Wordless Wednesday...Spring Around our Home

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Boys, Boys, Boys...10% Dirt and 90% Mischief

It has been raining off and on all week; today was no exception. I have been working hard today preparing for an upcoming yard sale this weekend. The boys were suppose to be playing on the porch. Well, when we went looking for them this is what we found.

...worms & mud from the garden

Who started the mud fight?

Boys go clean up!

That was crazy cool!

I've Got Mail!

It's a SPRING SWAP!

I participated in my very first swap. Wooohoooo! It was so much fun 'stalking' my partner's blog and getting to know her better. A big thank you to Shortmama for hosting it! My swap partner was Beth from The Patchwork Chronicles. I love how we both love aprons and like to make crafts. Now on to the goodies:

Cute notepad, piggie post-its, a delicious smelling candle, and a coupon organizer that is adorable and the perfect size to fit into my purse.

Spring nail files, new nail polish (love the color), and stinkin' cute socks! Ha!

I love the fun watering can and seeds.

My favorite thing she sent me was this frame. I love it!!! I am all about my family!

Thank you so much Beth for all the wonderful goodies. I absolutely love every single thing you sent me! Oh yeah, she also sent a package of Twizzlers that my boys claimed right off. Everything was wrapped so nice and had the coolest hot pink bubble wrap. So much fun! Click here if you want to see what I sent Beth.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Rhonda's Daybook
April 13, 2010

Outside my window...it is sunny and a gorgeous day. I'm loving the spring weather lately.

I am thinking....that my baby will be graduating kindergarten in a couple of months. Where does time go?

I am thankful... for the opportunity to have another long term sub position this school year. If you see the blog posts slowing down, or me not getting to visit as often...that is the reason. I am the 'music teacher' and have 168 kids to teach each week. I'm loving it!

I am wearing ....khaki capri pants, black shirt, and my new "switch" flops I made with my friend Tammy's help.

I am remembering...how tired I get at the beginning of subbing full time. It usually takes about a week for my body to get use to it. I'm in my second full week, and it is getting a little easier now.

I am creating....lots on my list, but not completing much.
The bathroom project has been put on hold till things slow down a little.

I am going....to finish one project I've started by the end of the week! I guess the first thing would be to decide what project it will be.

I am reading...The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. I'm continuing reading in the Bible in 90 Days, although that has come to completion for many. They will be starting another one July 1st. If your interesting in starting this journey for yourself go here to learn more.

I am hoping...I can get in for a cut and color soon. I always feel better when my hair looks good!

On my mind...Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my what a wonderful day!
Plenty of sunshine heading my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay.

We practiced this song for the talent show, and it's one of the K graduation songs. I've even dreamed about this song! I can't seem to get it out of my head.

From the learning rooms...Caden tested this past week at school for two days. Cameron will be taking the benchmark four days, all day long this week! I am making sure he is prepared, well rested, eating well, and staying hydrated.

Pondering these words..."Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19

From the kitchen...Taco Ring for dinner tonight. It's an easy fix and pretty presentation.

Around the house...my sink is shiny and the bed is made. I need to de-clutter everyday so I don't get behind even more at home.

One of my favorite things...Cadbury chocolate eggs...glad they only are out once a year!

A few plans for the rest of the week....Teaching, baseball practice, Razorback baseball game, yard sales, and intentional time spent with the family.

From my picture journal...

A glimpse into our spring break fun at Terra Studios. We really enjoyed our picnic and had a great time. We were glad Grandma could join us for the picnic.

Spring Break 2010

Wow, Spring Break has come and gone. This year we decided to go back and visit Terra Studios for a picnic. It was a beautiful day in the low 70's, with snow still on the ground. We invited grandma to come along, and she got to stay for the picnic. We were glad Aaron could come along too and chose to spend time with us on his break. I remember how busy I was in college; all the studying and working.

They love each other...really they do...lots of hugs!

Aaron running from a snowball and slipped in the mud!
Quite comical if I do say so myself.

Grandma Alma with her grandsons.

This year, we got to see someone actually make the world famous bluebirds. It was very interesting to watch, and educational.

Another family memory to cherish!

Bringing Spring Inside...Amazing Tip!

What do you do when you want to open the windows to let in fresh air, but it's to cold outside and looks like this?

You duck!

Okay, after you dodge the snowballs, why not bring a little Spring inside too? I saw this tip the other day and had to try it. If you have a forsythia bush you can try it too!

Friday, when it was so pretty outside, I decided to trim some bushes. My forsythia bush was needing a good trim. I trimmed some of the limbs and brought them inside. No blooms...yet. We are going to force the blooms to grow! It is so cool.

First, take your cuttings you have inside...

Next, take a hammer and start pounding the end of your cutting.

Until it looks like this....

Then, fill up a vase with warm water and add your cuttings. Put your vase by a window...

Spring clean your kitchen and make the Fly Lady proud of your shiny sink!

Three days later....

You have BLOOMS!

I LOVE IT!

It will brighten up any room in the snowiest of SPRING days.

Spring in Northwest Arkansas

Friday was a beautiful day with the high of 70! I spent the afternoon outside trimming some bushes and sanding my vanity for my bathroom makeover. It felt so good to be outside on such a gorgeous day.

Saturday, March 20th, the first day of Spring...Mother Nature brings us...snow

My nephew, Devin came over for the day and for a sleep over.

This is what we woke up to on Sunday...8-12 inches of snow in Northwest Arkansas. The biggest snow yet! It has snowed all day too! Even though I long to wear capri pants and flip flops, to be eating out of my garden, baseball, yard sales, and picnics. Those will have to wait a little bit longer...I will enjoy the beauty of the snow.

A few friendly neighbors decide to drop by...

A few decided to stay for dinner...

He is on our sidewalk!

By Wednesday it is suppose to get back up to 68-70 degrees...I'm looking forward to it!

What did your first day of Spring look like?

When it Rains It Pours

I am so thankful for the sunshine today!!

I love it!

I spent part of the morning detailing the inside of my car and catching some needed vitamin D! It has been raining for the past two weeks. There has been only a few days where it didn't rain. Our yard has not been mowed due to all the rain....it's bad...but we are not alone! If it wasn't raining the ground was too saturated. Then the one day we thought we could get it done...a belt on the mower broke!!

Our garden is not all planted due to the rain!! The corn and lettuce are still coming up. I've got my sprouts still begging to be transplanted. It needs to be tilled again. All the rain brought plenty of weeds!

My sprouts waiting patiently...the funny thing about this...my dh was trying to help me out...put the sprouts outside on our railing. They got knocked over. He picked up what he could and placed them back in the tray. Well, let's just say all the labeling I took time to do...out the window. They are all mixed up. I know what some are, but not all of them, because I am trying new things this year!

Two sections of our privacy fence are down due to storms that came through Wednesday night...crushing one of my rose bushes on one side!

The only bloom on the crushed rose bush...plus a few buds.

The other side...see the back yard!! It has not been mowed for 3 weeks now!!!! Keeping it real friends! The good news...the front yard is not quite this bad!

Through all the rain and storms...God lets His goodness and mercy shine through.

Some of my old fashioned rose bushes at my house in full bloom! They loved all the rain!

Some beautiful flowers left by a neighbor friend on Mother's Day...so thoughtful!

Dinner is done...taco salad and Mexican casserole. I cooked two meals at once...because tomorrow will be busy with baseball practice and yard work!! The boys are washing the car by hand. Hubby is putting the lawn mower back together...hopefully I can get some mowing in tonight!

Have a super weekend...rain or shine!