Arboretum

The Rowdy Girls came to stay with us for a few days, and we were able to check out the Dallas Arboretum together. Gorgeous!

Fairytale castles. Right up our alley ;)

flower covered cottages...

A storm rolled in while we were there, but we managed to make it to a lunch spot right before it unloaded on us...

Hiding from thunder (under the table)...

Wish we could have lingered a bit longer, but what we did see was enchanting!

Quiet

This kind of focused, quiet play is so rare. I have to document it ;)

5 minutes after she yelled, "I NOT SLEEPY!!!"

Mudder's Day

Mother's Day 2011 will be filed away in my mind as the first year Jonah really "got it".

Bless his heart, he WANTED desperately to make me happy for Mother's Day, and that just blessed my socks off.

He's still working on pronouncing a "th" sound, so Mother's Day sounds like Mudder's Day. (Adorable.)

At school on Friday, the kindergartners sang their mudders sweet songs, brought us tea, and presented gifts. Jonah was really distressed that his gift (a personally grown sprout and popsicle-stick flower) had not turned out the way he planned. I think in his head, it just wasn't worthy.

He overheard me talking with Daddy about wanting new bedding, so at Kohl's on Friday, he dragged a blue and brown striped comforter out and told me he wanted to get it for me for Mudder's Day. My heart melted a little.

Saturday, after his flag football game, Michael and Jonah ran into Target to get a few things we needed. Gracie was exhausted, so she and I waited in the car.

As I was reading my book, killing time, my car door suddenly opened, and there was a sweet 5 year old with a bouquet of flowers bigger than him exclaiming, "Happy Mudder's Day!"

You could see by his enormous smile, he had found a worthy gift. One that his mudder would not just like, but LOVE.

*teary and sniffling*

Goodness, Gracie

I forgot how fun having a two year old is.

Actually, I forgot how crazy having a two year old is. Last week, I found Gracie preparing to scale the fridge and get her Easter basket down.

Here she is on a typical Tuesday, talking to Daddy on the phone...in her dressiest frock. Again, the dress is typical. She's the Princess of Priss.

On the other hand, she can run full speed into her brother and bring him down in a perfect football tackle. Scraped knees and bruises are worth it.

Over the weekend, I witnessed a moment that summed her up perfectly...
She was prancing around her cousins' party in a precious pink ensemble, when she crossed paths with another little girl in a cute dress.
"I love your rainbow dress!", Gracie exclaimed.
"Thanks!" says the other girl, "I like your dress too".
"Ohhhh, thank you," Gracie says while lifting the corners of her skirt to fan it out.
Then without missing a beat she growls, "RAWWWWRRRRR!", and runs off.