Easter Bunnies and a Big Ice Cream Cone

We broke in the new table for Easter. I finally used my Skyros chargers. Too funny. I noticed that I took this picture before all the clean plates were set. Oh! Well! I folded the napkins into Easter Bunnies complete with cotton tails. Simple, fun, and festive. The lillies in the center of the table were a gift to my in-laws.

The dining room is coming right along. I'll post some before and after shots once we get some chairs. It just makes me smile when I walk in there. Now. I get to smile even more. This is the sweetest corner of my dining room.

It got the print from Debbie Carlos. I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull off a large black and white in the dining room. I found this frame and went for it. I really like it! The photo quality is not the best, but you get the idea. Pumpkin painted the oil and Peanut made the small pottery dishes. I love using stuff the boys make as decorations.

Tornado Sirens

The spring of rain and tornado sirens. My kids have taken cover in school about a handful of times. Pumpkin was at lunch today. He took his lunchbox with him and ate it in the hallway. Last night, the sirens were on and off all evening. The weathermen have to be exhausted. I was pelted with hail on my way to work this morning. The rains were torrential.

Fortunately, we are all safe. The flooding is devastating to those around us.

Enough, Mother Nature!

The Mississippi River will crest in a couple weeks. It just might be a record. The river is so big and wide on a good day. I can't imagine it being even wider and bigger. Memphis hosts the Memphis is May Barbeque Fest every year at a park right on the banks of the river. There is talk that the river will be too high. Barge traffic could create "waves" that splash up into the park. As I was writing this, I thought of my favorite memories of the Mississippi. Memphis in May concludes with Sunset Sympony on the banks of the Mississippi. For years, Mr. Hyter sang Ol Man River. I heard him sing once and it had a lasting effect.


On a lighter note, Peanut has not gotten much soccer in. He is more than ready to play a game or two!!

Happy Easter 2011!

The tradition continues...

We set the alarm for 5am and went to Sunrise Easter Mass. This year the weather was warm, a bit cloudy, but still warm. There were lots of folks there. We brought (and used) our own chairs!

Here are the boys in my life. Their eyes are a bit swollen, but pretty handsome to me!

Pumpkin snapped this photo of the Big Guy and I before mass started. I finally bought a t-shirt scarf. I love it. It will get lots of wear in this warm climate. I got some new linen pants - you can't see. I really like Ann Taylor Loft. There sizing is SO generous. Even though, I know that is all psychological, I like it!

We pulled out the trusty ladder and snapped some shots on the timer. This one is pretty good - even Buddy's just about looking the right way:)

Some more traditions continue...they boys searched the house for their baskets. Pumpkin found Peanut's and Peanut found Pumpkin's.


I'd say Buddy likes the new dining room table sans chairs. We are going to break it in later this afternoon. We'll use our kitchen chairs this time.

Pumpkin got his phone back. The Easter Bunny is so kind. He did put some stipulations on the phone use, though. As a side, we've had Pumpkin's phone for about the last four weeks. It did wonders for his grades. At the nine week mark, he had some grades that did not reflect his best effort. It is amazing how they've taken a turn for the better!

I wonder how many messages downloaded when he turned the phone on.

Just chillin' for a few hours until we have to get do some last minute preps for Easter dinner.

Happy Easter!

JURY DUTY...OVER!

This was my week to serve my fellow citizens.

I schlepped down to Memphis on Monday morning a bit apprehensive.

About 300 of us listened to a long lecture, we sat through a verbal roll call, and, then, waited. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Peanut's teacher was there too. It helped pass the time chatting with her.

I got to head home Monday afternoon with orders to report back on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning they needed to fill juries for two courtrooms. Essentially everyone who was left in the waiting room was called to man a jury panel.

The juries were for criminal court. We all headed to 201 Poplar, went to security and headed up to our assigned courtroom lobby. We waited and waited and waited. There were 40 of us. I guess that is enough to fill the 12 jury + alternate slots. At almost 1pm, we were called into the courtroom. My heart was beating. Thhump! Thhump! The judge told us a bit about the case, we met all the folks in the courtroom, and we got to meet the boy who was charged with the crime, armed robbery. Since we were well past lunch time, the judge broke for lunch scheduling jury selection to start at 2pm.

At 2, all the potential jurors were ready to go. The deputy filed us into court. Guess who left her water bottle there from earlier? I noticed the lawyers were there but their briefcases were closed. And, the criminal was not around. As it turns out, when we left for lunch some family members related to the case caused a raucous outside the courtroom. The judge did not know what we heard. I had heard some folks talking extremely loud, but did not pay attention. I just wanted to get away from the screaming. Based on that incident, the judge did not think we could be an impartial jury. We were all dismissed!! We got to go home yesterday afternoon and don't have to report back at all this week.

