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11 months

that’s how long i wait for my favorite flower. 
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the entire bush grows out of the ground in a month. 
then huge round buds form all over it. 
annie shouted “look we’re growing watermelons!” 
Peonies are just the most feminine flower. 
wouldn’t they make a wedding so beautiful? 
i wait 11 months to enjoy their blooms. 
and inevitably….always…every year…no matter what…. 
it rains within a week and they all fall down to the ground. 
too heavy to hold themselves up anymore. 
and in 11 more months we’ll see them again.

Beverly - I agree with you (all). They are the most beautiful and fragrant flowers, and yours are just lovely. I remember reading somewhere that they’re the only flowers that can’t be grown out of season…I wonder if that is true. Almost makes them more special.

Nina - I’m with you……they are my favorite! I just went out in the yard yesterday and cut some to fill a vase in the kitchen and they just bring a smile to my face! My sister just married and she had lots of them at her wedding…..

Sara - these remind me so much of our wedding…nine years ago this coming june 5th…ooodles of peonies in the cellar of my grandmothers house…Lorel and I got to make all the table arrangements for the reception and I think that was pretty close to heaven. 🙂 Thanks for bringing back memories. I too think you should make a calendar!

mom - These are beautiful. Mine are blooming too. I want you to know that I’m using the one with the faded out background on my powerpoint for worship this week. It’s perfect.

Andria - Peonies are my absolute favorite flower. Unfortunately, I live in Houston, TX which is not a spot where they grow well. I miss peonies, lilacs and old fashioned flags (irises) from back home in Ohio!!!

chris - They are the best aren’t they , you must cut them and enjoy them inside , don’t they last for ages when cut.
I need to plant some here, I had them at my old house .
Thank you for the pretty photos, you guys have the best weather , it is freezing here .

julie - Just gorgeous! Martha would be proud!

emily loria - I want some! You should pick them and make lavish and luxurious boquets and garlands to drape all over your beautiful house while they are still alive! 😉

Adla - such a worthwhile 11 month wait, the peonies are lovely!

candy - BEAUTIFUL!!!

April - so pretty Meg…thanks for sharing…
have a happy day

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - I also love peonies. Mine are getting there, but not yet ready to bloom….thanks for sharing yours…..Cut some of those and put them in a vase….little ants and all.

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Pretty, pretty peonies! Reminds me of how our azaleas bloom… so pretty but for such a short time. Great photos. 🙂 ~Jill

Jennifer P. - Mine are going to pop any day now. And we just had a big rain today–so I’m actually glad they weren’t open yet! I love to look at mine on the bush, but I really love to just go cut all of them off and bring them inside in a big vase. And they WOULD be gorgeous in a wedding!
Beautiful photos!

Lanny Stanard - Oh my goodness girl that’s my favorite flower also I was just out side looking at mine there not in bloom yet, but I’ll let you know when they are, do you cut your and take them in the house?
~Lanny
did you enter my giveaway yet come over!

lorel - These are so pretty, I think you should publish a calendar, so then while you are waiting for the next 11 months, you can be looking at photos of them. 🙂

carissa - those are beautiful! almost look not real!
amazing… blooms… a sweet gift to look forward to every year!

Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land - Those are beautiful pictures! Are all those peonies in your yard? Love them. I’ve had peonies before but I would get so bummed when they would fall to the ground and get overrun with ants. Maybe I should give them a try with a hoop.
I just have to tell you that I get a kick whenever I see that you’ve left me a comment. Your picture is so cute! I don’t know why but it just makes me giggle.
OK. Enough weird stalker behavior for today. 😉
Kim

Gini - As as ex-florist of 17 years before becoming a mom, those, too, were my favorites – seeing I could have my choice at any time – oh, to have a flower shop again….(sigh)

Beth - My favorite flower too!!! I just love them!!!

amy - meg-
you need to get some peony hoops!
you slip them over the buds, the peonies grow through them (so you can’t see them and they still look pretty), and the hoops help keep them upright!
those are beautiful pics! now i need to go get me some for next spring! thanks for sharing.
amy

cynthia - i love these flowers! my mom has a ton of them and you’re right, as soon as a rain comes they fall to the ground!

