InstaFriday

A view of our week as captured through my phone, 

though not necessarily "instagrammed" shots.

 

 A beautiful mess.

 Teaching his sister to blow dandelions.

 She nearly got it!  Although, eating them was much more fun.

 Hop on Pop!

 Getting into the nightly routine.  She loves to do this herself.

Doesn't love it so much when mom has to take over...

 Sunday science!

Fun with baking soda and colored vinegar.

Seen on Pinterest.

 Love dirty toes!!

This was hard for him.  He was so reluctant to get in the mud.  

I was so proud. :)

 Ugh... Really?

 My favorite view (our bedroom window) from my favorite spot (the rocking chair) at my favorite time of day (early evening) with my favorite companions (shown below.)

 After-bath story time.

Warm, clean, snuggly kids.  My favorite.

 "Good Morning, Mom!  I made a mess while I was waiting for you to wake up."

 Bringing the beauty of spring indoors.

I love a flowering cherry.

 Birthday picnic for daddy!

We had to have it in the dining room on a cold, rainy Wednesday.

We had watermelon, sea salt chips, and monte cristos.

I highly recommend them. Nom, nom, nom.

 I knew the moment I saw these bad boys on Pinterest, they would be mine.

Chocolate chip cookie bottom, Orea middle (or Reese's cup. or caramel), brownie top.

Sinfully served warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

Happy birthday, baby.

 Hair before.

 Snip, snip!

 Hair after!

 Donating 13 inches to Children with Hairloss, a Michigan-based

organization that creates free hair pieces for children.

 Kitty Samwich.

Converse love!

I can't believe how big my little boy's feetsies are getting already.

Hope you had a beautiful week!

Linking up with:

Volcano!

This is from a couple of weeks ago - just realized I didn't post it!  We bought a volcano kit from Joann Fabrics for half off after Christmas.  It was tough on the not-so-patient child because you have to pour the volcano cement into the mold and let it dry overnight.  It was further torture on him because our days got busy and we waited until the weekend to make it explode (er... runneth over?) This kit was so cool because as the cement dried, it actually turned colors!  The mountain was a bright red and the crevasses for the lava stayed a greenish-gray. How cool is that?  It was a fun surprise after pouring in the gray mix. Bug had a great time doing this project all by himself!

 Adding the baking soda.

 Measuring the correct amount of water.

 Pouring in the citric acid.

 Special effects!

 And a dab of dish soap.

 Watch the magic!

 Let's do it again!

 Getting a bit more "hands-on".

A fun rainy day afternoon!

Garden Stones

Every year since Bug was born, we've made a garden stone.  I'm not sure how long they'll tolerate their crazily sentimental mother doing hand or footprints, but you can bet I'm hoping it's for many years to come. 

 2008: This one is of Bug's little baby hand inside of his dad's.  

It's getting hard to see.  Time has worn it a bit.  Makes me rethink actually leaving them outside...

 2009: My hand with Bug's.

 2010: Bug's toddler hands as a butterfly.

2011:  Bug and Button's hands.  Button's baby foot.

Thinking of something cute for 2012.

Any ideas?

InstaFriday

A view of our week as captured through my phone, 

though not necessarily "instagrammed" shots.

Posting two weeks worth of iPhotos because I missed last week.

And because I can.

Franklin Institute in Philadelpha!  

We got to see their dinosaur exhibit the day before it closed.

The grandparents were in town to join in the fun (and help with the chasing!)

Mix Master B

Cheeeeeeesteaks.

It was a battle - who had the better cheesesteak: Pat's or Geno's.

What?? No chicken option?? Boooo! 

(I've been beef and pork free for ten years.)

For those that tried them, Pat's was the big winner!

I had to settle for Wawa's new California Something or Other sandwich.  

It was delicious.

Craaaaaabs.

This is Ms. Crabby at Crabby Dick's.

She's got the life.

I have an asparagus!!

