Dandelions

Supposedly a weed, my girls continually show me the beauty of these flowers each spring as they present me with large bouquets of golden yellow with joy in their little faces.

I love them, my girls, the dandelion bouquets they bring me, as well as the subtle reminder to look for beauty in everything, the ordinary, and things that I might consider "weeds" in my life. 

 

Dandelions

Welcome children of the Spring,
In your garbs of green and gold,
Lifting up your sun-crowned heads
On the verdant plain and wold.

As a bright and joyous troop
From the breast of earth ye came
Fair and lovely are your cheeks,
With sun-kisses all aflame.

In the dusty streets and lanes,
Where the lowly children play,
There as gentle friends ye smile,
Making brighter life's highway

Dewdrops and the morning sun,
Weave your garments fair and bright,
And we welcome you to-day
As the children of the light.

Children of the earth and sun.
We are slow to understand
All the richness of the gifts
Flowing from our Father's hand.

Were our vision clearer far,
In this sin-dimmed world of ours,
Would we not more thankful be
For the love that sends us flowers?

Welcome, early visitants,
With your sun-crowned golden hair,
With your message to our hearts
Of our Father's loving care.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Back to Blogging: Graduations

Besides the long awaited birthday for Miss J, the month of May included a few other exciting things.

My nearby sister's oldest son graduated from high school... most of my family was around to celebrate his awesomeness (cause he is truly awesome, he won the citizenship award and made us all teary when he did cause he is such an awesome guy.  awe. some.)

Mr Awesome, himself

 We also got to meet my oldest nephew's fiance' for the first time.   She's a keeper.  My girls LOVED her and she did crafts with them, so she's IN.



newest addition to the fam would be the dark haired beauty on the end.  (the light haired beauty on the other end is also my niece, equally loved and adored by my girls)  also pictured: Mr. American Eagle is my oldest nephew and my proud as a peacock mother :)

 

my mom and sisters (missing 1... Hi Renee!)

Another big graduation:  MISS J!  She had a darling little graduation program where they sang and then after took turns getting their diploma and a special book.

 

Happy Day!

Back to school = Back to blogging

Oh hey there blog!  Sorry I have neglected you.  The sun came out and Spring and Summer happened and I fully enjoyed them leaving you in the dust.  So I will update you today, now that the kiddos are back in school (all except the baby!)

Lets begin with Miss J's b-day in the first week of May. 

OH. MY. 

The anticipation of this day nearly made this mama crazy.  Miss J had been planning her special day since the middle of February (right after my birthday).  I am not exaggerating in the least little bit when I say that she talked DAILY about her birthday from February 15 on.  She had a million plans and ideas.  Countless friends and family (near and far) were going to be invited to her "party."  She had numerous "theme" ideas and wanted all sorts of things for decoration.  She also began saving her own art for decoration. (read: big stack of paper and crafts piled up)  It all started out really cute, however by mid April I was as excited for her big day as she was just so that we could be done planning it.  Her expectations for the day were sky high and it left me so stressed out that I was going to permanently scar her with disappointment when they were not even remotely met. 

So the big day came:

I decorated the night before when she went to bed, however she wanted to add MORE of course.

She's excited! (Note the grand breakfast of bread and butter.  Yep.  I win the "Best Mom Award" on that one.  Not.)

 

Her decorations.  I strung up all her piled up artwork with some balloons.

 

After Preschool she had a friend over (and little sisters too) 

 

Later we had family over for dinner and presents.  She picked Dutch meatball soup for her birthday dinner.

Phew... that day is done and she seemed to enjoy it. I did!

My pesky sister made sure to point out to her that night that her "Golden Birthday" will be next year.  She has mentioned that several times already pointing out that it will have to be "extra" special. Heeeeere we go again.

A HIP HAP HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MAMA

Just wanted to give a Happy Birthday shout out to the most influential person in my life.  Her unconditional love for me, sacrifice, and being an example of Christ to me has shaped me to who I am today.  (I think I turned out okay, right?)

Love you more than words could ever say Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Happy winter! oh, oops I mean Easter.

We took our traditional after the Easter church service family pictures.  Last year we had an Easter miracle and took two great pictures.  This year?  We took 4.  NONE of them are "perfect."  (Maybe cause Chad isn't wearing a tie this year.) 

We also experienced Easter snow this year.  The day started off as sunny and a little cool, but not freezing at least... on the way to church we heard the radio station say something about snow.  We said, "nah, no way it will get cold enough today to snow"  hmmm, wrong-o.  On the way home from our lunch at Grandpa and Grandmas it started to snow.  Crazy.  God's early April fools joke maybe? I just comfort myself with the fact that winter cannot stay forever.  In a few months time we will be playing at the pool in the sunshine.  And months go by fast these days.  I thought 2013 just started and it is already April.

Anyway, Happy Easter to anyone who reads my little blog. (hi mom!) 

Praise Jesus, what a Savior!

The March Post

I think my new method of blogging is one post a month. That is the pattern for 2013 thus far, anyway.

So here is a little re-cap of life lately:

In February I turned 29 again. The night before my birthday my girlies planned an elaborate "surprise party" (to which I received an invitation and was told to wear black and white).   They had decorated the dining room with my old penguin collection and planned out "penguin" type games.  We danced like penguins, pinned the bow and the watch on the penguin, and had yummy food.  So very sweet!  Seriously, I was so impressed with their creativity and cuteness!

My mom came to visit.  She surprised my sister who lives near me for her birthday and also stayed with me while Chad was in Michigan again for seminary.   I was terrible about taking pictures, but got a few from her camera.  We love her visits and miss her so very much when she leaves.  So grateful for Skype and phones to keep in touch!

 We have been taking advantage of the local library a little more often this winter.  It has such a great area for the kids!  Miss Baby didn't quite understand the concept of being able to check out books, but she LOVED taking them out and stacking and lining them up and looking through them.  (sorry librarians who had to put them all away again!)

 Don't let these pictures above fool you.  The pictures below is our reality:

Winter just does not seem to want to let go.  Must remember to send it the memo that Spring is officially here and to go away already.

In fact I think the poor birds are so confused by the cold weather that they are flying into anything to try to warm up.  Yesterday when I returned from Coffee Break Bible Study there was bird in my kitchen.  I screamed and then for a few minutes panicked as it flew around banging into one window after another.  I called Chad at work but I had the van so he couldn't just zip home to rescue me.  Plus miss baby kept saying "ooh, birdie!" and heading toward it as it lay stunned on the ground after yet another run in with my windows.  I finally got my head on straight and opened a few windows and popped the screens out cause I REALLY did not want to actually have to touch it.  It flew out eventually and I hope it found a nice tree to hide in and recover from it's injuries.   I'm just glad that I wasn't home when it first flew out of my fireplace (that is the only thing we can think of as to how it got into the house).  I am pretty sure I would have peed my pants and my screams would have permanently scarred miss baby for life.  Exciting times here :)

Happy Spring!

It's in the genes

A conversation at my house tonight...

Scene:  My kitchen, me chopping up carrots and potatoes for the soup I'm making for dinner, my two littlests on stools next to me watching.

Miss J:  Mama, what's healthier, water or milk? 
Me:  Water, but milk is pretty good too.
Miss J:   Mama, what's healthier, milk or juice?
Me:  Milk, it has less sugar.
Miss J:  Mama, what's healthier, juice or pop?
Me:  Juice, pop is really really bad for you.
Miss Baby:  OH! So that means it tastes good!

Ahhhh yes.  My little Miss Baby is a sweet tooth just like her mama!