Suzanne - those pictures are incredible!! i’ve never paid attention to that kind of flower before, but i will now…GORGEOUS!!

traci - those are beautiful meg. i don’t have any. maybe i should get some – are there a bunch of different varieties?

seve - I just love how bulbous and about-to-burst they look right before they bloom!

jes - those are gorgeous! perfect pics 🙂

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family fun

my sister came to visit us for the weekend!
they got here as soon as we’d started a campfire.

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with s’mores…and neighbors and dogs…and beers.
the neighbors wandered over for the fire and i was so glad.
i love warm weather for this stuff.
all the kids love to play “mallow toss”…
throwing marshmallows at them while they jump on the trampoline.

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saturday was perfect.
craig made a yummy breakfast for us.
then we headed outside for the bright warm sunshine.
we blew bubbles, washed the truck, played in the baby pool,

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laid in the grass, talked with our grandma, splashed on the trampoline,

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stuck stickers on maya’s belly, went for a long walk
and had lots of girl time together.
(the boys were gone for most of the day)
we finished off the day with a walk downtown for ice cream cones.

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we ate our treats on the steps of the historical museum.
near…………..

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FAR!
(just like on sesame street)

lorel i am so happy you came to visit.
i love spending time with you and your girls.
someday we will have visits together
with no crying, throwing up or injuries from sword fights.
but for now i am loving raising our families together
and all the “fun” that goes along with it.
have a wonderful last week of school!

grandma thank you for coming too.
it always fun to have you here.

Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land - I meant to comment before but forgot…The Grover on Sesame Street reference cracked me up! I used to be able to the best “Near/Far” impersonation. I’ll have to try it out on my family tonight. 🙂

traci - what a wonderful weekend treat – time spent with your sister. her kids are adorable too. i love the look of your street. such pretty houses with wonderful front porches. very welcoming.

traci - WOW..you can have bonfires in town? Jeepers that would be fun but here the fire dept. would be here in 10 mins..lol
Looks like fun but your house ALWAYS looks like fun.

jes - wow! great blog! fantastic photos…love time with family 🙂

mallory Heffron - Looks like you had a great family weekend…

Allikayes Mama - Near…far! So funny! I want to jump on the tramp with water!

Jennifer P. - Everyone looks like they had a great time. The little one with star stickers on her belly reminded me of Dr. Seuss’s “the sneetches”—too cute ;)!

carissa - time with family… nothing better! nothing!
you live that close… you can walk for ice cream? that is AWESOME!!!!!!!

Sara - Seeing you both together made my little heart ache, you have such a great gift in eachother. It makes me wish so much that I lived closer to 1. my mom and 2. my brother and 3. Lorel.

Suzanne - Super fun & yummy food to boot! Sisters are great to share adulthood with!

lorel - I am so glad I came too! I (mostly)enjoy the roller coaster ride of raising kids, and I enjoy our sisterhood. Sat. was a wonderful day. Our ride home was mostly really nice – both girls slept for almost 2 hours, so I drove the “cowboy trail” thru Cottonwood Falls. Just beautiful. When Macy woke up though, her right front tooth was really loose and bleeding (whine, whimper -“It tastes gross!”-then Maya says,”gross” too.) It finally fell out last night at 8:55! thanks for everything. See you in June.

Diane - Looked like a glorious day!

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Looks like a fun weekend! Smores, ice cream, waterplay… just makes me want to go outside and soak up some sun. 🙂 ~Jill

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it’s all good

looking at these pictures just makes me feel so blessed.
they are just everyday things but i am thankful.
finding a robin’s egg…

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another outing with annie
wearing pigtails for the first time this year!
she’s always got her hands full of her stuff she can’t live without.

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craig was out of town so dinner was a picnic in the yard.
with crocodiles and mermaids…

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and bald eagles in their nests.

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and bike rides around the driveway.

its all SO good.

emily loria - You know I love a good dinner picnic! No crumbs to clean up inside! I love the costumes!

traci - a picnic complete with costumes – how very enchanting. cute pix.

Allikayes Mama - You are such a fun mama! You inspire me!!!

Jennifer P. - How those everyday moments bless us! I love all the costumes involved in the picnic, and the outing with the arms full of babies. So sweet!

Suzanne - fun, great pictures!! 5 kids??? wow!! i bow to you!! your children are beautiful!!

