Spring's Promises

Twenty-five days into the season of spring and the promises of JOY are all around us..........I've dashed for my camera on several occasions and on others have wished it to be by my side! Here are a few moments captured by Mommy that promise to unfold all of their glory as the season continues to envelop us with friends, family, sunshine, flowers, giving, receiving, and more!

Your first experience with skates at Takis's 8th birthday in Alabama.

Dirt Piles!?! Really. Do you have to play in the dirt like Daddy?

Hydrangeas--each spring/summer, the two of us would weed, water, and spread these limbs out! Yes! New growth has emerged from our endeavors with these plants right outside your playroom! The blooms will delight us even more!!

Our Japanese Maple:  You asked about the "baby helicopters" that this plant produces as we explored its new spring flowers/leaves!

Ivy, endless ivy that blooms these little purple flowers that you LOVE to pick for Mommy! (Proper name of it unknown but on my list for us to look up together! Science Project.....)

Peony Stems---I bought these when I was pregnant with you---in hopes of getting them planted before you arrived but you opted to make your appearance six weeks early so these plants stayed in their bags. Luckily, Yiayia came to visit us and planted them! Each year, they've returned------the blooms larger than the year before (like you)!

Another Science Project---Name the bush 

June Bells? I think I need to refresh my plant names altogether but I loved these little bells! I spotted them in the ivy emerging one spring morning but I kept quiet so as not to disturb our morning preschool routine. Upon returning home, you spotted them and dashed towards them with a smile on your face. You picked each stem and brought them to Mommy. At the dinner table that night, you shared them with Daddy saying, "Ding-ding-ding!"

Hosta--Mommy & you split these large Hosta plants and created five more little ones! They have returned this year! IF we get the backdoor patio I dreamed of last week and voiced out loud to Daddy, we may have to transplant them but I think we can save them for another spot in our massive backyard that needs many more spring seasons to thrive as we envision it! There will always be a project in the works and one waiting its turn!

Mint! Uprooted from our neighbor, Mrs. Polly------and as it spreads, we'll sure enjoy several glasses of mint tea this spring and summer! We may have to ask Daddy for container boxes for an herb garden----or stick to a potted herb garden this year!?!

Rooting plants and more mint inside in the windowsill......more projects!

Hotdog Season---and grab any glass you can find clean (Santa) while we're outside enjoying the sunshine---Opps! Time for sunscreen too! Bottles of SPF by the backdoor, on the front porch, in the truck----Mommy's purse! On my list since the weather man promises 80 degrees tomorrow!

Princess Girl hiding----waiting for you to walk by so she can TAG you!

Cartoons....bills to pay....coupons to clip.....mail to read.....Mini breaks indoors!

Time with friends in their backyard---swinging, planting, eating on the patio----more time together outside is yet to come!

Popsicles!?! Or two or three...a day! Everyday!

Coloring time inside while Mommy cleans......

Baby Litsa comes to Kroger with us---Saturday Shopping!

The beautiful blue sky with the promise of leaves branching out to shade our front yard for added hours of outdoor play---the view Mommy had as she cleaned the plantation shutters in the dining room this weekend! And how sweet is the vision of hours in the swing underneath that massive Oak tree------you, the two of us, the three of us....

Exactly the same smile that I had when I saw you hook your baby's carrier in your arm-----four years ago this season, I was holding you like this for our Saturday trips to the store! I love how you love your babies. They are lucky to have you as their caregiver! And I'm so, so blessed to have you every day in my life----unfolding the beautiful moments given to us!

Sophia Evangelia Jackson: 4 years 10 months

Evening Park Playtime with Daddy-O while Mommy enjoyed a magazine!

And the silly things you have Daddy doing:  The fun really begins when he's with us!

New petunias to plant-------their first watering this season!

"I can get it all by myself, Mommy!"

Water play in all forms......maybe the Miracle Grow won't add any new growth to you! We've just discovered two wiggly teeth bottom-lower this week!!

Watching Daddy work------you SO, SO wanted to go to work with him today! And several times this week....you get dressed and follow behind him until he has to go without you but the promises are there! Soon darling-----and maybe after TAX day tomorrow, you can do just that-----work with Daddy...not only in the yard but at his shop. Creating a......."but Daddy, I don't have my own hammer!" Daddy responded, "I'll get you your own hammer." You...."Okay, Daddy with tears and a smile!" Never enough work time that can be play time......but the MOST important kind of TIME----let it pour down on us this season!

Mini purple weed flowers that you love to pick for Mommy. I found a pile of them on the kitchen counter this week that you picked while outside with Daddy. I straightened them and put them in a mini vase in our kitchen window sill. They remind me of the beauty you see, the thoughts of Mommy that constantly surround you, and they also remind me of Yiayia who always picked them when they grew any where around the restaurants we owned. She'd bring them inside and put them on the table that we sat at to do our homework, eat at, and more. Simple pleasures......memories that money can't buy but that an action can set forth.......always worth so much more!

Three projects.......two twin trucks...one that needs to be traded in for a new Daddy/Sophia work truck.....one that needs to be turned into a Cadillac CTS for Mommy/Sophia by my Fairy Godmother---yes! I still believe in magic! And a guest house that needs new life...and a fourth project......a backyard fence..a fifth project........landscaping....and.....must I say that there's always a project in the works and one waiting to happen........but as long as we are together, healthy...we'll work towards each one day at a time.....

Our Home, April 2013: Always Open for Coffee for Family & Friends

Gotcha! Princess Girl.....Kitty Love!!

Time for a project indoors---in segments this weekend---Crayola hand painting gels, cotton balls with finger paint, a little "Soft Soap" gift and thank you note for your preschool teachers!

Indoor Spring Blooms that we packed away into your backpack for a few special preschool teachers!

 

 

There's always time to give back, spread JOY, and share our gifts with others!

May the desires of our hearts magically embrace much more than we can see, hear, taste, smell, & touch from this day forward---------may you, little princess unlock all of spring's promises!