Day Thirteen

~*13*~

Thanks to Neal's green thumb, we're going to have a yummy harvest this year. And it will include strawberries. These strawberry pots always remind me of our back patio when I was little. We must have had a few.

Day Twelve

~*12*~

My attempt to document the three different shades of red growing out of my kids' heads.

Day Eleven

~*11*~

Day Eleven couldn't be more beautiful. The boys and I were out soaking up the sun before lunch. My camera is really heavy and cumbersome, so this is the best we could do for a self-portrait.

Day Ten

~*10*~

I've recently taken on a tutoring job, working twice a week with a young man who is trying to finish up a British Literature course. These are just a few of my study materials. My mind definitely needs refreshing. We started with Beowulf and Sir Gawain, now we're on Shakespeare and Pope. We'll eventually work our way up through modern times. 

I'm loving it. My student is enduring it.

Day Nine

~*9*~

This morning, Miles expanded his horizons a bit and attended an art class.

Day Eight

~*8*~

Excuse the horsie bottom photo, but Audrey is back in the saddle! We found a great ranch where she can take lessons. This teacher wants to be sure she learns how to take care of the horse, too, so she worked hard cleaning out the stall, grooming the horse and applying all the tack. It was a happy afternoon for her (and a dirty and dusty and poopy one for me and the boys as spectators).

Grateful Sunday

Miles and his "cowboy guitar"

Today, I'm grateful for:

• Neal and his recent epicureal ambitions. It all started with the pasta maker; he's made Sunday dinner for several weeks, now. I haven't had to lift a finger (until clean-up time). Today? His version of Rubio's fish tacos. Mmmm.
• the go-ahead to schedul & plan Audrey's upcoming baptism (March 28th, if anyone wants to come!)
• our climate. Even though it only gets in the 30s here, Neal and I are both warm weather lovers. We're grateful that we chose to live in a warm place, because this is about as much as we can take.
• Parker's acceptance into the GT program at school. It's not much at the kindergarten level, but it's more than the regular curriculum, and he's having a lot of fun so far.
• flu shots! We know several families who have been stricken with influenza this year. I am so glad we are not among them. One bout with the flu several years ago was enough to convince us that shots are no longer optional.

Day Seven

~*7*~

There isn't really any unsupervised tooth brushing in our house.

Day Six

~*6*~

The girl outgrew her boots. Off we went to Cavender's, a first for me.

Day Five

~*5*~

Today is a good day.

• I made it to the gym (Neal warned me of a possible swim party in April [yikes] and I freaked out enough that I'm going to start exercising.)
• the weather is spring-like & we have a playdate at the park after kindergarten
• I'm starting a new tutoring job this afternoon
• Parker has a basketball game this evening,
• and then I get to attend a baby shower.

I decided to dress like a jaunty sailor for the day.

Day Four

~*4*~

Boys and their toys. I've been toy-purging lately, and it feels so good. I vowed that next time we moved, we'd have only a quarter of the toys we moved in with. I found a resale shop that gives you cash on the spot for toys & clothes. It's like a toy pawn shop. And I'm addicted.

Day Three

~*3*~

My job for the day: renew my passport.

Day Two

~*2*~

Today, I'm making an accent pillow for Audrey's bed, using a couple of these napkins.

30 Days of the Everyday: Day One

Taking inspiration from blogs like this, this and this, I'm going to start posting photos of my every day life, not only to document it and see the beauty and peace in it, but maybe to even improve my photography skills. Let's see if I can do it for 30 consecutive days . . .

~*1*~

Braids before school. I've never been a perfectionist about straight part lines.

Or anything else, for that matter.

Grateful Sunday

This week has been great. I have been on a major blogging slump lately and this blog has basically just become a Grateful Sunday blog, but oh well. At least it's something.

I'm grateful for:

• my parents, for coming to Texas for seven whole days. It was so fun and the kids cherished every minute. We love it when they come for so long!
• frequent flier miles. Because of them, we can go to Utah in June for way less cashola.
• the fact that I will never have to buy diapers, wipes or Desitin ever again. Miles has been potty-trained in about 2 days flat. He's awesome!
• my babe of a husband. I just feel so lucky to be so comfortable and happy with one person. It's a miracle, that falling in love thing. I'm so glad it happened to me.

Outside Fun

We're having lots of fun with my parents here. We've had some interesting weather (I was listening for tornado sirens all night and had the flashlight handy.) Today, my dad had to run back to Utah for a minute, and Parker is pining away for him. Parker and Pa are lounging partners. Pa works on his phone or computer, and Parker lays all over him as though he is half the size he really is, snuggling.

Grateful Sunday

This Sunday, I'm grateful for:

my parents, who are here with us for a whole week. It's nice to have so much time to spend with them and no pressure to do anything fancy.

my knowledge that my family is forever. We had a marvelous lesson in church today that helped me realize how lucky I am to hold the principle of eternal families as truth.

Miles, and how attached we are to each other. I remember thinking when he was a teeny baby that I needed his contact just as much as he needed mine. And there's nothing better than taking a long afternoon nap snuggled up to a two-year-old.

Neal and how hard he works. We're both so grateful that he's no longer in school, that work stays at work, and that home time is family time.

Craigslist and Ikea. Both made our week a whole lot easier (and cheaper). We sold the crib, moved Miles to a twin bed, rearranged the boys' room and purchased a new full-size bed for Audrey all within 2 days (and for under $200).

weirding me out

Parker and Miles really don't look that much alike. People tell me all the time that they look like two versions of the same boy, but really, they have very different features. Same hair? Perhaps. But this little coupling of photos of the boys in sunglasses has me thinking maybe they're more alike than I have even noticed. Parker, on the left, in February 2006 (34 months old) and Miles, in December 2008 (28 months old).

huh.

lovely day for a lovely girl

Here's wishing my dear friend, Natalie, a happy, peaceful, family and treat-filled birthday today. A more loyal, dedicated and perfect friend I don't think I'll ever find.

Happy Birthday!

I can't wait to meet that baby.

so proud of himself

You know when your kids do something they think is really cool and they want you to take a picture of it? I love that. This afternoon, Miles took a pick-up-stick and a marker and attached them to the springy door stop thing. And he looked cute doing it. We're trying to accommodate Miles' insane cowlick situation and so today, we tried a new hairstyle. It probably doesn't look that different to you, but it makes a world of difference if you ask his Mama.

flea market

This weekend, we took a trip out to Canton, a small East Texas town with a big flea market weekend every month. I have fond memories of going there with Neal's mom, just hunting for fun stuff. It was really fun to be there with our kids. We didn't end up with much (some vintage prints), but walked a lot and saw some eyefuls, as can be expected in a place like Canton. The kids had some fun at the carnival-ish section, and ended up bringing home some fossils and rocks. No surprise there.

Waiting for the old fossil lady to finish talking to Daddy.

Grateful Sunday

This has been another great week here at our house. I'm grateful for:

• Neal's fun birthday and that he liked his presents (pasta maker, Central Market gift card & a book from my parents).
• the space heater in my chilly bathroom
• chips, salsa & cousins last night in Dallas
• my camera, even though I'm probably not worthy of it, and because it's just so much better than my old one.
• this article from the Ensign, for giving me a swift kick in the pants spiritually. I really needed one.
• the hours of work that Neal's sister, Charlotte, put into our fabulous family calendar. It is beautiful, and I'm grateful for her and for it.
• an upcoming visit from my parents, hooray!