Front Landscaping Re-do

friday night already?

i am in love with this week and so sad that it is flying by!

what a wonderful treat to have my husband and my amelie home all day everyday

it's my super favorite!

i spent a good chunk of the day digging out all the landscaping out front, rearranging what was there and adding some new plants! yay! i've been dying to work on this project!

i'd post a picture but alas, my neighbors have been outside talking on the lawn for hours and hours and i feel weird going out there and taking a picture of our front yard with 20 people 5 feet away. 

i'm a chicken like that.

seriously though, that's a long time to have a conversation--they have been out there since 1:30ish and it's past 7 now--i'm pretty sure i wouldn't even have that much to say to my favorite people in the world, no less, people you live next to. 

it's probably me that's odd though and not them--they are happy and laughing, it's good. =)

anyways, the babies are asleep (and were early as there was NO napping today) and amelie is at granny's house for a sleepover/yard sale extravaganza! 

and mr wonderful is fully intoxicated with a local store's triple coupon weekend and has been sorting coupons for the last hour to figure out what we can get for free.

*love*

anyways, i'm gonna get netflixy in a minute with *the tourist*

i'll let you know how it turns out!

goodnight!

Easter Pictures!

We took the kiddos for their Easter pictures today! I was a little worried we were going to have another Ezra-chasing-fest but he surprised me by cooperating very well! The only "problem" we had is that Maeve still doesn't really like to smile for the camera--she looked pleasant though and that is a HUGE step in the right direction! =)

Netflixy Notes

i can't believe spring break is already half over! boo!

it was another beautiful day here--the most amazing cool breeze is blowing through the house--all day the sky threatened rain but nothing much happened aside from a 5 minute light sprinkle--another lovely day!

we ran a bunch of errands today and i ordered a new pair of glasses as mine have been severely tortured and bruised by the children =)

anyways--i'm still continuing my netflixy love affair--here's a rundown of what i've watched recently =)

The Back-up Plan

I fully expected this movie to be ridiculous and it was--but in the good lifetime-movie-of-the-month-way. The story was implausible, the actors gorgeous, the homes/apartments featured stunning, the comedy so-so, but it was watchable and light on the brain--which, is really, the most you can hope for sometimes. =)

Harry Potty and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1:

I actually watched this through Amazon since I had some free movie credits and didn't want to wait another month for Netflix to send it to me! It was long and very much action-y.  It's a big budget blockbuster with lots of fancy affects and mood lighting. It's funny how mature the actors seem now--so grown up! I watched this because I'm a fan of the books and have seen the movies--probably not a must see if you aren't a Potter-fan (especially as it seemed light on actual storyline and super heavy on moodiness and action). It's a B+ for me, but if you aren't involved in the series I wouldn't run out and see it.

It's Complicated:

This movie was another light-hearted fluff of a piece that I wanted to see because of the lead actors (Meryl, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin). The acting was better than the script but it was an enjoyable movie.

The King's Speech:

I was very excited to see this movie (Colin Firth? yes please!) and since it had done so well during award season I was very interested to see it if lived up to the hype. Short answer? Yes! This was a lovely movie chronicling the unlikely friendship between King George and his speech therapist. It was a feel good overcoming-all-odds movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a bit of cursing but as a part of the speech therapy process I didn't find it offensive. I also really enjoyed a very understated Helena Bonham Carter in her role as royal-wife-to-be. Really, a great movie!

Burlesque:

I almost didn't put this one here because it's so ridiculous. I love musicals and was interested to see Cher in the movies again and for those reasons ordered it. It's not as risque as the title suggests and is mostly a love story interwoven with a David v Goliath type business story. Christina Aguilera is distractingly thin (but still beautiful)--and girl can dance (better than Britney) and sing (also, better than Britney) but the movie is even more chock full of what Christina does best--over singing, screeching and her oh-just-please-love-me-vibe. 

Cher looks and sounds great in this and is a very natural actor--all the acting was fine--although, I'll admit that there are a few moments where I felt this movie was a rip off of A)Showgirls B) Chicago/Moulin Rouge C) a lifetime movie I watched called, "All She Wants For Christmas" . Formulaic and uninspired and a bit bland for a movie with so flashy a title.

i am completely, utterly and irrevocably in *love* with spring break!!!!

we have been desperately waiting and desperately needing some down time together and it has been wonderful so far!! 

so many house projects have been accomplished and so many fun activities--today we headed to the shore for the morning! it was absolutely gorgeous--so sunny and lovely--the water was SPARKLING (and freezing! =).we had the entire shoreline to ourselves--awesome!

