...Sunshine...

Makes me happy! I really do LOVE it!

And I appreciate it so much more after a long winter and spring that felt like it would never really get here. But alas, it is spring and the sunshine and warmer weather seem to be here to stay. 

 

We have spent as much time outside as possible.

The kids love to look for frogs and tadpoles.  We have a little stream that runs behind the house and makes the perfect place to hunt for these creatures!  Not my favorite thing to do, but I try to be a good sport because they LOVE it so much!  We have a little tank in the backyard where they can keep their frogs for 3 days, then they must be returned to their home.  I have given in and broken the 3 day rule for the tadpoles.  I mean how else are you going to see them turn into frogs if you put them back in the water after only 3 days. We even had to by food for the little boogers!

They are so excited to have their first frog of the season!

Warmer weather also means lots of ice cream!

Ice cream from the ice cream man and our favorite

ice cream shop on the way home from school!

...lunches and afternoon snackes on the porch with momma...

...football and games of catch in the backyard with daddy...

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...this new season also means reading glasses for my girl...

This one took me by surprise, although it probably shouldn't have, she had been complaining of headaches for a while after school. I chalked it up to reading on the bus, being tired, you name it, but I was wrong (this doesn't happen often), she needed reading glasses. Katie picked them out herself and she loves them!  Adroable!!!

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I like to think of May as my own special month.

Not only is my birthday in May, but it is also Mother's Day!

I'll take any excuse to celebrate a special day!

 

I got to celebrate Mother's Day with Luke's Pre-K class. We had a lovely brunch.  Luke was the perfect little host! He brought me a plate of fruit and a scone and carefully gave me a glass of lemonade.  It was a special morning with my little man!

He even made me a beautiful vase of flowers!!

I am so thankful for Katie, John, & Luke

"My greatest blessings, call me Mom."

 

...Spring...

...in the North County...

...is nothing like the spring I remember growing up...

Spring meant it was time to break out the flip flops and shorts, and while it wasn't always warm enough for a swim suit, it wasn't exactly unheard of.  I assure you, no one was busting out a pair of flip flops or a swim suit this far north on the first day of spring!!!

It was this week 15 years ago that Donnie and I met on our respective Spring Break trips in Florida.  That night at Harpoon Harry's in Panama City Beach changed my life forever.  "Yes, I do believe in love at first sight!"  We celebrated 13 years of wedded bliss with a romantic dinner.  Cheers!!!

March 18, 2013

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Donnie has been home for a little over a month.  For the most part, I think we have settled back into our family groove.  He has made an effort to spend special one on one time with each of us.  That has meant special days shopping, gaming, trying new things, and going out to eat at special places. 

 

This week Katie got to spend an afternoon learning to shoot a bow, or as John says, "Katie went bowing!"  Something I think that each kiddo wants to learn to do with their Dad.

Luke has been celebrating Dr. Suess this month at school. And after reading Oh, the Places You'll Go, his teachers asked them what they wants to be when they grow up.  It is no surprise to me that Luke wants to be a Dad when he grows up.   In fact, I am pretty sure he wants to be just like his Daddy! Luke you will be a wonderful dad one day!

Donnie has played catch and done just about whatever the kids have asked him to do on those rare days when it warms up a bit.  So even after a month home, the new hasn't worn off. Dad is still AWESOME! He is WAY cooler than Mom, and makes everything SO much more fun than I do! And the best part of the kids thinking Donnie is better than me is that I get more time to do what I want to do!

 I sure hope the kind of spring I know and love is around the corner, but I am not holding my breath. I just checked the forecast and snow is predicated for at least two days!