Learn Something New Everyday

A few days ago we were playing in the backyard when the kids and I noticed some tiny wrinkled, crusty, orange and black striped shells on our south facing fence. After further inspection, we noticed more on the mortar between the bricks on our house, and the concrete edges of the porch.

We kept asking ourselves, what ARE these? There must be 25-30 of them.

The next day, some of them were missing, some had changed color, and some new ones had appeared.

Later, we found no less than a dozen ladybugs in our grass!

I'm embarrassed to admit (because now I know better) that I thought the shells were dead ladybugs.

Well, you learn something new everyday! Thanks to the internet, we now know the life-cycle of a ladybug is taking place in our backyard.

Meet our ladybug larva and pupa!

This one just shed it's larva skin, and hasn't even developed it's spots yet. Cool!...

Jonah has been like the Ladybug Whisperer ever since. They will crawl on him forever and never seem to want to fly away.

Nannie's Mac: It's THAT good

Cool tricks. Cool tricks?

Dear Jonah,

Tonight you came running out of your room (after Daddy and I thought you'd been asleep for at least half an hour).

You explained, you were super excited to show us something.

"What do you need to show us?" Daddy asked.

You produced two Nerf darts from behind your back and stuck them in your nostrils.


Then you shot them out of your nose.


Go to bed, son.

Still a Snuggle Bug

Daddy's chest + Nannie Blanket = Perfect Snuggle

Cousins of a Feather

This was the only almost-group picture (Roo opted NOT to be squished on the loveseat) that I snapped over the weekend. I forgot my camera and only snapped a few with the phone, but the memories are fresh!

These sweet cousins grow closer with every visit. They did not have a single spat over the 2 to 3 days we were there. They just play, and jump, and dance, and sing, and eat. They are SO happy to be together, and that blesses me so much.