{pretty, happy, funny, real} on May 31

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Brought to you by Like Mother, Like Daughter

Sharing little bits and pieces of life over the last week! (To see Arden's birthday pictures, click here!) 
{pretty}

A tiny jar of pansies over the kitchen sink.
(The {real} factor here is the dirty window! I haven't got out to clean the outside of the windows yet this spring!)

Discovering bleeding hearts 

{happy}
Happy toes at the beach on Sunday!  

Toes in the warm sand

Toes in the cool mud, next to some giant claws

Toes in the cold water! 

It was too cold for these toes to come out! But Jack seemed
to enjoy his first real beach outing. 

{funny}
We've been trying to spend as much time outdoors as possible on nice days. On this particular day, Arden brought all her friends out to the front yard to enjoy the fresh air with her. 

First she set them out to sunbathe and brought them forget-me-nots.

Then she decided to line them up on the rocks.

Pretty maids (and a bunny) all in a row! (Plus a cat.)

{real}Critters hiding in the rocks...

Scratchy

Micah found this little guy in the grass, and Arden and I spent a good ten minutes
watching him crawl across the rocks into a hidey-hole. How's that for real entertainment!

Thanks for stopping by! 

~lg

Arden's 2nd Birthday!

We had a wonderful day celebrating Arden's 2nd birthday! She sure has grown a lot in a year. Granny was able to spend most of the day with us, and we had a little family party at suppertime. By the end of the day, Arden was singing the first line of "Happy Birthday to You" to herself! It was so cute.

We love our girl! She is bright and beautiful and full of life and mischief. To read Arden's birthday letter, click here.

The birthday girl cuddling with Granny in the big blue chair

Mmmm, icing!

Arden's current love is tractors . . .  she gets so excited watching them go by our house, and practically screams with delight if she sees one when we're out and about! So a tractor birthday cake seemed the natural choice!

Two tractors! (With flower sprinkles and fresh pansies for that feminine touch.)

She was quite happy with the cake!

Cuddling with Daddy on the front porch swing

The birthday throne!

Homemade pizza for the birthday supper

Excited for pizza!

Pizza time

Yum! I was glad she liked it!

This year Arden didn't cry when we sang "Happy Birthday"!
(Unlike last year, poor thing!)  She seemed quite pleased with all the
attention and the candle. And then she saw the tractors and that made her day!

She had as much fun playing with the cake as she did eating it!

Opening birthday cards

Cuddling with Mommy - Jack also happened to turn one month old on Arden's birthday.

All ready for bed at the end of a good day

Beautiful evening light...

... and tire marks in the cake! 

 ~lg

Mother's Day 2012

I got to spend Mother's Day this year with my own two children, my Mom, and my Mom's mom! It was a great day! (Unfortunately, we didn't think to get a picture of the four generations all together - silly us.) But here are a few shots from the day.

Arden all dressed up for church

She got out of the car  after church and ran for the tractor . . .  Daddy rescued the white dress just in time!

Taking a peek before venturing in

Grandma's newest grandchild

Since it was Mom's last full day with us, and we hadn't been to the beach yet this visit, we decided we simply had to go! As luck would have it, by the time we were all ready to go out the door, the day had changed from blue sky and sun to drizzly clouds and a strong wind. We braved the conditions, including one beach closed for repair, climbed up and down a set of stairs (with Jack in the stroller!) and spent an invigorating few (downright chilly) minutes beside the ocean. This was Arden's inaugural beach trip of the season. Last year she was afraid of the sand at first! That fear overcome, her favourite thing to do this time was throw rocks in the water, or rather, pick up rocks for us to throw, as the ocean was still a little intimidating.

Looking for suitable projectiles

There's a good one!

Now this one!

We also tried for a few family shots, a little tricky with a little girl who wanted to run!

The ladies

Trying to get Arden to wave to the camera . . . no such luck! But don't we look cool? :)

This shot does have all four of us in it, even though only two faces are visible!

A little better with three and a half!

~lg

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Thankful for Thirty

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Brought to you by Like Mother, Like Daughter

Today is my 30th birthday!! In this busy and somewhat sleep deprived season of life, the reality of that number is not really sinking in . . . perhaps it's better this way? :) Over the course of the day, I did have a few minutes here and there to reflect on life and all the things I'm thankful for, especially today.

1. Our own little family

2. My husband, heir of grace together with me, one to work and play and love alongside

3. A daughter who brings delight to my heart

4. A son whose new smiles bring joy to my days

5. Our peaceful home along the river

6. Sunny mornings on the front porch swing

7. Extended family who continue to build a legacy of love and faithfulness

8. The daily prayers of my grandparents

9. My own parents - caring, a little crazy, constant in their loving support

10. Forget-me-nots and bleeding hearts

11. Friends who bring cupcakes!

12. Friends who write messages

13. Apple blossoms and robin song

14. The shaping of new ideas and ancient paths

15. A sliver of new moon served on a bed of spring greens at twilight

16. A bucket of KFC!

17. My two year old wishing me "happy birthday" in her sing song way

18. Letting go of perfection to embrace thanksgiving

19. Curling up with Micah under a Scottish wool blanket as the sun sets

20. The warmth of home fires

21. Sisters, sisters - there were never such devoted sisters!

22. Packets of wildflowers

23. All the people and places that have shaped and strengthened me 

24. The ontological change of motherhood

25. A sweet communion of saints and sinners

26. The wilds of North and East

27. The power of a good story

28. A part in a grand story

29. Stolen naps, blissful sleep

30. The deep, deep love of Jesus

~lg