It's time

Lately several people have been BEGGING me - oh, sorry, that was a typo - BUGGING me about my lack of posting this year. Knowing that this stage of our little family's life is flying away and if I don't document it no one else will, and that it's often the only window into it for family and friends both near and far, I've decided to put forth some effort again.

Disclaimer: While my blogging documentation could use some help, the camera on my phone is not without use. It's been awhile...I have a lot of pictures to dump here...just giving fair warning. Sorry. Not sorry.

Life lately has been filled with the anticipation of summer. We are all ready for a little change of pace.

We continue to enjoy settling into our house and making it our own. The garden in particular has been a treat as we continue to discover new surprises daily, including a little fairy garden!

The kids are becoming great playmates and friends, in spite of their varied interests. My favorite moments lately have been finding the two of them wrapped in some sort of little conversation with each other. I love eavesdropping.

They LOVE eating breakfast (or any meal, actually) on the deck. 
Not going to lie, my kitchen floor loves it too.

(Maggie is not scowling at Howard - she's actually quite free in sharing her babies with him - she's ticked at me for taking the picture. The nerve, mom!)

Howie is still into anything with wheels...although has started wandering into dinosaur territory lately. His awareness of cars and trucks and things that go is amazing. He hears planes flying overhead well before we do, and picks out any type of major (or minor) machinery wherever we drive.

"YOOK, MOM! TUNNEL!!"

Two of his favorite phrases right now are, "What's dis called?" and "Mom, doing?" ("Mom, what are you doing?") He has to know where Maggie (and usually Gary) is at all times, although it seems like he is constantly saying, "MOMMY HODE YOU." There is no question where his true loyalties lie.

He is a funny, funny boy. Filled with mischief and sheepish grins. And lots and lots of energy.

"YOOK MOM! SQUIRREL CLIMBING TREE!"

A friend asked my mother-in-law what the kids enjoy doing the other day. After relating Howard's fascination with wheels, she thought for a minute and then said, "Maggie is happy when she can just talk to you." SO TRUE. Mags has always been a great companion, and her conversation continues to narrate our days and keeps us laughing (and thinking!) with all of her questions and observations.

She is also still into ballerinas, princesses and anything of the like. In fact, the preschool did a little questionnaire for a Mother's Day program and she said that she would like to be a "Ballerina Princess" when she grows up. Not sure what that means, but I love seeing her little imagination start to go. If we're at home, she can almost always be found in a tutu or a princess dress of some sort.

She is such a free spirit. She loves running and dancing around in the yard in her bare feet and some sort of extra flowy skirt.

(No, this is not our backyard...a friend of mine did a photoshoot with several little girls a few weeks ago...this was one of my outtakes.)

My all-time favorite Maggie face! Classic!

My Other Babies

There are two other children whom I consider my pride and joy but I barely mention - my niece and nephew! They both live a heart-wrenching eight hours away in different directions...thank goodness for technology! Maggie and Howie are crazy about them, too. Cousins are just the best!

Even though they are about a year apart, I feel like I am watching both of them take significant (and darling!) personality jumps right now...Briscoe is leaving behind her baby-ness and turning into a little girl, and Adrian is becoming more and more of a real baby (instead of a newborn). I love both of their funny expressions and chubby cheeks and the ways they both remind me of their mamas.

Buddies

Even though the ages of 2 and 3.5 lend themselves to lots of stubbornness and head-butting, they also lead to lots of laughter and companionship...I love that I have more pictures of the two of them together than by themselves!

Two-ness

Being the super-spiritual family that we are, we planned Howie's birthday to coincide perfectly with Easter.

As I planned the big day I found myself backstabbing my anti-character-themed ways and smothered everything in CARS. What can I say...those baby blue eyes have a way of turning me into mush.

It was a weekend full of sugar, cars, more sugar, more cars...and tons and tons of family and fun (both sets of grandparents were here to help us celebrate!) Unfortunately, I did a terrible job (shocker) of documenting everything and everyone.

Can't believe our little guy is now TWO. He captures the essence of two-ness in every way right now...keeps us moving, laughing and crying all the time. His vocabulary increases more every day...it's hard to keep up with his big sis (ok, ok, it's hard for any of us to keep up with her!). He knows his colors, shapes and he even surprised us by counting to eleven the other day! He's a total wild man...all boy in every sense. Even though his discovery of his will and individuality are shocking some days, he is a complete joy and wonderful guy to have around. We love you, H man!!!