What a weekend!

My sister and 2 of her kiddos drove in to to the farm to visit on Thursday night. I had kept this a total surprise from my kids, and was so excited to see their faces when they saw their cousins again. It's been a while since they have seen each other - at least 3 years. My niece, Shauna, and my nephew, Jacob, came down to Madison to help me surprise the kids. It was so much fun! I wish I had brought my camera with me as we drove to both Kayti and Josh's work, but I totally forgot it! So lame, I know!

Jacon and Shauna

After Kayti and Josh got home from work, we packed up and headed to the farm. We stayed up late, talking and laughing. The kids had a great time reconnecting, and I enjoyed talking with my sisters, and listening to the kids talk and laugh.

On Saturday morning, we got up and headed to my sister's pool to swim. The kids decided to "rock the pool"...

Getting ready

Jumpin' in

"We're rocking now!"

My niece, Jessica, and her little boy, Reese, flew into Nashville on Saturday night. It's been 6 years since Jess has been to Tennessee, and the first time we met Reese. He is such a cutie, and Jess is so beautiful!

Reese

Jessica

We had a big family dinner on Sunday night, and enjoyed the cooler weather. We sat out on the front porch and visited and enjoyed being together.

Daddy and Kathy

Grace

Cousins... minus a few

Kayti and Josh had to come back on Sunday night because they had work on Monday, but Kyle, Megan and I stayed one more night. After things wound down, the kids played the best card game EVER... Hokie Six!

 The kids headed up to go swimming on Monday morning, but the weather turned stormy, and they had to head home. Not to be outdone by the rain, they put their bathing suits back on and headed out to play hide-n-go-seek in the rain!

Rainy day on the farm

Pre-game "dance"

After the game, they got real creative, and tried to "sled" down the wet hill. Not quite the same effect as if there had been snow on the ground, but they had fun trying!

Jess pushing Jake

Meg decided to stay warm and dry, and curled up on the front porch swing to finish up her summer reading.

My nephew, Chris, flew in tonight, and we are going up to visit him tomorrow. This is going to be a short trip for them (they head back to Idaho on Friday morning), but we are so glad they came!



Progress

I've been slowly working on a few projects around here. I've got the table painted and glazed... still need to seal it.

Barry is working on his car in the garage this weekend, so I moved the table inside to give him more room. I'm excited to finally have it in here for real! I still have to work on the chairs. I haven't been able to find any material for the chairs that I like, but I did find some online. Before I buy it, I think I'll run up to Sir's in Fayetteville to see what they have.

 I'm so tickled with it so far!!

Today...

I miss my mom today.

I miss her a lot, actually.

I miss her hugs.

I miss her advice.

I miss her laugh.

I miss her voice.

Not sure why it's hit me so hard today. I think I've been doing pretty well handling her passing. But not today.

My dad goes in for surgery on Tuesday, and I'm not sure if that is freaking me out a bit or what. I'm sure he will be ok, but I just hate that he has to do it.

It sure is hard when your parents get older.

Summer Projects

I have a few projects planned for this summer. Actually, I have a lot of projects planned for this summer, some of them bigger than others.

Last summer I didn't get anything done... recovering from surgery left me pretty much incapable of doing anything. By the time I felt better, it was time to go back to work, so a few of my projects are left-overs from last summer.

One of the bigger projects planned is this:

My dad built himself a new farmhouse table, and gave me their old set. I want to turn it into this:

I saw this on pinterest, and fell in love with it.  The lines on the table and chairs are almost identical to the set dad gave me, and I am so in love with the turquoise! Barry is not sold on it, but I think it will add so much color to the dining room. (Table originally pinned from this site: http://thesassypepper.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-sorta-scary-to-super-cute.html)

As you can see in the picture above, I've started sanding the table. It was kind of nicked to begin with, but I think that adds so much to it. I can't wait to find just the right fabric to cover the chairs with. That hunter green does NOTHING for me!

Two of the other projects on my summer list are actually in the background of the top picture...

I got this dresser from Dawn a few months ago. My plan is to turn it into a tv stand for my bedroom. I love the lines on this piece, and the keyholes in each drawer are so adorable!! My first thought was to paint it black so it would match the other pieces in our bedroom. The more I think about it, though, I really want to paint it grey. I think Barry might totally veto me on it, but I think it would lighten up the room. The lines on it don't match our "farmhouse" style nightstands and headboard, and he thinks painting it black with help it blend with the other pieces. I'm not sure I want it to blend though...I want it to stand out. But, I don't want it to look out of place, either. Not sure what to do. Any thoughts?

And speaking of the headboard... that is the other piece in the background of the first picture. My dad made the headboard, footboard and two nightstands for me 2 years ago, and I'm ashamed to say that the headboard is still not done. The nightstands are both done and in my room, the footboard is painted, but not distressed, and the headboard is only painted on one side. I left the whole project up to Josh to finish... actually I gave it to him to do so that he would have something other than video games and bugging his siblings to keep him busy. We ran out of paint, and it's just one of those things that didn't get done. Hopefully Josh will be working soon, so I'll take over the job.

I've also got other indoor project plans. I have lots of organizational projects I want to tackle... my craft room and a recipe binder, just to name a couple. I would love to maybe try my hand at some canning this summer, too. I've helped my mom can before, but I was more interested in getting out of the house and into a swimming pool to really learn much from her.

As much as I'm ticked at the fact that the Alabama legislature and Madison City Schools ruined my fall break with their stupid new calendar, I guess an extra two weeks of summer might help me get a few of these projects actually done this year. I'll keep you updated!

Not so long ago...

This is my little man on his first day of Kindergarten. He was so excited to be in Mrs. McCormack's class, and to finally be in school! He insisted on riding the bus that morning, even though I had to be there for his Kindergarten Open House. I made him cinnamon rolls for breakfast and he burned his chin on the pan because he couldn't wait to get into them.

This is my not-so-little man on  his last day of high school. It doesn't seem possible that he is already through. Where did the time go? I made him cinnamon rolls again for breakfast... he didn't burn himself this time!

He graduates on Tuesday. I'm so proud of him and all of the things he has accomplished. He will be 19 by the end of the year, and leaving for his mission. He plans to work this summer to help pay for his mission. After he gets home, he wants to be an actor, or a police detective... maybe the FBI. He might change his mind by the time he gets home. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Josh hates to have his picture made, but he was a good sport for me and let Shari K take some of him a few weeks ago.

Here are a couple of my favorites!

And a couple of Josh's favorites!

Love that kid! So grateful that he is mine!!

Flowergirl

My mom's nickname for me when I was little bitty was "flowergirl". She gave me this because I picked "flowers" for her from the woods behind our house. She would always put them in a vase, and never gave me grief for bringing in weeds!

I really loved that about my mom... she would see the good in things, and she made you feel proud of the littlest things you had done.

Momma would have loved to see all the flowers that were sent for her service. I picked several stems from each spray and brought them home with me. I sat a large vase of them on my desk at work the next week. Seeing and smelling them made me think of her and helped to brighten my day and the day of others around me.

Took a few pictures of them, but they were starting to get a little wilty. Wish I had done it sooner.

I also had a sweet friend bring me over a bouquet of tulip, my favorite! They brightened my attitude and living room for a while!

I miss Mom so much today, but I'm so grateful for her and the many things she taught me.

In Memory

Mary Ann Copeland Jean

Dec. 8, 1933

April 25, 2012

I miss her so much

I have so many things I want to say about my Mom. I want to record all the things that she taught me, the fun times we had together, the final moments we shared on this earth. The feelings in my heart. But I just can't seem to get them all out. Hopefully soon. Today I just miss her.