chalk + board = chalkboard love

who doesn't want a big chalk board to write a special messages, the menu of the evening, a bible verse, a favorite quote, a list of favorite things, a friendly reminder to your other half, for the kids to scribble on, a list of things to do (but who wants to see that). the possibilities are endless!!

 i however did not want to pay the price of one when i knew i could make one myself. i have been on the hunt for the perfect soon to be chalk board. i had only 2 requirements in mind while on my hunt, for one, it needed to be HUGE and the frame had to be decorative. with a little bit a patience and a barn sale i found the ONE.

i took out the picture from the wooden frame

painted the wooden frame white

flipped over the picture and painted it with chalk board paint

i did about 4 coats of paint

put the picture back in the frame

that was easy!!

a collage of just randomness...

i heart pioneer women and cherries...

i drink and paint..

Nathan and i like to make quiches together..it is our Sunday meal...

so we came up with the phrase "i quiched you" or "i quiched the cook"...

living out in the middle of know where really makes you closer...

i planted sunflowers and thought they looked so funny when they first sprouted...

they are now almost taller than me...

now you can see the the final product all back together...i have tortured you enough with my nonsense!!

we would LOVE to have you HERE...we will even make you a special quiche even if it is not Sunday!! 

i just need a 24 hour notice cause my pie crust needs to sit overnight..just saying.

nothing beats a found water pail..

that really means i was junking in someones abandoned barn/shed and gave it a new home where it would be appreciated. 

 i believe that was an act of kindness.

my son added his art work to my heart...

at least he colored within the lines...

the flower that has no name...

i really should read the label next time i get some at the store.

 this is where we dine and EAT!!

like my table and chairs..it was a gift from parents for being born (a birthday gift back in march) they have exceptional taste!!

i have narrowed down the color i will paint over that hideous brown and tan..and i am still hunting for the perfect chandelier. 

until then..

We Would LOVE To Have You HERE!!

mantel & moments

finally, i am sitting down at my own computer pulling my thoughts together and trying to remember our summer. the past few weeks have been hectic in a wonderful way. our son turned 3, lovely family visiting, a quick vacay to California, blessed by a 5th nephew and all the little projects that are near completion in our nest. the boy's room and play room are just about ready for their big reveal...until then here is my mantel at the moment.

i am crazy about my bistro chair..i have been searching for more but no luck.

a rose from my garden in the perfect hobnail vase

i always forget the name of this flower..but they are truly one of my faves to buy for the home. they will last up to 3+ weeks if you keep the stem trimmed and give them fresh water. these yellow beauties are cheappies compared to other flowers that wilt within a few days.

the 4 is to symbolize our family of 4..just in case i forget!!

if you must know..the books and hobnail glass vases are from goodwill. the "4" is from a local antique shop.

oil cans..they also look amazing with fresh flowers in them.

my little boy max.

my Lil assistant at my legs while i was snapping pictures. i simply couldn't resist taking a few of him. he has a scratch from the cat on his face but i can hardly blame the cat..he finds it amusing to pull her tail and smack her in the face. mighty max has been doing this for awhile and doesn't seem to care of the consequences. i am sure that will be brought up more as he gets older!!

my parent's took his big brother Nathan to the beach house for 5 whole days and 4 nights..(not that i was counting) before max and i arrived to join them. Nathan and i soaked up every moment with max since it was his and our first time spending time together as just the 3 of us (well..since his birth). i was worried he would miss his brother and i truly believed he did by the way he held him and gave his big brother a kiss on the cheek at the airport which was one of the greatest mom moments. max sure did love having all of our attention and all of the Thomas the trains to himself. i on the other hand felt like a piece of my heart was missing without Lil Nathan but couldn't believe how quickly we could get ready for the day and out the door with just one kid in tow. 

so many moments i will never forget and so many moments would of never occurred if it wasn't for big bro being away. we really got to see max as the once baby now toddler being his independent self. what i mean is when you have 2 little ones very close in age a lot of things go unnoticed but when you are alone with just one of them you begin to notice little things about them you never saw before. max is also 19 months old and is just bursting with personality all of his own!! let's just say they boys are complete opposites!!

this was a big eye opener for me and made me realize to sit back, enjoy all the small things because one day the house will be empty and i  won't be stumbling over a Thomas, Henry, Percy, James, Harold, Rosie, Bertie, Gordon or diesel the train. i think all boys love..love...love Thomas the train and all his million train friends that we are acquiring. can't help it, but i  kinda enjoy putting together the train tracks and building a mini soder town! i also must confess i sometimes will set up a new track after the boys go to bed so when they wake up it is ready, different from the day before..i feel so much better now that i got that out :)

anyway..spending quality time with the boys and as a family has to be one of the most important things to me. you could never spend too much time with your kids making memories..right! 

