Planting

I have been planting in all my free time this week. We are hoping for good sunflowers this year - last year I had two. They were great, but they died early of unnatural causes (probably defoliated by Liv). This year, I have now planted zukes, tomatoes, peppers, peas of course, and bush watermelons (this years big experiment). Also weeded out my strawberry bed. Planted that last year, and had only a few green berries, which Liv ate off the vine before they could ripen. This year they have filled out a bit and I see at least ten flower buds already. Yay. Maybe tomorrow I will post "before pictures" of my empty beds.

I's been a good week at work, satisfying and uneventful. Ish.

Livvy being beautiful:



Boo being goofy:


And my babies being my darlings:



I leave you with this happy thought: people keep asking me how I am: I tell them I am happy. Well, apparently this is such a weird answer (lol) that they ask why. I tell them that I am happy because 1) Jesus loves me, 2) Lee loves me, and 3) Spring is here!

Cheers!

Nice Day

There was a bright sun and a blue sky today. When I was younger, I liked grey skies and rain. Now I like all of the above :) I am full of joy, and the warm weather makes me feel so much more free.

It was an especially nice day because I got to spend the afternoon with my Mommi. We just talked a little bit and sat outside in the sun. You should have seen Little James and Elijah playing together. They were like two puppy dogs.




After I left my Mama's house, I stopped at the Salvation Army for a quick trip that I felt I owed myself :) I found this dress for Livvy. I have been looking for something for her to wear to the Ren Faire that will compliment my highland dress, without my having to spend a lot of money. This pretty plaid dress was 2.99, then 50% OFF. Woo! It's not really medieval, but noone is looking for accuracy in a two year old - just matching her mother will be perfect :> I already have paints for Boo, but I am looking for sort of romantic or peasant looking dress shirt for him. I am happy, I can't wait to see Lee in his kilt :)

Classic Father Larry

A quote from Fr. Larry's Page:

"God so loved the world..."
Reread the quote from today’s Gospel. Do you get it? God is not out to get us, or hurt us, or condemn us - He is out to love us! Think of the nicest person you know and at least imagine God being 1000 times better! You are loved, now act like it!


You are loved - now act like it!

Sick

I have been chugging pepto bismol and snacking on tums all weekend. This was a nasty bug. It was like I had heartburn and nausea all weekend. It was awful. I spent the weekend pretty much laying around in pain. Yuck.

Then I woke up this morning with a mild cold. *rolls eyes*

I had an experience at work yesterday. A guest came in and asked if we had any information on Christian counselors. She was beat up, bad. We called a pastor for her to talk to, and he talked to her for awhile, then gave her a phone number to call the next day when the church was open. After that, she still wanted to talk and looked so lost so I sat down and talked to her for an hour. I wanted to be wise and helpful, but I'm just young and dumb, so I just let her talk to me for awhile. She didn't really want to talk about what happened, and she didn't want to do anything about it. So I couldn't really help her. But I let her talk, and I told her I would call her when I got to work tonight to she if she called the church. After she left, I cried like a baby.

All Prayer Bulletin

Putting out the APB - Lee has an interview tomorrow at 1pm for an Internship at the Ren Faire. It would be office work, PR, writing, website, etc, in Lee Heaven. He is terrified. We are going for a haircuit now. Please say a prayer for confidence for him at that time tomorrow - he would excel at the job but he is so scared of interviews.

Easter With the Heathens

And I can say that, because they'd probably be proud to be called heathens.

Just about every holiday that involves eating is spent in Uncle Jerry's garage in Marysville. Sawhorses, plywood, and lawn chairs make a long table, loaded up with all the traditional holiday foods. There used to be a fight every holiday, but everybody is more laid back now. There are kids to spoil, and that makes everything a little different. Oh, there's still a fight now and then, but mostly everybody maintains their reserve.



Here's my neffie-poo, Aidan.



