Here's a little Easter cheer! Enough to give you nightmares. There's actually a story behind this photo, believe it or not. Three Easters ago, the kids and I made some decorations on our flimsy-construction-paper budget. I created this bunny peeking out of a pot and Carter decided he would make the face. When Jay saw the results, he felt so inspired, he burst into song, "It's a pig, it's a bunny, it's a beaver--it's a Puneaver!" We have hung this mythical hare up on our wall every Easter since. While eating dinner the other night, Jay was feeling particularly festive (and entertaining, I might add). He stuck some carrots in his mouth and grabbed the Puneaver off of the wall. The kids thought it was hysterical. Jay is such a great role model for our kids! I can't ever tell them not to play with their food because they can always say, and rightly, "Daddy does it!" Anyway, it is raining here today. We were hoping for an outdoor Easter egg hunt, since we've never had a yard before, but apparently, that's not going to happen. Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! Remember: "Somebunnies love you!"

O.k...so I haven't figured out how to rotate these pictures yet. But I did want to post these because they say a lot about the personalities of my three oldest children.
A few weeks ago, the weather, although not warm, was not freezing cold. We went out in the yard so that I could pull my first weeds. I realized just how much work keeping up a yard is going to be (especially without a lawnmower and an edger--we'll get them eventually. Man, we're broke!) Anyway, the previous owners left a sprinkler and a hose and so the kids really wanted to turn it on--"Just to water the grass, Mom." Well, I'm not a complete idiot. I knew the only grass that would be watered would be the grass they had picked up on their clothes. I let them turn it on anyway and they had a blast! Avery (my dirt-magnet five-year-old) was soaked head to toe in less than five minutes. In the picture above, she's also "flapping" like mad because she's so excited. Go figure. Maia
(my fiesty three-year-old) was quick to follow her older sister into the flood. But then there's Carter (my seven-year-old). Notice how he is standing as far away from the water as possible filling the watering can. Not a drop to be had on that guy! Big shock. His hair is an orangey-red because it was crazy hair day at school that day. The girls, of course, "needed" a bath afterwards because they were really cold--duh!
It does wonders for my happiness to see my kids enjoying our new yard so much. So long to the boxy little condo! I just hope I don't kill all of the desirable plantlife.

Today is Sunday and it is really cold here, which is one of the reasons why we are going to have something warm and tasty for dinner. How about some spaghetti? I found a truly scrumptious spaghetti sauce recipe online some time ago and I've had a few requests for it. So, without further ado, here it is! Bon Appetit!
Desiree's Spaghetti Sauce
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp. or so each garlic powder, onion powder, and basil
italian seasoning (shake to cover top of sauce)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 29 oz. can crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
1 6 oz. tomato paste
1 lb. ground beef (or turkey) made into meatballs (choose your favorite recipe)
about 8 (I do less) Italian sausage links
1/2 cup sugar (or to taste)

Brown sausage in oil. Bake meatballs for 30 minutes @ 350 degrees. Make sure sausage is cooked all the way through! Put the meat in a crockpot and then the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours.