Memorial Day

Memorial Day is my favorite time for hikes and we found one we'd never been on this year.  It ended out being more of a walk but it was a side of the city we've never seen before which was a plus.  When we got back we ended out watching a movie and had ourselves a little barbecue.  It was a beautiful day full of dandelion blowing, walking, wild flower picking, snuggling, and eating.  Because of all the changes in schedule, lack of seeing friends, and a healthy daily dose of Harry Potter Audrey has stopped sleeping. Today was a welcome reprieve from being in the house and a good start to summer, here's hoping it's a good start to getting back into what used to be normal. 

I'm so grateful for this day with my family and for those who make it possible every day by protecting the our rights and freedom. 

 

 

Mother's Day

This Mother's day was one of my best, both Audrey and Paul wrote me the sweetest notes.  My heart was full. There is so much love in this home and Paul and Audrey bring me more joy than I could have ever imagined.  They are my everything! I reverenced this day even more that usual this year knowing what brought me here and what a gift it is to be a Mother.  It is all I have ever wanted to be and next year I'll be a Mom to two girls.  I still cry when I think about it.  

One my favorite things to do with Audrey is read. We've been on so many adventures together.  Paul bought me the illustrated version of Harry Potter for Mother's day.  Audrey won't let me put them down.  We've enjoyed every minute. 

A very happy Mother's day to all the women in my life.  Each of you have each touched me or Audrey for good and I love you for it!     

A Birthday

I had a birthday and got older.  Paul spoiled me.  I mentioned I wanted a scooter and he got me one, along with a whole lot of nail polish which has been put to good use by both Audrey and myself.  My nails have never been so amazing!  Audrey gave me the sweetest hug and a game to play with her.  She's the best a Mom could ask for.  I don't know anyone more thoughtful.

I'm no longer walking after Audrey to keep up, I get to ride in style.  Audrey gets mad because she says mine is faster.  Maybe I should switch her so that we are more evenly paced, but I like the idea of going faster than I should.  For those of you who are worried about the baby, I'll spare you and I do my best to not go so fast as to fall and give myself and the kid unnecessary pain.  I think my dog has done more damage in the time since my birthday than the scooter has.  Happy Birthday to me!  Other than some of the crazy going on in the world, this has been a beautiful year worth remembering and worth being grateful for.  

A Play Date

 Right in the middle of corona crazy, before Easter Audrey was complaining that she felt alone and had no one.  While I'd like to think that I'm enough, I'm not and never will be for an only child who been cooped up inside.  She missed play dates, gymnastics, activity days, and church with her friends.  

At that point I talked with one of my friends and asked if she'd be okay with a 10 feet apart play date.  It was the best thing we did....and continued to do for the girls.  They sat and drew for hours and then we took a walk together.  It was such a beautiful day, for more than one reason.  Audrey mentioned after it was all over that it was the best day we've had in a long time.  I would have to agree.   

Games

Audrey has taken a sudden interest in board games.  During this long period at home with nothing to do after school we've done a lot of game playing.  More recently she has decided that she would prefer to make her own.  This one was a game devoted to saving the princess with a knight, a witch, and a battle dame included.  She never ceases to amaze me with her creativity, it has sustained us through the long days. So far she has rewritten Alice in Wonderland as a play which Paul and I have taken part in acting out,  built an airport security check point for her figurines, created plays starring barbies for her barbies to watch, and read countless books. She has also written countless stories, had a few melt downs (haven't we all), taken countless walks and scooter rides with me, had a few water fights, learned a little about archery which prompted her to make her own bow and arrows, and made dozens of versions of hopscotch.   Together we grew tiny plants with seeds and made a garden that seems to be doing fairly well and added some flowers to our flower bed.  Over all I feel like we have done our best to stay sane during the crazy over the last few months.  We look forward to hopefully a long beautiful summer in the sun ahead of us.  Nothing brings more smiles than the sun and spending more time outside.