DISNEY 2012

 A month ago, we took a trip to Florida.

 We spent a week in this magical place where our kids were overstimulated, overfed, and in awe of everything they saw.

It was great.

Looking at these pictures, I find it hard to believe we were ever even there.
Did it really happen? Did we really go.

The Disney trip was exhausting, expensive, and sort of a huge blur.

And totally worth it. We had a blast.

I think now, a month later, I am finally recovered from that trip.

Which means now I can start asking myself - where are we going next?!!

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SIX

My Buddy turned six. SIX. We are now the proud parents of two full-fledged school-agers.

There were cupcakes on Easter, a birthday cookie at his party on Tuesday, six candles in his birthday doughnut on Wednesday morning, and birthday singers with his ice cream sundae out to dinner Wednesday night. Celebrate, yes we celebrate, how could we not?! Life is grand.

On Thursday morning, he woke up to huge excitement. "MY TOOTH IS LOOSE!" Six for twenty-four hours and he's got his first loose tooth.

"It feels good to be six," said Buddy. I'll bet it does.

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SIBLINGS

It should be fun, right?! An egg hunt in the yard? No cousins here this year, but I hid our decorated eggs and set them loose to find 20. But no, it has to be a race. A competition. There must be anger and tears.

????

I love my kids, but man. They can drive me nuts sometimes.


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It is a wonderful feeling to stand on a bridge, watching the river flow beneath you.

We hosted some friends from Omaha this weekend and took them crane watching. Now, bird watching may sound like something that only nerds would do. But don't you know me at all? I'm a card-carrying nerd! Love nerds! Let's learn about science and nature everyone, come on!!

My heart really does belong to Nebraska. The prairie is beautiful to me and leaves me in awe of the beauty of this earth.

The kids went with us Friday night and yes, I spent a good chunk of my time shooshing my children, trying to keep them out of the mud and telling them the birdwatchers were going to CALL THE COPS IF WE DIDN'T PIPE DOWN! But it was a really great experience and they did enjoy the time we spent by the river.

The next morning, my friend and I went out at sunrise to watch them again and it was wonderful. The birds come in to the river at night to sleep and then head out to feed again when the sun comes up. Listening to the sound of them waking up and watching them take flight was beautiful.

It's only about 20 minutes from our house, but we had never taken the time to do this. I have a feeling that now I'll have to go every year, whether anyone joins me or not!

 

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My Favorite Color Lately...

I've been craving GREEN.

Isn't it wonderful?!

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Wanting a little winter

It had been so warm, all through December and January. We loved being able to be outside all the time, but it didn't feel like winter...

We felt very lucky when we got snowed in a few weeks ago. It gave the kids huge piles of snow to play on and the grown ups an excuse to stay in their jammies for two days straight. Or maybe that was just ME.

Now if the warm weather would like to return, that would be just fine by us. We just needed a little winter.

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What we're up to....

 Daddy Daughter Date Night is a new tradition for us. The community parks and rec program puts it on each year and they have such fun. Hubs is a great dancer and Bee just raves about what a great date he is. It's a dinner and dance night and a great excuse to get all dressed up!

 The weather stayed so nice for so long this year. We had Marigold, the kindergarten traveling pet, a few Mondays ago. Buddy took Marigold for a bike ride and they played Legos. Never thought we'd be riding bikes in February!

Both kids had big school projects. Bee had to make a planet project (she chose a mobile) and Buddy had to make something for the 100th day. He chose 100 marshmallows and wanted an ELEPHANT. We did our best and it turned out okay. His teacher was surprised because their sound that week was for the letter E and we had written 'E is for Elephant' at the top. It worked out perfectly!

Basketball, piano lessons, family time...it has been a crazy couple of months.

I'm looking forward to spring (gardening! sunshine! being outdoors!) and of course, summer break. It will be here before I know it!

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