...to bring spring inside

...since clearly it hasn't arrived outside.

I stopped in at Home Depot today to pick up the finishing touches to my cabinet project and I couldn't resist...

They had their herbs on sale 4 for $10.

I couldn't resist and I only bought a few.

Then I put them in some pretty pots

and now I'll pretend that spring has arrived

and I'll enjoy the aroma of my new spices.

Even my lemon tree is in bloom!

...to attend a coffee

...with the Brigade ladies

As a military spouse I have a lot of events that I am invited to.  Some are for fun, some are obligatory, and others...well, there is simply the assumption that I'll attend the event with my spouse.

Maybe these second and third categories are interchangeable?

Coffees...these fit in the fun category (though I might pretend otherwise).   They are set up for fun.  They are opportunities, often set up monthly, for the ladies in the unit at the Battalion/Brigade level to get together to socialize.

Period.  The end.

So, I may joke that the event is like this:

But really is it more like this (because while dinner is typically served wine is nearly always available.  And then I usually forget about eating because I am talking too much and....):

I always enjoy talking friends that I don't see quite often enough and the evening turns out to be really and truly very enjoyable.

And tonight...there was a bonus.  A big bonus.  Our event was held at The Marcy Spa & Salon.  If the location isn't delightful enough, I enjoyed both a facial AND a massage this evening.

Delicious food.  Lovely conversation.  Two glasses of wine.  Pampering services.

I didn't want to come home tonight.

Perhaps our unit should schedule these 'mandatory-fun-opportunities' on a bi-monthly basis?

...to start a new project

...this one might take awhile...

I don't often admit that I am wrong.  And don't get the idea that I might admit it now.

I'm just saying...

This project is significantly more involved than I had anticipated.

I spent the day prying off many layers of veneer, sanding, sanding, and more sanding, and scrubbing the hardware.

Then I found this mess on the inside:

I happened to decide to pull off the veneer on the inside as well...THANK GOD I DID!

Those are BUGS that dropped out.  Dead bugs.  Carcasses.  Eggs.  Ewwww.

Disgusting.  Gross.  

I can't believe I almost put this piece inside my house before I tackled it.  

For that matter I can't believe I didn't abandon the project at this point.

It's gonna be a treasure.  I know it.  I am not wrong.  Yet.

...to do a sewing project

...with Isabella

Isabella received a sewing machine for Christmas.  I have tried to set aside a few opportunities here and there to work with her in order to teach her the very few sewing tips that I know.

And I really wanted to help her work on a project while she was on spring break.

Goal accomplished.

And it was great quality time spent together.

I came across a cute cape pattern and thought it would be the perfect, first, small project to tackle with her.

Ironing.

A few simple folds.  A little bit of measuring.  And a large cut.

The tricky part involved learning to use bias tape.  Thank goodness for YouTube and tutorials.  After a quick video we were on our way!

Sewing.

Sewing.

Heard that Daddy was jumping on the trampoline...so I was left alone to sew some more.

Finished product!

As you can imagine, Isabella has orders for two more!

...to go to Lake Ontario

...to spend the morning frolicking in the fresh air.

Can you tell how windy it is?

Dashing.  Running.  Balancing.  Stick finding.

Admiring how beautiful it really is.

The frolicking and admiration lasted for about six minutes of our morning.

The wind was biting.  Our eyes were watering.  Abbey was crying.  (The poor child only had a vest on.)

It was freezing.  FREEZING.

Perhaps 43 degrees with winds at 14 mph (off the lake) really isn't that warm and lovely after all?

...to share the few activities we've been up to

...over Easter weekend.

Fred and Ellen arrived just in time for the start of Spring vacation and Easter weekend!

The kids were super excited.

If you look closely you can see that both Will and Audrey dressed up for the occasion.

Mark put Fred right to work on Saturday morning and the two of them put up the trampoline.

Clearly this was a huge hit!

That is static (not the wind) doing that to her hair.

Sunday we celebrated Easter.

We looked for Easter eggs

Found Easter baskets

Tried on Easter presents...

And ate Easter candy.

Then we attempted to capture the perfect photograph of our children....

Many...

Many...

Many times...

Then we enjoyed a lovely meal with Fred and Ellen and the LaGrange family.

I am disappointed I didn't even snap one photograph of the rest of the festivities...

But it was a lovely evening and a fun weekend. 

We have so much to be thankful for.

...to spend the day

...at the mall.

The kids have been so looking forward to going back to Syracuse to do the Canyon Climb again.

And since their grandparents were in town...and since it was Spring break,...and since we all were able to convince Mark to go with us, we made a day of it.

For the record, I asked Mark about six times to grab the camera for me on the way out of the house this morning.  He didn't.  Result: Phone photos.  Sigh.

 Waiting in line before they got their equipment on.

Ready to go!

It's hard to tell from the photos but they are standing about three stories above the ground.  There are several different 'paths' that can be taken.  Things like single tight ropes, balance beams, wooden steps, etc...

Isabella is on a ladder-esque rope.

Abbey's on a double tightrope.  Fearless.

I caught a photo of three of them together on a platform.

All done climbing.  She was so proud.

And loved the time with her Dad.