the storm's a comin'

In honor of the rainy/overcast/stormy weather that we've been having this weekend, (this summer, really) I thought I'd post pictures from a storm earlier this year. I think this may have been from April.

And judging from the dandelions, it had been a while since we mowed. :)

Yes, we did go inside shortly after this picture was taken and at the first sight of lightning.

I think we maybe just dodged a rather large storm tonight. For now, at least!

back to blogging

Well I don't know that I'm actually back to blogging.

I mean, I don't want to make any promises that I can't don't keep.

And since I've taken such a long break, I feel like my first post has to be really good. Or...interesting, at least. 

And where do I start since it's been almost 3 months since I've last posted?

Maybe I'll take another few months to figure out what to say. Or type. I'll leave you with pictures from one of the best days this summer.

Our time at the beach in Florida. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.

Slumber Party

Kent was gone last Thursday through Sunday. And we've been having issues with Jesse and him sleeping through the night. As in, he doesn't. Ever. He usually comes over to our bed between midnight and 1. And then spends the rest of the night tossing and turning and kicking and waking us up. I had a particularly rough night with him on Thursday night. As in 2 separate tantrums at 2 different times in the middle of the night.

So on Friday night I decided to try something different partly because of Jesse, but also because I knew Meredith would love it.

On Friday night the 3 of us camped out in our living room and watched a movie and then had a slumber party there.

On Saturday night we did the same thing, except in my bedroom (so I could sleep in my own bed).

Jesse slept longer than usual on the floor on his own "bed" and Meredith LOVED it. As soon as I told her what we were doing on Friday, she hugged me and called me the best mom in the world...

I'm thinking I should be taking more advantage of her getting excited about things that are so easy to do!

Our spring

Yes, I'm still here.

We've had a lot of fun lately playing and working outside. In the past few weeks we have:

• tilled and planted the garden (I'm sure the guy who was planting across the road had a good laugh at me while tilling. The rototiller basically drives drags me around the garden instead of me driving it!)
• dug out a new flower bed and then tilled it (hoping to plant some bushes there this week...Mom, I was going to get some of those snowball hydrangeas from your house that we had talked about earlier. If you have tips for me on replanting, please comment or email!)
• added more flowers to a few flower beds (Mom, I got some of your day lilies...hope that was OK?!?!?)
• weeded all flower beds and mulched the ones that have mulch on them
• weeded and mulched all of our trees that are not a part of our windbreak (weeding and mulching those trees is a month-long project, at the very least!)
• planted almost all of my planters (and wanted to kick my cat to the curb when he used a planter for a litter box 3 times!)
• mowed 3 times (and considering this takes multiple hours, that's saying a lot!)
• took a long mule ride (the vehicle, not the animal) to Old Man's Creek on the black diamond...they are finally done with the bridge but are now working on the road on both sides leading up to the bridge
• and played countless hours of Yankee baseball (a.k.a. t-ball) and soccer with the kids

Anyway, we've had so much fun being outside that I just haven't taken the time to come inside to blog...have you noticed??

the little things.

It's been a while since I did a little things post.

In case you've forgotten, I'm all about the little things in life...

...that make me smile.


...that make me happy.


...that make me laugh.


... or that make my day.


Anyway, we recently discovered one of those little things that makes us smile and laugh.

Rhythm Kung Fu on Wii Fit Plus.

It rocks.

And both kids LOVE it.

And sometimes they are actually in sync with each other and the characters on the screen!

The characters on the screen do this funny head moving thing, and Jesse has it down pat. (No, that's not what you are supposed to be following when you do the "exercise", but it's something he's picked up on and learned that it makes Kent and I laugh. So he does the head move all the time!)

Anyway, I think rhythm kung fu might be calling my name...