Little Brother

I should have taken a picture of the dish situation I handled today! Like spent 4 hours handling it handled. With the dishwasher still not regularly cooperating the kitchen required some serious attention. With that cloud eliminated from over my head, late this afternoon it made my heart happy to see these two bust out into the backyard - even if it was just in a bathing suit. I managed to sneak some pictures of Lincoln playing on his own out there earlier this evening (sooo hard to do!!) and then when Nora came out he was all about watching her run fast - and trying to catch her himself. Can you tell by how he's looking at her how much he looks up to her and learns from her. It's a good thing and a not so good thing, but it is enough to make you say aww! All and all we had a pretty good Monday - little swimming lesson snafu - in that we went to the Y and found out as we were walking in the door that there aren't lessons this week...whoops! Oh well, the week rolls on!!

Landscape Crew

It was a working kind of Sunday. We did have a pretty low key morning but then this afternoon it was time to start tackling the massive mountain of stuff in the game room so we can make it livable space before the baby comes. In addition to Kyle dropping off some vintage leftovers (that I'm not completely convinced we won't regret getting rid of) at Restore, he also cleared the shed remnants off the driveway and took them to the dump. Little by little we're trying to make dents in the lots of things on our lists of things to do! Admittedly, I'm at less than full go, waiting for this kid to scoot down and out of my lungs so that I can do more than 3 things without panting like I've just run up 16 flights of stairs. After all of our game room work it was Kyle's long awaited chance to mow the backyard. Lincoln sat by the porch doors with his lawnmower yelling for "Daya" and "Kyle" so I took the hint and out he went to help. This was the first time he really got into "mowing" and was hard at work with his dad for a while all while Nora took a much needed nap. Another week is set to start!

Boating Buddies

Nora and Kyle spent the morning out on our across the street neighbor's boat this morning. Nora had fun with a very patient Zoe, tubing and swimming and Kyle enjoyed his morning on the water too! Lincoln and I hung out at home snuggling, playing, facetiming and doing a little cleaning too! (Lincoln is an excellent and very enthusiastic Swiffer-er) This afternoon Kyle and Lincoln went grocery shopping so we'd have some food in the house AND something to make for dinner! Jessica and her boyfriend Jared came over for a potluck of sorts and we had a lovely hangout - complete with tag with the kiddos in the backyard and games around the table after they went to bed. All and all a busy, full and fun day - and now I'm super sleepy! Oh, also worth noting and hopefully I'll get a good picture soon...our owl friends have returned to our yard!
Kyle is still just as freaked out by them, but I'm super excited!!!

Big Brother in Training

This was too cute this afternoon. Lincoln has been doing an excellent job of taking care of baby dolls and the little white puppy around here lately. He frequently carries them, pushes them in the stroller or pulls them in the wagon, but today he took it to another level. I watched as he laid out the blankets he'd collected from his crib and made Rosemary a nest of sorts and then helped fix her shirt, then shared his ball with her and then gave her a kiss. Super cute. Should be fun to watch him with the real baby when it comes. Hopefully he won't pick it up by its hair though...that part always makes me wince a little!

Project Partners

Another school day in the books! Mornings have been less than stellar this week, but we're working our way through. After pick-up today it wasn't as fun of an outing but we stopped back at Michael's to pick up the last of our supplies needed for the afternoon's project and then made a quick stop at the paint store for supplies for the game room project! While the kids worked together to make a canvas painting for the baby's room I worked on the mobile. Didn't get far, but it's a start.

All In One Day

After a couple days coming down from a candy high today was a busy one! Lincoln and I went to Michael's to gather a list of needed craft supplies while Nora was at school, then after we picked her up we headed to Lake Lily Park some Nora arranged play time with a few of her good friends from class (and their moms) and then of course swimming lessons with Elizabeth. Mr. Gerald had his hands full with two tired, less than focused girls and it's looking like we might be due for a session off to refresh Nora's & Elizabeth's interest before summer kicks in. Halfway to another weekend!

Easter!

What a gorgeous morning! Not only did we make it to sunrise service this morning we were put together, didn't wake Sean up in the process of getting up and out AND we were early enough - well on time enough, to get seats!! I wish I would have gone down to the water before the service started to take a better picture of the sunrise, because it was really clear and pretty this morning, but this will suffice. It was a lovely way to start the day - AND with 2 happy kiddos to boot! We got home and the basket hunt was on as an excited Nora set to work to find her (and everyone else's basket). We didn't get our annual lakeside family picture after church this morning but I did get some decent shots of the kids over the course of the day as they basket hunted, ate candy and bread and eggs and candy and played, ran and blew bubbles. We had breakfast and early dinner before Kyle had to take Sean to the airport to head back to California. Nora told me "eventhough I'm sad that Sean had to leave, I'm still happy he got to come."

Attempts to get a picture of the two of them sitting nicely together (like last year) were a huge failure but, they're their own little people so I guess they each get their own picture! Happy Easter everyone!! Hope it was lovely!