Catching Up; This n That

It is only March and I have already fallen behind with my blogging!  No surprise there; not to me at least.  I have been busy.  February went by quickly and here it is, nearly the end of March - or the beginnning of Spring, depending on whether you are a glass half empty or glass half full sort.  Here is the short version, with a couple of memorable funnies from the past 8 weeks.....

 

Leah and I met sister Julie in Miami and took a weekend Carnival cruise to the Bahamas.  We ate, and slept, and really soaked up the 80 degree days!  Julie learned just before we left that she was pregnant - the gentle swaying of the boat did not agree with her - but she was a trooper and hung in there anyway!  We ate ice cream, tanned and shopped in Nassua.  Before we knew it, we were back home again.  Carnival Cruise lines had a series of unfortunate events to many of their ships during our trip and since ~ happily, our trip went as planned.

 

Leah spotted a "baby alligator" under my lounge chair! 


Connor took 3rd place at the Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby this year!  Very exciting!  This was his first year to win a trophy!!  Very competetive race!  Very proud!

As Easter was approaching this year, I decided to have the "talk" with my youngest about Santa, the Easter Bunny and other magical creatures.   He recently turned 10 and I felt it was time.  He surprised me by announcing his own discovery and deduction that Daddy and Mommy were Santa ~ this past Christmas he found a couple of presents, faked being asleep, and generally put two and two together.
                        Me:  So good, Connor, then we talk about Easter. 
                        C:  What do you mean?
                        Me:  Well, since now you know it's Dad and I, what do you want for Easter?
                        C:  What???!!!  You mean YOUR the Easter Bunny, too??? 

Yep~figured out Santa but was holding onto the Easter Bunny.  I guess a 6 foot tall magical rabbit that delivers chocolate eggs is more realistic than a Grandpa sort of fellow in a red suit delivering presents!

In honor of our new found knowledge, Mark wore the bunny suit at the scout egg hunt!  Too cute!

I do love Spring.  New plants, renewals, re-birth, warm, sunny days.  Taking inventory of the yard work, projects and plantings.   We have a huge mess of pine trees that have survived generations on the farm, only to be snapped like twigs with the winds of Sandy last fall. Mark has worked tirelessly at the tearing down and removal of trees and stumps, but there seems to be no end to the work. We have an estimate for professional tree removal and the cost is making our heads spin. We know that the work must be done. We have trees uprooted, broken, and tilted trees.  Our long term plan is to install grape vines ~ but we have a lot of work to do before that will happen!

We are extending a small flower bed on the left side of the driveway this Spring and refining the fire pit and surrounding area.  In the fall, after the trees and their stumps have been entirely removed, I hope to seed the right side with wild flowers which will bloom next Spring (2014) - if all goes as expected.  One project at a time; first those trees need to go.

Looking forward to summer, end of school and vacations.  Hope to blog again before then!