"Every field wears a bonnet with some spring daisies on it..."

"Spring, Spring, Spring" as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers sing it. You can definitely see that Spring has sprung in Gilburtshire. The woman who lived here before us planted some beautiful flowers and every year we get to see some of these pretty colors pop up for a bit.

First, our pear tree. I love this tree!! It's off to the side of our front yard and has been producing some wonderful pears in the fall. It's nice to see this tree bloom as a sign that it's still alive and we haven't completely killed. (I have the worst green thumb).

Next are the irises. These are gorgeous and are such a nice thing to see as we come in the driveway. There are some purple ones next to the white ones, but the wind was blowing too much to get a good picture.

Here are some pretty daffodils that popped up right underneath our "Gilburtshire" sign. Makes my house feel like a cottage.

Finally, our peach tree. We planted this last year here. It produced about 10 peaches, but ants got to them before we could eat them. We are planning on buying a few more fruit trees this year. A local greenery, Texscapes, is having a sale like last year on their fruit trees. Judging at how well this one did, we will definitely buy from them again.

My cousin sold me some Easter decor she was getting rid of and I couldn't resist. These bunnies are so cute and look great on the piano.

And on the chest in the entryway. You can also see my "G" egg. About a month ago, I took Chris to Kirkland's for the first time (he loved it) and I saw this egg. It was a bit expensive, but with it being personalized I didn't know if it would be there when it would hit clearance. I love this egg and think it's a neat addition to the Easter decor.

Can you see my excitement of finding the egg?

 

 My last addition to my Easter decor is my wreath. I won this at my church bazaar this past year and knew it would be perfect for spring. The flowers and cross in the middle of the wreath really give it the spring look and what this season really means.

 

As we come to a close on this Lenten season, I will put a final check-in on my Lenten promises this week. Hope you are having a wonderful spring and are looking forward to our risen King!

Breaking Dawn Viewing Party

I know I'm a dork and will probably be stoned by my literary scholars for purchasing and reading the Twilight series, but I cannot help my obsession. I had a Twilight viewing party a few years ago and had a lot of fun gabbing and kicking back with fellow Twi-hards and newbies.

Here are a few pics from the first Twilight Viewing Party (March 2009)

 My first party included my aunts, cousins, and best friends...oh and Edward and Bella too!(look at the top left of the picture)

My besties and I 

 

 I decided to host another one for the last installment of the saga.I had everyone come over after 5pm Mass and we watched Part 1 first and Part 2 afterwards. It was so much fun to giggle, chat, and get wrapped up in the movie.

A few times my eyes wandered because of this lil stinker and Mr. Bates. They had so much fun together. My cousin would run around and Mr. Bates would chase him and then lick all over him while he giggled.

Here are a few pics of the double trouble(Pardon the dark pictures, but I didn't want to interrupt the movie)

Watching the movie together

He caught me taking a picture of him

Helping Mr. Bates with his chew toy

Here are a few more of the night

An intense scene in the movie

Everyone who came to the Viewing Party

 

We had a lot of fun, but of course the food was our favorite part. My aunt and little cousins brought chocolate ice cream and cones. My other aunt and cousin brought Chicken Express tenders, corn nuggets, chips, and dip. My other cousin brought cheesecake. And one of my besties brought sugar cookies. I made Meatball biscuits. These were yummy and I had a few leftover for Chris the next Sunday. He gobbled them up and suggested I make them again for another party.

It's a little bit saddening that I won't be hosting anymore Twilight parties. Maybe in a few years we can have a marathon and watch them all??

She's (not) having kittens!

My sister and BIL announced last night that they are expecting a little GIRL!! Miss Marley Kay will be here in just a few months and we are tickled pink!

My sis hosted a reveal party at my mom and dad's house with immediate family invited. We didn't have to wait too long before the BIG reveal came.

Bri handing out the reveal favors. Can you see her glowing with excitement?

 

And that little baby bump!

We had to come dressed in whichever color we thought the sex would be. We were on team boy.

