Tahoe Catch Up

Up next on our "it's not our spring break but it's yours" tour, 

we headed to Tahoe.

For the day. For one lovely day. 

In the same time it took to get to Napa, we were there, in all of it's winter-death glory.

It tried so hard to hang on to winter.

But spring was pushing her way in and the snow was melting,

by the minute, it seemed.

We could've made the drive just for the gondola ride.

Oh, hallelujah.

It might seem like I hadn't combed Fordy's hair.

And that's because I most surely had not. 

We're working on homeless-looking-child-number-two.

Here we were on the ride up. 

One happy mama, one silly girl.

I mean, one really silly girl.

And one peering boy…

I've looked at that view in that gondola more times than I can remember.

It makes me happy that they have now seen it too.

And once we arrived, they chose their teams. 

As usual, Ford and the older lady teamed up (whether she liked it or not!)

and he was smitten all over again, since Maine.

Abby and her pal Quincy got cozy….

...and we headed out to the sad state of affairs that was the snow.

White dirt was more like it.

But they were determined to built Olaf.

I'm not sure that happened….

but Fordy chased his shadow plenty.

But we got nice and wet and then this guy just would not keep his pants on.

He walked right up to the BBQ area in front of everyone and just stripped down.

Because they were wet, after all.

And why not? 

Super cool Spidey underwear is worth showing off. 

So, my dear friend was kind enough to take him on a tour while we waited for the others.

And after the kids watched a show (and promptly fell asleep for an hour, thank God)

and the mommys headed down to chat alone,

we got back on the gondola with these monkeys for some dinner.

Which was followed by cart racing.

And of course, Fordy won.

1213. the kindle staying charged

1214. no one on the winding road

1215. "our friends" mom

1216. learning what to ask

Napa Catch Up

We took a few road trips around spring break. 

We'd seek out our friends vacationing somewhat close by and hunt them down.

Napa was our first stop.

Too bad it was such a horrible location.

The kindle died on the way there (my sanity! the movie i downloaded!) but we still survived. We literally arrived, caught up, got lunch and headed out. It was not enough time. But it was glorious. And worth every traffic filled moment home. Napa! In Spring! With the Bowne clan! Nothing beats it.

Ford hanging with the big boys (and their air guns!)…

Secret-telling….

All the kids together at one of my all time favorite places : Gotts Roadside. May these children meet there every spring until then die. Amen.

1208. friends from afar coming near

1209. not losing anytime

1210. matchy match boys that we miss so much

1211. girls growing like weeds

1212. windows open at night

Catch Up On Ford

I've got it bad for our little guy right now.

He knows how to stop me in my tracks with a hug, a kiss….a look.

Or by whining for hours on end.

Either way, I'm smitten with this three year old.

"O Lord, you are my rock…"

Spidey climbs.

He takes horses galloping, galloping through the mud.

And makes mud pies.

He spins. And spins.

He puts up with Sissy's frozen (homemade) garb...

He finally has pals of his own...

And loves goggles.

And apparently shopping.

And pretending he's in London.

Or a doctor.

He's a crazy snuggler. A fierce scooter rider. A lover. A fighter. A sweet, tender, compassionate and easy going tough-guy. I love this guy's jam. Please remind me of this at 5pm tomorrow when I need to be reminded how to make the whining stop. We love you, Fordy!

1204. no wake up nights

1205. faces in the water during swimming

1206. coordinating schedels

1207. getting to the root of it

Catch-Up Part One

Oh, how many times have I admitted to neglecting you all, my blog people? 

Too many.

Too many to count.

So we shall recap once again….

and then forgive.

And move forward.

Again.

Bless your hearts.

There's so much to cover, so I'll just get started. 

Ah-hem….

This spring was glorious around these parts. 

And I mean, insanely glorious.

You can hardly tell, but look at this flowering plum tree.

These were everywhere.

With pink petals floating through the air like snow.

Mmmmmm.

And then there was this girl.

Still wearing those cowboy boots, nightgowns and ballet sweaters to the park.

I've quite fighting it.

She's also a crazy driver, as shown from Sloan's face.

Eeeeek!

And we went through a phase in the spring where these pumpkins (thanks, Grandmama!) went with us everywhere.  I still am not sure why…. but it was Halloween in March around here for awhile!

As the weather got warmer, we had a few lovely lunch time playdates with our next door neighbors. 

The fairies left a Frozen present - the movie! 

Just when singing Let It Go in the car wasn't enough.

This guy got potty trained.

Even at night.

3 days and it was done.

Bam.

Like a boss.

And mama is so very thankful.

There were a few trips to the lake with the cousins before the snakes came out to play...

The littles played in the water….

The boys made a mud house...

Maybe it was the nice weather.

Maybe it was the longer days.

But there were many, many afternoons of plain ole Tom Foolery with these four.

More to come….

1199. no a/c needed even with hot weather

1200. getting muddy and not caring

1201. remembering that I'm not doing it right

1202. mercy to start over

1203. church family

Ford Turns 3!

I remember reading, before I had kids, that some lunatic had let their 3 year old do something ridiculous. Like let them jump off a desk onto a beanbag, let them hang from a way-up-too-high-bar at the playground or let them fly around the driveway on a scooter at way too fast a speed.

And this week, I remembered that article.

At the time, I thought, "Three! Who would let a three year old hang out alone while they take a shower! The trouble they could cause! To others! Themselves!"

And now I realize that you've spent 3 years with this small person

who really couldn't do much on their own.

And now they can.

So you let them.

You let them jump off your desk onto a beanbag. 

You let them hang from a way-up-too-high-bar at the playground

You let them run fly around the driveway on a scooter at way too fast a speed.

Because now they can.

Now he can.

Ford is three.

And he's crazy and wild and snuggly and just hardly starting to have a 3 year old attitude.

And he loves Spiderman.

And pretending he's asleep

and silly

and giggly...

So at his first-ever-party, which was Spiderman themed 

(even sissy dressed up unsolicited)...

webs were spun...

(sometimes it takes two hands to get the web hand just right…)

Friends in glasses came (two friends! of his own!)...

Grandparents stopped by….

female siblings were included...

the most amazing cupcakes got eaten…

And we spent the rest of the time at Ford's favorite place :

the park.

Wildflowers were picked...

the gang even posed...

Superwoman mastered the "hang"….

and lots and lots of minutes were logged on the tire swing,

his favorite.

I'm so blessed to be this boy's mama.

I've heard people say that before and it seems so…. obvious.

But it's really true.

We love this kid to pieces.

All three years of him.

1195. a cupcake courrier

1196. a job that lets him be the pizza courier

1197. windy but cool weather for the party

1198. and therefore, all alone at the park