Springtime in Lexington

It has been fun this spring to see Lexington come alive with flowers, trees, birds and bugs. We moved into our home last July, so I didn't even know what plants were in our yard. It was an adventure finding out what would return this year. We have Irises and Daylilies on the side of the house and we planted some daffodils in the front.

I love to plant flowers. The first year we were married I remember the anticipation for spring to arrive and the excitement I had going to Fred Meyers garden center to pick out planter boxes and flowers to put on our little balcony. I planted them during the first week of April and had to pull the planters into our laundry room when a late snow storm hit Provo.

I have found that I tend to buy the same type of flowers my Mom puts in her yard because it's what I associated with home. I love planting colorful flowers in the yard just like she does. I usually buy geraniums and marigolds and many other types so we have a rainbow of colors. I also have good help. Anytime I get out my spade and work gloves the boys rush out to see what they can do. They loved to cut and dig. A few years ago in Louisville they helped me plant about 50 bulbs around our yard in October. What a joy it was for them to see the fruits of their labors when the beautiful flowers came up that next spring. They do work hard, but they can be a bit too helpful at times. When the boys were small I had planted many bright red geraniums in the front of our home. When I had my back turned to plant more by the walkway one of the boys quickly move away from the bushes he was trimming to cut three geraniums I had just planted right in half. Oh well, I guess I was asking for it when I handed them the clippers. Luckily it wasn't their hair or a finger!

We have also had fun with Matt's little pet caterpillar. He found it over a month ago in our backyard and we kept it in a glass jar. He took it to school to show the kids and a few weeks later it formed a cocoon, so he took it in again. I had my doubts that this thing would hatch and survive, but yesterday I noticed a new moth on the side of the jar and we were all so excited. We took it outside and it flew away a short time later.

Also, I was so happy that my family of robins in the front flew away yesterday. It has been so much fun to watch these robin families in our yard, but I just get too attached and I get so nervous and worry about them. I am so relieved when they fly away and I know they made it safely through the nesting part. We had a second nest underneath our deck that flew away a week ago. I noticed that nest while mowing the lawn and quickly went up on the deck to see if I could see any eggs or birds. There was a newly hatched robin and an egg next to it. The next day the second egg hatched and we watched these birds grow and grow over a few weeks. We could peek in between the deck boards for a great look. I have such a respect for these Momma robins. They are wonderful parents and truly care for their little ones. I often feel like a mommy bird feeding my two little ones in their stroller. After watching the mom and dad birds this spring, I have a new found respect for these amazing creatures.

Our busy week

We have been having so much fun this spring here in Lexington.

This photo was taken last week at Veterans Park on the upper loop. It is just a few minutes walk from our home. It is really green, hilly and there is a river. It makes for a great walk and work out! We went around the circle once and Josh just about passed out when we started around a second time. I told him it would be great conditioning for baseball and he agreed to another pass.



Last Saturday went went to Isabelle's birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese. She was in Josh and Matt's preschool class so the whole gang was there to help her celebrate. Rich was on call so the entire Jackson clan tagged along for the fun. Brynn liked the long tickets and Kaitlyn liked wandering around checking out the games and meeting new people.



Friday was Trey's Fun Day at school so went went to join in the fun. They had a picnic around the playground area and the room mother painted faces on the kids. Trey and Matt were pirates and Josh got a snake on his arm. It was really hot, but we ate about ten popsicles and the girls were great. I think it made Josh and Matt excited about starting kindergarten there in the fall.


I had to take a photo of the cutest puppies we saw at the ball park. Kaitlyn was so eager to touch them, but when they got too close she would smile, squeal and try to push them away. She is still a bit too young to understand about being soft to little things.


Josh and Matt went to another birthday party of a preschool classmate this past Saturday. We came straight from their t-ball game and Matt wasn't pleased that he didn't get to play in the gymnastics area because we got there too late. We will have to go back for open gym this summer and let all the kids play.


On Saturday night, we went to our neighborhood pool. The water was freezing cold, but the boys didn't seem to mind. I had to inch my way in and never got in past my chest. Kaitlyn loved it all and was smiling and splashing. Brynn thought it was pure torture! She certainly was not enjoying freezing to death. They did find some suckers in the bag and devoured those. Katilyn ate the entire thing, even the Tootsie Roll center. They were so sticky, but the pool's a great place for that.

It's Derby Time Baby!

It's nearly the first Saturday in May and you know what that means: Run for the Roses!!! It's Derby time here in the land of horses. Did you know that there is an actual sign here in Lexington that says: "Lexington: Horse Capital of the World"? Only in Kentucky.

Trey had an assignment this week to make a Derby hat. I must say that yes some Derby hats are just pretty sun hats, and then there are the REAL Derby hats. The ones that people spend a month on recreating the twin spires at Churchill Downs. That was my motto when making Trey's hat. Keep it in the spirit of the Derby, make something fun and original. I am happy with the results and so is Trey.

I am a bit disappointed by the whole Lexington Derby attitude though. They didn't mention Thunder Over Louisville once when doing the weather segments the week leading up to it. They do not sell mint julep glasses or Derby Pie at Wal-mart, but at least Trey made jockey silks at school and has to wear a hat tomorrow. I guess that's as nice as the UK fans can be to Louisville. Oh well.