Capturing a Memory

I am reminded today of just how few of these types of days I have left.  With big brother getting out of school for the summer and kindergarten approaching all too rapidly, the "Mommy and Z" days are going to become scarce.  That's what we call the days where it is just us two girls.  Those days are a treasue to both of us.  Lesson of the day:  "Whereas marriage is the process of two becoming one, motherhood is the process of one becoming two."  Neither process is easy but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Happy Easter!

 Happy Easter from the Potater Patch!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

Hope you had a wonderful day celebrating our risen savior!

Hair Saga Continued:  Obviously didn't work (it was still too damp and we had to get to church early).  Flipped side pony with a big bow made up for the lack of curls because it looks so "big girlish" in Z's world...so we're still good.

Easter Torture

This face is not because we had to spend 15+ minutes twisting hair into tiny buns and not for the tons of tiny bobby pins that I know poked her in the scalp.  This face is 100% due to the fact that she thinks she looks silly.  Mommy: "Z, what's the matter.  I thought you wanted to have curly hair for Easter?"  Z:  "I do but I just don't like my hair like this!"  Doesn't help that big brother walked in during the end of the process and announced, "Her hair looks WEIRD like that!"  Geez, what we do for beauty!  To be continued....and there will be a shot of the curly hair (keep your fingers crossed...this better work.)....

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

We're having one of those weeks here in the patch...the kind of week where things keep falling apart:  two computers (one dead...one with problems), one leaky outdoor faucet that has led to 3 toilets that have to have something replaced, no water at the kitchen sink and now that faucet has to be replaced (I really liked it too). I think that plumber we were trying to avoid calling will be getting a call today.  Lesson of the Day:  Old houses have lots of character and beautiful trees but a never ending to-do list and constant trips to Home Depot.  I still love our house....but I'm not too sure about Alan.  He hates plumbing work :).  We'll definitely be making lemonade this weekend from our lemons.

Death in the family

We've had a death in the family.  The mother board on our ancient computer died yesterday.  She was a trooper and lived long past her time.  Have you seen that commercial about the family who was robbed but the robbers didn't take their computer because it was so outdated?  Well, that's us.  Updated technology is not something we find terribly important.  So until I figure out how to do everything from Alan's hand-me-down work laptop (see below for that story), we might be scarce on pictures.  So, so long good friend.  You infuriated me on a weekly basis, but I will miss you until we save up for another.

Laptop story:  A few weeks ago, Alan was watching a movie on his work laptop while working out on the tread climber.  Long story short, the power cord got tangled in the tread, yanked the computer to the tile floor and shattered the screen.  Good news:  Alan had already approached his boss about getting a new computer (this one has a host of its own issues) so they readily purchased him a spankin' new laptop but let him keep the old one.  So, I shopped around until I found a great deal on a used but not shattered screen with casing (that was also cracked), ordered it, Alan installed, and wha-la....we are back in business.  Cheapest computer ever.

Lesson of the Day:  Sometimes when it rains it pours but at least you can play in the puddles. :)

Mmmmm....Strawberries!

In 2003, my new friend, Carey and I went strawberry picking for the first time.  J was one and her oldest was about 8 months.  Now, eight years later two best friends with now 6 kids combined (most of them hers) took our annual trip to the berry patch yesterday.  We make a point to go every year, even though we live over 3 hours apart now and we've only missed a few.  We always have such great fun and it's always sad to say goodbye.  As J put it yesterday, "That's the one friend I never want to say goodbye to.  It always makes me sad.  We really are best friends."  I completely understand because I feel the exact same way.   Here's a few pics from this year's adventure.

Best Friends

The Superspy Girls and their Trusty Sidekick
(Z always calls the twins Superspy Girls)



"Look, Mom-Mom, it's a humongous strawberry!"



Sharing a ladybug.

J's Loot

Me and my kiddos




The baby of the bunch



I think it is impossible to get 6 kids to look at the camera at the same time.

 

My two favorite kids in the whole wide world!

Lesson of the Day:  Best friends are a true gift from God.



Well, here I grow again...

Whoever would have thought that an experienced teacher would have a hard time finding a job?  I have NO idea what I'm suppose to do next year with both kids in school.  I think part of me is still in shock.  I had everything perfectly set up to be hired at a certain school but  apparently my plan (for the last 9 years) and God's plan were not the same.  Guess I'll just have to wait in see what He has in store for me.  I'm sure His plan is much better anyway.  Lesson of the Day:  Plans...be careful who they come from.

And baby makes 5!

Don't worry...not me...that ship is dry docked...but congratulations to my little brother Thomas and his wife Nocona on expecting baby #3.  Couldn't happen to better people!  Can't wait to kiss on the new bundle of joy come November!

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

The Corner/Vegetable Garden

The Herb Garden

Progress is being made in the gardens. As those of you that have been over here know, there is very little sunlight in my yard. We are blessed with beautiful trees and lots of shade, but I have managed to plant two gardens this year with a little help from my sweet girl. They are growing really well. Z exclaimed today, "After these grow, Mom-Mom, we won't ever have to go to the grocery store!" Oh, how I wished that were true but we will be able to enjoy fresh tomatoes, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. Today we planted carrot and spinach seeds. I'm not sure if they will grow since they were sort-of old. I was on hole making duty and Z was on dropping the seed in the hole duty. I caught her a couple of time dusting seeds off her hands. If they do grow, we may have carrots EVERYWHERE. Lesson of the Day: Sharing time with you little one and teaching them something new is much more important than how something looks. Let go and enjoy your time together!

In the land of ladybugs...

Excitement! 

"They're so tickly, Mom-Mom!"

Daddy giving instructions and big brother helping.

During Spring Break, Z announced to Aunt Lauri that she wanted a pet ladybug. Well, Aunt Lauri showed up a week later with not one or two or ten or 100 ladybugs but with a package of 2,000 ladybugs for Z to release in our yard. Talk about exciting for a certain little ladybug of the two legged variety. So following directions, we watered the bushes, soaked some raisins in water, and waited until dusk. We then cut a small hole in the bag and out poured the ladybugs. The pictures were taken after we had been at this for awhile. There was a lot of squeally excitement, and not just from Z, as ladybugs crawled up arms and flew into hair. We were hoping the ladybugs would take up residence in our backyard but unfortunately they have all flown away. Hopefully someone else is able to enjoy them now. We sure did! Lesson of the Day: Once package of ladybugs=a whole lot of fun! Thanks, Aunt Lauri!!!