feels like Monday...

It sure feels like a Monday, but what a wonderful Loooooooong weekend it was!!  These flowers just popped open in my yard ~ welcome summer!  I know it's not officially summer yet, but it sure feels like it!  Here's to the memories made this past weekend:  working in Mom & Dad's yard, opening the pool, Michael running through the sprinkler (for the first time in '11), fixing the shed roof (thanks to Dad), watching the parade with friends :), having a yummy cookout (on Dad's new grill), and Michael being the "first one in the pool" ~ brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Our flag

Our Memorial Day tradition, since living in our home, has been to step out onto our front lawn to watch the parade pass by.  This year, Michael was really excited about it, and was talking about it days before.  When we woke up Monday morning, it began to rain, & even thunder a little.  By 10:30, the rain had passed, the thunder rolled away, and our flags were out with us on the lawn.  Our little town parade is a pretty quick one, but that certainly doesn't take away from its meaning.  We ventured up to the center of town to see all the little white crosses standing on the town common, and with the sun shining down on us, we spoke about their purpose.   ~What a wonderful Memorial Day!!

Michael & William

strength!!!

memories~

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever." ~Alfred Lord Tennyson

I receive Real Simple magazine's Daily Thought, and this was yesterday's...makes me think of some very special people in my life who helped to make me who I am today!

Hello again Monday...

Monday's come so quickly it seems! 
Hello rain drops, hello mug of coffee, hello school lunches & laying out clothes~

 We had a great family weekend at the beach ~ very relaxing!  Now to upload & order these beach pictures, before my little boy gets any older.  Happy Monday everyone!!!

the countdown...

It's hard to believe my little man is almost out of preschool!  He LOVES that his summer vacation begins after 6 more school days - and mine is a bit further away than that.  We made a paper chain tonight...Michael can't wait to rip off a loop tomorrow afternoon!  Here's to childhood, & the little things that excite my son!!! xo

May showers bring June flowers???

Here's hoping that this week's rain brings lots of life to our flowers & veggie gardens!  These tulips remind me of sunshine ~ which we are lacking this week.  Off to dream land I go, dreaming of sunny days ahead!!

Happy times...

I love letting kids paint with their feet & hands!  Have you ever looked at a child's expression when they first begin to smear the paint around?  Priceless...
I framed a print that I made with my son when he was about one, so I decided to do the same for my brother & sister in law.  I had such a great time painting with my nephew, and then tubbying him to get the paint out!:)

just beachy...

Along with my other summer time decorations, I just put out this beautiful mirror outlined with beach glass.  Isn't it just amazing!  My mom made one for me (she's the best), as she was making these for my brother's upcoming rehearsal dinner.  These are the centerpieces!  I think I need one more candle - I like things to be in 3's.  A little quirk of mine...
The simple things in life make me happy ~ candles lit on a rainy night, listening to my son explain his day at school, my flowers growing in the window box, and newly planted grass seeds sprouting!!

decorating

Do you feel inspired when you decorate for a new season?  It was such a rainy day here today, that I decided to tackle the dining room, & move around my hutch and plates.  I ended up decorating with SUMMER in mind!  Seashells, beach stones, sand, and my summer dishes came out ~ I love it, and am sooooo ready for summer weather.  This was my happy place today!!

I also put together this starfish tree.  I've had these branches in my dining room since February, when I made a Valentine tree.  I love the branches so much, that I just keep changing their theme!

trying times...

I have not posted anything in a while...I can tell my mind has been elsewhere!  We have had even more trying times in the past couple of weeks, and I don't usually crawl under a rock, but this time I did!  Well, it's about time to crawl out & enjoy the simple things in life to the fullest!!!  There is a new day dawning ~ even if it's supposed to rain for a week!  xoxo