What’s Going on in the ‘Hood

I am trying to think of reasons (not excuses) for my lack of blogging. It really comes down to laziness. I’m busy doing other things and when I think about the blog, I put it off. So, this morning as I try to catch up on my routine, I am going to sit down and show, in photos, what’s been going on around here.
Callie is here and I’m afraid I’ve let her visit distract me from every day chores. My house needs a good cleaning, I’m behind on laundry, and I haven’t cleaned out a single closet to prepare for our move.
I’ve been stressed on the whole move because, until yesterday, I didn’t have confirmation on when the movers would show up to pack my house. We are three weeks out, people! I’m stressed!!  I got the call yesterday. Our move is scheduled and confirmed. We pack out on the 13th and 14th of June, load the truck on 15 and 16 June. Finally!  One MAJOR thing off my list.
This morning Callie is sleeping in, my boys are off to their schools, and I’m catching up on laundry and cleaning. (and blogging)
The last few weeks have found me calling our housing office to complain about the lack of lawn care. Seriously…look at this:

Twice now, the grass has grown this tall and we’ve waited over two weeks to get it mowed. Of course, having this kind of grass mowed results in this:

Oy!  It’s a good thing Nick has his fancy schmancy blower that he likes to play with on the weekends. He made short work of that hay field.

This beautiful tree sits in my back yard. I have enjoyed watching it bud, bloom and be beautiful. However, I now compare it to snow. It’s beautiful for a minute, then it’s gross and I wish it would go away.
This phase is beautiful.

This phase, not so much:

Those pink petals all over the ground get tracked into the house and stick on all our shoes. This picture was taken several days ago. Today the petals are brown and rotting and are a hot mess. It’s like the beautiful white snow after it’s been compacted and muddied. Yuck.

Saturday was Nick’s birthday. Callie and I made him a Red Velvet Cake and I found these cool candles at the Christmas Tree Shop. I have some for Alex too. His birthday is next week, a mere ten days after his dad. Looks like we’ll be baking again.
We are looking forward to the long weekend. I have tickets for tomorrow night’s minor league baseball game that’s just up the road. It’s the one thing Nick wanted to do for his birthday but they weren’t playing at home last weekend. Sunday, we’re hosting a lobster boil at our house. We have the two other Army families in the neighborhood joining us and bringing side dishes. I’m going to make homemade ice cream to finish it off…. maybe crank up the fire pit and make s’mores after dark. I think it’s the perfect “welcome to summer” weekend.  If only Mother Nature cooperates!!

The Truth About Tulips

**Disclaimer**  I didn’t really do any research on tulips to write this post. The “truth” included is really just my own realizations the last couple of weeks.
Tulips are one of my favorite flowers. I have always admired their sturdy blooms and unique style, not to mention the multitude of colors that I’ve seen. Amazing!
I have a little bunch of tulips in my back yard. I have been looking forward to them blooming ever since I recognized what they were. Little did I know, tulips blooms for quite a while! I have only ever had cut tulips and never had real live growing ones around so I had no idea!
These beautiful buds start out with the little tops all closed up in the morning.

   
Then as the sun hits them, they slowly start to open up.

    

   
Until they open up all the way and look like something completely different.

   
I have to tell you, I never dreamed tulips could be so beautiful.

  

 

   
Then at night, they close their little heads up and rest up until in the morning. I’ve enjoyed these for about two weeks now and can’t imagine ever having a yard without tulips again. I can’t wait until I can have a place to plant all the tulips I want.