what we've been up to

On Sunday the boys (that's what I call our dogs) brett, trent & chloe went for a walk.

Chloe, our budding photographer took photos.

I think she's got a great eye for photos.

She also took this one of the flowers Brian gave me for mother's day.

Gorgeous

She is a very artsy gal-
her is a recent chalk drawing she did in art class.
I had her take a photo to show her Grandmothers who are both fantastic artists.

It wasn't quite done yet...
but still-
I love it!!
Chloe gave me one of the best gifts ever two days ago.

She came into the laundry room while I was sewing on these patches on my latest project and said- "mom, I'm glad I didn't quit piano. I really like it now."
wow
I am so glad she didn't quit too.
I'm also so happy she wasn't too proud to share this with me.

Tomorrow is my creative day & I will be finishing up this little quilt.
I have been working on it for a while now in between chores. I am thrilled to say I have gotten a bunch of chores done this week- you know the kind of stuff you dread & put off. I have been giving myself permission to work on it after finishing something- It's got me going!
I have named it
Bridge Mix
because I was eating bridge mix while making it & I think it fits.
I love bridge mix & I love this quilt.
but I love Chloe more

My front yard- the garbage heap

The weather has just been Fabulous here lately!!

REally warm & spring like. Cruel really, when you consider we have a bit of winter to go. This morning I went to take the dogs for a walk & brought my camera along. Brett was leaving for work & said- "You're taking your camera? Great!"- I think he is happy to know I am pulling out of the slumpy winter blues I have been in. It didn't dawn on me until later, that it is nearly impossible to take pictures while walking TWo dogs- Especially these two crazies.

I am trying to teach Bronco to heel (he is learning surprisingly fast) & reteach Max. Max has forgotten all walking manners with the addition of the young pup. I managed a photo which shows exactly the crazy behavior I am trying to avoid.

Now that the weather has brightened a bit & I am out walking -

Everyone in the neighborhood is finding out about our new pup too. I have had a couple of people say- "you have two dogs?" with this look of shock & surprise-

like they are thinking...

you seem like such a normal person at church & around the community?

I always find myself saying--"it's not me- really- brett is such a dog lover. I have no choice. It's him- I just go along with it... I really have no choice..."

I sound like an idiot.

I came home & looked around the yard with absolute shock & surprise of my own.
Our house faces north, so the front yard rarely sees sun. The snow takes forever to melt on our side of the street. You won't believe what the blanket of snow was covering!trent's blue sled...

multiple pieces of wood from trent's projects...

trent's plastic snow board...

trent's mini skateboard...

two shovels...

and a Christmas tree-

okay, okay- the Christmas tree- we knew it was there on the side of the house.

It's from jack & his hooligan friend's treeing escapades.

Every year the teens in our house "pick up" (steal is more like it - not that anybody cares) old Christmas trees off of people's curbs around town & then "tree" someone? "treeing" is when your doorbell rings, you go to the front door, no one is there... except for a dozen old Christmas trees. this tree got left behind & jack has promised to get rid of it for a month. For some reason the teens (jack & brian's friends) think this is absolutely hilarious. There have honestly been times when the boys & their friends have picked up trees all over town & we've had dozens in our back yard hiding until dark- when they mysteriously appear on some one's doorstep. In one night those trees have been known to visit several unsuspecting people. Family after family get treed on one night. All the same trees. The whole process is about shock value. Once you've been treed & your dad gets all ticked off - they take them to another door step.

don't panic- it's all in good fun- at the end of the "treeing" season they drop them off at the dump to be made into mulch.

All I can say tonight is

It's a good thing tomorrow is TRASh day!

holy moly
this is down right embarrassing

-It's a good think I went out & noticed all this mess-

*have you ever found anything out in the yard after the snow melts?

*have you ever put a Christmas tree on the curb- then wondered where it went?

You can thank me later

Sunday Morning Walk

Fall- the perfect time for a morning walk.

This morning before Conference- Brett, Trent, Max & I took a little walk.

These are some of the beautiful sights along the way.

My heart is full with gratitude this General Conference Weekend,

for all the many blessings in my life.

For family, health & strength, knowledge of God & His Son Jesus Christ.

For the grand opportunity of life, of living.

Blogging these past few months has given me the ability to appreciate

the little things, and live my life more fully.

I'm sure that would sound silly to most.

But journaling my life is now of great importance to me.

For I know that as said today in conference...

young or old no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.

So for today I want to say thank you, Father for the opportunity of life.

For love in my home.

For giving me the awesome responsibility of being a wife & mother.

I know that there is a prophet on the earth today.

I know that God lives and loves us.

I know that I am His daughter a child of God.