simple things...

a picture from my garden this week

may day

This weekend we enjoyed the weather and spending time together. Perfect weekend for a bonfire last night with friends, dinner today with family, planting flowers and enjoying a little pool I picked up for the girls at Target. I just love how a 14.99 pool can bring laughter and fun. Looking forward to all the fun this summer.

sisters

this afternoon in our backyard our girls were playing and i caught this picture. we played with the neighborhood friends, and collected treasures from outside. the girls and our 2 boys next door caught a caterpillar and made him his own little home. they also got the hose out and must have played for on hour squirting each other. it was fun to watch them play in this gorgeous spring weather. we have been busy lately and i have been terrible about posting updates but we are enjoying the weather and each other. just another couple weeks of school and then in june we go on vacation to lake michigan. can't wait. oh the fun.

afternoon fun

happy mothers day

being a mother

Being a mother has changed me in ways I never knew it would. What I didn't know 8 years ago that I know now...
1) That I wouldn't mind going without new clothes to find something for them. Sometimes I go shopping for me and can't resist something for them.
2) Having another child really does just make your heart bigger to love. I didn't have to share my love there is just more of it now.
3) I didn't know how much I would worry. I worry about the school bus ride, being made fun of, riding their bikes, eating healthy meals, learning to read and learn, and on and on.
4) I didn't know how much I would learn. Having two little girls has taught me a lot. I think having two teenage daughters will teach me a lot too.
5) I did learn to have a lot more respect for my own mother after becoming a mother. I realized how much she gave us and how hard she worked for my sister and I.
6) I didn't realize how seeing my husband as a father would change me. He is wonderful to them and patient and teaches me too.
7) I love my little gifts so much and thank God for you Paige and for you Laine. You are special and wonderfully made. Thank you for making me a Mother.

briarclaire etsy shop

have you seen this cute etsy shop???? Visit briar.claire for the cutest hair bows, headbands, and hair clips. 2 moms who opened a etsy shop to help save for their adoption funds.

science fair 2009

Hubby and Paige worked on the science fair project for this year. He helped her with a series circuit electrical something or other. Seriously, I really have no idea what it does or how it works. My second grader was explaining what she learned. All I really heard was "bla bla bla blaaaaa, bla bla bla bla bla blaaaaa, bla, bla". She was proud of the work and we were proud of her. I'm thankful for hubby helping her this year. Being an Electrical Engineer this was right up his ally. Now I know how my husband feels when I try to explain my medical terms and he just shakes his head and pretends he is listening. I'm thinking of next years science idea already.

potty issues

Last weekend we drove to a cute little town for some family time and a tulip festival. It is about 1 1/2 hours from our house and our first mistake was giving Laine a sippy cup full of juice on our way there. Then she asked for more to drink and I had snacks for the day and handed her a juice box....bad idea.

So about 1 hour into the trip in middle of nowhere (we had just passed a little town and 15 minutes till the next one) she reports....."I HAVE TO GO POTTY" and she was squeezing her little legs together as tight as she could. I told her to hold it and we would find her a potty.

So about another minute down the road she appears desperate and I realize she is not going to make it another 10 minutes. I tell hubby to pull over and we get out. I tried to act excited about peeing on the side of the road. "Laine, you get to go potty on the grass" "No mommy". Just as her little tush is sticking out a truck drives by with some teenage boys and beeping the horn and laughing. Laine was now not about to pee on the side of the road. "I just can't do it here" she tells me.

So back in the car we get and drive again. Thankfully we make it to the next town and pull into a gas station. Jeff parks the car and I tell Laine "come on let's go potty" Laine's eyes get big and she stares at me then says "i have to pee on that sidewalk?"

we love spring