Birthday Pictures

It's been awhile since we've gone in for the free Kiddie Kandids birthday picture. Instead we've got a fun new tradition to have a photo shoot with Mom for your birthday. Ok, well... at least I think it's fun.
We put Eleanor's off a bit and then I got greedy and wanted to wait for things to green up a bit. Or pink up a bit as it turned out!


This photo shoot came together in about 10 minutes. "Look at that gorgeous tree!" "Oh good, you brushed your hair." "Hey, you're wearing your cute shirt, lets go take a picture!"
The sun is behind her, but the light reflecting off the house was just perfect for filling in the shadows.

She really is 7 now. It's a fun age this cross between growing up and still being a kid. I wish we could freeze this moment for a while. Thanks for holding still at least long enough for a picture!

Magnificent Mothers

I've been thinking about my mothers a lot lately. They are always contributing to the quality of our life and family, always willing to give of their experience and talents to help us. I realized that my relationships with my mother and my mother-in-law have changed a lot over the last ten years. Prior to that I was definitely in that stage, similar to a two-year-old, when I wanted to prove I could do it myself! Over the last ten years, we've come to realize how amazing these women are, how much knowledge they have, how much we want to spend time with them and have them to be a part of our lives.

Thank you for your tremendous examples and for your patience with our "I can do it myself" stage! Now, when my daughters become teenagers and I'm hopelessly uncool, I'll try to remember to look forward to their thirties, when suddenly I'll be all that again.



Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you both.

Lasting Beauty

I wish the beauty of these lilacs would last forever. I took this picture today in a desire to create something lasting. Love the advice to do something every day that will not be undone immediately. With a little one who's just learned how to unpack the pantry and Tupperware cabinets, I really just needed to take a break from picking up.

I love lilacs. Can't imagine a yard without them. I love how the smell makes me remember playing under a big bush we had in our yard when I was about 5 and painting rocks. Thanks Mom for teaching me to appreciate these fleeting flowers by loving them so much yourself!

Sneak Peak

We're looking forward to closing on our new home - hopefully by the end of next week. Here's a sneak peak inside.

I'm totally looking forward to that office with plenty of room for all my hobbies!

It's Huge!

We're starting to get things together for our new house. We just got a fridge delivered, since the previous owners took theirs. It's always been a dream of mine to have ice and water in the door. I know, that feature is probably as old as I am, but still I am so excited about it! So, when the salesman tried to convince us that the sale price was only for the version without ice and water in the door - I let him have it! Well... I did nicely pointed out that the ad did say ice and water included. And I was right! Ha!

Here she is... isn't she beautiful.


We had some cute mini bottles of ketchup and mayo, so we tried them out in our huge fridge. :) And yes, there is Grey Poupon in there too, so we're ready for any snooty Englishman that drives by.

Now honey, haven't we told you not to drink right out of the pitcher!