a whole lot of random

No real rhyme or reason to this post-- just a few bits of our lives that I wanted to document.

We had been home from our little road trip for one day when my mom called and mentioned that she might want to go to Idaho to watch my cousin play in a soccer tournament. We all know that I am not one to turn down a party (or a last-minute get-away), so I told her I'd tag along with the two kiddos. We literally had our bags packed and were on the road within an hour-- it was most impressive. I definitely felt some guilt about strapping my baby back into that boring car seat for another l o n g drive, especially since we were in a huge hurry to make it to Emma's game so we didn't want to stop much, but she totally rose to the occasion. Baby girl sat in that seat and slept or just hung out for 4 straight hours while we drove. Maybe I draped my body over her car seat so that she could nurse en route. Maybe. Anyway, we always love being with our dear family in Idaho, and this short little trip was no different. I only got out my camera once the whole time we were there. We were out on the back patio, Emma was rocking the Pea (cozied up in the quilt that my incredibly sweet and talented sister-in-law Maggie made for her), and my mom was reading to Rach who was passed out due to some Benadryl.

How about some entertaining hair news next? My mom found this awesome headband that has built in pigtails. I don't know if this is meant as a joke or if people really think that this is a normal way to accessorize a baby, but we were laughing our heads off. Tight pigtails on babies isn't really my cup o' tea anyway, so this was especially entertaining. Got a pretty funny reaction out of Pearlie's daddy when I just passed her off to him as if nothing was different.

Behold:

Oh, I'm still laughing about that.

In real hair news, I managed to capture this picture of our baby's incredible wave that really shows off its awesomeness. All it takes is a little water and we get this:

Have I told you lately how much I love this pretty little girl of mine? Holy cow. A lot.

What about how happy it makes me to live with a little pirate? Also a lot.

One of the things that I love LOVE so much about our little Pea right now is how she smiles with her whole body. Her face just can't quite contain all the joy and it spreads down into her little chubby limbs in uncontrollable squirms. Oh how it melts me. I tell you what, there is not a single thing about this baby that I don't love.

Blowing bubbles is one of her latest tricks. She isn't really drooly yet, but she can soak the front of her shirts trying to blow bubbles.

We have been so loving our garden so far this year. We drink green smoothies every day and there is so much happiness for me in going out to the garden to pick the spinach, kale, and chard to put in the blender. Here is a little peak at one of our boxes:

Last Sunday we made a stop at the cemetery where J's dad is buried for a Memorial Day visit. The cemetery was beautifully peppered with bright flowers and flags, and I hope our children grow up with memories of feeling the peaceful spirit of their grandpa there since they don't get to have him around in life.

I know that J's feelings are tender when he is at his dad's grave anyway, but I think they are especially tender when he is there with his babies. Being a daddy himself and thinking about how impossibly painful it would be to be separated from his children, and thinking about how hurt our little boy would be to lose his daddy, makes J's childhood feelings surface a little more I think. It was hard for me to swallow the lump in my throat when I saw my baby boy in his daddy's arms at the cemetery, his daddy squeezing him tight as slow tears ran down his cheeks behind his sunglasses. Makes me teary even now.

After the cemetery I snapped a few pictures of the kiddos because they were still dressed up. Oh my how I adore these little people, and how incredibly grateful I am that I get to be with them every day.

I kind of can't get enough of that short little dress, red shoes and those thighs. Oh, THOSE THIGHS!

Here's a little close up of her leggies. Do you want to eat those thighs? Because I occasionally try to, they are THAT delicious.

And finally, some sunshine happiness-- we are SO glad that summer appears to be here to stay.

Here are some photos of us taking full advantage of the warmth.

Bless REI's sale for allowing me to get the double jogger that I have been coveting. I am such a happy mama every morning when I get to strap these two babes in and hit the road with some of my dear neighbors for a run on the parkway.

Is it just me or do hot days mean sidewalk chalk to anyone else?

The boys went outside last night to do a little gardening while I fed the baby. I heard G run in to get something, and when I looked out the front door I found him in his swimsuit doing this:

So excited for many more warm nights with hoses and buckets and swimsuits. It's gonna be a good summer.