I Love You Because...

Time's Up!

Okay, you know that illusive 'list' I've been refering to for a while now? Everyone here has been working like dog to get as much done as possible...

Flower Pots Planted? Yep. Beautiful and growing great. 

Everyone's haircuts? Yep. Check that one off! (Thank You Keali!) 

The house cleaned? Yep. That's done too! (Thanks Marixa!)

There might be more left on the list but, Frankly, if it's not crossed off yet, it just isn't going to get done before baby arrives. Yep, yesterday I had a pinced nerve in my back. (soo much pain!) so I called the Dr. and he moved my induction date up... to TODAY! My Mom (who's amazing) was able to change her plans for the week, switch a few appointments and get on the next direct flight out. She arrived late last night and I'm off to the hospital now. Wish us luck, Baby Cameron is on his way!

Happy Wednesday!
Joanna  

Seen Spouting....

Last year I left my cute house, and my garden at the most painful time. Flowers were in full bloom, tomoatos were days away from perfection and the cucumbers were literally mouth wateringly plump. As I was following the moving van I started making plans for our dream garden. Fast forward 8 months and now it's starting to take shape. I can't contain my excitement! We've ordered all the supplies, we've started our seedlings and this weekend we (and by we I mean, Husbandface) will be building the garden bed... it is times like this that I am loving living in Georgia! 

Want a sneak peek into what I have planned for the backyard this spring? Check out my Pintrest Board, To Grow. You'll see the kids are getting thier own little Secret Garden, I just planted my flower pots and this is the Dream Garden being put together as soon as it stops raining.

Happy Spring.

JJ 

 

Craigslist

What do all these things have in common? Besides having the funnest memories with the very cutest kids in all of them? They're all things that the kids will have a terrible time saying good-bye to when we move next month. We're not taking any of them with us... I'm actually working on getting them listed on craigslist this week. Sad to say goodbye but we have big plans for our new backyard!! Want a peek at what it's going to look like?  

Something to make me smile.

It's happened! They first tulips of the season opened today!!! Why do I plant tulips? Because I want hundreds and hundreds of tulips in my yard all through the month of April for Autism Awareness Month! Last fall I even added to my already huge collection of tulips by planting another 100+ bulbs so add that to the ones there that have doubled and I can't wait to see how amazing it will all look! 

Why I love living in Small town Georgia.

So Doug got this great new job 3 months ago and I've been pouting about it almost daily ever since. He was supposed to come with us on our trip to Baltimore but couldn't because he had just started, he used to come to every single one of Ethan's Therapy appointments, he used to have flexible hours, he used to only commute 20 mins, he travels a lot now... the list goes on and on. Mainly it was because we were living in Georgia and a new job here meant being here longer. I felt like I'd never get to move out West again. I hated my life here and I needed and wanted a change... and didn't even want to be in the same state to do it. To me living in Georgia represented Doug leaving the church, Doug's family feud, Ethan's Autism, Ward Drama and a million other things that made me miserable. 

In the last 3 months I've learned a lot. 

I wasn't miserable. My life just wasn't what I had planned and it wasn't because of living here. In fact, in the months we been preparing our house to be put on the market there hasn't been a day go by that I realize how wonderful and amazing our little house is, or how lucky we are. I'm not sure why we have been here over the last 6 years. We certainly didn't expect to be here that long and there have been times I felt like it was sucking me in.... But, I know that there has been a reason for it.

 

I love our house that we've improved on so much, I love the paint, the wooded lot, the backyard, the kitchen... I love our small started home and it's going to hurt me to leave it behind.

I love, LOVE our school! Our teachers and the staff. They are so open to learning and seeing the potential in the kids, It's taken a lot of hard work on all of our parts but, I have seen the benefits firsthand of fighting for your kids education and getting amazing results.

I can't believe I'm saying this but.... I love our ward and it's quirks and it's growth and the friendships that have been there all along. I love the chance that I've had to grow- even though I was forced into it, I really think it's the only way I could have pushed my way through the last couple of years and still come out as active and strong as I am.

I love the Magnolias in May... LOVE!

I love living in the cul-de-sac. No traffic, quiet and the perfect place to have the neighborhood kids come play. 

I love the weather that automatically grows a garden- even if you have a black thumb!

I love our Therapists. I love the Autism community around here and I lvoe the support that we've all gotten in our ward, at our OT's and through Babies Can't Wait.

I love our neighbors... well, most of them. I love that Ethan's found a best friend, I love how patient they are with him, I love that Lorali now has friends in the neighborhood and I lvoe that my house is turning into the neighborhood hangout with kids asking to do craft projects, or to help bake here and to come play.

I love my scrapbook room. I should be cleaning it and I'm avoiding it by writing but.... I love it. I love the family space it's turned into, I love the view into the backyard, I love that I'm able to work so easily...LOVE.

I love our local farm stand. Today the kids went and jumped on their bounce house while I picked through apples and pumpkins that had been harvested less then 24 hours earlier. 

I love my doctor. I told Doug from the beginning, if we have anymore kids after we move from here, I have to come back specifically for him. 

 

.....Actually as it turns out there are several reasons.

Silent Saturday

 

2010 Garden - Day 1

 

Spring has Sprung

Yesterday I saw my tulips peeking out from beneath the winter leaves. I smiled. Over 250 tulips will be opening soon to remind me how special Ethan is, and how lucky I am to have him, just the way he is.

I put on my gardening clothes and went to work cleaning out and getting the beds ready for the spring. Big plans this year. New edging, new flowers, new grass, new memories. I added another flower bed in the front and of course filled it with 75+ tulip bulbs. (you can never have too many!) The kids played with the neighbors, I chatted with a friend. I put the porch table back outside, equipt with a book ready and waiting for me. I bought berry bushes to be planted. I even raked up leaves to see bright green shoots reaching for my toes.

And then I came inside to the weather report. Winter Storm warning. Ice storm coming in. Snow expected all weekend. Okay so maybe spring isn't here yet, but it's so close I can smell it!