I have it on good authority that spring is here.

Well, not really.  But it's April and if it snows again I will probably cry.  

We've been dying to roll down the windows and feel some warm air. 

It may only be Brooke's fourth summer, but she totally gets it.  She's already talking about swimsuits and swimming pools.  Popsicles and sprinklers.  Barefeet and flowers and shorts. 

I can't wait either.

We picked our first dandilions of the season.  Scot would like me to tell you that they didn't come from our yard. 

Can I just say that I don't think dandilions should be considered weeds?  They're so happy and easy to grow.  Maybe we'll plant us a dandilion garden this year.

Scot would like me to tell you that's not going to happen.

We fed the ducks.  They see us coming from a mile away. 

And little mister almost-two going on almost-five?  He's feeling this whole spring thing. 

Look at this picture.  He runs like a kid.  Sometimes I feel like his babyness is slipping away right before my eyes.

I can't wait for longer days and warm sun and babies excited to play outside all day...

...what about you? 

How to Accessorize

Do you think accessorizing is difficult?  It's not.

Simply find some stuff. Wear the stuff.  And look awesome.

But be aware that accessories can also send a message.  Choose the wrong accessories and, well...

I'm filing this one under "pictures to show the future football team and girlfriend."

Happy accessorizing. 

Spring for a Day

We got a little snap of warm weather last week, so Scot took a day off work and we hit the zoo!  We just love the zoo. Scot and I were working the man-to-man defense, so I didn't get to take a whole lot of pictures. 

The snakes were the favorite of the day, for sure.  Ew.

The popsicles were a colossal mess but totally worth it.

The rest of the week made me really appreciate the beautiful day at the zoo.  Winter is back.  We had temperatures in the 80s for the zoo and woke up a few days later to snow.  Nathan doesn't understand.  He stands at the door and begs to go outside again. 

I'm running out of entertainment.  Nothing quite matches long, warm days at the park and the zoo. 

Nate resorted to exploring the cabinets and making Fancy Feast towers.

And we colored.  A lot.  Sometimes even on the paper.

We even jumped in the bed.

If my pictures make it look like Brooke wears the same princess dress 24/7 and never takes it off it's because Brooke wears the same princess dress 24/7 and never takes it off.  

I love that.  :-) 



And Again with the Pictures

One of these days I want to write more again.  I will dust off that part of my brain that I once used regularly and write.  I like writing. Even if it's just little blurbs on my little blog. 

Until then, here's a little bit of what we've been up to...

Those would be the buds on our LILAC BUSH!!  I'm dying for this thing to bust out with some big, delicious blooms!  I'll keep you posted. 

This is roasted marshmallow aftermath. This child will eat her wedding cake like this.

A few final pics from my photography class...

I loved that class!!!  It was fun to do something totally creative.  I'm loving photography and hoping to take the next class sometime soon.

Happy SPRING!!!

Some Pictures, at Least

Ahhh...my total lack of follow-through has reared its ugly head.

I've all but forgotten you, little blog.  But that's okay because I've got a good reason. 

I've been taking an online photography class!  It's been great...and a little more intense than I thought it would be.  It has taken a lot of time online and a lot of time with the camera.  Obviously.  My poor little children run for the hills every time I pull the camera out now.  But that's okay because I've learned the power of the bribe.

I've learned a ton.  I've learned so much that I now realize I have no idea what I'm doing. It turns out that photography is really complicated.  It's about finding the light, imagining the look you want and making it come to life through the camera settings.  It's about buying lots of lollipops so your 3-year-old will just sit still for one more second! 

So I'm learning.

That's what I've been up to.  That and the whole parenting thing.  

And I'm not done blogging.  Just a little sidetracked right now.  :-)

Sidewalk Chalk and Flu and I'm Not Very Good at Transitions

We've been passing away these long winter days. 

We've colored princesses while being princesses.

Played with the toys and played with them again.

But then.  God gave us a beautiful day smack-dab in the middle of February. Not like a few weeks ago when it was 45 degrees and we bundled up and were just excited we didn't freeze.

Oh yes, we got a good one.  And don't you know we busted out the sidewalk chalk.   

Ah, sidewalk chalk.  Can you even say that without thinking summer?  Sprawling out across the warm pavement, smelling that dusty chalky smell...oh, yes. 

By the way.  That reminds me.

I was talking to my sweet friend Angela the other day and she commented that I was an awesome mom because, "just look at your blog!"

That made me laugh. My disclaimer: life in blog may appear better than actual life.   

For example, see this picture of Nate?

Sweet.  

Yeah, well. I didn't take pictures of him battling the horrid stomach flu he's had for the last week. (You're welcome!)  Or of the massive fit he threw when it was time to come inside.  I also didn't take pictures of me snapping at Brooke when she just wouldn't listen and stay out of the mud.  And typically I wouldn't mention that Scot and Brooke now have the flu and I'm cautiously deciding what to eat for lunch because I have a well-founded fear that I'll be next.

I edit all that stuff out.  You know I'm not fluttering through life playing princesses and drawing on the pavement.  I just edit.

Who wants to remember all that other stuff, anyway?  God gives us so much good and I'd much rather pluck that out and hang on to it.  Besides, this blog is meant to be like a baby book for my kids.  There's no "Baby's First Violent Stomach Flu" section in a baby book.  And there's not one on my blog, either. (Until now, I guess.)

So back to the chalk.  We likes it. 

It was my little bit of happy this week.

The end.

The Great Outdoors

What a difference a few days makes.

Friday it was 45 degrees.  Gorgeous!

If it were October, we'd have locked ourselves inside, cranked up the fireplace and thrown some chili in the crock pot. 

But in January, 45 degrees is heaven. It's daydream-about-spring weather.  And it's definitely get-the-kids-out-of-this-house weather.

The snow was perfect for snowman making. 

If pictures had sound, all you would hear is the sound of me panting.  I would make a snowman part and Nate would take off around the house.  Make another snowman part, Nate takes off.  Etcetera. Etcetera.  Etcetera.

But he was never too hard to find.

How's this for a snowman? 

It fell over about 2 seconds after I took the picture. 

Yeah, that was a fun day.
Oh, but now. 

Snowpacylpse. Snow-nami. Snowmageddon. The Winter Storm of 2011.  All names for this current snowstorm, all used by newcasters. Seriously. 

The little buds that promised spring a few days ago are frozen solid.

The ice is kind of pretty.  I guess.

 But I am beyond ready for spring!