All the rain and pretty things

Oh the rain has come to our neck of the woods and is giving us a HUGE bear hug. In other words, we haven't seen the sun in like a month!!


Pause for the tornado siren going off...oh it's Wednesday, drill day...wait it's not the first Wednesday of the month (me turning on the tv) oh yeah its not a drill.....tornado on the ground by Ryan's work...what!!??...by the way, why is it when you are freaking out a little bit and need calm children is when they both decide to throw temper tantrums so you can't hear the tv? .... we are all safe and so is Ryan....I HATE TORNADOES!!!



I hate a sky like this!!


After an hour in the basement....back to blogging. Rain and storms have hit our area for the past few weeks and it is time for them to scoot on out of here. Then add on the massive tornado that hit Joplin on Sunday night, it has become quite a scary time in this part of the world. It is hard to imagine what it must be like to lose everything...literally everything. You have no clothes and no food and no toothbrush and nothing over your head. Yes, you and your loved ones might be ok but your life is completely wiped off the map. I can't imagine that feeling. The pictures that you see are horrific and you just can't believe that mother nature can be that deadly, especially at this time in our technological age. My thoughts and prayers and heart goes out to any that has been hit by one of these nasty things. I digress.


Because the girls and I have been cooped up in the house due to the rain, we took advantage of some light rain with no thunder. I handed the girls two umbrellas and said " go play ". I don't think they really knew what to do. We squished in the mud (sorry the camera wasn't allowed out) and played in the water table. The girls had a good time but weren't too fond of the rain and weren't happy to come in and have a snack. The we got our "art" on and painted some birdhouses!





Although I complain about the rain and want the sun to come out, my garden and my flowers are just EATING it all up!! The cool wet weather has allowed my lettuce to grow huge!! My sweet peas are reaching for the stars, climbing their trelis. My hanging baskets are are just sprouting and growing like crazy!! My roses are bigger than my hand and oh so beautiful.





Look at what I finally have blooming, PEONIES!! I have grown these for almost 3 years with no blooms. This year was the year and can I just tell you how beautiful they are. As if that isn't enough, they smell sensational!! I just love peonies!!





I am so glad to say that I love being a child of the Earth. I love being a gardener and a florist. It makes my day start off so well when I can go pick weeds and trim off buds so my plants have a great opportunity to grow.  But what makes me so much more blessed is that Ella is also a child of the Earth. She loves to help me and she has her very own garden under her playhouse. It is complete with 4 flowers and a watermelon! She checks on it all the time and tells everyone about it. She makes her momma's heart swell!! I just love passing that passion on. Because I think the only passion I am passing on to Chase is my "craziness" when it comes to weather...I am slightly psycho when it comes to bad weather and Chase has become just as crazy.





We hope that everyone is doing well. We have a great weekend planned with baseball (finally!) and company. If you are in warmer, sunnier weather LIVE IT UP for me!! I miss it!!

Family Time

I just love when we get to have surprise family nights out! They don't happen very often and when they do we live it up!! This last week we got all dressed up and went out on the town. We went to a new part of town that is quickly becoming "the" place to be. It is a gorgeous place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. I am already trying to figure out how to get down there again! We enjoyed a new place to eat and get fresh food that was good for us.

















While we waited for our food, the girls and I decided to take advantage of some great chairs and beautiful scenery. I have to admit my love of photography is growing more and more every day. I am super excited to be learning more about this hobby over the summer with a good friend of mine!





























After our great dinner, we saw this and knew exactly where we were going next



Cupcake-ary!!

















We had such a great time. It was a great reminder that even when times get hectic and kiddos get a little crazy, we have a great time together. Happy Tuesday to all!!

Wordless Wednesday- TONS of pictures

Here are some pics of our great Mothers Day weekend, my Mothers Day gift,  and our last baseball game!






Scary, I know!!






Playing around with Photoshop






Actually trying to catch a ball














This was not our team up to bat but I just LOVE the shot I got!!


Happy Wednesday Ya'll!!

A tribute to those that made me a MOM

As I went through my day today, celebrating all those mom's in our lives, I couldn't help but feel the reason for days designated on the calendar as Mothers Day. And it may very well be to remind our significant others to give us a little extra love or for them to say thank you for all that we do, but I think more importantly these days are designated for those we are celebrating. As I was surrounded for the first time in a few years with my mom and both grandma's and aunt, I couldn't help but focus on my family. My 3 precious kids and the love that we all bring to helping raise them. I caught many interactions with all those who stopped by to help us celebrate all of our mothers and those pictures will be in another post shortly. I wanted to end this most beautiful day with a post dedicated to those that made me a MOM. 

To my oldest and only son. I can't tell you how many times I have often wondered why God choose me to be your mom. I have never doubted my ability to do something as much as I doubt myself at being exactly the mom that you need. But I have learned that doubt can be over come with love. You have taught me that love is really all you need. You and me have always been, together. You kept my head up and my feet walking when our lives turned down a dark path. You are growing so fast that those days seem so long ago when they really weren't. You are a beautiful soul that I am lucky enough to witness every day. I will love for as long as there are minutes in a day and as far as it is to Heaven and back. Thank you for making me a mom....your mom.

To my oldest daughter. There are so many words I want to say about you my love. In just 3 1/2 short years you have taught me more about being a women than I have learned in the prior 30 years of my life. You have taught me to love.....in every essence of that word. You are my princess. I love your smile and loving heart. I love the way that you can look in my eyes and know exactly when a hug is needed or simply a pat on the leg to tell me that you are there. Your caring nature will take you far and I will do all I can to protect and nurture that spirit in you. Daddy and I have always said that someday you are going to change the world, we don't know how, but you will. I am so honored that I am the mom that God chose for you. I don't ever go to bed without thanking him for you. 

To my youngest.  There are just as many words I want to say about you. You have to be one of the smartest little kiddo's I know. And just like your sister, the love that you have in your heart is precious. I love your hugs every morning and your smiles every night. Your learning so much and starting to say so many new words, I just can't get over how fast you are growing. But with all of that growing, I still see my baby. You are my little studious and tender hearted adventurer and I love that I am your mom!

My kids have made me who I am today and have changed my life forever. I am so blessed and I hope that someday they will be able to be a mom (dad) as well. It is the best part about living :).