Max's little flintstone feet.

A mother holds her child's hand for a little while but holds their hearts forever. 
-- Author Unknown

have a happy happy weekend!!

make a moment happen!!

cow day..everyday

Another day at the dairy brings pure happiness to our almost 3 year old, Nathan. this boy loves every moment watching the tractors, cows and being with his daddy. i just love watching them together!!

i asked Nathan to add his commentary about these photos. so everything in blue is what he had to say about this day!! 

This is what life on the farm is all about.  Work and Family can overlap to provide a real valuable life experience.  For me, spending time with Little Nate on the Farm is such a joy.  Look at his face, he loves to come to the dairy.

Same picture, but I just love it so much, I loaded it twice.

love these boys!!

Nathan and Nathan Jr. about to unload some "Springer's" off of a truck.

cow palace..i am sure it is not the kinda "palace" i am thinking of!

We're ready to unload these Springer's.

Good Looking Bunch

Ready to move these "Black and White, Holsteins"

Got my Favorite Shirt on Today

he insists on wearing this shirt almost everyday. 

Little Nate is inspecting the condition of the newly purchased Heifers.  "Pretty good group here"

the best moment of this unloading experience was hearing lil nathan yell at the cow's just like daddy. he would say "c'mone cow, get off" !! he is a pretty quite boy most of the time so to hear him yell at the cows was cracking me up!

These girls meet with the owner's approval.

my husband looks good in blue

heading to their new corral

walking the ladies down the alley 

I'm ready for the next load.

Another of Nathan's favorite things around the Dairy are the Texas Sunrises he gets to see every day.

Pretty cool picture

s.i.s.t.e.r.

heidi and me

sorry the picture is fuzzy wuzzy..this also came off my work computer.

heidi recently moved to NEW YORK CITY!! 

well, a few months ago and is living in the upper east side so y'all should go visit her.

so... all of us siblings are scattered all over the one and only united states.

i just really MISS my sister and y'all should know that.

ALWAYS IN MY HEART

It gives me pains to see you leave,
But I never forget what I've learned through the years
We've gone through a lot together
Much less laughs and tears

I'll always be there for you,
Even after we’re married
I'll always stay true to you.
After all the love we’ve carried

You are my sister,
And my very best friend
You will always be
And my love will never end

You are a part of me,
And never will you ever leave my heart.
All the times we've shared together
Our hearts will never part

Don't let anyone take my place,
They'll never change our lives together.
Or even if you think they will
Remember we will be sisters forever

The laughs, we have
We share the tears,
We kept our promises
That have built up throughout the years.

I’ll love you all through life
I'll never let us part,
Because you'll always have special place
That special place is in my heart.

Author: KRISTEN M SACCARDI

please no tears...

just grab a glass of wine and say "cheers" to you and me!!!

~love your sister~

d.a.d.

Texas Sheet Cake..do i need to say more!!!

but really both my husband and my dad mean the world to me!!

i have baked this cake for over 15 years for my dad and it is still our favorite. it did occur to me that this would be the first time we had "TEXAS" sheet cake in "TEXAS"..i guess it was mean't to be.

i made this banner out of a paper bag, yarn, skewers, sharpie, scissors and tape in about 5 minutes.

could be better but it worked.

YES..that is me and my dad in the b&w picture. he is soooo channeling tom sellek with the mustache!!

major resemblance don't you agree?!?

this is an actual tom selleck picture by the way.

natey (and maybe his mom too) wanted to make sure the texas sheet cake was "ok" to eat! 

what a thoughtful child.

playing in the yard with the boys. this is what summer is about..and this is what we do just about everyday!!

we have the freezer loaded with Popsicles for this little guy who usually has to have one in each hand.

clothing is also optional for small kids...

how perfect on our back fence to tell those special men..

"happy father's day"

 and we LOVE you!!

o what a happy day!!

Life Lessons

You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs

this little Blondie just melts my heart!!

this guy melts my heart too!!

and then we feasted on salmon. my dad just got back from a fishing trip up in Alaska so the fish was fresh of the airplane and now in the little ol' town of Friona!

Nathan prepared the salmon filet's, goat cheese and beet salad (with his homemade dressing) and herbed rice pilaf! usually you would think someone else..ME.. would cook for this special day but Nathan is by far my favorite chef (along with his mom and sisters)!!!

the 3 different kinds of salmon the chef cooked up for us..my favorite was the peanut butter teriyaki!!

~peanut butter teriyaki

~garlic & herb

~tomato basil

nathan...me...dad...justin p...his lovely girlfriend jessica taking the photo.

more salmon and halibut (not shown in the freezer door) at the dairy office.

why the hungry.man.....that would be my dad's.....he doesn't cook :)