happy mail

oh goodness, i love getting things in the mail. this week has been full of fun mailbox surprises! i've been reading this blog, the dainty squid, for over a year now, and i just love all of the cute things kaylah makes for her etsy store. so when i saw that she was having a sale, i jumped at the chance of getting some great items at a great price. these two pouches are so much cuter in person, and i am very pleased with the quality. i will definitely be back for more, and if you are looking for a cute gift idea, be sure to check out her shop/blog. 

the same day that my second pouch arrived, i also received a package from petit collage! do you remember when i featured their books on my blog here? well, i saw that they were offering a free signed book just for participating in a quick survey, so i did, and wow were they ever fast! in less than a week my book had already arrived at our door. it looks like they are still offering this wonderful deal on their site, so click on that link above and get yourself a free board book! your child will love it :)

and the best package of the week came from my mother. she is so sweet and always remembers me on mothers day. i know that it may seem odd that my mother sends me gifts, since it should be the other way around, and normally the husband/boyfriend/etc. is the one who gives the gifts instead. but ever since my very first mothers day, she was the one who always remembered me. for those eight years while i raised alanna as a single mother, she always gave me a little something to let me know that i was doing a great job, and to show me just how proud she was of me. she has always supported and encouraged me, no matter what. even after i got married and chose to move so far away, she still sends me something each mothers day, and it means so much to me. she really is the best mother i could have asked for, and i truly appreciate everything she does for me.  

not to mention that she probably knows me better than anyone else. despite living so far apart these past six years, she still knows just the perfect things to give me. i guess i haven't changed much since back when i still lived at home? she found this eric carle scrapbooking kit at costco, and knew that i would love it. boy was she correct. i actually cried when i opened up the package. i cannot wait to put it together and fill the pages with photos of my little family. it is going to be so cute. thank you again mom for being so thoughtful, i love you.

the start of something wonderful

on saturday we planted our tiny little garden. i really do have the best mother-in-law (i'm not just saying that because she reads this -hi vicky! but because it is true), and she sure does spoil us. on saturday morning vicky arrived at our house with our little garden in the back of her car. it was sunny and warm, perfect for spending time outside with the family. malcolm helped fill the holes with water, until he started to wilt in the sun. he bailed and went inside to play games on disney.com. i think he is already addicted to online gaming, and he is only three. uh oh.

alanna and i are so excited to have our own little garden again this year. i love spending time working on it in the evening -dirt under my fingernails and all, and the feeling of accomplishment when the veggies have grown big enough to be picked. i do not love the mosquito bites though. we will do our best to keep it from growing too wild, be eaten by pests, or be pressure-washed (like last year). here's to a summer full of fresh homegrown produce! thanks again vicky, we really appreciate everything you do.

april leftovers

here are a few leftover photos from april. enjoy.

handmade onion rings, made by yours truly.

those eyelashes! beautiful. if only he had inherited them from me.

our back yard. home to wild bunnies, squirrels, and the fatest robins i've ever seen.
(do you see the little bunny?)

this boy is obsessed with making huge guns out of blocks. danny totally encourages it. here's hoping it's just a stage ;)

dinner downtown with my guys, while we waited for alanna to return from her 8th grade field trip to richmond, va. 

i took this photo about an hour after the tornado had passed. it was beautiful outside.

this was a first. they really do love each other so much.

i'm so glad i was able to capture this sweet cuddle session.

i love her.

and i love these. i already want a dozen more pairs.

and finally, this. malcolm takes great photos of me, haha.

our easter

in pictures:

my mom sent us an easter package. we always love opening the box to see what she has stuffed inside! thanks for everything mom.

after visiting the bunny at the mall

danny made us bunny pancakes on easter morning, he used a new recipe and they were delicious. my mom sent us the bunny pancake mold. 

we headed to gamma bicky and pop's house, and found this note taped to their front door :)

we spent lots of time outside 

malcolm loves to "take a ride" on all of pop's motorcycles

we played a humorous and at times intense game of badminton with the family

dessert! (wish i had also taken a photo of vicky's wonderful vegan lasagna)

it was nice to have sunday off of work, even if i don't care much for this holiday (too much sugar and candy in our house!! eeep!) and to have spent the day with family. i hope you had a nice easter weekend as well.

arboretum

alanna had all of last week off for spring break. we usually go to salt lake city during her vacation, but this year we simply could not afford the outrageous airfare. we didn't do anything exciting since danny had to work everyday. the kids and i just spent time at home, went to the mall, and ran errands. i felt like we were spending too much time inside, so on wednesday i decided we should take a nature walk. we visited a new place here in raleigh, the jc raulston arboretum. it was beautiful, i'm not sure why we've never been there before, but we plan on going back often. of course i chose the hottest day of the week (91 degrees out, oops), and we were all sweaty by the time we left, but it was good to explore someplace new.

"the american honey bee is usually a very gentle creature. however she will defend her home against all threats." what a good mama. we stayed a safe distance.

malcolm wouldn't smile for me...

he made silly faces instead :)

we found some wildlife

who knew such a beautiful place was tucked away in raleigh. it is open every day of the year, is free to the public, and has a big open lawn perfect for flying kites. fantastic.