The list of everyone's guess. You can see it was a little one-sided.

Finally, we were told to unwrap our favors and reveal the sex. It's a "she"!

Seeing everyone's faces after opening their favors (This was my favorite part)

The proud grandparents

More proud grandparents

Although we would have been elated with a boy or a girl, we are more than happy that lil' Lytle is healthy and growing well in her momma's womb. I can't wait to meet this lil' angel and spoil her like a good aunt would do.

Smorgasbord #3

I know I should have posted a few days ago, but it has been unbelievably crazy at Gilburtshire. In the "Ask and Ye Shall Receive" post, I talked about a great many wonderful happenings. These have all come full circle and now we are dealing with them all. 

I started my new job on Monday. I was so nervous walking into this new environment and how it would all go. This is a great school to be teaching at. The teachers were very welcoming, the students (most of them) wanted to know who I was and why I chose them, and I got to sleep an hour later!! My principal even had a welcoming social after my first day with Sonic drinks...score! I do have an enormous amount of information to learn and then apply as I get acquainted with their lesson plan format and the dreaded STAAR test. I do miss my kids and colleagues at my old school, but all in all, I think this was a good choice.

Chris bought a car! He has found his dream car and is so happy to be driving it. He got a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, or as I call it, his dad-van. It is very nice on the inside with leather seats and a full sunroof going from the driver seat to the back seat. He said that he thinks we can fit quite a few lil' chubby Gilburts in the back. This car is going to last us for quite a few years.

Look at the proud owner!

The dogs were barking and wanted to say hello

We signed on our house last week!! We are so elated to be done with this process. We did have a few more hiccups in the final process (we knew it wouldn't be that easy), but can finally say that the process is over and can now work on much needed improvements in the house. First thing is new windows and painting the wood panel in the living room (we call it the elephant in the room). 

Lenten Check-In #1

Okay, I said that I would do my Lenten Check-In in my last post.
 So here it is after Week 1

1. Pray the Rosary every day
This one I have completed every single day. Even on the weekend I popped my cd in on my way to the grocery store. Chris has even helped me out by listening to the Rosary on our way out to eat last Sunday evening.


2. Read Not By Bread Alone: Daily Reflections for Lent 2013
I've been bad with this one. I admit that the book has not left my bag from school. I really need to jump on this one and read already.

3. Pray Before Meals
Ugh!! I am not off to a good start with this one either. I constantly forget and remember mid-bite. I'm glad that I do remember, but really need to work on my timing.


 4. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
I have yet to do this one, but I am waiting for our parish-wide reconciliation.


 5. Attend Stations of the Cross
I went this past Friday with a few of my friends and it was such a great experience. Reflecting on the stations, singing the songs between, and being with close friends made it very special. This has been one of my favorite Lenten sacrifices.

How are you doing so far with your Lenten promises?

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Chris and I have been praying for some big changes in our lives. For awhile they seemed unanswered and that we just needed to suck it up and get through it. But in a matter of a mere two weeks(!!!) some big things have come through.

1. Our Home Loan Has Been APPROVED!!!

We have been waiting 6 months for this! That is a heck of a lot of time to wait on refinancing and it has been a very frustrating 6 months of waiting to see if this would go through.  There were some scary moments where we worried about some very drastic effects if it didn't go through. But all is well and we are just waiting on the title company to call so we can SIGN!!! We thank God for helping us through this to keep our home and make some much needed improvements on it.

2. I'm Starting A New Job On Monday!!

This was another prayerful and stressful decision to make. I already made the decision that I would not be coming back to this particular school after this school year due to the drive (40 minutes each way). It has been a very long and challenging school year for me. My aunt saw my frustration and mentioned an open teaching position that is 20 minutes closer to home and would be paying a bit more. In a matter of two weeks I have interviewed, accepted the job, and given a two weeks notice to my current school. I prayed fervently about this decision and have been given a calm and peaceful feeling towards it. I believe that this is where God is leading me right now.

