SNIPPETS.

Nick and I attended a wedding last night. Which means we had a babysitter. For eight hours. It was awesome.

Things around here have been so busy lately. I am juggling many different things on my plate as of late, and this is the season where Nick's business really picks up. Even more from where it's already been. Some days it feels like I am a single mother. And some days it just feels like we're tag teaming all day. Needless to say its exhausting. Good. But exhausting.

The wedding last night was beautiful. It always chokes me up a little bit to see two souls so in love. So happy. So in awe about what the future holds. But two things happened yesterday that pain me. One....I forgot to have someone take a picture of Nick and I. It takes a small miracle, like a wedding, to lure me out of my yoga pants. Last night I rocked a new dress, and my man cleaned up pretty nice too. If only I had a picture to prove it. Bummer. And two...I was talking to a friend I haven't seen in a long while, and we had a conversation that went something like this (in short)...

Her: Hi! It's so good to see you!
Me: You too! Congrats on your engagement!
Her: I love keeping up with you guys on your blog....but you don't really keep that up anymore, do you?
Me: ...I've been busy.

PAINS me, I tell you. I love this little blog here. And yes, it has really been neglected! Any of my free time lately has been put into my new business venture, and finishing up the last of my CEU's in order to renew my teaching license this June.

I always mean to blog. Want to blog. Truly, I do. But somehow that 'free' time just gets away from me, leaving lots to be desired.

So, in a short little recap, here's what we've been enjoying lately...

Enjoying...pillow piles and reading.

Enjoying...blue eyes (and apparently over exposure).

Enjoying...digging for treasures (most likely snacks) in the diaper bag.

Enjoying...dance class. Sort of. Sister hates 'Parent Watch Week' and refuses to participate. Should make for a fun recital, eh?

Enjoying...Nana (Nick's grandma). She visited MN for three weeks and we were blessed to spend lots of time with her. I adore her. She makes us all feel so special. And showers us with fun adventures and yummy food. She's got quite a bit of kick for a woman in her late seventies.

Enjoying...rainbows.

 Enjoying...cousins.

Enjoying...swimming at a hotel with friends. Well, Nugget loved it. Brother, not so much.

Enjoying...rope swings.

Enjoying...hikes at tucked away county parks.

Enjoying...family shadows.

Enjoying...haircuts. Aww, who am I kidding?

Enjoying...last, but never least, Nugget smiles.

Thanks for holding me accountable to stay on top of blogging. Yell at me if I let it slide again.

 Hope you have a fabulous week!

NEW MOVES.

Someone found some confidence. Look who's on the move...

Brother's been cruising around furniture since he was nine months old. I thought for sure we were going to have an early walker. But I was proven again that babies march to the beat of their own drum, and he was the only one who would decide when he was ready.

Apparently yesterday was the day. He steadied himself on those wobbly sea legs and set sail. Repeatedly. With each successful bout, we clapped and cheered, whopped and hollered, and smooched him all over. Cause first steps are something to celebrate.

This morning he resumed his drunken sailor bit, but by afternoon the confidence was back and he was all over the place. When my sister and her family came over for dinner, he really showed off. Walking all over, zigging and zagging, and laughing the whole time. Brother's proud too. And rightly so.

He does however still rely quite a bit on his trusty crawling skills. And also this scoot, drag, repeat concoction which he saves for when he needs to carry important things, like a book or his blankie. But I'm guessing we'll see less and less of these modes of transportation over the next few weeks.

We had a taste of summer today, and there best not be going any back. I think I would go in to a downward spiral if we were to be hit with a snow storm anytime soon. We've been living outside this week, and man, has it been grand.

Brother's first steps are coming at the perfect time, right when a whole new world of outdoor exploration and possibilities are opening up before him.

Summer is gonna be so good. I can already taste it.

(OVERDUE) SNIPPETS.

My poor blog has gotten pushed to the wayside. Spring has been calling our names, and we have been outside as much as possible. My evenings have been consumed with my new little business endeavor. It has really taken off, and has been a great outlet for me! We are busy, but busy is good. We like busy.

