Spring at Last, Spring at Last...thank God Almighty it is Spring at Last!

 Warm weather felt like a distant dream the last time I wrote.  Always comes as a pleasant surprise when the days get longer and brighter.  Ethan is having a fabulous season.  He has been pitching and playing third base.  They have only lost one game.  They're the team to beat!  Fiona is thoroughly enjoying javelin and trying her hand at shot put.  She has also been running in the 4x400 relay (much to her chagrin).  I have no pictures of her in action (yet) because she forbade me going to a meet until she knew what she was doing.  I will go this Friday and hopefully get some decent footage!

Easter was a stunner.  The weather, food and family-time was the perfect segway into the spring season.  The cousins STILL enjoy the egg hunt...and gampy added some cash into the mix for some extra competitiveness.

My garden came to life with a little sun and rain.  All the tulips I planted back in the yucky, wet, cold end of Fall came up and were such a source of joy!  We are now watching and waiting patiently as our 27 (literally) tomato plants gain strength.  I also planted herbs, peppers, broccoli, basil (to go with the one million tomatoes), peas and swiss chard.

Mother's Day was a winner.  My family packed a picnic and we headed into the woods for a hike.  The day was delightful.  I felt spoiled and appreciated.  

The next entry will likely be about the end of the school year!!!

I kid you not.  This is the style up here.  I got this shot straight off the TV.  Gotta love Maine.

School + practice = fall down tired

Fiona and Scott before their date to see "Car Seat Headrest"

Mom brought these flowers for me.  I had a teeny-weeny surgery, and am fine.

COVID protocol.  I had to go it alone.

Side one.  Two attempts at an IV.  Failed.

Third time was a charm.  I nearly fainted and they had to get a new nurse.

A sign from one of our treacherous walks.

FINALLY!!!  I can hang out the laundry with out it freezing on the line!

Awww...it's ok Mr. Tree.  Don't look so sad.

He's my all star.

Ethan made his famous chocolate cake to bring to Easter.

Ah... Gary, you have a little something on the side of your mouth.

Waiting for "GO!"

GO!!!!!!!!!

Meagan...looking out over the hunt.

Seeing who got what.

Cousins!

Three resting dogs.  Many stinky farts.

At my friend Melissa's.  She is a dog walker.  Apparently she only walks beige dogs...

 

My tulips.

Scott and I were real grown-ups.  We went out to eat, then to a bar...and then to a concert! 

What do you see in the drop?

Mother's Day

You see Ethan in the tree...above the water.

Todays flower harvest.

Cullen in Melissa's garden.

Aaaaannnnddd...some flashbacks.  Couldn't be helped.

19 Years of Wedded Bliss (Seriously though...40% has been blissful)

 With a lot of hard work, compromise, sacrifice, teamwork, tears, laughter, tears from laughter, and most importantly unconditional love, Scott and I have made it a whole 19 years.  Some days I look back and I can remember in perfect detail our wedding day.  Smells, the taste of the food and drink, the lighting (beautiful candle light), the weather (unseasonably warm just after a fresh snowfall the night before), getting ready with my girlfriends and mother and sister, seeing my dad at the top of the stairs before we took the slow stroll down the "aisle"... In my mind it was just a few weeks ago!  But then I step back and look at all we have accomplished together.  We have a 15 and 16 year old! We have moved 11 times, traveled the entire country in a camper for 5 months, homeschooled our kids for 6 years, had two amazing dogs (Cullen is currently whining at me and barking in a jealous rage at anyone so lucky to be walking by our house) had a variety of jobs, made amazing friends, gone on many memorable camping trips, climbed mountains...  I guess these things have all taken time.  It has passed by in a flash.  I am grateful to be with someone who gets me, and whom I get entirely.  He really is the only worthwhile thing I got from high school Chemistry.

That being said...we enjoyed the Superbowl this year with our friends from Portland.  Ethan baked a football cake for the occasion.  We also celebrated Ethan's 15th birthday with Gammy and Gampy.

Both kids are continuing to work hard at school.  They are getting worn down by all the test and essays.  I forgot just how hard high school really is!

I am hoping that the next time I add to this blog it will be warm out and I will have some pictures from Ethan's baseball games and Fiona's track meets. 

Ethan and the boys.

My friend Melissa (Cullen's friend also) took this shot.

Ethan's famous chocolate cake.

Theo, hangin out.

All he wanted on his birthday was to wake up to DD Donuts.

What pairs better with donuts than donut boxers???

Received birthday package ON HIS BIRTHDAY from auntie.

Gammy's artful card along side Fiona's.

Did I mention we all went to "The Price Is Right"?  Jason got us all tickets!

It was a packed venue.

Soooo loud!  People were going crazy!

This is an example of just how packed.  That guys butt kept bumping my sisters head!

"I looooove you mommy"

Bob has lived in Scott's truck for years.  Sometimes we just let him take the wheel.

Our back yard.

Scott was doing some plumbing for a friend.  He took the role way too seriously.

Anniversary flowers.  

Dinner with just my daughter.

Family date night.

All I wanted was one picture with the two of them faking a smile.

NEVER got a clear shot.

Ethan has been working hard spiffing up the basement.  I added the stuffed animals.

Him and buddies bowling.

This is just some of the food I prepare for clients.  Roast sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, roast cauliflower, roast fennel and garlic, mashed potatoes.  I like the cooking part of my job.