where have you been all my life?

My sweet mom called me the other day and told me a neighbor of hers was getting rid of a tea cart. My mom took it for me, sight unseen. I have to say I trust my mom wholeheartedly, but I was a little nervous. Especially since I am not usually into wood tones...there's always paint right?

But when I saw it, I knew just where it would go...and it is perfection just as it is! This corner of my dining room was empty. The proportion and size are perfect! Plus, I love how all the woodtones highlight the whitewashed dining room set.

Have your ever gotten something unexpectedly and then wondered how you ever lived without it? The best part though...now it shows off my Grandmother's china. Isn't that what our homes are all about? Displaying the connections we have with those we love? Now I have another treasure from my sweet mom that I will cherish.

Oh and by the way, that painting hanging above it was painted my Grandpa (the one who was married to my Grandmother who's china it is)

"they" said it couldn't happen~ my 300th post!

Do you see what I see?

Three years ago I planted Peony bulbs with hopes of glorious blooms one day! Many told me that they just don't grow in our zone. The first spring, nothing. The second spring, a small bud that never bloomed. The third spring, THIS spring, I have 6 buds that look strong enough to bloom! I am so excited!

anything is possible!

Yosemite, CA

You know blogging life is bad when a friend writes on your Facebook wall to make a blog post! I don't mind gentle reminders since they tell me that people are actually still reading! So sorry I have been a blogging dud lately!

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E and her 6th grade class took a fieldtrip to Yosemite a couple of weeks ago. She had so much fun! She really wanted to take us and show the family all that she learned. Grandma and Grandpa happen to be in town on their way to Idaho so they joined us too.

Since we are only 2 hours away, it made for a fabulous day trip! We are so lucky to have a gem so close by!

El Capitan

The temperature was about 70 degrees but they had just had a snowstorm the week before. Perfection!
On E's fieldtrip they had climbed the boulders to lower bridal falls. So we had to do it again. It was a lot of fun!

Not bad pictures for an iphone!
According to hubby we couldn't leave Jupiter behind! He really had a great time too!

My Spring Break To Do List

Happy Spring! I have to say that this is my favorite time of the year! Sadly I have not felt it since our temperature has turned chilly AND the fact that I am working full time between now and May. But I have 9 more days of spring break so here are the things I plan on doing-

• Watch General Conference in my jammies!
• Make rice krispy treats for hubby's birthday (they are his favorite)
• Read Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
• Run 9 miles the first Saturday and 10 the next
• Eat some See's chocolate from my Easter basket
• Go to the eye doctor
• Take a day trip to Yosemite
• Hang with my sister
• Many, many, many Wii tournaments

I am sure more will pop up, but for now it sounds perfect to me!

Napa, CA

I was born in Napa, CA almost 38 years ago. My Grandmother continued to live there, so I have lots of memories of the town, valley and scenery.

This past weekend some friends and I signed up for a 10K race in Napa. We were able to go up the night before. What a treat! We ate in a swanky place and giggled during our slumber party. Then came race time!

Here is the view of what we looked at while running. The rolling hills were a little challenge, but we trained well for them. It was great!

After the race we showered, had lunch and hit the outlets! All in time for me to buy New Moon!

What a perfect R&R weekend!

(running and retail therapy)

Spring = Love Is In the Air

It seems my eight year old son has an admirer! Wednesday night, while sitting at the dinner table, a knock was heard at the door. He answered it and a little girl (who happens to be our neighbor, best friend, and church buddy) gave him this.

A jar filled with flowers and water with a ribbon I am sure she tied all on her own. It had a "tag" on it with his name also. The best was the note she wrote to him. After talking to her mom I found out that this was draft 2. The first was a little more straighforward .

"you are handsome dayton. I'm happy you won dayton. P.S. your wonderfull. Your friend Lily" Inside the heart it says, "you rock dayton"

AHHHHH, young love!

"count your many blessings, name them one by one"

As I was preparing for a dinner party last Saturday I stopped and was grateful for sun streaming in through the window. So I decided to take this picture.

Then I began to think about all of the things that I am grateful for and "wahlah" this post came to be!
I encourage you to pause at the little things and "count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God hath done."

• my Savior, Jesus Christ
• my hubby, and all that comes with him
• my daughter who has been teaching me since the day she was born
• my son and the noble character he shows me daily
• the plan of salvation, where all of the above can be with me for eternity
• our jobs- we no longer take them for granted
• my parents- they continue to guide me to this day
• my siblings- I've learned so much from them from such a young age
• my nieces and nephews- near or far
• my family members who've passed on- I know they protect my family each day
• my friends- without them I may not get out of bed on some days
• my home
• my health- I try never to take this for granted either
• living in the United States of America- we may dwell on the negative, but we still live in the greatest country there is!

The list goes on and on, but these are the necessities that guide my life each and everyday!