Play Dates are like Cotton Candy...

...They just make life better.

We've been blessed to have a couple play dates this week, and Newbie and I have LOVED it after being cooped up inside the past few weeks. 

Yesterday we had his buddy B and his mama over for lunch.  I didn't get any good pictures of the boys because I'm a terrible photographer they were SO busy, but I'm posting this one to commemorate the occasion anyway.

It was Miss A's birthday, so we felt very honored to have her and her little man over for the afternoon! Newbie helped me make a birthday banner, (meaning he gnawed on the markers while I drew a seriously lame "Happy Birthday" in what were suppose to be block letters) and we had a big brew-ha-ha of chicken salad sandwiches for lunch on my china because I was digging an excuse to use it once more before I put it away after our Easter breakfast.  Miss A was worried she'd break her teacup while we sipped coffee on the porch and the boys bombarded us in typical toddler fashion, but I say fancy dishes are made to be dined upon, no matter the circumstance.  That's my new motto when it comes to my china.  I might even take it camping this summer.  After all, hotdogs taste better on fine china.  They just do.

Now you're wondering if I'm serious.  I'm not.  About the camping at least.  About the using my china more often?  Absolutely.

In other news, today we had a Play Date Take Two with my friend L and her littles because the sun came out and our garden membership was calling my name.  I got to hang out with the cool kids while L's big boy explored the big tree house.

The cool kids are just the coolest.

After some tree-house exploring and Cheerio munching, we hit up the GIGANTIC sandbox, where Newbie experienced his first "get as dirty as you want" party.  While He LOVED the sand and digging around in it, he was really bent on playing with the big kids.  I had to follow him around, making sure they didn't pound him, but he had a ball walking around and seeing what they were up to.

I had my first Mama Bear incident when an eight year old little girl came over and started to take the shovel and pail Newbie was playing with, just about swiping it out from underneath him. I put on my best sweet teacher voice and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart- he was playing with that." I'm all for sharing, but taking a shovel from a baby?  Come on! She dropped them and ran after another shovel that was lying among millions throughout the play area. 

I'm telling you, its a dog eat dog world out there in the sandbox, folks.  I used to worry I'd be a pushover mom who didn't stand up for my kids on the playground because I hate confrontation and I like other people's kids...a bad combo if you need to break it down by the monkey bars.. but it turns out being the Mama Bear is instinctive, and while you can be a nice Mama Bear, you're still a Mama Bear.

(Newbie's eyes crack me up in this picture...all squinty and tired- you can tell we've been moles huddled in our cave all winter.)

And so Mama Bear looked out for her cub and he got to enjoy an afternoon in the sandbox with his buddies without having to give up his shovel and pail.

We had a little picnic lunch by the waterfall, and then had to head back because the kids said "ENOUGH ALREADY" and were begging for naps.

The sun is still shining this afternoon, so Newbie and I are going to take Daddy-O and Opie up on a grilling party tonight.  I LOVE grilling out, and the Hubs is the CHAMP when it comes to whipping up a grilled feast. 

Hope you all have had a fabulous Friday!  Happy Weekending!!!

A Royal Wave

Newbie and I were up bright and early to watch some of the Royal Wedding this morning.  When the couple walked out to the balcony for their first kiss and to wave at the crowd, Newbie looked at the TV and waved right back...

I caught him in action with my cell phone camera and had to share!

Happy Friday, Friends!

Once upon a backyard

Newbie woke up from his nap, and we headed out to the backyard to explore...

Remember those tulips I told you about?

And get a load of this!  I think I spy a little lilac miracle!!! Check out those itty bitty lilac leaves hiding under the tulips...

Newbie loved checking out all the green...

A little backyard exploration is just what we needed after a few too many rainy days.

Now we're off to explore the kitchen. =)  Happy Wednesday...again!

Carpe Diem it, baby

Dear Rain,

Go away.

Not-so-sincerely,

Me

It has rained and rained and rained here.  Remember the ball park?  80 degrees?  Lemon Chills?  Sunburns?  Yeah.  Definitely a distant memory.  That was only a few weeks ago, but we've had cold, wet weather for the past two weeks straight and it has seriously put a bee in my bonnet.

This morning Newbie walked into the playroom/den after breakfast, and when I put up the baby gate blocking the door, he threw his first tantrum, complete with tears and melting into the floor with his forehead against the carpet all because we have spent days on end in these four walls, and he is just as sick of them as I am.

