I bet you don't have red rainboots!!

I think they're awesome!!

My husband thinks I'm a dork.....

Ok, I probably am.....but aren't they cool?  Can't wait to splash in some puddles with these babies!

And Brad did say they'd be neat in bright yellow.....I think he secretly likes them!

The rest of our day is consisting of french toast making

pan clanging

a little bit of snuggling

learning how to use my stupid smart phone (ok, I'm the stupid one.....why are they so difficult??)

playing outdoors

(my little fashion icon:))

and a little bit of exercise, tanning, cleaning, cartoon watching, laundry, and for Brad - a grass fire to fight....that will make his day!

Hope you all are enjoying your day:)

"BREAKING NEWS!!  Happiness is a Choice!!"

it may take several years

but I am bound and determined to finish my book list.  A couple months ago I asked on Facebook for book suggestions.  I wanted to create a list of books that may not be ones that I would choose.

I need to expand my horizons, sometimes I feel like I am in a box and can only view the world from my limited point of view because I have seen so little of it.  Reading, to me, is a good way to see things in a different context.  It can also make for good conversation.  Plus, it can be a really good escape from reality.......not that I'd want to escape this stress free life of mine:))

I have always been a reader but have tended to read the same types of books, same authors, blah blah boring!  It's time to shake things up a little and add some new titles to this bookshelf.....

Less Chelsea.....(even though I'm watching a DVR'd Chelsea as I type this)

more substance.....

My current read is this.....and I love it....

I started with "Shutter Island" which was great because I'd never seen the movie.  Very suspenseful and lots of twists.  I highly recommend!

Here is the rest of my list....I am always open to suggestions.  No timeline to finish.....sometimes I have time to read and sometimes (most of the time) I read in 10-15 minute intervals so as I said before, this may take a year of two to finish!

Very Valentine- Adriana Trigiani

Freedom - Jonathan Franzen

Let Me Go  - Ishiguro

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Undaunted Courage - Stephen Ambrose

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls

Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen

Unbearable Lightness - Portia de Rossi

Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo

******************************************************************

Well, I ran on the nature trail today. It was beautiful! I am so glad it doesn't look like this anymore...

Sure, that was pretty, too, but I am DONE with snow for at least 8 months!!

"the more that you read, the more things you will know. the more you learn, the more places you'll go" -- Dr. Seuss

did you know.......

that a beautiful ballerina lives in our house???

Let me show you her moves.......

   

She twirls and twirls and twirls......

                     

She is a happy soul!

And then a little baking....something called "Can't leave 'em alone bars" -- the problem is, I am probably the only one who won't be able to leave them alone:((

At least it's a beautiful day for a run to burn off those extra calories!

Enjoy the day!!

the things I love in life are simple

and probably considered boring to many people.

But I cherish the mundaneness (is that a word?) of my life.

I know that my kids are safe and secure and that they live in a happy, loving home. 

They thrive on routine and are easily entertained without lots of toys and high dollar electronics.

My heart swells......

 Sure, they pout and hide in the corner sometimes -

But mostly we have lots of smiles, laughter and hugs.

We encourage lots of creative time and profusely praise their projects.

They are happy, and so am I.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is so pretty....I am hoping to keep my new plants from grandma's funeral alive

 

(Water on Wednesdays, water on Wednesdays, water on Wednesdays)

And my new goal in life is to start wearing earrings again & I love these dangly ones I bought in Vinton....

Hoping to own this, too......(Brad, Mother's Day? :))

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62757128/eloise-necklace

Happy week all and I hope you enjoy the simple things in your life!

"to live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, and babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard, to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony"  --  William Henry Channing

sometimes you have to create a little happiness

 in your life when you've been dealing with saddness.  We are attempting to do that around here.

You can't help but smile at this girl!

How about a little playing in a mud puddle?

Some cousin time......

Oh, and add in a little "playing outside in grandpa's t-shirt and no pants" time.....

 

Breakfast in a diner makes me really happy:)

Two huge plates of food made Shay pretty happy, too!!

And then on to Theisen's to see these adorable little chicks....only 99 cents!  Too bad they grow up into chickens:((

My favorite part of Theisen's is their candy selection.....

And this afternoon Sandy and I are checking out this new spot......

and then on to Cedar Rapids to taste a little wine.

Life goes on and we will make the most of it.

"when i was five years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.  when i went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  i wrote down "happy".  they told me I didn't understand the assignment and I told them they didn't understand life" -- unknown