Sandy Toes and Dirty Fingernails

The weather the past few days has been nothing short of absolutely beautiful. It's almost like we somehow got transplanted to perfect-weather-San Diego, but instead of an ocean to gaze at we have tractors and corn fields.

We have been outside nonstop, my kids' bottoms have been glued to a swing for the past 48 hours and they still don't want to get off.  What is it about swings anyway?  Lily could literally swing all day long and still say 'no' when I ask her if she wants to get off.  Luke is now using the 'big kid swing' and is constantly asking me for a 'superman' which basically means I push him really high. 

When we weren't swinging this week we were spending some lovely mornings with friends squishing sand between our toes and digging up dirt between our fingernails.  Lily got her head caught in a soccer net and stepped in goose poop while Luke rode his bike cautiously along trails and ran barefoot down cement paths.  

The smiles and dirty faces of spring time make me happy and breathe life into my sometimes weary body.  It's hard not to smile and join in the fun when giggles are exploding from my littles' bellies or when their eyes reveal confidence as they tackle something new on the playground.  Being outside is good for my soul and good for producing long afternoon naps for my adventurous toddlers.

Hope you have a weekend filled with lots of swinging and time outside.  Have a blessed weekend, all!

Spring is here!

It's official, spring is here on the Trail.  We have had rain, big thunderstorms, and some beautiful, unexpected sunshine sprinkled in this week. Our iris are just starting to bloom and they remind me of God's creativity and ability to make a masterpiece out of nothing but black dirt.  The colors of spring always make me happy and I try and bring as much of it inside as possible or spend as much time outside as possible.  

There were some crazy storms this week and luckily the worst of them missed us. Luke is a tad bit scared of thunder aka 'boomers', as is our precious ridiculous dog, Abel, so it was an interesting week of midnight soothings. Poor Kevin is in charge of both Luke and Abel, so he hasn't had many full nights of sleep this week.  He is surely my better half.

This week we had a lot of 'to dos', but found time for some trips to the library, a picnic, and time with friends.  I even snuck away to Cooking Club, which is one of my absolute favorite days every month.  Today we are heading to Ottumwa to watch my nephew's baseball game.  We have never seen him play and are grateful to have the opportunity to spend some extra time with him and show our kiddos a game they will probably never play unless they really really really really want to.  #summersaresacred  

Hooray for Friday and another spring weekend.  Isn't it just the best time of year?!  Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Rain Rain Go Away

Rain, rain go away...come again another day.  Luke loves to sing this song, even on sunny days.  

I remember when I was a young adult and loathed rainy days.  I remember wanting to pull a big fluffy comforter over my head and not leave the house when I woke up to rain streaming down my windows.  I remember thinking 'no one should have to leave the house on a rainy day'.  

Some things never change.  When it's raining I definitely don't want to leave the house, but now I have a sweet fondness for rainy days.  I love the slow mornings that allow time for baking banana bread that tastes best straight out the oven.  I love how Luke and Lily can make a game of climbing in and out of purple diaper boxes.  I love the freshness that a good, hard rain brings to the Trail.  I love the darkness in the afternoons that allow my two littles to rest easy during nap time.  It doesn't hurt that our gravel roads and fields need the rain, too.  

This week was full of rain.  After not leaving the house for three days except for a chilly walk here or there, by Thursday we were ready for a trip off the Trail.  The weather cooperated and didn't open up it's big puffy clouds while we went to the library and then toured Target with blueberry bagels in hand. It was one of those weeks when I remember why I love living in the country and why I still miss the city.  It was wonderful to stay home and get cozy on the couch day after day, but it felt oh so good to head into the city and be around life other than the rowdy birds in the yard.  

Have a blessed weekend, all!

One Beautiful Week

I am currently sitting with my feet up watching our blooming purple crab apple tree sway in the breeze.  The breeze is warm today people.  Spring might be here to stay, fingers crossed.  

This week has been a beautiful mix of playdates, MOPS, and adventures at home. It was a full week, but left lots of room for fun and time spent outdoors watching Luke get excited that he can now swing in the 'big kid swing' or watching Lily toddle away from me because she has figured out that she has a will.  #lordhelpme

As we move into the weekend, we don't have much planned and I am looking forward to a weekend as a family, possibly doing a little bit of nothing.  For those of you who read my post last weekend, we all survived the painting of Lily's room and it actually took a lot less time than I had imagined.  With Kevin home, things went much much smoother.  It's amazing how much you can get done without kids asking you for milk every three and half minutes.  All you single Mommas out there deserve a high five and a latte every. single. day.  I am in complete awe of you.

Have a blessed weekend!

Random Picture Friday

I am ready for the weekend.  And all the people said Amen.  

The last two weekends we have been out of town.  It was so fun and good and special to see family and friends, but we are ready to be home.

We get to spend all weekend on the Trail, with the exception of church, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  Kevin is definitely more of a homebody than me as he keeps asking me, 'what do we have going on this weekend?'  I think he thinks I'm going to change my mind and talk him into driving to the 'city' on Saturday.  That is not in the plan, so home we will stay!

I'm not even quite sure where this week went.  It was slow and filled with great highs and lows.  We spent a majority of the week at home, me doing house projects while Luke and Lily played quietly together. #justkidding  But really, they do play together, just not quietly and just not for that long. 

Lily was teething at the beginning of the week, so her and I spent a long night on the couch and the next day we practiced 'survival mode' all day.  Praise God for grandmas, as Grandma Diane came and picked Luke up for a few hours so I could concentrate on Miss Lily.

We were able to spend some time outside and Luke showed Daddy where we go for 'adventures'.  He was pretty proud of himself.  Can you blame him?

  
Today I am out with some MOPS ladies for our Mommy Make-Over day.  I am most looking forward to the conversation and girl time, but honestly, I can't wait to drink coffee how it's supposed to be drank...hot! #itsthelittlethings

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Random Picture Friday

It. Is. Friday.  I have been ready since Tuesday.  Anybody else?

Easter weekend was oh so much fun, but it took me a few days to recover from it all and get my bearings back.  We traveled to my hometown for the weekend and while we fit in so many visits and fun times, I was exhausted on Monday morning.  I am so thankful I am able to stay home and take a day to do laundry and get back on track.

  
As we got back into our normal routine, I had something come up that I have been putting on the back burner for awhile.  An issue that I needed to make a decision on and move forward.  I thought and analyzed this situation from Tuesday until well, now.  I am ready to take a few days off from all the 'thinking' and 'analyzing' that is going on inside my head.  As a type-A personality (and a woman), I sometimes tend to overthink and overanalyze, just ask my sweet hubby.  #poorkevin  Thankfully, we are heading across the big 'ole state of Iowa to visit Kevin's sister's family and some friends, which will be a welcome distraction.  It has been quite awhile since we have visited them, so we are all really looking forward to it.  Whenever I have something big going on in my head, it always helps to take a step back, get distracted, and allow my mind time to roam and enjoy what is right in front of me.  That is EXACTLY what I will be doing this weekend.

If you had a week like mine, I hope you are able to take a respite from all that hard thinking you did this week.  

Have a blessed weekend all!