But the good news is, the sun came out this afternoon.  I don't know how long it plans to stay, but when Newbie gets up from his nap we are going to Carpe Diem it, baby.  I am aching to take some pictures of the tulips that are finally preparing to bloom and the tight buds on the maple trees that are beginning to loosen and blossom. 

I love exploring Spring in my backyard.

And I love green.

*LOVE*

My friend just asked me on the phone if I had a green thumb because there are lilies and tulips in my yard, and I had to laugh and tell her about the hostas I let the slugs or skunks or squirrels eat to smithereens last year.  The poor things have packed their bags and refused to return to my yard this year because they know how lacking my thumb is in the green department. 

And I didn't tell her about the lilac sprig I tried to transplant in my yard having taken it from my mom's house the spring before last.  That thing hasn't bloomed a single blossom in two years, and the only thing to show for my lamesauce attempt is a pile of Miracle Grow top soil where the lilac bush should be. 

BUT my heart is in it, and that has got to count for something.  I love enjoying Creation in the spring and summer and savoring the colors of the season- seeing a rainbow of flowers in my yard across a brilliant green background- it just makes me so, so happy.

Picking out flowers for the flower bed was always something my mom and I did together each year growing up.  It was totally our thing.  My mom and I are close, so we have a lot of things, but working in the flowerbed was definitely one of them.  I am itching to get to her yard and swipe some of her yellow day lilies because they are my favorite and I love the idea of having a bit of "Home" in my yard. 

And don't even get me started on Mutte's greenhouse and the cotton she grows in her yard in Texas because oh, how I loved walking the perimeter of her yard and enjoying all matter of plants and flowers as a little girl.  LOVED it.

The past two weeks I keep peeking out the window hoping for a sunny day when I can stick Newbie in his pack 'n play and start working in the flower bed like crazy.  I'm still waiting, but today looks like it might at least dry up enough for us to venture out and do some exploring- see what is blooming and what decided to pack up and head out like the hostas. 

In other news, today is Grandad's birthday, so Newbie and I made something of our rainy day and met G-Daddy for lunch then went to his office so he could show Newbie around and introduce him to a few friends.  Newbie, of course, enjoyed every bit of the afternoon, and especially appreciated the piece of cheese G-Daddy had tucked away in case his mama forgot to pack him enough food for lunch.  Newbie and G-Daddy are cheese buddies- G-Daddy always manages to find some of Newbie's new favorite (cheese!) to share when they're together.  Newbie LOVES it.

(oh yes, we totally rock holiday bibs year-round)

I've been digging through the pictures I've stashed away because of birthday and Easter busyness, but more to come on a trip to visit Newbie's Grandpa at work and a trip to see the NEW trailer! I took some video last week of Newbie walking through the kitchen, and I've pulled that from the archive today...He's on his feet 98% of the time now, and I am long overdue for posting some footage of him up and running!  So we've got two videos of him on his feet today. =) We call him "King Kong" because he walks with his arms stretched up and out while he stumbles across the floor.



He's certainly picked up speed and cruising all over the place.  He even holds my hand and walks while we go through the stores now.  He is all boy, and always, always on the move!

I'm off to do some laundry because we're officially down to the bottom of the barrel around here.  Hope you all have a happy Wednesday and find some time to enjoy the signs of Spring! 

The Tortoise and The Hare [Alternately titled: "I went to the gym and an Easter recap"]

We had such a blessed Easter weekend! We started our morning with a delicious breakfast of zero calorie cinnamon rolls and fruit.  We ate it on my fine china, and I have never been more happy my grandmother, Mutte, talked me into registering for fine china than Sunday morning.  Coffee tastes better when it is enjoyed out of a fancy teacup.  It just does.  Newbie had his own place set with his silver spoon and mug, also compliments of Mutte.  We ate in style.  And it was SO good.

Then Newbie dug in to see what the Easter Bunny had been up to.  He was really into the cellophane bag his basket was hiding in.  Next year I might have to tell ol' E.B. to just leave a huge crunchy bag in Newbie's Easter basket, and we'll be all good.

We went to an AMAZING service at church after we slammed our breakfast and wrangled everybody into their coordinating Easter ensembles.  That Hubs can really be a handful. =) I loved every minute we had to celebrate and worship our Lord together as a family of three. 

