Things I Admired on my Morning Rounds

I have posted pictures of my new flower beds Im sure - but the latest as of this past weekend are these wonderful steps Lar built for me. I just LOVE them. We worked on it together - he did the dirt work then I arranged the stones and then he put the gravel down. I had the fun part. We have a little "pad" in the background of the second picture that we want to rework soon. The previous owners built it with red concrete squares. We are thinking about taking them up - tumbling them - painting them and then laying them in a different design. Maybe with gravel in between - stay tuned for that project. From the lovely steps I moved over to the garden to admire my Tomato plants. They are just heavy with tomatoes but none have ripen yet. Im just hoping and praying they turn red before any bugs get them. I can hardly wait. Then low and behold when I turned the corner to check on my front flower beds my yellow Hibiscus was feeling foxy this morning and has 3 wonderful blooms on display. Praise the Lord for all His Beauty!

Front Yard Flower Power

We have been busy little worker bees around here lately. And we love it!!! Lar is almost done with the pool project - I will post some pictures soon. I set my hand to giving the front flower beds and porch a pick me up. It started last weekend when I bought 16 gallon size Zinnias at Home Depot. They were on SALE for 1.49 a pot normally 3.99. I have really been looking at the Zinnias but was just waiting until I found a good deal. That was a GREAT deal. I found the yellow and orange pots at Walmart. I already had one blue pot but must have left its match at our other house. So I bought a can of spray paint and painted a green pot I already had blue to match. I really enjoy the bright welcome has I go in and out the front door. Makayla helped me weed the front area and we planted some Vinca (also 1.49) for a splash of color while my other Vinca are coming up. I have close to 50 little Vinca sprouts showing their heads and they will be blooming before I know it. YEAH! I added a Crape Myrtle tree (its blossoms will be deep pink) down at the end to give me some height and jazz it up. Im just Thanking the Lord for all the great sales Ive found with this Spring! Wait until I post some pictures of our Tomato plants. WOW!!!

A Rock Star and her Star of a Dad

I can't help but get choked up thinking about the events of the past two days. Alli signed up to sing Bubbly at the 4-H contest day today. Yesterday we had our local 4-H meeting and everyone in our group had a chance to perform their talent or show their presentation. Makayla and I had to leave in the middle for Mak's piano lesson. We were gone an hour and when we got back Alli had already done her song. Well..... she didn't really do it she started and then didn't want to finish and felt really bad and started crying. When I got back we went outside and she told me about it and started crying again. I told her that she didn't have to sing today and not to worry about it we would try again another time. So on the way home we decided that she would just forget about the contest. But when we got home Lar had another idea. He had Alli bring her music and karaoke machine outside on the deck and she sang to him over and over while he worked down below on the dirt and area for the pool. He would stop and give her advice and taught her how to keep time with the music and stay on tempo. They worked on that for along while - her singing - him working. Then again this morning her singing to him and practising while he was digging and moving dirt. When we got to the contest he sat in the front row and when it was Alli's time to sing he kept time with her on his leg and sang the words with her. Makayla and I were a couple rows back filming and taking
pictures. She started once and then had to start again. The second time she closed her eyes and kept beat on her leg and sang the whole thing beautifully. After she got going she opened her eyes and looked around some and smiled some but kept her focus. She placed in the top three and is going to perform at the Southwest District competition on June 9th. She was so excited and just couldn't believe it. Lar had to leave early but Alli called him first thing to let him know "she won." Its a good thing we don't marry someone exactly like us - he knows music - I don't. He knows when to work harder - I didn't. I have a thankful heart for Alli's success and an over flowing heart that Lar is a GREAT Dad to our children and really invests his time and talents and energy into their lives!!! My two favorite ROCK STARS!!

A Great Mothers Day

Well yesterday was the BIG day for Moms and I felt very loved and celebrated. The fun started Sat. night when Lar took me out for a nice dinner - just the two of us. The kids all went over to Grandma and Grandad's house for pizza and a movie. We had been going non-stop Sat. so it was nice to share a quiet dinner with Lar. Sunday morning we were up early and headed out to Church. We enjoyed a great Worship service and message for Moms. Then it was home to get lunch ready to share with Grandma and Grandad. They brought ribs over to bar b que plus several other tasty side dishes. We added some corn on the cob, french bread, baked beans and choc. cake. It was a meal fit for a Queen and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. After lunch Carol and I were showered with nice cards and gifts!! With a full tummy and a chance to sit down we were all ready for a nap so Grandma and Grandad headed for home. Lar and I layed down on our bed and Makayla gave me a massage and Alli gave one to Lar. It was wonderful. At 4:30pm we got up and headed down to Slidell to see the new Star Trek movie. It was really good and alot of fun. We ate our dinner at CC's pizza and then headed home. So you can see it was a GREAT day in every way and I felt very Blessed and Thankful to have such a wonderful family.

Makayla's School Play

We went to watch Makayla in her school play this evening. It was about the Life of Christ. Makayla played a crippled lady and also Mary Magdaline. She had lines for each part and did GREAT!! Tonight was the dress rehersal - they performed it for the Weds. night church service. We will be going back on Friday with Lar and Grandma and Grandad for the big school production. Mak said they had a blast after school - she stayed straight through until the play which started at 6:30pm. One of the student's parents rents the big jumpers and slides so after school they all played on those until time for pizza. Then it was time to get ready for the show. With only 13 kids in high school they have become close friends over the past year and really have a good time together. Im so thankful that she gets to go to a small Christan school - what a Blessing!!

TOMATOES!!!

Our garden is going great guns and we have a ton of Tomatoes just getting ready to ripen. I can honestly say that it is a close call as to what I like more fresh summer tomatoes or going shopping when I actually have money in my pocket. And you know how I love to shop. So seeing these tomatoes growing in my own yard is making me giddy with delight! Now is the time to book your reservations for B and L's B &B. Fresh Tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The corn is doing great as well and the pumpkins I put on the patch last fall are really going to town. PTL!!