I do believe Spring won't fail us

Do you know what made me want to do a jig outside today?

These beauties!!!!! Listen, my friends, I DO BELIEVE THAT SPRING IS COMING!!! I wondered at times. But my fears are subsiding. Peculiar things are happening. For instance..... we have had lots of precipitation this week annnnnnndddd, it wasn't WHITE!!!!! (gasp)

I heard a song bird outside and geese are on the move.

However, the proof that that Spring is drawing near is..........

Chick Days at Orscheln's. Yes friends, the chicks and ducklings have arrived at our local farm store. And I, your fellow "sucker", want lots of them. They are cute and furry and bright yellow. Awwwww!!!

Let's all say it on the count of three. 1............ 2.............. 3.............. AWWWWWWWWWW!

Do you think the word "awwww" makes Rick change his chicken hating mind? No! It doesn't!

Do you think photos of the monkeys holding the chicks (sent via cell phone) would change his mind? Ummm, NO!

Do you think his loving wife and daughter batting their eyelashes at him would change his mind? Think again!!

He said no to a Haitian baby, now chickens. Heartless, truly heartless!!!!

You know what I did to punish him for his selfishness.......

I bought myself some clothes.

Fluffy Spring colors and new "worn-out jeans.

That'll teach him.

Phase two of Spring decorating.

Finally done! Whew!!!

I spruced up the couch with a few new pillows

and pulled this birdie out of "rubbermaid storage"


Gracie and I made lemon cookies.

and we may be stuck at home for a week if the Grand River doesn't quit rising!!!

Now, that would be terrible!!

1980''s

Rick and Ryan took off to Kansas City. They have tickets to all Big 12 games.

The camera is in the back seat. So that means..... all the photos that I was going to post tonight.... are in the back seat. :(

So, I thought I would share something that I've been thinking about lately.

THE 1980's

The Woes of a Stay-at-home-mom (who is never home)

I used to wonder what "stay at home mothers" do.

Do they watch "Young and the Restless"?

Eat Dove chocolates and paint their toes?

Do they take three hour naps and long hot bubble baths?

Well, not this chick!!!

Lately I have found that I barely have time for breathing. I tell myself after every busy season, "Whew, finally a breather"! Then another busy season starts. My friends are neglected, my family has forgotten my face.

Even you may not recognize me for all the black and gold paint on me. It might be because I bleed MU colors. (lol)

or.......

It may be that I have been painting Ian's room black and gold. With a little more black and gold, then I'm finishing it off with more......black and gold.

I am seeing a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Boy o' boy. I cannot wait to post pictures of the finished product.

This is the beginning of the tiger I am painting above his bed.

So forgive me if I have neglected this blog. It's just been pushed to the bottom of my list these last couple weeks.

and these things have been bumped to the top.....

I feel guilty so I thought I would end todays post with some pretty stuff. It's an ostrich egg. A real, honest-to-goodness ostrich egg.

That has been fluffed, prettied and loved on.

It makes my heart happy.

I WILL NOT SHARE IT!!!! THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT!!!!

Because it's MY BLOG

This basketball season started back in October with Ryan's middle school basketball. Friends, it's March, and we are still playing!!! Ugh!! I now have a bleacher butt. hehe

Ryan's Y team was undefeated. That turns the corners of my mouth up.

He loves the game. That's good, because he plays it well.

Last Saturday we watched Ian play 4 games. (All before 12:00 pm, might I add) If I didn't love the monkeys so stinkin' much, there would be NO WAY!!!

I'm gonna brag a bit because........ it's my blog and I can do what I want!!!

Ian is a natural on the court. He has always played basketball but something has "clicked" in him this year. HE IS GOOD!!!

and because I cannot leave her out...............

My lil' Gracie. I had a funny conversation with her yesterday that I thought I would share. But before you read on, please understand that this may be a "had to be there moment". I'm quite sure that my writing abilities will not be able to equal the laughter over the situation. So, you have been warned:

It's 11:21

She comes into my bedroom and says, "Mom is it breakfast time or lunch time".

I say, "Well, we are going to have breakfast for lunch".

She starts crying.............

I'm seriously confused by the flood of emotions.

So I ask, "What's wrong"?

She says, "I haven't even had breakfast yet and your making lunch. I'm going to be SO HUNGRY!!!"

I do not get the logic of her sometimes. That's OK, I just laugh. (But I don't dare laugh in front of her. That is her little pet peeve.)

The Easter decor is out! I'm so sad that a few of my favorite pieces didn't survive. I had a little memorial for them. (sniff)

These are some Jadite eggs that I've had for eeeeons. (what is a eon?)

A nice find from Marshalls

I've also been adding some live plants to the decor. I'm so ready for some outdoor blooms. How about you guys?

I made this yesterday for the monkeys. It was gone in less than an hour.

I also made a cheesecake for the family.

I'm still not sure why I make things like that when I KNOW I cannot have it. It doesn't make sense. Somehow though, it fills a sort of void watching someone else eat it. Am I crazy? Probably.

Well better get off the computer and get my day started. I see "painting a tiger" in my future.

Spring countown

I just put the monkeys on the bus (sniff... sniff). There is something about putting them on that big, yellow, tank on wheels that gets to me. Most mornings, I send up what I call an arrow prayer for their protection. (I call them arrow prayers because they are short, direct and to the point)

Although it's Thursday, today is Friday to us. NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!! Normally about this time of year, I become tired of school. I want my babies home!!!! I want to sleep in most mornings and make them big a big brunch.

I will make note: around mid-July, I am ready for school to begin again.

The snow is still everywhere friends. Despite 40 degree temperatures this week, the white stuff lingers.

Gracie has started a Spring countdown. For the last 5 days, she has given told us how long we have till our misery is over. Today, it is 16 days (at least that is what she says. I've not done the official count myself).

While I was at the store yesterday. I bought some artificial Spring. Flowers!!!! I know it isn't the same friends but my soul is crying for anything!!!!!

I even put out my Easter decorations. This has slightly improved my mood.

Today, I am going to expose myself to some fake UV's. The infamous tanning bed!!! (gasp)

Oh my, I'm jumping into this photo!!!!! See ya when the snow melts. hehe

Kajitsu furenzy

Wow, I am running on fumes right now. I'm tackling a decorating project in Ian's room that is sucking the battery life right out of me. When I'm working on it, well, I'm working. Then when I'm not, I'm feeling guilty about not working on it. Ugh!!! Why do I start things like this? I really hope that it turns out well cause I'm NOT STARTING OVER!!!! I will post pictures of it when I complete it. However, don't hold your breath. It's gonna be a while!!!!!

Last Saturday we loaded up the monkeys and headed to Aunt Pam's and Uncle Mike's. It's such a nice reprieve to be with family. No ironing, no laundry, no scrubbing toilets. They took us to a Japanese steak house and I had some FAB chicken and shrimp. The kiddos enjoyed them cooking in front of us. I loaded up a few photos below to show you, however, the lighting was terrible there for photos. I'm apologizing in advance.

Ian and Colten are trying to figure out what they are eating.

Gracie & Nate

The onion volcano

Heather & Eric

Rick and his little buddy, Macy-Boo

Kajitsu furenzy, to-ku temae asu

(this is Japanese..... it says "Good day friends, talk to you tomorrow".)