and, all that is in between!

I wouldn't trade these for a 100 bloomed roses........

Notice the leaves? LOVE it!

and, the roots.........

In this one, he drowned them in a cup of water. They are swimming!

My devotional day was quite fitting.

"The Growing Times"

Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ. Ephesians 4:15

If you look back over your life, you will see that you never grow during easy times; you grow during hard times. During the easy times that come, you are able to enjoy what you have gained through the hard times. This is really a life principle; it is just the way it works.

Hebrews 12:11 "For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

To be truly victorious, we must grow to the place where we are not afraid of hard times but are actually challenged by them. Because it is during these hard times that we grow.