White Blossoms

I look so forward to seeing these trees across the street from my house blossom every single spring.Almost overnight they go from tiny white buds, to full, beautiful white blooms. 

I love this time of year!

Stormy Nights

My Evelyn has never been a fan of loud noises.  Thunder has got to be her least favorite ever. Especially thunder at night.  Add wind at night to the mix, and you have one freaked out little girl.

The second Evie hears thunder, she bolts to my side and crawls into bed with me.  Tucking her back into her own bed is not remotely an option until the storm has been gone for a good half hour.

I can actually feel her relax once she is snuggled in, under the covers with my arm wrapped around her. Evie sleeps solidly, doesn't even flinch at the wind that rattles the patio roof and the thunder cracking.  It sort of amazes me that I am her safe place. 

What an incredible thing that is, to be someone's safe place...

Warm Welcome

My wonderful sister-in-law had mentioned to her parents that we were family-less for Easter dinner, and we were quickly invited to join them for dinner.  I was grateful for their invitation and for the yummy dinner they prepared.

Papa Louie and Elaine had hidden some Easter surprises for their grandchildren to find when they come over.  It made my eyes water when I realized that they had also hidden Easter goodies for Evie and Nathan. It was more than I could have asked them to do, and it made my children so happy. 

I so appreciate their kindness in welcoming us into their home for the holiday, and for treating my kids like they were their own.

You Can't Help But Smile...

... at little girls in dress up clothes. 
... at the joy little girls have when playing with glitter and sparkle.

Julia's Sparkle

My niece, Julia, has the absolute best way with words.  She puts a sparkle into the things that she says and it makes everyone who hears her smile.

Tonight, as Julia walked in the house with her mom after dance class, she said that she "likes the way Boomer (their dog) greets them at the door with happiness."

Love her!

Crazy Signs...

Sometimes the strangest things can bring me happiness.  In this case it is sort of bittersweet happiness...

Nathan got Nerf guns for his 4th birthday, and he will be 5 in a month.  He LOVES them, but needs help firing them, you have to pump them first and his little hands are not strong enough to grip it and pull. 

Until now.

He just came running in to show me how he can do it.  By himself.  With the little hands that have grown enough to have the strength to grip it.  And he had the most amazing look of pride at this accomplishment.

A crazy sign that my little man is growing.  The way he should be, stronger and bigger every day.

Secret Agent L

Laura Miller of Pittsburgh, PA is a woman on a mission.  Leave random acts of "kindness and daybrightning" for strangers and help lots and lots of people do the same.

Check out her blog "Secret Agent L" to learn more about her, what she does, read about some of the missions her associate secret agents around the world have done and reactions from a few people who have received these surprises. 

I just got a return email from Laura about how to become one of her Associate Agents and I can't wait to get started with my own daybrightning on her behalf!



Weeds or Wishes?

Do you see weeds or wishes?

Dandelions and their seed puffs are some of my favorite things. They make me think of the joy of being a child. Children see wishes. Never weeds. Watching my children, or any child, with dandelions makes me see wishes too.

("Some See Wishes" by Vol.25)

Preschool Goodness

I met this morning with my son's preschool teacher to talk about his year and plans for him for the next school year.  Nathan absolutely adores Mrs. Fiske, as do I.  She greets the children every day with a huge smile, as if there is no where else in the world she could possibly want to be.  She walks them out at the end of their day the same way.  The do the funnest projects, songs, and games every day. (Yes - "funnest" is a word when you are discussing preschool.)

Mrs. Fiske is such a blessing to my Nathan and all the children she teaches. 

Roll on, Daisy

Check out the daisy shaped hubcaps on this car! 

 LOVE!!!

Ahhhh... Spring...



Sunshine. 

Asbury Woods.

Blue skies.

Mud and rain boots.

Happy children.

Very happy me.



Photo Flashback...

I have had the same memory card in my cell phone for the past almost 5 years (I am on my 3rd phone with it).  I love flipping back through the photos.  It's like a mobile scrapbook!

I found this photo and it made me laugh out loud.  We were at some sort of summer event. (Ahhhhh.... summer....) and my brother and his little girl were having a serious race to the finish line on the jumpy thing. It looks like he is really trying to take her down, doesn't it?  I am pretty sure she won.

Can't wait to see what goofiness is around the corner for this summer.



She is My Sunshine

8 years ago today, my baby girl, Evelyn, came into the world.  Before she was even born I sang to her everyday.  Take a guess what I sang to her? "You are My Sunshine."  She really is. 

Evelyn does not walk, she bounces.  She sings. (sometimes very loudly). She laughs easily. She is intelligent, and creative, and loves her family and friends. She loves music and dancing and making things.

My world is a brighter place because my Evelyn is in it.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl.

My Lucky Day

Nathan's first words when he woke up, with a huge smile?

"Mama, today is my lucky day!"

Me: Why is that, Nater?

Nathan: Because it is my play day with Logan!

Isn't it great to wake up happy and with something exciting to look forward to? 

You Better Watch Out

When Evelyn was celebrating her second Christmas, when she was not quite 2 years old, she fell in love with the Christmas song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." and we had to sing it to her every night when tucking her into bed.  To this day, both Evie and Nathan have to have that sung to them at bedtime.

For some reason while I was singing to them tonight (we will ignore the fact that my singing is terrible for the moment), it struck me how absolutely ridiculous it is that I have sung a Christmas song to my children before bed every single night for the past 6 years.  I literally stopped mid-song to crack up.

I love my kids.  I love the silly things I do for them.

Hiccupotamus

This is one of the cutest and funnest books in my kids library.  They laugh every time we read it, and the best part is that Evie has most of it memorized...

There was a hippopotamus
Who hiccuped quite-a-lotamus.
And every time he got'emus...
He'd fall upon his bottomus.

Who knew there were rhymes for hippopotamas, elephant, centipede, and rhinoceros?
(he has minty dental flosserus, in case you wondered!)