anticipating sparks.

If I could,

I would spend most of the day

walking around in the warm grass:

I like to sink my toes in really deep, so I can feel the cool, damp earth

under my feet.

I am in a day-dreamy mood.

Today is the anniversary of my 10th year of marriage. I am engrossed in comfortable memory. I am feeling:

Sadly, my handsome husband and I cannot be together on our special day. But, I am anticipating sparks this weekend!

Do you know what I did?

I even got out the flag to hang outside.

It's a special day, and it deserves a flippity-flappity flag outside dancing in the breeze.

But alas, I cannot spend all day with my feet planted in the grass. I still have chores to do and goodness knows, they will take any chance they can get to run away from you. Back to reality.

In between the laundry loads and scrubbing dishes I am going to let my hands:

Cookies say "I love you" in the sweetest of ways.

I listen to the soundtrack of the past years as I mix and roll, cut and bake. I put my heart into my baking. My memories are baked right inside.

Frosting will not do. A June bride deserves sweet summer berry jam!

Raspberry:

Fresh-from-the-oven-cookies spread with jam smell like sun warmed raspberry fields. They do!

My love baked in a cookie, wish sugar atop- just for him. Just for my husband.

See you soon, honey bunches!

becoming a basketball star.

Lately:

...

I knew getting the boys into their first sport would be a big deal. I knew that as soon as we harnessed some of that energy into a team effort we could never look back!

.

In only a week, both boys have grown by leaps and bounds. Their skills are honed, they are ready to play 24/7.

The first game was last Saturday.

I am so grateful for air conditioned indoor sports during hot Texas summers. (partly my own selfish choice for Basketball in the first place.)

My youngest was bursting with confidence. Where has this kid been hiding for the past 5 years?!
He was one of the only kids to keep the ball bouncing while he ran.

.

Who knew p-nut basketball could be so entertaining?! Jeff and I were rolling the whole time!

My oldest ended up being the star of his team, making all the points for his team that day!

Even though we lost, we still had so much fun!

I have a feeling we've opened a new chapter of a very exciting part of our lives!

GO TEAM SPORTS!

last day of kindergarten.

Can you believe I have a first grader now!

We visited my oldest at his last day of school ice cream party. It was so much fun to see him being a student! A real student! He was stationed at a table full of girls, and seemed to love it. He didn't seem to embarrassed to have us there and I discreetly snapped some photos of the interaction to use as proof that he cohorted with females when he hits his awkward teen years. Only 7 more years until we find ourselves in the thick of those!

No more kindergarten baby. We've got a big man on campus who is confident and knows where to go, what he wants, and how to get it. We've got a great reader, who is dappling in chapter books, a great math whiz who already can do long multiplication (it takes him a while, but he can!), an outgoing athlete, and a caring little person who is willing to help others along the way. I am so glad I am his mom. I am so proud of my boy.

fire and ice (storm and sunset.)

water babies.

Trying to stay cool in Texas can be a tricky thing, but if you just add a little water-- it usually does the trick.

tiny bubbles.

bubbles are liquid gold at our house!

just a little lake house.

I'm back, just a small break.

We've been up to a lot! Lately, it's this:

I love the:

But my favorite is the lake access right in the backyard!

We spend hours out there.

I seriously found:
Being deep in the heart of East Texas, we enjoy all the quaint southern charms.

And, if you drive in a little bit deeper... you will find:

Caddo Lake is so interesting, Texas' only natural lake!
Take a drive through the swamp and you will find Caddo's most famous delights!
I feel like whistling Zip-a-dee-doo-dah and riding a hollowed out log down the river.

Stopping at a grocery store for supplies, Jeff quickly reminds me that:

Mmmmmmm! Dinner anyone?

.

I love the charm of an old town.

My poor husband. Can I guy ever get a break from the camera?
Another favorite pastime? Discovering nature in the backyard. We saw woodpeckers, eagles, owls, snakes, deer, and our favorite-- BABY FROGS!

They are so cute!
All good things must come to an end. Till next time, lake house!