Here comes the bride.

Can you tell  she has been watching too many bridal shows.  She is in love with the show where the ladies pick out their dresses.  Here  she is daddy- get ready to cry. 

What a cute kid.  Guess I better start saving up money for her wedding now.  I mean if she is already getting into the thrill of it I can only imagine how much her dress will cost in about 20 years. 

Just dance Sophie.

And she danced. She danced her little heart out.

And we watched. We watched proudly as this tiny little girl amazed us.

And she made me cry. She has grown up so much and is so beautiful.

I thank God for this blessing every day.

I love you Sophie. So much.

click and you can see her much bigger and way more beautiful.

You go Girl !!!

Well she went ahead and did it. She grew up today dang her.

She went and graduated from pre-school so she could be a full fledged kindergartner.

Why must they grow up so fast?

The school did some fun songs before handing out the diplomas. They did the frog song- isn't she the cutest frog you ever did see?

Then they sang Making Melodies in My heart where they had to :

thumbs up, elbows back, legs apart, knees in, chest out, head back, tongue out. That is what she is doing.

Last but not least - time for the diploma. You know the magic piece of paper that proves you are grown up. Now on to kindergarten you go little girl. Enjoy the ride but take it slow as it goes so fast dear daughter. Don't grow up too fast okay?

love you lots Sophie..

mommy.

My roses

Check out these roses from the yard..aren't they beautiful?

The purple ones are from a neighbors yard though I couldn't resist snapping a pic of them too.

They've gone on back to Texas

Twice a year my bestest girlfriend in the whole entire world comes out to visit me. She comes to help me with Cameron day and to share my kids insanity with me. Once a year she brings her hubby with her and he just goes off with my dad and plays golf till he can't walk anymore. He calls that fun- whatever.

Those two visits a year keep me going. Kinda like she comes out and recharges my battery of fun and happiness. I am so blessed that she is able to do this. Now that the youngest is going into kindergarten I hope to make it out to her place once in a while to hang - Texas style.

Here they are with the kids before they pulled out to hit the road back home..

And here is the "Clampet truck" all packed up with all the goodies she got while here.

Here is to their safe return home - except for all the dead flowers that someone didn't water.

Empty that truck and head on back soon so we can fill it again.

Miss you both- 

Community Garden Time

A few of us in our neighborhood have discussed over the years about leasing a city lot and doing a community garden. Well this year we decided to stop talking about it and do it. The lot is leased and the work began. The lot was covered in trees and tons of ivy and other nastiness that people had littered there for years. 

It was all tilled by Mike and Denise-you go girl she did an amazing job with that large machine. Then compost was spread.

Even the kids got into the act..they are good with shovels and dirt right?

Of course have a trailer with dirt - add kids and it is an instant play place or the worlds largest sandbox.

I'll keep you all posted throughout the summer to see the bumper crop we have.

We did get all the seeds and plants in and have all the posts ready for the fence. It is an ongoing process and one that I am sure we will learn from immensely. I just want some tomatoes, cukes, corn and some zucchini and I'll be happy. Here's to sunny days and a low water bill.

A Tour of Liz's Home

A lot of great things happened even though the trip to Texas was for a sad unfortunate event. The kids and I stayed at my BFF's house. Liz is an amazing woman. She is a true giver. She does so much for everyone and I am proud and lucky to call her my friend. She comes out to visit me twice a year since it is hard for me to visit with the kids. Though now that they are a bit older I hope to grace her doorstep at least once a year.

While there I told her I was taking pictures so I could give a tour of her house.

She is an amazing decorator and has an awesome talent for creating vignettes.

Lets visit shall we?

Here is the hall tree she has upon entering - see she is welcoming you.

This is her living room. You see this immediately upon entering. Actually right now it has crown molding as my hubby did it for her before he headed back to Afghanistan - it is the least we can do for her.

Notice all the wonderful items on her walls and her very cool lamps.

To the left of the living room is her dining room..my fave room. It is done so well. I adore that sideboard.

Here is her bathroom. Very nice. Though she is getting ready to gut it and redo the whole thing. She even displays the toilet paper in her cool way.

This is her very nice sink. I love the whole area. It was funny as I told her- wow I love that mirror and she laughed and said - well you should you gave it to me. WOW it has been a long time since I have been there.

Next we have her room. Her bedroom furniture is so nice and it is antique. The bed is so high she surely must take a flying leap to get up there. Don't you adore that mirror back there?

See that armoire- yeah you can do the ahhhhh with me. 

Now on to the least favorite room in the house to her - the kitchen. Not that she doesn't like to decorate it - she does. She does not like to cook. She loves big kitchens as they give you tons of room to display and she is a hoarder of dishes...so she loves to display them all.

This is the far wall in the kitchen..notice that nice hutch. She is going to get a new sink, faucet and counter tops. A mini makeover yeah...she deserves it. 

This is the back family room. She had way more in it but has put some away - basically due to dogs. :)

They rarely use this room now that her son has moved out and has his own place so I told her she should turn it into her craft studio..and she loves that ideal. By the way I didn't get a pic of her craft room as we stayed in there and I always had it too messy. Dang because it is one darling room.

Now we will head out to the back yard. It is a garden to die for. Liz has the most green thumb of anyone I know and her back yard is wonderful. As we enter the backyard we are greeted by this pergola that is covered in cross vine. She has it done so well.

Next we head behind the garage; where this secret garden is..I

love this area. 

This is the seating and cooking area..Don't you just want to lie down and take a nap?

Well that is a tour of Liz's house. We'll head in after one more look at those lady banks roses on the fence line- amazing aren't they? 

Thanks Liz for letting us crash your pad. We had a great time there- well except for the puppy pooping on the floor- gross. I'll have to come again when it is time to set up the craft studio so I can help you out.