April 22

April 22
There's my brother's truck in the median of a highway in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Another 18 wheeler lost two wheels, which bounced under Keith's truck, making him lose control and crash. A van behind Keith was torn up but the final word on that states the driver will be OK. No deaths, thankfully, but the load he was carrying was hazardous materials, 7 of which broke open and spilled. A haz mat team had to come out to the scene for cleanup.

I have to admit, for a huge truck to go sliding down its side on the road and winding up plowing into a grassy median at 70 miles per hour, the truck doesn't look quite as bad as I'd imagined.


Well, OK, maybe the trailer part of it did. Sadly, he had just paid it off a month earlier. The accident tied up traffic for ten hours.


I'm just glad he walked away with a mere three staples in the head. He has officially retired from trucking after this accident. He had been thinking of getting out of the trucking business and this was the sign I suppose he had been needing. They don't get much bigger as far as signs go. I'm just glad my favorite brother is still around to talk to. And my least favorite brother is still around to annoy me. ;)

April 13 - 21

April 13
Shona being her usual silly self.


April 14
Our new front porch lights. Kind of nautical looking, no?


April 15
This was the surprise beneath our propane lid. All I wanted to do was check the propane level, but nope. Not going to happen until mama robin delivers those little baby birds.


April 16
Ah, the pain of the first yard cleanup following winter. So many sticks and limbs in the way of the mower. And why is it that this job always winds up primarily mine?


April 17
Finally got it mowed and it looks much better. Pretty soon the rains will get rid of the brown spots and we will be back to a lush, green lawn.


April 18
A cute little Hobby Lobby purchase. Shona wanted her name on the front of her door and so that's what she got!


April 19
Suddenly, without warning, Shona was able to ride without training wheels. Just like that. They grow up so fast.

Bonus picture because I'm so dang proud of that girl.


April 20
Shona begged for a Topsy Turvey tomato planter. Honest engine. She really did. Of course we had to get one and so far it's doing well.


April 21
She also has a little garden growing on the deck. I'd love to rip up some ground for a real garden except there is a sprinkler system already in our yard. Certainly would make for easy watering, though. Ha.

More later with the catching up. It's been a stressful week. I'm amazed to be this caught up!

Happy Easter!

April 4
Once Shona's birthday ended, she was eager for Easter. More goodies, of course!


April 5
Not a bad photo of Shona with my camera phone. The park has nice light!

April 7
Look! A picture of me! OK, more a picture of my food because I thought the presentation of the sliders was interesting. It was delicious, too.


April 8
The girls (older two) drew this on the front porch and sang "Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!" Sometimes I think kids are worth the hassle.


April 9
I know better than to wait until the last minute to get the right chocolate for Easter. Shona always wants the chocolate bunny with the big ears and they always sell out fast around here. I snatched one up the first time I saw it on the shelf.


April 10
Once Mr. Big Ears was purchased, I figured I might as well start really Easter shopping. It's amazing how much junk you can fill those baskets with when you don't pay attention.


April 11
The nearest Target is an hour away (which makes me cry), and every time we go there, Shona has to stand in the big, red circle. Finally got a picture!


April 12
Happy Easter! I informed the kids that they would get bunny ears in their baskets and they would be required to wear them in a photo. Not only did they do so willingly, they surprised me by painting on whiskers for the photo. The boy is Mandy's boyfriend, Caleb, who joined us for Easter lunch. We put a basket together for him as well.

And then there's my naughty little bunny!

Birthday Girl

Today you get the excitement of bonus photos because of the birthday girl. Yesterday, she came home sick with some stomach bug. We called off her birthday just in case. Then, of course, she woke up perfectly fine. Never fails. All was not lost since we did manage to get one girl to come back over for the sleepover. I have to say, one is SO much better. No fighting between the girls.


April 2
Things are sprouting! I love spring!!



April 3
This is my favorite shot of the day. Shona and her sleepover buddy in front of McDonald's, which of course was her choice of dining establishment for her birthday. There was never any question of that. She'd eat there every day of the week if we let her.


Blowing out the candles on the cake. The icing was yucky, if you ask me. I guess that's the best way to keep me out of the cake!



It was a Monsters vs. Aliens themed cake, since that is the movie we took them to see after cake and McDonald's. Cute movie, by the way!

The birthday tiara, which was a punchout from a card my sister sent to her. One happy birthday princess.

April First

April 1
I kept hoping this was an April Fool joke, but it isn't. They really did slap this up at the end of my street and they really are going to be messing with traffic soon. If that isn't enough, there is also road construction on the street right behind the sign, and it is a major artery into the town. Guess that means we will be taking back streets for a while.