Jill (One Wired Woman) - I’m still drooling over those dad gum biscuits below… ~Jill 🙂

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Life’s precious moments!! Wonderful memories… ~Jill

Gini - Posts like these that you create always feel so “magical”. I enjoy reading them.

carissa - soooo good!
something about picnics… what is it? maybe being so close to all the goodness? the fresh air? something!
we’re fans of eating out on a blanket too… next time i want to wear a mermaid costume! 🙂
happy day to you & yours!

Lanny Stanard - Megan, I love it!!! Great picture’s we should all be thankful,I know I am…
~Lanny

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chicken and biscuits

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this recipe came from a friend of a friend.
it is a big favorite in this house.
and soooo easy.

start by cooking your chicken however you’d like
and then cut it up in small pieces.
(or you could even buy pre-cut cooked chicken)

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place it all in a 9×13 pan.
next make the sauce that goes over the chicken.
stir the butter, broth, spices and flour together
till it’s bubbly but not too thick.
keep adding milk or more broth if it gets thick.
it should be like gravy. (it kind of IS gravy)

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add it to your chicken in the pan.
i would add a can of corn right here but my family says no.
except talby…she’s with me.
so if your family would like it…toss it in.

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now for the best part of the recipe.
the part that makes this easy and fast. (and yummy)
we prefer to use Grands Biscuits.
we prefer to use the flaky kind too.
but any kind of pop open biscuit would work i think.

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place the biscuits on top of the chicken & sauce.
put it in your preheated oven and
bake it according to the biscuit instructions.

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remove from the oven once the rolls are golden brown.
(check and make sure the middles are done too.)
and that’s it!
quick and easy.

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if you make this maybe you will have a meal that is so loved
your child will ask for it for his special birthday dinner
and you will get to eat it on a basketball plate too.
and i even ate breakfast on a monkey plate that day!
that’s how lucky i am.

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go make this.
recipe on the sidebar.

melissa @ the inspired room - YUMMERS.
Thanks for the great idea and recipe!

Jilly - Oh NUM! Thanks, it is cold, dreary and rainy here today, that looks perfect for dinner! I have a rotisserie chicken in the fridge that I was trying to think of something to do with!

julie - Thank you so much for this easy and yummy recipe! I am my husband’s new hero.

Jennifer P. - okay–I will :)!

Kendra - 1st time on your blog and I love it. Wow ~ You made me want to cook … that’s saying a lot!

Lee Ann - Oh comfort food! My mom makes this but covers the top with the smaller biscuits (and adds a bag of frozen veggies), but I bet the big flaky biscuits are much better. Thanks for sharing your dinner ideas. I think we all need help sometimes.

Teri - This looks so good! Please email the recipe – thanks.

Camm - Looks delicious…my family loves chicken and biscuits…but have never found a recipe that keeps everyone happy! Will have to give it a try (could you email me the recipe?) I think we will add the corn! Yum!

Karen - Please, please, please send the recipe. I love easy and my family loves chicken.
Thanks much!!
PS…LOVE your blog. Such great photos and stories!!

candy - I would LOVE the recipe, thanks! 🙂 That looks great and easy, my kind of cooking.

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Looks delish!! I’d like a piece of that watermelon right now… Yum! ~Jill 🙂

Staci - This looks super easy! I’m gonna give it a try next week! (We are leaving for sunny Arizona on Saturday!) But I’m for sure doing it…next week! Thanks for sharing!

danelle - I want to make this tonight but I’m not finding the recipe???? I looked in the sidebar under recipes and unless I am blind today I don’t see it. HELP!!

Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land - My hubby is going to be so grateful to you! Although I might take the credit. 😉
He LOVES chicken pot pie and I have two recipes. One that is ridiculously complicated and ridiculously good but I’ll only make it for super-special occasions. And really, who wants chicken pot pie on a super-special occasion – besides my hubby, of course.
The other uses the cream of chicken soup for the gravy and I really don’t much care for it.
I’m going to try your recipe and maybe add some mixed frozen veggies. YUM!
Thanks!

April - Right up my alley…quick and easy..and I was so afraid the cremay part was gonna be creme of chicken soup that stuff gives me the willies…but is not…its a delicious gravy…so yea…send it on over. Thanks Meg…oh yea…heart the basketball plates too…I have been eating of ladybug ones for a while now.

