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Category Archives: things i love

may = peonies

May 17, 2011 Filed in photography,pretty,special,things i love

my favorites.

please enjoy a bazillion giant pictures of my peonies…..with some ruby slipper and white daisies mixed in.

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they are really big flowers.

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my grandmother loves to garden.
her yard has always been gorgeous.
when she comes to visit me she always does a walk around my yard and tells me what is planted…
points to what is coming up…..she knows so much.

so i cut my peonies and put them in the vase she gave me.

my dad goes to visit my grandma every morning and has been reading my blog to her.
he said they even watched the video of me and the lipstick…HA HA HA.
she has gotten to see the baby birds and now she gets to see my garden!

hi grandma!

when i was a little girl i remember picking strawberries in her yard…near the door of the fence.
i loved to play in the sand box.
but my favorite thing to do was to rock/bounce on her metal chairs around a round table in the grass.

don't you love to go back in your memories to times that are warm and fuzzy? 

i have more flowers to plant….gotta go.

🙂

 

oh yeah….baby #2 is here.
and #3 is cracking out of it's egg with in the morning for sure….. 
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these are robins….in case you didn't know.
and here is our set up to observe our babies. 

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i guess i should also clean the porch today.

 

add a comment

Kelly - The peonies are beautiful and I am in awe of the baby bird photos! Thank you for sharing and Go God!
Question: I was at the Horticultural Arts Society plant sale this weekend and eyeing the peonies. One of the volunteers told me that they attract a lot of ants. Do you find that to be true? Kelly

Melissa - I love peonies and am anxiously awaiting mine blooming. So jealous yours already are!

Janie - Don’t the mama and papa birds dive at you when you walk under the nest? Years ago I looked into a robin’s nest and then every I went by they were diving at me and really after me. You are so lucky.

Julie K - I am loving your baby robin pictures. They are amazing. You could sell them! 🙂
I’m also very jealous of how far along your spring is … my poor garden is just peeking it’s head out … and I’m anticipating two peonies for the first time this year!! Beautiful!!!

Staci - Simply spectacular 🙂 Love em 🙂 And congrats on baby bird #2!!!!! I’m planting strawberries today….I’ll think of your grandma….and I’ll think of my poppa’s HUGE garden I used to “help” him with 🙂 sigh…..

Jacqui - love your flowers …. wow it looks beautiful and warm and sunny where you are …. the snow has finally melted up here in Fernie BC although its on 7degrees Celsius here at the moment and there’s a frost on the ground. we hope summer is coming soon 🙂

Kim Barlow - Lovliness…pure and simple.

Erin - your blog totally cracks me up – absolutely love it!

chasity - peonies make me so happy….
lots of good memories wrapped up in those beautiful petals.
your photos of them are superb!

Jess - I drove by your house this week and your flowers looked so pretty. My peonies just started blooming and I LOVE them too. Definitely my favorite. Oh, and the bird pictures are awesome. 🙂

Jen Brandt - God is at work right in your yard and on your porch. Absolutely beautiful pictures. Thank you for brightening my day!

Karma - Gorgeous … I also love the back-lit, light pink peony photo … about took my breath away, sooo beautiful! These photos seriously made me wish I had a yardful of peonies! The baby birds are amazing, thank you for sharing your peeks of the peeps with us! 🙂

elisa - love the bird picture!!

BULLYMAMA - What a beautiful collection of Peony’s you have. Mine are a week or 2 away from blooming. Unfortunately they always seem to bloom around Memorial Day when we are away and when I get back rain and wind tend to make them disappear way too fast. I saw on Martha Stewart last year that you can actually freeze the buds just before they bloom and take them out of the freezer as needed. I thought that was such a great idea that we ordered about 8 more plants last year so we can give it a try. I’m not sure of the specifics but if you search Martha and Peony’s I’m sure you can find the info if you are interested!
I too enjoy stories of your grandmother. I feel so blessed to have had mine in my life she was a great influence and still a big part of who I am today.

Deanna - You’ll have to let me know how you keep your peonies bug free. Mine get covered with ants! UG!

Toni :O) - Thank you for taking me back to my house I grew up in and remembering the beautiful peonies that lined our driveway each Springtime. I LOVED those bushes and my mom had many of them alongside our drive. It was SO pretty! I really should plant some of those myself, they are gorgeous! Loved the baby birds pic too…awesome especially since I unfortunately saw a dead baby bird (a robin) on my neighbor’s driveway this evening…sniff, sniff. Happy Spring to you…hopefully it shows up in Michigan one of these days…sheesh! Oh, and I’m SO envious of your beautiful porch…sigh!

Toni :O) - Thank you for taking me back to my house I grew up in and remembering the beautiful peonies that lined our driveway each Springtime. I LOVED those bushes and my mom had many of them alongside our drive. It was SO pretty! I really should plant some of those myself, they are gorgeous! Loved the baby birds pic too…awesome especially since I unfortunately saw a dead baby bird (a robin) on my neighbor’s driveway this evening…sniff, sniff. Happy Spring to you…hopefully it shows up in Michigan one of these days…sheesh! Oh, and I’m SO envious of your beautiful porch…sigh!

meghan - Your peonies pics are so pretty. I made one my screensaver. thank you. and you need to send those baby birdie pics to national geographics or something. they are amazing.

Shelby - I think I need to go buy some peonies and plant them right this minute. Yours are absolutely gorgeous!

Kirsten P - Great photos of beautful flowers. I especially love the 7th photo – sunlight filtering through the green leaves of the light
pink peony plant.
We don’t have a nest in our yard but I’ve been watching nest cams online of baby eagles (almost ready to fly away, baby bluebirds who flew away on Sunday, and baby loons who will hatch in a couple weeks.

Leslie - Beautiful flowers!!!
I’m following the birds too . . .

The BabbyMama - Ooh, I can’t wait until my peonies bloom!

Andrea T - crazy. i just posted a pic of the peonies i purchased today!!! i cant grow them bc my husband is alregic to bees. love THEM though

Shirley - Your pictures are awesome. Peonies, or pinies, as my mother and grandmother used to call them are one of my favorites. They bring back many childhood memories. I’m not very lucky in raising them so will enjoy your photos instead! Thanks for sharing.

Sara - Your peonies (or panties as I used to call them as a child…) make me smile! They are gorgeous, so so beautiful. They are never that good in Atlanta, so I enjoy your pictures. wish your pictures were scratch and sniff…

Liza Morgan - peonies are my favorite! what lovely photos. happy day.

Dawn - Your poenies are beautiful! I wish I could grow them down here in South Texas but it is too hot. And I am glad I to see I am not the only one that has a messy porch sometimes. haha…By the way loved all the colorful images from the other day. Make you feel happy.
Dawn

julia - Oh my goodness!!! If anyone ever asks me “Julia, what are you missing out on by not living in Kansas?” I’m going to say “Seeing Miss Meg’s garden in person.”

sara @ it's good to be queen - they’re gorgeous. nothing smells better than a peony. yum.

Jodi - I really loved the pictures of your peonies! My grandma loved peonies and grew them all around her yard. After she passed away last February, I dug up some of her plants and transplanted them to my yard. I am so happy that they survived, and two of them even
have buds on them!

Nicole - I love peonies!! I wish I would have planted them years ago. Our small town restaurant had a vase of them on their counter yesterday. I about died with the beauty of it. Not really, but could have. 😉

Dana@Strawberrytart! - I am SOOOO Jealous!!! I love peonies, but I don’t think they can grow in Texas.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - As I sat down after lunch… I said in my head… ‘ok, meg, make me smile.’ And LOOK! You did it! hugs to you!

Prudence - my sister and I just had a discussion yesterday on how to pronounce them, so which is it? peoooohhhhnies or peuuuhhnies?? I grew up saying the first, but now everyone corrects me with the second!

Wendy - Love, love, love the Peonies!! I so wish we could grow them in the south! Enjoy your beautiful flowers and sweet little porch visitors. 🙂

Mindy Harris - i have been anticipating your peonies post. my friend has scads in her yard and always gives me some.
it makes me thankful for the intricacies God chose when he made them. the same careful, thoughtful design-work when he made me.

amber - Your flowers are beautiful.
We have a martin nest on our porch with 3 hungry babies inside.
I love remembering the fun I had climbing my Nana’s tree, eating her snacks, rollerblading at my Naw & Grandaddy’s, & enjoying their snuggles. My Nana’s the only one on this side of heaven now. Grandparents are definitely a taste of heaven…praying for yours.

Gemma - They are really nice flowers…perfect for a wedding!
Gemma x

steph - ahhhhhh!
i SOO love peonies!!
they are also my favorite.
they bloom here in june so we still have to wait a bit.
but they are so beautiful.
are you getting ants all around though?
that’s the one bad thing…
peonies inside=ants!
ewww!
and i love to hear about your g’ma.
i only have one grandparent left and i love her so.
i have so many fabulous memories of being small and hanging at her and my grandpa’s house too.
now you’re taking me on a trip down memory lane.
loves it!
enjoy those peonies… and those baby birdies!
they are kinda strangely cute, huh?

andrea - I love my peonies too! How do you get all the ants off yours to bring them in the house? My grandma had peonies and I brought some to this house. They split really easily and well. You are so lucky that your grandma is still alive. Mine has been with the Lord almost 20 years and I still miss her very much! (I am tearing up just thinking of missing her.)
Also, please don’t clean your porch! It makes me feel better to know someone else’s looks like mine. 😉

Sarah Wolfe - The flower pics are gorgeous. What lens did you use when you took them?

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - So sad I can’t grow Peonies in SoCal…they are seriously the most gorgeous flower ever. Yours are so pretty and I love your memories of your Grandma…grandmas are special.

Debbie Hargadon - There are no ants in those peonies! Your weather must have been great lately. I love them. My little girl memory of peonies was dropping their flower petals in weddings I was in when I was small – 4 or 5. We would always practice with peony petals and have pretend weddings from that point on. I’ve tried growing them in zone 14 in the Bay Area of California. The bush will grow but never flower. After a few seasons of that – the bush got pulled out. No flowers – no stay. 🙂 Thanks for a blast of spring! Peonies mean birthdays (mine) and mother’s day to me. They are tied up in all my May/June memories — along with LILACS!

lauren - Flowers = Pure Happiness!

Beth - Kansas has some of the prettiest peonies I’ve ever seen (brother used to live in kc). Wish I could grow them here! they’re some of my very favorite flowers. What do you do to get rid of the ants, or do you just live with them?
You all have a great view for those little birdies!

Anna - #1… my fave thing about that picture is that your porch looks like a normal person’s porch… thank you!
#2… has the momma bird gotten angry at you? we had a turtle dove nest on our porch and we got too curious and we were chased by angry momma bird.
#3… you rock. that’s it.
🙂

Lisa - Those baby birds look a little like miniature aliens. 🙂 But the whole thing is quite amazing isn’t it?
What a great relationship you have with your grandmother. I’m so thankful for the way my own parents are such wonderful grandparents to my kids.

SoCalLynn - I live in Southern California. That means no peonies. I *dream* of a day when I can grow peonies, but I don’t think we’re moving any time soon.
Love the pictures of the tiny robins with their mouths open!

Emily - I can almost smell them!! Thanks for sharing!

jodi @ back40life - gorgeous – love the peonies! I have 2 that bloom and bought 2 more this year…I just hate that the blooms don’t seem to last long. I keep thinking I need to look for a tree peony but have yet to find one.
love all the flower eye candy!!

Alisha - Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the intense color and can almost SMELL them!

Molly - I love peonies! and your are gorgeous!! My husband and I just dug a bunch out of a flower bed at my parents farm that had become over run with weeds! I could not let them go:)

Sheila P. - Megan – your blog is my happy place. Thanks for sharing your flower pictures today!

Kate - LOVE the pictures! Please make some into HUGE prints and put them in your etsy shop. Or just send them to my house. 🙂 We have several of my great-grandmother’s peonies but they’re not quite ready to bloom yet. By the way – Betsy Kate’s pictures are super sweet. Thanks!

Chantelle - i.love.peonies. why don’t we have them here in zone 8/9??? i would so steal your peonies too! And i love that your porch looks like that. 🙂

Amy - Wow!! Your pictures and garden are amazing!!

Hannah - I absolutely love peonies! They are my all time favourite flower. I love them in the bud stage, so tightly wrapped up, carefully concealing the beauty beneath. Then when they burst open – they’re so huge! It’s yet another part of God’s beautiful creation that makes me smile. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos.
And the baby robins? How incredible that you and your family have such an insight into their precious little lives : )

Jill - All your photos are lovely, but the one of the back-lit, light pink peony in the sunshine stopped me in my tracks- GORGEOUS!
And I’m loving the baby robin photos. I never knew their eggs are so blue! I love nature. =)

Irene - Be careful the kids don’t scare the Mommy bird away from the nest and make her reject her young – v important that they don’t touch or freak out the mother.

Mindy W - Oh, I’m enjoying! And cursing myself for only having 1 peony plant when I LOVE them.

mandy madison - Thanks for sharing! I love peonies and they are the main flower in my upcoming wedding 🙂

Laura A - I got married 2 weeks ago and carried peonies…they are my favorite too! I hope to plant a yard full of them one day!

Ali Richardson - WOW!!! I have serious Peopny envy!! SO gorgeous!!! And those little baby birds, my goodness! So sweet!

karen - Love the mohawk on the one bird!
Hi Grandma!! How sweet of your grand daughter to post this today…you must be one special grandma. xoxox

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Your birdie pictures are awesome. Love that Grandma is reading your blog. Just makes my heart melt.
Dana

deborah@applesinwonderland - gorgeous photos. the memories of time spent with my grands are the best. i heard that peonies require ants to help them open. is that true? ask your grandma, i bet she knows. 🙂

RLG - Great post. Peonies are my all time favorite. And the pictures of the birds hatching are priceless. Thanks for sharing with the class. Cheers, girlie. xoxo

Kirsten J - You do know how lucky you are, right? We just set a record overnight low here in Seattle…and might see our first day about 70 later this week. My grandma was a gardener, too – I have plants from cuttings in her yard which I treasure. Those peonies are amazing!

Katy - do people ever steal your flowers? i would if we lived closer.
we have a bird nest on our ceiling fan on our back porch. rude cause we can’t turn it on now. but i can’t wait to see those babes!

Mary - I’m loving your pictures of the birds! Make sure to place something on your porch because the poop gets outta control! 🙂 We just place a cardboard box top and some newspaper and then it’s easier to clean up and change out. Because the birdies don’t want to poop in their nest so that means it just falls onto your porch! 😀

tara - sigh… love peonies.

Southern Gal - Oh, how I wish we could grow peonies around here. I have too much sun and too much heat for them. Thanks for sharing. And the babies are beautiful.

happygirl - I LOVE peonies. It’s so sad that they’re only around for such a short time. So beautiful. And, your pictures, gorgeous. Thanks for posting.

Cindy - I can smell the peonies right through the screen, I swear! Love ’em! And now 2 birds? Get out!!! These pictures are just so amazing!!! I adore your front porch, even if you think it needs cleaned. Looks like a great spot to read a book or have a morning chai. Be blessed.

Kerry - Aaah Meg! The colours are to die for! Did you put those flowers up because its my Birthday? 🙂 haha! Also, Welcome Baby #2 x

Jessica Johnson - i adore peonies. i almost adore those baby birds more. kind of like sad, pathetic and helpless meets the cutest thing i ever did see. so precious.

Jodi @ The Un-Soccermom Blog - I needed that burst of color this morning! So beautiful!
I’m not a bird lover, but those things are so ugly they’re cute! :o)

Jeannine - Lovely pictures as always. Your blog makes me so happy!
Your peonies are gorgeous! My Great Grandma used to have peonies alllllll over her garden, so seeing them always brings back good memories of spending time with her in the summer =)

Tam - Oh, thanks for sharing 🙂 I love photos of your home. My peonies are no where near ready to open…June is peony month for us. I also have baby birds, I’m jealous you can use your camera to take pics, our nest is on my truck tire(!), I have to use my cell to take photos!

Beth @ Dirty laundry - Your porch is gorgeous with or without cleaning it up. Love the birdie picture, especially yesterday’s…something hopeful about those two waiting eggs. I think you should submit that one somewhere.

Shauna - Hi, Im back to bug you about selling those as prints…now I think I love the 2 baby birds even more! That beautiful blue egg is so lovely…Gods handiwork is everywhere for us to enjoy. Amazing. So when will those pictures be in the shop?? 🙂 Im glad to hear your Grandma is able to enjoy your blog…she will love this post.

Mary Ferrara - I love these pictures so much! I feel so upliftd seeing such beautiful flowers this morning! Thank you so much for that. I love your garden, and hope to have one like yours one day! 🙂

sarah - The picture of those birdies is incredible. We had some mourning dove babies on our porch a couple of weeks ago. It was always so fun to go check on them. those babies flew the nest though… so now i am a 20 something single empty nester. ha!

Kimberlee Jost - Gorgeousness all around.
My peonies opened up and they are not the kind I thought I was buying.
I guess that means I get to buy more. 🙂

Jenni Carlisle - Can you A. adopt me or B. turn your house into a bed and breakfast so I can come stay with you? Every post of your home makes me wanna move to Kansas and move into the Museum next door.

Leigh - All of those pictures are incredible, but I really like the bird ones – WOW!!!

