Feeding the birds

I have another photo to share from last week.

Wednesday we traveled to the Brevard Zoo, and Evan's favorite part of the zoo was feeding the birds in the aviary room:



I have a photo of Abby holding three cups of bird nectar and just as many birds on her arms, but I need to ask permission before I post it :-)

More photos coming soon.

Thank You

(One of my favorite photos from last week)

Soon after Mark and I moved to Florida, my Mom and Abby called and asked if they could visit us in February. Of course we said yes, and last week they flew into Orlando for their first ever visit to the Sunshine state.

We were busy during their four day stay: going to the beach, the zoo, and traveling up to Port Canaveral for the Discovery shuttle launch.

I have 600+ photos to edit from their stay, but this one is very special to me. Evan is going to be 5 next month, and I am so thankful Abby snapped this picture of me and my first born.

Mark and I were reflecting on our five years as parents just last night, and we came to a consensus: we have darn cute kids. But as I look through my photos, I don't have many pictures of me and my kids. Mostly Mark, Evan, and Jack.

When my kids (and other family members) look through our scrapbooks I want them to see that I was a part of our kids' lives, not just behind the camera.

So one of my goals this year is to be in front of the camera as much as possible.

Thank you, Abby & Mom, for spending time with us. We love you :-)

Guest Photographer

Mark asked to be featured on the blog as a guest photographer, so I thought I would post this photo of Ev and Jack that he took while they were on a walk last week. Mark tied the wagon to the back of Evan's bike and had Ev ride around the cul-de-sac pulling his little brother. I love the look on their faces! They were outside for quite a while before Evan's legs got tired and Mark had to ride Ev's bike home. :-)

I Want To Remember

How excited Jack gets when we turn into the pre-school parking lot and he spots his brother. The way Evan calls Jack: "Jack-Jack" and "Jack-meister." Each time Evan says "I love you, Jack", Jack responds by saying "too." How well they play together, despite their age difference. How much noise two little boys can make, and how much fun they have shrieking, squealing, yelling, and stomping their feet. The way I feel when I see them hug.

I want to remember how much love they have for each other.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are keeping things casual this year & spending time as a family. Mark and I are having a special dinner tonight after the kids go to bed, followed by strawberry shortcake and an episode of Castle. I'm looking forward to it :-)





(I saw these adorable cards on a website a few weeks ago, and I decided to create my own in Photoshop. Now I can't find the website so I can give credit for the idea. If you know which website I am talking about, please leave a link in the comments. Thanks!)

Sometimes Scrapbook Layout

Karla Dudley released a new kit today, Sometimes, and I had a chance to work with it tonight. Isn't that tag the cutest? I love how clean and graphic the elements are.


(Supplies- Cardstock, brush, border, tag, crystal, and label: Sometimes. Photo corners and staple: Digi Essentials. Layout size is 8x8 inches.)

You can see all of Karla Dudley's kits here.

Jack @ 21 Months

Jack,

You have turned into quite the chatter box during the past few months. It seems every time I turn around you are repeating something Evan said or pointing to an object and telling me what it is. After spending the months of December and January visiting doctors and specialists I am thrilled your language development has not been an issue. You also like to talk to Grandma, Grandpa, and Abby on the phone, and you say "Hi Abby" on command. I think you make your Auntie very, very happy :-)

We love hearing you express your wants and needs, and your small, squeaky voice is just about the cutest thing I have ever heard.

Here are some of your favorite words and phrases right now:

"night-night"
"love you"
"thanks. welcome."
"where go?"
"Evan go?"
"help pease"
"juice pease"
"down pease"
"up pease"
"more cracker pease"
"no, no Rocket!"
"funny _________(insert person, thing, giggle here)"
"happy, happy, happy"
"go bye-bye"
"cookie. yummy."
"yummy, yummy, yummy."
"eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair." (while you point to each body part)
"yucky! ew! ick! yuckies!"
"poop butt" (I attribute this phrase to some digestive issues you had in December. I have to try really hard not to laugh when you point to your bum and say "poop butt!")
"EVAN!" (whenever you can't find your brother)
"sorry"
"PHONE!" (when the phone rings)
"all done. down. all done. down." (after you is finished eating and/or throwing your food on the floor)

... and before bed Daddy and I say "I love you, Jack", and you respond with "too, Mommy. too, Daddy." Melts my heart every time. I wish you could stay this little forever.

We love you, sweet boy.

xoxo,
Mommy.






21 months old

A day at the beach + a few more photos.

The Beach.

When I visited Florida back in 1999, one of my most vivid memories is the beach in Cocoa. I loved the warm salt water of the Atlantic ocean, the beautiful sandy beaches, and the the warm breeze coming in off the water. When Mark and I took the kids the beach in Melbourne on Sunday, it was exactly how I remembered it.

I have to say that Mark and I didn't prepare for this trip very well. The kids were in pants, we didn't bring towels or extra clothes, and we didn't have "beach stuff". Evan pointed out to me several times that we need to bring "beach stuff" next time.


A view to the north from our spot on the beach.


Jack was very unsure of the sand. Specifically wet, sticky sand. He didn't mind the dry sand, but when we walked on the wet sand he sat on his bottom with his hands in the air. Can you tell by the look on his face that he had no interest in touching it?


Running away from a wave.


I love this shot of Evan and Mark. They spent over an hour running in and out of the water, trying not to be knocked over by the waves.




My attempt at a group photo before heading home. The sun was too bright for Evan, and Jack couldn't wait to get out of the sand (he would hold up a single piece of sand, hand it to me, and say "ick!"), so this is the best I could do.


And a palm tree. I love taking pictures of the palm trees :-)

A few more.


Jack loves walking along the sidewalk in front of our house. Mark and I have to be careful because he likes to bolt down the sidewalk as fast as his 21-month-old feet will take him.


Silly boy :-)


Taking a rest.


Painting with sponges. Jack's favorite part was painting his hands, the table, his high chair, and every other surface that wasn't the paper...


... including his forehead.


Jack and pup-pup.


Evan and Rocket.


Playing on the patio before lunch.












Mark and I enrolled Evan in a new school & he has his first day tomorrow. He will be going five days a week, which is a big change from his schedule in Ohio. He has talked a lot about how much he misses his friends from Ohio and that he wants to go back to school. It broke my heart when we had to pull him from Cornerstone. His teacher was simply wonderful, and he talked about his friends constantly. I hope this school is a good fit for him & our family.

Have a lovely week, friends.

xoxo,

Erin.