it's been a while . . .

It's been rather quiet around here lately, hasn't it? I just haven't had the words or umpf :) to post lately. But that's the way it is with me. Sometimes I post a lot and sometimes I just don't. And I'm OK with that. This blog is an experiment, a learning experience, writing practice, whatever you want to call it. I'll just keep on going at my pace and see where it all ends up!

Anyway, here are a few pictures (in random order) of what's been going on in my life lately. That will hopefully get the ball rolling here again! Hope you're summer is beginning splendidly!

The boys are growing like weeds, so we got a "bigger" pool. What a life-saver in the summer!

An adorable little female cat moved into our garage last week. 

She's adopted us and the boys have named her Whiskers! :)

She has no interest whatsoever in coming any closer to the crazy dog, though!

I'm enjoying watching my flowers bloom. They're really fun for picture-taking practice!

We took our first trip to our generous friends pool already, due to several early heat waves, and the boys have really made progress in learning to swim. 

They're turning into little fishies! :)

And we added some organized T-ball to the spring mix. The boys LOVE baseball, so 

this is literally Christmas in June for them!

My Dad turned 60! Woo Hoo!! He loves his grandkiddies and he loves driving bus! 

Thus the bus cake! (Thanks, Uncle John) :)

Having a play-date lunch with friends!

And our birdfeeders have attracted quite a few Downy woodpeckers, along with quite a variety of other birds! Such a relaxing past-time, watching birds! A hobby right up my alley! :)

Got our veggie gardens planted! The boys love helping Daddy do this!

Finished up school by Memorial Day!

Oh, we added a beta fish to the pet family, as well! Thanks, Mom Mom Barr! 

This is Splish-Splash! And he is a wonderfully, low-maintenance kinda pet! And so beautiful!

So, there you have it! Looking forward to lots more fun stuff this summer!

Birdwatching

We have a new favorite past time. I must say, I never knew birdwatching was so interesting.

It all started when we spent the afternoon at my sister's house. They recently moved further into the country and have several bird feeders outside the house. My boys and their cousin (and myself) spent a good bit of our time that afternoon marveling at the beautiful birds that were showcased right outside my sister's kitchen bay window. What an entertaining lunchtime we all had! We saw cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, bluebirds, blackbirds, just to name the ones I knew. Such beautiful creatures that God made for us to enjoy!

So, of course, a bird feeder for our bay window immediately jumped to the top spot on my boys "must have" list. The next day, their Daddy did not disappoint when he walked in the door after work with a new bird feeder and a big bag of wild bird seed!

The boys spent a sunny Saturday morning, helping Daddy set a post in the ground outside our bay window to hang their new feeder from. Unfortunately, it rained for the next few days, and not a one bird came to our feeder.  However, when the rain stopped, we were finally rewarded!

We do not live in the country, but hopefully we will still see a few birds like this one and a few others from time to time!  We've got our bird books on the windowsill ready to look up whatever we might see! Such fun for little boys who love everything outdoors! :)

Carson's 5!

How did this happen? 

My baby is five years old? 

His two favorite stuffed animals had to be present to share in this very special moment.

But they are about to have company!

 

  He was so very happy that Mommy and Daddy said even though he was a big boy now, 

he wasn't too old to have his very own pillow pet dolphin!  :)

 

Cranky the Crane was a very special edition to our Thomas collection!

This half wall Jeff built to separate the dining room and living room a little is such a great thing!

I mean, where would these guys hang out in our tiny house if it wasn't there? :)

 Aunt Sarah just couldn't resist playing with the trains another minute. :)

A little hacky sack practice with Uncle Dan!

 

Again, the wall proving itself very useful.

One Happy Birthday Boy!  :)

Thunderous Thaw

When an ice storm is followed by a rapid rise in temperature . . .

it begins to rain ice chunks . . .

and tree branches . . .

There was a dull roar from the sounds of cracking and smashing ice and this is what the ground ended up looking like.

Simply amazing!

And More Snow and Ice

I love taking pictures of fresh snow. And I love how the newly fallen snow hushes everything. A beautiful quiet time, just me and my camera. :)

 

 Then, of course, this is the name of the game . . .

Carson  found some rabbit tracks in the fresh snow.

 

 

   

 

 

 

And then came the ice storm. More beauty!  
 

 

And from the sounds of it, I should find another quiet moment or two in fresh snow again soon! :)