(What is it about me and food this week?)

Too bad I left it on the porch all night after I plucked it.

Limp asparagus. :-(

Another day at the office.

I'm amazed by my son's lego-building abilities.

He rocks.

She adores her daddy.

Some "Bunny" loves you!

Mmm... loving all things ombre lately. Had to try it with the eggs.

I likey.

Happy face!  

I think this is my favorite easter egg of all time.

So tiny for so little time.  

I cherish baby hands (and feet.)

The egg aftermath.

Going Glam!

She thinks she's cute.

So do I.

Me and my girl.

Flowering trees make me so happy.

 The mobile I made for Button.
Sometimes it looks so dramatic.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Linking up with:

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Well, we tried anyway... seems mom and dad need to take a few lesson in kite flying.  The dang thing wouldn't stop in the air very long and the wind was perfect.  The kids didn't seem to mind, though.  They loved it.

Catching Up

I've been gone a while... even missed InstaFriday last week and I love sharing my iPhotos!  After having our awful illness and trying to catch back up on life in general, I seem to have lost my mojo for blog updates.  I have some fun pics to share from the weekend.  I promise more soon!  Until then, peace, love, and happiness.

That smiley face on the bottom... that's happiness.

:-)

First Soccer Practice

He's so adorable in his little shin guards and cleats.  I love sports at this age - all eagerness, chaos, and cuteness.  I mean, seriously...

Down and Out

Illness struck like a... like a... like I can't even describe. Oh, if you have a weak stomach, you can leave now. 

It all started with the little man on Friday night.  I was making dinner, he was just through helping me cut tomatoes, when he said his stomach hurt.  Then, bam!  All over the kitchen!  I was a wreck at home alone (dad had to work late), as I tried to help Bug and somewhat clean up while sister was crying from being scared and determined to walk through it.  He was so sad, hollering "mommy, mommy, mommy" from the bathroom as I tried diligently to put his sister to bed before he got sick again.  His dad had no idea what he was coming home to.  He took care of Bug while I finished bedtime, but Bug was quick to tell him he didn't hold the washcloth on his head right... Guess I spoiled him a bit.  He slept with me that night and the poor dear would look at me, glassy-eyed, and say "I don't like this part, mom."  It really tugged my heartstrings.  He was A-okay by Saturday morning, just tired from being up all night, thank goodness because we both had to work and it would have been very tough to get out of it.  His nanny gave him great snuggles until I could pick them up.  We skipped the first soccer game of the season, which was scheduled for that morning.

Then the girl got it on Sunday.night.  We were driving... One second, she's singing along in the car, the next she's something out of poltergeist.  This was a new one for me - a child who couldn't warn me.  The first time Bug got sick, he was able to talk.  She can not.  She handled it so well.  She would play like nothing was wrong until the next time she got sick.  We decided the best way to handle nighttime would be to put her in bed with me on towels, which I would just change throughout the night.  It worked very well and by about 3 or 4 am, I truly haven't a clue what time it was, I'm just gauging by how (little) sleep we got, she was sitting up, her little lips smacking in thirst.  I nursed her and she was good.  Absolutely a ray of sunshine the next morning.

Her dad and I both got it at about the same time this morning and THANK GOODNESS his parents are visiting!!  I haven't a clue what I would have done with the kids and the two of us in a horrible condition all day.  They took the kids to the Wintherthur Gardens, to lunch, to soccer practice, and to dinner, bringing them home just in time for bed.  Saviors, they were.

I don't tell this for any reason other than to give my new-parent friends some ideas on how to cope with sick little ones.  They like cold cloths on their forehead, the towels on the bed worked well for Button since she couldn't give warning, they like to be as close to mom as possible and you WILL get sick, too, so plan on a backup if you think you'll need help when you're ill. This too shall pass (I'm just finding not as quickly with adults as with little ones.  They must have magic blood.)

That's about enough sitting up for me at the moment.  I'm back to bed.