Mother's Day, Our New Family Tradition!

As my sister has said, this year Mother's Day was a family affair! I consented to make sure that I could walk a 5K by Mother's Day this year!  And I did!  This was a large task for me, and it was one that I accomplished for myself!  Next year, hopefully I will be at least jogging some of it, and beat this year's time.

Here is Kylie, she managed to sprain her ankle and pull a tendon the week before, but we still made sure that she got to participate.  Note, never use a wheel chair to push someone in a race, down hill is very unnerving!!!  Kylie was an excellent brakeman though!

Here we are at the end of the race...  

It started and ended at Hadlock Field, the home of the Portland Sea Dogs!!!  At the end of the race you enter the ball field in center field, and walk around the field to home plate.  Kylie had her name announced as well crossed the finish line, and the little one had the presence of mind to tell me that she beat me, because she was in front of me being pushed! 

They gave all the Mommies carnations at the finish line as well! :) 

What I did not know is this is the biggest foot race in the State of Maine!  3,000 people entered, and it was sold out!  I have never seen so many people in the same place at the same time, with the same intention!  Everyone was nice, the atmosphere was festive, friendly, and supportive! Looking forward for doing this years to come!

Thank you to my sister Andrea for setting this up, and giving me this goal!  It was much needed, and appreciated! Love you!

Spring Blooms Have Finally Arrived!!!

Waiting for spring this year has been a lesson in patience!  A few weeks ago I went four hours south to visit my mother and sister for Mother's Day, and to run a 5K for Mother's Day.  Things were in full bloom there and I marveled in abundance of flowers.  I got home to trees just staring to bud, and nary a bloom in sight! Ohhh, I did not want to wait any longer.  However, as much as I wish,  Mother Nature does not do my bidding.  Wait, I shall...

I do not know what this tree is, but around here they are every where, and it was the among the first to bloom.

Below is the crab apple tree that Kylie gave her father two years ago for his birthday!  This was its year for loads of blooms!!!

Kylie had chosen a pink blooming crab apple for her daddy, because she is a girl!  And besides it was the one she liked!

Lilacs everywhere!  With there deep, heady scent that filled the backyard, and house when the windows were open.  Just delightful!  And reminds me of my childhood, I was very pleased the spring after we had bought the house and found that these were on the property!

Logan has been following me around while I was taking these pictures.  Not very impressed with me when the door was closed before he could follow me inside...sorry!

Blooms from the old massive crab apple tree that has been here since 1948, when the house was built.  This was not its year to be heavy in bloom, and they were not that visible when the tree's picture was taken in its entirety. This tree is massive, and we have even had to trim it of massive limbs to keep it from splitting the main trunks.  It had not been maintained for decades when be bought the house.  To trim it properly would be a massive undertaking!

My hosta from Kylie for Mother's day several years ago.  This had grown from a 6-8 leaved plan to this!  It has a matching partner, and they live underneath the white crab apple tree.

Now that all of my blooms are popping and springing up from their winter slumber, its time to get the garden going!  But that will be another day's post...

Our Newest Additions to the Farm!

Welcome to our new brood of baby chicks!  Here is Ky with her one of her Plymouth Rocks! We just picked them up this morning from Auntie Dawn's!  (A big thanks to her because they were not dropped off at the post office we thought they were coming to, harder and more worrisome than tracking Santa on NORAD Christmas Eve!)

Lucy is wondering what is going here!  There is a lot of squeaking coming out of that box!  She watched them for over ten minutes before trying to nudge the box, and was gated from the room.  She is also not a fan of us playing with them and not her at the moment!  This is going to require extra attention and cookies!

Here is one of Ky's taking a nap while she holds her chick.  All three of Ky's seem to want to nap in her hands!  <3<3<3

So, we have started here with twelve chicks, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Plymouth Rocks (Ky's), 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 3 Araucana's (or Easter Eggers.)

I have been impatiently waiting for today!  I look forward to them feathering in, getting bigger, and by the end of the summer starting to lay eggs! We will keep you all apprised!

As She Grows...

As the glasses were slipped on my daughter's face for the last fitting before leaving the doctor's office, she aged right before my eyes.  My breath caught, my mouth went into a smile, and my heart swelled.  There was a tear or two that threatened to break its tension over my eyelid, but did not. How is it that I am always taken aback when I realize that she has grown oh, so much more than when I noticed it last?  Here is my baby taking her next step into becoming a young adult.

I Am Still Here! Part 3

Easter was very festive, and egg hunt oriented this year!

The second that Ky awoke it was, "let the games begin!"

Such a smart Easter Bunny to give a awesome re-useable shopping bag for a basket! :)  Also gave her Legos for girls, bubbles, and that much needed chocolate bunny!

Easter Egg Hunts happened inside,

and out at home!

After eggs were opened, and a little treat before breakfast, and a clothing change, it was off to Grammie and Pops' house! There Ky was joined by her aunt and cousins.

There, the Easter Bunny's helper Auntie Dawn had cupcakes to precede lunch, and another Easter Egg Hunt ensued as well! Yes, even the boys who thought they were too old to participate were inspired to take part!  

Because here the Easter Bunny's helper hid a little bit of another type of green, not grass for the basket, but a little lining for a wallet perhaps!

The best part of the day for me was family, and warm soup!  The simple things! Ky's fav, finding the five dollar bill in the "special egg!"

I Am Really Still Here! Part 2

Taking care of me...sometimes it is easier said then done.  This time however, I made plans a couple weeks in advance!  My sister-in-law let me know about a Woman's Retreat in the area, and we signed up immediately! Great women to hang out with, lovely conversation, yoga, relaxing music, guided meditation, hot rock foot massages,

a healthy and delicious lunch (even walked away with the rice recipe!),

and then to wrap up the day, we learned to give one another head, hand, and arm massages!  Wish I had more photos, but I was too busy loving the day and living in the moment!

I Am Really Still Here! Part 1

Oh, My! I have have not been here in a month of sundays! Things have been happening, and I have been doing a lot living, and no so much on reflecting and sharing.

Ky started Pee-Wee Basket Ball this year!  I am so glad that whatever is in my genetic make up that makes sure I miss ever basket was not passed on.  Ky practiced hard, ran so much she noticed that it was getting easier, and can sink most baskets once "in the groove!"

Here is Ky making her first foul shots! She went one for two!  Momma was making a scene in the bleachers!  Could not help myself, I was soooo excited!

Love #25! She's quick, and followed that orange ball everywhere it went!

The girls won all of their games, and came away with an undefeated season! They also won all of their games in the playoffs, and also won a trophy for that as well!

Do to Ky's enthusiasm over this sport, she also received a basketball hoop at home, and was out there playing everyday before the bus came, and after school until I made her come in to eat dinner! I have never seen her so excited about a sport before!  All that hard work really paid off!

Till next season...