Favorite of the month: April

Surprise!

April's picture of the month is to remind me that the "accidents" can sometimes turn out to be favorites.

A few weekends ago, we went up to Grand Beach for the fun of it. (Really, we think the beach is way more fun when there's no one else there.) The boys found this log they thought would make a perfect bench, so I asked them to sit down so I could take a picture. We were all ready to go and just as I was about to snap, Jonny called out: "Boys! Come see what I found!"

They were gone.

And this is what I've got. I love it!

Mark & Steph

I had a great time with Steph and Mark a few weeks ago shooting their engagement pictures. We met at St. Vital Park where the couple had their first date - a picnic. The weather was lovely, the lighting was gorgeous and this couple was happy in love. Truly, I don't know that Steph stopped laughing. Mark brings out the giggles in her and I think that's sweet. Laughter is good for the soul and so Mark is a whole lotta good for Steph.

Thanks for the fun outing, guys! I'm looking forward to the wedding!

like a kid in a candy shop

Have you been to the Re-Store? Jonny took me as part of my birthday excursion back in December and I LOVED it! I'm sure I looked like a kid in a candy shop - a gleam in my eye, a smile on my face, all muscles tense with excitement. I walked through that store and in every direction I saw possibility. With a little bit of work, I could create something fabulous and that idea excites me. My problem though, is that although I can see possibility, I'm not always sure how to put "possibility" together. So of course, I left the store empty handed, but still pleased at having found a great place to browse!

A few weekends ago, I decided I'd introduce my boys to the Re-Store. I knew they'd love exploring the rows of doors, piles of wood, the assortment of used furniture, mirrors, tiles, windows... Actually, their favorite part was the toilets. I have to say that didn't even occur to me, but it makes sense for boys, right?

Thankfully when we went, I had a plan for purchasing and turning "possibility" into something fun and useful, so it wasn't just a browsing trip. We picked out a whole bunch of tiles for smashing and making stepping stones with.

I brought the candy home.

I'm excited.

Favorite of the month: March

Okay. This one is my favorite simply because it makes me LAUGH. Seriously. It has nothing to do with my capabilities as an awesome photographer, it's really not that great a photo, but it makes me laugh.

I had to post the first one to assuage my guilt for posting the second one as my favorite of the month.

(Whose kid is that anyway?!)

waiting...

Dear Blue Skies,

Please come out tomorrow.

I miss you.

- Kristen

full exposure

I've got a new series for you, titled so for the fact that I'm puttin' myself out in plain view for you to see.

I tear up every time I watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. It never fails! I rarely watch the show, but whenever I catch the tail end of it, you know - at the big reveal, I'm crying. It doesn't matter that I know nothing about these people or what they went through. The emotion they express as they are given a new home gets to me. Every single time.

I watch The Bachelor. (cringe) It's true. I've been hooked for a few seasons now and I don't think I can even explain why.... nope - thought about it and I can't explain it. I just like it. So much so that I will put my children to bed early every Monday night so that I can watch uninterrupted. (They think Monday night is special because they get to "read" books in bed before they have to go to sleep ... little do they know)

I LOVE clean sheets. LOVE them. I love the feel of a freshly laundered and made bed. I love the smell. I love, love, love it! I will lie still in my nice, clean bed right after I've made it and just enjoy the moment. It used to ruin it a bit for me when Jonny would beat me to bed and I would miss out on the opportunity to be the first one to enjoy my clean sheets. (Maybe because he doesn't appreciate what he's experiencing.) On his most recent business trip, I made it a point to wash the bedding. That night I was the first one in bed. I was also the only one in bed, but I was blissfully happy with my clean sheets!

Favorite of the month: February

This month's favorite belongs to my jasmine flower.

I love this plant. Mine isn't much to look at, (I hope that will change with some growth) but it's the flowers that draw me to it. In particular, the scent. These little flowers have such a beautiful scent to them. It just makes me smile!

It bloomed for me this month for the first time since I last blogged about this plant (close to a year ago!). I was so excited to see this bloom and to see 4 more buds on the plant. I was rather relieved because I had thought I was killing it - it hasn't looked too good lately. But after this one flower bloomed and dropped, the others withered up and died. I was so disappointed! And then the leaves started drying up and I thought it was all over for my pretty plant.

Now, I will admit that the thought of buying a new plant briefly crossed my mind. But I'm no quitter! So instead I pulled off the dead leaves. I pulled out my ultra high tech gardening tool (a fork) and loosened the soil a little. I talked to it while no one was around: "You can do it. Come on, Jasmine."

Well guess what? My pretty jasmine is growing new leaves! No new flower buds yet, but the leaves are a good sign and I'll take it.

So here's to new growth! To not giving up! To pulling out your fork and loosening the soil!