Where Have I Been?

The rain finally stopped and it feels like we have gone straight to summer. It seems like there haven't been enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Megan planted her favorite... tomatoes.


We brought up water from the rain barrel. Megan thought it was fun to play in the water and have it splash over onto her.

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Tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucinni and sweet corn are planted. I am so happy to have my garden planted. A late garden is better then no garden at all!

Besides work there has been some fun.


School is out and my days have been full of kids. There have been many afternoons of tag. It makes my heart sing to here their delightful laughter.

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We celebrated Chuck's birthday last weekend and had family over for cupcakes. Papaw always enjoys entertaining his grandbabies.

Megan splashed and stomped around in puddles after the back porch was sprayed off. That girl loves her water play!

I plan to get caught up on laundry and housework this morning. I then hope to get to the strawberry patch before the weekend. My days are overflowing at the moment. A good kind of busy!

Making Memories

Megan is a lucky little girl and has three sets of grandparents. I love that they are all involved in her life; each adding something special.

Meet Grandma (Chuck's mom), who Megan refers to as My Grandma!


The two of them have a very special bond. Grandma likes to stop by after work and pick Megan up for a few hours. They have a routine that involves stopping by the store to pick the makings for dinner. The most important item they purchase is cookie dough!

When we go to pick up Megan we are usually treated to a cookie. One night Grandma mentions that cookies are starting to stick to her sheets. I tucked that little bit of information away for later.

For Mother's Day I purchased her two new air bake cookie sheets. Then I asked Megan to tell me all about the cookies from Grandmas. She tells me that after dinner Grandpa brings out the cookie dough and cuts it with a sharp knife. Then she gets to eat one cookie dough and Grandpa eats two. That Grandma's job is to put the cookies in the oven. She goes on to tell me the best part of going to Grandma's is the cookie dough!

Obviously I know that she likes more then cookie dough about going to Grandma's. What I do know is that making cookies is becoming a very special memory for her. To preserve this memory and to let Grandma & Grandpa know how much it means to Meg we made a story book to go along with the cookie sheets.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. ~Proverbs 4:23

We are very particular of the influences in Megan's life and are so grateful that she has Grandma in her life. She is kind, caring, godly and loves our little girl so much!

Rain

Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day

I think Mother Nature is confused. It is suppose to be April showers bring May flowers but that is not the way it has happened. I had plans yesterday to take Megan to pick strawberries. We woke up to more rain. I thought I would outsmart the rain and just go buy them from the farm stand. Nope. Can you guess why? The rain has slowed down the ripening process. Our berry picking and jam making will just have to wait until another day. Sigh. I really don't want to sound like I am whining. I do know that the rain is necessary and am grateful that we are not experiencing flooding. I would just like a little break. Planting my garden and a little sunshine would make me a happy girl. So what are you experiencing... rain or shine?

Family Fun: Marshmallow Roast

Chuck is having a birthday next weekend and received an early present from my parents.


The first thing we did was fire it up for a marshmallow roast! A cold front had moved in and it was a perfect time for a fire.


Papaw (Chuck's dad) stopped by and joined the fun.


Megan thoroughly enjoyed her marshmallows!

Gardening, Cooking and a Project

While walking through the yard I noticed that there were baby grapes on my vine!


I am so hopeful that I will get a good harvest this year. Last year the weather wasn't great for them and they died right before harvest. I really need to make some jelly this year since my stash is close to gone.

I have also been busy stocking lunches in the freezer. I made up a batch of sloppy joe and thought I would share with you the way the freeze it.


For any loose meat I will use my wonderful ice cream scoop and then place scoops on a cookie sheet. After I flash freeze them I put them in a freezer bag. I can grab a couple of scoops for Chuck's sandwich and they are thawed and ready by lunch time.

We have also been busy using up the last of our fencing. I have wanted a potting bench for a long time!


It is a little more then half way complete. There is a shelf to add to the upper section and then some painting. When I add the fun finishing touches I will share a picture.

I am off to do a quick pick up of the house and do the last load of laundry. I hope to run out and get some flowers. I am itching to get some planting done. Have a great weekend!

Back in the Swing of Things

Thanks to everyone for you kindness regarding my medical procedure. It went really well and other then being uncomfortable there wasn't much pain. Boy am I thankful for pain medication! Other then the pain medication before and during the procdure I have only had to take Aleve.

Monday is somewhat of a blur. I was what you would call loopy and sleep the day way. Yesterday I was just tired. Chuck took the day off and held the fort down. He cooked, did laundry and keep up with Megan and the babies I watch. I joked and asked if he was ready to quit his job and stay home and run a full-time daycare. I was met with a No without any hesitation. lol

I am starting today well rested and ready to get back into the swing of things. Have a great Wednesday!

Garden Time!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was great! We spent the afternoon at Chuck's grandma's home. We cooked out, spent time with extended family and planted flowers for grandma.


It was finally dry enough to till my garden this weekend. I am dreaming of digging into the wonderful earth and planting. I plan on putting in green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage and cucumbers.

I am having an outpatient medical procedure done today. Nothing major. If I am not around for the next few days you will know that I am resting and recovering. Have a great day!

Full Days

I would like to introduce you to my niece Faith.

Faith is 8 months old and is joining my daytime crew two days a week. I know, some of you must think I have lost my mind! I always wanted a home full of kids and this is God's answer to that desire. Faith's daddy is finishing up his tour in Afghanistan and I am helping Mommy to finish college. She will only be here until the first of August. It is my pleasure to give my niece so love!

The weather has been great! That means lots of outside time.

While Grandpa was over he was teaching Megan the fine art of grass cutting. (of course, they weren't really cutting!)

The rain barrel filled up completely over the weekend. Megan was the first to test it out. I am so excited about this!

A wedding took place in the living room one afternoon. Conner was quick to tell me that it wasn't real! Kids are so cute.

Plenty of warm, sunshine while swinging. I know that we all have full days and I hope that you are taking the time enjoy a few special moments.

Quick Mothers Day Project

I like to make special things with my childcare kids for holidays. I found an idea here and tweaked it a little.

Chuck graciously spray painted coffee cans white for me. I helped the kids put their hand prints on the can. Around the bottom of the can I wrote xxx loves Mommy! and wrote on a quote.

Chuck then again helped out by spraying the cans with sealer. (If you miss this step the paint could come off when wet.) Then I planted some petunias. Megan made her can for Grandma. I just wrote Megan loves Grandma around the bottom and changed the beginning of the quote to Grand-motherhood.

I hope there are some mommies (and a grandma) that enjoy their special gift!

9 Years!

Nine years ago today I married the love of my life! We were married in a little chapel in Gatlinburg, TN on a Friday afternoon.


Not everything has gone according to our plan, but I wouldn't change a thing! Thank you for loving me, putting up with me and standing by me on this great journey. I can't imagine anyone else being by my side. I love you!

Some Thoughts

If you have been reading for a while you have probably heard me talk about simplifying. Oh, how I long for a simple, uncomplicated life! One thing that I am learning is that no matter how much you try to simplify you will still encounter times of chaos, stress and bumps in the road.

Sometimes it is just the way it is and sometimes it is self inflicted. One thing that I have a problem with is saying no. I really want to be helpful and sometimes put helping others above the welfare of my own family. I am trying hard to work on this!

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. ~Confucius

Another thing that I think helps with living a simple life is contentment. It is so easy to have the grass is always greener thought. I have everything I need and then some and need to keep reminding myself of this.

You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.~Vernon Howard

It is easy to get stressed by all the little things. As with all things if it is truly the desire of your heart it is worth doing.