3. Chris' Insurance Check

Back in September, Chris was in an accident with an uninsured driver. It was not Chris' fault, but his car was considered totaled and he suffered some neck pain. (His car is still driven to work everyday, but because of its age and that it is a foreign car, it wasn't worth putting the money into it for it to be cosmetically fixed.) Chris finished his chiropractor visits a few weeks ago and notified our insurance company. In response, they have sent us a nice check that will help go towards Chris buying a used car to go to and from work.We thank God that Chris was not seriously injured and his car is still able to get him to work and back.

God is good!! We are continually blessed and thank Him for keeping us with a car, job, and house. 

On that note, I will update later with my Lenten check-in :)

Preparing for Lent

Growing up, I always dreaded Lent. It was a time when I couldn't have my favorite candy and no meat on Fridays. I didn't understand why and counted the days until Easter Sunday when I could gorge again. Now, I realize how silly that was. As I CHOSE to understand and mature in my spiritual journey, I have found a deep love for what Christ did for us, not only in the 40 days in the desert, but also redeeming our sins and giving us a chance at eternal life. 

I remember asking Deacon Dean Darnell back in high school what he thought about giving up things for Lent. He said that if you're going to give something up for Lent you might as well give it up for life. He said that it was better to do something extra and try to incorporate it in your life. I've been focusing on what he said for the past couple of years. I'm not always successful after the first few weeks, but maybe if I post them on my blog I will stick to them better.

1. Pray the Rosary everyday

I really want to do this one. Growing up, I was always bored by the Rosary and thought it lasted for an eternity(I was a dramatic child). As an adult, I find the beauty of the prayers and how it is more important to focus on the mysteries than trying to say the prayers with perfection. This is one of the best ways to use mental and vocal prayer. I have the Rosary on CD and it makes it much easier to follow if someone is saying it with you.

2. Pray before meals

I am so terrible at doing this. I tried this one last year and failed miserably. I really want this act to work and have it become second nature. Prayer before meals was not something we did regularly(sorry Mom for calling us out) at home. I want to change that so it is easier to have our future children pray at meal times. 

3. Read Not By Bread Alone: Daily Reflections for Lent 2013

A friend got me the same book for Advent and I really liked it. I have read a few of these in past liturgical seasons and they help to keep you focused on the season. They put the season in a different perspective and give a realistic approach for the average person. It also helps that these books are only about $2!

4. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation

This should be a no-brainer, but mustering up the courage to go is usually the hardest part. Once I am at the confessional the rest comes out quite easily. I want to stop making excuses and go at least once during the season. Walking out of that confessional makes me feel so alive and grateful that Our Lord continues to heal us every single time. So this season, I want to come back to Jesus.

5. Attend Stations of the Cross

This is another one that if I just stop making excuses and get my butt there, I know that I will be thankful for going. Going through each station of Jesus' walk to Calvary is a very solemn journey that shows us just what He did for US! Why wouldn't I want to spiritually experience that with Him?? I remember going to Stations of the Cross in elementary and trying to picture myself as Veronica wiping Jesus' face and how wonderful it must have been to do that. As an adult, I see how humbling that event is and see that He appreciates even the smallest things we do out of love for Him.

I think that's it for now. Five is a good number to start with and these are attainable goals as long as I keep my laziness away. I think I will periodically do a check-in and see how I'm doing along these 40 days.

What are your Lenten goals/sacrifices?

This post is part of a linkup hosted by Carrots for Michaelmas, Molly Makes Do and Dualing Moms. Follow this link to see some other great posts about the fasts, feasts and celebrations of Lent.

Birthday presents

My brother's birthday, my future sister-in-law's birthday, and my best friend's birthday are all within a week or so between each other. I try my hardest to buy birthday gifts early. I did really good this year and got them early enough. 

My best friend and I like to get together to gab and enjoy some wine. For her birthday I got her this

It's a koozie for your wine glass. I thought it was the cutest thing and almost bought one for myself. The day after I gave it to her, she sent me this picture of her wine glass in her woozie and a wine chiller that I also got for her birthday.

