Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - Flashback to July

Pretty - To be honest, I can't remember where I took this one...but it's somewhere round about Galway...and it's lovely!

Happy: We did it!  We are a licensed foster home!!

Funny: Finding mugs that amuse you...and taking pictures that you then send to your friend from the airport...priceless

Real: Notice any changes in our house?! Alan laying by the play mat, the rock and play in the background, the jealous puppy playing with the baby's toys. (and if you look closely...the baby's leg...we are forever changed...and that's for real!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - flashback to Ireland

Pretty - The ferry ride to the Aran Islands, me riding Bob the Cob, and Collette and her new horse

Happy - Days in Galway with good friends, getting to see my pal Bob, a trip to the Aran Islands with Darren and Alan's Dad

Funny - Darren in the ball pit :)

Real - Where it all started! Alan and I met here for the 1st time in 2001 and then again in 2009.  We drove past it one day and felt a smidge nostalgic and extremely thankful that we met!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- flashback to June

Pretty: At the beginning of June I went to Dauphin Island with Kelly and Val.  It was so pretty and peaceful while we were there.  I can't wait to go back! :)

Happy: I had the amazing fun of introducing Rissa to Broadway Musicals year ago with Suessical in Sherman.  Then she saw Tarzan in Sherman.  This year, I decided to take her to see Cinderella at Fair Park.  I honestly can't tell you which made me happier -- the show itself, or watching Rissa watch the show.  Guys -- she AUDIBLY gasped when they brought out the glass slipper. And she was so excited when they got married.  (And the quick changes on stage....people!!!)  The experience was made even better by the opportunity to share it with my good friend Kathy and her daughter.

Funny: These dogs!  It is our routine to get Starbucks coffee and pastries for dinner on Sunday night.  When we get our drinks we order each dog a 'Puppy Latte'. (A cup full of whip cream.)  They have come to expect it...and they LOVE it -- as you can see. (Sorry for the fuzzy pic of Lily...it's just too funny!)

Real: What most mornings look like at my house in the summer....

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real - flashback to May

Continuing with my PFHR flashback -- here's May:

Pretty: It rained A LOT in May.  (See 'Real').  That meant many a pretty morning and evening...

Happy: For our birthday this year, Allison and I decided to do a Painting with a Twist party.  We invited all our friends to come out and create with us.  We had a BALL!  Afterwards, Tana, Kelly, and myself drove down to the Winspear and saw NEWSIES!!!!  We literally sat on the edge of our seats for the entire time.  LOVED it! :)

Funny:  Oh Ally girl! Over the summer she took to covering her head when she wanted to rest in the car.  She is such a silly kiddo!

Real: Rain -- lots and lots of rain...so much rain you could take pictures of the sky dumping it...

Up next: June!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -- flashback to April

I know -- I am a super bad blogger...but I decided I would do a little flashback where I do a P,F,H,R for the past several months....eventually I should catch up! :)

Without further ado -- April:

Pretty:  For my birthday each year my sweet hubs sends me flowers...this was my birthday bouquet this year!

Happy:  My former student, Courtney, was married last October and now has a sweet baby girl. In April she had a baby shower and after some Facebook chatting I found out that they were doing a lady bug theme...so I jumped on board and made her this little lady bug dress and a lady bug blanket.  I hope to someday see her in the dress on FB!

Funny:  Oh, Lily!  (I think this speaks for itself!)

Real:  Shortly after we got our new monster huge sectional sofa we had the fam up for dinner.  At one point I looked over to see everyone scattered along the monster huge/long couch and on their devices.  Ah technology...whatever did we do before thee?!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

There were loads of pictures I could have used today...but I decided to keep it simple....

PRETTY

Last Thursday I went to the Dallas Arboretum with Mom, Allison, Thomas, and the girls.  The flowers were just stunning!  This is my favorite of the day -- and it is pretty!

HAPPY:

Wednesday the girls came to stay overnight and we played in the backyard because it was GORGEOUS outside!  They were laughing and running and having so much fun.  This picture exudes happy!

FUNNY:

My face in this picture cracks me up!  I was so excited to meet 3.5 week old twins, Luke and Levi.  They came to visit my office and I got to hold both of them!  So sweet...

REAL:

Real? Pictures of furniture?  Come on Leanne......

No really -- last week Alan and I went to 'look' at couches.  We recently looked at beds and didn't buy anything so I went with Alan to look at furniture and we came home having purchased a new sectional sofa, a coffee table, 2 end tables, and a new kitchen table.  Wait - what?!  You read that correctly!  The top picture is a (bad) picture of our new sofa and coffee table.  (The end tables match.)  The bottom is our new table.  The table should deliver around the beginning of April and the living room furniture around my birthday.  Admittedly I am somewhat sentimental in this journey.  The table we have now was my Grandmother's. The coffee and end tables we have now my sisters and I teethed on.  But it will be so nice to have OUR furniture!  (Everything in the house is a hand-me-down except our bed - which I bought when I graduated college.)  Can't wait to see it in our house! :)

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I love this day!  It just makes me happy! To commemorate I thought I'd show you me and Alan through the years, since we (re)met during Spring Break in 2009.

While the first picture doesn't show his face - it is one of my ALL TIME FAV's that he is IN.
That's James Like on the left and Alan on the right.  I'd spent a week with the 2 of them and this is how I felt! :)

Here is one of him playing the accordion that year.  It was the first time I experienced an Irish Ceili with lots of music and fun...hence our Paddy's Day Party's now!

2010 - Paddy's Day Parade in Galway, Ireland.  Alan and I were part of the drama team.  He was the Sheriff and I was a prairie girl.  We dance through the streets of Galway with the drama team.  Good fun!  (Look how young we look!!!)

2011 - This year I didn't go to Ireland over Spring Break. Instead, Mom and I went to Georgia to visit Amy, Paul, Andrew, and Christopher.  This is me with the boys in the Ireland shirts.  They were real into the picture - as you can see.

2012 - Our first Paddy's Day party.  I think we had 25-30 in attendance.  We had such a fun time.  Paddy's Day is also our 6 month anniversary so on this day we'd been married for 6 whole months!!!

2013 - Party number 2!  

2014 - Party 3 (Apparently this photo surprised Alan!)

2015 - Ok - so this is not what we look like today.  Alan has on a solid green shirt today and I have on one that says "Keep Calm and Sure, it's Grand".  This is from Sunday...and isn't great...but it's the most current one of the two of us.  :)

 Let us remember on this day - which I love because it's just fun - that it is about a man and the wonderful things he did for Ireland.  St. Patrick taught a pagan land about our Lord and Savior through a simple 3 leaf clover.  His love and dedication to a small island nation turned the tide in it's history.  May we be so bold, loving, and dedicated to our land.  Now - go enjoy your corned beef, shepherd's pie, potatoes, and Guinness...and have fun! :)