Terrie - Thanks for all the pictures of your peonies!! We lived on the my husband’s family farm for years and we inherited all of Grandma’s plants. Peonies were one of those treasured plants! When we moved to McPherson…I moved them with me and gave some to her daughters. When we moved to Hutch last year (in the coldest part of winter) I moved them again and transplanted as soon as I could. Sadly…they didn’t make it. Peonies are in my backyard plan somewhere…but it’s not the same as having Grandma’s Peonies. They always make me think of her! Loved every pic!! Back to quilting and then finishing some flower planting for me too!

Sarah Alcantara - Amazing bird pics! Gorgeous peonies….I’ll bet your grandma is going to love this!

Laura Phelps - don’t be surprised if you spot me crawling in your garden with a pair of scissors…

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monday.

May 9, 2011 Filed in parenting,things i love

good morning.

this is what i have been working on in my yard….mulch.

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i spent several hours yesterday moving it.
it's mindless exercise.
 
and i barely made a dent in that mountain of mulch.

good thing i have three strong men in this house….

………………………………………………………………..


jeanne oliver has her new line of goodies out today in her shop.
she sent me the photos to preview…..gorgeous.
i meant jeanne at silver bella in 2009.  
i liked her from the start!
i love to see her taking herself SERIOUSLY as an artist.
so cool.

on her blog today she is giving away a $500 gift certificate to her shop!!  

that is amazing.

go check out her new shop.

you will find something you love i am sure!

………………………………………………………………….

so how did mother's day go?  
be honest. 

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this is the project i had my 3 & 4 year old sunday school class do.
i brought them jars, the sticker, ribbon and a big stack of flowers to pick for their mom.
they were so cute when their moms came to get them!

i made myself one too.

so…..i told you i got the weekend off.
and it was great.

but i will also tell you that i also had EXTREME guilt all week before about it.
i changed my mind everyday of what i wanted.

i felt guilty i wasn't going to the basketball games….because a "good mom" wouldn't want to miss even one!

i felt guilty that i wanted to be alone….because a "good mom" would never want that.

there was a lot of guilt on many levels.

but when i really thought about mother's day….
and recalled all the others that i have had over the years…..
and the kind of family we REALLY are….
remembered the stage of life we are in right now….
and i was honest with what i wanted to happen on my "special day" and what is my reality…..

i decided that the quiet time…..the time to think….the time for NO voices or questions or yelling…..

was what i needed to be a good mom.

and i was right.

 

add a comment

Robin - My weekend plans include sanding (and hopefully) painting some used cabinets we bought right out of someone’s garage. We put them in my laundry room where I now have LOADS of storage. Even tho I have a bad back and its really bugging me today I simply must try and get these cabinets painted. They are battleship gray in color and oh so depressing. I’m painting them ‘cotton white’ in semi-gloss and the walls will then have to be painted (next weekend). Just got that paint color today and it’s called ‘Moose Mousse’ – a lovely tan that looks like delicious mousse! Gotting stop commenting and get busy!! 🙂

Kat - Good on you for trusting your instincts and going with what YOU wanted for Mother’s Day.
I too suffer from waaay too much Mother guilt. Why do we do it to ourselves?
How on earth do we get past it?!!
My Mother’s Day was okay, but I ended up having “words” with my Hubby and I was not really the happy Mummy I should have been on that day 🙁
My kids (aged 2, 4, 6 and 8) gave me all the lovely little handmade gifts and cards and I truly LOVE that bit.
I also got a sleep in and some time to read in bed ALONE, so that was my wish 🙂

Tracy Fisher - First I have to say, I love your honesty about mother’s day. I asked for a nap and 3 hours to finish a painting. And it was amazing how productive I was… it finally won over guilt. But I hear you on that one! Second, I love love love the Jeanne Oliver stuff. I immediately ordered the blonde girl print that says “I Love My Life” and a BLESSED leather cuff for my daughter. Thanks for encouraging her.
And finally… happy mother’s day. It’s YOUR day everyday!
Tracy Fisher

Karen Gerstenberger - I’m so glad that you had a happy Mother’s Day – and that you used your voice and asked for what you truly wanted. And that they gave it to you! My day was good – you can read about it on my blog. =)

AshleyAnn - That is a crazy amount of mulch. Mulch is the one part of a garden I don’t enjoy – I always end up with splinters. I’m a better mom too if I get time alone.

happygirl - My mom’s day was WONDERFUL. My son remembered to call me (I only had to send 4 texts) And, I LOVE mulch. Your garden will LOVE it.

Gemma @ Musings Of A Gem - Hi Meg!
Cute idea for your sunday school…I love the flowers : )
Don’t feel guilty about your time alone on mothers day. Having a break from it all makes you a happier refeshed mum!
Gemma x

Vonda - Amazing pink fridge!:) My absolute favorite color! My daughter gave me the sweetest handmade card(she’s 11). I also got a beautiful card from my Mom. We’re supposed to spoil her and it always turns out the other way. Brought flowers to the cemetary for my beautiful sister(can’t wait to see you again sweetie). Had lunch and then dessert with both Moms. Busy day! My boys took me out for lunch today. It was special. Being a Mom is very busy…..and very wonderful!

Kait - Mother’s Day was rough. I cried because my little boys are still in Africa, waiting to come home, and I thought these adoptions would be DONE by now. (incidentally, the doll I bought off your website as a fundraiser for your Africa trip is in their room. which just drives home to me how very long we’ve been waiting!) I cried because my baby is sick and I had to spend the whole day on the couch while she shared her fever with me. Then I cried because I realized my little boys don’t even have someone to spend the day holding them if they are sick.
It was rough. It’s better now. But I think it’s amazing you got your quiet weekend with no kids.

Lisa Currie-Gurney - A FEW YEARS BACK, I DECIDED I NEEDED THE DAY, CALLED MOTHERS DAY, ALL TO MY SELF. N0 KIDS, BLUE EYES, NO ONE. JUST ME. ALONE. SO I GO TO BREAKFAST AT FAVORITE LOCAL DINER, THEN HEAD TO BARNS AND NOBLE. I GATHER AN ARM FULL OF BOOKS AND OFF TO A COMFY CHAIR I GO. PANERA BREAD FOR LUNCH. THEN A MOVIE, MAYBE A LATE AFTERNOON DRINK WITH A FRIEND AND HOME. SO YEAH, A QUIET WEEKEND SOUNDS RIGHT TO ME.
HUGS FROM MY HEART

Sarah - That is a heck of a lot of mulch! I was wimpy on the mulch this year, and will pay for it all summer long. And I secretly wish Mother’s Day was never invented…too much pressure for EVERYONE…and none of us moms need more pressure, nor do our husbands!

Allison - I am the oldest of four kids (we are 24, 22, 18, and 16), and I remember my mom having some not so great Mother’s Days when we were in the age range your kids are now. This year she did have a nice quiet weekend (my 16-year-old brother, the youngest, was the only one home) and when I called her she said that she was finally getting to a point in life where she actually wanted quality time with her children on Mother’s Day.

Wendy - Love the rock’n pink fridge … and u drink BEER! Woo-hoo!!!

karen - my husband was working. he asked me if it was okay…and i said sure…it was lots of overtime…and we are doing our front yard landscaping this summer. So i had lunch at his parents and went over to my parents in the afternoon. For me.. i still feel like i’m a kid…I feel Mother’s Day is for my mom and hubby’s mom…not for me. I guess because my kids are still very young. The best part of the day was the weather..finally some heat!!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - You are so tootin’ cute and honest. Yes, real mommies like their time off but we love our families the best.

Nina Diane - because you are such a great mom is why you deserved the weekend you had!!! (I would “bold” “because” and “great mom” if I knew how….

heather - i’m so glad you share how you really feel.
i love that about you.
happy mother’s day!

Amy - I saw you working in your yard this weekend! We also worked hard in ours over the weekend!
I LOVE me some pretty yards!

Sarah Wolfe - Love the flower thing you did with Sunday School class. Such a pretty, simple idea. I wanted to be by myself for Mother’s Day too. And I didn’t feel guilty at all 🙂

georgia - Hope you had a happy mothers day. It was in March in the uk, so my mum celebrated a while ago.
Hope you had a lovely weekend to yourself, a little alone time is good for you once in a while. 🙂 xx

Regina - I received my copy of SUMMER today…and I LOOOVE your pages! (just like I knew I would!)Great job!!! <3

Judy @Considering the Options - I love your honesty Meg. I blogged about this very subject Sunday and was hesitant to post it. I read it to all my guys first and by the end I was sobbing. A good cry. My day was not what I would have dreamed of – and yes, I feel a little guilty for dreaming something so different. But I came to the realization that it’s about enjoying the life I have. I love my husband and sons very much and I am blessed by them every day!
As Moms we need to tune out this hyped-up expectation of what the day is supposed to be and enjoy our life as it is – imperfect.
And btw the guys all though it was ok for me to post:).

Emily Zimmerman - My birthday last month was so bad that I had no expectations for Mother’s Day and it was great 🙂 My birthday fell on a busy weekend and week and it didn’t turn out the way I thought it would in my mind. I like to celebrate birthday week and it just didn’t happen. I thought it would be a week of celebrating, spoiling, treating myself, babysitter, it just didn’t happen and I was crushed. So as mother’s day grew closer I kept reminding myself not to have any expectations. Little hugs and kisses from my kiddos would be enough for me. But my hubby did get my a necklace from etsy…ok I have to admit I sent him the link to it…but he actually pulled the trigger and got it for me! I also had the stomach bug, but was able to enjoy some alone time with my little girl while my husband and son went to church. And the day before my husband actually participated in cleaning the house and helping me get rid of some things. Nothing turns me on more than a man cleaning 🙂 So Mother’s Day weekend was great because I just let it be about me being a mother and having these two precious babies in my life.

becky - thank you SO MUCH for your honesty. i have two itty bitties and it always makes me feel bad when i think about shouting when the precious hubby gets home: “i need a break!!!!!!” but you’re right. we need them occasionally. even regularly – to be better mommies. and wives. and daughters & friends! hope you still feel relaxed & refreshed by the end of monday!

Tanya H - I understand completely. I spent most of Sunday with my kiddo’s while my husband made fresh salsa for snacking, a carrot cake from scratch (not my favorite but it was tasty) and a yummy italian dinner. Then they all watched a movie while I went and scrapbooked. That’s what I wanted to do and I am working on the kids’ books but I felt guilty for being away from the people who made me a mother…..! Oh well, I think it ended up a good thing and it WAS a good weekend so no real complaints here!

amy jupin - being completely honest here, that pile of mulch scares the bejesus out of me! 🙂
i am proud of you for listening to yourself and enjoying some alone time.
it does not make you a bad mother, so shush!
and if only someone could stop texting you, you probably could have gotten so much more done! haha!

Christy - I LOVE, love your honesty. 🙂 For me as a mother, I can’t say anyone went our of their way for me. They did what I asked, for the most part, went out for bagels & a quick hike, I received a card, a potted plant (a tree to be planted in the fall – IOU) & the most wonderful coupon book from my 7 yo. It wasn’t so much what I received as what we did for my mom, that will last to the end of time. 🙂 That made my day special.

Julie - oh I WISH we were sitting together in your kitchen and we could get to the bottom of it. the freedom to be honest?… thank you. i have been stewing over who i could share these thoughts with – not husband, it is about him and i don’t want to be petty and “emotional.” not mom, because once i am over it, she is still not. not friends, because i only want to share with them uplifting things about my husband, not drag his name through the mud. could i share with you? i never have high expectations – i have learned that the hard way. i expected nothing from my kids because they are too little to get the spirit of the day. but my husband? should know better. i don’t want gifts. didn’t even need to spend a dime on me. but wasn’t there SOMETHING he could have thought of to make me feel special and appreciated? i can think of 100. i did enjoy and feel blessed to be able to celebrate my mom and mil. but went to bed wondering why i wasn’t valued as the mother of his children and the woman who takes care of everyone else. i was hoping just sharing these feelings would make them less intense and they would go away. but i still feel hurt. even though it felt like any other day, it was still a good “any other day.” i like my life – i just wanted to feel a little special.

julia - I love that “be honest” bit. It feels like we’re sitting at the counter in your kitchen and you just handed me a mug of tea and you’re going to get to the bottom of things.
Your Sunday School project blows me away. You are so creative! I’m sure those mamas were thrilled!

jodi @ back40life - good for you – those moments of quiet, while much needed, are seldom found with 2 kiddos around…can only imagine what adding 3 more does!!
my day was excellent…kiddos gave me their cards & a Lowes GC the night before, great time at church, then time spent with my family and Dh’s…then on to a pleasant date night while the kids spent the night at Gma’s – about as close to perfection as it gets! A day to be treasured for sure!
your flower project was awesome – know those moms loved it!

Kristy - we had a great day.
but i feel for so many women that don’t have kids and are longing for them. my heart goes to them before me. i wish i could make it better for them.
love your flower project. love it!!!
happy you got some quite time 🙂

Holly - So glad you had a lovely Mothers day! I spent mine painting our family room. Hopefully it will be done tonight so I can blog about it tomorrow!!

Jenny Logan - Every good mommy knows she needs a break every once in awhile! It’s what makes us good mommies. Glad you had such a great weekend! :0)

Necole - I think I have worked every Mother’s Day I have been a mother. My girls made me some cute gifts, and I am awaiting my cute necklace from the Vintage Pearl. Thanks by the way for the post about it. I cannot wait to buy more.

Heather R. - We did nothing and it was great. I would love a night in by myself. 🙂

Amy Giffin - I LOVE that you had time to yourself! After I read your post I knew what I was going to ask for next year. 🙂 I have four kids and I also need a break from the noise, constant questions and requests . . .! All I asked for Mother’s Day was a “work day.” It was the first time I really asked for what I truly wanted and not what a “good” mom would ask for. And I LOVED my day! Glad you had a wonderful day too! Here’s to a week starting with happy and rejuvenated moms!

Tam - I”m absolutely jealous of your weekend! Good for you, you deserved it! I had an ok day, I kept my expectations wicked low this year, (I’m not a fan of the day). I worked outside and the weather was beautiful, typical Sunday for me. I asked my kids at breakfast to not argue and be mean to each other for the entire day, it lasted maybe an hour…ugh 🙁

melissa rice - I like the fridge!! Good mother’s day. Got gifts where my family actually thought about me!! 2 bottles of wine yay! and new glasses. and stuff i said I would like. i really think satan has a hay day with the minds of mothers ohhhh the guilt. we need breaks alot alot alot.
posted mothers day feelings on my blog
http://www.theshabbyfarmchick.blogspot.com

Ann Griffin - I dread Mother’s Day every year. Every year I get my hopes up (God only knows why) that Mother’s Day will be an amazing day filled with lots of love and laughter. Every year I am mistakingly wrong. Yesterday was horrible. I feel guilty for complaining because I know there are single mom’s out there that have to make the day special themselves. I’ll never understand why my husband can go shopping every year for a gift to give his mother but I end up empty handed. I don’t ask for much. Just something simple, even homemade would be nice, to show me that I’m appreciated for spending 99% of my life chasing after the kids and taking care of his needs.

Jennifer - Good for you! All mothers need time to themselves to recharge their batteries. 🙂 My Mother’s Day was wonderful–enjoyed the day hanging out with my two best fellas…my hubby and son. I must admit though that Mother’s Day for many years was a painful day for me. I dreaded it with a passion. My husband and I have lived with infertility for years. But the greatest blessing of our lives happened in 2006 with the adoption of our son. I learned on that special day that God does hear our prayers, they just are sometimes answered in a different and more meaningful way. He knows what is best for us- it took me a while to fully understand this. Mother’s Day is now a joyful and blessed day for me! 🙂
Oh, and I love Jeanne Oliver…she is so sweet and an amazing artist. I’ve come to this conclusion through following her blog- would love to meet her in real life someday. So glad to see her business taking off!

mel @ the larson lingo - Happy Mother’s Day Meg! I also got the weekend “off”….I was able to sleep in, go on errands without the girls & just be mellow. It was SO nice…and SO needed. I feel so refreshed today!

Lauren - sounds like you made the most of YOUR time & that is good for the whole family 🙂 happy “moms” day!
I’ve been sicker-than-a-dog and found out three days before mothers day why….I’m pregnant. with our 4th. our youngest is 8 1/2 so this was no expected. this year’s day was very different than I had planned but God is good and we will enjoy our little blessing due December 26th 🙂 take care!

Leah - Honestly, I think this is bogus holiday because it sets up this expectation that we – as moms – will have a blissfully pleasant day for us. And as moms, we know that’s probably never going to happen for an entire day. My day had its moments. But I did find myself annoyed with my husband at times and the “celebration” for my mom was less than fun. So all-in-all, the day was fine. The best part of the day was sitting at the dinner table and Sophie saying to me, “Mommy, I forgot to tell you: Happy Mother’s Day.” That made it worthwhile.

Tricia - I’ll be honest: My Mother’s Day started out pretty well, but ended with my almost-six-year-old son telling me that I never play with him. Um. Never mind that he said it because he was cranky and upset at his dad. Never mind that it’s not true and that I spend 99.8% of my life taking care of his every need. It made me feel like the worst mom in the entire world. It made me feel like running away from home. It made me feel guilty, sad, tired, ANGRY… And then I went to bed and was awakened by my kid three times because he wasn’t feeling well. I may not be much fun, but if you need Tylenol in the middle of the night, I’m the one for the job. So that’s my life as a mom. Ups and downs. Guilt and happiness. In sickness and in health. Glamorous, isn’t it? 🙂

T. S. - Last year for mother’s day I went out with a friend in the morning. Later we went to my MIL’s house and my husband told everyone what I had done that morning. Very proud of himself for allowing me to have some “me” time. My MIL was shocked that I didn’t want to spend mother’s day with my children. Hooray.

