New Additions

This morning we went to the Maitland Farmers' Market and got a new tree for our yard as part of the annual arbor day celebration! Lincoln got his own little pine tree too! The kiddos were entertained by the bounce houses, Nora half heartedly tried to climb the rock wall and then they got to check out, pet and feed lots of different animals - camel included. Later this afternoon we got the call from across the street that today was piano delivery day! We've inherited a piano from our neighbors and pretty much didn't have to lift a finger. Like to the extent that I got home from dropping Nora off at a friend's house on bike (fun fact it was requested that I not stay and she didn't want me to even be near here when she got there.) anyway, our neighbors were already up the driveway and Kyle was just waking up after having fell asleep on the couch. The kids are all about it!

This evening we took an impromptu family trip to Lowes and picked up some more plants, some painting supplies and mulch, mulch and more mulch. So I'd like everyone to meet Gus Gus on the left, Carlos over to the left and then some tomatoes, Lincoln's little tree and Nora's watermelon front and center. Lots of new life around here!!

Bounce

I don't really know where today went! Kyle was on kid duty pretty much all day today while I primed my heart out in the game room. I made progress but it is slow going with the pudding primer I'm using for the first coat. Late afternoon I ran next door to check in on a project our neighbor is working on this weekend and lent a hand and some tools where I could. It was a lot of fun! Kyle managed to get some stuff done in the yard during the day while the kids were playing in various levels of dress. All and all it was a pretty productive Saturday!

Loving on his Baby

Lincoln and his baby-doll are getting more and more chummy. It's pretty cute how he takes care of her. This was just after she got up from her morning nap. Excited to be heading into the weekend!

If the Tutu Fits

I was working on a few things this morning and started thinking that I should go for a run, which led me to think about how worn out my running shoes are...thus compounding the misery of them. It then dawned on me that there was an easy fix for the worn out shoe problem...Kyle and I have been talking about getting new shoes for a while...so duh...go get some new shoes! I got the boys dressed and ready - Lincoln brought me the tutu and said he was wearing it today...sooo...loaded up and off to the running store we went. Otto napped in his carseat on the stroller the whole time we were there, Lincoln played with the toys that were very conveniently provided in the corner and it was a quick and easy choice and we were out the door, new shoes and fresh motivation in hand in no time! We finished a little earlier than I had anticipated and had some time to kill before we picked Nora up from school so we stopped at the playground, where Lincoln, still rocking his tutu was all over the place and Otto was quick to crawl and climb and take a few steps here and there as long as the right motivation was provided. This afternoon we took my new shoes for a spin while Nora rode her bike and the boys cruised in the stroller and thankfully Lincoln fell asleep...he needed it! We of course ran into a couple neighbors while we were out and I was all sweaty and gross - never fails! The rest of the day went pretty smoothly...bedtime was a little rocky thanks to that nap, but what else is new! All and all it was a pretty good day!

The Parking Lot

If you talk to Lincoln today there is one thing he's going to tell you about. He fell in the parking lot of the library and he scraped his knee. Then the train came. It dawned on me as I was watching his reaction to having scrapes on his knees that this is the first time he's ever really gotten them good - and not to belittle his discomfort but in the world of scraped knees his are pretty minor. "My knees are blooding!!" and as far as cleaning them up or getting near them no way! He finally let me put some neosporine wash on them but wasn't happy about it. While he was really stressed out about his newly disfigured legs I found his favorite baby-doll buddy and quickly/quietly added some "scrapes" to her knees. When she came out to check on him and help him feel better it didn't take long for him to notice she had fallen in the library parking lot too, and was feeling sad because she scraped her knees! WHOA! WHAT A COINCIDENCE! He quickly went to work helping to squirt some special cleaner on her "owies" and before we all knew it they were both feeling happy and ready to play! I love medical play at his age! It was awesome to see how quickly he played everything out and was ready to move on! No swimming today but we did make it to story-time this morning (if you didn't already figure that out!) Oh and in the vein of talking about kids dealing with things and such, the librarian introduced me to my new favorite kids book...seriously it's maybe the best I've ever read..."The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld. It is soooo good, I came home and ordered it (and 2 extras) immediately. Can't recommend it enough for parents of littles to read with and/or without them!

Post Up

Everyone on our street knows that Nora knows EVERYTHING that is going on. She knows when people come home (and greets them!) and she knows who is leaving their houses. She knows all of this because this is her favorite perch. She plays A LOT out on the porch, in the playroom, and in the backyard but when it comes to down time in between all of that playing, you'll usually find her here watching out the window and she LOVES to play out front because she can combine her two favorite things...playing and watching the neighborhood happenings! She is definitely far more outgoing and social than I am and sometimes it's hard to balance my wanting to be incognito with her wanting to be out and about and around all the people all the time!

Just Pop Some Corn

Screen time has been VERY limited around here lately but some days call for some Ellen with a side of popcorn snack. I'm pretty sure this was the only time today that these two were still all day. Lincoln's swim lessons were moved to tomorrow so I was able to get some stuff done around the house today. Monday in the books!