Spring Break Week o’ Awesome – Days 1,2,3

I suppose we’re still exiting the spring break mindset.  With all of this insane weather that we’ve been having (and the presence of a 3 and 1 year old who, yes, keep me busy – but still, life is still quite at our leisure!) we’re just enjoying being outside and soaking up the delightful temperatures.  Because we are not fools with no memory – we know what is right around the corner once June arrives.

But, back a few weeks ago, Abi & I derived what we thought would be a truly excellent week (Nate gave input where appropriate) and we dove in.  With friends along for the ride, the deal got even sweeter.

Day 1 – Breakfast at Hypnotic Donuts & Lunch downtown with Mercantile Coffee

What a way to kick-off Spring Break!  This place is voted the 14th best spot in the country for donuts (who knew they even ranked that?!)  It does not disappoint…

(and that was all that Abi could eat!)

--

Some quality outside time while little Nate slept…we will miss the morning naps.  It is a sweet time to spend with my girl.

Check out these three awesome ladies…they were debating who got to hold the snake next (in Abi’s hand currently).  Girls after my own heart.  (Disclaimer…a totally safe snake for kiddos to hold…nothing venomous here!)

--

After all of our excitement…the yummy eatery at Main Street Garden was closed!  Oh boo.  Thanks, Jason’s Deli for coming to our rescue.  Abi apparently needs a little more practice before she’s ready to be a full-blown city girl.  After about 2 blocks…”Mommy, I am really tired of walking and need to sit.”

Fun little play area that we always have a blast on…but you can tell no parent designed it.  There is no shade structure.  Sunshine + play things with metal = unhappy experience for all involved.  The trick is to get there early…

 

--

Abi & I are working our way through the best coffee (and Abi’s version of chocolate milk) in Dallas as voted in D Magazine.  It’s been a blast.  She journals about it – we visit fun spots – I have a great excuse to drink lots of yummy (1/2 caff) coffee!

Day 2 – Trinity River Audubon Center

I just love this place.  The staff are great (some are former coworkers, which is always fun); the facility is fantastic; and honestly it’s just completely refreshing to see a stretch of the Trinity River which is actually pleasing to the senses.  Seriously.

Creating a river…seeing what happens when a flood happens.  The girls thought it was pretty cool!

He’s always along for a good time.  I just love him.

Sweet little sister trying to keep up with the big girls.

--

 Day 3 – I worked at the Zoo 

Not much to report here…a day spent with other families' pre-schoolers :)  The Zoo always puts on a good show for Spring Break Camp…check out our African Crested Crane.

Days 4-5-6 – you’re up next!!!

And a happy spring to you!

(just a week late!)

We LOVE spring in our house!  Not as much as we love fall, of course, but it is greeted with much more glee than the summer.  Welcome, Spring, welcome!

We try and do something fun and unique on the first day of each season.  There is something good to opening a new chapter with a bit of pomp and circumstance, and I find that it helps Abi in seizing and recognizing the change.  My heart finds joy in celebrating these transitions; and it is such a delight to watch Abi enjoy them as well!

First Day of Spring 2012

After school, we met Jaklin & baby Olive for some yummy ‘welcome, spring’ cupcakes!

And then some happy painting…

My Abi…she is an abstract one.  Random lines to me were “wind” and “mayflies” to her.  Love.

Nate was bummed he couldn’t get “as involved” as he wanted.  Apparently a paint brush and paper was too tame for him.  What a joy-kill I am…insisting that paint was not for the floor!

--

A Prayer in Spring – Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

 
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

 
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Rest

It’s been a beautiful day of celebrating Nate with friends & family.

But, we’re all kind of tired.  Thankful for rest.

Ode to Water

Today is World Water Day!!

I really love water.  I love fresh water – I love salt water.  I love streams – I love lakes – I love oceans – I love pools!  Oh water, how delightful I think you are.

But, there is another reality, right?  While I love water; I mostly act unaware of its ready and ever-present presence in my life.  I don’t think too much about it when I’m taking a shower – or when I’m brushing my teeth – or when I’m drinking tea – or telling Abi that ‘no, you can’t have juice this close to bedtime, it’s milk or water!’

It is heart-breaking how many people are insanely aware of the LACK of water’s presence in their life. 1 billion people lack access to clean water.  That just blows my mind and hurts my heart.

Clean water is a paradox. Without it, life cannot be sustained — yet it’s a resource so easy to take for granted. The reality, however, is clear: Nearly 1 billion people across the world don’t have access to it. –World Vision

There are lots of various things ‘we’ can do.  Prayer – donate – talk about it – be thankful.

I pray next year the number is smaller – wouldn’t that be a beautiful thing?!

‘Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty.’

Happy Moments

There are so many times (thankfully, much grace here!) that my heart feels full.  I just want to hold onto them.

It is pure joy to watch them together.  Even in this current stage, as tears come from Nate or yells from Abi when the other has taken something or not behaved as the other would have wished – they’re working out their relationship.  It will take work as they get older – and I’m glad that they work through it – even as little bitties.  They have a fierce love already and they bright up each other’s face in such a unique way.

 

It makes this momma happy!

Getting Outnumbered

You know when you should have said something a long time ago – and then you realize that you haven’t?

This is one of those times.  Not that this blog notes every event in our lives, but it tends to capture most of the big ones in the name of future preservation and nostalgia.  My realization?  I have never mentioned that we’re about to be outnumbered.

2 parents.  3 kids.

Baby Wallace #3 will be coming in July!  We’re pretty excited.  And a little overwhelmed too.  But, in the good way.  If that makes sense.  Overwhelmed in the ‘good way’ tends to make us realize our smallness, our humility.  We become infinitely more thankful and reliant on the Lord.

Oh, and there is one more thing.  Because I took so long to mention our new wee one on the blog, two announcements get to come at once.  I’m about to be outnumbered in a different way.

2 girls.  3 boys.

We decided to find out this time what baby would be.  Nate and brother will be 17 months apart.  I imagine our house will be in for some crazy.  Feeling a bit overwhelmed.  But, in the good way.

Sweet baby boy Wallace – we are so pumped that you’re growing to grow our family and make us outnumbered.  We feel so blessed that God gave us another little Wallace to love.

A little Dr. Seuss, a little Zoo, a little bit o’ good times

I was working last week when one of my co-workers busted out “Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss.”  What now?  I laughed and told her I found her funny.  Who knows when Dr. Seuss’ birthday is?!  But, given the spirit of the Lorax, and just some general blog-perusing…it seems as though quite a bit of people knew when his birthday was!  And despite some of his books being a bit strange – he really did have some ideas to put out there and I appreciate the quirkiness!  So, a bit belated…but, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Just a little zoo for ya:

*The koalas who are awaiting everyone who will flock to the zoo during Spring Break!!  Cuteness indeed.

*Maybe it’s him earlier in the summer?!  Our koalas are from the San Diego Zoo – this guy is from our trip there in the summer…who knows?!?!  His apparent love of sleeping and eucalyptus leaves is undeniable.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, 
because those who mind don't matter, 
and those who matter don't mind” 
― Dr. Seuss

“I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone.”

― Dr. Seuss