I got my brother and future sister-in-law a joint gift. Shutterfly was running a special on photo plaques. I made one for them with some of their favorite pictures so they can display it in their house. I was very happy with the results and they were really pleased when they opened it.

Desktop Plaque

View the entire collection of cards.

 

I really want to be one of those people who have all of their Christmas presents bought by September/October. I think I have a good start with all of the Christmas deals. I hope I can keep it up!

I Heart Holidays

My husband calls me crazy, but I don't care. I LOVE HOLIDAYS!! Even though Christmas is my favorite, I really love all of them. To show my excitement, I like to decorate for each one. There is not a moment that I don't put some sort of holiday decoration in the house. Let me break it down...

Let's begin with Christmas. Once the Christmas season is over(The Baptism of Our Lord, for you Catholics out there) I put up Valentine's Day decor. Once Valentine's Day is over I move on to St. Patrick's Day and then Easter. Once Easter is over, there is a long span of red, white, and blue from Memorial Day until Labor Day. After Labor Day comes Halloween, then Thanksgiving and we are right back to Christmas again. Ok that sounds exhausting, but I have a lot of fun getting the house decorated. 

Some holidays I have more decor than others, but I try to have a front door hanging, a garden flag in our front yard, and a hand towel in the half bath at the very least. I try to buy the majority of my decor the day after the holiday and save it for next year. I love clearance racks at Hobby Lobby and Kohl's the best. I have even collected front door hangings for every holiday for a year to give as wedding presents. 

Since we are around Valentine's Day I will share my Valentine's Day decor.

Since Christmas, we have moved this hope chest to the entryway. I decided to decorate it for the season. I know the garland is tacky, but then again Valentine's Day is a bit tacky itself. 

 Here are the "Love" blocks that I talked about in my last post.

I bought this wool heart garland at Target this year. I'm addicted to garland (thanks Pinterest) and think I need it for every holiday.

Here is my Valentine's Day hand towel for the half  bath.

 This flag was standing on its own on the holder until I realized it was backwards, tried to turn it, and it broke off. Time for a new garden flag holder.

And our front door

My sis wants us to share Valentine's Day with her and my BIL. She wants to take our men to Medieval Times. Neither one has been there before and we think it would be a fun experience. 

Anybody doing anything special for Valentine's Day, keeping it low key, 

or not bothering with it at all?

More Smorgasbord

Just some random things for this week. I was cleaning up the kitchen last week and glanced out the front window to see this...

 Our neighbor raises goats and every once in a while they get out and run through our front yard. We're not bothered, as they keep the grass down and it makes me feel more like we live on a funny farm.

I was getting ready for work a few days ago and saw how these chubbies were cuddled up with Chris. You can see that he is buried underneath these two, in the top left. I feel bad that Chris hardly gets room in the bed, but I think he likes them cuddling up on top of him.

For Catholic Schools Week, I decorated my door for the Year of Faith. I always try to incorporate my dogs at school. My sis-in-law, Kate, got us a basset hound calendar for Christmas last year. I was a bit upset when the year ended and this calendar was over, but I love that I found a way to use it again. I put a caption above one of the dogs that says, "We have faith in God's plan for us!"

My cousin, JeriLynne, started using acrylic lettering and wanted to make us something as a wedding gift. She had already made these for my cousin's benefit

 These went for a very high price and are worth every single penny. She does an excellent and thoughtful job in creating these pieces.

She made me a set of blocks for Valentine's Day. The other side says "peace" and is for Christmas. They look even better in person. She is very creative and takes pride in her craftsmanship. These blocks look beautiful over the piano. I may have to do some bartering to get some more blocks for the rest of the holidays.

If you are wanting to add some of these lovely pieces to your home, please let me know and I can give you her contact information.

***I think that I will just start having "Smorgasbord Fridays" to just talk about random things going on.