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...