simplegifts

played hookie: day one

{photo heavy}

I've been wanting to play hookie with the littles since school started. Can you tell I like hookie more than school? I do. But I know that school is important too, I guess. I waited patiently, sort of, and the perfect opportunity arose.

Joshua and Caleb had a field trip to Houston. I took the 3 youngers out of school and we somewhat tagged along. I say somewhat because the bigs were in the school van, and the younguns were with me. We picked Caleb up from their trip after the zoo, and he spent the night with us in Houston. 

Day One. Picnic at Herman park. Houston Zoo. Herman Park Conservancy Train. We had the best time ever!

Carousel!

I am all for having a good ol day of hookie once a school year. It was lovely!

sea world

Daniel's class + their prayer partners + moms/teacher headed to Sea World this past week. When we entered the Aquarium, I wish I would have had the forethought to change my camera over to video mode because Daniel went semi-beserk. This was his first time to Sea World and considering he has lived more years in an orphanage ( a great one) than with a family, his excited then mesmerized flip out was thoroughly enjoyed by me!

Awesome shirts made by a Kinder Mom. Thanks Mrs. Weaver.

"Whas that Mom? Whas that?" Said over and over...sting ray, baby fish, coral, sharks, scuba divers, eel, Dorie... ;o)

 Yes. I spent $12.95 on Shamu. I talked him down from a $24.95 gigantor pillow with a 3D Shamu popping out of it. I was not carting that thing around all day. ;o) Plus, the Shamu he got is way cuter!

This was photo 234. Yeah. I took 404.

Happy Field Tripping to You.

track season

Both Joshua and Caleb are participating in track this spring. We went to a meet two Thursdays ago in San Antonio and cheered them on in each of their events, and some of the other kids from school.

May I say one thing? Ok. I LOVE MY CAMERA!!! I used the telephoto lens during the meet and I will hug him and squeeze him and pet him and pat him and name him George.

We sat under this tree and it dropped itself all over us, our quilt, our toys, our hair...it was sort of annoying, but it sure did it's job in the shade department. And we were glad.

Happy Tree Droppings to You.

 

late birthday

Had a fun, late birthday lunch with my mom this past week. We went to our usual place, ordered our usual meal, and enjoyed every bit. Grist Mill's Tenderloin Salad is da bomb diggity. It is honestly the best salad ever. It beats all others hands down.

Got some bday Chaco sandals. Got an early Mother's Day gift for my mom. She picked it out. I'm good with that. She just has to wait a few weeks.

The Littles spent the night at N and B's friday night...did you hear me squeal, "I get to sleep in!" I did. I also stayed up way way way past my bedtime with Jeff, Joshua, Caleb, and a few of their friends watching a movie at King Ranger. I am seriously too old to stay up past midnight. I start yawning and I can't stop.

All's in full bloom in Gruene. Love the wooden barrels filled with flowers by Gruene Hall.

Picasa now has all the fun Picnik processes. This one is Cross Process. Like it.

Thanks for a fun afternoon, Mom.

spring collage

We took the younguns on a walk this evening and we passed by those big pink double poppies I saw last year. Will grab the cam tomorrow a.m. and snap a few. Happy Spring.

the most wonderful time of year...

You know what I'm gonna say, right?

Wait for it. Wait. Wait.

Yay yuh bay bee. Snow Cone Time!

There's only one small problem. I have no budget for $200 a month spent on snow cones. I know. So I'm rethinking my addiction. But it's hard. I have people.

This one.

This one.

And this one.

+ 2 more who are now way too cool to have their pictures taken. When those 2 finally grow up and get married, and want to show their new wives their photo albums...their pictures stop at, like, 11. And then they disappear. sheesh.

Everyday afterschool forget saying Hi Mommy! It is now, "SNOWCONES!!!" ;o) To make it worse, we pass one shop on the way home. Yesterday, when I said we'd go tomorrow (which is now today) you'd have thought they'd been grounded for a week. Waiting is good though. It makes for some moments of appreciation.

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baby pomegranate.

 it's not our tree, but i have toyed with the idea of knocking on the owner's door once its harvest time.

 just sayin.

ranunculus

Observe, when the Lord spoke ranunculus into being He knew what He was doing.

I love them!

Seriously.

 Look at all those petals that get crammed inside the bud just waiting to...

e.x.p.l.o.d.e.

This little bed is on my walking route and each and every time I pass it, I smile.

It's a happy place.

inexhaustible

--There is an inexhaustible fullness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints {believers} can never draw dry.--

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 3: 20,21

 

planted

coreopsis.

mexican heather.

can't remember.

rose that was here before us.

It's the time of year when I want to get in the yard. We have a big mud hole in ours right now...due to 3 hooligans play + drought. We're trying to come up with a solution that does not involve grass. Which sorta makes me weep. However, I cannot nor really want to continue to fight the growing grass battle. I've searched on pinterest and my favorite blogland backyard, Alicia Paulson and am thinking that if we do go with gravel (a permanent decision) that it can look great and be usuable. As long as I can put some green living things around the space in big pots, maybe, I'll be ok?

heartsy

Happy Valentine's Day.