Things she loves lately...

Ladybugs.

And these adorable little white grubs.

 Writing her name.

Drawing self portraits.

 And bird families.

Sunbathing.
And snack time.

Picking flowers.
And smelling them too.

Her princess hat.
And rhinestones.

Swinging.
With her Daddy.

Easter 2010

I regret that I totally forgot to take pictures of the Easter baskets. I made them all super cutesy and everything.  Not that any of you were actually looking forward to seeing what the Easter bunny brought my kids. But they did get some fun stuff...princess hat with rhinestones, Nike hat, purple sunglasses, Princess and the Frog DVD, princess puzzle book, jump rope, recorder, harmonica, little basketball, mini doodle pad, and some other little odds and ends.

These pictures are from the after dinner Easter egg hunt...

Note the foot ware of choice. :) He insisted.

Not so much hunting, but definitely handsome.

The stuffing of the bunny marshmallows and whoppers begins. She didn't really "hunt" for eggs after she figured out what was in each one. She just ate them as she found them. Somehow I knew this might happen so I only put 3 marshmallows and maybe 1 Whopper in each egg. My husband helped me fill some of the eggs and she was pleasantly surprised when she found some had 10 or so jammed in there (thanks honey).  :)

See I filled this one! Just sayin...

Watching sis for a minute. :)

Happily searching and filling his basket/bucket. He quickly got the hang of it.

"Cheeeeeeese"

Easter girl and me.

Her basket.

His basket.

Teaching him that there are great "prizes" inside. He was very happy to learn this (thank goodness for big sisters). And then of course, enjoying every last one.

A little twirl. Just for good measure.

Happy (late) Easter!

Overall it was a very memorable Easter. The Church service was awesome. We got to see Josh Turner perform and that was fun. And Hannah got to see Miss Patty Cake.  :) It was the first Easter we've ever celebrated on our own with the kids. We usually celebrate with my In-laws and have a scrumptious dinner at my husband's Aunt and Uncle's house. For our Easter dinner we had ham, bourbon-glazed sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, brussels sprouts, and (my all time favorite) home made rolls. We had coconut cupcakes for dessert.

p.s.
A big thanks to Auntie Erin for the super cute Easter outfits!

Dandelions

 I love dandelions. I think they are a pretty weed. I never thought I would use the word "pretty" and "weed" in the same sentence. Is it because I don't have a yard yet? :)

"Ooooo you found a good one buddy! Now what?" I say.

 Oh yes, of course!  Blow!
This makes for good birthday-candle-blowing practice.
Because this little man is going to be 2 in a couple months! :)

 Hmmm. This ones not working very well.

Try again!

Little closer maybe?

This works too.

Or give it a shake, just make sure you close your eyes. 

You never know where those darn seeds might fly.

  Happiness at last! 

June 18th

My husband bought our plane tickets! And the countdown has begun.  On June 18th we- the kids, my sweet Grandma (who volunteered to fly over here to help me finish up the packing and cleaning and fly back with me just to help with the kids on the plane!!) and myself are flyin out of Nashville and into Seattle. My grandma will fly back home and the kids and I (and Alex- once he gets to Seattle to join us) are staying a month or so at my in-laws. (How gracious are they?!) My husband doesn't start his post-doc until August 16th so we will move down to the Portland area in early August. (more about post-doc info here) We get to take the easy way out while Alex and his Dad (who also volunteered to help) will be driving 10 hour days across the country. Nice guys right there. I don't envy them though.

I took this sunrise shot (from the porch!) when we were at my in-laws house for Christmas.  And because Seattle is on pacific time (which is 2 hours earlier than Tennessee) my kids always seem to get me up just in time to see it.  I also just wanted to show you what we get to wake up too. I'm not excited or anything. :)

We're literally counting the days now....not necessarily excited about the whole process of packing and moving again (it seriously feels like we just got settled in here), but to start this next chapter of our life. I've packed my first box, northwest here we come!!!

Wordless Wednesday. Spring!

Happy Spring! :)

99 things...

I saw this on a friend of a friend's blog and thought it would be fun to do myself. A little "about me" stuff if you will...:)

Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii-Maui, twice. :)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm- Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables- Does herbs and strawberries count?I will when I have a yard.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight 

22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon- Id like too.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing- on a fake wall- not the same I know. Same Idea though..
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted -pencil drawing.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- Maui again. *sigh*
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class- No but I really want too!
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 

62. Gone whale watching- Does watching from the shore count?
63. Got flowers for no reason- He loves me.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check -once.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- Trolls. Don't laugh. :)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job- Does not getting called back to babysit again count?
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone- My pinky toe- Back walk over in a public bathroom is not a good idea.
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle- Many times. And Id like to own one too. Someday.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper- It was a tether-ball action shot. 4th grade champ. ;)
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- a fish.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous- John Elway.
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Bubba's buzz cut

 Cute, but totally shaggy. 
Come to think of it, my husband might need a haircut soon too.

 I am generally anti-candy for wee ones. But In the case of needing a toddler to sit still for 10 minutes, I will do whatever it takes. I actually gave him a sucker to tide him over the last time I buzzed him and it worked wonders. Too bad hes got more teeth this time around and decided to chew it instead.  So it was gone in less than two minutes.

And two minutes of buzzing was about all he could handle. He cried, and I felt bad. 
But I couldn't let him run around half buzzed! Or could I?

 
He looks so grown up now. Its amazing how something like a simple haircut can transform what I consider my "baby" into a 21 month old little boy. I'm not sure If I'm ready for him to grow up.