Linda - My mother’s day was just so so. It’s not a Holiday I love. For some very silly reason it ends up making me feel like not so good of a mom. But I did get to spend it with my mother who is here visiting which was awesome. My kids loved having grandma here too.
My exciting thing for the weekend was I got my Summer with Matthew Meed Magazine! Fabulous. The only thing I didn’t like was that there wasn’t more of you. Really it could just be a Meg Magazine. Your home is just amazing and so inspiring I just love it! Thanks for being so willing to share your beauty and your style with so many people.

Taiya - Yesterday was fantastic as a day, but I gave myself a little pity party about the fact that it wasn’t even remotely mother’s day-ish for me. As a Sunday, though? It was just perfect and amazing!

nicole@deliajude - every year i have a sneaky suspicion that i don’t like mother’s day. turns out that i don’t. next year i want a day to myself, by myself. alone and preferably at a spa. seriously how painful is breakfast in bed when you can hear the chaos in the kitchen, knowing you’ll be the one cleaning it up???
i must add though, i love being a mom and i love my mom…it’s just a faux holiday.

Sarah @ this farm familys life - I am with Michelle in that mine wasn’t the greatest. The hubs and the kids made it wonderful but others made it horrible. In-laws!!! Ugh!

Penny - Yes, you deserved to do something for you! And I am glad that you did. It is always nice to have the special alone time, but I do know some of the guilt!
I had a surprise call from my mother-in-law saying her little place on the lake might not be ready for her to get into. (She spends the summers here in Michigan, winters in Florida.) She informed us that she may have to “bunk” with us for a day or so! Ahhhh panic. The house looked ok, but not for overnight guests!! She is a neatnik and we are a busy family! Ekkk. The girls pitched in and we got things looking much better, quick. Then she called and said, all is fine at her place, won’t need to stay after all! At least things in the house were really clean.
Fun times. I need that pile of mulch. I love beautiful flower beds, just no desire to do the work. Glad you have helpers. My hubby is great, just strapped for time.

jen smith - #1-i love that you have a pink fridge with beer in it. in your craft room. awesome. i hate beer so if i had a fridge it would hold malibu rum and coke :O)
#2-my mother’s day was fairly good. except when my kids were fighting all the way to my moms and i had to yell at them that it was mother’s day and i was so disappointed that they couldn’t get along for one day. sheesh.
#3-as a mother you have to do what you have to do. if it’s alone time them so be it. i have a friend who walked around target for hours…alone…on mother’s day. she was ecstatic. just what she needed and sounds like just what you needed to.

Michelle - Mine was sucksville, but after going to bed early last night and getting a luscious 12 hours of sleep, I’m ok with that. Stupid pregnancy hormones will turn you into a lunatic.

Jacci - It started out a little rough – Hubby is still learning how to handle our emotional older girls (ages 9, 10) who had definite ideas for how they wanted the morning to go. My oldest took too long doing her hair and came down all upset because I had already seen the flowers and the other kids had already given me my card. A few tears before church. Me, too. I’d much rather they had all gathered together and made it “special” (for the kids! they love that), but it was more like, “Look flowers. Here’s a card.” And they all felt a little weird about it, I could tell. Hubby was spreading himself too thin, trying to make breakfast, too, and nothing seemed special, just rushed and feelings got mushed on a little. He’s still learning, just like me.
BUT, then we got Chipotle for lunch, everyone was smiling, then Hubby rounded up al four kidds to clean the house and get it ready for the small group we hosted last night. I made a really big deal out of what a BLESSING and what a BIG GIFT this was for me, and I think the kids wound up feeling like they got to give me more that way. Hubby sent me upstairs to *read* and *rest* and I did. For two hours. And when I got up, small group was in 30 minutes and the house was all ready to go.
Rocky at first, AWESOME overall.

Alicia @ La Famille - we all need a break! and a good mom knows when to take one. i even have a small private fantasy of renting my own apartment so i can go there to be alone sometimes 🙂 how’s that for “good mom”!! Ha!! have a great week!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Meg, mommy guilt plagues all of us. But Im a firm believer that we’re never better moms than when we’ve had a chance to BE refreshed ourselves. We cant give give give all the time unless we’re FILLED from time to time. Otherwise, we run on empty and then everyone suffers(If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy at all”).
Im glad you got time to yourself. And Im sure the kids had a fun weekend with Craig!
Have a wonderful week lady:)
xo,
Sarah

Dana Banana - Saw you yesterday in your front flower garden. You looked great. No really, wish I could have been doing the same in my yard. Went to KC with Jamie last week to see Wendi. We celebrated her birthday…….maybe we can all get togehter sometime this summer. Wendi is sure to be moving to the area soon. 🙂

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life.

May 5, 2011 Filed in faith,pretty,special,things i love

annie received this little tiny pot with 5 sunflower seeds and dirt for easter from her nana.
the pot is no more than 2 inches tall.
we followed the instructions and it is growing!
she yelled excitedly "it's even still wearing it's seed cap!"
she has been learning a lot about seeds at school.

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i remember my first time gardening in our first house.
i was AMAZED and couldn't believe that all you do is put the plant or seed in the ground….
water it….
and it grew!

i was hooked.

 

we have a mama bird right outside our door.
i love her.
today i was so curious…i had to find out what she was protecting….and how many.

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three perfect lovely blue eggs.
isn't that miraculous?
really?!
there are living birds growing inside those gorgeous blue eggs RIGHT NOW!
life is so fantastically awesome!

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we watched her work for a few days on this nest.
she made a MESS.
but look at it now!
it's like a finely crafted masterpiece.
just her size.
just right for three babies.

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i am in awe of how God made this world.
creating a bird….to build a magnificent home for herself…making eggs…keeping them warm!
and that is just ONE animal.
there are like….a million different kinds of animals and living beings!
each unique and equally fascinating.

wow.

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i'm not going to go all "double rainbow" on you….don't worry.

what's really on my mind is…….my grandmother loves birds.
bird watching was her thing.
and she is not doing so well right now.
she is 94 and has had a rough 2 weeks.
she loves my blog and it makes me really sad to think she won't see this post.
because she would have LOVED it.
it may have been her favorite.

i am not sure i am loving this part of my grown up life right now.
hospitals and phone calls and hard decisions having to be made and seeing your dad cry. 
it's stressful to go through or even just to observe your parents deal with it.
it's just so…..

grown up.
 

God is still good and crazy awesome even when our bodies don't do what we want them to.
or we get sick.
or we grow old.
we can still praise Him for every thing we have and have experienced, everything HE is.
and He'll comfort us when it's sad or too hard.

my hope is in that.

and birds are awesome.

 

except geese.
they are still creepy and psycho.

 

the other thing my grandma loved more than birds was gardening.
so i am going to do that all day today.

for grandma.

add a comment

www.bkjobs.co.il - Nice post regarding life. Every one is struggle for survive include bird, animal and human being. I like your post. There are many similarities between them to survive the life.

Natalie - This post really tugged on my heart. My grandmother just passed this week, on Wednesday, at age 93. I know exactly what you mean about watching your dad cry and feeling that grown-up sadness.. it’s heartbreaking. I am holding on to the hope that she is in Heaven and happier than she’s ever been, after living a long and full life on earth. How sweet it must be to see Jesus after so long! Thank you for the reminder of God’s goodness!

the.mrs - Thank you for the beautiful post. Really awesome to be reminded of God’s amazing truths and creation. Your family is in my prayers!
(on another note, LOVE love LOVE the new banner!)

JustMommer - I’m sorry about your Grandma. My mom is on hospice right now, we are staying with her around the clock, spending as much precious time with her as we can. My dad died in November, in early spring the tulips and daffodils he had planted bloomed, it was like he said hello. I’m praying for you and your family.

Karen - Blessings to you and yours, Meg. It’s a tough time, but anyone who can appreciate things like gardening and bird watching, is probably OK with meeting the creator of all things. Keep that in mind and heart, and remember, it’s in HIS control for the good of all who believe.
On a lighter note, get back to us on how much you appreciate those birds on your porch after weeks and weeks of bird poop building up underneath, not just from one busy little mommy bird, but also three messy babies, toddlers, then teenage birds until they fly the coop! 🙂 Been there. Done that. I appreciate them just as much…and more…..from afar. 🙂

flowerpowermomma - Some days are hard.
http://momofthebridemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-nitty-gritty.html
I”m working on the ‘breath in….breath out’ concept currently.
Not only did my grandmother enjoy nature and creativity. She had beautiful white hair. When her hair brush needed cleaning she would take the clump of hair and put it out in the trees so the birds could feather their nests with it.
Not too long ago I was cleaning out my hairbrush. I looked down to see my grandmothers hair in my hand!
I was not sad to see so many white ones….it kept my connection closer to her in fact.

Kelly - Megan, even before I got to the part about your grandma I felt so blessed by this post. I have spent the day at the hospital with my sweet, wonderful mother who was having surgery for breast cancer. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Being a grown up is hard and yet a privilege and I am so thankful for your reminders and LIFE and how cool and wonderful God is! Yes, yes, yes! Those eggs are splendid! He didn’t even have to make them beautiful but He did! So wonderful. I am so sorry about your grandma. I am so thankful for hospitals and at the same time it’s hard to spend time in them. Blessings on your night and the morrow. Kelly

Nicole - {{Hugs}} to you and your family Meg. We just walked this road this year with my grandpa. {I miss him like crazy.} Praying for the peace of God to surround all of you. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
P.S.
Your photography is beautiful.

Amy @ dwell in the season - A mama bird just made a nest right outside of our place too, and we discovered 3 little eggs just like yours yesterday! You’re right, what a miracle!
-Amy

Jen Joy - I love this post. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
After I read it, I said a prayer for your grandma. When I water my flower garden this evening, I will think of her and say another little prayer. May she be scooped up in the magesty of God’s love when the time comes.
This all makes me miss my grandma. She’s been gone for 4 years now. When I miss her, I make a pie. Chocolate cream with a ridiculous amount of Cool Whip, thank you very much. It makes me feel like she’s in the same room. Probably because she is. 🙂

Andrea T - i relate to your post ALOT. my mom is going through a rough patch with her health right now. i think it is so sweet that you gardened all day for your grandma bc she loves it that is such a great way to honor her!

Karen Gerstenberger - I’m sending love and prayers for comfort and strength to you and your family, Meg. xoxoxo

shauna reed - you are not alone.
my seven year old would tell you “at least you have your family”
i would tell you, “have a good cry Meg” that always makes my feel a little better.
it doesn’t fix any of this broken world and make the pain and suffering go away, but at least it does something with the emotions besides come out in anger on every one else.
just a thought.
my heart is with you friend.

Rachel B - This was a beautiful post! Beautiful.

Dawn - Those were amazing pictures and I love the color of those eggs.
Also thinking of you and your family during this tough time.

Kristin S - 1. ADORE the new blog header.
2. That is quite possibly the most perfect color blue. Only God could/would have that kind of creativity.

Jenny B. - I’m so sorry about your grandma. I’m learning that each season of life has its own joys and challenges. I wouldn’t have guessed that mama bird’s eggs would be such a beautiful bright blue color. I hope you enjoyed your day of gardening for Grandma.

Julie - prayers for you and your family tonight…this was a beautiful post.

betsy - Sending some warm thoughts your way about your Grandma. I’m sure she’d love this post!
P.S. That egg color is amazing! I can’t believe colors like this exist in nature!

wendy, NJ - Oh Meg, I can so feel the sadness you are feeling about your Grandma. My Gram was 92 when she went to be with Jesus. Due to distance, I unfortunately didn’t get to really know her until the last 6 years of her life. She was incredible. Her passion of nature and gardening sounds very similar to your Grandma.
And it’s ok if you go double rainbow on me because I believe that when I see a rainbow (or a double rainbow) that it’s my grandparent’s looking down on me. You see when we buried both of my grandfathers and my grandmothers they were dreary days, but at the end of the day a rainbow appeared. So I consider it a beautiful thing!
Hugs to you!!

Erin - Happiness. Wonderment. Sadness. Hope. So many emotions went through me while reading this post. Might be my favorite one to date. I can’t imagine what this feels like. Prayers for your Grandma…your dad…you…and your children. Much <3 being sent to you!

karen - lol at the “i’m not going to go all “double rainbow” on you”!!
Sweet post.

Liz Prince - My grandma is going through the EXACT same thing right now too. She is 95. Been in the hospital 3 different times in the past 3 weeks. Doctor says there is nothing more to do but take her home and make her comfortable. I am sad. Not for my Nana but for my dad. He adores him mom. And soon she will be gone and it will be my dad’s generation that will take over with the “aging.” And I will be taking care of him and my mom. Circle of life ya know? Anyway sorry for rambling but know that I am thinking of your grandma as I think of my own.
Keep up your honesty and being real. I look forward to getting my “meg” fix everyday. You rock! 🙂

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my aging mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teeth extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my again mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teethe extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Diana - Sending up many prayers for your grandma. xx

Mindy Harris - you are precious.
just precious.

Renee - I know what you mean about grown-up stuff. Both my grandparents passed away last year (I am 35, too!). I had many lunches alone with my Dad as he cried on my shoulder and I prayed for him. It is even more difficult to understand how he and my mom are now the oldest generation. Both mid 60s. But times heals. And I enjoy every day reminders of my grandparents- each so special. Especially my Lydie-girl who walk around with my Nana’s name!! Praying for you now.

Jenny Logan - Love this post! I’m praying for your Grandma. (and you & your family.)

Liana - Oh my goodness. I could have written your post, Grandma in declining health, Dad crying, bird loving, gardening…but we are both 35 so I guess it makes sense that we are both in the same place. My grandma died on Monday. I’m happy that she’s happy and healed and with her love (Grandpa) again…but it is still hard. How lucky to have had 35 years with her! Your family is in my prayers!

Laura Phelps - your grandma and I would get along beautifully
I am tight with the birds 🙂

Amy - My ‘hubby’ just gave me a new sewing machine so I could get back into sewing. Sitting and staring at it brings back so many memories of my grandma from when I was younger. She sewed all my clothes and taught me to sew at a young age. Man I miss her!

happygirl - I LOVE Robin egg blue. It’s my favorite blue. Hugs to you, friend.

crystal - I just can’t believe this post…I love it! What is so strange, just seconds (literally just seconds) before I read it, I’m sitting at the dining room table on the computer about to open up your blog, and I’ve been seeing this same type bird here on our back patio for the last couple weeks, and it landed on the ceiling fan today, I wanted to jump up & get my camera & take some pictures of it, but my memory card is in the bedroom & hubby is fast asleep after a late night at work, so I decided to wait & will try to photograph it another time. I just couldn’t believe it when it was the first thing I saw after opening your blog! Great minds think alike, right?!

Beth - Simply beautiful! Life is beautiful and sometimes the not so good news. However, the end is even more beautiful!
Hugs to you, Meg! I know it must be hard on you and your family! I lost mine when I was in my early 20’s. I do hope your granmother gets better! Enjoy your gardening today.
Love your new header!

shannon - Hi Meg! I don’t know if you read all your comments or not. So you may or may not get to mine but it just made me feel better to know I wrote something to you. Your post made me cry. I totally understand and I believe the same as you….I don’t like being a grown up sometimes. I am learning more and more how fragile life can be….my gparents whom I have not been all that close to until the last 2 years or so….are getting older…in their 80s….and their family members, their age, keep getting ill and passing on and I know in my head it’s only a matter of time and I have been trying to prepare my heart but I just cannot do it. They are, on all accounts pretty healthy, but I know the day will come. It makes me sad….and I know God is there to comfort me….it’s just…hard. 🙁

Ryanne - Wow, what a wonderful post on this dreary day. Thank you. I am sorry about your grandma.

Sandy - “I’m not going to go all double rainbow on you”…you’re SO funny! 🙂

Staci - Oh Megan, I”m so sorry to hear about your grandma 🙁 Yes, being a grown up does suck in these times…I will be praying for her…and you too! And those eggs…yes, completely awesome! We had a pair of geese (I KNOW!!!! They are mean little suckers!) at our pond that were nesting….she RARELY left that nest….and when she did…it was for a quick little swim (Man do I get that…she JUST needed time away!) and the funny thing…the daddy goose was flapping his wings at her…letting her know he didn’t think this was a good idea….and she just kept on swimming and then went back after a brief few moments to herself 😉 We would watch every morning at those two….my husband I LOVED it!!! Sad to report…something did eat their little eggs…circle of life…it’s a sad, tough thing. God is amazing to give us all these things to adore…if only for a little while 😉

jess - oh my goodness meg…my thoughts and prayers with you and your family. I was just thinking the same thing, in the last year i have watched my parents health go downhill and our conversations that use to be short and sweet are now filled with health and medical talk….this chapter in my life will be most challenging i’m afraid. on another note…i am in awe at how beautiful those eggs are….the color!!!!!

Alisha - I know exactly how you feel. I think about having to do the same with my grandparents who are now in their mid 80’s and the thought is unbearable. My prayers are with you and your family.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I love that God made that perfect shade of aqua, just for us. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before this post…and I’m not sure it exists anywhere else in nature? I mean, maybe on a tropical island, somewhere. But definitely not in Indiana.

Maegan - Meg, I loved this post. I was recently thinking the same thing. That life is so amazing…that there are tiny baby birds growing in there! However, my four year old found a broken egg that had obviously been dropped/fallen, and it made me think about sin and how awful it is. But our hope is in Christ! We need not fear death!

