His Special Day!

Happy Birthday to you, sweetheart!

His special day began with breakfast with his two littlest ones, presents scattered throughout the day, golf with his two oldest kiddos, a long nap, a yummy Mexican dinner, new additions to his birthday blessings book and this cheesecake.

And of course, we kicked off the celebration early last night with dinner out, just the two of us. We shared delicious food and delightful conversation. Love those kind of evenings!

I love you Brent! Happy Birthday!

Fresh and New

That's how spring feels around here.

Everything looks green. Everything seems new and warm and full of anticipation.

These were given to me this week...aren't they beautiful?

Hydrangeas are my favorite, though it's no secret that I prefer the blue variety. Alas, our water here doesn't favor blue hydrangeas...but I'll take the pink, especially after living without them at all for several years in northern Texas.

A friend brought these to me last weekend for a farewell brunch I hosted for a friend. They're so delicate (and blue of course!) Does anyone know what they are? My friend wasn't sure.

And I just love my spring wreath. It moves around our house quite a bit during the spring.


What flowers do you enjoy in the spring? I hope each of you are enjoying a bit of spring wherever you may be!

Introductions are in order...

Welcome to our little house on the prairie.

(Isn't that picture priceless in sepia? Doesn't it remind you of the no-nonsense photographs from days gone by? No smiles or anything. And slightly blurry. Perfect.)

Meet Laura:
And 'Manzo:
And Carrie, of course. (Or mean Nellie, as she sometimes decides to be. Hmmm.)
Yes, I answer to Ma around these parts, lately. Seriously. They are role-playing Little House all.the.time. They've even renamed ALL their stuffed animal dogs "Jack".

We've been reading through the stories each afternoon (we're halfway through On the Banks of Plum Creek), and it is such a special time. A couple months ago, we purchased the first season on DVD so our children too will know the joy of growing up watching such a sweet and wholesome show. Watching the series as a child is a special memory of mine. (That and MacGyver.) I have yet to make it through an episode without becoming a little teary-eyed, but no one (who knows me well) would be surprised to hear that. :)

The weather has been perfect for playing in our "backyard prairie"...we will be sad when they start to build homes behind us, so for now, the kids run wild and free!

It is so wonderful to be reminded of the imagination of a child...so playful, carefree, and magical.

Light Lunch (or dinner)

It's that time of year. When hot food seems slightly less appetizing...and things that are light seem so very refreshing.

I am eager for our Farmer's Market to open this summer...eager to pick fresh fruit on a farm...eager to make homemade ice cream. :)

So for my first "light" meal of the season, I pulled out an old favorite. I can't believe I haven't shared it here before.

Chopped Chicken Salad

1 bag of "just lettuce" or a blend of iceberg and spring greens
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 can Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can yellow corn, drained
1-2 red or orange bell peppers
3-4 green onions, sliced thinly
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained and diced
3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
crushed tortilla chips (a couple handfuls)
feta cheese, to taste
Girard's Light Champagne Dressing

1. Place lettuce in a large serving bowl. Add chicken, beans, corn, peppers, onions, water chestnuts, and tomatoes to lettuce and toss.
2. Before serving, drizzle dressing over salad and toss until desired flavor is reached. Add crushed tortilla chips and feta and toss again. Garnish with a handful of feta.

I like to use the Light dressing because I think it tastes JUST as good as the original. (I didn't have any black beans on hand, so they're not pictured in the salad above.) Also, I often double the recipe (with the exception of the chicken). And if I don't think we will eat all of it, I'll set aside some of the ingredients from instruction 1 before tossing so that it won't be soggy the next day. Soggy lettuce and chips...shudder.

Hope you enjoy!

The Next Generation

...of scrapbookers, that is. :) Lately, the kids have loved putting my supplies to good use. I have a stack of old papers I no longer want underneath my desk, and the kiddos know they have free access to that pile anytime! They love to cut with paper cutters...

I love Madeleine's face in the picture below...it's as if she's looking for JUST the right placement of that little green rectangle!

They love to use my small stash of punches...the butterfly is a favorite, but so is the average, hand-held holepunch. I think they like the mess it creates the most.

And just so you know, Nathanael is JUST as interested in my supplies. But in a completely different way. As documented here:

My magnetic ruler and cutting mat, when combined with a water bottle and a matchbox car, make an excellent car ramp. Who knew?

(He's also master of destruction when it comes to scissors and the stash of paper. It's quite amusing. And messy.)

He Is Risen!

All this past week, the words to some of my favorite Easter hymns have been on my mind, especially this one:

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down:
did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
~Isaac Watts

Those final words. That's what is on my mind today as I consider and reflect on Christ's death and resurrection...what is my response to all He gave for me.

I hope your Easter weekend has been a blessed one. We had a wonderful service at church, followed by a yummy dinner and egg hunt:

In their fine Easter clothes! (The tie is a testament that despite the gorgeous day, the Oklahoma wind was ever so active.)
In search of that next egg...
He spotted one!
I could have taken her picture all. day. long. And I did. :)
Helping one another.
Her favorite egg. Purple sparkles, of course.
Love this one especially!
Her favorite of course was pink. (We color coded eggs--pink, blue, and purple--each child to their favorite color and the green and yellow were fair game!)

I think tomorrow I'll show you the outtakes!