we like to pack snacks and head outdoors often.

Today we took balance bikes and cuties and walked the path along the bay.

We found a little pocket of shade at our halfway point and had a sidewalk picnic.

By the time we got back in the car

we were all smiles.

A little walking can be so refreshing.

enough to walk the stretch of shoreline to meet up with friends for lunch.

enough to warm the dining room while I finish report cards.

enough to fill a bucket and make an outdoor bathtub for Olivine.

enough to let her play or watch the occasional backyard kitty.

enough to forget how cold it has been.

enough to run barefoot.

enough to feel ike summer.

enough to let them all play naked for few minutes.

enough to put them all down for a nap in their underwear or diapers.

on this Inauguration Day morning, she and I awoke first.

We ate early and headed to the market,

which meant we listened to the president’s speech on the radio together

and as I listened to the emphasis on the diveristy of our nation

I couldn’t help but be grateful that this is the world my children were born into. 

There are certain tasks that Joe and I divide fairly; such as he agrees to take out the trash and I agree to keep a grocery list (with the occasional turn taking).

Then there is the newer realm of birthday party invites from friends at school.

Both of us prefer to avoid the events where we are in a crowd of strangers, so we recently agreed to tag team these events.

My turn came up this weekend.

A lego/star wars themed party

with a pinata

and a five year old son who showed so much self-restraint in the chaos that followed.

He was mostly thrilled to find this pair of glasses (over candy??)

The cupcakes included Yoda toppings

and after he was offered his, he stood on the porch with the birthday boy

and I once again paused to take notice that as a parent I have this new found joy at watching my son have so much fun. The akwardness of it all becomes minimized when I see how at ease he is around his buddy from school.

Last night we stayed up late at the Pajama-Jam at the Maae house

where we shared some delicious corn chowder soup that Henry and papa made. 

We slept in and then needed some sunshine.

So we headed to one of our favorite parks for some fun.

At the lake, a random kid shared his bird bread

which is the free kind of entertainment I love:

up close crazy ducks

and squealing children.

Then there were girls running in the grass while boys rode on paths.

A stop at the playground to play “motorcycle riders.”

Henry finding dead bugs

and going so fast his hair started sticking up through his helmet.

Then there was echo fun in the tunnels

and speeding down hills with a Papa on a skateboard

showing momma the thrill Olivine gets from going fast.

Before we left Paul had to strike a ninja pose

and tonight we went to bed early from all the play.

Paul was playing momma bear with two babies

and a blanket cave.

His second baby is really a mini-basketball under his jammies.

Later on Herny was a kangaroo

hopping all around the house.

We sometimes find ourselves out on the town on a Thurday night

just to help get an early start on our weekend

and push us through Friday.

It worked!

as the weather gets a little cooler 

we bundle up with hats

which makes everyone’s face a little rounder

that when I married Joe I gained a rad cousin named Jessica

Since we have been married, she has gotten married to Mike

and they now have a little baby girl who my boys have dubbed “Miss Fiona.”

(they like to fancy up a name when need be)

This feels like a triple bonus to being married…this gaining of family…

So we spent an afternoon at the aquarium yesterday and then grabbed food for just your everyday family bonding time which was a lovely way to spend a Sunday.

They are cute sitting side by side with babies.

The extra awesome points come from their visit including the thoughftul gift of homemade food which meant this momma could come home from work on a Monday and just heat delicious food up that my family loved…

only another momma would be so kind.

You scream

We all scream

for ice cream

in honor of 

I love that their birthdays are in the same month

and yeah for this brilliant dessert idea

made to order meant so many choices I couldn’t eat just one

and their motto (seen below) is my motto.

Shhh! We even took two to go and they are sitting in my freezer right now.