Shannon - You putting my Sonic sign on your list of Happy Things makes me SUPER HAPPY! 🙂

Molly Pearce - I will be praying for you and your family Meg! Love the color of the bird egg’s! I have a chicken that lays teal green eggs and they are gorgeous too! My granny loved birds as well and had a ton of porcelan musical birds all over her house! I used to love waking up in the mornings and hear her crank the handle and hear the little song sing! That’s one o fmy favorite memories 🙂
~Molly P

Sarah - I love those eggs. So humbling.

Beth - Thank you Meg! I needed this, my husband’s Grandma had a stroke this morning. He used you to speak to me today.

Jennifer - Meg, I lost my grandmother very unexpectedly in March. My BFF lost her aunt in December and her uncle last week. We too have decided that this part of our lives is going to have new challenges that we don’t feel prepared for. It’s going to be an adjustment for sure. I hope your grandmother makes a recovery and you get to enjoy her a little longer. Your post was beautiful and I hope she will be able to see it soon.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Dearest Meg, I am so sorry to hear that about your grandmother. Your family will be in my prayers. Please enjoy your gardening day! I hope it is extra special!

Terrie - Beautiful eggs!
Prayers going up for your Grandma. I understand about the not liking this whole grown up thing sometimes! My 1st grandbaby is on the way…while I’m over-the-moon excited for that…it made me think that my Dad is gong to be a Great-Greandpa. Yeah! On the one hand, I was so excited…then the whole stupid circle of life thing hits me and it was like…Holy Crum! My Dad is going to be a Great-Grandpa!! I’m not ready for his to be the next generation to go!! None of us are promised tomorrow…I know that…and like you, I know that God is in control! But, sometimes, it’s just HARD!
Sidenote…LOVE your new header! Made me smile when I saw it! I have one similar with pretty spring colored skittles! 🙂
Just saw on Hoda & Kathie Lee…ivillage is doing a contest about hot dads…I had to think of you and all your wonderful ‘hot’ comments about Craig. Winner gets some kind of WEEK long cruise vacation…I think you should check it out and enter! Think of the awesome pics we could see of the trip! I’d even volunteer to do crafts with the kids while you were gone!
Have a HaPpY ThuRsDaY!!! I’m off to have some fun with 1st graders!

Kim - I lost my grandfather about 16 years ago now. I still miss him. He never got to meet my kids, and he would have gotten a kick out of them for sure. I hope you enjoy your day gardening,watching birds and enjoying the sunshine while loving your grandmother.

jes - how beautiful. i (obviously) dont know your grandma but i am positive she would have loved it.
sending love and peaceful thoughts your way…
hope the sun shines on your gardening day.

amber - Double rainbow….funny, funny stuff.
I have one grandmother left. Her heart is showing it’s age. She’s had a hard life. I was just thinking last night about how much she’s gone through, & yet has lived so long (83). I wonder how she feels about feeling so bad all the time. It stinks. I’m praying for your grandmother. Peace & comfort, no matter the outcome.
I love grandma’s. And how God knows exactly what He is doing.

Sarah@this farm family's life - loved this! praying for your grandma and your family…

mel @ the larson lingo - those eggs are the most beautiful turquoise color! How neat!
So sorry to hear about your grandma, I will be praying for her & that she gets better quickly! Have fun gardening….the gardening bug bit me this year & I got my garden started last week. So much fun!

adrienne - i love how you captured the bird and her blue eggs! what a fun surprise for your when you finally got up there! great pictures, great post… sending lots of love and prayers your way.

Jenna - Tears … this post hit close to home with me. What better way to honor our loved ones than by celebrating or doing the things they loved? I’ll say a prayer for you, your grandma, and your dad.

Kacey - Beautiful post. Prayers for your grandma and your family.
Kacey

mandy friend - and if you want to see a funny old movie that kinda sorta includes bird watching rent Mr. Hobbs takes a vacation. hilarious!

mandy friend - prayers for your granmother meg. just remember , if He took such care creating those robins in all their beauty, how much more care He took to create the beautiful life your grandmother must have lived and is living. i haven’t had to face it yet, but my grandfather isn’t doing so well either, and he doesn’t know the Lord…
“we are only passing through to the promised land beyond the blue…”

Jessi - Actually, that would be an adjective. Grammar fail.

Jessi - I love that you just used “double rainbow” as a verb.

tiffany m gardner - Thank you for reminding all of us to see the beauty in small things. Life is a crazy, wonderful, scary, exciting beautiful ride. I am 33 and just had my third child. So I just experienced “building my nest” and “protecting my babies” too! This time my daddy wasn’t there to experience this new life with us. He was celebrating with Jesus. He had Alzheimer’s and went to be with Jesus four years ago. Sometimes life is just tough! My mama who as experienced a lot of loss in her life (my oldest brother died of cancer when he was sixteen..I was 2) always reminds me that everyday might not be great…but there are GREAT moments in everyday. Watching your bird build her nest and seeing those gorgeous eggs were great moments. Watching your sweet daughter’s amazement with her flower and seeds…great moments. Being reminded of your grandmother in doing something she loved…great moments. I will lift you up today…each time I see my flowers. I too will be thankful for the great moments. I will stand in awe of Jesus. I will be thankful for LIFE! ……thanks for being my morning cup of coffee! You Rock Meg!!!

Amanda - I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I just lost my paternal grandmother a month ago and I have had those same thoughts so often lately-this part of adulthood is just no fun.

Jen Brandt - Meg, I love your posts. Look forward to them everyday. You’re right. God is awesome. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Mother’s Day.

tara pollard pakosta - You truly are blessed to still have a grandma!
It’s hard and stressful, but wow, to have had her that long!
I never met one of mine and the other died of cancer when I was 5 years old….so just know that this time with her has been so very special and just hang on to the beautiful memories. much love and prayers and I hopes she recovers.
xoxo
tara

Danielle - So sorry about your Grandma:( I will be praying for her. And you’re right, God is so very good to us. Such a beautiful post Meg:)

amy jupin - well hello there momma bird!
your eggs are perfectly lovely.
and your nest is a work of art.
i hope your babies are snuggly and warm.
meg, my grandmother was the greatest gift in my life for so many years.
i am so grateful for all the time i had with her.
just as you are for yours.
i pray your grandma gets well again soon.
i pray she knows how much you love her.
sending many hugs your way.

elizabeth seay - love all your posts- but this one is especially inspiring and hopeful. life is hard- but God is so good!
thankful with you that we have hope!

Vicki - I think that grandmas are one of the greatest blessings God gave us. That and the color of robin egg blue. Garden on today sweet friend. Give that love you have to all those that are around you, your kiddos, your hubby, your daddy, and especially your grandma.

Kris - My Grandma…Nana is 96 yrs young. She is a gem, and I adore her. She is not a bird lover, but she is a unique and special Southern Lady, who I will one day, miss so very much. I savor every day I have her in my life.
I am a huge bird nerd!!! Love to go birding, and I don’t have to go far, as I have a one acre orange grove with so many species nesting here. I also attract them with feeders, and plants and water stations. Gardening is also a passion of mine. And I am trying to pass these things on to my three wonderful little grandchildren.
Have a happy day. I enjoyed this post of yours!

Penny - Prayers for your family as you go through this hard time. I know we are dealing with hard times with my parents, 87year old Mom with Breast cancer and 90 year old Dad crushed watching her deal with this. It is hard. So I will pray for your family and your special grandma. Growing old is not fun! Our hope is in all the new life around us, knowing God has a wonderful plan!
Great post Meg.

Courtney - Thanks so much for sharing those photos, I am in Florida and we get the robins for a few days, they are such lovely birds! I hope that your sweet grandmother gets to see the photos as well. Hugs and prayers for your family during this time! God Bless!

Holly - Praying for your sweet grandmother. My grandmother reads my blog. In fact she calls if I dont post enough. We had a momma bird on one of our colums on our front porch last year.

Sherry Cartwright - Beautiful post and photos. Hugs to you as you celebrate your grandma today — through nature’s beauty. Hugs.

jill - Beautiful eggs and JELLY BEANS! 🙂 We will be thinking of your family and your grandmother.

colleen in Alabama - Hey Meg, My Memommie went to be with Jesus 2 years ago this month. My Andaddy (her husband) is still alive at 96. He has an anuresm (sp?) in his stomach and just found out he has bladder cancer! He is SO ready to go home to be with Jesus. He sings “i want to see Jesus most of all” all the time. I am almost 46 and am so thankful to have had this precious godly man in my life for this many years. I will be sad when He goes to be with Jesus but i choose to pray that God would take him quickly and without pain. Then I will continue to praise my Savior that He kept Andaddy Faithful and finishing strong to the very end. Praying for you and your grandma right now.

Amy - My Grammy just passed away 2 weeks ago today. It still doesn’t feel real but I think its starting to sink in a little bit. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by in the last 2 weeks that I haven’t thought about her. She was 72 and she loved birds as well. Especially hummingbirds. 🙂 I love this post and am praying for your grandmother and your family during this difficult time.

Taryn - Just checkin’ in….it’s been awhile since we’ve connected. Know that i’m thinking of ya during this time with your Grandma. Love how you continue to keep it real. Enjoy your time gardening, soaking in all God has created today! Love ya!

sarah - Wow…incredible pictures. I want to frame the one of the three eggs shot from above and hand it on my wall! Would you be willing to sell it?
We don’t have many robins where I live now, but I remember ever-so-quietly tiptoeing up to their nests and catching peeks of those gorgeous eggs when I was a little girl and lived in the Midwest.
I’m so sorry your grandmother is suffering and that the rest of you are working through that right now. What a difficult time. 🙁

mel - your post got me all teary.
last year at this time we lost my grandma.
prayers for you and your family.
sometimes being a grown-up is so not fun.

Allison - Beautiful as always… Hugs to you as you deal with facing your grandma’s situation. But what a blessing that you have had a grandma for this much of your life, whom even your children are old enough to know. I am 23, and my one remaining grandparent just turned 89 and isn’t in very good health. I wish with all my heart that my amazing grandpa would live to see my 35th birthday and know the children I don’t have yet. So whatever happens, just be thankful that your grandma has known you for so much of your life. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is so special.

Ann Griffin - Beautiful pictures! I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Katie Sellers - That picture of those blue eggs in the nest almost took my breath away—how incredibly beautiful–what an unexpected surprise!!!
Hope you find comfort in the beauty around you today!

sarah - My poppa passed away on December 16th. Watching my family greive was one of the hardest things I have had to do to date. One thing I learned though, is time heals all. God is the author of time and to me that means he slowly mends our hearts. Growing up is tough, for sure! The color of those eggs also reminds me of how great our God is. So beautiful, eh?

Meg Carter - Meg!
We have a nest too! http://madebymeg.net/blog/favorite-nook-now-even-better/
Sorry to hear your grandmother is not doing well. I just recently did a tribute post to my grandmother that was also very into bird watching and gardening! http://madebymeg.net/blog/happy-easter-love-gram/
Thoughts are with you and your family.

Laura - I have been reading your blog for over a year now and have never commented. Many times I have noticed that a lot of similarities between our lives.
The last 3 weeks have been rough around here as well. My Nana has just found out she has a fast growing brain tumor and has been hospitalized. She is 88 years old and has lived by herself for the last 40+ years on 3/4 of an acre without a car. I flew out to see her last week. I had some wonderful conversations with her, thanked her for all that she has done for me and taught me. I held her hand and told her I love her. In all of our conversations she kept telling me that all she wants to do is go home and garden and she misses riding the bus. Your post today has inspired me to have the most amazing garden just for her and to take my kids on a bus just like she took me when I would come to visit.
As your blog always does it reminds me to delight in the simple things…just like my Nana does.
Keep your memories close and remember she will always be there in your garden. Hugs to you 🙂

Sheri - We have had a lot of birds nest on our front porch but never ever had blue eggs – that is beyond awesome.

Amanda - This made me teary (in a good way). I’m 34 and still feel jolted when I have to make grown up decisions. Really, me? 3 kids, a marriage & a mortgage and it seems I should still be eating at the kid’s table @ Thanksgiving. (btw love the bird’s nest pics!)

Shayne - Ninety-four is such an amazing number of years, which means you have made some wonderful memories. What a thing to treasure, but in another way, even harder to walk through the ending-ness of her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you; strength for your days and peace for your nights.

Tiffany - Warm thoughts for your Dad and Grandma. We have a nest under our deck, I think birds pick sweet families to build their nests. All the best to you and yours.

Kayla - Just sending hugs your way…and a few prayers!

Ruth Elder - Your post today made me think of my Grandma. She, too, loved Gardening and gave me ‘the bug’. She passed away 13 years ago. I still cry when I think of her. I still plant pink roses that make me think of her. Just remember: True love stories never have endings.

AshleyAnn - are you going to eat what you grow in that garden?

April M - blessed by your post today, thank you
wish i could offer something back but it sounds like God’s got you covered
(He’s so awesome!)
so that’ll be my bit, prayers that you and yours (and others in similar circumstances)
are covered by His grace and love
thanks again

Heather R. - P.S. love the new header. 🙂

Heather R. - Life is amazing. All of it. Enjoy your gardening, your bird with her eggs, and most of all your love for your grandma. Hugs!

debbie - Prayers for you and your sweet grandmother. Thanks for sharing a bit of happiness and beauty even though your heart is breaking.

Wendy - “Fuzzy baby Robins” … a FAVORITE of ours! Celebrate ur Grandmom’s 94 years – u & ur children r so lucky to have had her. I’m so envious of those who still have their Moms & Grandparents. Life … although amazing – is sometimes too short.

Sarah Alcantara - So sorry about your Grandma, beautiful post, beautiful pics….hugs!

Katie - Sorry to hear about your grandma! When my grandma passed away a few years ago I had the feeling that my biggest fan on earth was gone! She was the best!
Also fabulous print! Absolutely beautiful, thanks for following your curiosity and getting the shot! A must have!

deborah@applesinwonderland - my dear grandma loved birds and gardening too. and i loved and still love my now-departed grandma. ((((hugs)))) to you this morning and a good day for your grandma. it’s good to know that we are all connected too, through love and understanding and the need to carry on from one generation to the next.

Nancy - I have been down that road with the aging grandparents. I am sorry to hear about it. Never easy. No matter what age they are. Thoughts and prayers for you.
On another note, were you thinking of putting that robin’s egg picture in your shop or may I purchase an 8×10 of that. I LOOOVE it and would love to frame that lovely and remember God’s beautiful and abundant gift. Just gorgeous. Could you email me and let me know yay or nay. Thanks. xoxo Nancy

Catrina - I have the exact same bird/nest and 3 eggs in my back yard tree! yesterday I was brave enough to snap some pictures! And strange as it may sound, my great grandma is also not doing so well, she has been in ICU for about 2 weeks… So good luck with your grandma, I will keep you in my thoughts.

Donje - So sorry to hear about your grandma. It is hard. My prayers are with you and your family.

Caitlyn - I have the same cute little sunflower pot!

Beth Bowen - I follow your blog, but have never commented. I love this post so much that I’ve come out of hiding. 🙂 I will pray for you and your family. How awesome is God that He gave your family the “gift” of that mama bird and her babies right now in the midst of the situation with your grandma, reminding you that He is Creator and He cares for all living things. Have a blessed day and enjoy your birds and your “garden therapy”.

Carol S - God bless your grandma, gardening and birds. My grandma lived with us growing up and at 95 and passed away on Christmas Eve 2001. The last several years I visited her at assisted living places with my little ones which made her day, then the last 6 months were real hard, and she told me in confusion on my last visit, pointing at her body “this isn’t Alice, this isn’t me anymore and who I am” meaning it was time for her to leave. Huge believer, super faithful woman, and she adored cardinals and gardening. So, Meg, I’m right there with you. It’s hard, but she will live on in you forever.

Lindi G - Hi Meg…I absolutely love this post!! Having to be a grown up for situations like this does stink!! I hope all works out for the best!! The colors in the pics of this post are stunning!!
PS…loving the new profile pic and header!!

Marcella - I hear you.
When I was a kid I always thought grownups always had everything under control.
Now as an adult I realize my kids think I’m the one who has everything under control and can handle everything.
It’s scary because as you said, there are things that feel way too “grownup” to handle for even us grownups!
If we can remember our Father’s previous faithfulness that helps us through our present trials!
Beautiful post!

Gretchen - big Hugs meg! I know that feeling having been through it when my husband passed away. I kept thinking to myself, we are too young to deal with this being 31 at the time, it was a year ago. My faith has brought me great strength in times of trial, and I know yours will too. The nest, eggs and mama bird show how great God’s gift of life is. We are lucky to be a part of that gift!

Trina Curran - Oh, I love this. The bird is beautiful and so is her work of art. And, yes, I believe your grandmother would have loved it…bless her heart. And yours. We watch for cardinals to know that my husband’s dad is keeping watch over us…we see them at almost every family event. Coincidence? I don’t think so. We have one that lives in the tree outside in front of our house. 🙂

stephanie - Aging parents and grandparents is so hard. I’m starting to see some of those slowing down signs in my own parents (even though they are VERY active still), but it’s still hard when they have more dr. appointments than my four kids combined. Prayers for you and your grandma today.

Chantelle - Gorgeous pic of little eggs! Wow!! What a blessing to get to see that. Thank you for sharing!

Trish - hugs, it’s never easy watching our loved ones age!

Hoosier at Heart - I’ve never seen eggs such a vivid blue color. Gorgeous! Prayers out to your grandmother. Maybe you could print the pics out and take them to her to have in her room. Love ya, darlin!

