{Sunshine}

today was beautiful.
we even saw 77 on the thermometer....what?!?!?!?!:)
it was glorious from beginning to end.
a get outside and play kind of day.

and play we did.

have a happy day,

cindy

{thankful for}
1. sunshine (i think i've been using that one a lot lately)
2. a trampoline in our yard
3. a good hat and sunglasses
4. ice cold water in a stainless steel cup
5. clouds

Sweet Simple Tuesday

the big girls slept in again today
which gave Aubrey and I a bit of morning play time alone

it was really nice

and quiet

do you know that my 13 month old has a MOLAR!!

she was acting fussy

and I kept checking for teeth

but I never thought to look in the back?!?!?

silly mommy

sweet smile huh...but it wasn't for me...

her sister just came down

the morning quickly got kicked up a notch or two

with some good ol' dancing to VBS music

those tunes are absolutely the best

and can turn any day around

after swimming lessons we went to McDonalds for lunch

because the Happy Meals have 

Littlest Pet Shop toys of course

I apologize for the rather blurry picture of Aubrey

but do you know how hard it is to catch her blowing kisses???

she loves playing in the basement 

with all of the "Big Girl Toys"

you can guess where a lot of them end up....

but she could play down there forever

if i would let her

after a quick bath

we headed out for haircuts

aren't they cute??

and then off for another night of VBS

Hope you had a sweet simple Tuesday too

Enjoy the night

Time Has Flown

It seems like only yesterday we were here

excited about the first day of school

ready to meet our new teachers

ready to make new friends

ready for new adventures

and ready for so much more

and now...

we are here

 at the end of second grade and kindergarten

looking a little older 

(yikes!)

a little wiser

{notice the flip-flops...I am a big "keep your feet protected" kind of mom...they begged me all year to wear flip-flops like their friends, we compromised...they got one day and one day only...the last day of school!}

and a little ready for some much needed fun and relaxation

at home

It was a wonderful day

filled with fun, games and friends

but there was some sadness too

You see...we had wonderful teachers this year

teachers that helped our little angels grow and nurtured them so dearly

we were so lucky!!

our end of the school year tradition includes a dinner out at a restaurant of their choice

so we ended up here (2nd year in a row!)

{see all the birds nests in the sign??}

We had a wonderful dinner 

we  talked about our summer ahead, played endless games of I-Spy,

and enjoyed being together

We went out for ice-cream afterwards

and in the car ride home Janey said, 

"You two are the best parents a girl could ever want!"

Wow...talk about making our day!

so...our summer begins tomorrow...

come back for our summer list, our first official "Craft Wednesday" and a surprise dinner...wow I feel tired already!:)

see ya then!

Sweet Simple Day

Yesterday was such a sweet and simple day.  It started with a quiet morning of playtime with Aubrey while the girls were at school.   I know the quiet mornings  in the house are quickly going to be replaced with chatter and activity...trying to savor the last few days of it. She is starting to cruise along the furniture and even let go of things to stand for a split. second.   I love watching their feet when they are learning to stand!  Is that strange...anyone else share in this simple joy with me?  I love to watch them as they flex and tighten to try and keep their balance...their little toes curling...

simply adorable

Then we were treated to a late morning puppet show at Riley's school.   I have to say, she made the CUTEST Little Red Riding Hood I have ever seen...but I guess I am a little biased!

simply impressive

Then, I found these two little goodies in my mailbox.  Does anyone else heart Pottery Barn Catalogs???  I hardly ever order anything...but I still love getting them and flipping through page after endless page of design inspiration.

simply beautiful

After lunch with Janey, Aubrey went down for a nap and Janey and I did some work in the basement play room.  I guess it was all the inspiration from the  PB catalogs!  We organized the art area and we were both pretty pleased with our work.  Janey's idea was to make cute little labels for the drawers full of art supplies...I love that girl!

simply organized

{big plans for this space this summer...but that's a whole other post....}


Janey spent about an hour playing with her new friend Splash.  He needed a  home and some goodies to eat and play with.  Riley made one too...a dog named Cody...but he fell victim to the hands and mouth of Aubrey...sorry Cody!


simply creative

Next, I spent two wonderful hours alone getting my hair colored.  Reading magazines I never normally read and enjoying the quiet.  Not to mention losing that grey strip down the top of my head!
{lucky for you no photo here} :)


simply alone

Finally, we spent the evening outside with our friends enjoying some ice-cream and watching the kids play.

simply together

I'd say all of that makes for a pretty sweet and simple day.
Hope you had a simply beautiful Tuesday too!

Not Your Ordinary Friday

One of the things I love most about being a stay at home mom, is the flexibility I have to attend a lot of the girls special school activities.  (having a wonderful hubby who comes home to watch Aubrey so I can go helps too...thanks babe!;) )  My heart goes out to all those moms who work outside the home, who would love to go to more things, but just can't!  On Friday I went with Janey and her class on a field trip to a great park nearby.  We were searching for frogs and other pond life.  It was so peaceful to walk around and hear the birds chirping and be right. smack. dab. in the middle of nature for an hour or more!  I love outdoor field trips, especially the ones where the kids have to be quiet to sneak up on what they are looking for..something about 20 kindergartners tiptoeing through the mud that can make anyone smile!

{fast moving very blurry action shot during a game of catch that fly!}

I wish I had gotten better pictures or had someone take a picture of us :(

But I did get this one...

can you see that bullfrog hiding in there....?

After the field trip I rushed to Riley's school to meet Dave, gave him a quick kiss goodbye, nursed Aubrey in the parking lot and then got ready for Riley's "Bring a Friend to Lunch Day" at school! 

Again, a beautiful middle-of-the-day-moment spent outside with my girls!

{We do not typically have Doritos and Cheetos for lunch...

it was a special picnic after all...

thanks for packing our yummy lunch sweetie!}

Looks like Aubrey enjoyed hers too!

burying a collection of special sticks they found

good-bye hugs!

{Notice the bubble blowing practice going on!?}

What really touched me most about that day was that with all of her friends around calling her to play, Riley choose to play with her sister!  She really included her in everything, took her with her everywhere and just spent time with her, JUST HER!   She made Janey feel so special that afternoon and I am again reminded how much I love these three little girls of mine! I hope they will grow-up to be the best of friends!