Tami Veer - I would love this recipe! My husband would love this! Thanks!

julie - I want to make that tonight! My husband would freak out if it came out of the oven. Chicken and biscuits are his favorite and there is no good Southern eating around here. Please please pass it on.
Thanks!

lulu sparkles - oh my heavens! I thought my family was THE only ones that made that! we love it too! sooooo dang downhome cozy 🙂

carissa - better yet… i’m heading over… have leftovers? 🙂 yummmmmmo!

Diane - I would love the recipe.
primblessing@Yahoo.com
🙂
I make a pot pie and I make a bisquick topping for it- looks a little similar to this.

Suzanne - Wow! That looks soooo good! I love to cook & getting new recipes! I came to check you out on the perfect day!! So glad you stopped by my neck of the woods the other day! I have an Annie too, in first grade…as well as 2 boys, Jack is 5 and Sam is just about to turn 3. How old are your kiddos??
Love your title! Can I add you to my list??
Have a great Thursday!

traci - that looks so good. i am going to get the stuff for that right away. my son will probably try to eat the whole pan himself. thanks!

elizabeth holder - would love the reciepe for this but it is not on the side bar? did i look in the wrong spot? thanks for your help

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hmmmm???

that green camper isn’t looking too bad now!

OH…can you imagine that life?
can imagine having nothing to tie you down?
no address?
9 children in one vehicle….for years and years?
an adventure everyday?

don’t worry craig…
i am aware this life would not work for us.
especially for me.

but something about it sounds wild and dreamy.
and hippie and crazy at the same time.
don’t you think?

cynthia - my camper would be decorated to the “t” and i would be so thankful for a family of three!

ngaire Bartlam - I adore the indie spirit.. but i KNOW I wouldnt cope with that whole thing.. I would love to see the movie of some who did though.
Ngaire
x

Jennifer P. - My mom bought her motorhome from a family that spent a year traveling around in it and seeing the United States. My mom said they all looked very tired and the kids wouldn’t stop picking on eachother ;)! You’re right though, it does SOUND nice!
Loved all your mothers day goodies! Happy belated mamas day to you!

Amy - hhmmm? I posted a comment but it disappeared… ; )
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting…it’s fun finding your blog! Cute family!
The whole concept sounds like a great idea…but I don’t know if I could really do it!
Although, we did live with our in-laws for two years…does that count?

Amy - Thanks for the comment yesterday…fun finding your blog!
Love the idea…don’t know if we could go through with it…wow!
Although, we did live with my in-laws for two years…does that count as brave?

Mrs. Fox - There is something appealing about it. Maybe some of us having gypsy souls. 🙂

carissa - i would have no hair!!!
what a fun clip… glad you shared!

Liz - Whoa. I remember hating going camping in our pop-up … but we werent even close to this. 🙂

melissa @ the inspired room - You know, 10 years ago I would’ve laughed and said no way. Somehow, it sounds strangely appealing to me right now. I have many dreams of escaping. That is kind of scary. Maybe buying a camper is a good solution.
🙂
Happy day,
Melissa

Sara - you know, it does sound appealing in a “lets try it for a week or two” kind of way…but maybe its the kind of thing you’d have to commit to for at least a few months to really “feel” like you were living the spontaneous life. Enzo would love it, Lilly would love it, husband would hate it.

Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land - Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Nice to “meet” you. I’ve been reading your blog and really enjoying. You have a great family. I’ll be back.
Kim

meg duerksen - so…all my kids would be in the “other” camper right?
🙂 HA.
what’s TDY?
it really does sound like an exciting life.
i do have just a hint of hippie in me. it could be brought out if i was in a different place in my life. but for now…i like my make-up and jewelry and computer and house.
it would be quite an experience.
definitely more of a life-style than a long trip.
i’m with jerusalem…let’s just go camping more…or at least let’s go once.

southernseven - I think it would be fabulous. We have gone TDY with my husband and spent 8 weeks with 5 kids in a hotel room. I brought an electric skillet, had a microwave and small frige, and cooked in the room. It was a blast. We applied to go to Germany. I wasn’t planning on taking anything furniture wise. I wanted to just rent and buy functional IKEA furniture and spend our money traveling. I would love it. I have always dreamed of traveling the US in a RV. Come on, we could go together and put the bad kids in the “other” camper- or tie them to the roof!

