backyard awesomeness

Turns out, I don't just have the funk, I have an acute sinus infection.

So that hasn't helped over the last week.

And while my weekend was not busy,

and not fun,

 I did make pie,

but couldn't taste it,

today started with a diagnosis and medicine to help.

Things are looking up.

looks so good, more on this guy later.

Turns out that at least for this week, spring is here.

High today in sunny OK was 75,

so I knew I couldn't just keep my girls inside even if I felt like sleeping all day.

Cue backyard awesomeness.

they were playing ninjas that plant flower trees, because bad guys chop them down
also note, BAREFEET!

sheer joy at digging in the dirt

"Mom, I thought she was dead, because Cord cut her in half
(accidentally) but Chocolate Brownie is moving!"

favorite moment of the day:
having been given flowers picked by my girls,
because they were the most beautiful in the land.

And after over an hour we headed inside,

I scrubbed the dirt off of them,

 and they had a blast in the tub doing cannonballs.

Now I am sitting, 

they are cleaning, 

and I am trying to make dinner 

without getting off the couch.

(someone say pizza??)

It's been a good day.

reading

vintage books in IA

when i was younger,

i didn't like to read,

i never wanted to slow down.

if forced, i would read fast-paced science fiction stories,

but for the most part sitting for a while was really hard for me.

in high school every book i had to read

for english was the worst.

except Tale of Two Cities,

which was the first time i felt like i was in the story,

the details and characters so well described,

that i wanted to be there.

but, 

i still loved to be moving

so i rarely read.

it wasn't until i went to college,

and i had to read a lot,

billions of textbooks.

so I would break up textbook time,

with a fun novel,

usually a classic,

a world i could escape to,

for free.

now as a mom,

i cherish the quiet moments,

where i get to 

sink into my chair,

cozied under a blanket,

and read,

for as long as i can.

also, i understand why my mom would read to us each night, 
give us tons of books,

and even more opportunities to read.

I hope to pass this on to my daughters as well.

so on this chilly morn,
 Lonesome Dove in one hand
and a cup of hot tea in the other,
i am thankful for books,
their authors, bookstores,
and amazon.
most of all,
i am thankful for my mother,
even though it took more time for me to realize it,
she passed on to me a love for reading,
and has showed me by her example,
how to pass that love on to my girls.


What are you reading right now?
i am always looking for book recommendations,
so feel free to leave a comment of your favorites!

lately

one of my most favorite blog reads is 

Sheena's :: the little red house.

She is inspirational in her perspective,

cooking, and lifestyle.

She recently photographed this cookbook,

and I seriously can't wait to own one!

 she focuses on quite often on
the little things in life that sometimes are overlooked,
due to business, wants, and ungratefulness.
So I am writing down my list here,
of things that I am so very thankful for right now,
and my hope is that you can relate and notice
all the little things right now!

nora girl's leaf boat

my girls: that's a given and a big thing, but even when I am exhausted, I am reminded
how blessed I am to get to be the one pouring into their lives right now!

hot coffee and warm oatmeal mornings: its getting so nice in the night that our house
is so chilly when we wake up! Enjoying this simple breakfast each day warms me up,
I usually just add oats and water to a bowl,
heat it up,
add honey, cinnamon, and whatever extras I have on hand,
pomegranate,
apples,
bananas,
almond slivers,
and sometimes chocolate chips!

watching the Broncos win with my family: between the "Go Broncos!" 
and the touchdown dances,
Sunday afternoons are pretty fun for us.  

My Bed: with clean sheets and flopping our grey down comforter on it 
for these chilly nights!

and here are a few more:
no bug bites
sunsets in our favorite colors
smell of wood burning
tights and boots
baking, everything!
baking smells in my house
louis armstrong and ella fitzgerald pandora station
pretty light in my house
kicking an attacking goose in the head  
(if you would like to know the whole story, just ask, I love telling it!)
clean floors
my girls playing for 20 minutes with no fight-- sorry just had to break up something.
watching funny shows with my husband
road trips
cameras