Mindless ramblings and pics to match

I'm tired. And not thinking clearly. So if this comes out as a complete mess of words and phrases that don't amount to one single complete thought...my apologies. This was a gorgeous, hot, sunny weekend that demanded yard work from start to finish, and I am now left to nurse my sore muscles and sunburned skin.
But...the new mulch looks great. And, there's nothing I enjoy more than digging in my yard in the spring. I find it therapeutic. I can completely tune out the daily stresses, and just focus on the simplicity of digging and planting. And I love the payback. I love that I get to watch these things grow, and watch our yard as it is constantly changing and becoming something new. I love that it is something we can all do together that doesn't involve the TV, or packing a diaper bag. And I love the satisfaction I feel when the work is done, and we can relax and enjoy the space we've created. And we have been enjoying it...every day.










Madison has been doing great. She loves the swing we hung for her on the swingset. Mostly, I think she's just thrilled to be playing on the same toy as Mason. She adores him, probably more than all of us put together. And I love that. She baits him when he walks past her...giggling and bouncing up and down, just begging him to join in her game. And when he does, she lights up like nothing I've ever seen. Mason is the only person who can make her crack up laughing by doing really nothing at all. While the rest of us make complete fools of ourselves for the tiniest smile, he just looks at her from across the room and she bursts into laughter. It's great to watch. I hope they always have that connection. I hope he always want to protect her as much as he does right now. And I hope she always lights up when she sees his face.








Aside from the yard work and outdoor fun, I got to have a night out with Mom. As part of her birthday present, I reserved our spots in a Painting with a Twist class for this Saturday night. It was a 3 hour class where we got to recreate a work of art in a very simple way, and leave with a painting that suggests we almost knew what we were doing. Everyone is encouraged to bring a bottle of wine, and have fun time with it…So, by the end of the night and the bottom of the bottles, every painting is looking like perfection. Although it was more intense then I thought it would be, we had so much fun. Here is my masterpiece.







So plans for the return trip to Philly are in full swing. it looks like we will be there for the first week of August for Madison's 1-year evaluation. I can't even believe I am talking about Maddie being a year old...SO not ready!!! The bigger she gets, the more the realization sinks in, and every day I'm understanding more and more how differently I see things now. She has changed my perspective completely, and I realize now that it was definitely in need of changing. I know that she is making me into the person I was always meant to be...all of us are better for it. Sometimes I hear others complaining about there lives, or always wanting more than what they have, and it all sounds so trivial and meaningless…I want to shake them and say “You’ve got it made! Everything you could possibly want is right in front of you, and you’re too busy looking elsewhere. Wake up and enjoy what you have while you have it!”



Not everything in life always turns out the way we plan….Doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing. Our life is amazing, and the simplest things bring the most joy. Have an amazing week!