the start of something big

this tiny little babe has officially started pre K!!! i am old enough to have a kid in school how could this have happened.

this was one very excited little girl complete with princess backpack and gleaming white shoes.

i am not quite sure that her teacher knows what she has gotten herself into.  ohhhh, she will soon find out.

can you see the tiny dot in this photo?? it's not ava running to school but, her running to the car after her first day. she absolutely loved it and i love that she is such an independent, carefree, sweet child.

good thing hudson has a good pair of running shoes. he will need them to keep up with her.

linking up with emily for tuesdays unwrapped at chattingatthesky.com

10 things i ((love)) sunday

this post is a little late but....well....a girl needs some beauty sleep once in a while. i definitely feel as if i am lacking in this department.

so here goes....

1. falling asleep with my two littles. sometimes the sweetest and most umprompted moments are just before sleep the "i love you, mommy" and the "we need more you and me". we make lots of plans during this time. of places we want to go, new things to try, classes to take.... parenting is one of the hardest jobs. you just have to trust that you are doing your best and that for every mistake you make, there are a thousand more victories. i want my apples to be good and kind, giving and understanding. i want my apples to be strong and independent and yet sensitive and tender-hearted.


2. also, having to do with sleep. i love those little sleepy, dreamy toots. just once in a great while i will catch my son rolling over when i go to double kiss him good night and he will let out a little toot. why i think that is cute, i have no idea!

3. my 3 year old on the phone. especially when she calls grampa, "jim"! it makes me smile everytime. this is almost always followed by "we are on our way. we will be there in a second minute in a long time. are you ready for us?"

4. a laid back weekend. i catch a few moments here and there of us just being. not constantly rushing or fretting about the time. lots of "one more time" requests are granted. taking just a moment to think back and reflect. smile a little. there is something about the beauty of the past, whether it was yesterday or many yesterdays ago. make note of it...what you love right now...because what you love tomorrow will be even better because of it.

this girl has style. even if it is just to go get the cows.

5. this sweet photo booth engagement photo from angela and ithyle she is so totally unaware and then surprised!

6. sticky kisses.

7. fresh laundry. someday i wish to have a clothesline for the sun and wind to drench my sheets.

8. big words for a little girl. my favorite right now is "i already got occupied"

9. i love love how one little kid can take over a giant size king bed. seriously how do they do that. and how do they twist me into such weird and ackward positions. i am rendered helpless.

10. my favorite people. a and h!

looking forward to a million more right nows.

linking up with tuesdays unwrapped at chattingatthesky.com

super who?

{this is what i wanted to do today. although, i seriously doubt that i would have landed on the bed.}

photo taken from http://memeandlulu.blogspot.com

let's just say that being a mom is not for wimps and that occasionally my cape is a little dusty. wouldn't it be nice to have a sidekick.

link up with me and leave a comment letting me know how you sneak in a little r&r and/or how you get it all done as a mom.

boys and their toys

my little h loves his tractors and really anything with wheels. he hooks them up together and gets right to work building roads, planting fields, tearing down buildings.

i think it is so funny that this picture is his uncles.....25 years ago playing with the same tractor only a little bit shiner!

what can i say, boys will be boys!

i am linking up with tuesdays unwrapped and i have added a Mr. Linky below....i would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if you would link up. for no other reason than i want to visit you! link to your blog or your favorite post or your favorite project....get me hooked on your blog :) i promise, pinkie swear to visit AND say hello!

so there you go! i can't wait to visit. please link back here on your blog when you have the chance. also, please visit elizabeth's story on my blog and enter the giveaway!

made you look....

just that phrase "made you look" is like someone telling you to duck. do you automatically hit the floor or do you immediately look to see what's coming your way.

now really, you should watch watch out! this boy is armed and ohhh sooo handsome.  not the least bit dangerous unless, you just had your hair done....ha, who am i kidding, i can't even remember the last time i wore my hair down.

honestly, i don't think i can even remember a day where this girl hasn't been naked in the yard either. good thing we are in the country and our neighbors are quite far away. not even going to fret this one though. she is a beautiful little girl and for the moment why shouldn't she be happy in her own skin.

now, take a look at this photo. tell me what does this say about the future?? no, don't tell me. she has got the blond wavy hair, blue eyes, and gorgeous skin in a teeny tiny bikini! a is going to be a total beach babe just like i wish to be. anyone up for a roadtrip!

thank goodness, i know she has muscles and brains to go with all that beauty!

now seriously, didn't i ((just)) tell you to watch out. don't worry they got me too. completely wrapped around their little fingers and totally soaked with their love.

linking up with tuesdays unwrapped at www.chattingatthesky.com also, don't forget today is the last day to enter the mee a bee giveaway. i can just see ava toting hers to school or using it as a diaper bag for her baby.

love sweet love

i love to bake. i love to eat strawberries {straight from the garden}. my mom recently brought home a basketful from the amish greenhouse and they were absolutely perfect on shortcakes. i love this recipe. i even requested it as the dessert for our rehearsal dinner after which we commenced with the waterfights and fireworks. i love that my mom made this recipe for me and now i can do the same for my kids.

strawberry shortcake

2 cups flour

3/4 milk and sour cream mixture

1/3 cup butter melted

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

mix ingredients, form into 6 balls and place in a baking dish. bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

sliced strawberries and whipped cream for toppings {i also like to add a little milk when it is served}

a day off.....

sometimes it is nice to just catch up. to actually have a day off. no obligations. no to-do list. a time to enjoy the grace of a normal day.

we spent lots of time playing in the grass.

the kids took a well-deserved nap from a well-timed walk.

a nice refreshing treat. 90 degrees.... in may.... in wisconsin??? seriously!

it was a good day.

tuesdays, unwrapped.

today i am unwrapping the gift of impromtu water fights! the weather was dreary last week...to say the least. today the sun was shining, we had swimming lessons in the morning, and my daughter is just begging for the pool to be put up.

granted it is only the middle of may and the nights are still chilly, but, the sun was shining oh so bright and we mixed hot water from inside with the cold outside and we were big grins from ear to ear!

it is nice to run barefoot through the grass, with littles chasing and laughing all around.