Last Week in Pictures

 Using stickers to make a Pirate Lookout.  Ahoy!

 Gardening and playing in mud puddles

 Playing catch inside because of so much rain.  At least his arm is improving :)

Every southern woman plants crape myrtles...  This one has been shooting up mighty fine.

Why are these two so daggum perfect?

This summer has been so weird for North Texas.  Typically July is spent in sweltering heat of 110*.  That doesn't even include the heat index.  And rain?  Well North Texans typically don't remember what rain is until about October.  But God has blessed us mightily this summer with a low 90s summer and an amazing blessing of rain.  Lord knows we still need more to get our lakes and rivers back up, but He is Providing.  Hallelujah!

Incidentally, you may notice my blog changing.  There for awhile, I considered growing my blog, and I kinda did start to.  And then I realized something- I hate blogging for that.  Don't get me wrong there are a handful of people I am beyond blessed to be 'friends' with now.  I love those people.  But the incessant need to keep up with this link up and that link up and make sure I comment on X number of blogs so said blogger and I can continue to build a 'friendship' got to be overwhelming.  With a few exceptions, I just began to wonder why am I concerned more about online stuff than people I know in real life.  Silly.  

So now I blog when I want.  And I write what I want.  And if there happens to be a link up I already know about, I might do it.  But if not, no big deal.  I say that because if I am not really keeping up with sharing my button with you or yours with me, it's nothing personal.  I just don't feel the need to blog all the time.  Or if I don't comment as much as I once did, it's because I want to focus on real life.  I appreciate all of you who have kept up with me.  I'm still going to be blogging, and if you follow me, you will see it.  But if you don't, thats ok too.  I'm excited for all you who have found your niche with blogging.  It's been pretty wild to see some of you grow so fast!  And that's awesome.  I just wanted those of you to know that I am still reading, but not as closely as before.  Or at least not commenting as much.  But in my heart I do adore you all :)  May God use your blog in amazing ways!

Too Cute- Bibles, Zoos, Easter

First off is my edition of 'Too Cute Tuesday'... see my linking tab to visit Megan and Kenzie.  I forgot about this afternoon until I was loading photos.  They are sort of fuzzy because Jude didn't know I was taking them through the window.  But it allowed me to capture him in action.  He's sitting in his car with his baseball bat in the trunk and he's reading his Bible.  He sat there just reading for at least 5 minutes- and however long he was there before I started watching.  And I love this bottom photo.  For some reason it reminds me of old pictures of Christopher Robin, which I adore the classic stories of Winnie the Pooh.  Just the sweetest pictures to me.

Here is classic Jude.  He makes more cave, fort, bed contraptions that any other child I know of.  Except maybe me when I was little ;)  This is how he slept one night- bunched up in a corner.

We went to the zoo again with my friends and their kiddos.

Jude and I rode on the train- you know he LOVED that.  Even though it literally goes 2 mph and you just ride around the parking lot basically.  Thanks to Rachel for getting the bottom pic of us.

Here is Jude's Easter basket, along with the present in the back from my parents.  Pretty low key.  I bought him a bunny via The Sara Jane Project, which I love love love.  Check it out.  Here's Jude checking it all out.  The bunny is now named 'Clover'.  The wrapped present is a pirate puppet named Bart.

And last is Jude in his Easter gear.  It was a pretty yucky day here.  And of course Jude never cooperated for a cute pic, which seems to be the theme :)  But I have a theory that when I am 60+ these 'imperfect' pictures are going to be my favorite!

Too Cute Trains and Pirate Hooks

This is week 2 of Too Cute Tuesday with Megan and Kenzie.  And as promised it is going to consist of me showing you how Jude has done things that are too cute this week.  

Exhibit A:  Train tracks.  Jude builds his tracks all over my dining area.  All over our living room.  All over his bedroom.  Basically anywhere (especially anyway I am highly likely to walk over and trip ;)  I adore this shot of him with the tracks, laying down staring off.  It is just Too Cute!

I'm not sure this is Too Cute.  More like Too Funny.  But the other night, I had put Jude to bed.  As usual I heard lots of rustling.  He plays about 30 minutes before going to bed.  Anyway, it'd been about his usual 30, so I walked in to check on him.  And I saw this.  Apparently that nights rendition of 'things to do Besides sleeping' included opening the entry table with a pirate hook.  I mean.  Naturally.

I love my little boy.  He's just too cute.  He makes me laugh.  And sometimes, I need that :)

70s boho weekend

Jude and I have a tradition we do every Friday called "Pirate Campout".  This basically just means that we throw some blankets on the ground and watch TV.  This weekend though, we went all out.  We took all our kitchen chairs, several sheets, and made a true, glorious pirate tent.  Jude actually spent the night in the tent.  Super fun.  I think my favorite part may have been his motivation to clean up his toys ;) but in all seriousness, there is just something about tents that is magical.  I remember as a kid being quite convinced I had been transported to another time, place, and world when I stepped into a tent.  What is it about chairs and sheets that makes the child feel so alive?  It's amazing and completely #1000gifts.

Jude has woken up the past weekends ridiculously early the past few weekends.  I'm talking 5:45 or 6:00 early.  Miserably early.  The only positive is that I have an excuse for extra coffee.  And my grocery shopping is done early, as mentioned last week.  Saturday though, we went and got kolaches and donuts before our excursion.  Jude was excited and gave it a peace sign.  Or as one of my friends said, a double barrel guns up!!!  Both are awesome :)

I know there will come a day when you readers will get sick of the fact that all my dates are involving church.  But it is so much easier to go on Saturday night.  So, so be it.  I just really love worshipping with Jimmy.  And I love going to church.  We were kind of in the mood for a low key weekend I guess.  I didn't feel like going overboard.  And he requested my boho hat, which was perfect because it gave me an excuse to be comfy And make him happy.  Winning!

We rented Moonrise Kingdom after church and watched it once I got Jude in bed.  I swear I heard lots of people talking about how great that movie was.  All I can say is I'm not hipster enough for that shiz.  I like the funny indie movies.  Like a lot.  We rented Safety Not Guaranteed not too long ago.  I thought that was funny and enjoyable.  It was pretty weird.  But this movie?  This movie was beyond weird and I spent most of the time with my jaw dropped in a huhhhh kind of way.  It's one of those hipster movies that I think hipsters make to assure themselves that they are in fact elite and the rest of the world can't understand them and they are so beyond normal society.  No offense.  I didn't like it though.  Maybe someone can enlighten me?

Sunday I got to hang out with my sister.  We ate Mexican, watched a chick flick, laughed, and gossiped.  It was pretty snazzy.  Also some grading was thrown in there.  Life of a teacher.  Anyway, how was your weekend?

Outfit deets:

hat: gift, Target

sweater: TJ Maxx

Tshirt: Urban Outfitters

Jeans: American Eagle, thrifted

Shoes: can't remember, but same from last weekend

this will be linked up for Monday