Michelle from Australia - My Mum was orphaned at age 6. And as she watched her friends have to take care of their parents she said to me that she always thought she lost out on the parent lottery in life. But she said watching people have to make horrendous decisions on how to care for ageing parents, she realised that maybe she had pain young but was spared a more acute pain later in life. Her parents died young, beautiful, in love, they were her heroes, she has no bad memories of them and they didn’t suffer.
I will pray for your Grandma and your family in the days ahead.

Julia - I’m sorry your Grandma is not doing well. You are a source of comfort and strength for your family, though. When my dad was in the ER with congestive heart failure last year, I was there with my mom. I kept watching the ER doors, thinking someone I knew would come through the doors to help us. I realized that I was the one that came to help my mom and dad. It was a “grown up” realization and I didn’t like it. But, I did the best I could to help my mom and dad. (He recovered from that near fatal event- six weeks in the hospital and lots of hard work).
I love that momma robin. What a nice gift for you on your porch. Down here in Texas, we get them as they pass through onto other places. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen “robin-blue” eggs. Thank you for sharing.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Sadly, I never knew either of my grandmothers(my moms mom, her best friend, was buried the day before I was born and her only wish was to live long enough to “meet the baby”). But I totally know what you mean about life being hard, tough decisions and all that. Im watching it happen with my PARENTS. They had me at 38 so although Im only 31 their healths have been on a downward slope fopr years now and it totally stinks.
Im praying for you. And your grandma. And that bird is absolutely beautiful!
xo,
Sarah

Nicole - Cannot say how much I love and needed this post. My grandfather has been fighting cancer for 4 years and this past month has been the worst. He has decided to forego further treatment and like you said, seeing my mom cry and watching her heart break for her daddy is way too grown up for me.
Beautiful post. Great pictures. Awesome God.

JulianneB - Praying for your sweet Grandma and you, too. It is the hard stuff of life, and it makes me stop and go…okay I guess this is what being grownup means. I lost both of my grandmas and my mom all within a one year span. So blessed to have had my grandmas into their nineties. My daughter was only 3 at the time, and I am sad she will miss having her grandma and great grandmas around.

Southern Gal - Sorry to hear of your grandma’s hard times right now. Yeah, growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Those eggs are gorgeous. Such pretty pictures of that mama bird, her eggs and her masterpiece. Yes, God is amazing.
Love your header. It’s so rainbow-y.

Sandy - I’m so sorry about your grandma, Meg.
I think you should frame the picture of the eggs…those totally match the mirror you painted. Yes??

Bernice - Those eggs are beautiful! Sorry to hear your grandma’s having some rough days. I hope things will get better for her soon.

Shann - So sorry to hear about your dear Grandma Meg. I lost my sweet Grandma last September. I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to go see her to tell her something that has been going on with myself or my kids and she is not there in her little blue chair anymore. It stinks. Although I am thankful for the promise we have in Christ that I will see her again someday…it is still so very hard. I just prayed for you and your family. Grandmas Rock!!! 🙂

Kerry - Those eggs are my fave colour!! Beautiful 🙂 Love the seedlings too! Sending your granny love and strength across the seas x

Annika - I like your new banner! And the bird photos are amazing. Nature is amazing!
All the best wishes for your gran!

georgia - Beautiful eggs! Your house is even more colourful now! Pls try and get baby bird photos too when you can 🙂

Gemma - Hi Meg!
Those eggs are beautiful!
I really hope your Grandma recovers. All you can do is be strong for your family : )
Gemma x

Amanda F. - How blessed you are to have gotten the chance to be with your grandma this long and for your kids to know their great grandma! I lost my grandma when I was only 8 years old and my mom’s mom I never got to meet at all. Prayers for your family during this time.
And beautiful pictures, those eggs are gorgeous! I totally see them as the new “sunflower print” for Summer 2011… 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Awww Meg, I just love this post for lots of reasons…the little bird and her amazing nest, her most gorgeous blue eggs, the reminder of who God is. Take care. I know this is a hard time for you and having to deal with the reality that life isn’t always rainbows. I will keep you in my prayers. Sending you a hug.

heather @ cookie mondays - lovely post 🙂
those turqouise eggs are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kori - My grandma just found out some not-so-good news (not really *new* bad news, but it’s confirmed…does that make sense?) and I agree that this part of grown-up life sucks. Bad.
I do love your houseguest and her family. They truly are a beautiful thing.
All the best to you and your family…
❤

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the weekend.

April 30, 2011 Filed in family fun,playtime,things i love

i was on my own this weekend…..with all the kids.

craig was away with guys from our church.  
at a lake?  in missouri?   or arkansas?  
mostly golfing i think.
i was happy for him to get a break.

really….i was.
i know how badly i need them….so i was happy for him.
if i can keep my attitude in check then a few days on my own holding down the fort is ok.

i took pictures of saturdays good stuff.

i did sleep in.
the benefit of bigger kids….they let you sleep because they don't need things like diaper changes or bottles.
they can turn on the tv and computer by themselves.
they make their own breakfast.

so i get to sleep.

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and they let me get ready in peace for almost an hour!
that rocked.

i snapped a shot that i decided to use as my new profile pic…i have been so happy with that mirror in the kitchen.

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most of the kids finished their chores and it was almost noon.
scott was already gone at his basketball practice.
we dropped off sean at his friend's house.
lauren was still asleep.
the little girls and i went to the nursery.

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annie was dressed for a birthday party.  
she had come into my room and said "don't i look fancy for the party?"  it was boy party!  :)

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my ginormous geranium was my passenger on the way home….
sparkling lemonade….
bloom bag from the pleated poppy!!! 

we dropped annie off at the birthday party (forgot the gift!)
talby and i grabbed groceries at the walmarts.
and a cute swim suit cover up for her.
(and a gift for the party)
then came home and her friend came over.
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my dinner.
 
dinner for everyone else was make-your-own.  (aka: cereal or chicken nuggets)

sean came home.
scott was back.
lauren and her friend came home.
annie came home.
and two more friends showed up.

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lauren announced to the 8 of us that she is making a campfire.

(time for me to join the group instead of listening to everything from the kitchen windows…fire is involved)

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they did it….very well in fact.

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the light was almost gone…..that is the museum that we live next door to behind lauren.

we made smores with reeses.
the marshmallows MAY have had ants in the bag….but we were desperate….. 
people in other countries eat ants right?
it's protein.
right???

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expert fire makers.
we have them to thank for our nice end to the day.
it was great….for real.

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i wrangled in two for baths.
one started her laundry.

i got the three youngest to bed.
the two older watched a movie.
and i crashed.

it was a good day.

i have flowers to plant.
the house is a wreck.
and half the groceries i got are already gone.
i guess that is what happens when 10 kids are in your house in one day….

and it's fine.

perfectly fine.

 

 

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COME VISIT ME…OK…thank you very much

Karen Gerstenberger - I love…
…your haircut…your new blog header…Sonic…Annie’s outfit…the fact that you went with the campfire…the flexibility that you live with…the fact that your sweetie went on a church trip on his own…your blog…your honesty…your faith…your family.

Kimberly - Sometimes that level of chaos is so awesome 🙂

Anne-Marie from CT - I want to be adopted into your family! Your house looks full of love, laughter, fun, and just plain crazy-kid stuff. 🙂
Btw~Your haircut is fantastic!!! So stinkin’cute. luv, luv, luv it!!

Kate - I love this post. It sounds like a wonderful happy weekend of Mom and kids. It just made me smile.
And yes, people eat ants.

Gina - Love this post! You make the ordinary stuff sound great on your blog-things I wouldn’t normally think about blogging but they are so real I keep reading…. and we are alot alike 🙂 when we had our 1st kid, 5 kids (although my youngest is 11 yr step-daughter and my 2 oldest girls already left the nest), photography, scrapbooking, treasure hunting, I even used to sew (a LONG time ago) although I gave my machine to GOODWILL when we moved 6 months ago! I love the new pic – and the mirror in the kitchen! I’ve been hunting at garage sales for cool frames to paint awesome bright colors for my home and for designer framing for my customers…. I hope we get to meet in person one day 🙂

Wendi - My mother in law eats ants. She bought me some ant eggs to eat one time. Kinda sweet 🙂 I went to a bridal shower next door to you over Christmas… it was fancy yet cozy. Sounds like a great yet full day!

Aimee - Wow, that day gave me chills. Perfection. I can’t wait until we establish nearby friend relationships like that.
And you hit the nail on the head about one of the best parts of kids getting older. I LOVE that they can take care of themselves in the morning. Love, loooooooooove it!!!!!

Kat - Sounds like a great Saturday. (always good to hear what others do on their weekends. I always feel with 4 young kids like I spend lots of time doing washing, feeding kids and more of the same iykwim?)
Sounds like you juggled it all well!
It’s nice to see Lauren hanging at home with the family and wanting to make a campfire to share.

Kristin S - Seriously, your random posts are my fave. I think I’m sick of saying this every time you post random! But it is true. So there.

julia - soooo, who’s Lauren’s “friend”?

Risa - This made me smile! SO. MUCH.

casey - your pictures made me happy;0. love smores, love the giant glasses, love your snapshot of your self in that awesome mirror! Great captures!

danielle - love the smores with reeses…campfire is in order for me and my man after the boys are in bed friday night.

karen - Great profile pic! looked like such a nice weekend.
i want to be in a greenhouse right now!
Here in Toronto…spring has barely sprung.
off to get some left over chocolate from Easter and scoop up some peanut butter 🙂

Laura Phelps - i love a house full of kids
and i love lauren in these pictures
love that she started a fire
the good kind 🙂

Su@The Intentional Home - I am sure you have heard the quote:
If your children spend
most of their time
in other people’s houses,
you’re lucky;
if they all congregate
at your house,
you’re blessed.
You are indeed blessed. . .10 kids!!

jennie - sounds like a picture perfect day. how nice that it’s in print, to be remembered forever.

Jessica Johnson - mac + great lash = all you need in life. my make-up bag looks identical.

regina - i LOVE how real you are!!!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - chocolate+peanut butter = PERFECTION! Love it!

se7en - Oh fun!!! You have such a great attitude – love it!!!

Sarah@this farm family's life - sounds like a fabulous weekend! I am so jealous that you all are in shorts…it is still cold here.

happygirl - Such a fun Saturday. Love the new profile pic. and, I’ll eat s’mores if they have Reeses AND ants. Not just ants.

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Where do I start? Profile pic…LOVE, Craig away…sad, you took care of the whole family by yourself…awesome, S’mores with Reese’s…sounds like a plan, out of groceries already…sounds like my house 🙂

Danielle - Sounds lovely! I love your bag from the pleated poppy, might have to get one for myself, it’s almost Mother’s Day so I can justify it, right?:) I miss Sonic:( We don’t have one close, literally like an hour and a half away. So when my husband is on that side of town he goes to Sonic and buys me two bags of the crushed ice so I can make believe for awhile. I might need to buy some styrofoam cups to get the full effect. Have a great day!

Amanda - Phew! I’m so glad that things went so well (or they didn’t and you just chose to not tell us about that)!
Reeses smores sound wonderful.

Samantha - Maybe Lake of the Ozarks? Heck I wouldn’t know living in Missouri just a little over a month. Just know from what my grandparents told me that the place they are staying at the Ozarks has a golf course lol.

Jennifer S. - These are the days that I am looking forward to…my kids and all their friends in and out all day long. I love having a house full of people all the time and the kids and their friends are going to be apart of that.

sara @ it's good to be queen - s’mores with reeces?! i. die.

Diana - Part of my ancestry is in that museum next door to you. Such a great heritage. Yeah, I cannot lie, I’m proud of that. 🙂
Flowers so pretty. Gardening… my #1 interest. Too bad winter interferes. LOL!

Alicia @ La Famille - what a nice saturday. and how sweet of you to let your hubby have a break while you took over. i think it’s harder for moms sometimes because we’re with the kids all the time, so we think we’re the only ones in need of a break…at least that’s how i feel 🙂 (most of the time) you’re a sweet mama!

Julia - Sounds like an awesomely exhausting day. I have two little ones (2 1/2 and 4 months) and I not-so-secretly hope when they get bigger, that our house will be the ‘hub’ of kid activity.

Molly - Talby is so cool!!

Cindy B - So fun! Last night I was supposed to go to the movies with my book club, but my 12 year son said, “You’re not coming to my game, Mom?” So I changed my plans because those days will be gone too soon. My 16 year old has her friends over for lunch every day and I am always running out of food too! That’s what Costco and Walmart are for!
You’re looking skinny must be Jillian at work!
Cindy

Cindy - This all sounds so good! Love the smores photos! Makes me long for summer nights. Can’t wait for our frosts to be done. For good. I want to head to the nursery for plants! Thank you for this post. It lifted my spirits and reminded me that groceries that are just purchased and so quickly gone means that there is a house full of loved ones around me.

Jes - That brings me back to summer nights being a kid (except we never had reese’s smores!) Your kids are all so beautiful and unique 🙂
And I am very interested in that Museum next door (wonder what sort of treasures are inside), and how cool that would be for a neighbor!

shelly - What a blessed weekend—for everyone around!!!
I want that..to be the friend hangout (and maybe the museum behind you–loks gorg!)

Kim - um, s’mores with reeses? i just died.
it is a good thing i don’t have easy access to a fire pit right now… 🙂

katie Phillips - Thank you for making me smile today! 🙂 I love all of this…it makes the inside of my ears warm and fuzzy! (that is a good thing!)

Kacey - So that’s what life with 5 kids is like – busy busy busy! And I think my two boys wear me out…
Honestly, it sounded lovely to me. Lots of kids around and a happy house. I love it when you document your days!
Kacey
P.S. Love the new profile pic!

Amy - We are going camping at East Lake this weekend and I CAN’T forget to pack the smores!!

Lisa - I love a house full of my kids and their friends! So fun. Loved that you ate marshmallows with ants! hahaha I would totally just flick them off and go for it! The heat of the fire would kill any germs right?! 😉

Ashlyn - I am with you on the sleep. If I can sleep in on the weekend, I am much happier and ready to drive everyone to & fro!
Love your pleated poppy and what is better than a Sonic drink?
xo

Courtney Walsh - wait. what? S’mores with REESES? Are you KIDDING? I have never even considered that but now I won’t rest till we try them!
And the sleeping in part made me hate you a little. But only for a fleeting second. 🙂
Also, your bag from pleated poppy?? LOVE.
Your hair? Love.
Fancy Annie? Love.
🙂

kristy - I’d like you to know, the only thing I heard in this post was “when the kids are older, you get sleep”. Thank you for giving me hope!!!!!! 🙂 And can I live next door to you?

Georgia - My mum has 3 kids, me being one of them, and quite regulary when i go over there ,y 17yr old brother has about 6 mates round all playing xbox in his tiny bedroom, and my sister will have 3 mates round sitting watching a dvd in the lounge.
My mum is so laid back, her motto is as long as you have fun, and your safe thats all that matters 🙂
(even if she is re-stocking the fridge and cleaning for days afterwards… hehe)

Holly - I recognize your saturday! It sounds similar to mine! We live right in front of the ball fields in our town so we always have kids coming over…..and eating of course!

Charlene @ Adventures In Mommy Land - LOL, can’t believe you guys ate ants (maybe?) I would’ve freaked out!
My kids used to let me sleep in like that too, but now the two youngest boys fight every morning until I wake up and separate them….then I can’t fall back asleep…totally sucks!
Looks like everyone survived and had fun!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Sounds like a fab day…I am in love with campfires and s’mores at the moment. It’s part of my summer rital!
Gemma x

valerie - Love your Blog! The pictures in this post are getting me hungry for summer. I have the same thing, flats and flats of flowers just waiting to get some love.

sara@augustfields - megan….you look FABULOUS in that picture! i can not wait to start planting flowers…we have to wait a few more weeks….
i loved your video too 🙂 i did my first video a couple of weeks ago…
hope you have more days like this ahead!

BriBedell - Sounds like a good day to me! I often wonder now how my parents could afford to feed us 6 kids and all our friends….CRAZY!!!

Heather - Mmmmmm. What was your dinner?

MaryLea @ pink and green mama - Sound perfect and I would say that by toasting/roasting the marshmallows those ants didn’t stand a chance! Love the new profile pic and your cute hair-do!! Inspired by your daughter’s haircut last week I think I’ve convinced “C” to let me chop hers off into a short bob again for this summer.
xoxo MaryLea

Ana M - do simple and mundane things are always the best…specially with family…thanks for sharing these moments…

Cathy - what is your yummy looking lunch?

Catherine - I love hearing how similar our times can be! I only have 3 but ages range 17, 12,and 7. 2 boys and a baby girl. Our summers are like that, kids coming and going and just a good time. Don’t you love having kids that are so self sufficient!?

april - Love the new profile pic….sooo cute!
xoxo

Sugar Mama - I loved this entire post, but what caught my attention the most was “half the groceries are already gone….” That has been my life lately with older boys and their friends over at the house. I spent $400 at Costco less than 2 weeks ago and almost ALL of the food is gone!
Life is good. And I like that their friends hang out at our house. And I love that my kids have good friends.
(but do they HAVE to eat all of the food? can’t they bring some from their own home to share?)

ashley jensen - Smores with Reeses???? That sounds awesome. Now I will just have to remember to do that the next time we go camping! I noticed that your tree stump seats and picnic table is paineted with bright colors too!

