Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

There's loads of new life happening around here. 

With lots of rain and sparkling sunshine things are really coming alive.

Hello fuzzy baby willow buds. They almost shimmer when the sun shines from behind.

Hello cheerful baby crab apple blossoms. They're pink now but when they bloom they'll be bright white.

Hello unfurling baby ferns. They seem to unfold several inches a day, growing taller and taller by the moment.

Hello baby dogwood leaves, looking so sturdy and bold in the morning sun.

Hello delicate baby oak leaves. They're so adorable and tender.

Wishing you a happy and lively Monday!

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

There's no cheerful 'hellos' for this week. Things are dismal around here. 

My spirit is literally being crushed by the lack of spring and I'm guilty of being a crabby downer lately.

Hello more dreary weather. Winter is not letting up.

Hello being cooped up indoors.

Hello rain/snow mix. More predicted this week. Aren't we lucky!

Hello trying to find some ambition. It's difficult to find when the sun doesn't shine.

Hello to the hope that that next week brings some happier 'hellos'! There's always a chance for some sun in the future. :)

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello spring blooming INSIDE. My forced crab apple branches are flowering!

Hello April showers. I hope they bring lots of May flowers.

Hello accomplishing some projects this week. 

I've got my mind set on finishing some memory books and photo albums. It will get done!

Hello to a miracle and prayers for a long distance friend of mine that gave birth prematurely to her daughter today at only 26 weeks pregnant. She's been on my mind all morning. I'm sending her and her family lots of prayers and positivity. Hoping that sweet baby thrives and continues to be healthy.

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello getting back to our normal routine after being on spring break last week.

Hello more falling, blowing and drifting snow, that I wish I was saying goodbye to instead.

Hello first day of spring this Wednesday. Warmer weather is just around the corner.

Hello starting some winter sowing sometime this week. I'm a bit behind but it's not too late.

Hello volunteering in my kindergartener's class midweek. It's one of my very favorite things to do!

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello rain instead of snow! Hurray for warmer weather.

Hello spring break! It's here and I'm looking forward to some lazy mornings this week and quality time with my boys. But trying to entertain these two rambunctious guys can sometimes be a challenge these days. If they could, they'd spend every waking hour playing video games and watching cartoons on Netflix. How did it happen, that technology became much more fun than anything else? Being cooped up all winter can make us lazy and fall into bad habits. I feel like a terrible mommy for ever letting this happen. This week, though, I'm going to attempt to reshape their interests. Good luck, right! But I have some ideas up my sleeve, things I know they'll enjoy, things that don't involve a Nintendo DS or Wii. Like painting projects, baking up a batch of cookies or two and playing out in the snow {since there's plenty of it still around}. They love when I join in and build snowmen and snow forts and I enjoy it too! It's time to unplug from technology a bit more and plug back into a creative and imaginative family life. I can already feel myself breathing calmer and unwinding. Ahhhh...

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Hello snow, more than 12 inches of fresh and fluffy white stuff fell over the weekend.

Hello shoveling, clearing off walkways, driveways, decks and porches.

Hello white Christmas, don't think it'll all melt before then! :)

Hello Christmas cards, finishing and sending ours this week, love having received some in the mail already.

Hello Christmas shopping, haven't made a dent yet, I better get moving!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello feeling refreshed after some alone time over the weekend.

Hello feeling caught up after some serious organizing.

Hello starting our week with no school for the boys for 2 days.

Hello passing our time with a movie at the theater, arts & crafts and lots of playtime.

Hello confusing MN winter weather, one moment it's bitter cold, the next it's snowing the next it's sunny and melting away.

These photos were taken last winter on a little family ice fishing getaway at my in-laws cabin. 

The frost was covering all the front porch windows. It was so pretty!

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Monday!

Hello extra early morning for an extra early appointment.

Hello yummy mocha after the extra early morning.

Hello near record breaking high temps in MN early this week.

Hello sun with melting snow and ice.

Hello reality when frigid temps arrive in MN later this week.

Hello hats and mittens and scarfs.

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Hello Twenty Twelve!

Hello twenty twelve! 

Hello fresh new year. 

Hello winter {finally arriving to MN}. 

 Hello setting goals and accomplishing them. 

Hello bright beginnings. 

Hello to feeling energized. 

Cheers to a year full of possibilities!

I'm ready!!!

{So excited to be linking up for the first time with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday.}