i got some time with sarah today–long overdue and much anticipated.  it was so so good.  it’s been about 5 years since we’ve been able to chat and talk…just the two of us {no kids}.  thanks for being real, sarah.  thanks for letting me journey with you.  i love you.

*this photo was taken with my nikond40 at twilight.  then i used picnik.com duo-tone (under effects) to change the color scheme. so fun, but beware–very addictive!

the boys have been loving being outdoors lately. the combination of sidewalk chalk and a spray bottle has kept matty busy.  he draws pictures and then sprays them and it makes the chalk really vibrant.  i moved david’s tool bench outside and he has been enjoying playing with it (which often involves knocking it over). summer is coming and i am ready!!  how do you encourage your kids to play outside?

i see both of my boys blooming right before me.  not only physically (we’ve been buying lots of longer jeans lately!) but also develpmentally.  david is gaining independence every day and refuses to hold hands while walking on wood chips or grass.  he’s got a sparkle in his eye and intention in his steps.  matty’s coloring and fine motor skills seem to grow daily and i noticed today he is holding his pen correctly.  he speaks with clarity and expresses complex thoughts.  they are aren’t so little anymore.  their legs dangle off my lap when we snuggle.  i miss those baby days but watching them bloom makes my heart full.

our neighbors next door have a bird bath, and the little birdies were so cute splashing around this morning.  david and i went over to snap a few pics and watch them play.  the sun feels great today.  sending hugs!

steve and i had a great date on friday night.  we really needed it. we’ve been working crazy hours trying to catch up from mother’s day.  we have been overwhelmed by the response to the magazines we’ve been in this month.  it is so exciting to see the business grow.  but, i’ll also admit there has been more than one moment where i have been tempted to toss my laptop off a tall building and make a break for mexico.  so we needed some time to reconnect.  and it was really good.

we’ve been waiting for you!  i pass this little red barn twice a day taking the boys to and from school–and i finally stopped to take a picture.  hope your friday is full of warm coffee, a slow walk and maybe a good movie while you snuggle on the couch!!

loving this color combination lately.  it’s so happy, don’t you think?!

and decide you don’t like it.  while playing in the backyard last week, david decided to sample some dirt from the planter.  luckily, he didn’t care for it.

i read yesterday that jon and kate might be splitting up (she did an interview with people magazine) and i can’t stop thinking about it.  i don’t actually know them–but we have seen the show here and there so i feel like i do.  i feel so sad that their marriage is in trouble–sad for them, and even more sad for the kids.  marriage isn’t easy and i’m sure it’s complicated by the success of the show.  it’s definitely a reminder to kiss my husband more, and put our marriage as top priority–not just for us  but for our kids, too.