So close to spring

Let's just set March Madness aside for a second. You know I am totally enthralled with that and concered that only two of my final four teams remain. And one of those is my beloved Jayhawks who have a tough game coming up tonight. Let's just pretend like I'm not worried about that.

Cause what I'm really thinking today on this 60 degree day is how much I want to get outside and dig in the garden. Cause photos like these from Better Homes and Gardens are calling at my heart. In all honesty, there is a decent chance I'll leave work early today and end up at my favorite spring location, Family Tree Nursery. 

This year many of my bulbs didn't come up. We're talking like maybe 10-20% of the tulips we planted two-three years ago are making another appearance this year. Who do they think they are? Don't they know that I love flowers more than chocolate?! Here's what I'm thinking...

1. Compost
• Go at the gardens with some compost. I would love to start making my own this year, but we'll see. Want to set some realistic goals here.
2. Bulbs
• Fill in some of the bulbs that have disappeared. I know that not all bulbs come back every year, but we gotta fill in some holes. I love a good grape-smelling iris, and don't tell the little yellow pretties, but I'm not totally in love with daffodils. I think I want to stick to tulips and hyacinth. Did you know you can plant bulbs in the spring? Cause you can. The trick here is that you have to plant ones that have already sprouted. In other words, buy potted flowers. Not the bulbs themselves.

• Pots
• Fill some pots with pansies and pretend like you love them. You don't, but you do love the color. Besides, if we have freakish Kansas weather and it starts to freeze again, pots can come inside.
• Peonies. Get over it.
• Stop kicking myself for not planting that peony plant in the fall. I can't plant peonies in the spring so I need to stop crying and move on with my life.
• Hostas. Give in.
• Fill in the side garden with hostas. Even if they aren't the prettiest plants out there, hostas are reliable in shade and sometimes even in sun. I just need to own it.

• Be content. Again.
• Stop complianing about the giant, ugly evergreen shrubs in the front. As much as I would love for them to turn into boxwoods and liacs, they aren't going to.
• Budget.
• Gardening is not cheap. So I need to budget for it. And convince hubs that I will stop spending money on clothes and will use in on the garden instead. And then actually stick to that budget.

This is just a starting point. I have wishful ideas for herbs and veggies and luscious daisies and everything else that is wonderful in the world, but I'm trying to take it one step at a time. Wish me luck! And if you want to come hang out in the garden with me, I'd love that :-)

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never too old for kids books

So last night I went book shopping for my old cousin-in-law once removed. Let's just call her my pseudo-niece. She is turning five and I wanted to find some of my old favorite kids books. What I found, sadly, was that many of my favorites from when I was a kid are out of print. A few that were my favorites that are still around...

The whole Berenstain series including...

And some that are out of print now but were uh-may-zing

The whole Clown Arounds series

Don't judge me for this last one...

What were/are some of your favorites?

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Winter and babies

Long time no see, dear friends. It's been months. As in 3 months today. Sorry about that. Lots has happened since I wrote last. I'll try to catch you up.

Two warnings you should know about: 

• I'm totally stealing most of these photos without permission. Hence the word stealing. If they are yours and/or of you children, please forgive me later. 
• Second, there are a lot of new babies around here. Don't worry. I'm just drinking more pop these days.

The day I wrote my last post my best friend went into the hospital 

to deliver her baby boy. Three months later:..

He might be a K-State boy, but we love him. Lots. 

Then Christmas happened and we celebrated Jesus. What a gift. 

We also did presents. Just a few. 

Someone has to get sick every year. This Christmas morning it was my turn. 

But  then you put on blush and smile for a family portrait 

Dad's 50th Birthday- aka Chrismas

A week later we hit the road and went to Chicago to see some great friends from college.

We had a wonderful time making homemade pasta, chatting around the fire, going to see singing in the rain, and ice skating in the snow. Fairy tale? Yup.

 A week later, my sister-in-law had her baby boy. 

The whole labor process was a bit panicy, but he is healthy and adorable. Hubs and I are super excited to be heading out of town to see him and the fam tomorrow. 

In the middle of this, busy season started. 

Which means that I got sucked into unproductive things 

like Downton Abbey and Twitter

As well as productive things like Crossfit 

#imtired #imsore

Then three weeks later my other sister-in-law had her baby girl. 

Brave brave lady to have her first baby in Japan 

where the doctors and nurses didn't speak English

If that isn't a love of Japan and a trust in the Lord, I don't know what is.

But as for me? I'm off to get a Shamrock Shake. 

Cause they'll be gone on St. Patricks Day! 

And its like 65 degrees outside at 9pm. That's why. 

In other news, why won't my tulips sprout already? 

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