A Beautiful Sunny Afternoon.

The other day after picking up Ingrid from school, we stayed outside instead of going in and turning on the tv like we usually do.  It was gorgeous out!  Sunny and warm, and one of those days you know you have to take advantage of before it snows.  Thank god we did, it's been rainy and cold ever since.  We brought a blanket and snacks out and got some much needed fresh air.  We've all been sick for ages and ages...

And now here we sit inside again.  It's windy and cold and we have blocks strewn about, two stains soaking in the living room rug (forgot Otis can grab stuff off the coffee table now, dang it!)  I'm so needing a nap but Otis hasn't slept more than 20 minutes in about a week.  I'm trying to be patient with Ingrid as she jumps on the couch, runs back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, scaring the bejeezus out of the cats.  She has energy and I do not.  I just want to lay here on the couch and cut out felt circles.  Actually, really what I want to do is have someone, anyone, come over and take my kids out of the house for a few hours so I can curl up in my bed and just nap.  Any takers?  Anyone?  No?  Okay, then I guess it's time to go build block towers...

Our Days

New things in our lives:

Exersaucer.  These things are monstrous pieces of ugly plastic and I hate them.  But kids love them and they give me time to take a shower, so I'm not complaining.  Too much.  My friend gave us hers to use for Otis so we didn't have to spend any money on one. 

Drawing.  Not really new but Ingrid is definitely getting better at it.  She draws these little guys all over the place.  She said this picture was a family and they were dancing.

Wading Pool.  Our local park, which we go to at least three times a week, has a wading pool.  It's not chlorinated, they refill it every day, so it's easy on the skin and nose.  It's free, and it's open 10-2, which is great.  I hate pools that don't open until noon.  That's naptime, dummies!  Yesterday after we picked up Ingrid from school we went over there.  She loved it!  So today we packed a picnic and a blanket and spent the morning there.  This little squirrel kept sneaking up on us, causing Ingrid to shriek in half delight, half terror. 

Both kids fell asleep on the way home.  I felt like a freakin' pack mule--I had Ingrid in the stroller along with towels, a bucket, our lunch, the diaper bag and a bag of misc. pool stuff.  Then I had Otis on me in the Moby.  It is time for a double stroller, my friends.  I cannot take lugging around an extra 15 lbs. this summer.  It was fun while he was a baby, but he's getting to big and squirmy for it to be his only form of transportation.  I swore I would never get a double stroller but that's why you never say never.  I'm hoping to find one that isn't too unbearable. 

And now we're off for a three day weekend, hooray!  Cookouts and family and Summerfest and fireworks and sun!  Happy 4th everyone!

Hanging Out in the SUN!

Ahhh, the sun.  How glad I am it's been around for the past few days!  We have had plenty of good outdoors time, without shoes, without coats, without umbrellas.  Awesome.

Ingrid has been getting really good at her tricycle.  We were thinking of getting her a balance bike.  Anyone have one?  What do you think of them?  Worth the money? 

Otis is growing like nonstop, I swear.  I had gone through to get his six month clothes out of the bin in his closet and now he's into 9 month clothes as well.  Our friends Jess and Ben brought over a bag of the CUTEST clothes for him last weekend.  He sported this plaid number today, which really brought out the blue eyes.  Dang, he's cute.

He's been eating oatmeal with various baby food mixed in.  I wasn't sure I was going to feed him solids yet but that kid was ready.  He stares at our food when we're eating like a begging puppy dog, and if you get anywhere near him, he'll grab your spoon.  Every feeding he eats a whole bowl, he's a pig.  Which is good, he has to catch up!

I got a ton of new bibs ready for the shop.  I took advantage of the nice day outside and had Ingrid model them.  She gave me this lovely fake smile after I kept saying "Come on, smile!  Look at the camera!  Cheese and crackers!  Smile!"  She was not having it, so she gave me this. 

I guess I asked for it.

Today Otis and I went to the park while Ingrid was at school and we saw that the wading pool is open!!  So we are headed there tomorrow with a picnic and lots of sunscreen and we're gonna get our summer on.  Finally.

Smiles!!

The day is finally here when Otis smiles and isn't gassy!  He was very interested in the light coming in from the window this morning and spent some time smiling at it.  I wish this cute face was lighting up for me, but no, it was for sunshine...

Not that you can blame him, I'm pretty smiley about sunshine, too!  Even though it's cold out, we were able to walk to the local coop grocery the other day.  We got some things to make the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches ever.  Yum.

Ingrid woke up with Pippi Longstocking hair this morning.  She has finally let me pull her hair back and fell asleep with piggies in her hair last night.  Actually, she passed out so quickly last night that she still had underwear on.  I went in to put a pull-up on her and she stayed asleep as I moved her around, got her pjs off, pull up on, and pjs back on.  All this five minutes after I kissed her good night, she was tired!

Things are great here, we're settling in nicely.  Brendan likes his job, we've seen lots of friends, and Ingrid is a LOT better about her sassiness.  I think she's starting to feel at home again, and we're less stressed now that we're moved in.  I put up curtains, got a rug for Otis' room, a dresser for Ingrid, and I'm about to set up my sewing stuff today.  Ahhh, settling in is so much better than packing up.