Dirt=Boys and vice versa...

Ahh, the fresh smell of dirt has been in the air around here. And that curious magnetic dirt field found, who else, a 3 year old boy itching to get in it.


I'm not certain what the attraction is to dirt, but the male species seems to find an insatiable appetite for it.

Of course, I wouldn't mind having anything else on my mind but dirt from time to time.

I seriously want to know what this kid is thinking while he plays in the dirt. The whole time I'm stating aloud how nasty it smells but secretly loving the stench at the same time...it was kind of a mixture of "dirt", manure (this stuff is seriously like catnip to me!) and rotten compost.

Quick Math Lesson: Tractors plus a huge mound of dirt equals one extremely happy boy (this is his poker face, apparently).

This is the part where Lawyer picks up a handful of the beautifully stinky dirt and throws it at me...

Apparently he didn't like my reading material...or maybe he thought I was too clean for sitting near a huge dirt mound.

Think About It...

"This is the true joy of life: the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." George Bernard Shaw

School on the Range

I was sitting in the car line at Lawyer's school waiting to pick him up when I decided that I needed to take some pics of the surrounding area for all to see. I think this is the coolest school in the best location. It's so calm and serene out in the country and when the kids play at recess, this is what they get to look at...I'm suddenly feeling very robbed in my early education for not getting to see this at recess.

So maybe the kids don't get to see my jeans but I was bored while sitting in line in my car...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Houston, We Have a Palm Tree...

When we bought our house, it was LESS than appealing. It was overgrown and dark and the mosquitoes were in heaven in our damp, dark backyard.

We got in there though and all the overgrown stuff was completely ripped out and removed. All we had left was a VERY shabby homemade retaining wall (if you could call it that) and a beautiful oak tree and my beloved red bud that is the heart and soul of my backyard (this tree was the "piece de resistance" in making me want to buy this house...no joke).

Well, after a friend of ours, who is a Landscape Architect, began to help us out, our backyard has been transformed into a very inviting and wonderful place to be. We haven't gotten our plants in or had the waterfall put in just yet, but I think it is beautiful all the same. And look at our palm tree...ah, this is definitely going to be my backyard paradise, I just know it.

Here are some pics of the desolate, depressing and delightful (don't you just love alliteration?).
Now that's depressing...
Oh, there's hope for the backyard, yet!
Uh, never mind...
Nice practical joke. Who put the freaking lake in my backyard (PS I do have a pool beneath the murky pond water)...
That's what I call a nice retaining wall...I can already see the banana palms that will be in it soon...
Could this be my ray of hope?
Backyard being prepared for...
Grass and some nice curves!
Yay, fresh top soil and a 7 foot tall palm tree!
Nice palm tree...
Quick, somebody order me up a margarita and a hammock!

Look for another installment of "A Backyard in the Making"...it will be good!

Random Objects

Here are a few pics I've taken recently. Enjoy!

Memories...

I recently downloaded a free trail of Lightroom and realized that I had decent pictures that I could make great (at least in my eyes). So, since I loved the looks of the following pics, I decided to share them with all of you.

Reading, Writing & Arithmatic

Lawyer is a very smart little boy. Part of it is because that IS him and part of it has been cultivated from a school that caters to his learning style. He goes to a Montessori school out in the country and it is everything I wish I had in a school when I was a kid.

The whole concept behind Montessori is self-paced learning. They also work on independence, social responsibility, and respect....something today's kids desperately need in today's world.

One of the most amazing things is watching Lawyer begin to write. He is learning to write his full name, which is a tremendous feat in and of itself! So watch as Lawyer is intent upon writing his name using our homemade "lightbox" (aka the window) and tracing over his letters.



Man, this kid looks intense!

Hanging Out

Have a great weekend!

This is a NO SMILE ZONE...

You would think that our household was all gloom and doom after seeing the two guys I live with!

Just Playing

The other day was absolutely beautiful...somewhere in the 80's, no wind and the sun was awesome. Lawyer and I enjoyed some time outside just playing. Here is what we did:



Playing with chalk is an automatic invitation to wash your hands off in the pool when you are finished, regardless on whether or not you've been told time and time again NOT to use the pool as a giant sink for cleaning hands of mud, food or chalk. It's the LAW.I'm not certain I like where this is leading to...he looks way to intent on making sure to get me wet.

Thanks for sharing our warm, sunny day!