Spring where I am

How does Spring spring in the valley of the sun, you ask?

Well, we have peaches growing on our peach tree in the back yard.





Aren't they cute??





Today my mom and I took our time at Home Depot. I got new succulents for my polka dot pots for the back patio. Low maintenance, baby!



And an itty-bitty succulent for my Goodwill teacup.



The only flowers I buy are geraniums because I can actually keep them alive. This one is out back so I can enjoy it from the porch or swing.



I added a pink geranium to my bird cage by the front door.



I decided that I needed to add a little life to the inside of our house, too, so I got a new houseplant. It's called a Dragon. I'm still looking for the perfect pot. Probably turquoise.



I think I like this spot, though.



Just a few little touches of nature and color but I like it!

Spring has definitely sprung here. What are YOU doing to invite Spring into your home?

Take a Hike

I find the Arizona desert beautiful.



So last weekend, we took the boys on a desert hike. Ok, so it was more of a desert meander--or a walk at best--and less of a hike.



Ethan checked out some coyote scat.



He got a kick out of walking along the trail. Pun intended.



We posed in front of a saguaro.



I thought this tree was beautiful.



And the city view was fabulous.



Brothers.



And my baby looking adorable by the windmill.



It was a great family outing and we're planning to go back soon. Maybe next time we'll actually HIKE.

We're blooming over here!

When we moved in, we were told that one of the trees in the back yard was a peach tree but over the summer, it seemed like it was dying. Despite the boys' constant watering, I thought it was a goner.

Then....I was sitting on the back yard swing and spotted pink blossoms from across the yard. To my delight, I discovered that our peach tree was blooming!!

Here's what it looked like at first with some blooms and lots of buds.



I love the detail of the centers.





The gorgeous, clear blue Arizona sky never gets old to me.



Then it started blossoming even more! {this is one of my favorite pictures of it below!}



Aren't those flowers gorgeous!?!



I just love this tree!



Now I'm VERY excited about the possibilites of peaches this spring!

And it just goes to show that we should never give up hope on something coming back to life!

Do You Take Pictures of Your Dinner Table?

We've done it for as long as I can remember. Whether it's a birthday, a holiday or any other family celebration, if there is a meal involved, we set a lovely (usually themed) table and take a picture of it. We often take a picture of the spread of food and/or our plateful of food, too. It's what we do in my family. If there's a cake involved, we take a picture of that, too.

Some people make fun of us for this, asking, "What are you going to DO with hundreds of pictures of tables and food and cakes??" {"some people" being my brother and my husband}

We're just capturing the moment and trying to remember how much fun we had. This is how we celebrate LIFE! And each other! It doesn't matter about what becomes of all the pictures.

Some recent parties:


November 20th: My mom's birthday brunch.


Our brunch food, prepared by a local chef. It tasted as scrumptious as it looks.


November 29th: My birthday party table with a winter/snowflake theme.


The spread of food.


Christmas Day, Ethan at my mom's table. He loves to check it out, to see what we did. He already appreciates a fancy table. It doesn't hurt that he also matches the tablecloth.


December 28th: The winter/nature-themed table for my grandmother's going-away dinner.


We had the ham my husband's company gives out for Christmas (with a fabulous apple compote) with scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, biscuits and iced tea.


I duplicated it a week later for our New Year's Day dinner in our back yard.

When we were house hunting, I saw a picture of this tree in the yard and envisioned eating under it. It's so cool to literally be "living the dream."


It's dreamy, isn't it???


This time the menu was pork tenderloin, a black-eyed peas gumbo kinda thing and corn muffins (with iced tea, of course).

We try to dress up according to the theme when possible, too.


At mom's party, which had a Julia Child/cooking theme. Evidently I forgot I was still wearing my apron.


Me, my mom and my grandmother WITH the table at my birthday party. I asked my guests to dress festively. My mom was Mrs. Claus and I was a snow princess. I'm tellin' ya--we have fun.

Say what you will about "going to all that trouble" or spending the money but I don't care. It's all about celebrating life and enjoying good food with the ones you love and I'd have it no other way.

Now to think about our Valentine's Day table and food...

Turns Out, the Grass IS Greener

We've been in our new place in the southeast Phoenix valley for over four months now and are finally (mostly) settled in.

I'd wanted to live closer to my folks for a long time, probably ever since our first son was born six years ago. We'd lived 50 miles away, which meant a lot of long drives home late at night, often with a baby on board.

I had done a lot of fantasizing about what it would be like to live closer together. {cue dream sequence music} I imagined dropping by for a cup of coffee in the morning or to smoke a cigar with my dad on the back porch at night. I figured we'd shop at Costco and split our purchases. I'd be able to leave the boys for a couple of hours so I could go shopping. My mom and I could consult each other on our makeup and wardrobe for special events and borrow nail polish and jewelry from each other. My dad and I could talk business over lunch. We could go on impromptu outings and celebrate holidays without spending the hour-and-a-half on the road. I thought it would be marvelous.

Beyond that, we hoped that our move would mean more career and ministry opportunities for us, an excellent school for our son to attend kindergarten, neighbors we could build relationships with, more fun things to do as a family and so much more.

But you know how it is: reality often does not live up to the fantasy. The grass is rarely greener on the other side.

But, in the four months since we started this new adventure, as my husband often points out: we ARE "living the dream." Our life here is amazing and we are thrilled with our home, our neighborhood and my son's school. I have found a wonderful church home where I can do what I love: write. Being closer to my parents is an absolute blessing, even better than I'd anticipated. It is everything we had hoped and prayed for--and more! God is so good. As my mom posted on our fridge when we first moved in: "He has done all things well."

Our new home has grass in the front and back yards. It's partly why I was so drawn to this house when we were shopping around.



I haven't had grass in the yard since we lived in Florida in 1998. Just being barefoot on the grass makes me feel like I am truly home.



I imagined how much fun the boys would have on it, running through the sprinkler, playing football and wrestling. They have done all of that.



My father-in-law recently brought his dog for a visit and seeing the boys play with the dog on our lawn made my heart so happy.

I love sitting on my swing and looking out over the grass, watching the birds in the trees and gazing at the Arizona-blue sky. It just feels right. Like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.



Turns out, the grass IS greener here. I had always known it would be.

My first snow!

Can you believe that I went 33 years without ever playing in the snow??

My first time was this past weekend in Flagstaff, Arizona and it was marvelous. The best part? I could sled without worrying about falling because the snow was so soft that it didn't hurt! And fall I did. Sometimes I fell down just because I was laughing so hard. It was enchanting.

My hubby made this gigantic snowball. This was the view from the back of the cabin!



It was Ethan's first time, too. He liked walking in it but wouldn't wear gloves and HATED having snow on his hands. He stayed inside with my grandmother a lot.



Andrew (in back) must have gone down the sled "run" 200 times. Mostly the cousins rode together. We're so pleased that they will always have this trip as a fun memory.



The only downside was the loooong walk back UP the sled run and trying to hold the darn string while wearing gloves!



They caught some serious air!



Andrew got Drew with a few snowballs, too.



Ain't much cuter than a baby in footy pajamas eating pancakes for breakfast! I can't believe my baby is 20 months old now!!



I think the snow looks good on me. I was excited to get to wear the J. Jill coat I bought on clearance last year. Drew picked out the teal boots for me :)



The boys with the snowman my mom and I made.



And the best part? Quality time as a family.



Put me down as a big snow fan. Especially when we could play in it for two days then return to the 50-degree weather in the valley!