Worms

 

So, truly, worms were something that we may have mentioned at our previous abode, but rarely saw them because it really never rained enough to roust them out of their homes.  However after 4 full days of rain here (that turned the grass to what I can only imagine Ireland looks like), they were everywhere and specifically piled up on the outside of my garage door.  Well, we had to check these out and before and after every exit via the garage and car, give them a howdy and hello.  Hayden was concerned that we'd run over them so yes, I would move them.  However, Daddy does not move worms, so we had some life and death talks.  When it finally started drying up some of them had to be placed back in there original habitats.  And my personal favorite was that some of them liked to ride the garage door up and then when you were standing under it, fall on you.  Luckily worms don't gross me out that much.  If it was preying mantis' or a roach of some sort, I would have lost my cookies.  Anyway, its always fun to rediscover with childlike curiosity, things we overlook everyday now.  However, my childlike curiosity will be limited if the previously mentioned bugs make any sort of entrances into my home and/or garage.  Happy Spring!

Arboretum and the Zoo

Cannot even tell how much this shocked him when the polar bear came up below him in the take and pushed off backward.  Pure shock.  Couldn't even move.  Now I know why seals get all worked up when these show up in the wild.   They are HUGE! And he was inches from it.

Staring down the serpent

Yes I am pointing my pale chubby calf and looking demure with my sippy cup.

I am so tired from pushing around a double stroller with 2 kids in it off and on and a camera, purse, picnic lunch, and more.  Oh wait, that was mom. Where's my rocker?

At the Arboretum...

 

Complete with dump trucks and diggers, I had a hard time prying them away from here.

 

Building a life-size train garden right now and these are to be the depot windows.

Checking out a "creek"

Isn't that why they build anything off the ground?  To jump off of it?

She's got the whole laying her head on the shoulder thing down.

Obligingly holding his sister's hand a mom's request

Ornery eyes

Happy boy

Beautiful Early Spring

 Some days we are perched outside on the driveway with sidewalk chalk in hand, talking to passing neighbors and waving to the cars going by.  Mostly we are happy for everyday in the cool air and warm sun. 

You may notice that this drawing has an actual shape.  It is Hayden's "Man"

Baby Picasso with her art all over her

Getting a little tired sitting a drawing so we move to the belly.

Most days we go to the playground just down the street complete with tennis, basketball, and sand volleyball courts, the playground, and the pool which we will frequent come summertime.  The kids love it and its instant playdate, because there is almost always kids there.  Though sometimes, the teenage boys take over the basket ball court and the teenage girls demurely take over the swings to watch.  Don't worry, Hayden's not shy about asking them to move.

Little man on the swings.  He's finally getting the leg pump down though he prefers to be pushed.  Don't we all.

Baby girl being a ham.

Oh the drama.

"Cooking"  with woodchips.  Tasty dinner tonight.

 

Taking in the other kids from his perch

Look boss, its a plane.

Again, a little ham

Getting crazy on the slides.  At least this one he didn't try and sneak in a head first.

Queen of the mountain, and yes, she does get upset when she is rushed.

Always trying to keep up with brother and now he has wheels.

Settling In

 

Our first baby is settling into her new home.  She still hasn't figured out how to stop very well on the wood floors when she gets to going too fast.  And 80 pounds of sliding lab can take out any toddler and sometimes even an adult.

 

We were settling in for movie night one night when Daddy was working late.

Then Clare wanted to cuddle with her brother.

In the zone watching Cars 2.

As a side note, the hair represents the ornery mood she happened to be in that night.

Finally everyone got comfortable.

We figured out that we could slide easily on our bellies.  So playing like we are a snake now on the wood floors comes a lot more easily.

Looking out our favorite big windows and surveying the backyard for activity, be in dogs, birds, rain, or the prospect of new playmates.

She was making little kisses in this picture, that is why she's a little puckered up.

Reading about David and Goliath.  She knows that David is a giant and does her best attempt and Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum everytime we talk about him.

  Here our little family is trying to set our new normal.  We are trying to make it feel like home and meet new people.  Reconnect with those from our former existence here.  Let the kids see their grandparents and great grandparents as much as possible.  Trying to find our new activities.  And my least favorite, deal with the last 20 or so boxes in the basement (yes, that's where you hide all your only used-once-in-awhile things and where you hide when there are tornadoes).  Which on a side note, there have been some since we've moved back.  I kind of forgot about them and now my 3 year old has a slight obsession with them.  He keeps telling me he wants to see one.  I wisely say no you don't my dear.  And the cyclical debate ensues.  We love our new play room that is just for the kids.  It explodes daily with toy shrapnel coming out the door into the foyer but at least its not exploding in my living room.  Plus all the toys are available these days too and don't have to be rotated out into the garage.  We are loving most aspects of the space.  I am trying to figure out how to clean this home without spending half my life doing it.  I may actually own all forms of the Swiffer before its all done.  I feel like I should have received some sort of cleaning guidance on this.  Wood floor are not my specialty and have already made some rookie mistakes.  But am seeking guidance from more seasoned wood floored friends.
  I'd like to say that it has been really perfect, however, its still hard.  Its not just the where are my coffee cups feeling at 6 in the morning.  Its the seeing pictures of our old home with my kiddos in it and getting waves of homesick.  I love it here, don't get me wrong.  And in almost 2 months of living here I think that I have encountered two rude people.  You'd think they were being filmed here all of the time as a promo for our city as nice and considerate as I've found everyone to be.  I don't worry about crime like I used to and rarely even hear a siren.  I never have to wait longer than 2 minutes in the line at Walmart and never have I met more friendly, well dressed cashiers there.  Its been a great temperate winter and was good for us to ease back into the climate differences here.  I just hurt for the little man who desperately misses his best buddy in New Mexico and asks frequently for him.  I hurt that when he plays with his toy plane he's always flying back home to his house in New Mexico.  It has really been hard for him.  In many ways other than that.  So much so, that I am not sure how to help him other than getting him busy with activities.   I pray we will find him that friendship and camaraderie that he so desires.  We are getting there though.  We'll be starting soccer and gymnastics soon.  Followed by swimming lessons in the summer and preschool in the fall.  I don't want to wish him through all of that time to get him through the hurt because he's only my all day, everyday for so long.  I just hope the hurt goes away quickly for him.  I want to see my little guy again.  Well, I don't want to say that it has been awful.  Just a big adjustment.  One I knew would happen.  Its hard to believe we are going on almost 6 months since we made the decision.  We wouldn't change it.  But I'm not going to be anything but transparent, life's not all butterflies and rainbows.  We've have our share of rough days but there are many aspects of our life that we have found much more peace already.  Thank you for your prayers or continued prayers through our move and transition.  We will post pictures of our house very soon...pending a furniture delivery and a little organizing.