view from the circle

We absolutely love our neighbors here on Forest Circle. They all seem to spend time outside gardening and weeding. It is inspiring to see their bags of yard waste and incoming compost to nourish their yards. I catch myself gazing off the porch at everyone else's yards in almost dream like wonder - at how it all looks so alive.

Our neighbors across the street give us this to look at all spring.

Our neighbor (and best bud) gives us this plus forsyntheas and snowball bushes.


Yet, all we can give them is a newly organized this....

and this.....

ahhh spring cleaning

Not sure that you can hear the sigh of relief that the living room and dining room are now clean. Not just surface clean - but deeply cleaned! Nate, Elizabeth and I spent most of Sunday evening clearning those rooms until we were satisfied that we were ready for spring.... all dust bunnies freed, all spring chickens kicked out of the kitchen, and all the materials free of lint, pollen, and allergic fibers. Yes, the sound of freedom is long and celebratory.

a big week of logistics

I am 40 ish and have never had a will. There have been no provisions for my finances, my home, and most importantly my daughter. The thing that I love the most - I have made no arrangements for, if in the event that I shall pass on before she is an adult.

So, to remedy this oversight - Nate and I have been changing beneficiaries and updating wills. Its all a big decision and yet hopefully none of our decisions will ever need come to fruition. Yet, we have signed, given blood, notarized, spit, and seconded all of the necessary forms to be sure that our children and our loves are taken care of.

I realize that my chance of dying is 100% but I pray to any god or spirit that is lizstening to at least give to me until our children are old enough for all of this custody/and will stuff doesn't matter. Allow me to love their tender hearts and to nourish their growth until I am old and gray.

Notarized and approved by Mindy S. Allenger

writing timeline

Having coffee with Kathy this morning cleared out my thoughts of work and worry. Instead, within those few hours - we replaced those worried brows with laughter in Lowes while we hauled six boxes of ceramic tile for Mickey. We talked about our fav counselor and how incredibly strict she forces us to be with our thoughts and actions. We sipped coffee and ate glutten free pretzels while catching up on cheerleading, wedding memories, our mothers, flippers, acrylic nails, our cats, and most everything else imaginable.

Within those hours of bliss, her final parting thought was, "So whats the timeline on this writing?" Ok, back to reality.

My timeline is...
Chapter 1 finished by April 30
Chapter 3 finished by May 30
IRG over the summer
Chapter 2 concurrently over the summer
Research in September
Chapter 4 in October
Chapter 5 in November
Christmas in December (heehee)
Defend in January
Graduate in May

ahhhh.... back to real life

The Wedding Whirlwind is past..... the detailed planning, the constant questions, the decorations everywhere - all over.

It felt like our life was open for public comment for two months. Every step of the wedding was being worked out over and over. Altered, modified, and reworked again.

The time was wonderful and full while I still linger in the wedding glow.

Yet, the relief of being back to real life is almost surreal and dreamy. A quieter weekend has followed up the wedding whirlwind. Our quiet week-a-versary consisted of; naps in the afternoon, relaxing around the xbox, regular trips to the grocery for milk and apples, laundry being put away and a sweet quiet that settled over our home.

quite the collection

summer plans....

Loads of Camping

Running the summer Reading clinical and WRITING

Beach with Louie, Debbie, Steve, Sandy, Brian, Cynthia and SEVEN kiddos.

Elizabeth to California