After church, we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa's house with Aunt Corndog, Uncle J, Grandad, and G-Mama for an Easter Eggstravaganza.  (I'm sorry.  I couldn't help myself.)  I ended up getting a twitch in my index finger from all the picture snapping.  But seriously?  A matching plaid hat and tie???  REALLY?!?  Plaid on my baby boy is like Oreo in my DQ Blizzard.  I needed 829 pictures of him.  Needed.

We had an over-the-top-PHENOMENAL culinary affair complete with roast chicken, ham, and Arnold Palmer sangria that were to die for. Yes.  I just said Arnold Palmer Sangria.  Google it and thank me when you are sitting in your lawn chair with your big hat by the pool this summer.  YUM. 

Newbie's Grandpa pulled out the turkey call after lunch while the womenfolk cleaned up the kitchen, and the Hubs took these adorable pictures.  I think we might have ourselves a future hunter gatherer?  He was digging the turkey call. 

Then we had a full on brawl-of-an-egg-hunt where the winners walked away with CASH PRIZES.  It was such fun!  I may or may not have gotten a little over-zealous and plunged off toward the field through a water-saturated stretch of yard in my flats, chasing after what I thought was an orange egg but was actually a piece of trash. 

Nah, that doesn't really sound like me. 

That probably didn't happen.

Probably.
When we returned home, I spent the afternoon enjoying the plunder and discovering the HEAVEN that is the Reeses chocolate peanut butter egg. 

Which leads me to Part II, called:  I went to the gym.

I've been going on and off for a while, but its tough to find consistency when your son isn't sleeping through the night and you wake up with bags under your eyes and less than 4 hours of solid sleep to your name more often than not.

But last night wasn't one of those nights, so I went today.  Actually, the whole gang went because Newbie's new Tumble class started today, and since the Hubs had the day off, we made it a family affair.  After Tumble class, the Hubs took his bad self to the track with Newbie in the jogger while I hit up Treadmill Alley because if I don't run on a treadmill...I don't run. 

And so began my treadmill saga. 
Let me remind you, I am a get 'er in, get 'er out, under the radar gym gal.  I like to get it done as fast as possible and see as few people I know as possible and talk to as few people as possible because, quite frankly, I can't breathe most of the time I'm there, I don't have great workout hair, and I have laundry to do and pictures to post.  So it's a quick stop for me.

NOT today.

I had to try FIVE different treadmills before I finally made the walk of shame all the way across the gym to one that was working.  FIVE, friends.  FIVE.  We're talking, get on, stand there, push "GO" a billion times to no avail, get off, look around, and then go to another machine FIVE times.  Oh, you can bet I was ready to haul my cookies right on out of there and pretend trying out and then abandoning five machines was exactly what I came to the gym to do, but then the Jillian Michaels in my head went all spider monkey on me and sat atop the last treadmill screaming in my face, "ARE YOU GONNA QUIT?!?!  ARE YOU GONNA LET THIS GET YOU DOWN?!?!  HOW MANY BLIZZARDS DID YOU CONSUME IN 2010?!?!?  HOW MANY?!?!?!?! ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM WIN?!?!  ARE YOU?!?!?!?!"

Oh, Jillian.  You get me every time.

So I walked the walk of shame past the 80 people who had seen me step up to four different machines and not actually run on them, and after swallowing my pride, I stepped up to the first working machine in five, and ran off at least one millionth of the Blizzards I did, in fact, consume in 2010. 

And now I'm going to feel really good about that Chicken Fajita Roll-Up I'm going to order for lunch today at Applebee's. Because if going to the gym doesn't earn you a few fries dipped in Mexi-Ranch, then WHY?  WHY?!
Here's a few shots of my little man loving life before his mother experienced the Treadmill Alley Saga that almost kicked her hiney.

Wishing you all a fabulous week and your very own inner Jillian Michaels to go all spider-monkey up in there when you need her the most.

Easter Sunday

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.

He has risen!"

-Mark 16:6

The Hubs and I were talking this morning about how Easter is our favorite holiday, because there simply isn't anything more beautiful than knowing the truth that the One you love more than anything, who was crucified, died and buried,  is not still dead, but has RISEN and does not sleep! 

I am so grateful to serve a God who makes all things new.

A fresh newborn on Easter morning is such an excellent reminder that God does indeed makes all things new and restores our souls, don't you think?  A sweet baby so fresh from the hands of God to remind us of the magnitude of the gift of life- it just doesn't get any better than that! So, with the permission of his amazing mama, I'm sharing little Baby E with you all this morning!