Nugget's flower: Amy's HomeMaid

Now to get caught up....

My girl is really good at playing by herself. Which makes it easy to get things done, some days. But it also makes for a lot of 'I'll be there in a minute' and 'Let me just do one more thing, then I'll be right there.' I have been working hard at letting the other things slide, and giving her my undivided attention while the not-so-baby is asleep. This day, we played Pretty Pretty Princess.

This is what we say lately to being confined in small spaces together. The house included. Can I get an Amen for Spring?

Has anyone seen my baby?

There he is!

These boots were made for walking, so that's just what she'll do...

Hello? Anyone there?

Having a snack on the kitchen floor...



Brother discovered his tongue, which seems to be abnormally long. Seriously, the kid can touch it to his chin. Yikes!

We painted rainbow nails, which were just the pop of color we were craving this time of year...

But then it was her turn to paint mine. She's got potential, no?

Sillies...

Finally cashed in a Christmas gift and went to Let's Dish! So nice to have some go-to meals on hand...

His and Hers...(coffee and Cherry Coke)

And finally, we get to play outside!!! (and without four layers of winter clothes!)

What have you been up to lately?

Happy Tuesday!

ICED TEA AND ICE CREAM.

I don't watch the news. Therefore, I never know the predicted weather reports. But when a friend posts on Facebook that it's gonna be sixty degrees on March 6th in Minnesota, I get all giddy and start clawing at the bit. This is my least favorite time of the year. That in-between blah. I'm ready to ditch my down jacket and I'm just about a half skip away from busting out my capris and flip flops at any given moment. I am dying to throw open all my windows and attack my house with some Pledge and a bucket of soapy water.

Quite frankly this waiting for spring thing has left me a bit cranky. I need a change of scenery. I need fresh air. I need to get outside. I need to get my kids outside. (and more than the walk to and from the garage). The opportunity presented itself today, and I grabbed it by the horns.

It just so happened that I got a sweet little card from a friend today with a gift certificate to a local cafe. Warm, spring-ish weather certainly makes this Minnesotan think it's mid-July, and I was instantly craving an iced tea.

So we loaded up in the double stroller and set off to the cafe. Along the way, Nugget and I had a short but humorous convo:

N: Mama, where are we going?
M: We're going to the cafe to get an iced tea. I'll share it with you.
N: ICE CREAM?! Oh Mama, I LOVE ice cream!

Uhh...it wasn't like I could burst her sweet little bubble, so yes, we got both iced tea and ice cream. It was divine. And something about pushing your babies in the stroller, sloshing through the puddles and eating ice cream just felt so right. It was refreshing, energizing, and renewing. The kids hardly made a peep. Nugget licking away at her cone, and Brother pointing to something new at every turn.

Poor little Brother stood at the door and cried when we got back home. He loves him some outdoors. Man, is summer gonna be good.

Winter, go away. I want the days of iced tea and ice cream.

That is all. Happy day.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.

I have about a gazillion photos to post but first I have a special announcement to share, which also happens to be the explanation for my recent blogging neglect. And no, I'm not pregnant.

I'VE OPENED UP SHOP! Check me out!

You can find Amy's HomeMaid on Facebook (and please 'like' me if you do!) and also on my new crafty blog. Take a look around and let me know what you think! And before you all bombard me, I just want to say that I haven't ruled out opening an Etsy shop. Just want to start with this and see how things go. I'm excited! Are you?

I also had the opportunity recently to write my first post as a guest blogger over at Pear Tree Greetings, detailing how I planned Brother's first birthday party using their adorable owl invitations as my inspiration. You should take a gander around their sight while you're there. They have gobs of adorable note cards, invites, thank yous, address labels, and everything you can think of to send some good old fashioned snail mail. Which just happens to be my favorite kind.

So, it looks like you have some work to do! Go check out Amy's HomeMaid here or here. Leave me a comment and say hello! And check out my guest post here.

Have a happy week, Friends!