Jill (One Wired Woman) - Oh… how did you find this? I need to see this! I’m the baby of seven children and I can’t imagine living in that small camper. We lived in a decent sized house and it was still crowded. What am I saying… I was the seventh and last, way behind the others so I was like an only child. I only lived with my two youngest brothers. 🙂 I won’t to see this documentary!!!!! You post the coolest things. I’ve got blog envy. 🙂 Hugs, Jill 🙂

traci - LOL..I would need a MUCH BIGGER camper than what that guy had…jeeeesh, thats a lot of kids in a tiny space..yowzers.
I think the experiences would be awesome but I need a “home” and stability. Not a hippie/nomad bone in my body…Im a big time NESTER.

jerusalem - I am with you, part of me is like “that is it! let’s do it!” and part of me is like “well, maybe we could at least go camping more.” But I love the indie spirit, was raised with some of that myself…Thanks for sharing – can’t wait to see it!

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good times

some pretties from my mother’s day…

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craig and the kids made lunch for me and craig’s mother.
steak and potatoes, salad and fruit.
it was so yummy and so much nicer than a crowded restaurant.
and then i got my gift…a long uninteruppted nap!
thank you craig.

hope everyone else had a day to relax and feel blessed.

melissa @ the inspired room - Well, we kind of celebrated Mother’s Day. Not as lovely as yours, though. We kind of put it off until another day as we had too much to do! I started moving my bedroom upstairs to our third floor. It really was like moving to a new house. My daughter’s stuff going downstairs, couches going downstairs, and our bed and clothes going up! It was exhausting, but I love it up here away from the kids! Things are still in chaos, but it was fun to work hard and get all of our stuff at least on the right floor.
Now I need a real mother’s day nap.

Lee Ann - I got the same gift! Lunch at home (I hate nothing more than crowded restaurants and hungry children) and a LONG nap! Who would have guessed something so simple could make a mom SO happy! Glad you had a nice day.

joni lane - happy mother’s day! i love the card that says “you rock mom!” that’s when you know you are loved.

mallory Heffron - Sound like you had a perfect mothers day….well deserved.
Happy Mothers Day..

emily loria - So glad you had a good one!
Happy Mom’s day!

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double digits

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10 years old.
he’s growing up so fast.
and changing so quickly.

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he asked for only money this year.

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and that’s what he got!
he was rollin’ in the dough…for about 20 minutes.
he went straight to wal-mart to buy the PSP he’s been saving for.
he needed some birthday spankings from dad first.
sean added the “pinch to grow an inch”
like any good brother would.

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this is a PSP (for the grandma’s).
it’s a video game player that you can take anywhere.
he bought an NBA game…no surprise.
he opened it immediately and played from 5:00- 8:30.
only taking a break for cake.

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happy birthday scott!
you are one special kid.
i know God has big plans for you buddy.

*he was born on mother’s day 10 years ago.
short and sweet…6 hours from start to finish.
that present can never be topped.

Chrissie - I had a baby on Mother’s Day too. She took 8 hrs coming and was a huge surprise. She came one month early. I’m guessing she didn’t like the dinner her Dad too me to eat at Red Lobster. She hates seafood. That was almost 21yrs ago and she’s still the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever received.
Take care, Chrissie

mom - Looks like Scott had a great day. And looks like he enjoyed the card I made. Did you make that Jayhawk cake? It’s very good.

Jennifer P. - I have a May 11 baby. So fun to share a Mother’s Day with a birthday.
He still has this last year to hold up both hands to show how old he is :)! Happy Birthday Scott!

kristin - oh, happy birth day to you, too.
and no wonder you went on to have three more kids…did your labors get shorter and shorter?
: )

Sarah Keith - What a sweet post! Happy birthday to your double digit boy!

traci - WOW…a baby boy on mothers day…WHAT A GIFT!!! Im no where near being a grandma (only 39) and didnt know what a psp was..lol..what we are electronically reject.lol
Happy Mothers Day Meg…LOVE YOUR BLOG

carissa - Happy Birthday to Scott… he is a cutie! how fun that shopping was!
AND…
happy Mother’s Day to you Meg!!!!! 🙂

traci - happy birthday scott. have fun with your psp!!
how wonderful that he saved his money and they put his birthday money towards his game. love it when they buy something on their own like that.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MEG!!

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