weekend shots

I really hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine.  I had good spirits both Friday and Saturday, really enjoyed my second yoga class, my trip to the library, mushroom hunting (with no success), and loved the sunshine and warm weather this spring has brought so far.  

I found mushrooms... just not the morels I had in mind.

Kate treed two squirrels.  She is definitely aware of her surroundings.

I was mushroom hunting on Friday and the wild iris hadn't bloomed but by Sunday they had.  I was lucky I decided to take another walk or I may have missed them by next weekend.

A four-leaf trillium must be lucky!

And last but certainly not the least... Miss Katie Bug decided to take up swimming in the pond this weekend!  She's so precious and when her front paws splash she barks.  So cute.

all about maxi

I officially own two maxi-type skirts.  Maxi skirts are long and most of the time flowy and very comfortable while hopefully slendering and flattering.  These are my picks for around the web of maxi skirts that I desire.  Especially the one from Old Navy in the center... yowza that bandana!!  I am over my clothing being tight fitting for the most part and don't like it when fabrics stick to me when it's hot outside.  At the same time, a long skirt could be too hot if it is the wrong type of fabric or doesn't flow with the go.  I am teetering on the ones from Forever21 that have a shorter lining but long, sheerer skirt.  They look like they would be comfy but I'm not sure I trust the lining length.  I have been eyeing the shop on Etsy that makes skirt number two.  Prickly Poppy Fashion.  They are actually closing their shop and reopening in May under their actual name.  Pretty cool except the black skirt isn't available right now.  They all look so comfortable and light enough to curl up on the porch with a book on a semi-70 degree-breezy day, don't you think? 

I wore one of mine to work the other day along with my Kmart favorite hat and my darling husband said I looked Amish.  Maybe because I was working in the garden and have bread rising at home.  Yea.. that's it.

one.  Forever21

two.  PricklyPoppyFashion @ Etsy.com

three.  Old Navy (online only)

four.  also Forever21

five.  sheinside.com

Remember last year when I was wanting flowy summer tanks?  I still love them!

Are your feet ready for sandal weather?  Here's my Heel of Approval and 

Summer Feet suggestions.

teaching chores

 Early last week I let one of the kids help me with the dishes after lunch time while everyone else was getting out their pillows and blankets and such.  The next day a different child wanted to help with the dishes.  It dawned on me while eating lunch the following day that maybe it was time for chores for everyone.  Plus it will kind of help work off a little bit of lunch before nap time.  So, when everyone was asleep, I got to work on a chore chart including a picture of each child and a picture of each chore.  I painted a real thick piece of cardboard, printed and cut out pictures (on card stock) and used velcro to attach the pictures to the cardboard.  That way I can move them around each day.  So far, they love it!  After we finish lunch, as they toss their napkin into the trash, they can all see what their small responsibility is.  I don't ask that the chores be done to perfection or anywhere near it, just that they each give it a try and good effort and as they see each one of us doing so they are eager to themselves.  They actually do get excited about the "Wash the Dishes" chore the most.  And I love that they can see what helping clean up feels like and that it can be fun.

Today when we were almost finished with lunch one of them asked "do we get to do our chores today?" This is probably our fourth day with the chore chart and they get up from the table and get busy like little bees.

As you can see, these aren't actually my day care kids.  Although I think Kate would enjoy dragging the mats around the house very much!

Still helping after his chore was done.

weekend shots

My sister and I visited a barn sale in Madison on Friday.  These are a few of my favorite pictures.

Easter centerpiece decor maybe?

A tulip in my yard.

I wrote this last weekend on Sunday morning when it was raining.

One of my favorite finds.

Found a few violets blooming already.  Not enough for violet jelly.

My very favorite find!  Funny when asking for be directed to any morels if they are there I didn't expect to come away with an arrowhead, that in my opinion, is shaped like a small morel.  When I looked down and saw it in my path I smiled and said "my what a sense of humor you have."

The trout lilies are blooming by Sunday

Fire Pinks soon to bloom.

Frog eggs soon to hatch.

Katie Bug swimming.

I love this picture of her barking.  Which she is very loud when swimming.

Hiking buddy and niece Kris.

Another hiking buddy, sister Tracy.