Molly Pearce - Sounds like a super fun weekend!!! I will have to try smores with Reeses’, thats my hubs favorite candy 🙂
~Molly P

Melanie - Sounds like a great weekend:)

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random monday morning

April 18, 2011 Filed in random,things i love

everyone asked about my photo collages.
that is so random.
i love it.

IMG_0537-11

i made them at picnik.com 
back on this post….talking about my favorite posts from 2010.
it's part of the collage section.
it's a premium feature though not in the free version.

i hung them on pom pom trim (joann's or walmart or hobby lobby has it) from little clothes pins in the craft dept.

i printed them as 12×12's at scrapbookpictures.com.

their website is a little bit….lame.

but their product is fabulous.
great prices.
great shipping.
i use them for everything i have printed in the past 5 years.
so don't give up when you first go to their site.

———————————————————————————————–

someone asked me about my awesome wreath….

IMG_0527-8

it's from danielle.
she is saving her pennies and getting crafty to go to blog sugar.
you should get one and help her out!
they are cute!
i canNOT wait to meet her!

———————————————————————————————-

i think that "wildflowers" by tom petty could be the best song in the history of all songs. 

———————————————————————————————–  

sometimes i have the thought: 
"if i have to go to the grocery store ONE MORE TIME i may lose my mind."

this month i have been thinking that all the time.

even if i was more organized……

i would still have to go.

i am tired of that chore….over and over and over. 

BUT….as i type those words….i can hear my spoiled little mind…..so lame….boo hoo you have to buy food.
i need to change my thinking.

make it a positive.

i GET to provide my family with healthy food.
i GET to go to a giant store with more food than i could eat my entire lifetime.
i need to quit whining.

———————————————————————————————-

IMG_0660-1
 
i got to see her.  :)
she looked very grown up and pretty.

thanks for sharing all your prom stories…it was a nice distraction! 

——————————————————————————————— 

i have lots to do today….if i can stay motivated.
leaves are coming out of the flower beds finally.
phone calls and errands.
and the groceries.
AND JILLIAN….week 3 starts today….i am kind of afraid of what it involves….sore muscles for sure.

what does your monday have going on?
 

 update:   SQUAT JACKS in week 3  
               pushup/headstands
               and jumping on one foot….who knew that this would be difficult?
               annie just showed me that jumping on one foot was going to be her talent for  the church 
               talent show next week.
               and apparently it IS a talent because i can't do it more than three times.
               what have i done to this body?!
               why didn't i appreciate it when it looked like it did for prom 1991????? 


add a comment

Hayley - I keep referring back to this post and now I am FINALLY ordering collages…what resolution do you save the collage in to have clear 12×12 print outs?

Annie - Oh Meg—I can so relate to the grocery comment. Seriously—we are so blessed here in the United States–I have 2 full grocery stores less than a mile from me where i can get ANYTHING I WANT. Oh MY GOSH….I have NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT! I have been following your blog for awhile and I think this is the first time I’ve commented. I so enjoy your candor, freshness, spunkiness, and you are just plain fun. I pray God’s blessings on you and your lovely family. Signed–a now “uninvisible blog follower!

the whyte house - thanks for the tip on the photos. i’ve been trying to put some together for my son’s birthday party. i already have premium picnik and that site will help out a lot.
lauren–don’t you know that wearing trench coats over prom dresses is all the rage now?? seriously. it was in on E! last night. 🙂 lol.
she looked soooo pretty!

Michele - OMGorgeous! That’s it. Gorgeous.

jeannie - Lauren is absolutely gorgeous. It’s nice to see and read about her on your blog pages. She is stunning! Hope she had fun:)

Sheridan Eketone - Wow.. Lauren is STUNNING! Ok… ABSOLUTELY HATE FOOD Shopping! Something I dread on a regular basis! On the upside… this weekend (in New Zealand) I’m heading to SHOUT conference to see Israel Houghton & New Breed! How could life be bad?? Hope you have a lovely EASTER!!! Thanks for your posts, you are one FABULOUS lady! Sheridan x

Tammy - Lauren looks beautiful, love her dress & hair!
Also love your photo collages & your random posts! Hope you had a great day!

Lia - hii so overall do you like 30 day shred? is it really effective? im trying to decide if i should order it. i have started gaining weight since being married and HATE running and dont really have the money for gym membership – plus i dont think id ever go. would you recommend jillian?

tiffany - the collage was good. the wreath sweet. but your daughter in her prom dress was truly priceless.

Jenna - I’m starting Ripped in 30 today and I’m scared 🙁 Lauren looks beautiful … I love her purple and her hair!

jennibell - Megan, thought of this when you posted the bit about being grateful for being able to grocery shop. . .just an attitude adjustment. . .this is a really good clip that I think you’d like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&feature=share

georgia - I wish I had the motivation to do more workouts!!
I need to lose 2 stone in 5 months to fit in my wedding dress, feeling slightly depressed as only lost 7lbs in the past 4 months!!!!!!!! Arghhhh

jennibell - Today. . .played tennis, took the kids out for donuts, hit the library, and an impromptu lunch at Sam’s Club with my husband 🙂 Now. . .schoolwork (for the kids — I finished up my Master’s theses yesterday – ya!), make dinner, get one to soccer practice and fit in Jillian somewhere. I’ll start week 2 today.
Thanks for the info on the college pictures. One of my 2011 goals is to take a “picture of the day”. . .this might be a good way to document them 🙂
For grocery shopping. . .something that has helped me. . .I keep a constant list going on a pad in my kitchen. I have “trained” everyone to write down when they open the last box of cereal, get the last gallon of milk out, etc. and that makes it so much easier for me not to overlook something and have to make a quick trip back. Of course weekly menus cut down on the grocery shopping trips too but I haven’t mastered those yet. Wish I could since our closest grocery is 13 miles away. Hope you get all your stuff done today!

Rach - Oh don’t get me started on my list for today or for the next 2 weeks. I am due to give birth next Friday (c-section), we just moved into our new house last weekend (it’s not a fixer, but it’s not perfect either… lots of projects in the works), we are still 1/2 in boxes and in the process of finishing the 2nd bath, I am the size of a whale at 38 weeks pregnant and trying to run around after a 2 year old and a puppy is exhausting, and I have a laundry list of stuff to get done before my parents get here to help tomorrow night. Phew. At least today I dropped off my laundry to have someone else do it for me (yay for fluff and fold) since our washer and drier are buried by boxes and not hooked up yet. Busy busy busy.
On a lighter side, I am so glad you got to see your daughter before prom. She looks gorgeous! Oh how dresses have changed since the 80’s. 🙂

Nichole - I thought I’d get stuff done this Monday, then it became so windy that everyone is having issues keeping their cars going straight on the road. *sigh* So now that works over, I’m staying in. And probably doing counted cross stitch.
I’m not really sure I could jump up and down on one foot either. Maybe I’ll try later.

Leah - Lauren looks SO pretty! Glad she let you take her photo and share it with us. I LOVE Picnik and that collage feature is my favorite. I hadn’t though of printing them out and hanging them though. I’ve been doing Project 365 (photo a day) on my blog and making a collage at the end of each month. I think I’ll print those out and display them. Thanks for the inspiration.

julia - daannngg! what a babe!

elizabeth pilling - so glad you got to see her off. she’s beautiful. i spent my prom in the er getting 17 stitches in my forehead after i knocked myself out running into a pole that was hiding behind streamers. HA!

Heidi - She looked so pretty! I had to laugh- I have a dress in black that is almost identical to that one and my husband’s favorite suit is exactly like the one her date is wearing. 🙂 Except they look much better than we do. 😉

Shaina Brown - starting week one of jillian. all the while my 2.5 yr. old and my 3 yr. old niece tear apart the house. wish me luck!!!

karen - do you have a vegetable garden meg? that could help some trips mayyyybe!?
Best Garden salad:
cut tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, celery stick and leaf, (hot banana pepper if you like it hot), glorious olive oil and salt! the best salad ever!! and fresh crusty italian bread to soak up all the freshly grown juice goodness!!

Ali - I’m starting week 2 tomorrow,,is Ripped in 30 working for you?
I am following the diet too, mostly,, except for dinner,,I eat what I feed my family..just a few more veggies, and smaller portions of everything else,,,except yesterday,,I ate tortilla chips!
I have lost a little weight, and am getting stronger for sure…but I want major results:) Like, swimsuit worthy results!

Danielle Thompson - I too am glad you got to see Lauren! Evidently you saw some of my family too that backyard is my brother’s house. Hopefully their group had a fantastic time!
This Monday I’m working.

Janelle - So I have to admit I was a little sad when my Get Ripped With Jillian finally arrived from Amazon…I figured if I don’t have it, I can’t do it…right??? I ATTEMPTED the first week yesterday…and laid down on the floor about 1/2 way through. I can do it though…I think!
How do you just not cry looking at that pic of Lauren? I know it is happy…growing up…but just looking at her picture (and she’s not even mine!) just truly tugs on my heart strings!

Sara W - This morning I was just wondering if you got to see Lauren-so happy for you. She looks fabulous.
And yes, level three is oh my HARD! I follow the easy girl more times than not.

Lacy Brauner - Today Meg, I clean up after Hurricane payton and Hurricane Jacob..both born durin Hurricanes, Rita and Ike..Not a good combo..if you live in Houston, it has to be a bad omen to have babies during Hurricane season..Also, cleaning up after our baby lab/hearder mix who tears up the backyars. Also, I have to do mass amount of laundry and also, hit the dreaded grocery store. Its not the shopping i hate, its the money i spent and bringing hurricanes with me is never easy.. I wish i was more organized.. but..you make a good point.. waa i have so many clothes( i hate) i have to wash them, (in my house) i have to feed my family waaa waaa i need to be more positve as well.. thanks meg for always being so positvly REAL. as a feshly new single mom, most days are hard, but i look at my hurricanes faces, and it is all worth it..and there are people out there who have it soo much harder then me, i need to stop feeling sorry for myself:]

Jodi @ The Un-Soccermom Blog - I’ve tried and tried to go to scrapbook.com and order pictures… I’ve given up over and over… one day…
You’re daughter is BEAUTIFUL! My baby girl is going to her Jr. Prom on the 30th. sigh…

Katy - Ooookay.. 🙂 Can I just say, Lauren looks GORGEOUS! Thank you for sharing that print site! I have Picnik premium so I am going to whip up some collages and have them printed out. Gotta hit up Wal Mart for some pom pom trim, too. 😉
I wonder, do you have Pinterest? I would love to see your pin boards, if so! If not.. Let me send you an invite! 😀

BriBedell - The grocery store is the devil. Love the pictures, I really wish I had a nice camera. Not that I would have any clue how to use it but I’m just saying it would be nice!!! Lauren looks so cute! My younger sister is her age, so although I don’t parent her I know how stressful they can be/act!!!

Nicole - I think Wildflowers could also be the best album ever! Also, I’m loving those collages & the way you hung them up!

Melissa - Today is day one of spring break for my kiddos. I’m being a bum. We might do a craft. Other than that, it’ll be a lazy day!

Necole - Monday is usually my detox day from working all weekend. I am a nurse, an sometimes the work can take a toll on you like any job. Unfortunately, I have a to do list that consist of driving in traffic. I hate traffic.

AshleyAnn - Lauren looks amazing! She picked the perfect color – just gorgeous on her. I am so glad you got to see her.
Sometimes it is hard not to whine 😉

Alicia @ La Famille - monday: change sheets, make a TON of phone calls, a few errands, and finish a few things for a new “line” of fun things for my shop. oh, and school my children 🙂

Katie - I am so glad you got to see her!
Today is cleaning up from celebrating my birthday (a bit early since it is on Good Friday) with both sides of the family! And probably eating really healthy and going to the gym because of all the delicious food. Can’t complain about that I guess!

Wendy - I’m doing taxes today … can u say procrastination?!
U are blessed … Lauren is beautiful!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - LOVE Lauren’s hair the most but everything about her looked beautiful!
My Monday? Sewing, sewing, sewing. Then violin lessons for the 7 year old(skipping little ones gymnastics class to take big one to her lesson. UGH)
Every time I hear the words Blog Sugar I get all happy inside:) I cannot WAIT!
xo,
Sarah

susan ponder - The Petty song has long been a fave! I’m happy you were able to see your daughter off to prom.

Lisa Currie-Gurney - SO GLAD YOU GOT TO SEE HER!!! SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL “GIRL”, MEG.
THEY DO GROW UP WAY TO FAST!!!
DON’T FORGET TO HAVE A BIT OF TIME FOR YOURSELF TODAY… AND I DON’T MEAN JILLIAN. THAT DOESN’T COUNT. ITS GOOD BUT TAKE MEG TIME. EVEN IF ITS JUST A QUIET MOMENT TO SIT AND BE WITH, Him.
HUGS FROM MY HEART

danielle - bahahha. that’s my evil laugh.
i cannot wait to embrace you…does that creep you out?
a little?
just a little?
i wish i was doing jillian michaels…sort of… i wish i was getting the results and not doing it actually.
lauren is stunning!!

Lauren - I feel the same way about the grocery store, I’m sick of shopping and it is so expensive.
But then I thank God that I have the money to feed my family, to nourish them and watch them grow. I thank God that I haven’t ever had to put them to bed hungry as millions of mothers around the world have to do. So yes, we have to keep it in perspective 🙂

Jen - OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!! I only got through about 10 minutes of Week 3 today. OY. I’m trying not to get discouraged and go back to week 2 and telling myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect this time around. What are you doing to stay on it??

happygirl - Lauren looks GREAT. LOVE the wreath. HATE grocery shopping. My Monday includes going to work and coming home and making food for everyone and going to bed. I guess you can see why I don’t have pictures on my blog.

Sophie - Wow, Lauren looked gorgeous! What a knock out!
My Monday is very relaxed as I’m on Spring Break right now. My friend’s 18th birthday is tonight though, so I’m going to her party.
Have a happy day! (:

flowerpowermomma - Lauren looks lovely and her date sharp too. I hope they had lots of fun. Most importantly, I’m glad you got to see her AND take a picture. woohoo!!
hmm, today I should get laundry done, some main dishes made ahead and in the freezer for ‘wedding week’, and I want to try out my new electric (yeah) hedge trimmers.
Then finish off the day with a small family birthday party for my adorably cute great nephew who just turned 2.

Alissa - Your daughter looks gorgeous! My son had prom this weekend also…..so hard to see them so grown up!
I am working today and then starting an extreme fitness class tonight….I am very nervous, I’ve been assured I will be unable to move for a few days. Will be drinking lots of water throughout the day to get ready! Enjoy your Monday:)))

Sarah - Love your random colorful posts! Lauren looks amazing! Love the collages….I’ve got to do some!

Georgia - Love the Collages!!! going to do that myself i think!
Lauren looks stunning!! – lovely dress!

Kat - Lauren is an absolute stunner! Glad you got to see her and take a pic.
Love the photo collages, very inspiring. IF I had room to put one up in our tiny house with six people in it!
As for groceries we try to only go once a fortnight. Yes you read that right and then top up weekly for fruit and veg, bread and milk.
My Monday included water aerobics, a hot choc with my two youngest, errands and a quiet afternoon at home procrastinating and feeling rather blah on a dreary, grey autumn day here in Aus.
Kids are now heading to bed, so I am going to do lunch boxes.
Hope yours was productive!
Better go listen to the Tom Petty song now.

Michelle from Australia - Dear Meg. I’m reading and reading and thinking ‘oh how sad we won’t get to see how Lauren looked’ and WOW, there was the picture as I scrolled down. WOW. She looks fabulous. Just like her Mum.
And in my Monday here in Australia was paddling around in the pouring rain trying to get things done before we scoop up our little family and some friends and fly to Fiji for a week over Easter. Only 3-1/2 hours flying time from here. An easy flight for us 🙂 Not like the 14 hours to Los Angeles or 9 hours to Honolulu.
Thank you for your writings. I love them. I love the colour of your life. I love the inspiration. Thank you again.

Hannah - This is a lovely post – your daughter looks stunning! Thanks for sharing about where you got your mosaic prints done – I’d spotted them & wondered about them, so I’m glad others asked the question rather than just wondering! I hadn’t heard this Tom Petty song before – I love it now though. As soon as it finished I had to click replay I liked it that much : )

Gemma @ Musings Of A Gem - Hi Meg!
I have to admit I love the collage pictures too…great way to show lots of memories!
Today I am going to try and create some new designs for cushions…great stuff.
Gemma x

shelley - Your daughter looks amazing !! wowzie !! I would lock her up in her room NOW ! I loved your pompom trim so much and i didnt even get a pillow..boo hoo..so i went out and bought some to hang Jude’s art from in his room !! He loves it. Calls it his “lotsa balls hanger” (hee hee). I detest the grocery store! I think food is the biggest waste of money (although I love it!!)…i mean come on…we buy it..hall it into the house..put it away…have to cook it..then we…well you know what happens to it after it is eaten…money pooped out !! sorry i had to say that. I love the wreath..wish it went with my home decor. I wish i could change all my home decor, but we are broke so i just deal with it. Its not bad….just old.
Happy Monday to you !

Alicia - My Monday has one thing going on – finishing an assignment about teaching the Creative Arts to primary (elementary) school children. We have to write up a unit for each of the art forms- Music, Dance, Drama & Visual Arts. I’m basing my units on the book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”.
I think you would like it 🙂
I would normally too, but I’ve been working on it alllll weekend, and now I’m up to the part where we have to write a mini-essay justifying the implementation of the creative arts in the classroom. Interesting, yes… but ugh. Theory. Give me the hands-on, instruments being played, paint on your hands, clay under your fingernails, anyday!