I am thankful that I got to see the courtroom. I am thankful that it did not go any further than that. I did not want to be the one during the voir dire (French for "speak the truth,") jury panel questioning, that had to be excused because I was so nervous and about ready throw up! So, grateful that none of that happened.

I am off the hook in this county for 10 years! Wahoo!!!

Personal Aeroator

Pumpkin did a great job with the aerator. It is supposed to really help the Bermuda grass roots. We'll see!

It was so cold on Saturday morning. That's why he's got the lovely Folger's knit cap on over his baseball cap. My dad would be proud!!

20!

Taken today while we were enjoying a yummy cupcake at Muddy's. I think the Big Guy has chocolate in his teeth -even. I am still getting used to the shorter hair and trying to ignore the wrinkles!

Exactly 20 years ago today at about this time (6:30pm,) I walked down the aisle and said, "I do." Wow! The years flew by!! It's been an amazing ride.

Today we celebrated with the Big Guy taking the day off. We walked Buddy and headed to lunch at the Trolley Stop Market. The weather was beautiful and it was such a treat to just spend the time together.

As for gifts, I gave him this belt personalized for the years we've spent together. If you need a unique gift, this is the place. I am impressed with how it turned out. He gave me this. It fits perfectly in the dining room. We are making progress on the dining room's transformation. Hope to share pictures of that soon.

Anyway, we are eating in with shrimp alfredo and lemon drop martinis. We splurged and got some Ben & Jerry's to finish off the celebration. I was feeling bad as I did not make it to the grocery yesterday. We had to go later this afternoon. Here we were in Kroger on our anniversary and Always started playing. It was meant to be!

I am so grateful to share my life with my sweetie. Happy Anniversary!

Room

Picture grabbed from this website, http://www.amazon.com/Room-Novel-Emma-Donoghue/dp/0316098337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302125621&sr=8-1

I finished another book! This year's been the year of reading and not much knitting - so far!

I read the book, Room, by Emma Donoghue. It's been on the bestseller's list and just happened to be in the new release section at the library.

This book took more than 50 pages for me to get used to the perspective. It is written from the main character, Jack's, point of view. He is five. He's spent his entire life in a room. I forged through the perspective thing and kept reading. The book is an easy read. Parts of it are rather disturbing. But, parts of it made me think. Jack has unconditional love for his mom.

I think I've mentioned that these teenage years with my older son present challenges. I feel like I am constantly nagging. I wonder where all his brain cells are. And, I was not ready for all the self-centeredness. Last night, the two of us were in the car listening to an NPR segment on the way to voice lessons. They were talking about how moms try too hard to be their daughter's friends. The guest stated that our kids need parents. Pumpkin looked over and said that I was not his friend. At first, it stung. He went on to say that that was a good thing. I got a bit of reassurance that Pumpkin's love is unconditional for me and someday he'll "get" it and be grateful.

Beyond the darkness of the book subject matter, the book made me appreciate my moments with Pumpkin even more.

Week in Review

*Welcomed Greenbrier Beige to the dining room - above the chair rail. Looking forward to Monterey White's entrance below the chair rail. We are on a search for a new chandelier too!

Pumpkin snapped this shot before we started painting one night. Our paint clothes are so old and they carry memories with 'em. Go figure!

Sifting through the paints in the storage room and the nice weather led to a purge of old paints. I hope the cat litter does the trick.

*Listened to some beautiful chorale music at the spring concert. It was very impressive!

*Enjoyed Ben & Jerry's Coffee with Heath. I've never had that combination. Yum! Yum! I might have to try Heath on top of YoLo's expresso the next time I treat myself.
*Entertained the 'ol storytime group for a fondue lunch. We scheduled this months in advance. It was so nice to catch up.
*Waved goodbye to the high school choirs at 5am on Thursday morning. There were two buses and 85 singers headed to Dallas for the Heritage Festival.
*Played an April Fool's on Pumpkin. Peanut used his iPod to text Pumpkin stating that we got him an iPhone. That is the only time Pumpkin has called us ALL weekend. We were hysterical. He fell for the joke - hook, line, and sinker!! The standing rule in our family is that you have to be 13 to get a phone. Pumpkin could not believe we relented - until he realized it was a joke!
*Getting ready to pull up some deck boards. We have a joist that needs to be reinforced.
*Patiently waiting for a landscape guy to show up. We need ideas for our front yard. The maple tree roots keep multiplying and all the grass between the roots is dying. We need help with this one.
*Ending the week watching some basketball. Gotta root for Butler and VCU!