Flowers in a Vintage Pitcher

Sent to me by a dear friend...love you, Linda!

Sweet Morning Roses

I woke up, pulled up the ancient window peeling with old paint, and smelled these beauties:

Valentine Day Tulips

Tom brought me a bouquet of tulips for Valentine's Day. He knows I love flowers, but wouldn't want him to spend a lot of $ on expensive roses! These cheerful tulips were perfect.We had a nice quiet evening together as a family. 

 I kept the tulips on the table, long after their peak. They were a happy color in a gray month.

When my sister Esther came to visit, she snapped these pictures for me as a little remembrance.

Thank you, Esther!

Hosanna turns 10

 How is it possible that I have a 10 year old?

 Her birthday breakfast of choice: fresh fruit salad (with mangoes and raspberries!), blueberry muffins:

 This picture was taken Easter Sunday, right before church. They were thrilled with Daddy's treat of a Panera breakfast.

I'm so blessed to have a daughter like Hosanna!

We all do like each other, most of the time...

Naomi and Mom

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Mara and Me

I think the smiles we are giving each other are the "I know what you're up to" type.

Dressed in Brown

Keturah and I ended up in brown dresses, during one of our New Harmony days. Mine was a simple sheath, and hers more tailored and the agreed favorite of the group. (I felt quite smug about the fact that I discovered it for her.) She's so petite and looks adorable in cute little dresses!

Peonies, Part 2

Peonies, Part 1

A friendly New Harmony shop owner suggested we stroll to the nearby peony farm where acres of peonies were in bloom. It was beautiful! The fragrance of all those peonies was a delight.

Amy & Zarah

My sister-in-law and neighbor, Amy, stopped by the other day to show me Zarah's new outfit. I love her bright flower clips and creative clothes, which Amy designs and makes herself. The shirt and dress Amy and Zarah are wearing in this picture both come from the same long sleeved shirt, which Amy cut up and reused! I love being in the presence of such talent and beauty.

My adorable little niece is also lovingly called, "Zoe"-the letters of which stand for her initials:  Zarah Odette E.

Roses from my Love

In addition to my (very unexpected) red dress, Tom also gave me a little sterling silver necklace and earring set set to commemorate our 10th anniversary, and if I wasn't stunned enough by this out-of-character shopping spree from my lovable (but fashionably clueless) husband, he brought me a bouqet of ten roses! By then I was officially swept off my feet.

Sonnet 116



Let me not to the marriage of true minds

 Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

 Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

 That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

 Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

 Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

 But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.



    William Shakespeare 

    (1564 - 1616)

Drew being Cute

Taken a couple days before his haircut, I thought these were pretty cute (and my old map makes a surprisingly good background!):

Drew and His Mommy

Fresh from his first haircut, Drew was quite pleased with himself!

Drew's First Haircut

At almost 3 years of age, and with being mistaken for a little girl on several occasions, we thought it was about time Drew had a haircut.

He was delighted with the whole experience!

What a fine looking young man! Looks like there is still some curl left after all.

Caleb's 7th Birthday Party

In September, we had a casual birthday party for Caleb at his favorite park, with friends and family.
He requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with chocolate ice-cream!

And the moment he has been waiting for for over a year....his very own BB gun from Daddy!

Tom and I Escape

Although our 9 year anniversary was back in December, we finally got around to celebrating it last week. Almost without exception, every year we enjoyed staying one night at a Bed & Breakfast...and often with a nursing baby in tow! This year, however, we decided to mix it up a little and try a fancy hotel instead. Here's a picture of the Riverfront Hyatt-view from the arch.

Oh yeah-king sized bed with pillow top mattress and fluffy pillows-I could get used to this. Our room was large with an amazing view of the arch and river:

Happy 9 1/2 Years to Us! It was so wonderful to relax and visit together. (The kids did great with their Aunt Susie!)

Drew with Sparklers

He never appeared afraid of the fireworks, and begged to watch and participate in them, but when it came to the sparklers he seemed a little concerned! He gave them his full concentration. Woe to anyone who got too close to him; apparently he needed his space. Funny!