Spring Break recap

We had a nice week around here--not much going on, but enjoyed the weather and hanging out.
Some things I have no pictures of:
*the pool was opened. Joshua had the inaugural swim yesterday--outside temp 86, pool temp 62. Brave kid!
*we went to see the movie Soul Surfer, about the girl whose arm was bitten off by a shark. Really good movie, starring Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as the parents and AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany. We had done a little reading about the Hamilton family and how their faith helped them get past the event and move forward. We also read about their struggles to get any of that portrayed in the movie. We normally would wait for movies to go to Ft Meade or Netflix even, but wanted to show our support of the family by paying the big bucks and seeing it the regular theater. Loved it-incredible story and really inspiring.
 We had a beautiful Easter weekend. Nick was able to get up and go to church with us, which we were so thrilled about. He was swarmed there, by so many people who have been praying for him. We're hoping this is the beginning of more good days to come.
Dave informed me that he loves Easter hymns even more than Christmas ones. And I do, too. What a glorious day to be gathered together singing praise to our Risen Savior!
The one down side to our weekend was that Jarrett was not able to come up. We missed him very much.

Here are the pictures:


this kid needed a hair cut



lookin' good!





all dressed up for church





getting directions for the big egg hunt



results of hard work



beautiful sign of spring

He's at it again.....

Some of you may remember this post a couple of years ago. Well, I'm not sure if it was watching me scarf down an entire bag of jelly beans this weekend, or if he noticed I had to stop to catch my breath (and a quick nap) while taking the laundry downstairs to the laundry room, but for whatever reason, hubby has decided it's time to get my rear in gear (again).

So up the driveway we went. And back down. And back up backwards. And down. And up sideways. And down. And on and on and on. This time he put the weight workout IN BETWEEN the sprints on the driveway, ostensibly to catch my breath, but I have a hunch it may have been just so no single part of my body had a rest at all....just a hunch.

Despite the pain and agony he puts me through, the little sideways grin I see when he hears me start whimpering, the joy he gets when I miscount the cadence and we have to start all over again, I still love that man.
And 22 years ago today I married him. We had our lives mapped out when we were still in high school (ha! I know.....), and even though things haven't turned out EXACTLY as we planned, I've known since I was 17 years old that this was the man God chose for me. I love you, my sweet.

Here are some pictures from over the years:



At my guy's high school graduation. Best of the 80's!



No Army hair yet!



I'm totally just putting this one in because I had amazing shoulders. :)

I love this man

Today's the Day!

It's finally here!
If you have been itching to try out your brand-new white, fluffy tube socks,
If your baby just started crawling and she needs a big space to go without dirtying her knees,
If you want to live on the edge and let your cookie stay on the floor past the 10-second rule,
COME ON OVER!

Yesterday was rug cleaning day. I am proud to say that my carpets are cleaned, thanks to this guy:

You say you need a ride? No problem! Floor mats in van--clean too!

My back is aching, I have blisters on my pinkie fingers (what?), and my poor cats may never be the same again,
but the carpets are clean!

Spring Cleaning, Phase Two, COMPLETED.

p.s.--the remark above about dropping your cookie on my floor --I didn't mean it. DO NOT drop food on my clean floors!

Observations from this morning

#1-Spring Cleaning is a lot more fun in theory than in practice.
#2-Do not start your spring cleaning with the biggest, baddest job or your motivation will run out soon.
#3-Invest in a GOOD pair of rubber gloves. And schedule a manicure for the next day.
#4-That bathroom is just for show now.

To keep my mind off of the trauma of this morning's cleaning event, I will share a few pictures with you.


cute kid demonstrating the water cycle



Picked up this beauty for 4 bucks at Goodwill this week! And I have FABULOUS plans for it. Stay tuned...



Dinner last Friday night--fish sticks and peas



April Fools!

Joshua was actually pretty excited at the idea of fish sticks, since we don't have them very often. And he kept exclaiming that his fish sticks tasted "just like chocolate!!" It wasn't until after he tasted his "peas" that he figured out the joke....





What's Next

I have a long list of projects in the works--I'm trying to be good about finishing one up before I start on the next, though. That'll be new for me. ;-)

Here are some things STILL going on in the living/sun room:

Brought in this table so Joshua has a designated breakfast area, saving the couch and the carpet from drips while he watches "Funniest Home" every morning.

Still looking for the right rug to go underneath

Stealing an idea from Family Fun magazine, we created little window plant starters. That inspired us to put both of our Ikea benches back along the window and we have since planted herbs and other things in our "greenhouse."

Here are some things I'm toying with for the rest of the room:

The sun is peeking through the clouds right now, though. The room may have to wait....