Garden- from February through April

Last night I asked Hunter if he thought we were crazy for doing a garden this year.  He said "too late".  So true.  With all the inside projects and oh yeah- a baby coming- we really went above and beyond to prep and plant a garden.  It is definitely not getting the attention it did last year- but we are already harvesting simple things.  It's great. 

So in the past month and a half- here's what's going on with the garden. 

 This thing started growing right up out of the dirt.  

It multiplies every week.  What is it?!  

We are leaving it simply because we are super curious.  

By June though- this thing will be outta here so I can plant Fall PUMPKINS!!!

Okay isn't this amazing.  Those little pair of plants in the back are our zucchini this year.  And then there's the little bell pepper transplant we threw in for fun.  

In like two weeks look what's happened!! 

Little rows of lettuce and snap peas:

Now look at them!  They're going to get CROWDED! 

A few weeks ago looking West:

Now:

Check out those flowers! And that's a huge tomato plant taking over!

Looking down on the onions (and weeds) and an eggplant that decided to come up on its own:

Just a couple weeks later- (come weed my garden)

We got some green beans vining last year's tomato plants (which are still producing nice and strong!) to enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Look at them grow! And our iris bulbs blossomed this week! 

See all these tomatoes! I can't believe these plants survived an entire year now! All through the frost and even more surprising- the HEAT! We will get tons of tomatoes this year between these plants from last year and the two from this year that are already going crazy! 

And then right in the middle are the herbs.  From L-R... cilantro, rosemary (survived all year too!) and basil.

Kitchen Table News

Before we got married Hunter and his brother painted this great solid wood table and 7 chairs for us.  It has been such a great set to have.  We've had some great meals, parties and projects on this table and chairs.  Even though it was really hard to part with this set- more sentimental than anything- we were ready for something brighter and a little more modern. 

So after Christmas we said good-bye. 

Then we realized how expensive furniture is.  Haha.  Luckily my parents still had this beautiful mid-century table stored at their house.  It matches the china cabinet that we also inherited from my parents and was my grandmother Vera's which makes it the best.  

The chairs were long worn and gone so we used these beauties for a while: 

Finally after a few months of searching and changing our minds twelve times- we found some cute chairs to finish up the set.  It's pretty mis-matched, I know.  But it fits what we were going for when we first wanted a change. 

A Brighter Bedroom

Back in January we started some simple updates in our bedroom.  Our furniture was mismatched, no headboard, needed some lamps.  So we went from this:

To this:  

It may not seem like much to you, but it is.  Walking in this room now is super airy and light and dreamy.  Hunter painted the end tables, new frames, hutch, fan blades, new headboard WHITE.  It's all white.  The fan blades made a huge difference.  I'm glad we thought of that.

Anyways.  It's so bright and cheerful.  And I finally found some lamps that go with it all.  

I need to style our pillows better.  How do people style pillows so nice?  I'm thinking we need more pillows and bigger pillows.  

The best part is that little Fisher Price Rock n Play sleeper that is just sitting there waiting for a baby! 

Easter 2015

Easter is simple for my family.  Growing up we totally did the whole Easter Bunny and baskets and egg hunt and dyeing eggs and Easter Pageant and all that! But since we've been grown it's died down. 

 My parents are so excited to have grandchildren to start it all up again! 

We had a very yummy dinner and then sat outside in my parent's yard enjoying the beauty of Springtime.  

Since I had done my hair and we both had bright colors on...

I decided we should have an Easter photo shoot.

So Dad followed us around their blooming yard and we snapped some pictures. 

My heart is extra full of gratitude and love for Jesus Christ.  As I grow older, life gets better, but it gets harder too.  My heart and mind are full of emotions and thoughts.  Goals and wishes for me and my family.  Of course, anticipating a little baby and his entire life ahead of us is overwhelming in so many ways.  Trials that come from mortality, agency and agency of others try to beat me down.  

On a daily basis- ON A DAILY, HOURLY BASIS, I call upon my Savior and His mercy, love and atonement to help me, strengthen me and give me that positive light I need to be happy.  I feel clouds part and hope fill my mind.  I get that "it's all going to be okay.  it's all good." feeling. 

I feel in the last few years I've really learned how to tune into that Spirit and that real comfort that comes from Him.  I honestly know that I can get through the days because of Him.  

Because He Lives.

And a Family Party for Baby

This may seem ridiculous at this point.  But it's not.  Promise.  

Hunter's family is big.  Huge.  So they do their own parties for wedding and baby showers.  

My sister in law Sarah (she and I are married to brothers) is also expecting her first boy (she has two sweet girls already).  She is due a few weeks after me so we had a combined party.  

This was seriously such a great night.  It was full of family and low key enough that I felt like my self completely.  We all chatted and laughed for hours.  And of course baby boy got some presents.  

Mom is happy to be at another party for her grand baby.  And Hunter's mom dishes out the best strawberry pie. Check out those diaper boats too! 

Some vintage clothes and furniture from baby's cousin Scout's nursery.

They all contributed to our rocking chair.  

Pie! 

Hunter came and "trashed the party" according to my 5 year old niece, Aubrey. 

We are going to be parents.