The week in pictures - May 21th - 27th

The baby kid and I wrote a letter to his Compassion Friend and this was the picture we took to send to him. 

So I accidentally worked in the yard. My neighbor's kids were over for the morning on Tuesday, and I was outside puttering around while they played. I decided to see if the garden claw we had would somehow wrench monkey grass from some beds we have. 

I need to add here that I abhor monkey grass. This entire bed that used to be trimmed in monkey grass was just a huge tangle of it. The garden claw worked, with tons of elbow grease. What ensued was literally four (plus) hours of hard labor. 

I even broke the garden claw. Since my mother's day present was landscaping supplies, I decided we'd load up and go to Home Depot and get my present, which now included a new garden claw.

Yep. I went like this. And ran into an old friend who just happens to go to our church now. And a guy that works with him that also goes to our church. He's in construction, so he understood. (I hope.) And he was super impressed that my mother's day present was a garden claw. (Or amused. I couldn't tell which.)

And I took this picture in response to the usual text question from a friend: 

How's your hair?

It was not good.

Not good at all. 

My present ended up being a little bit more than just a garden claw. 

I also got these super cool solar lights that go around the sidewalk and patio. If you come to my house any time soon, I will make you look at them. Over and over again.

 Just ask my poor friend that was here Friday night. 

Bless her. 

These kids worked all day. I was really amazed. They even asked to do more yard work the next day.

 I, however, needed a week to recover. 

This is the after picture of one of the beds. I wish I had taken a good before shot. I do love a good before/after picture. Since I have a whole other bed to do, I'll be sure and take better pictures.

Another (big) bed. 

*sob*

Anyway, 

Wednesday night was our last Mission Friends. I miss these kids so much during the summer. 

Since they are going to be in first grade next year, my friend and I that have taught this class for 3 years now have to move upstairs to the "big kid floor." 

I still don't have a place to put that. 

My sweet friend gave me an elephant from Morocco. 

He's my new favorite thing.

Yes, my friends are infinitely cooler than I am.

And are world travelers. 

I had a crappy day one day and that late afternoon, I was hauling the garbage out. There on my doorstep was this. I sat down and cried. 

Sweet friends make it all better. Really.

"What is that thing?" you ask?

Only the coolest thing ever. 

The whole present was for our outdoor living phase that we are in right now. 

That's what made it so special. 

It's a food cover to keep the flies off. 

I mean, come on. How cool is that?

There was also a pitcher that has a frozen part that screw into the lid to keep your beverage cold. I have used that sucker every day. 

There were also peanut M&M's. 

I have great friends. 

This is still my favorite place to be right now. Since it's hot, I added a fan to the set up. 

Nya and I love it out there. 

And don't you love my super cute necklace? It's new. I love it and have worn it everyday.

I think you should go get one for you.

I was at a friend's house and found the most gigantic gardenia bush you have ever seen. I cannot tell you how happy it made me. 

Gosh, I love those flowers.

I think they are my favorite favorite. 

Since I love flowers a lot, this is huge. 

To have picked a favorite favorite, I mean. 

One of our neighbors had a birthday party for their son. Her friend KT is also my friend from long ago. They met at church when my neighbor friend moved here a couple of years ago. I never get to see KT anymore, and we sat and talked and laughed for a long time. We decided we needed to get together more often this summer. 

I'm so glad about that. 

See? There we are. Obviously at my wedding. This was, um, oh boy. Well, do we really need to think about how many years ago it was? 

*coughcoughseventeencoughcough*

Whew. 

Anyway...

Her daughter and my daughter were born only six weeks apart. They used to play together a lot, but not recently. They had a blast at the party and have big plans to spend the night together and play this summer. 

That made me happy. 

This was the middle kid's mohawk. 

Yes, he's very sad. And grumpy.

Hopefully he and his therapist can work through this when he's grown. 

His hair is so much easier to wash and deal with now that summer is (almost) here. 

And that kid has so much hair it isn't even funny. 

He gets to regrow it. He'll be fine. Really.

Yes, I'm telling myself that. 

I have to add just one more kitten picture. Three more weeks and they are out of here. So I need to post them while I can. 

The week ended with the hubs at work and the baby kid and I snuggled down watching the race. 

There were people that texted me Sunday night and said, "What are you doing?" and I said, "Watching the race..." 

They were confused. NASCAR. I like it. I have watched it for years. I've even been to a race. 

