Anniversary Tree 2017

This tradition has been going on in our front yard since 1999. Click here to see the progression of changes in our little family (and yard and pets) over that time.

Fun with Leaves

I didn't ask them to do it. The "leaf raking" is usually done with the riding lawn mower.

This was all her idea. She used her mighty powers of persuasion to convince her brother and I to help get the leaves into a pile so she could jump in. She apparently doesn't remember the time I traumatized her as a preschooler (seriously, you have to click the link and go read that blog post. I'll wait.). Okay, now that you're back from that adorable little excursion, I'll leaf (tee hee) you with these nearly as cute pictures...

Anniversary Tree 2016

If you've been hanging out here on my blog for more than a year, you know that we have a special tree in our front yard. Purchased with wedding money and planted on the first anniversary of our first date, I decided way back then that we should have a picture done every year to commemorate both the growth of the tree and the (hopeful at the time) growth of our family.

This year, the vertical growth in our family is quite apparent. I think that either I'm standing in a hole or my ten year old is way too tall for his age. Most likely the latter. I predict that he will match my height by the time he's 12 and that he'll eventually outgrow his 6'3" Daddy. And the little girl is no slouch either; I just might end up being the short one by the time she's done.

Feel

"People will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel."

-Maya Angelou

Mid-April

Sunshine, more than our usual share, has brought Spring on rather quickly. Flowers bloom profusely and are already spent before they would have ventured out on a normal year. The lilacs, which I usually associate with Mother's Day, will be done with perfuming the air long before May begins.

School is nearing the end for the year, and the three of us are glad, but not in the same way past years have felt. This new way of doing school has been the best thing ever, and I see no going back to the old way ever again. Life feels as it should be.

April is the most important month of the Farmboy's birthday. We had beautiful weather for his celebration, which, meant it was warm enough for me to stand outside for a few hours making a giant pan of paella to share with his family. I decided this year that I'll be upgrading to a larger paella pan. The 18 incher just isn't big enough anymore. I'm moving up to the big leagues!

If you haven't yet, you need to head over to meet the Farmboy's sister on her blog, Where Sisters Gather. If I had never met her, it's highly doubtful you would know me. She's the one that introduced me to antique schoolgirl samplers all those years ago, which eventually turned me into the one-woman sampler-designing factory that I am today. Besides, she has an amazing eye for antiques and decorating, and just might have the perfect item for you listed in her ebay store.

Anniversary Tree 2015

We waited just a tad bit too long this year to capture our yearly photo with the Anniversary Tree... those top leaves just couldn't hold on any longer. A little like the fleeting thoughts and reminders that I don't *quite* get written down, and therefore disappear into the nether.

This family of mine just makes my little heart so full and warm and happy in every way. We are growing and becoming more entwined as the years pass. The littles getting so much taller and more grown up and the things they say just astounds me sometimes.

I learn from them almost as much as they learn from me, I think.

Click here to walk back through our Anniversary Tree timeline.

Anniversary Tree 2014

Every year, around this time, I get out the tri-pod, set the timer on my camera, and we snap a family picture in front of our Anniversary Tree, documenting the changes in our family as well as the growth of our tree.

This tree was chosen by us on the first anniversary of our first date, which also happened to be a month after we got married. So watching its growth has been a special and fun tradition.

I love to look back over all of the photos to also see how the landscape has changed. From a tree surrounded by field to the development of flower beds and fencing, the addition of greenhouse and kennel, the move of the vegetable garden from the South side of the house to the North side of the house, growth of surrounding bushes, addition and sad subtraction of pet family members. Even seeing the varying shades of color change in the tree itself has been fun, indicating either tardiness of photo taking or unusually mild seasons.

Our photo was snapped 9 days late this year (goal is always October 10), and still the color is just beginning to change. But my heart is full when I look at this image, because the happiest moments of my life are when I'm surrounded by these three people, the very dearest gifts to my heart.

Lately

Beside the Birdbath :: an Invasion of Pink :: Sword Fern Unfurling :: Double Cherry Blossoms :: They Still Say Peep-Peep :: Tiny :: Drink it Black :: Petal Shower :: Pink on Blue :: Wellies go with Any Outfit :: Kiwi-Ricotta Waffles :: Anniversary Tree :: My Other Two Babies :: Irresistable :: Bluebells and Bark :: Thrift