Sunday was Family lake day...

to celebrate my Birthday ...

(it was the 19th)

we were going to do it the Sunday before...

but we had so much rain the day before..

it was just too muddy...

not the case now...

This is my Daughters boyfriends boat...

 Stringbean was so happy to be at the lake...

he ran up and down the hill....

it was windy...but when you have wind...

you break out the kites.....

the blue bonnets....are starting to poke up...

We Texans get very excited to see our State Flower...

you can see people pulled over on the side of the roads...

just to get family photos with them... 

I've never done that too scarey with all the crazy drivers...

I find fields not close to roads...

and always check for rattle snakes....

these gulls put on quite a show for us....
they lasted longer than the kite....
My sweet daughter did such an awesome job...
she planned the whole get together...
got to the lake early...found the best spot...
decorated two tables with balloons and table clothes...
cute bucket filled with Spring colored plastic ware and napkins...
planned the meal...
made the best ever Paleo Chicken salad...and
Paleo sweet potato salad...it was really yummy...
Hubby cooked burgers on the grill...
Daughter brought all the fixings for them...
My Son and DIL brought oranges and pineapple...
My Mom brought strawberries and carrots...
we had such a nice relaxing day...
Eating..laughing...boating...relaxing...
I never did get my fishing pole in the water...
but I sure will next time...
Stringbean and his Mom and Dad...
got in the water (59 degree water)
he had a blast....
in spurts...we made him get out and warm up...
I found out how really cold it was...
when I went for a boat ride...
got soaked...but it sure was fun...
Now for a busy week...
getting ready for Easter...
The WHOLE family is coming...
and I'm going to a sunrise service Easter morning...
7:00 am...a local Cowboy Church...
they are having it around the corner from me...
Tailgate sunrise service...
now what's more Texan than that...

 Spring has Sprung here in Texas...

I am singing on the inside and out....

 Stringbean has kicked off his boots...

enjoying the nice sun shiney day...

 my brother and sister in law gave me this bird bath...

perfect match for my new bird feeder...

 I believe the gang agrees....

 Even Mr. Cardinal is enjoying it...

now if we could get the Misses to make herself visible...

I am so enjoying listening to their beautiful music....

I have started planting seeds...

String bean decided he wanted flowers in his garden pot...

Zinnias...he liked mine from last year...

and all the Butterflies that came to visit...

My To Do List is so long...

it seems like I need to add about 12 more hours to the day...

Gardening...housework...office work...

projects galore...animals...sweet 4 year old...

Hubby....

I will get to it all in good time....

 Happy First Day of Spring....

it is raining here in Texas...

just off and on showers...

 The bees are loving all these weeds  flowers...

 no one is safe around here...

everyone gets to wear the Bee costume...

I tried it on Rooster but he is a little too big...

Hatari is the perfect little model...

 I had a great birthday yesterday...

yep I'm the big 53...

but you know I don't feel it...

of course what is 53 suppose to feel like...

I really like myself better now...

no more worries about what others think...

just concentrate on enjoying life...

enjoying the little things...

like weeds  flowers...bees...my family...

who cares if the laundry piles up...

if I can sit on the ground and watch Stringbean collect ants...

or worms...or build sand castles...

who cares if the dishes need washing...

laying on the floor telling stories...

listening to a cute little boy giggle...and add his own twist to the story...now that is what life is all about...

 my birthday gift from my Mom...

the birds have already fell in love...

me too...

I set in a chair for 30 minutes just watching...

and snapping...while Hubby cooked my birthday dinner...

Pork chops on the grill...

live is good..

Have you told someone you love them today?

Have you hugged someone today?

Have you told yourself you love you...

wrinkles...muffin tops...gray strands and all....

Go ahead...it will make you feel better...

it just might make someones day...

 some people call them weeds...

I call them food for the butterflies and bees...

 I love all blooms...

 especially when picked by this fellow...

my pockets end up full of them...

Buster says...

one more day of winter...

then it's SPRING....

at least on the calendar...

we shall see what Mother Nature comes up with...

53 years ago March 19th... yep that would be 1962...

there was snow on the ground here in Texas...

so happy it won't be here now...

A good friend of mine..

 Jingy Boodles 

makes these wings...

take a look at her Etsy store...

she ships world wide...

 Hubby is sanding our new counter tops...

they are made from an old gym floor...

 Are you ready for Spring?

Buster is....

he is such a good bunny...

let's me pose him...and dress him up...

he was tossing the basket around when we first started...

 who would have thought...

Mommy...Son dragons...

they were a big hit at the park...

shhh...don't tell Buster what I did...

when he wasn't looking...

a little PicMonkey fun...

 My Mom and Daughter took a trip this week...

they drove to Missouri...

to see two of my Uncles...

my Mom's brothers...

 My Uncle has been battling cancer for a few years now...

going through Chemo and Radiation...

now the Cancer is back...

surgery, chemo and radiation or not an option...

My Uncle is a fighter...

he is not going to give up without a fight...

 Having my Mom and Daughter there...

was just the boost he needed... 

It also gave my Mom more peace of mind...

 Thanks to the prayers from friends and family...

they had a good trip and made it home safely...

 Today I bought seeds for the garden...

I actually found Organic seeds at Home Depot...

I also found Organic Sunflower seeds...

I can't wait to plant....

I hope my Zinnias grow good this year...

Counting down to Spring....

Stringbean...

 there is something about Cowboys...

especially little cowboys...

my stringbean is growing up tooooo fast....

 He doesn't tuck his jeans in his boots on purpose...

they just end up that way...

just like his Pawpaw...

that was the first thing that attracted me to my Hubby...

he always seemed to have one leg caught in his boot...

I think it is a male family trait...

my son was the same way...still is...

 Pawpaw made Stringbean walking sticks today...

so he had to climb the mountain...

to see if they worked...

 we went to the grocery store today...

went to pick up a few items...

ended up with a buggy full...

I love ALDI...

today they had their grass fed Beef...

$2.99 for a pound...regularly $6.99 a pound...

I bought 14 packages...

Stringbean wanted a pack of gum...

we forgot to get it...

he remembered when we were bagging the groceries...

so we went back through the line...

I gave him a dollar to pay for it himself...

we waited patiently...

when he paid...

he turned to me and smiled...

you can call me Grown up Stringbean now...

 I asked him why...

he said...because I'm doing grownup things now...

I bought my own gum...

It is never a dull moment....

he also wants to be on TV someday...

like on American Idol...

he loves to sing...

and make up his own songs...

he said everyone will just love him...

I told him we all love him...

that is for sure...

Sky

I love cloud watching....

I'm always amazed by the sky...

one direction you can have dark moody clouds...

turn to the other side...

white whispy clouds.....

Stringbean and I like to look for shapes...

objects...then watch them change into other shapes...objects...

puffy big white clouds...

blue skies...

always a favorite...

 Hubby and I went to the park....

it was full of Cardinals...

 they are tricky little characters....

I used my long lens get these photos...

to 

 I love cardinals...

they always make me smile...

my Nana used to always say...

when you see a Cardinal...

you will have good luck...

I think the good luck is just seeing them...

even the females make me smile...

we saw a lot of Mockingbirds also...

Mockingbirds like posing...

I guess that is why they are ...

The state bird of TEXAS....

anyone know who that is?

never seen her before.....

I don't smell food....

what's that in her hand?

I don't know...

but it's making a clicking noise...

I think we should move in a little closer...

nope...no food....

but she looks nice....