"2010 Year in Review" via Shutterfly!

I’m a big fan of Shutterfly! http://www.shutterfly.com
Before you could become a “fan” on Facebook I have been using their photo services. First it started with printing photos at great prices, then making fabulous books featuring my family, and most recently, desktop plaques that look so very professional! I love sharing family moments with loved ones and finding unique gifts that everyone will enjoy!

This year Christmas cards are going to be especially fun to make and send to loved ones. Right now Shutterfly is offering 20% off all holiday cards! (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards) This is one deal I'm going to take advantage of. I am looking forward to sending beautiful, personalized Christmas cards this year that I have created with the Shutterfly touch.

“Family Wall Red” and “With Love Chartreuse” are two of my favorite 5x7 cards. They also have a great selection of cards that reflect the true meaning of Christmas. http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/religious-christmas-cards Both of the 5x7 options contain multiple photos which I love. I can showcase individual family members along with a family shot; Or I can include pictures from the various activities we have been involved in during the 2010 year. I’m not sure which direction I’ll go when creating our family Christmas card this year but I have a very good idea it will have “Shutterfly” on the back! http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery


Check out my Facebook Page and the special deal Shutterfly offers you: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=699675171
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2010 Summer @ the Library

It's Summertime and we're making the most of all the activities offered around us. Today we signed Molly up for the reading program at our local library. Her librarian Amai would be so proud of her. She got some stickers and a chart we'll use to track her reading progress. Every 8 books will get her to the next "goal". It was a toss up today which she liked better--pulling books off the shelves or playing on the cushions.


On the way home from the library. Molly put on her hat by herself (correctly at that) and read her "Animal Baby" books that Amai & Baba get her each month.

Waiting for Daddy to get home

Daddy gets home around 5:30 most evenings. Molly is usually playing while I get dinner ready. Here was the scene for one night this week: Molly was running in circles around the living area, ran through the kitchen, grabbed a wet dishcloth that was hanging from the sink and proceeded to "clean" all over the living room and kitchen. It was adorable.














In the meantime, Toby was hanging out, watching it all, thinking "uh, you don't expect ME to do that, do you?".

Surprises in our yard!

We've now been in our new house almost 6 months. I can't believe it's already been that long. We are enjoying seeing the different plants that have sprouted through spring and into summer. First we had the Spring plants. There is a beautiful green forsythia bush in the backyard that bloomed beautiful golden yellow flowers in April. At the same time there were beautiful peonies and roses blooming in the front yard.

Summer is in full swing, even though it is only the first week of June and we find a beautiful hydrangea bush in the back yard. Now, a more seasoned gardener would know at first glance the bushes in her back yard. Not this gal! I'm learning as they sprout! And it's so fun. Here are pictures of the beautiful hydrandeas I cut and for an arrangement in the house.

Our neighbors just to the South of us were doing some spring cleaning in their yard and donated some hostas. We planted those in our front yard just this week--now we'll wait and see if they like their new home.

Library time at the Zoo

I love efficiency. Combine an outing to the zoo with library time. Seriously, can it get any better than that? The kids and I went to "Wild Tuesdays Storytime". This was Molly's first storytime experience so I sat with her. The kids were given a juicebox and Zoo animal crackers (appropriate, huh). Molly did pretty good sitting and loved the juicebox. We were read 3 animal books, then we met one of the zoo keepers.
There was a really cute craft activity to wind up the hour. I was very impressed with the whole thing. Molly picked up her "Eager Reader" card so she can read books, report back and get a prize. We may just have to make reading time at the zoo a weekly occurrence this summer.

I didn't get any pics of Molly during storytime but here are a couple others from our zoo day. Toby seemed to enjoy the outing. Actually he just slept through the entire thing.

Just a Tuesday

Today was a day mostly at home. Well, we did get out and pick up some much needed groceries & a trip to the credit union. This afternoon, however, was spent doing one of my all-time favorite things: Organizing! It was, once again, time to go through the kids' clothing. Hmm, do you move Winter things completely out? Will she still be able to wear some of them in the Fall? What to do? Well, we left some and moved some.

No matter what happened with the clothing, the kids were kept very entertained. Molly loved playing in Toby's bed (i.e., the pack-n-play) and Toby enjoyed a bit of tummy time. Molly has often been toting around a bag or container. Today, I put a hat on her head while she was playing and was then so surprised that she left it on for quite some time (now if she'll keep one on when we're out in the sun).

Spring arrives...on our porch

This past week we have spent some time on the front porch. We've worked on making our porch inviting by painting and adding some decor (another post in the making). God's creation has been adding her own beauty to our porch, specifically to the Boston fern we have on a hook.


On Friday Molly, Toby & I were watering our ferns when we found Mrs. "Robin") had a perfect little nest built in one of the ferns. Note, two eggs...















On Saturday, we were loading up the car to leave for Dallas. I told my Hubby that I wanted to check to make sure the eggs were still ok. Mrs. Robin had added a surprise to the nest...














Sunday night. We got home from Dallas later than expected. After getting the kids put in bed I decided to check on the eggs once again. I gently tapped on the hanging basket so Mrs. Robin wouldn't be surprised by my interruption. Upon taking the fern down again, we were surprised to find Mrs. Robin has been very industrious. Now there are FOUR!








Isn't it so neat to see God's handiwork displayed in the Spring greens, gentle (and not-so-gentle) rains, and in the new life around us--babies, calves, colts and robin eggs?