memorial day

This was our first Memorial Day without my step daddy.

It's important to us for our kids to know how to honor and respect those who have defended our freedom.

We have tried to model for them proper respect on Memorial Day.

It's a classy family affair.  We even take our own Hobby Lobby trash bag,  True story - I pulled the winter arrangement out of the vase on my great aunt and uncle's headstone before we decorated with the summer flowers.  Eli quietly and casually asked "Do you know these people?"  He thought I was just choosing a headstone to decorate.  That's my guy!

(So, this isn't one of our best photos but we always take one when we're at the cemetery.  We're just weird like that).

My sister and I agree we each have a daughter who will take care of us in our old age.  The other 3 kiddos will be thankful to have someone who cares so they don't have to.

(I won't tell you which category these two adorable kiddos these might be.)

faces of summer

here are a few of our faces of summer...

 

(my girls may be enjoying too many sno cones)

We're off to a great start to our summer and loving every minute of it.

Happy summer to you!

spring projects

Just wanted to share a couple of projects I have finished recently.
New curtains for my dining room...

These were long overdue.
We still had the same nasty window coverings that were in the house when we bought it some 13 years ago.
They were old and ugly.
These are bright, fresh and springy.  I love them!

Once the window coverings were done, I had to make a table runner to match.

This is my first quilting project to make all.by.myself from start to finish.
I love it!
It's my favorite colors.
It's not perfect but it's perfect for my bright and springy dining room.

Now it's time to clean up the house since I've totally neglected it while I was sewing.
Sewing makes me super happy.
Finished projects make me super happy.
Marking things off my to-do list makes me super happy.
Guess that makes me a super happy girl!

mother's day

Mother's Day is one of my favorite days of the year.
I love celebrating my mommy and I love celebrating being a mommy.
This year was no different.

We got to have lunch with my gorgeous mommy.
I'm so thankful and blessed to live just blocks from my mommy.
I can see her or talk to her almost any time I want.
She has set such a Godly example for me.
She keeps me centered and reminds me what is important in life.
I love you mom!

We spent the rest of the afternoon working our hineys off in our yard.
This was my request.
Long story made short - I don't really do yard work.  I don't even know how to start our mower.  Matter of fact, I don't have a clue where we keep the mower.  And I don't want to know.

We spent hours with the weed eater, rakes, hedge clippers, blah, blah, blah.
My yard looks a little like it's been scalped.  But it's all cleaned up and I'm happy.

This crew makes me so happy!
I'm not a perfect mommy (and I don't have perfect kids).
Most days I'm struggling to be a good, or even decent, mom.
But my kids know they are loved ... by their parents and by their Creator.
They know how to live authentically.
They know how to be kind and loving (even if they don't practice it with each other!).
And they know how to have fun.
Love this silly little crew!

I'm a blessed daughter and mommy.

(not quite sure what Abi is doing.  She may be reconsidering sticking with this family.)