Brook - Your daughter looks so pretty! I hate the grocery store too. Do you have an iphone or itouch? I have this amazing app called mealboard and it’s been LIFE CHANGING!! Lame that an app about menus can change my life but it has. You just enter your favorite recipes and it saves them forever and then when you are at the store you can just click a few of the meals and it makes you a little grocery list with the ingredients you need. I still hate the store but the thing I hated more then the store was the deciding what to eat and listmaking. Now I can even click on a few things and email the list to my hubby and he can stop and grab the stuff. If only I could find an app that would just bring bread, diapers and milk to my door!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Your daughter looks amazing…love her dress. I almost didn’t get to see my son go to his prom last year….long story, but bottom line I totally relate so I’m glad you did get that picture. It’s so important to us mommies!

laurenjean - she looks beautiful !! I can not wait for Blog Sugar !! And I hear you on the hatred of grocery shopping. i HATE IT !!!

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good morning wednesday.

April 13, 2011 Filed in me me me,things i love


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breakfast: honeycomb

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coffee:  with whipped cream

what else is one to do when her husband forgets the half and half???

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the kids' bathroom.

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my bathroom.

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i am in love with adam braverman.

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you have to dress for success right?

i am 10 days in with jillian.
i really don't even want to look at her!

"i have weak shoulders and abs!  i get it jillian!  why must you make me feel so bad about it?"

she gets me all ticked off….week 2 blows….and she makes biting sounds.  eewww.
i mute her.
and listen to my itunes.
yesterday my pottery barn jazz cd (circa 2001)came on so i was doing crunches to ella fitzgerald.
it cracked me up. 

but i have had several people tell me this week that i look skinny.
i say "it's my hair cut"  and i do think that is truly what it is….but it could be 5% jillian too.

and i ditched the meal plan.

the workout is hard enough for now.

 

add a comment

crystal beutler - I fell in love with Adam Braverman when he was on Sports News . . . or whatever that show was called. So cute. 🙂

Amy - I’m in week one of Jillian. I didn’t even ATTEMPT the meal plan. I would starve. haha I feel like doing the workout and modifying what I already eat is good enough.

Heather Crawford - Well, I’m gonna comment but Dude, you are WAY too famous for me…however, I have been watching Parenthood since it started..and I am a Christian parent and I have to say, this last episode moved me…dude, what to say, what to do, etc etc..made me dread the teen years!and I HOPE that pregnancy test is her Mom’s and NOT hers!!!

jennyonthespot - I love you. I just do.

Heather - Oh my gosh!!! Best laugh all day, Laura Phelps!!! I told a friend that I can’t get good form while doing the shred because I’m too focused on watching intently for the moment when Jillians penis falls out the side of her shorts. 😛 She is beautiful but the macho is just so…macho. Blech.

Heather - I CAN’T STAND JILLIAN!!!! I’m sure in person she’s quite lovely, but I have the 3O day Shred and she drives me mad. I hate the macho act. I mute her to….when I do it. I fell off a wagon a while ago and I can’t get back on cause the wagon clear left town. 😛
Ummm, is that TV in your bathroom? Heaven.

Toni :O) - Parenthood is AWESOME! I’m in love with Joel…he’s SO adorable! I will say what Adam and his wife (her name stupidly escapes me at the moment!) are going through totally scares me! I will HATE having those conversations with my kids but I know they are absolutely necessary in this day and age. Parenting is the toughest job in the world, truly it is! Loved all the colors, your toes are so cute and Waffle is looking much better since his hair is growing back in…good job on the shave down! Oh, yeah, and I really need to get back into exercising but these blogs I keep reading keep pulling me away from that! Bad blogs! LOL!

Sugar Mama - I start week 2 with Jillian today… and I am scared! I’m not doing the meal plan either. Just trying to watch my portions. Biting sounds? That sounds annoying. I don’t like the growling face she makes. Or that she enunciates her “p”‘s so crisp… drives me crazy!
And I couldn’t get up to do the regular push ups in Week One. I kind of felt like a failure. I also couldn’t do all of the lunges with weights. Maybe I should just stick with week 1 for a while longer???

deborah@applesinwonderland - i was at a weight plateau. now i’m gaining again. crappy craptastic. so, i’m willing to go to drastic measures. who does your hair? will your haircut, trim say….20 pounds? that’s what i’m hoping for. i see that adam “commented”–it’s good to have options, that’s all i’m sayin’. 🙂

Lindsay Kellar - Totally LOVE Parenthood! Excited for the finale, but sad the new episodes will be over for a while. Way to go for sticking with Jillian!!

kristin - ha. we did the jillian thing this past winter. i know exactly what you means. and yes. week 2 is bad.

Jen - Oh my GOSH, the second week is KILLING ME. I think I’ll have to do it for two weeks to graduate to week 3. I wish I had a buddy to do it with because I’ve stopped 3/4 of the way through two days in a row. At least I’m trying. RIGHT??!!

Shox r4 - Nobody can go back and start a new begining, but anyone can start now and make a new ending.

leslie @ topofthepage - you will have a very nice and stable life with sweet adam. i have a love/hate pretend relationship with Crosby. He reminds me of my husband in our early years, cute and sorta clueless. They have the same hair too. and omg i’m so laughing at the friend who posted the comments above AS adam and jillian. that cracked me up.

Richelle - Meg – Good job. Keep it up! I too love Adam! I love the whole show and can’t get through one episode without bawling like a baby!! Last night especially!!

Erin Leigh - I wake up on Tuesday mornings and get so excited to see this show. pathetic. keep at it! my jillian is sitting in in the box. she’ll have to wait for post pregnancy body!

Kat - Love Parenthood and I love Adam’s character, because he is just a great character.
That cream looks wicked and makes me laugh, because as always you are keeping it real, so good on you Meg!
Keep up the good work with the exercise and post a before and after pic when you are done.

Nicole - Congrats on your 10th day of the Shred!
I am so not looking forward to reaching that next level. I am so tired of her face and it’s only been 4 days for me.

Julia - My doctor just told me to only work on one change at a time. Give yourself three weeks and then change something else. So don’t sweat the food bit now.
Be careful taking your camera in the bath. Every time I take my camera in the ocean I think “this is an accident waiting to happen.”

casey - this was fun:) I enjoyed your shots of your day!

Stacy - You inspired me to buy the Jillian workout! I am on day 7! Thank you!!! BTW I am not doing the meal plan either. “My plan” is to do the exercises for 30 days then go back and do 30 days again with the Bad A** version and the meal plan!

jeanne - hahaha….I was laughing the whole time. I can just hear you talking. So funny! Jillian is annoying and I mute her too.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Lu-hu-Huv Honeybomb. Ooops, I meant Honeycomb, but Honeybomb might actually be more appropriate.

Tonya - OMG…I LOVE Parenthood! After last night’s episode, my hubby said he’s never watching again b/c he doesn’t want to think about what may (but prayerfully, may not) be in our future w/our kids.
I’ve kicked Jillian out of my life for this present season! I’ve got too much going on w/school and life and I don’t need her to make me feel gulity when I crumble to the floor in a limp, sweaty mess 1/2 way through one of her workouts! 😉
You’ve gotta tell me where your nail polish comes from! My 11-next-Tuesday year old is a nail polish freak and I love finding her new colors w/fun names.

karen - have you tired PX90..or something like that?? It’s crazy!!
So does that Stress Relief stuff really work??

Maureen - Agree with you about Adam, but have to say that lately I am digging Joel, he is so sweet to Julia. And how tragic is it that we all act like they are real people…Laura Phelps who I only know thru her blog made me laugh above at her post!!

ingrid - this post made me smile….
happy wednesday!

meredith - Everyone in my family uses whipped cream in coffee anytime it’s in the fridge… regardless of if there is half and half in there, too! This is why I cannot keep whipped cream in my fridge. 🙂

jeannett - basically, i hate jillian. i realize that’s harsh but her workouts are harsh!!!
i love adam braverman too. maybe we can be sister wives.

Christy - So glad to know others enjoy the Bravermans and Parenthood as much as me!!! I feel like I’m the only one who watches it sometimes.

Nicole M - Hey Meg,
Im doing the 30 day Shred and actually just started it yesterday. It kicked my booty. It was difficult but then again it seems manageable because it is only 20 minutes. Today I am hurting. ouch. Somehow i have to stay motivated…these post baby pounds will not just fall off!

Courtney Walsh - did you see Parenthood last night? I cried and laughed and cried some more. oh my heck. it was so so so good. I am in love with all of them! seriously!
i almost wish i hadn’t deleted it after i watched it. such great writing. 🙂
and whipped cream in your coffee? Heaven.

se7en - Love the toes… and who needs a workout if they can still reach their toes long enough to paint them!!! I go for your morning coffee with cream – wish my hubs would put whipped cream on the shopping list instead of regular!!! Seriously!!!

Kirsten J - I can’t do Jillian – she doesn’t smile, she grimaces. Really. I’m a Kathy Smith girl. And Adam? He’s okay….I like Joel better….and fast forward 30 years and….Mr Incredible does have a great presence. Just sayin’

Terrie - You are letting your Honeycombs get soggy!!!!! Don’t you just LOVE Parenthood?!! One of my favs…I watched it this morning. Wish I could have watched it while in my tub! 🙂
PS My Whatever print is hanging nicely in my new craft room! Thank YOU!!

FeFe - Ugh! Did you cry through Parenthood? I was teary through most of it. I think I’m too attached to the Braverman’s!

Sharri - You crack me up!

Marie - yeah Jillian gets a little creepy with the biting of butts in week 2, I just started week 3 and she’s just a tad better, not much but a tad and oh the workout gets harder yet but it feels so good to start to feel some muscles coming out of hibernation 🙂 Keep in up, you can do it!

Staci - I soooooooooooooooo need to get back to exercising!!! WHY OH WHY do I ever get off that train?? It’s sooooooo hard to get back on 🙁 UgggghhH!!! You would think I’d learn 🙁 We just bought a rowing machine…supposed to be awesome…we’ll see 🙁 I wanna look hot…but don’t wanna workout to get the look…I’m such a loser ;( Jillian would so make me cry 🙁

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Never watched Parenthood…I think I would find it too sad! I don’t like to cry watching TV. Jillian is still on my radar…I really need to exercise, but I don’t want to.

Megan McGhee - I LOVE parenthood! Such an awesome show.. And so true to real life.. Adam is my fave too 🙂

Kameron - I big puffy heart Parenthood! I am also being tortured by Jillian. She is annoying and always looks mad. I am so sore after every workout. I have lost 3 pounds and am starting to fit back into some of my pre-baby-baby jeans though. 🙂

kathy - Last night’s episode of Parenthood hit me too. But I think I took it too seriously. I dont want my 15 year old daughter having sex and I dont want to feel like I’ve lost me teens. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how the siblings all mesh and that they are honest with Crosby about being a lamo (but that he shows up for school plays and max’s soccer) but Im a little sad that the aprents arent there. I want to be invovled in that when my kids are adults. Is mothering selfless FOREVER??

happygirl - I LOVE your toes. I LOVE your pics, even the pic of the TV. Sorry, so not a Braverman fan. I like my men a little less emotional. I guess ’cause I’m not very emotional. But, LOVE whipped cream on ANYTHING.

JILLIAN - I am sorry I am so annoying Meg.
And that you hate my meal plan.
But whipped cream? really?
Don’t phone this one in, Duerksen…you can do it…
don’t give up
You have to want it BAD
now get off of the computer and start working out
I am waiting for you…

Adam Braverman - I love you, too Meg.
Ditch Craig and marry me.
Will you make me rainbow cake?
Yours forever…
xoxoxox

sarah - I am doing Ripped and boy howdy does she kick my booty. The other day I got tired of her chomping and growling on week 2 that I also turned the sound off… shes a tad obnoxious eh?!

LAURA PHELPS - um…after the whipped cream in coffee picture I think we kinda figured on our own that you ditched the meal plan!
Jillian works. Keep going. She changed my body in 6 weeks.
I now have a penis. Strange.
just kidding.
but she is manly, don’t ya think?
did you cry your eyes out last night with Parenthood?
can I name drop?
I met Monica Potter (Adam’s wife)..she is my friends good friend.
She asked about my cakes after eating a piece of a cake I made.
She loved me.
HA
I am such a name dropping loser….
It’s the LA in me…sorry

www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkgwaE4QrBwr9C2DjUjOysR_Mvj-NL_T9s - jillian is so not beast. but then, she kinda is.
it’s a love-hate thing, for sure! i could only do the 30 day shred for 20 days… and after a couple of days of week 2, i had to go back to week 1. i say it’s because i didn’t want to drop my newborn with those insanely sore arms she gave me.

jeana - I love Parenthood…but I have to say I’ll leave Adam all for you! 😉 But I LOVE everyone in the show. I did 3-4 days of 30 day shred, felt wonderful, got a horrible head cold that I still have, but am jumping back in today. GOOD job!

Stefanie Arnold - I love Parenthood!! Can you get over last night’s episode. I was yelling at the TV (the kids in the tv) the whole time. My husband kept saying “you know those are scripted people, right?”
I get very into my Tv 🙂

Christy - I love, LOVE, LOVE Parenthood! Great TV.
I admire you for lasting so long, I have the 30 day shred & don’t think I made it through the whole DVD. Good for you!

Amanda - Adam Braverman, Don Draper… I hear ya! Love their characters. and who am I kidding I think their both so hot.

Jessica Johnson - i suspect muting jillian is the only way to tolerate jillian. LOVE the toe color. also love your bathroom tile. it reminds me of honeycomb 😉

Amanda - lol-i was wondering if honeycombs was on her mealplan 😉

Cutzi - Ok… I wanted to post this the first time you wrote about Jillian and wanting to get in shape but I didn’t. I said to myself, “Cutzi, not everyone has to know what you think..” but this has given me so much freedom and I think you will appreciate it so I’m going to share.
Here’s my honest opinion: Ditch Jillian (at least for now) and read this book. Since my husband and I started eating this way almost a year ago it has changed our lives and set me free from the seemingly never-ending cycle of trying to lose weight. Truly, now I can exercise because I enjoy it or because it makes me feel good or because it makes me stronger. I can be lean (lose weight) by changing WHAT I eat. Not how much, not how many calories, not how many points, not how often etc. It’s such a relief. Exercising more will only make you hungrier and make you want to eat more and can cause so much frustration. Seriously, order the book… you’ll be so glad.
http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307272702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302715837&sr=8-1

amy - Thanks to you I love Adam Braverman too 🙂 Parenthood rocks! I am about to watch the Thanksgiving episode right now while the kids are at school yeah me!

Lynn - I’ve been doing the Shred as well! I’ve always heard good things about it and wanted to try it and when I saw that you were doing it for the month of April I thought I would too! I’ve been doing it with my mom, we started April 4th and do it every weeknight (she wanted to skip the weekends since she’s not used to exercising lol) so we’re on day 8 tonight… we love it!

shelly - Oh my goodness—last night’s parenthood about killed me on so many levels!
Speaking of being killed, ugh jillian–I pretend punch her tv face while doing the boxing routines 😉 oh well, whatever it takes to get through!

Necole - I just blew the dust off of my 5 mile walking video. I

Wendy - I am in love with don draper.

1 Funky Woman - I totally do the whip if no cream. Love your toes I need a pedicure! Just joined Weight Watchers so no more cream in my coffee! Such is life! Keep going with Jillian but I too would mute her!
Megan

Penny - Love the coffee with whipped cream shot. I don’t drink coffee but I might start if I had it that way! I absolutely love Parenthood, great show. I can’t say I am attracted to Adam though, he looks just like my cousin. So can’t look at him that way. I always get sad when the show is almost over. Why can’t they just do a two hour every week!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - That tub looks so wonderful(& I love the tile somethin fierce!)and purple toes? I knew I loved you:)
XO,
Sarah

Kacey - Oh, yes. Adam Braverman. Love, love, LOVE him.
I think it’s awesome that you are keeping up with Jillian! I’m sure you are looking skinny – it is a tough workout! I made it 3 weeks last year and gave up because it was kicking my butt and I seriously noticed no results. I’m a wimp. 🙂

amy - We just bought that “rockstar pink” at Target the other day 🙂

Kim - Rockstar Pink. Totally my kind of color! Looks fab on your toesies!

Anne @ Baking Me - I like the Honeycomb cereal and the tile 🙂

Holly - I wish we had some Honeycomb right about now. Yum!
Isn’t Parenthood the best?!! (I mean the TV show and the real gig.) When Adam picked up Haddie from soccer and finally talked to her I got all choked up.
Jillian’s workouts are good but I can’t take her attitude. Why so angry Jillian?
Way to go though!!

Jenny Lynn - Such a fun post.
And I LOVE Parenthood!
And I have a love-hate relationship with Jillian too 🙂

lauren - Ummm seriously Parenthood is the greatest show on TV!!!

Shannon - The coffee with whip cream looks delicious!

