Some Random Photos...

I was cleaning up my Picasa photos yesterday and found a few cute random Instagram pictures that I haven't posted. Of course, if you follow me on Instagram, you've seen all of these. So, if this is all a repeat to you, I apologize. For the rest of the gang... enjoy!

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Parker and I went for a long walk the other day. It was one of those days that just seemed criminal to spend inside. There was a cool breeze blowing, but it was really sunny, so I wasn't hot or cold, I was just really comfortable.

When we go for these long walks, we talk about every little thing we see - particularly nature. Parker loves to watch squirrels scurry up trees and then look down on us while they dig into their acorns. He often tries to offer them a taste of whatever he's snacking on. It sounds something like, "HERE squoool! HERE! A quacker fo you!!"

This particular day, we spotted a beautiful Monarch butterfly. We watched it as it danced from flower to flower in our neighbor's garden. Then if flew off high above the house, just to come fluttering back down right in front of us. Parker's gaze never left that butterfly for one second. He was mesmerized!

And it made me realize... that Spring...is finally here.

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We've been spending lots of time outside the past couple of weeks. Testing our our new vibrant sidewalk chalk (did you know Crayola now makes cube-shaped chalk so that it doesn't roll down your driveway? Brilliant!), teaching Parker how to blow big bubbles (and not spill all the bubble liquid out of the container - argh!), and playing lots of games.

This day, we decided to spread out a towel, and play Battleship in our driveway. I love this game, but it was even more fun to play it outside with the wind blowing and neighbors popping in and out to say "hello."

I played Payton first, and I lost. Then Parker took over. I'm pretty sure he won too.

One afternoon, following a day of torrential downpours, I opened up the sandbox only to discover it had turned into a mud box! The top had not been put on properly and the rain must have poured into it all night.

My first reaction was, "How in the world am I going to dry out this sand?!?"
Parker's first reaction was, "Ohhhhhh! Water!!!" He loved it. He drove his cars through the mud, made mud puddles, mud sandcastles and mud waterfalls.

Kids always have a way of putting things into perspective for me.

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Payton and Parker have been playing together a lot more recently, which is awesome for me. Especially during the "witching hour" between 5-6 p.m. when they're hungry and tired, and I'm trying to make dinner.

On a few occasions I have realized how quiet it was and then noticed they were happily playing or sitting next to each other watching TV.

On this night in particular, they were laughing and talking and having such a great time, I didn't want them to see me taking their picture for fear I might interrupt what was going on. So, I just cracked the door a bit to sneak a peek into their brotherly love.

That's all I got for today. Hoping to get some new projects going on around here soon so I can share some ideas on the blog. If there's anything you'd like to see, or topics you'd like me to hit on, please leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear from ya!

Have a great "hump day!"

Best Laid Plans

I've been away from the gym for two weeks.

First week away was because Parker was sick, the second week away was because of Spring Break.

Two weeks away and I swear my pants were feeling tighter and my energy was zapped.

"Back to the gym tomorrow!," I proclaimed to Brian on Sunday night.

Not so much.

Parker woke up Monday morning and didn't touch his breakfast. Strange. He was super fussy and clingy too (not so strange these days). Hmm...I wondered...could he not be feeling well?

20 minutes later he's pointing at his ear saying, "Ear hurt!" and then, he pukes up his orange juice all over the couch.

Not the wood floor, or the tile floor, but the couch. Fun times.

One morning of worrying that my baby had his 1st ear infection, a lot of time spent cleaning the couch cushion, and an hour-long pediatrician appointment later...he's fine.

I still didn't make it to the gym that day. Nor did I get to see my good friend who was in town for the day.

Instead, Parker spent the day in his pajamas and we laid low playing outside in the fresh air.

Oh, did I also mention that we missed our first swim lesson on Monday? My best laid plans for the day got totally thrown out the window.

The good news is, the rest of the week has picked up speed, returned us to our normal routine, and today is the first day of Spring! Yay for Spring!

Parker spent lots of time outside with his friends yesterday enjoying the warmer weather.

Lizard hunting...it's serious business for 2-year olds.

And I got the most amazing bag full of fresh picked strawberries from one of our neighbors last night. They are SO much sweeter and delicious than anything I've tasted from the supermarket. Yum!!!

Now that it's Spring, here are some things I'm looking forward to:

• Afternoon sun showers that produce just enough rain to make puddles on the sidewalks where the kids can splash around and have fun.
• Rain boots. Enough said.
• Watching and listening to the wide variety of birds that come to our bird feeders this time of year.
• Seeing new life emerge - like the baby ducklings that always arrive in the ponds near our house in the coming months.
• Visiting our community pools.
• Freshly landscaped yards (something about the Spring encourages people to lay new mulch, weed their gardens and plant colorful flowers).
• Warmer nights that encourage back porch dinners lit only by candlelight.

What are you looking forward to this Spring?

P.S. I did finally make it back to the gym this week, and boy can I tell that I didn't go for two weeks.

OUCH!