Shotgun!

Weekends at home are few and far between these days! We're on the road again! I spent the morning doing laundry and gathering and this afternoon we packed up the truck (we couldn't take my car because it is currently missing an entire headlight assembly...gotta love when Kyle goes gangbusters at 7:30pm on a Thursday!) with the kids, Cortland, THE LICENSE PLATE GAME and everything else needed for a fun easter. At about 4pm we were on the road and headed for Bluffton to visit Tim, Meg & Hank and meet Miles! Cort was my side seat riding buddy (AKA Kyle's motivation to stay behind the wheel) shifting back and forth between my lap and down by my feet. It really isn't too terrible as long as he doesn't get super wound up. Anyway, thanks to Kyle skipping out of work a little early this afternoon and a smooth drive thanks to minimal traffic issues and our travel troopers, we got in much earlier than usual. The 9pm arrival meant the kids were in bed at a somewhat decent time (compared to usual travel bedtimes) and we adults got to hang out and not be up until 3 or 4am! I for one was happy with that way of starting the weekend! Now that we're here I can wait to hang out with the kiddos and of course get some pictures of baby pieces and parts!! AND because I know you're wondering...

my our map looked pretty good by the end of the trip up today. We had some pretty exciting finds!! Have I ever mentioned how much I love this thing!? It has completely changed the road tripping experience! Nora is already chomping at the bit to get her hands on it...I'm going to have to get a second one for the backseat once she can decipher plates a little better cause there's no way I'm giving it up!

Balancing

As part of our plan to help Nora settle back in at school we decided to try going for a run/bike ride this morning before I dropped her off. We also came up with a coping plan of what she can do when she's starting to feel a little too silly. I talked over everything with her teacher this morning and according to Nora, today was a much better day than yesterday...at school anyway! The afternoon still had it's moments and thanks to an unfortunate timed meltdown turned nap, Nora didn't go to swimming lessons, but we were able to make it through and even went for a walk/bike ride before Kyle got home. Lincoln has started "riding" his bike along with us. This creates a new challenge as Nora is roughly a block ahead and then I'm pushing Otto and Lincoln is taking his time balance bike waddling about a block behind - with the world's HUGEST smile of course. It's one of those drive you crazy but so ridiculous situations that you can't help but just chuckle and go with it. Excited for the holiday weekend, but still a lot to do to get ready!

Empty the Tanks

Brothers! Haha! Lincoln is starting to get a little taste of his own Tommy Timmons flavored medicine these days! Otto wants to do everything his brother and sister are doing and he now has the mobility to make it happen! I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the kids playing this morning and while Otto napped Lincoln and I managed to mow both yards - yay! This afternoon was a doozy! There were nap wars, and despite trying to spend as much time outside as possible because, A) the weather is perfection and B) Nora especially has been sooo high strung and all over the last couple of weeks there were still battles and brawls and meltdowns. I was attributing the change in Nora's focus and behavior to a jump in difficulty in what she's been working on at school (which it may still be) but according to the note I got from her teacher today she's been pretty, er...bubbly at school too. Looks like we have some more problem solving to do! In the meantime, I need to recoup so I can make it through the day tomorrow!

Wagon Walk

This isn't the kind of wagon walk we've gotten used to around here, but I think it's safe to say Otto has redefined it! Check out this little guy and his new skill! He is on the move! Admittedly his steering still needs a little work and he gets frustrated when his wagon gets hung up on an obstacle but I think it's safe to say he's mastered his straight line driving on a variety of terrains all in one day. This one is growing up fast and he's proud of it!!

Otto wasn't the only one who was proud of themselves today...Nora got to harvest the peas from her garden and we used them to make dinner! We had a lemon garlic pasta with them and it was really tasty! I think it made all of us excited for everything else to be ready for picking!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Today we planted corn and green beans in the second garden bed. And while Nora's peppers and carrots are coming along, the peas have been the quick growing stars of the garden thus far. All and all, aside from cutting it close getting to school on time this morning, it was a pretty good day with a lot of time spent outside and each kid getting a little of their own attention. Kyle got home earlier than expected so I could head to New Hope for volunteering. After I finished up there I was even able to stop at Target by myself to pick up some Easter related goodies. Not a bad way to start the week!

Stuff Done Sunday

We had a pretty productive day today! We went on a short outing to the furniture store for some recon then came home and Kyle and I each took on some different tasks. He did some power washing while I caulked the posts out front. Then I scrubbed down the patio and got the top half of the bedroom end of the house painted while he finished up making dinner. Our progress kind of faltered after we finally got the kids to bed but I'm ok with that. It's back to school and back to our loose routine tomorrow!

Sunshine Saturday

This morning Kyle and Nora went for a run/bike and while I was cleaning up a bit in Otto's room I heard the Keurig...I ran out to the kitchen to see that Lincoln had taken a cup from the bin I had just set him up with and used to to make some "hot coffee". This picture is like an eye spy of dangerous stuff for a toddler. Great way to start the day.

While I was getting some stuff done inside and Kyle was attacking weeds outside the kids spent some time playing in the sand bin out on the patio. Lincoln was into it...Nora was into to changing it and making Lincoln play with it the way she thought he should and well, Otto just crawled around doing what Otto does.

This evening, Kyle's Uncle Steve came and stayed with us to cut some time off his airport commute before an early flight tomorrow morning. The kids (Nora) were quick to put him to work playing egg hunt, hide and seek, and whatever else they could think of. It was a great day for being outside and we had a patio dinner. Then, as is the case with just about every guest, Nora volunteered him to read her bedtime story as well.