We are a family of six in a rather little house.  If I can have a tiny space of "pretty" I'm happy.  Viola, a bit of winter wonderland on my sideboard.

I haven't read enough parenting books to know the answer but my boys are not always the best of friends. (that's why I love this pic!)  Many times I am more "referee" and not so much "mom".  I saw a National Geographic documentary about lion cubs - fighting for their territory etc.  That's my boys!

Lately I've taken less pictures of them playing and more pictures of them playing for the camera.  They've made it a game - "Mom get me smashing the water balloons!"  "did you get that cannonball??"  "take a picture of this!!"  "did you get it?? let me see!!"  "let's try that again!"  Definitely more fun now!  I get to join in the fun instead of just watching through the lens!

What says summer?  Geraniums on the front porch. My mom always had geraniums on the porch.  In honor of my mom, I bravely planted one and crossed my fingers hoping it would last more then a few months (the average lifespan of my plants.)  My lovely big potted plant was mashed almost to death - you see it stood in the front yard in direct line of fire of fierce soccer games.  I almost trashed it but a little sliver of healthy green prompted me to relocate it to the backyard and give it another chance.  My two littlest kids were given the task of watering it daily and they have nursed it back to life!

More summer fun . . . Messy haired blondies pedaling up the street.  There's no stopping these two!  Don't even try to slow them down!

We live in the middle of Tempe Arizona - hardly a rural town!  (I think it took a week after moving to adjust to sirens - police and fire, and oh yeah the noise of the lightrail too. . .) However, we are blessed to live in an irrigated community.  Ei. my husband gets to play farm worker and open the gates to channel with water for the original water canals into our yard for local flood irrigation.  This means our neighbor is full of large trees and lot of vegetation - unusual for Phoenix where gravel "lawns" are the norm!  I've loved the country feel of this neighborhood.  Several of our neighbors even have chickens and have shared some fresh eggs with us.

This is pic is just additional proof that God creates the best color schemes.  Feast your eyes.