Here's his Mommy, my beautiful sister-in-law Jackie. I was so proud of Jackie when she had Aidan - she is a good mom, and she has sacrificed a lot for him. She and Danny both work hard. They are expecting their second child - I don't know how far along she is. I love being an Aunt, and Aidan is a jewel of a child. I love him so much.



Amber was there, too, but I didn't get a good picture of her.





My mother-in-law - you can see how much Jackie looks like her. She didn't talk the whole time. I did manage to give her two big hugs.

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Speaking of beautiful.



Dad bought the suits for Aidan and Elijah. They both looked strikingly handsome.

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Oh my cute little babies :) :)

Easter Celebrations

We painted eggs at Nan's house - twice, in fact, because we liked it so well the first time.











They turned out beautifully.


<-- My good buddy Nan. She's my husband's grandmother and she helps me with my kids so much.


<-- Livvy got bored a lot quicker than Boo and I did.



Boo fell asleep halfway through the Easter Vigil (too beautiful to write about yet) and I had to carry him two blocks from the church to our car in the freezing bloody cold. Suffice to say, he was very good during the service.



And Miss Livvy fell asleep in front of the TV with Daddy (the Phillies were on TV)




With both Babies out, I put together their very small Easter baskets - they'll get at least two aside from these from other family members, but we wanted them to have something to wake up to.





We read the crucifixion and resurrection stories out of Livvy's baby Bible, and the babies loved their baskets.

Now it's time to head up to Marysville to party with the pagan in-laws. I love them :) Then we'll head to Nan's in the evening so she can spoil my children with candy and toys.

The Circus and the Museum

What a nice weekend we had. Through a friend of the family (my second cousin-in-law's boyfriend) Nan was given tickets to the circus. The only downside was that I had to drive into Harrisburg - Nan doesn't have a license. But I did it and I am very proud of myself. The kids had a blast. It was a pretty small circus, very friendly atmosphere. It is fun sometimes to go out with extended family. Nan's sister and her whole clan was there. The babies got to play with their cousins, Nick and Carly. They are a year older than Boo, but my kids just adore them. The circus itself was fun, with trained tigers and lovely acrobats. The toys were overpriced but the food was quite reasonable for a live event. The kids were pretty good, except when I took Lij to the bathroom and left Liv with Nan - then she was naughty and hit the lady behind her (ouch - that's what Nan says anyway).



The next day, after work, Lee had to go to the State Museum to see a planetarium presentation put on by his Astronomy Professor. It was a movie about black holes. usually, you have to pay to get into the planetarium, but Lee has been able to get in free for school a few times. Of course I wanted to go to the Museum, too! Mommi, do you remember when we would go as kids? Lee took Boo into the planetarium with him, and Olivia and I headed off for the Mammal Room. She was a little upset that Daddy and Boo left without us, but we still managed to have a BLAST.

The Mammal Room was and is my favorite part of the State Museum. It is full of dioramas (just the word diorama gives me the Flash) of animals native to PA. I like to sit in front of them and pretend I'm right in the scene. Sitting right next to the white tailed deer. Listening for the little tweet of the cardinal. And best of all, the Mama Beaver and the four baby beavers, with the little dam you can look inside. *happy sigh* Olivia literally ran from one display to the next, telling me about them (too young to ask question but old enough to make it up as she goes along). It was pure delight for both of us. There was nothing on the third floor she did not love. She even liked the different crystals, telling me their colors.



There was also an exhibit of gowns from previous Governor's wives. Olivia LOVED this! She thought she was in princess heaven. I thought that this was rather mature of her :) She got very upset when Daddy did not want to stay and look at the pretty dresses.

So, anyway, after Lee and Lij got down with their movie, we all explored some more together. Lee and I both have childhood memories from the Museum. We talked about how walking through the Longhouse with the indians reminds us of our childhood. It took Lee years after Pap died to be able to go back at all, and he still sees things and says "Pap loved that." (Ouch)

I love museums. I think we are overdue to go back to the Smithsonian (yes already) and I have a fantasy about going to Chicago together someday so Lee can see the Gotham skyline and visit the aquarium and the museum of Science and Technology. *sigh* :) :)