7 Quick Takes - (volume 8)

--- 1 ---

Welcome home! This is our new home... (The black square in front of all the windows is a sand pit/box, I think, but, we won't tell the kids!!) We are loving that big wrap-around porch! We have our big dining table in the front there with all those windows and enjoy a sunny morning breakfast watching all the birds at our feeder - cardinals, bluejays, finches, sparrows, woodpeckers and we often see hawks and an owl or two, but they don't stop by for seed!! The little "blip" of a second floor is a finished walk-up attic that Pops uses for his office. We are still working on "settling in" but it is feeling homey anyway!

--- 2 ---

We really like this additional bonus feature...

Just to the west of the house is this cute cabana with a nice little bar and a cozy little HOT TUB! Pops and I have indulged in a hot soak several evenings and look forward to a few more - it has been a nice way to talk without all the interruptions of regular life (read: children)!

--- 3 ---

With all the new and updated pictures of the family being posted around here lately, I thought some nice pics of our ol' friend would be nice. I need to choose ONE to put on the sidebar - have a favorite of these four??

--- 4 ---

Branch wanted their hair braided this morning. I said sure. She wanted more than one braid so that it would stay all together as it dried throughout the day and overnight so that she might be able to have "curly hair" the next day. She wanted to do something interesting - how's THIS for interesting!?! - Thanks, Great Aunt Carol for the crocheted flowers!! We find lots of ways to put them in the girls' hair!

--- 5 ---

This little pistol wanted bangs yesterday, she wanted them pronto - I didn't have time. She got some fringe today, this morning before my eyes were even fully operational. Near lunch time, I "fixed things up" a bit. (Although I do have to say that she didn't do all that bad of a job, all by herself! Just a touch up and I trimmed the rest up, too... only one strange spot that is a bit spikey at the top of her head. It was NOTHING like that one time... you know: THIS ONE)

--- 6 ---

I love it when they get along! Some days these girls are arch enemies. But, today? Nearly all day - L.O.V.E.!! They giggled and carried on playing all sorts of girl things... Smiling mamma.

--- 7 ---

I thought I would revisit this old thing that I used to do on Fridays... I was looking through old pictures and couldn't resist! So, here we go - focus on a little magic and go back to look at some magic from the past!

It is hard to catch this kind of picture anymore. You know, as we get older, we are so much more aware of ourselves - and the camera. So, when I saw this photo... I just smiled from EAR to EAR. Look at the joy on that boy's face!! I can't recall the last time I had my camera out and he was willing to let go and just laugh!! Maybe I have my camera out too often? Maybe he is just becoming a moody pre-teen? Yikes... I hope to see more smiles and laughs in pictures. I need to come up with something better than, "Smile!" or "Say, CHEEEEESE!"

If you've enjoyed these 7 Quick Takes, maybe you'd enjoy more here!!