I think I may have been called a "redneck hippie." 

I am sure it was said in love.

I think. 

Oh well. 

I guess there are worse things than being a redneck hippie.

Whatever that is. 

I prefer "free spirit."

That likes to watch a race now and then. 

Ain't nothing wrong with that...

The week in pictures - May 13th - 20th

On Mother's Day, we also got to celebrate my sister's birthday. 

I love her. 

I love a fan in an open window on a cool morning. Thankful for those, because around here, they won't be here for much longer. 

A beautiful, foggy morning run. 

Well, this one will need a bit of explanation. The girl kid was sick early in the week. I was really tired from being up with her during the night, so in the afternoon I had a nap. When I woke up, this was on my phone. Apparently the girl kid made up a great game called "Day Spa." She took her American Girl skin care book and made the boys all natural face masks. 

This is what happens when you have a big sister. And do everything she says. 

The boys actually begged to play this game later in the week, and I am the one that said "no." Something about my organic yogurt and oatmeal being used for "Spa Day" didn't sit right with me.

I think it was the ick factor that the boys liked so much. I hope so, anyway. 

Late afternoon bike rides are becoming one of our favorite things. 

He finally asked me to buy him some new red Crocs. (I've been trying. He liked these just fine, thank you.)

We are spending so much time outside right now, again, knowing these days are limited. Scorching summer is on the way. This was a sweet night spent reading on the patio. 

When I say "cool" I mean, "not blazing hot." It's still humid, and everything sweats, even the water. And yes, I have been drinking out of Mason jars for years and years. They are my favorite. (I'm waiting for someone to buy me a "red neck wine glass")

Someone sat with me on the patio one morning. Shirtless boys absolutely kill me. I love it too much. 

I will admit to spending more and more time just like this. 

I filled up another legal pad with notes and journaling. I cannot keep up with all the Lord is teaching me right now. 

Can you have too many kitten pictures? Perhaps. I am thinking "no."

This probably needs an explanation too. I bought some organic gummy fruits on sale, and the kids were a little too happy about it. The package smelled so good that the baby kid decided that he wanted to smell it all the time. So he taped it to his face.

Yep. 

Alright then. 

Planning for next year's school year. New stage. Cue panic attack. 

My view from the hammock one late afternoon. 

Boys and kittens.

One day I'll be in that hammock alone and be sad about it.

Right?

My obsession with clouds continues. 

Baby kid got a rad new helmet. I wish it came in my size. 

Pizza and smoothies on the patio. Did I mention we love being out here right now?

Playing in the yard with neighbors while the moms sat on the... patio. Yep. 

The girls chilled in the hammock, making their spend the night plans, which included trying to stay up all night. (They made it until midnight.)

First fireflies of the summer. 

The new Crocs came. We couldn't believe the difference. (And he requested to keep the old ones. They are "special." *sigh*)

Saturday we went to work with Daddy where he played a local festival. The boys had more fun than they appear to be having. 

The next stop was my great aunt Virginia's 90th birthday party. She was married to my grandmother's brother. She's the sweetest lady. I hope I am this on top of things when I'm ninety. Seriously, it's like she's 70. 

One of my cousins found this old picture of my grandmother. The back of the picture was stamped "September 1946." I can't even tell you how happy this made me. (This also illustrates exactly where the middle kid and I got our "crazy hair.")

On my run when I got home from the party, this Packard was sitting on the street in front of my neighbor's house. Ironically at the birthday party there was a picture of my Aunt Virginia in front of a car just like this. It was so cool to look at it and touch it. I came home and looked them up and read about them online. So amazing. 

The girl kid was so happy to get an updated photo of her friend that we sponsor with Compassion International. If you don't already sponsor a child, you really should check out this organization. It has been the biggest blessing to our family, and I am so thankful for the work they do. She sat down and wrote Nicole a letter, telling her how happy she was to get a new picture. I love our sponsored kids. 

This is a picture of quiet. 

Sunday, the husband took the boys swimming at my sister's neighborhood pool while the girl kid was at a friend's house. He's been working a lot lately, and I feel like I've been working overtime too. Although I wanted to hang out with my sister, I knew I'd be a better mom this week if I spent some time alone. So I did. I blogged and listened to music (and the quiet.) I was glad when they came home, but I was glad for the quiet too. It was a nice end to the week.