big green tractor.

my parents have been looking tirelessly for a lake house.

like - for years.

and last summer, they finally bit the bullet & bought a lot at lake cypress springs in east texas.

right next to some of their very closest friends.

yaya.

but, it was on a a small little inlet. as in, you didn't get a 'view' of the lake, but it was a beautiful lot nonetheless.

then - in true cook fashion - a last minute deal was struck. with their realtor. 

and they exchanged their lots for his house, across the street. {in some shape or form, not quite sure what the deal actually entailed... ha.} and it has an awesome view.

and they finally got the keys last week.

so we just had to go for easter weekend.

the actual house is all boarded up - getting all pretty with new paint & carpet.

but the garage apartment did just fine for all 6 of us {the littles included} to hunker down in for the weekend. 

the lake was beautiful. but by far, the highlight {for both of my boys} was.....

the big green tractor.

look at that face. complete contentment.

{oh yeah, i'm talking about the hubbs!}

exploring.

georgia loved it too. 

she had to get a haircut when we got back so we can go again. :)

love this. can you see the hubbs just sitting and reading on the porch? 

relaxation at it's finest.

talking about plants. or something...

on friday.

do you ever feel like life is going 100 mph and you can't seem to grasp anything to hold onto? that you aren't enjoying those sweet little moments  because you feel like you already have to be onto the next thing?

that's how life has been at the leach household the past few months. one thing after another.

in fact, as i was thinking about it, i realized we hadn't spent a whole day at home in a LONG time. as in - maybe since the ice storm! {maybe that's an exaggeration - but it's been a while}.

so friday, i planned to stay home all day. with the littles. and bake & color & paint.

we love watercolors at our house.

although you wouldn't know it by the picture below.

we ate two or three bowls of berry kix. yum.

i worked on a little project. that still remains unfinished.

but it proved for a very relaxing time with b.

i got their easter buckets ready for our trip out of town.

{all from dollar store stuff. yaya!}

got some chicken crocking.

lots of yummy coffee.

took care of some household chores. like throwing out a whole bunch of roses cut from our bushes outside that are now... dead. {they don't keep very long - but look gorgerous when they're freshly cut!}

ate leftover pizza rolls for lunch.

with a sonic drink that was acquired from my impromptu call into the office.

yay for relaxing fridays!! what's your idea of a perfect friday?

on easter.

HE is my shepherd.

HE is the restorer of my soul.

and HE is alive!!!

{PS - click here if you want to download this print}

eggstravaganza.

the last few weeks have been nothing less than a whirlwind.

every single time i think i'm finally getting 'it' together, i'm not. 

but then i think - who really has it together? anyone? anyone?

like i've said before - i'm in a rut. a big one. as in - the longest one i can remember. 

don't get me wrong. it's all my doing. at first, it started with being tired with a newborn. understandably, for sure! but then, that became an excuse. an excuse to not get things done.  an excuse to be irritable. or lazy. or 'blue'. 

and now - it's gone on for so long - that my heart is hard. and that is. not. good.

but the positive thing is - that i know i'm in it. i'm acknowledging it. and i'm deciding to push forward.

i know what i need to do. i know the steps i need to take. but somehow, for some reason, i have not been able to put one foot in front of the other to take the first step.

but today. i did.

i went for a jog/walk. 

i spent some much needed time with the lord.

i got some laundry done.

and i started on this project for lil' miss's easter bucket.

 i have lots and lots of thoughts on this topic. but i must get them all sorted out before i even begin to elaborate.  for now - my prayer is that i would find some consistency in my own life. that i would carve out some time to take care of my relationship with my Lord first - and in doing so, that i would allow HIM to pour into me so that i could pour out to others. 

how can i expect to pour out - or keep going at this rate - if i'm not giving HIM a chance to pour in??? 

yeah. that's what i thought. it's impossible. 

anyway - like i said - more thoughts later.

for now - fun stuff!!!

************************************************************************

saturday, prestonwood had an easter eggstravaganza. 

j. was out of town. {more on that later....}

so i flew solo for the day. with both littles.

luckily - joanna was in the same boat. so we tag-teamed it!

i must say that i was slightly concerned surprised about the number of pink eggs that ended up in b's basket.

but looking at this picture - i only see pink eggs! :)

although i know that easter is about waaaay more than eggs and bunnies, it is fun to hunt for eggs. and see b's sweet little serious face while doing so!

sweet littles.

rain, rain. stay & play.

{love.}