Beach Day

We made plans on Tuesday to go out Friday to the beach. We knew it would be nice out so we were pretty excited to go out early and stay all day. This morning, both kids were dressed, brushed and packed before I was. Evan loaded up the entire trunk for me and he and Chloe were in their carseats before I could even blink.

Ready to go, guys?? Um, yeah.



It was windy and warm and mostly private (only a few beach glass hunters poking around) for the entire morning. Perfect.


Chloe set up camp not too far from the blanket with a few dinosaurs. She did some "treasure" searching for stones and found a stick as big as a sapling tree. Quite entertained by her own ideas and a treat to watch.


Evan wandered farther from me than ever as he looked back eight times to make sure he could still see me. "As long as you can still see me, I can see you." I always tell him this, but today he launched out. He came back a bit braver than before. He dug holes and trenches and piled sand high. He made a small castle, teased himself in the freezing waves, and basically made a giant sandy whirlwind everywhere he went.

Over four hours passed before we found ourselves hiding under the umbrella for shade. The sand was becoming a bit too hot for the kids liking, so it was a good time to pack up and say goodbye for today.


The beach in the spring, I think, is quite underrated.
What a day!

Posted by Bree

His

Son and Daughter
Love and Life
Pride and Joy

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Faces

These are the kinds of faces I get when I ask her to "smile"









So I've resorted to "Hey look over here"


It's working for now.

Posted by Bree

It's Happening

Finally.



He's into Star Wars.



Lego toys were the gateway

It is all spaceships and droids now


....and Todd is thrilled :-)




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Higher Dad!

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Getting Dressed

The outfit:

Rainbow stripe pants with a dot shirt.
Bright colored socks.

Tuck in one:

Tuck in the other:

Add Thomas shirt:

Run away.

The End.


Posted by Bree

Miracles

I'm not sure which is the bigger miracle:


the fact that these two beautiful children
came from us and belong to us



OR


that I was able to capture that beauty
in a photo of each of them this week

:-)

Posted by Bree

Scotch Tape

It's really considered a toy here.

The kids have access to a roll on their art shelf and use it whenever and for whatever they want to. Today Chloe decorated some train tunnels, covered a bridge, and then wrapped all her fingers up.

Posted by Bree

It Was His Idea

We took a walk after dinner the other night and the kids brought along these huge buckets.

Evan thought it would be nice if we cleaned up the neighbors' yards.

To help them.

So we did.Now they want to go through the buckets and sort out all the 'treasures' -- this is not for the faint-hearted.

But I will let them do it.

And then we will all wash our hands.

And all the treasures.

Posted by Bree

So Pleased

He built this ramp contraption and was so pleased with himself, especially when the tiny hot-rod did exactly what he wanted it to do when he tried it out.

We never thought Evan would be so into legos. We had the giant mega blocks when he was a toddler, then the medium sized duplo blocks when he was two and a half or so, and this big box of small legos sat untouched under his bed for over a year. None of them really caught his attention, but seemed to actually frustrate him. We had just about given up hope. I'm so glad we didn't because we have moments like that last photo almost every day now -- where he is just so proud of himself and so confident in his own ideas and abilities.

Posted by Bree

Spending Time Outside

Outside is where we like to be.

Doing something.
Doing nothing.

We are out there.

Sometimes we bring out toys.
Sometimes we play with the outside stuff.
Sometimes we play pretend.
Sometimes we play with each other.

...

Sometimes we just lay on the blanket
and stare up at the
clouds, branches, birds, airplane trails ...

We talk.
We read.
We snack.

We enjoy fresh air and sun.

Kids climb and run and race.
I smile and take pictures and enjoy them.

Sometimes I join them.
Well, except for the climbing part...

There is learning.
There is living.

There is loving.
Nature.
Family.
Life.

...

Beautiful things.

We love being outside.

Posted by Bree

Sweet Sleep

Chloe doesn't sleep much for a little one, especially in the car. She didn't do it as a baby and still doesn't except on a rare occasion.

Today was one of those rare occasions.

On the way to Cleveland to visit Gramma the drone of the highway took over and after playing with her ponytail hair for about twenty minutes she was zonked.
Sometimes I can still see a little baby face on my sweet...
when she is sleeping.

Posted by Bree

Reminder

Even though they fight way too much ...

Even though they call each other "stinky" and "stupid" ...

Even though they punch each other sometimes ...

Even though they scream and cry at mean things done ...

They love each other fiercely.

And I need to be reminded of that
every bit as much as they do.

posted by Bree

My Son

Thinks before he acts.
Loves symmetry.
Feels emotion with a tender heart.
Uses big words and knows what they mean.
Prefers quiet.


Eats most anything.
Reads aloud with inflection and voices for characters.
Prefers even numbers only ("because they have no middle").
Gets frustrated easily.
Speaks with a British accent when the mood strikes him.

Falls asleep within minutes of laying down.
Asks deep spiritual questions.
Clears his plate by eating one item at a time.
Longs to live where there is land and lots of trees.
Knows when someone really loves him.

Posted by Bree

Playground

Posted by Bree