Miss you already...

Although I needed a day away...it doesn't take long for me(us) to miss you. 

Thought of you when...

When I reached in my pockets to empty them out at security and out came the piece of gum you gave us before we left so our ears don't pop.

When I saw these clouds and remember you saying you wanted to go hi up in the clouds when you were swinging.

When we used some of the ice cream cone bank money to buy some mints

(I treated myself to a quiet lunch) 

When we arrived to NOLA your dad and I wished we could ride the trolley with you.

(I couldn't even take a picture of one)

Instead of a trolley I walked. Boy did it feel nice to just watch where I was stepping for a change...but I missed you and went shopping for you instead of myself...if that means anythjng. 

When we saw a pampake place but went to DaisyDukes for dinner dreaming of the day that we would take you both here again. (The next day we had to find the perfect breakfast, and we did and the pampakes and they were so so good)

I saw this furry fella and it made me wonder about the 10 caterpillars held captivity in our bathroom. 

When I was on an adventure by myself I had a flood of memories of us as a family on this trip...and am so thankful for those moments.

Loius Armstrong park at the end of this street...

Someday we hope to take you on more adventures to cities that will give us memories that will last a life time...and will make us miss each other a little "whittle" bit.

Best dad...

You two sure do love your dad! 

Why wouldn't you? He's the fun one...and fun is just what we had this weekend. Our raised beds may be a mound of dirt, the hops might grow a mind of their own, the grass will grow where it's not suppose to, our fence will be a new shade of grey...but we won't remember any of that! 

But we will remember...

An hour of fun with our favorite basketball player...and Paige too!

Family sandwiches in bed with mustard

A day full of four different friends to play with

First s'mores of spring

(And little burn...that will be a lesson learned?)

First catch of the fishing season after a 20 to 30 minute wait...followed by 6 others

Julia doing what you do

(Yes, you wore that dress last night and it smelled like smoke...and now fish)

Drew joined us and was super helpful

First catfish of the season

Two happy kids...that kept on going and going and going. 

When we got home you chose to be a little more helpful to earn back some fishing time and bird houses

I got to do some weeding and planting...with a couple helpers with short attention stands

Dad promised...

Keeping a check on things the following day

And finally the weekend was finished on Tuesday...complete with a visit from your very own Cardinal bird in your room! 

16/52

Jacob, this is what you brought home from school on Friday. You were so proud of your creation that you had to take it over to our friends house to keep working on it. Dad won't ever forget it, as long as he's doing work in his laptop.

One minute you are yelling at me about something that has to do with the clothes you are wearing...the next minute you are making me sand pies at the library saying "you're the best mom!"

Remember when...

We love how you bust out remember when's on a daily basis, Julia!

Today, while getting ready to head to preschool you said...

"Remember when you forgot my backpack two times?" 

Really. You won't let me off the hook for all the other times you had it? 

So. Let's just say you remember a lot. 

Here are some of your Remember when(s)...

-we had that white sauce at Danielle's house

-we fed the baby kitten the bottle

-we didn't eat food all day when we went camping

-I want to go see Herman and eat some cherries...they have the best restaurants that gives you cherries

Jacob, you talk the most with your dad before bed. Hopefully, I can get some more time in with you this summer before it's too late and hanging with your mom isn't cool. 

Some of my favorite remember when(s)...

-you pull my arm by your side and want me to stay and have lunch with you at school every Thursday (I'm so lucky)

-you are most affectionate when you are tired (I used to be the same way) You pull us in close and sneak us an kiss on the cheek or lips if we aren't prepared! 

Feels like spring when...

We pack up the scooter and bike and head out on the trails...some day soon I'll need a bike to keep up (by the way Julia...you do so well on th scooter, sorry I caused you to fall today)

Baby animals are at our friend's houses...thank goodness they are not at ours! 

the trees are coated in white blossoms and your clothes are coated with grass stains and faces are coated in dirt

We can turn week nights in to fun times with friends and neighbors (because it's not dark yet) 

Stephanie invites us for a swim and you two come back with rootbeer

It becomes a worm hunt while burying the lizard! RIP...what died? 

Seconds later, "look a butterfly!" And you were off chasing it and back to digging for more worms

"Click"

You come home with a new dress for the season! 

Rain is in the forecast and there's a good chance of a rainbow! 

We take walks to meet friends at parks

A sunny day like today mixed with a little rain makes it a great spring day! 

15/52

This is THE dress that you wore 5 out of the last seven days! In order to get to church on time we had to pull it out of the dirty laundry...thankfully you appreciated it smelling clean after the wash and promised to wear a different dress in the am. 

You asked for pumpkin bread...and we made it, and you ate it. You don't usually make requests for sweets, so I figured we better tackle this one together. 

A sunny day together

We had a great day together!

Good old fashioned box fun, along with a game of kickball, bike/scooter ride, hockey, and a pancake as big as your head. It was pretty low key and the perfect way to start off our season of adventures. 

It was no "uncle buck" pancake and so thankful I didn't spend the money to take you out! You guys barely took 5 bites and were more excited about the lime chips for snack. Looks like cereal in a bowl with milk will do it for me the rest of the spring if it does it for you!