The Weekend(Extended)

Long weekends are fun. They are the perfect chance to live the weekend life just a little longer. This past "long" weekend we did just that.

From the beginning to the end, we crammed in the fun and loved every minute of it. The weather screamed summer and we soaked up as many rays as we could. You know it's a good weekend when your outside time trumps your inside time. Outside won.

Our friends joined us for good food and fun on Saturday evening after the girls and I spent a couple of hours at the pool. It was so much fun. Unfortunately, this good momma didn't have her camera. What can I say? I was out numbered and pictures were actually low on the priority list. But, it was big fun and I can tell you, we will be spending lots of time there this summer.

Smiles and laughter filled our home outside this Saturday evening. I laughed and smiled as I watched children play together and grown ups laugh at stories. The kind of laughing you get when you are just getting to know people. New friends. It is what makes us grow. I hope to enjoy many other fun activities with these friends. I know our girls sure do.

Sunday welcomed us with a spur of the moment decision to play hooky from church. We don't do that normally. We really love our church and our new family. It was just one of those mornings where, well, we just wanted to be us. You know after all the extended activity of the weekend, you just need to sit back, and breathe. It was a true breath of fresh air and two little girls decided that they had pretty cool parents.

That evening was a celebration. A little princess turned 1. She is a doll. You can feel her smile all over you when she presents it. I love this family. So much. And they love mine too. My Bear did something amazing. She was so brave. I know how very scared she was to try riding Maggie the Mule, but she did it. Shy smile and all. I loved it. I loved the way it felt when she was sitting there in front of me. I could feel her breath become more rapid as Maggie sped up. I could tell by her laugh, that at any moment she was going to beg to get down. But she didn't. She sat high and proud on that Mule. She is growing up. So, so fast.

Monday we spent the evening with family. More outside playing and laughing. Our place was full of happiness and love this weekend. I hope to have many more weekends like it. This summer has started off just great. I can't begin to tell you how much I love watching my two. Each outing they become more brave. New territory to be found. So much to do. I love watching them grow up here. It is beautiful. It is a home full of love and trust.

I am not going to lie. I decided that at my age, the slip and slide is NOT a good idea. I am hurting. Bad. But you know what? I don't care. Each time my muscles ache, so do my jaws. Because I have had a constant smile on my face all weekend. I couldn't ask for more. Smiles are, after all, contagious. And wonderful.

Happy Week!

Reunions and Gardens

The girls have really enjoyed their new preschool. The change has been good and they are adapting very well.

BUT, we have missed our Ms. Tanya and all of our other friends. It has been three weeks since we have seen them, so it was time for a reunion. And a reunion it was. The girls were so excited to see their "other" family. Hugs and kisses were the thing and little girls and boys made way of their time together. I, too miss Ms. Tanya. I find myself picking up the phone each day to call in. It was always our thing. That mid-day chat. My way into a little piece of what the girls had been up to that day. My girls have been with her from the beginning. When a mommy was working and couldn't be there, Ms. Tanya was there. We have been so blessed to have her and we are so thankful that our Bean and Bear were cared for by her. She is honestly the next best thing to mommy. And a dear, dear friend.

We got a new toy and the Bear found it fit to include Honey in the fun. That poor puppy. She is such a trooper. She is fitting in just fine though.

Saturday morning while I worked, Daddy, the girls and Grandpa had some gardening to do. Thanks to our "fairy" Godmother, they had all the appropriate gardening utensils. The Bear was very specific about the items she wanted to plant this year. Carrots, onions, tomatoes and pizza. Pizza seeds are really hard to come by, so we opted for sunflowers instead.

photos by daddy

I love our garden. It is something I have never done before and I have learned so much. I really want to try canning this year. My in-laws are pros and I hope they will share some of their secrets with me.

Life has settled down a bit for us. Music class is over, the summer is well on its way and we hope to get our camper out and ready for some late night stories and smores.

Looks like a warm, wonderful week ahead of us. Enjoy the sunshine. Plant some flowers, or maybe even a garden. And, if it fits in your schedule, have a reunion with someone you have missed. Chances are, they have missed you too.

Our New Love

Let me start by saying this was not my idea. Really. I was adamant that there would be no more dogs. Especially in the house. BUT, and there is always a but when it comes to the girls. Daddy proposed this new addition and I accepted. And boy am I glad I did. She has stolen my heart, along with the rest of her new family.

Meet Honey. Her name is appropriate, because, well she is as sweet as honey gets.

For one girl, it was love at first sight. Oh my.

For another, it has taken some getting used to. But, she is just as in love. From a little further away.

This puppy is amazing and so, so smart. She is rocking the potty training. She loves her snuggles and greets me with a happy, wagging tail every time we meet.

You know, some days I think about what it would have been like to have another little one. Don't get me wrong. I am happy with our two. Very happy. We are complete. But now, well, we are really complete. Watching the three of them play together is just precious. It is almost like she has always been here.

As you can imagine, our weekend was full of puppy training and play. This sweet little addition has brought lots of new smiles to our home. We are so happy to have her and I think she is just as happy to be here.







Happy week out there!

All Love

What a week. What a fun week. What an exhausting week. All of it combined screams love. I have had so much fun. From the beach to girls night out to Mother's Day. This momma is so full, I am about to pop.

Where to start? How about our wonderful beach trip. Lot's of sunshine and seagulls were the setting for our fun, short vacation this lovely May week. I can't imagine spending four hours on the beach with my kiddos in July/August. The weather was wonderful and so mild. We were on the beach for hours and didn't even realize it. Both girls loved the sand and the ocean. We built sandcastles, dug pretend lazy rivers and played scary monster on the wide open beaches. It was wonderful. We ate the best food and I believe the Bear ate her weight and then some in crab legs. That girl put it away. The Bean was not afraid of anything. She took right to that water and was a fish in no time. Her braveness scares me sometimes. Really...

 After a much longer trip home than down(isn't that how it always goes?)we were home and glad of it. Our travels are fun, but getting home is just as special. I know two little girls that missed their beds.

Oh, and folks with us, it isn't a vacation until we have spent time at the ER or some Urgent Care. Yep, Andy and the Bear spent four hours at the ER for and ear infection. But she is feeling much better.

Friday morning was exciting as we spent time at our new school. It was so much fun and I am very happy with the program. I just know the girls are going to do well there.

Saturday we had a wonderful walk with the March Of Dimes. This is an amazing organization and they help so many children. My nephew is one of them. You wouldn't believe the people that came out to walk. The day was beautiful and the smiles were all over the faces of everyone involved.

Of all the fun things I did this week, I have to say that Sunday was my favorite. Mother's Day. My day. The day that I celebrate those two precious beings that God so graciously granted me. My day could not have been any better. My wonderful hubby saw to it. Baking pies in the kitchen is a wonderful way to start the day off. Crafting while the sun is setting is a wonderful way to end it. The in between was just as delicious as the beginning and ending as well. Numerous, out of the blue "Happy Mother's Day Momma's" came from the Bean's mouth. I still can't believe they are mine some days. I watch them, thinking to myself that life doesn't get any better than this. And you know what? It doesn't. My life is so full. So hectic. So amazing. Together, all of these things give me peace. A comfort and security that I cherish. I have an amazing life. Being a wife and a mother is so much more than I ever knew it could be.

Thank you my sweet girls. It is because of you two that I am able to celebrate this wonderful day they call Mother's Day.

Hope your week is wonderful. Stay tuned later this week. Big surprises at the Blevins household....