the little things...

Who knew that the $10.00 pool from 3 years ago would still be a big hit?

Nice pools in the n'hood and yet - we're in the backyard playing in our baby pool. HA!

I did go and grab a fun pool for the kids for the backyard, but there's some leveling to do - our yard is NOT level at ALL....

So until then, sprinkler, slip and slide, and just somewhere to splash - is all they need....

the last concert of the year

The last concert of the year was a big hit!!

Above is a photo of his teacher, and below is a photo of his best "girl" friend. He says that's all they are, but it was fun to watch them flirt in between songs and during warmup.

The group did an amazing job, it was such a noticable improvement from the previous concert!!

Big E and I registered for next years classes, and it includes advanced Orchestra. He wants to put flames on his violin!

colors

Tonight the sky was whipped with clouds, stacked on top of each other, and looked heavy with rain - but it has yet to rain this evening. The wind is blowing pretty strong; the colors of the sky are AMAZING as the storm clouds blow overhead.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore

oh - and I love my hair chick.

She rocks my hair. I can't hardly style it as good as she can, but man she is gifted with those scissors in my opinion!! I gave her a picture, and she worked magic!

Misty ROCKS!!

finding my focus

I found my focus on that flower there... with my good camera...

recently switched to iPhone and found a snazzy app that makes pics look aged; thanks to my cool friend Sharnee ... its not in focus, but the subject is clearly family...

my close friend Jenn took these pictures; I'm not at all a fan of being serious in candid shots - so I may look like a total GOOBER in both - but those are my boys - and we've been spending some serious quality time together. I realize now, more then ever, how very precious this time is with my kiddos.

headed uptown

One of my bestie's came over today with her kiddo's and we headed uptown to ride the train for a while, and have a nice lunch at a super cool soda shop! Outside of the soda shop, and all across town during our train ride, we saw interesting stone work like this one below. Snapped this one with the iPhone, so it's not the best quality - but it's still pretty!!

Waiting on the train to pick us up and take us back to the car!

Overall, this spring break has been a blast for the kids and I!!!

park - unedited

These are gasp straight out of the camera (SOOC in fancy DSLR talk)

above: big E rarely glances at the camera, he's too busy running around...

little J is a red cheeked hot kid today - it's 90+ degrees in APRIL!!

not too long after these we hit the road, it was a little hot, and it was barely 130pm!

sometimes I have a few edits to make for over or under exposure, but these just looked colorful enough to post SOOC...

Your children need your presence more than your presents. ~Jesse Jackson

how was your Wii'k?

Well, so far it's been a busy and active week"Wii-k"! I mentioned in a previous post that I'm proud to be part of the Citizen's Journalist Program with Nintendo and WiiMommies for the Wii Fit Plus. I wrote my week two review HERE if you'd like to check it out!!

As the week came to a close, my brother arrived to build our playset for the kids. Little J couldn't have been more exicted to help!! Even big E was out on Friday for spring break and was able to pitch in too!

My brother and I, along with the kids and the n'bors kids, spent the ENTIRE day outside Friday!! Then Saturday morning woke to work more...

Today started early, my nephew arrived during the night and my mother arrived mid-day for an Easter family gathering. We were in and out alot from cooking, eating, and working on the playset. After all was said and done, my brother rocked that project!! 16 work hours later, the boys couldn't be more thrilled!!

click to enlarge

more blooms

I'll probably post alot of blooms, because they're GORGEOUS around here right now!!!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

that's how we roll

Both boys got haircuts yesterday and had green gel put in their hair...

...and the youngest decided to take a super short nap, so mama and da boyz rocked the park!

Cuz, that's how we roll.

Blooms

a special picnic

Special picnics with little J...

he decided to make me a special "salad pie".

There's a special way to smash it down, just in case you ever need to have this recipe. It requires alot of love.

Once you're done smashing it just right, you add the salad (grass).

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!<>

peace out...

this little guy sat and watched as little J and I played in the sand for a long while...

then as quickly as possible, he said "peace out homeys".

oh sunny day

AMAZING sunny day!!!

We spent some time enjoying it at the park, it was still a little cool - but the sun was out and very inviting and we had no choice but to let these boys out of the house!!

Nothing like a little dirt tossing...

and some balancing too...

Tomorrow's supposed to be even warmer!! It may just be Springtime around here very soon!!

The sun is the epitome of benevolence - it is lifegiving and warmthgiving and happinessgiving, and to it we owe our thanksgiving.
~Jessi Lane Adams

10 things...

click to enlarge

A friend posted "10 things" that make her happy, and asked the same question of her readers... go check hers out HERE.

10 things that make me happy....

• Friends - I love em'. They make me happy, even when I'm down... I think it's said that if you come across one true friend in life you're fortunate, and I feel like I've been a lucky lady to have found a handful!
• Family Values/Family Traditions - We have a spectacular lil' family!
• Sunrises - I love sitting at my kitchen table in the morning and watching the sun come up, lifts my mood instantly.
• our lil' creek - we live near a little creek - and for whatever reason, I'm just in love with it!! I love hearing it, stopping by to see it, slowing down when we're near it. And recently, when it snowed, it just became a picture of nature to me!
• Park Bench's - Sitting there, soaking up all of the sun, listening to my kids play and laugh, and even sneaking in a pic or two of a butterfly or squirrel...
• Tree's - and all they represent. Not sure why this makes me "happy" but it does... tree's, just like the sun, have an amazing way of capturing my attention and just creating a feeling of peace.
• Birds - we go to the lake alot, and see tons of birds hovering over the water front. Birds are so free and peaceful. I love watching them play!
• Being an American - I love my country. I love everything it stands for, and believe that we as a country need to re-discover our roots, even still - I love it and love looking at our flag in the wind, and when someone sings our national anthem I get all warm and fuzzy.
• A sleeping child, after a long day of play - Not much is more precious then that of a sweet sleeping child. (our youngest likes to sleep with a dampened baby cloth over his eyes, lol) I'm so happy when I see the peacefulness, it's like there's nothing in the world that could harm them because they're safe in your home and surrounded by your love.

Those are just 10 of the things that make me happy.....

Yes, another snow picture...

The morning after it snowed, and we see the sun!!!
I know, yesterday's picture is VERY similar, but with no sun.

I lost count...

I've lost count of how many times it's snowed. Maybe 4 or 5? Eh, it's been nice!! It's a pretty big change from the South East's usual winters of ice storms only! I've really enjoyed this winter. Watching it snow is so peaceful to me, nothing like a good snowy day and a book with the kiddo's, some comfort food and laughter! Call me strange, but something about the sky looking like a shaken snow globe makes me feel all cozy!! I love every season, I don't really have a true favorite; although, spring brings cherry blossoms and I LOVE those!!

Isn't it funny how when it doesn't snow, you often hear complaints about having none? Then when it does snow, you often hear complaints that it has?? Same goes with rain, and the temperature in general. Weather conversation is sometimes the highlight of the day, and I've heard that it's the most popular conversation starter when there seems to be a lull in communication.

I have a mindset that winter should bring comfort food, holidays and snow, spring should bring showers and blooms and spring cleaning fever, summer should bring the heat, swimming pool visits, and trips to the beach(yay), and fall should bring some of the most amazing rustic colors EVER!!

I'm not sure what's happened to me, but since losing my family members literally back to back in the past few years, I've become pretty grateful for little things in this life. I appreciate what the winter weather has done for ME. Slows me down a bit, and it MAKES me stop to appreciate even more what's inside of these walls. My family, our little family - rockin some snow days.