Trestle Bridge

Day 151/365
We discovered this old trestle bridge on a bike trail that runs through Belleville. The design and colors were really striking at dusk and we enjoyed checking it out.

Flowering Chives

Day 150/365
The weather was glorious today and we enjoyed lots of time outside. We hiked at Stewart Lake, played in the spray of the hose and enjoyed some of the fresh asparagus and rhubarb we purchased at the farmer's market yesterday. It really feels like summer has arrived! Our chives have begun to flower and I love the color and texture of the blooms.

Farmer's Market

Day 149/365
We stopped by the Mount Horeb Farmer's Market today - the first of the growing season. We saw delicious-looking rhubarb, asparagus, mixed greens and these radishes. I'm looking forward to checking out the local offerings several times this spring and summer.

Collage: Week 21

Flip

Day 148/365
We attended open gym at a local gymnastics studio today, along with some friends who graciously shared their free passes. Today's picture is of our friend, mid-flip! She made me dizzy just watching her, but it was so much fun seeing her tumble, head-over-heels, perfectly each time.

A Boy in Blue

Day 147/365

Honeysuckle

Day 146/365
I spotted this honeysuckle on my walk this morning and ventured out after a rain shower to take some pictures of the flowers.

Lilac Bouquet

Day 145/365
We spent a large part of the afternoon outside, planting the garden and putting up the pool. I also had a chance to enjoy this lilac bouquet I put together yesterday. The blooms are so pretty and so fragrant. I love being able to enjoy the flowers from our yard by bringing them inside.

Lily of the Valley

Day 144/365
Our yard smells so good right now! We have lilacs in bloom, as well as lily of the valley. I love these delicate little bells surrounded by green.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Day 143/365
The kids were super excited to celebrate Davin's birthday. They decorated the house, complete with balloons and streamers, decorated the cake, and made cards and gifts. We love Daddy!

Dandelion Fluff

Day 142/365

Piles of Pink Petals

Day 141/365
Our crab apple tree has been in bloom for close to a week and the petals have been slowly falling to the ground. We had enough of a breeze today that there were small piles of flower bits littering the driveway and yard, and covering our cars. Enavi enjoyed throwing them into the air, surrounding herself in a delicate rain of pink petals.

Collage: Week 20

Yellow Tulips

Day 140/365
We have so many lovely flowers blooming in the yard. It was a warm afternoon - perfect weather to wander around the yard and capture pictures of colorful blooms.

Apple Blossoms

Day 139/365

Victory Lap

Day 138/365
Celebrating the win!

Epic Bridge

Day 137/365
After Jevin's soccer game, we gave my parents a tour of part of the Epic campus. I liked the way the late afternoon sunlight was falling across this bridge, creating areas of shadow and light. I really like the end result, especially in black and white.

Soccer Tournament

Day 136/365
Jevin is playing in his first soccer tournament this weekend. Tonight was the first of three games over the next couple of days, and we gathered the kids up for a team picture right after the game. The boys played hard, as you can see by the flushed cheeks and grassy knees. Even though they didn't win tonight's game, they were still full of smiles - I love their awesome attitudes and good sportsmanship.

Crazy Kids

Day 135/365
Sometimes, my kids just crack me up!

Collage: Week 19

Collage: Week 18

Gingersnaps

Day 134/365
I gave my baking sheets a work out today. We made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, a batch of gingersnaps, and a whole bunch of meatballs. The cookies are for tonight's Awana awards night, where we will recognize the hard work our kids have completed this year. We get to celebrate after the ceremony with cookies and juice. I am looking forward to seeing my kiddos up on stage tonight - I am a proud mama.

Delicate Fern

Day 133/365

Hosta Leaf

Day 132/365
With the rain and warm weather, our hostas have taken off. The leaves always look so vibrant after a rain shower.

Mother's Day Bouquet

Day 131/365
Happy Mother's Day! We've had a truly special day: time with family, wonderful food, lots of laughter, hugs, kisses and smiles. One of the many bright spots in my day was this lovely bouquet that Enavi put together for me. I love all of those bright colors, and how sweetly she gave them to me after carefully collecting them from the yard. I am blessed beyond measure.

A Memorial Union Photo Session

Day 130/365
Whew, we have had a busy day! I spent the morning with some good friends, taking pictures of their adorable kiddos. As soon as I got home from downtown Madison, we hopped in the car and headed to Platteville for Jevin's soccer game (they won, by the way - go Mt. Horeb!). An hour drive back home, a brief cleaning of the house for company coming tomorrow, scarf down dinner and off to church for a concert. I am ready to call it a night, but I thought I would share one of my favorite pictures from this morning.

Trip to the Zoo

Day 129/365

Blowing Bubbles

Day 128/365
It was a warm, breezy afternoon - perfect bubble weather!

White Blossoms

Day 127/365

Barbed Wire

Day 126/365
We've really been enjoying the spring evenings - such a difference from the cool, gray weather of last week. The past couple of nights we've taken walks with the kiddos after dinner. I took this shot on our walk tonight, as the sun was casting that late evening glow on the field by our house.

Sidewalk Chalk

Day 125/365
It was a beautiful afternoon to make some art on the sidewalk.

First Planting

Day 124/365
The garden has been tilled for a couple of weeks, but today was the first day that we've worked in the dirt. We boldly planted peppers and tomatoes, hoping that the frost is done for the season. We also planted some lettuce plants and I'm looking forward to fresh salads in our near future. It feels like spring is really here now that we have plants growing in the garden.

Carrie

Day 123/365
Today we had the privilege of celebrating my beautiful sister's birthday. We travelled to Milwaukee for dinner at an Irish pub followed by a Celtic Woman concert. I am blessed to have Carrie as my sister and I'm so glad that we could share in her birthday fun today.

Spring Performance

Day 122/365
We enjoyed a wonderful program at our homeschool co-op spring performance. The kids performed a music concert, with singing and recorder-playing, and after the concert we enjoyed viewing the art gallery of the kids' work from the last semester. I really appreciate seeing all of the kids' art work displayed collectively. It is fun to see what they have been working on during the last semester and it makes each kid feel special to see his or her work presented in this way. What a fun way to celebrate the accomplishments of our kiddos!

This Little Piggy

Day 121/365
I found this patriotic piggy at The Sow's Ear in Verona (one of my very favorite yarn stores). Who doesn't love a pig on a swing with awesome fashion sense?