The Fennels: New Patio and Mother's Day!

On Saturday, my parents came up to our house to help me plant flowers around the yard and hang new mini blinds. First, we went to Menard's to order new countertops for the kitchen (wooohoo!!!), buy faux wood blinds, and scope out the nursery for pretty flowers.

The original type of countertops we wanted to order weren't available anymore, so I had to pick out a new style/color- which really sucked because Matt was at work and I was all alone in the decision making. Thank God, I had my mom and dad there to help me. After placing the order, I sent a picture to Matt and he was happy with the choice I made. Whew.

My mom was "disappointed" with Menard's selection, so we head over to The Home Depot where I spent a billion dollars on plants. As I was checking out, all I could think about was Matt's face when he saw the debit charge from our joint checking. He handled it pretty well actually. I mean how could he not when he saw our beautiful patio.

This was our patio three weeks ago with our old wooden chairs. Yuck. We definitely like the makeover!

New chairs. New Throw Pillows, New Side Table

New Outdoor Fireplace

Pretty, pretty flowers.

Herbs (cilantro, oregano, dill, parsley, and basil) and our bird feeder.

*Next Saturday, I'm going to buy some petunias to plant in the flower bed! I have also asked Matt for a bird bath and front door sign that says "Welcome to our home! The Fennels!" as a birthday gift. (Woah, Dream Big! Right??)

I am so old.

Here are some pictures of my oldness.

Bye, bye vinyl college mini blinds!

Old Blinds

Dad hanging new faux wood blinds!

Sunday was Mother's Day!!

I love my Momma!

I also love my babies. Ernie, Lulu, and me on Mother's Day!

We headed to Rockford to visit with our Moms, Grandmas, and Sisters!

Matt and Mama Fennel!

Matt and Grandma Fennel

Matt and Grandma Holtz

Matt and his sister, Holli!

The jumbo card we got Lori!

Papa Fennel and Baby Zander

After Holli's house, we met my parents and the Mullranin bunch at JMK Nippons. For those of you who've never been, JMK Nippons is delicious. The best habachi grill in the world. Well, maybe not the the best in the world, but pretty damn close.

The jumbo card we got Mom!

Baby Zakery loves the soup!

Flying eggs!

My beauties.

The Car Ride Home

Ernie and Lulu love it when I hang the bird feeder every Spring. It attracts all the wild birds to our patio and gives E & L something to do all day besides sleep.

In Other News....

Our excitement is grower bigger and bigger for our roadtrip to the Outer Banks next month. We will be stopping in Washington DC on the way there to see the sights and stopping in Charlotte, NC on the way back to see this amazing family.

The Lamanos!

We booked our reservation at The Washington Plaza in downtown Washington DC (one mile from The White House) and are making plans for museums, tours, and sights.

(our hotel)

As far as the Lamanos, plans aren't totally set in stone yet, but I am so absolutely 100% thrilled at the thought of even maybe being able to see them. (Woah, horrible run on sentence. I know).

With all this talk on roadtripping going on, it makes Matt and I think about our future and family vacations. So for about two hours last night we looked at....

These...

And these.

Which makes me really want one of these....

really, really bad.

Sigh.

Quite possibly, the best thing that happened in the past week was the capture of this darling face. This is the cropped picture of Lulu from when I was holding her on Mother's Day. It shows her true love for me.....

I have no words for how funny this is.