Sunny Pictures

A couple of weeks ago, back when the sun was shining, we went to the park. 

I miss the park.  And the sun.  So does she.

Dandelions are so underrated.  Such a summer flower.

Dandelions do pose some minor hazards, though.

Okay.  No more dandelions.  I think I got it out of my system.

I do believe I've mastered the art of photographing the back of Nate's head. 

Yes, we love the park.  If it hasn't washed away we'll go back soon. 

Little Things, Big Love

I think I feel God's love the most when I pay attention to the little things.

The tiny sprouts on the window sill.

Eensy-weensy flower bits that no one will ever see but me. 

Shallow dimples on sweet baby hands.

 

I feel God's love in those things.  I wonder if maybe God made those things just for my eyes. The great and mighty creator of this universe, the holy God on high thought to give me these small pleasures.  I can feel His desire to please me. Me.

Oh, how His love swallows me up. 

But these little things come from something big.  God's love is bigger and stronger than my human mind can replicate or comprehend.  A love beyond the love I have for my husband.  Beyond the love I have for the little hearts I so carefully document on this blog.   Even though I don't deserve it and fail Him regularly, He loves me. 

As Brooke told me today, "Easter is because Jesus loves us very much."

Enough to give us undeserved grace.

Enough to send His son to carry our sins on the cross.  

Feeling so blessed this Easter.

Gardens and Grandparents

Guess what?  We planted our first ever garden! 

I bought 4 strawberry plants and 2 tomato plants.  I kept the receipt and if they all crap out I'm getting my $16.00 back, darn it. Lowe's has lost a lot of money on my brown thumb.   

  

Awww...look at the little baby strawberry...

I will really, really try not to kill you, little one.  We'll call this the "before" picture. 

Nate helped by taking the line marker flags out of the yard and running around like a maniac.  I'm pretty sure he has a future in air traffic control. 

 Brooke made a beeline to the dirt and collected worms. 

You want to know who is really getting good at gardening? My mother-in-law, "Grandma." You should see her flowers. They're beautiful. And I bet she doesn't even keep her receipts.  I could possibly be extremely jealous.

Last weekend we got to go down to Grandma and Papa's for a visit. 

See?  I told you.

We had a great time. Grandma pumped the kids full of Peeps and we took them to the park to run off the sugar.  

Kids and grown men like throwin' stuff in the water.

I do not know why.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how (and if) my garden grows. 

The Beautiful Days

I am totally aware that my blog posts are stuck on "repeat."  Just so you know.

But.

This weather takes my breath away! The sun is shining.  There's a breeze blowing.  And best of all, (hopefully) no snow or digging out gloves or scraping the ice off the car for a whole 'nother year.   Yipee!!

Brooke got her first pedi of the year.  She opted for a "textured" pedi. 

That's where you get your toes painted, ignore your mama and immediately hop back in the sandbox. 

The flowers are in full bloom around here.  It makes me want to cover every square inch of our little yard with something that blooms.

Love the lilacs.  Really, really love the lilacs.  Like, I want to cut one off and wear it around my neck. 

Would that be weird?  

My parents came for the weekend and we had two more whole days of amazing-ness. 

Grandparents are just fun.  The babies glow when they're around.  The grandparents glow, too.

 

I am so, so thankful for these beautiful days. 

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.  :-)