Alisha - LOL! My husband thinks Adam is the “jerkiest” one of the bunch. I LOVE SARAH!!! I love how imperfectly perfect she is as a mother.
I think whipped cream sounds totally legit with coffee. Way to think outside the box!

brooke - You Go Girl!!! Whoa…that was SO 1986! 🙂
So….I love your tile in bathroom…did you remodel it yourself? I love love to see glimpses of your home. I like in College Hill in Wichita and am also a lover of old homes…you give me lots of inspiration 🙂
Also…..i want to see your new haircut!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heidi - I’ve been alternating Jillian with Shaun T. While I love Shaun T., Jillian’s workouts literally leave me on the floor. And they aren’t as long.
Why do we punish ourselves this way? 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - Jillian kicks butt, literally!
I got bored after day 2 of listening to it.
I skipped the cardio parts sometimes because I got winded, but
then I do 45-60 minutes of cardio on my own so I thought that was okay….goodness I quit after day 2! HAAA~!
but I want to maybe try to do it 3-4x per week, not 30 days in a row it’s just too hard. I am way too out of shape!
so glad you are sticking with it! GO MEG!
tara

Leah - There’s nothing better than a little whipped cream with coffee. Makes if feel like you’re at Starbucks but didn’t spend $5 on coffee. And I’m two episodes behind on Parenthood. UGH!

Amy @ dwell in the season - Bahaha! I love that you put whipped cream in your coffee… I would have done the EXACT same thing. Maybe even if I had 1/2 and 1/2. All the better! And I also adore Parenthood, so much so that Adam Braverman was in my dream the other night. Should I say hi for you next time I see him in my dreams?
Love your blog!
-Amy

Juli - Love you, Meg. You are so real. I would’ve given up the meal plan AND the workout by now. You go girl.

Elizabeth - I thought Adam Braverman was especially endearing last night. I watched the episode with my husband and I think he really related to him (and my husband is not at all tightly wound. That would be me).

Holly - ok you are doing way better with Jillian than I am! I just must not be committed enough yet.

georgia - I think exercise is enough to make a dramatic change, did u take measurements and before photos?

Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids - Hooray – good for your! Can I work out vicariously through you for now?
Uh, and Adam Braverman – really? He’s so tightly wound! I much prefer the sexy carpenter/stay-at-home dad. Yum 🙂

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Like the sparkly nail polish!
Gemma x

Sharla - Sorry Meg, Adam is all mine 🙂 Good job on the workout plan – I’m sure you DO look skinny!

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not so good….yet.

April 4, 2011 Filed in my goofball kids,playtime,things i love,WAFFLE the wonder dog

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so i tried cutting waffle's hair this weekend.

it's not easy.
i was so worried about cutting him….then after one hour the first day….and 30 minutes the second day
i just went for it.
and this is what we have so far!

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HA HA HA.
 
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i am nervous to get to the feet, tail and face.
but it will get done….soon enough.

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i had a girl day with just this one yesterday.

we hit old navy…target….and orange leaf.

both our first times.
she said it was the best place in the whole world….wants to go there on her birthday….in 7 months.
it was really goooood.
not on jillian's meal plan….but good.
i restrained myself to only a small bowl.
banana yogurt AND peanut butter yogurt!
holy cows.
mmmmmmm.

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annie said during foozball with she and i against craig:

"we're winning!  i think it's cause of my muscles!"  
(by the way…we did not win….i am AWFUL at foozball.)

then a few moments later shouted to craig  "GET READY TO EAT MY GUTS!!!"

when she runs hard and then stops she says "OHHH! my heart is beeping so fast."

and my favorite annie-ism….overheard through the window while the kids were jumping on the trampoline….

"SEAN!!! YOU JUST KICKED ME IN THE NUTS!" 

she is such a hillarious little girl. 

 

add a comment

Kelvyn - With the thousands of peolpe Google employs, coupled with the fact that Northern California (where they’re located) has some of the best bud in the states .I’m surprised they didn’t create this themselves!

Christina - The things Annie says make me laugh so. The other day my youngest was using the toilet and when she got off of it she asked me if she would ever have a “something” like Christian (her brother). I could not make out the word she was saying and I finally figured it out. She was saying “thingy” meaning boy part. I laughed so hard (on the inside…I didn’t want to traumatize her). Kids are so very funny and cute and sweet.

Jenna - I “lol”ed quite a lot during this post between Waffle and the nuts: HA!!

Lisa B - My son says his heart is beeping really fast too!! I love it!!

MommaH - Your Talby is becoming a real beauty like her older sister. You and Craig certainly have made gorgeous children!

ronda beeman - First off, your dog is hilarious. Secondly, your last “annie-ism” made me laugh out loud while all my loves are sleeping! So funny!

Tiffany @ The Domestic Fox - OMG…Waffle is such a good sport.
Hint…Kool Lube for your clippers. Friction is one of the top reasons people knick the skin of their dogs in an attempt to clip their dogs. It keeps the clippers cool – it also cleans and lubricates your clippers. In another life, before kids, and pets, and homework, and never ending house duties…I was a dog groomer. The first time is scary – especially when it’s your dog. But Waffle looks like he is being calm for ya – that is always a plus! When you get ready for the feet – use your slicker brush to back brush his fur between the toes to be on the top of his foot. You can cut this with scissors or just trim it when you clip the top of his foot. Sometimes the toes are the trickiest part. It will mean that you will need to watch the hair on the feet – it will grow faster – but you won’t be worried about clipping the skin between his toes.
Good luck on finishing that clip job – you are doing great!
Annie-isms…I love them. She is quite a character!

jeana - our orange leaf just opened. we have had some crazy frozen yogurt movement over the past few months…this is the 3rd one open in our town. can’t wait to try it out though! love the annie-isms!

Wendy - i laughed way over here in australia. too hilario!

meghan - best. hair. cut. ever!
And…i can’t believe all those prints you sent out! Nice work lady.

Quinn - HA. It takes a lot for me to laugh at something written or in pictures… but I laughed out loud for Waffle.
And the kicked in the nuts comment Annie gave… oh boy.

Courtney Walsh - that’s what Adam’s hair looked like the last time I tried to cut it myself.
hahahhahaa. 🙂

Lori - That was one of the best laughs I’ve had all day, especially the kick in the nuts! 🙂

Lizz - So, I just looked back at Waffles first picture and well I definitely see some Chuck Norris in his face and wonderful gruff face! Good luck with the rest!

Liz @ Perfect Chaos - OK, so you know when people type LOL? I’m usually like, really? Did you really laugh out loud? Well, I literally LOL, to the point of tears. Poor Waffle!!! But seriously, thank you sharing! You have made my night.

Patricia - Hope you’re not offended that I laughed at Waffle and my first thought was “poor guy”. He’s still adorable, even with his interesting trim ;o)

Karen Gerstenberger - You had me at the Waffle photos. Best LOL of the day! Thank you, Meg! xoxo

Nancy - waffle, waffle, waffle – that was the best laugh all day. big fat thanks – that laugh was much needed!

Karlye - Meg,
I was so excited to see you mention Orange Leaf. My husband and I opened an Orange Leaf in Lawrence, I’ve been meaning to email you that if you guys are ever up that way taking in a KU game, come by and say hi. Free yogurt in exchange for getting to say I met you in real life! 🙂

Julia - {she says with more than a little jealousy in her voice}. Your photographs have gotten a lot better in the past year.

betsy - Poor, poor Waffle! He looks so embarrassed … but I think he looks super cute. I’m only brave enough to do Minnie’s nails & a trim around her face when her fur gets really long. You are REALLY brave!
Can’t wait to see the next batch of pictures 😉

Shannon - I also laughed at Waffle, but he’s so stinking cute! So, about the Annie’s heart beeping…my daughter also said that when she was younger. I was never sure where she got it, but apparently, it’s a pretty normal description!

Ellen J - Okay, so I definitely just laughed at Waffle for a good two minutes. I’ve thought about getting a kit to groom my morkie, but I haven’t been brave enough to even purchase one yet!! Great job with Waffle…love it. hehe

Lucylu ~ - Wow, Waffle, new look! Yum… Orange Leaf. I LOVE that place!

Cindy - This post made me laugh! All of it. The dog. The fact that Jillian got tossed to the wayside for a girly day and the part about the “nuts” Thanks for the smile.

Courtney Henson - Waffle looks really good! We have a Wheaten Terrier and he looks so much like Waffle. I’ve tried grooming him myself and it is really a nightmare! And it took forever! So I’m super impressed that you are doing it yourself and it looks that good! And I love the furry head and feet look…very cute!

leonieke - i’ve cried three times today, so much fun looking at waffle with my kids and husband..thanks, haven’t had such fun in days:-))
please don’t ever try to cut your kids hair.

Barb - Ohmygosh, that’s hilarious. What do the girls think of Waffle’s haircut?
My son always said his heart was beeping, too. Love that.
I am jealous. We had snowflakes this weekend and it looks like you have spring buds on your shrubs.
Did you ever get your new lens? How do you like it?

Mindy Harris - oh, waffle. bless you.

Julie - I would get a guard and then try cutting Waffle’s hair next time. Keep an eye on her skin they can get razor burn and irritation. Sometimes it will show up more a day after.
I found you blog in Sept when I was looking for a rainbow cake and have been stopping by since.

Jill - I’ve heard Wonderful things about Ornage Leaf. *must go there soon!* You are a much braver woman than I am with the dog hair cutting! You’ll get it in no time. You got the creative gene though, I missed that day…Boo!

Pamela Gordon - I am still laughing at poor Waffle! He looks like a french poodle doodle. Thanks for the LOL moment ;-D

Rebecca - Thank you for my laugh-out-loud moment of the day!

steph - holy… i’d be so scared to cut him too!!!
that is kinda freaky!
but he looks like a standard poodle. hilarious.
(oops…i first wrote poople!)
annie is hilarious.
you can tell she’s the youngest of 5 sibs with all she says. 😉

Anne @ Baking Me - My dog always looks so silly when I cut his hair. I don’t have clippers so I just use scissors, it gets the job done. If he was aware of just how silly he looked, he’d be really embarrassed 🙂

Clare - Ha ha ha I haven’t stopped laughing at poor old Waffle. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to do something like that myself lol (“,)

Sarah - I love Annie’s freckles.
What a beautiful girl!
(And good luck with Waffle…too funny.)

Kimberly Dial - Poor ‘Waffle’ … will he ever recoup from the humiliation? Meg, as always, you make me smile & (often times) laugh out loud!

Kimberly Dial - Poor ‘Waffle’ … will he ever recoup from the humiliation? Meg, as always, you make me smile & (often times) laugh out loud!

Jenifer Higgins - Oh, my goodness, that picture of Waffle is so funny, I laughed out loud! There is an alpaca ranch down the street from me, and every summer they shave the whole herd just like you shaved your dog. Hilarious! I laugh when ever I drive by them, and I have to drive by at least twice a day.

Andrea T - i just laughed out loud at the annie-isms! needed that…so cute the things they say 😉 we have a fozen yougurt place by us called cups. there was a line with a rope like it was a club on friday night!! . they have red velvet and cheesecake yuuuummy. ps jillian will be kicking my butt for 30 days as of 2morrow!! thanks for the inspiration 😉

melissa - two of your commenters made me laugh too!!! “won’t he get cold?” and “you can get a job on a sheep farm”.
you have some very funny followers! send some my way!!!! LOL

melissa - ok. hil.ar.ious!!!
waffle looks so proud of his new haircut.
annie is a hoot!!!!!! i’d love to spend one day with that girl! i bet my sides would hurt by the end of the day!

Kristin@BringingPrettyBack - He got an extreme makeover! He looks so handsome!!! hahah!I was thinking of shaving our dog coco myself… thats it! I am goung for it!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin

Jennie brewer - I’m not sure which is funnier….waffle or Annie’s last comment!

Kristy - I can’t believe you groomed your doodle! You are a brave woman! We have a labradoodle so I know what you mean about paying for the groomer once again. I can’t wait to show my kids Waffle when they get home from school. I know they are going to ask to do the same to Mr. Rudy.
I think Annieisms should be a regular post 🙂 She’s a doll!

amy d - now you know why groomers get the big bucks!
he looks so silly!
did you know we are getting a twisted cow frozen yogurt place?
in the old quiznos…it’s like orange leaf! May 1st is opening day! CAN’T WAIT!!!

catie - HAHAHAHA! waffle’s cut is awesome! you should totally leave it like that, start a new trend! i love this entire post, “you’re gonna eat my guts.”
hahaha! i can’t stop laughing!

Terri Fretwell - I love where Annie says her heart is beeping! My son, who is now 8, used to say “can you hear my heart beeping” when I would hug him or sit next to him. He quit that when he was 6 or 7.

karen - HAHA … love it!

Sandy - Oh how I love the chuckles I get from your posts each day. Talby looks SO grown up! And Annie…gotta love that girl! You’ll always be able to tell she has brothers. I’ve made some comments (not that one, mind you) over the years (even as an adult) that some men have said, “where did you learn that?!” My answer is always, “I grew up with three brothers!” I love your family.

Julie K - Oh my gosh, you had me cracking up from the beginning. Waffle looks like he’s wearing boots and the Annieisms are killer! So funny. Great start to my week – thanks!! 🙂

Headfullofclouds.blogspot.com - Hahaha! Just spat diet coke all over my keyboard at that photo of Waffle! If I tried clipping my Westie I’d have no fingers left by the time I’d finished. 🙂

becky - my almost 3 year old was sitting with me when the first picture of you “shearing” waffle came up and she said, “oh look, a sheep!” thought you’d like that!

Christine - Haha! Good stuff. My Ethan says “My heart is beeping so fast” too! All the time. I love it so much, I never correct him. 🙂

Renae - First, your hair is just so cute!! Second, my 6 year old always tells me his heart is beeping!! 🙂 And he calls his “nuts” his “guts” so I know what he’s talking about but it’s much more censored. These sweet moments in life are such a riot…glad i’m not the only one who cracks up at the goofy things the kiddos say.

Necole - What great annieisms. Personally fav “You kicked me in the nuts”

sam - I think you should keep Waffle’s ‘boots’ they look so cute;-)

Katy - Ohh, I love the Annieisms. 🙂

Michelle - I was thinking, if Meg can do it, I can probably do it… we spend a fortune on getting Monty groomed. He is half Waffle’s size and now I’m thinking, it is money well spent. I can’t do it. HA!

Karen - Ohmygosh!!! I cracked up over Waffle! And I remember the “first time” my little girl got kicked in the, ah-hem, “b*lls”…. hee hee….I have ALL GIRLS – where did THAT come from???!!! It really wasn’t a talk we were ready to have!!! Too funny!!!

ky - Oh you sucker punched me with that last Annieism! I burst out laughing! Too funny!!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Oh my gosh, although we have a beagle I am so not a dog person(I love kitties). But Im feelin for waffle. hurry up and shave his feet please!:)
And I am rolling with laughter over Annie’s sayings. What a funny kid!:)
Have a great Monday!
XO,
Sarah

Toni :O) - OMG…poor Waffle….I couldn’t help but burst out laughing! Another commentator was right…it will grow back, he just may not want to be seen in public during that timeframe! You get an A for effort right?! Your Annie is a doll…love her sayings, just too cute!

Edie Steinmann - My husband shaved our two black dogs down last summer. They looked mangey (sp?) for months with their white skin peeping out from all the gaps in their black fur! We’ll be buying a guard for the clippers if he shaves them again this summer. Annie is so cute! I love the things kids say!

Amy - I tried once to groom our goldendoodle, and it was baaaaad. Poor thing looked so hideous that I would only take him walking after dark as to not scare the neighborhood children. 😉

Janie Fox - everything…just everything about this is the greatest. I love your life. Mine rocks too.

Mummy's Dress - Poor waffle 🙁
You might want to pop over and enter my Easter giveaway 🙂

Jenny Joy - I need to give our Charlie (the dorkiest Dorkie on the planet) a shave down, but I’m too SCARED. Yay for a handsome looking Waffle! You’ve done a great job so far, lady! 🙂
And Annie is the cutest. Seriously. Cutie Patootie with a side of HILARIOUS!

Heather R. - Our girls’ hearts beep, too. sweet. 🙂

Trish - haha… addie says the same thing… my heart is beeping so fast. just the other day she was eating a tootsie pop and when she got to the middle she says, ‘ohh, look mom i made it to the casserole!’ 🙂

Tess - “you just kicked me in the nuts!” i just busted out laughing.
orange leaf is in ohio… just nowhere near cleveland. {sad face}

Gemma - Heehee…cute waffle!
Gemma x

Southern Gal - Waffle looks like he has a French poodle cut! His poor pride. Oh, those Annie-isms! She is hilarious.
I’m getting Jillian’s DVD today. If no one hears from me tomorrow they’ll know what happened…

happygirl - Love your waffle cut. Now you know why those groomers get paid what they do. It’s hard work. And, it’s GREAT you hear your daughter when she speaks. I love the attention you give your children.

lovethosecupcakes - As my mum used to say to me after a, ahem, “unusual” haircut, never mind, it’ll grow.

Annika - He-he! Once you are done with Waffle, you can get a job on any sheep farm you want!

leonieke - o my god, he’s naked!!!!!!!!!!!!

leonie - Meg I am curled over laughing at waffle! not just because thats hilarious but because we have just bought our very own Groodle – Murphy, he is divine…… we are friends on Facebook you can see him there…good luck with the head and feet and please share your tips x

georgia - Ahaaaahahaha poor waffle!!
He looks like a posh poodle!

Valerie - Heeheeheeheehahaha…poor little Waffle…hahahaha

sue - Won’t he get cold?

sarah - oh my goodness…that first photo of waffle LITERALLY made me laugh out loud…so funny. and talby is adorable.

melissa @ the inspired room - Poor Waffle. We got a good chuckle over him though. He is a good sport. 😉

Terrie G - Orange Leaf Yogurt is the BEST!! My Hubby wants to open a franchise! 🙂 And you are so brave with the dog haircut!!

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