Come, and see what the Lord has made!

Isn't Baby E a beautiful bundle?! 

Blessed be the name of the Lord!  Praising God that our Savior is ALIVE today and hoping you all have a very blessed Easter!

*Be sure to scroll down and mute the music at the bottom of my blog before pressing play! *LOVE* this.  Love it. =)

He is Risen!

Hi, Friends! 

I haven't been good about posting because my desktop has officially been diagnosed with a nasty virus that quite possibly has eaten up a good number of my pictures, and I just haven't had the heart to get online and try to write a blog post on the laptop that is still missing the "u" ever since Newbie wrote his grandma a happy birthday note back in October.

But I'm here now because it's Easter weekend, and there's nothing I love more than celebrating the JOY that comes with Easter and it's life and new beginnings thanks to our sweet Jesus!  So I had to hop on and wish you all a blessed and very happy Easter! 

(Easter makes me want to put an exclamation mark behind everything because I am so excited to be celebrating the gift of eternal life Christ gave us when He rose again that glorious first Easter morning.

 ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!!!!!!)
Ok. Got that out of my system.

Speaking of life...my dear friend Miss L had a precious baby boy last night that I am just aching to visit this weekend. I'm going to see what I can do about squeezing in a visit between the sleepover with Aunt Corndog tonight and pulling out my china for breakfast tomorrow and church in the morning and the family lunch and Easter egg hunt tomorrow afternoon.  We've got a busy weekend packed with all kinds of plans to celebrate LIFE and what better time to snuggle a newborn than on Easter weekend?!

Hoping your weekend is packed with life-giving celebration and joy, Friends! ...and maybe some chocolate.  Or Starburst jelly beans because it seriously does not get better than Starburst jelly beans in the candy-that-isn't-chocolate department. =) 

Happy Easter!

Why is finger paint such a good time?

I can't resist sharing these delicious pictures with you, taken by my friend who's always got the mother load of great photos after a play group or party...

Hooray!  She got a shot of the duck pond!

Yummy, aren't they?

My little man has had a ball sporting some of his b-day garb and discovering his new toys.  It's been a lot of fun to watch him be so busy.

In other news...

I didn't tell you this yesterday because I was in a severe state of denial. 

However, I channeled my denial into an intensive Target/Babies R Us shopping spree, and now I'm ready to talk about it.

When I woke up yesterday, the ground was covered in snow.

SNOW.

Immediately my insides twisted into a tight knot and I wanted to crawl back in bed and pretend it wasn't happening.

Because really?!

Snow after a trip to the ballpark in 80 degree weather?

Snow after three days worth of sunburns?

Snow after I swapped out boots for sandals and spring flats?

Snow after I split my day lilies and replanted them in various spots throughout the flower bed?

Snow after I rearranged my closet to make room for more tank tops and purged all my argyle socks?

SNOW?!?!?

REALLY?!?!?

After my baby got a new water table and sidewalk chalk for his birthday?!?

After the Hubs moved his workshop from the basement to the garage?!?!

After I psyched myself out for the BEST summer ever?!?!

SNOW?!?!?

Ugh.

In order to medicate my devastation, I hit the road, and me and the Target aisles had a little heart to heart.  In rebellion I scooped up a slew of finger paints and a giant pad of paper because no amount of snow is gonna keep us from having a good time.  It is the middle of April for crying out loud! 

Last night after the Hubs came home and lamented the weather with me over a bowl of pink Alfredo (recipe from The Stocked Kitchen...my favorite cook book ever.) We busted out the finger paints and went to town.

 Not an inch of Newbie was left un-painted, reminding me of the adorable children's book, I Ain't Gonna Paint No More, which is really fun to read if you sing the words.  If the Easter bunny makes a return trip to Target in the next four days, Newbie just might find that funky fun book in his basket. =)

So snow or no snow, we had ourselves a merry little evening. 

And today, though the snow has melted, it is still freezing outside.  But don't think for a second that I haven't embraced denial once more and thrown on a pair of capri's and a t-shirt, because THAT happened.

One of these days Spring will return to us, and in the meantime, I'm cranking up the furnace and pulling out the Pip-Squeaks, another fun purchase that resulted from yesterday's mini-blizzard.

Wishing you all pleasant and warm Spring weather and asking that if you've got some to spare, you send it our direction!