Ezra HATED the water =) as soon as his toes got a taste of the icy cold ocean he screamed and ran all the way up the beach to the stroller! he kept shaking his head *no* at the water and giving the ocean dirty looks =)

see? far away as possible!! =)

dejected. ha!

"mama, i hate this place!" =)

 

 Maevey isn't much of a water girl either--she does like water but is hesitant with the big waves of the ocean.

she loved spending her time scooping sand and running around and was very happy but isn't much for getting wet!

 observing. =)

and then, there's *Amelie*!!

 amelie LOVES the ocean.

 and jumping in it!

and wading up to her waist!

and dancing and splashing!

 she was in heaven! =) and i was in heaven watching how happy she was!

it was a lovely day! =)

it was an absolutely glorious, super-warm, spring day!

i had looked at the forecast this morning to decide:

a) should i hang out my laundry?

b) which day should we go to the shore...

c) should i water my grass seed?

well, the forecast on a few different sites was grim and bleak and full of thunder and rain and storms! so, we decided to run a few errands and stick close to home--well, were we ever surprised when the skies cleared off and it was hot and sunny and delightful all day! 

i'm bummed we didn't go anywhere exciting, but hopefully there will be days later this week that are nice enough!

we did start planting my new pet project though--a hedge row!

we picked a shrub called, *privet*

someday--it'll look like this:

not so much right now--they are a nice height but need to fill in sideways =) anyways, i also planted some impatients, hostas and grass seed in our super shady back yard--i'm hoping everything pulls through! =)

anyways, aside from the planting and the errands it was SO lovely to just be home with my husband and children! we've gotten a lot of projects done already and are looking forward to more outdoor work during the upcoming week!

hope ya'll had a happy monday! i'm so glad it's finally SPRING BREAK for us!!

Happy Easter!

Gettin' Eggy With It

The other night we dyed eggs (Amelie has been begging forever!)

Note the excitement on her face! 

(I also love the Christmas jammies they are wearing =)!

Posin' with the Monster Egg!

Maeve kind of posing. =)

Eating the eggs.

Barf.

Before:

After: Didn't they come out cute?

Because It Couldn't Be Less About The Easter Bunny

I'm so thankful today to be able to reflect on Christ's sacrifice for us. 

He came, was born, lived and died so that we could have eternal life.

We receive eternal life not by being a good person, or being the kindest or sweetest or by doing good deeds or giving money to good causes, but by confessing we are sinners and believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

There is no other way to Heaven. None.

Just Belief In HIM.

Praise the Lord! If my salvation was up to me I would do a terrible job trying to earn it! So thankful it's all up to Him and that the work is done and that my HOPE (for a future with Him in Heaven) is secure!

Amen!

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Wednesday And The Weepies

my parents both work at a school that has spring break 

*this* week

so yesterday they headed down 

(with my aunt rosemary) 

to chincoteague 

--you know, the place where the ponies roam =)

i think it's their new favorite vacation spot (lots of wildlife/beaches/ocean etc)

anyways, they were passing perilously close to south jersey and decided to brave the philly traffic and stop by for an hour!

i'm so glad they did--it was wonderful to see them and my aunt but soooo sad too!

i miss having them close by and each time i see them i think about how we're all getting older 

and 

how nothing stays the same for long 

and 

how i miss the days when we were in the same state

it's been 14 years since i've lived at home

it's amazing to me to think that i've been gone nearly as long as i lived there!

so many memories are tied up for me there

i'm thankful for today, of course, but every once in a while i can't help but 

remember yesterday

safe

quiet

peaceful

neighbor-less

traffic-light-less

farm-living

home-schooling

forest-traipsing  

barefoot-running

field of grass napping

horse, cow, chicken, sheep, pig, goat, geese, duck tending

hay baling/wood stacking

reservoir swimming

island camping

bike/4 wheeler/snowmobile riding

garden planting

rock picking

flower collecting

life

Springy Sisters

I love these kids! =)

Springtime Strollin'

the little ones and i went for a nice long walk this morning around our neighborhood.

aren't they the sweetest things you've ever seen? =)

they *love* taking walks in the stroller...

especially this guy! he runs onto the porch in the morning and points to the stroller and cries if i don't put him right in!

i brought my camera along to take some pictures of the beautiful spring trees and flowers...

but then i felt self conscious everytime i whipped out my giant camera and snapped a picture--i didn't want people to think i was spying on them! ha!

it was so lovely this morning!

i'm so thankful for a peaceful, pretty neighborhood for walks!

and i'm especially thankful for these guys...they keep me on my toes and keep my wits at their end(s) but i wouldn't trade 'em for the world! =)

i hope it's looking like spring wherever you are!