Thats right! We went to the fishy store today! We received a postcard in the mail this week letting us know that one of our favorite local fish stores was having a buy one get one half off sale! Yippee! With time to spare and much excitement from Charis this afternoon we loaded up the car and headed off to the “fishy store” (as Charis calls it). We knew that we were in the market for some snails and ended up with 18 Margarita Snails. They are a little smaller than what I am use to but they have beautiful shiny shells. We have had Clownfish in our previous saltwater tanks and decided on two more of these for our new tank. They are smaller so I am excited that we have the opportunity to watch them grow over the years. I think that will be really neat! Brad really likes Royal Grammas and the store happened to have two in to choose from so he picked the more personable one and we were set. Charis loved running around the store checking out the fishies and rock. Her favorite though was a basket that was floating in the water. Here we are in this store with amazingly beautiful fish and Charis is amused with a black basket floating in the water. She is a funny kiddo! I think that there are a few more fish on Brad’s wish list but we will have to wait for those and we do hope to add a few more snails of a different kind but I am really excited with our start. The Royal Gramma is still hiding somewhere in the tank (this is his nature) as he was a bit freaked out to move to a new ocean (understandably so). The Clownfish seem to be adjusting well and they are loving playing in the current together. I got to place all the snails in the tank and they were happy right away and went to work on our algae. It has been fun already to hangout and watch the creatures. It is really neat to be able to watch things that we do not normally get to watch. God’s creation and creativity is pretty amazing!

“in the midst of life we are in death”
OR
“in the midst of death we are in life”
-In This House Of Brede By Rumer Godden

This book took a little work to get into but once in the unraveling begins. There are definitely many things to ponder throughout this book!

So it all began about two and a half weeks ago. We received mail with two one dollar bills in hopes that we would fill out a survey regarding what radio stations we listen to for a few days. Nothing else in the mail just a letter and the two one dollar bills. A few days later we got the phone call and of course I got suckered in and not only I but I drug Brad along for the ride as well. The woman said that not many males send in their surveys. I figured it was an easy thing to do and Brad could do it. He was really excited about this let me tell you! I have heard about it over and over again! Note to self! The next day we got another piece of mail with five one dollar bills in it. Brad did not even care too much about the money until I gave away his “hard earned” five one dollar bills to a kid in the neighborhood who was collecting money for his school. Side note…last time the kid came I did not give him any money so I felt like I should this time. He comes often so I aim for about every other time. Poor Brad was minus five one dollar bills! We could have used that money for an ice cream treat! A few days later we received the actual surveys with four more one dollar bills inside. The money just kept coming! Then the other day which was the last day of the survey we received another dollar in the mail. These people just keep giving away free money! It just keeps raining money in our mailbox. It is a very odd thing to me and it seems that they are quite desperate to know what radio stations that I listen to. The sad thing for them is…I don’t generally listen to the radio! Charis has a favorite CD that she loves in the car. They will be sad to receive my survey but hey the money is spent!

The tank has been up and running for a little bit and I must admit that I have really enjoyed the rock. No, it is not pet rock! While a pet rock is exciting live rock is really incredible and has a bit more personality. I love to see what is growing on it and all the colors that it holds. The little things that grow on the rocks will be out sometimes and in other times it is just so amazing that so much could live on a rock. Brad has been working so hard on the tank and getting things just the way he wants them. This blesses me because I cannot stand doing something and then redoing it. He can take all the time that he needs as far as I am concerned but I must admit if I am excited about rock I cannot wait for the snails! I think that they are my very favorite part of the whole tank. As Charis would say, they are “licky loos”! I know that they are eating stuff but you can just see them stuck to the glass “licking” away. I love them! I have already taught Charis to say snail too! There are rumors of snails for the tank in the next week or so. Trust me I will post some pics when they arrive. For now I thought that I would share a picture of the rock. It is one of Brad’s favorite pieces as it has a large hole/cave that the fish will be able to swim through. Enjoy!

Okay, Cai’s diaper bag is finally finished! Shocking I know! I just recently shocked myself by how much I want to accomplish by his arrival so I figured that I should get started! The baby announcements are coming along but they are just a little tedious. I am still working on Charis’s birthday invites which I have changed my mind on several times (just like Cai’s birth announcements). I also want to make Charis something for her birthday and there are a few little blankets that I would like to make for Cai as well. See, I really do need to get my groove on! There is a list of a few other things but these are high on my list for now. Here is hoping that I can get my groove on and keep it on!!!

Spring has sprung here or so we thought for the past few weeks. Temperatures were in the 60’s to near 70’s and everything began to bloom! We have had a bit of a cold snap though and today the temps are only in the 40’s! I was looking at our Bradford Pear Tree this morning and knew that it must feel confused with the weather changes. At this stage the tree almost looks like it is covered in snow although it is just covered in blooms. It has really been beautiful to watch this year from its budding to its blooming. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy! God’s creation is beautiful!

We went to the park this past week with Granny which was a treat and Charis had a blast! Charis was very excited as we sat eating our lunch and a duck came to join us begging for any food that he could get. Mommy was not such a big fan of the duck being so close and being ever so protective of my little duckling I scared it off (I know I know, how could I) but trust me when I say that the duck looked like it would do what it took to get some food and he was fearless. When we had finished eating and swinging (first things first) we took off after the ducks. Charis loved following them around. She was quite desperate to touch a ducky. She kept saying, “Ducks, ducks, more ducks please!” it was way to cute for words! The ducks of course would stay a good arms length away from her. It was so much fun to see her enjoying being outside and loving the animals! We walked around following ducks for quite sometime until we saw the doggies who chased the ducks and that was even more entertaining! My favorite part I have to say was the, “Ducks, ducks more ducks please!”

All these years my mom has saved the rocking chair that I had when I was a little girl. We have countless pictures of all my quality time in this little rocker. Mom passed it along to us when Charis was a baby and it has sat in our garage for quite sometime. Every time we went somewhere Charis was quick to point it out as we passed through the garage. Today was quite warm and beautiful so I decided to clean up the old rocker and bring it in. Charis was so excited about this new addition to our home. She sat in it most of the afternoon and gave each of her babies a turn in it. It is sweet to see something that I enjoyed so much as a kiddo being enjoyed so much by our kiddo! I must admit to my mom this was one thing worth keeping!!!

No, not real critters but cute critters! I actually accomplished what I wanted to and did not get distracted this weekend! Woo Hoo!!! I thought that I would share these burp cloths with you as I was really excited with the way that they turned out! Some of my favorite embroidery designs are from Tyme2Stitch which I found on eBay. Gotta love eBay!!!

I think that I have about three bags going right now along with many other projects as I just can’t seem to focus these days! I can never stick to just one thing I might get bored! I have been making some progress on Cai’s diaper bag and I thought that I would share. The outside of the bag is all put together and even has a little monogram on it! I still needed to finish up the pockets, lining and handles for the bag but it will go quickly now…as long as I do not procrastinate or get distracted!