Smokin'

You know how you don't realize you say certain things until someone points them out to you?
Apparently, I say, "Smokin'" a lot.
As in, "it's smokin' hot today. or let your food cool off, it's smokin'"
Well Miss M has picked up using the word too. She says, "Mom! it's smokin wet at the water park! This air conditioning is smokin cold!"
I'm not sure exactly what she thinks it means.... but it's smokin' cute!
Here are our latest adventures in the heat with Steph and the girls! Thanks for introducing us to this park! We will definitely be back!

Ready. Set. Summer.

It's official... it's summer.

This week has been a doozie.

The quick run down is; planting flowers, laying mulch, power washing the deck, playing in the sprinklers... someone loosing his drawers, new sassy summer haircuts.

A trip to the zoo, a walk and dinner and ice cream in our most favorite of towns and spending the night in a "hometel".

An end of the school year pool party with pizza, snacks, and lots of sunscreen!

Hello Summer! Glad you came to visit.

Park It!

With the weather as awesome as it has been this week, (and with this weekends forecast looking cool and bleak) the kids and I have been hitting the park... sometimes twice a day... we're addicted.

New endeavors at every new play ground. Each time we go to a fav, instead of being bored, one of them gains more confidence. Amazing that my babies are getting so big and independent. It's great... right? This is the first time in my experience as a mother, that I haven't had to be a shadow at our outings. It is amazing to just sit back and watch.

I love how Meg says hello to everyone.... and I mean everyone, until they say "hi" back.
A few unfortunate mishaps have taught a certain little someone that they are just not able to do everything a certain older sibling is. My eldest, well, lets just say it was for kids like him for whom parks were created. (Is that the correct use of whom? I never know.) He is a lightening bolt up and down, left then right. I have to keep him in a neon orange shirt just so I can spot the blur running past me.
Thank you, Park builders... we are huge fans!

We're having issues....

Two year old not listening issues.

Four year old being too big for his britches, issues.

When Mama gets stressed, she bakes, issues. (which doesn't help with the trying-to-be-healthy-and lose weight issues.)

Daddy is going to be gone for 10 days, inducing said stress baking.

New discipline actions have been implemented... no more zillion warnings... you get one and after that is straight to time out.... as of now, 9:15 am, both hooligans have been in time out, one of them twice. I'm tired. I am tired of yelling, tattle telling, whining. Oh my gosh the WHIIIIINING!

Wanting to move, buy a new home, sell our house, issues.
I have officially become a real estate stalker. Mark is convinced I know more about the houses on the market than most agents... I'm not so sure that is a good thing.

The house he wanted, sold. The house I like, he doesn't. Issues I tell you.


I'm trying to remain optimistic. Realizing that my issues are pretty run of the mill, pretty boring actually, except to me.


Homemade Strawberry Tarts and Apple Pie seem to help a bit.
Send any good baking recipes!!!

A Glimpse into our Future...

glimpses of green peeking through!

baseball... lots and lots of baseball.

daily walks around the block.... sometimes multiple times!
Happy Spring!!!!

Put a little love in your heart...

So, we started decorating a little for Valentine's Day. I got some cute wooden hearts and scrapbook paper and of course glitter from Hobby Lobby.
We broke out the paint, and sequins, glitter and glue and made an afternoon of making valentiney things.

Apparently, this opened up the flood gates of Isaac's heart.

Sitting at the dinner table, Isaac said dreamily, "I hope Kaitlyn is at school tomorrow."

We nod.

"She is the greatest. girl. ever."

We look at each other and smile.

"I really like when she wears a bow in her hair."

"She's pretty pretty."

"Mom? Can I make her a necklace?"

"Sure," I barely whisper... I bite my lip like Pa Ingalls' half laugh/half cry.

Then he bolts out of his chair and is on to something else...
Ah... young love.

got bananas??

Meg loves her bananas. She loves them so much that she insists on shoving the pieces I give her into her mouth and with whatever mushed up banana is left on her hands goes straight into her hair! That's my girl!

Isaac Goes to Work...

This morning Isaac went to "work" so early he forgot his pants! He was very busy putting up and taking down "stoplights". He had red, green and blue paper strips that he was sticking on the door with magnets. How they became the lights, I'll never know, but he seemed very pleased when he said, "I gotta go now, mom, I gotta make more stoplights."
This career change is new to me. Usually, he goes to work at JoAnn's... you know the craft store!!! My kinda guy!

Never a Dull Moment!

While doing some outdoor chores Isaac went missing.... anyone know where he could have possibly gone?



And afterwards, Meg tried to see just how many goldfish she could fit into her mouth at one time.... I think the total was about 7 or so.