Conquerer

We have a huge tire in our backyard.  I have no idea why it's there, but it has been calling Adam's name since the day he first eyed it.  This weekend, he finally conquered the tire.  The victory fingers at the end are my favorite part.

If you don't want to watch the video, here are the highlights.

The ascent-

Check out that determination- 

The victory pose!

Easter Pictures

The little girl in me still insists that I get a new dress for Easter every year... the timing this year was good because not many of my dresses are fitting these days!  I love this picture above, but couldn't resist adding this second one just for Adam's face.

Sometimes we have silly face contests at the dinner table.

Leah was thrilled to get a beautiful new Easter dress, too.

Adam is usually just thrilled about everything.

Another fantastic face by Adam.

And one more taken by Leah.

Just Thinking

I love packages!  Is there anything better than knowing that someone else is loving and thinking about your family just as much as you do?  We have so enjoyed the crafts, treats, and toys that have come in the mail this week.

I taught my last Joy School lesson today.  As is tradition, when it was over, I plopped down on the couch, put my feet up and exclaimed, "We survived!" 

Adam, who wanted to go outside, came over and said, "Swing!  Swing!"  That didn't get a response, so he started trying to lift me off the couch, and finally said, "Geeeeeeeeet UP!"

That worked.

This is the view outside my front window.  I love having so many beautiful flowers to look at!  The smallest, deep pink tulips in the back are my favorite.  Those are the ones Jason brought us from Holland.

 *****

I hate mommy/baby brain.  Tonight I walked down the stairs with the sole intention of turning up the heat, got distracted by the toys that needed to be put away, the toilet paper roll that needed to be put in the stash ((I fully intend to make something amazing with those rolls some day), stopped for a quick bite of caramel brownie, and walked back up the stairs with my arms full of jackets and shoes before I realized that I had completely forgotten to turn up the heat.  Gratefully, Jason went back downstairs and turned it up for me.  This happen to me several times a day.

Leah and I like to ponder about what the baby sister will come out looking like.  "Maybe she will have black hair like Daddy," she says. 

"Maybe she will have blue eyes like Mommy," I reply.

"Maybe she will have brown skin!" says Leah.

Uhhh.... there is a very small chance of that due to Jason's heritage, yes, but as far as Leah is thinking-

 probably not so much.

Things That Make Me Happy

Mini cupcakes-  they are even better than regular cupcakes because you can stuff an entire one in your mouth and not think twice about eating another two... or three... or four.

The lock on my closet door- my own little slice of privacy.  Great place for hiding presents, lingerie, and myself, if needed.

My blog- I usually think my posts are just the mundane details of our life that I will never forget, yet I always love to read back on the small reminders of days gone by.

Fridays- I haven't received a paycheck in my name for 5 years now, but I always get a little excited at the prospect that Friday might be payday.  (It usually isn't- now we just get paid on the last day of the month only.)

Making plans- I inherited this one from my mom.  I love having events and trips to look forward to, no matter how big or small.  A few currently on the radar- making a giant chocolate birthday cake for an upcoming birthday celebration, our ward's youth fundraiser (last year's was quite entertaining), the opening of the local zoo (next week!) the babymoon, a day trip to Chicago without the kids to see the Cubs play in Wrigley Field, and an extended date night down to Indy to check out their MOA.  Oh, how I hope I can add a trip to Utah to that list soon!

Naptime- my mid-day sanity saver.  I couldn't function without naptime.

Restaurant gift cards- eating out is such a guilty pleasure for me, but the gift cards take away the guilt!

That picture up there doesn't make me happy, but the baby girl that is causing my cheeks to puff up like that sure does.  I've decided that the last place I gain baby weight is in my belly.

April Showers

Most days lately are beautiful.  The weather is consistently getting warmer, our daffodils and tulips (from Holland!) are blooming, and we spend entire afternoons outside with nothing to entertain us but clouds and sticks and sidewalk chalk.  If only I could somehow keep the weather just like this every day until August...
 
But some days it seems the sun forgets to rise and the wind beats down our house.  Those days we stay inside and spend a lot of time coloring and making silly crafts. 

On these gray days I feel like a character from the Wizard of Oz.  I told Leah such the other day. 

M- Leah, I thought this morning we were going to wake up on the other side of the rainbow!

L- No Mom, that only happens when the wind goes whipping across the prairie. 

Oh.  Well, never mind then.

We had an Easter egg hunt with friends in the drizzling rain.  I couldn't resist making these little cuties.

Jason told me I need a new hobby.  I told him staying up til midnight to carve out little chickies (and forcing him to help me) is it!

But whatever the weather, I'm not complaining!  The long, cold winter is finally over, but the insane heat of the summer hasn't made it's rude appearance yet, either.  I just love spring!

Ode to Dirty Socks

I tucked myself into bed last night 

Sleepy from a busy day.

Grateful for the food we ate 

and the games we got to play.

I left the student to his work, 

Another deadline looming.

I smiled sweetly and skipped off to bed

I didn't mention his hair needs grooming.

While I enjoyed dreams of tidy rooms, 

playdates and waistline ever-expanding, 

The student was working late again, 

not a thing from me demanding.

This morning when I woke up

I found no signs of night-life.

No piles of papers, books or pens

In the sink, no fork or spoon or knife.

There are no breakfast dishes, 

or midnight-snack crumbs to be found.

Just the balled up, stinky Dirty Socks that,

Exhausted, he dropped to the ground.

Although these Dirty Socks drive me mad, 

(They always make me recoil)

They serve as a great reminder- 

He was up burning the midnight oil.

While I was sleeping peacefully

though alone again last night, 

"Another test I have to study for!

Another paper I must write!"

The Dirty Socks are here again, 

Reminding me every day- 

 If you want to get that PhD, 

There's a price you all must pay.

So I'll pick up those Dirty Socks

and stick them in the basket.

 With all that he's got on his plate-

I can't bring myself to ask it.

Thank you for being wonderful, Jason!  The 4 Musketeers love you!

Campaigning

L: "So, Mom," Leah settles in casually next to me.  "What ideas do you have for naming the baby sister?"

M:  "Uhhh... I don't know.  How about Francis?  Or Helga?  Or Rapunzel?"

(Her eyes light up momentarily for the last one, but she quickly dismisses them all.)

L: "No.  Those names are no good."

M: Well, what do you think we should name the baby sister?

L: "Emma!  Her name is Emma!"

*****

Every single prayer she offers goes something like this-

"... and please bless my baby sister (whose name is Emma) to be healthy and strong and happy in Mommy's tummy, to eat well and sleep well, and not come too soon so she doesn't get sick, and..."

*****

"That's you, and that's me, and that's my baby sister Emma.  The three girls!"

*****

We won't decide until the baby sister is actually here, but with all the campaigning that's going on around here, Emma is definitely on the list.  And I hear the name so often, I've even had to stop myself from calling her Emma once or twice!