Gianna...

When Gianna got up and saw the new curtain she exclaimed, " Oh my word Mom that is so adorable! I love it!" Then, since our friend Kim has a curtain under her sink, G asked- "Mom are you trying to copy Kimmie?" Well yes-you have to copy the good ideas!!

Sprucing up the kitchen...per orders of Vinny!

For people who can't sew, but aspire to, there is glue out there that acts as "sewing." That is what I used on this curtain for under our kitchen sink. I found the fabric at Wal-Mart on clearance and it worked perfectly. I first checked out curtains, tablecloths, and shower curtains...but nothing was what I had in mind. Vinny has had an on-going fight with the cabinet doors that refuse to hang correctly, and so he had finally had enough and asked me to make a curtain instead of doors....end result here.

Singing at church for Palm Sunday

Dom was so excited to get all dressed up and wear a "tie" (that he found at a garage sale yesterday and really isn't a tie, but a belt...but he doesn't know that:)) for singing at church for Palm Sunday.

He spotted us right away in the crowd (do you think me with my big camera snapping zillions of pictures was a give-away?) and would smile at us and wave. He melts our hearts!

See the belt? It is our nemesis! He is obsessed with having a tight belt-he has even started wearing a belt with his sports pants...???He thinks they will fall down or something. He is constantly fiddling with the belt, and getting frustrated with the belt, and we told him not to touch the belt when he was up there singing...and guess what? He did not!! YEAH Dom!

Sunday afternoon...

I am always receiving dandelion bouquets from this little one! She LOVES to pick them. I overheard Dom say today-"I just love dandelions. They are beautiful!" I guess beauty is surely in the eye of the beholder!

Changing things around...

Dom has been asking for a desk in his room for a while now so today I started rearranging furniture and made a desk area in his room. (We have a few desks at the house:)) Luckily when he asked for a desk, we didn't have to buy one since I have picked up so many at garage sales! Vinny gets annoyed at all of my treasures that I bring home from the sales...but look! today we didn't have to try to find a desk... we had one!!! (and I had the curtains, tension rod, and home-made whiteboard!!!) Of course when Dom got a desk in his room, little sister NEEDED a desk in her room too:)

Yup- had one for her too! As you can see, she decorated in her way around the desk...trying to keep my mouth closed...

In the mood for change...

Been painting up some of our outdoor furniture... sanding some of the garage sale finds sitting in our garage...getting ready to paint... sitting and staring at the rooms in the house... what can I do for CHEAP???? We have been investing in the outside of the house lately (plants etc), and there are sooooo many things I want to do INSIDE!!! Patience is a virtue, but nobody ever said it was one of mine. I have other really great virtues...loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, strong convictions, protector of family and friends, loving, compassion, big heart, empathy...(my husband just gave these to me:)) but again, patience is NOT my virtue! So it is KILLING me right now...all these projects and plans in my head, and knowing I have to WAIT to invest in them! This may be a time I wouldn't mind being rich with endless amounts of cash. Truthfully I would not want to have a bottomless pit of money (too many obligations and expectations I don't want to fulfill)...except in certain situations-making my home homey, traveling whenever I felt like it, (especially to visit family and not having to worry about expense), and funding my children's education-that is what I would love to not worry about! So trying to be patient and work on that character trait is hard...especially when I want to create a backyard oasis!!! Anyhoo...

6 Pack Bday dinner

Getting ready to head out for my bday dinner with the 6-Pack.

We thought it was funny we were following a cop on the way to dinner-guess you had to be there!

fourth and one- in the parking lot, on the way into dinner!

this pic just cracks me up:) LOVE

Hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma

It is always a flurry of activity and excitement from the moment that Grandpa and Grandma arrive! They bring hugs, smiles, goodies, presents...

Gianna just loves to crack Grandpa up! Grandpa can get Dom and G soooooo wild!!

new cushions for spring! please ignore the mess in my "office closet!"

aaaahhhhh new bedding and new paint makes me happy!!

Spiffin' up the outside...

G (and Dom) love hanging out with Grandpa while he works! They were sitting there while eating lunch, taking a break, and just chattin'. I'm bugged this picture is blurry...but here is the fire pit my dad made for us when he came up to visit! Thanks Dad!! We love bonfires and sitting around the fire and so this is just in time!! G was riding in the back of Vinny's truck across our back field and she was standing up (against orders) and hurt her nose...she came out all bandaged up! First outside meal of the year -taking a break from the planting and working. Planted a bunch of shrubs and flowers on the back deck-looks way better! Thanks mom and auntie gail for your contributions to our gardening effort!!

Vince worked hard on getting all the new plants into the flower beds that he and Nick dug out and put new dirt in last week.

The ones we chose will get much bigger and fill in the spaces over time...hard to wait, but plants are expensive!!! so slowly we will get this place looking how we want!

Turning 34

Today I turned 34 and it was a great day! The sun was shining down and little special things popped in my path all day! I got many beautiful renditions of the birthday song sung to me, sweet cards from friends and family, thoughtful breakfast and dinner layed out beautifully, treats on my chair at school...a great day all around! This little girl was so excited to open my door this morning and burst into song! Her sweet little voice was one of the best presents I could ever ask for! She got up early with Daddy to make a special breakfast and coffee, since the boys had made me cards the day before. Vince does such a great job of involving the kids and having them participate in these type of events.

Who wouldn't love coming home to these sweet kiddos each day? Lucky me!! 34 is going to be a great year!!