Swimsuit Season

I bought myself a swimsuit for summer. This is worth noting because it is actually a SWIM DRESS! I sooooo badly wanted one of the cute little Roxy swimsuits with ruffles. I must have tried on 50. It was agony. Pure agony. I felt like a little old lady talking to myself in the fitting room - "who MAKES these things anymore? There's barely anything holding them together!" The poor fitting room attendant just sighed as I put all the swimsuits on the "these don't work" rack. Man! That was NO FUN! When I was leaving the swimsuit area, I passed by 1 rack that had these Nautica swimdresses. I looked and thought sarcastically to myself.."Ha! now that's more like it! really, I can just see myself wearing a dress at the pool!" However the longer I looked at it, it grew on me. So I gave it a try. Wesley came in the fitting room with me this time. I asked him what he thought - "ummm, mommy, that's not a swimsuit silly, that's a dress!" Now the swimdress I got is actually really cute. I like that it's worry free. I don't have to worry about sucking in, yanking, tugging, squeezing, pulling, adjusting, etc. I figure if my toes are polished and I wear a cute wrap with it, I just might be able to pull it off.

It's also worth noting that after getting my swimdress -

I walked into Old Navy.

Found my boys sizes in swim trunks and rash guards.

Took them off the rack.

Paid and left the store.

Within 3 minutes.

Guys have it easy.

Keeping up with the Richardsons

Paul has been on sabbatical this month and I have LOVED having extra time with him! We have been so busy with outdoors-y things, I haven't had much time to blog. Here's a few pic's from this month...

Family bike ride on the Silver Comet Trail - this is Brushy Mountain Tunnel.

Soccer - The Polar Bears

Soccer - The Aggies

DWTS - Paul's been watching some of it with me. I think, deep down, I'd like to compete on the show. It could be Dancing with the House Moms or something. I just wanna give house moms a good name now...wipe the slate clean!

Paul watched the boys for me Saturday and Clipsy Chicks had our 21st SAVEINAR! 

We took the boys to see the Ocean's movie on Earth Day. We walked around the mall and saw these water balls that you get zipped up inside of and crawl around like a hamster. We let the boys do it! It's hilarious to watch. Not quite sure how sanitary it is, but I couldn't let myself think about that.

So that's a little of what we've been up to.

Diary of an Inchworm

Wesley and I had lunch on the patio with a special guest. An inchworm. We sat outside for 45 minutes. Me. Wesley. Inchworm. Talk about cheap entertainment! Wes had so much fun checking out his underbelly and looking at his sticky feet. He curled it up in a ball a few times. After 45 minutes, the inchworm said goodbye to this world,...or, gave birth to a baby. Something started oozing out of the poor thing and Wesley decided to think on the bright side - You'll have to watch:

Still Celebrating...

Last week the warm weather started rolling into Georgia! We have soooo enjoyed being outdoors. When I picked the boys up from school last Wed., I took them to hike Kennesaw Mountain. Wesley was such a trooper, he made it to the very top without me holding him.

This is how my boys walked down the mountain. I took so many pictures of this rare moment! 

This is all of the kiddos in our Journey Group. We had a picnic supper and egg hunt. I LOVE my journey group! 

The gals.

The guys.

My boys getting ready to hunt eggs in our backyard.

Paul's family came in town for Easter, we took the boys to the park and fed the ducks my EZEKIEL bread! **(I made 5 loaves of Ezekiel bread this spring and nobody eats it..well, Paul tried for about a week, good sport.) The funny thing is, Wesley plunked the whole rest of that loaf right down in the water! The ducks were picky about it too. They like the unhealthy, white, processed bread!

Spring break this week - we took the boys to the zoo. (There's a screaming deal at the Atlanta zoo right now, see Clipsy Chicks for more on that). I love this picture - if it wasn't for my sweet hubby giving the boys a lift every now and then, we'd be done in an hour. 

After the zoo, we took the boys to the Varsity for dinner and then to Stone Mtn. for the laser show/fireworks. Whew! A full week, but we have so enjoyed our time with family and friends. I know it's easy to be thankful for pretty weather and a good week with family, but I am overwhelmed by God's grace in my life. I feel like I've been on a weeklong celebration since Easter and I challenge myself and YOU to continue to celebrate what He has done for us! 

Feeding Samaritan's Purse

Tonight some of our bible study gals cooked for the volunteers of Samaritan's Purse. They have set up camp in our church parking lot and have been here working since...SEPTEMBER! These people are amazing. Folks from all over the map have taken vacation days and time off from work to come and help rebuild and repair homes damaged by last years floods. I am blown away that people would use their "free" time to work their fingers to the bone for our community. And they do this all over the world. It was a blessing to be able to cook one small meal to feed these people. I can't wait to do it again. If you go to WRC and want to feed them, contact Casey Brown at gcwhlb@yahoo.com.

Tonight we listened as the volunteers re-capped their day. A group of teenage girls taught themselves how to HANG DRYWALL!  NO EXCUSES!!! I can't think of a better way to spend our time here on earth than helping people in need. Being the hands and feet of Christ. Oooooo, I'm gettin' excited for Community Makeover! Stay tuned...

I found the MOTHER...

of all black widows!!! I cannot express how much I detest spiders. Today the boys and I are sprucing up the yard and pulling weeds. I was just about to pull this weed by the basketball goal. I looked a second time and saw this fella staring right at me!!! It's the hugest, fattest, creepiest spider I've ever laid eyes on!!! 

aren't you soooo glad I shared that???

On to something not so creepy...we have a HUGE red headed woodpecker in our woods. Last month I got a picture of him. It's hard to get a pic because he hears us coming and flies away. 

It might feel like playing "Where's Waldo" - can you see him? He's smack in the middle of the picture and the hole he has pecked away at is HUGE now. I took a picture of the SAME tree today...boy has this bird been busy!