Life Lately and Easter

Time is traveling at supersonic speeds these days. I am in such a busy season of life. I didn't imagine a decade ago that I would be so busy. I was still teaching and thought to myself, "I can't wait to retire from teaching, so I can slow down." I chuckle at that often. Teaching had an added stress that my busy days do not have, and I have no desire to go back. 

I was all rested from the week off for spring break. I had no grandsons to care for and Jeff and I had decided to just stay home and rest. I knew I would have all 3 boys on the Monday after, but it turned into 2 when the daycare that Tucker and Palmer attend was putting in new floors and didn't get it finished. I have no idea what working parents do who don't have a grandma to help out. The story got even crazier again.

Lindsay left here on that Tuesday afternoon to head home. When she got home she was in for a big surprise. Nothing bad like the first one, but a shocker anyway. I truly wish I had a picture for you to see. She FaceTimed me so I did get to behold the sight myself. Remember, they had new floors after a month of concrete and were now getting painting done. 

Let me back up for a minute. The insurance did come through and since Tyler works for a construction company he was able to get the most bang for the dollar. The flooring was practically free so he was able to get the whole house painted and new baseboards throughout and even add some shiplap to the walls in the kitchen and around the fireplace. 

Now, back to the story. On Monday, the painter came and they talked as best they could about painting. He was Mexican as many construction workers here are these days. She thought they were going to paint one room at a time, but these guys do big projects for the construction company, so they envisioned their normal routine. WOW WEE... When she walked into the house on Tuesday, every single thing was off the walls, the closets were emptied, etc, and all of the furniture and ALL of that stuff was moved to the center of each room wrapped heavily in plastic. The new floors were covered in plastic. If you haven't guessed by now, they would be spraying. Anything white would be first, anything that was one of the two colors they chose would be next and then the final color. In other words, you had to move out again.

Tthat evening they drove back here and trudged in to spend the rest of that week here trying to make do with little clothing. While they were on their way here, I sent Jeff to get lunch stuff for them and then I remembered Palmer had lost one of his shoes here that day. Jeff then proceeded to go to Kohl's to buy a new pair of tennis shoes, while I prepared the beds. The funny thing is I had been downstairs the day before letting the boys run around and Tyler got up the next morning early to take a shower and found the missing shoe in the shower downstairs. Palmer got a new pair of shoes anyway because the others were getting small. 

Now, in as much as all that crazy story that is just a sampling of the crazy busy life I lead, there have been many blessings too. For one, the flooring that covered their whole house being leftover in a warehouse in Pensacola from a project that all was needed was to get a trailer and go pick it up. That shaved off a lot of money and let them get the whole house painted. They chose a different color since the flooring was darker than their original.

I will share pictures when all is back in order completely. They have had so many life interruptions. The week that was all happening was the week Lindsay puts on a huge job fair for the school district. Folks, nothing is ever smooth sailing over here. I think people don't know because we are a family of doers and we don't whine, so most would never know that week was such a crazy one.

Here is a sneak peak of Lindsay's home. You can see the colors. The main areas got Sea Salt on the walls and the bedrooms got Oyster Bay. New tile around the fireplace.

Palmer's room was put back together first because it was easy and he had to go down first. The Oyster Bay is so pretty on the bedroom walls. 

Now, we can move on to other things. The weather is all over the place. It has slowed me down this year on my outdoor projects. It seems like every weekend is rainy or cool. It also seems like I have more to do this year than usual with the colder winter we had in December. Much more has needed attention. I know I will get it done eventually.

I have only managed to get straw down in the front 2 flowerbeds. There is much more to do. Notice the cloudy.

The next photograph was taken a little later than the one above and shows that the bottlebrush have exploded with color. I really thought some of them might be dead, but I finally pruned them and they just popped.

The daylilies and magnolias are all starting their shine. The magnolias are already just showing off or completed loaded with their flowers about to open. Just beautiful. The spring thus far has been cloudy so many days. If the sun pops out, Miles and I spring into action to go for a stroller ride.

I planted more roses in pots on the lower deck this year and I am already getting to have cut roses on the kitchen counter. 

This makes my heart sing with joy.

Proof that Palmer seems to like to pull one shoe off and then not know where it is.

He is our little blonde boy. 

I will save the stitching for later since this has been a long post.

I have been busy with so many things. We lead a Bible Study at our home on Wednesday evenings. We are getting ready to lead a group at church on Sunday mornings that is for those that have questions about faith. It lasts for 5 weeks, so I will lead that with Jeff and teach my littles and watch the service at home for those weeks. Easter was just amazing. 

On Good Friday, I put my phone and computer mostly down for the weekend to just soak up the wonderful thing my Savior did for me. I could almost tear up in a good way counting my blessings.

I will share far too many pictures of my family for Easter and catch up with everyone. I don't read as many blogs as I once did or comment like I should, but you know what...I can't get this time back as it flies so fast and these little boys won't be little long.

T-ball, working in the yard, church, seeing about Mama, cooking, cleaning, reading and a wee bit of stitching keep me hopping in a good way.

Palmer was not feeling the picture taking vibe.

Notice he has on one shoe:)

We used the timer for this one.

Oh and the kids took their picture together at church.

I will try and get back with a stitching post soon.

Sandy