10/52 series

Pretty sure this is what my heaven looks like! Our new house.  Those tree houses!

Momma's birthday .... the BIG 4-0

It's momma's birthday and it's the big 4-0! 
It's a milestone birthday, they say. The 40's-50 ..... supposedly the best years. Perhaps true, the 20's you tend to "find yourself", the 30's tend to be lots of sacrifice of yourself that goes with having young children (back to back). The 40's time to take all this knowledge and live! I'll watch the 20 something's stress out over minor mistakes or try so hard to prove themselves. I'll do this recognizing a younger self that I have happily outgrown. I'll watch the 30 something's having all those babies trying to find a balance between kids, marriage, even themselves. I'll watch knowing I got most of that figured out .... finally after years of work and sacrifice. 
I'll look to the 40 something's .... well because we're never too old to learn something new. I'll enter my 40's a bit wiser, a little less naive and with lots of joy. The great thing about getting older is that instead of having fewer choices, I have so many more. I am ready to rock this decade! Happy Birthday to me!

Momma couldn't have asked for a better 40th birthday! I got the best gifts ever .... everything I asked for.  It started with lunch for just poppa and I.  For dinner we did a huge family dinner .... Rich planned for both of our families to get to together and celebrate.  We celebrated over lots of food at hibachi! Friday morning the fun continued.  Poppa and I went out of town for the weekend.  Just momma and poppa, down to Key West for the weekend.  We had so much fun and truly enjoyed each other.  It's been way to long without kids.  We both committed to making this happen way more often.

Next in the celebration of momma turns 40 is a girls night out.  We are planning this in a couple of weeks, as spring break is here and friends are in and out of town.

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!

The cutest duckling ever!

Some more baby duckling pictures, because, well .... he's just too cute! Lexi has grown very attached to this little duckling.  We have attempted to find the mommy duck and haven't found her yet.  We did decide to attempt to raise him until we find his mommy.  So far so good.  Lexi named him Billie. I asked her why "Billie".  She said, because he has a big bill and he pecks all the time.  Ok, of course that makes sense.   Let's hope we can keep Billie alive and well!

9/52 series

Just one of the many fun events the kids did while momma and poppa were out of town. Strawberry picking! It was reported that this little guy ate more than he probably paid for. As excited as he was to see me when I got home, by evening he was asking when Caitlin was coming back. I am willing to bet he had a few less rules and a lot of fun when we were gone.

8/52 series

ATAmongst the stomach bug throughout the family this weekend we rescued a baby duck. Seriously, who has tanks and heating lamps just laying around the house. Yup, we do! Of course Lexi has become baby ducklings mom. She literally could not stand us not rescuing the duckling. She will do big things in her life this girl ... big, important things. I just know it. Her heart is so big and so pure. "Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives." Thomas Berry, The Dream of the Earth 
Amongst the stomach bug throughout the family this weekend we rescued a baby duck. Seriously, who has tanks and heating lamps just laying around the house. Yup, we do! Of course Lexi has become baby ducklings mom. She literally could not stand us not rescuing the duckling. She will do big things in her life this girl ... big, important things. I just know it. Her heart is so big and so pure. "Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives." Thomas Berry, The Dream of the Earth