::Two::

Ian's turned two yesterday, but the celebration actually began earlier in the week when we made our way down to the river,

We threw down a blanket and kicked off our shoes,

Ian's best buddy Sylvan was there. Remember him? Ian and Sylvan go way back! 

It's so fun to watch these boys grow up and mark each milestone together. (Happy Birthday to Sylvan today!)

Then, last night, on his real birthday, we had friends for dinner.

We ate blue jello cloud parfaits,

and Cookie Monster Cake.

(This was easy to make. I just used the frosting that you can squirt from a can for the fur, and crushed oreos for the the mouth!)

We adults were happy that there was some cake left-over after the kids were served!

Oh that boy! I wondered if I should be more sad about my baby turning 2. He's the last one for me you know? One of the sweetest moments of the day came when my midwife called me and retold me his birth story. It seems like a lifetime ago. Thoughtful of her to remind me that it wasn't. 

Instead, I find myself smiling as I think about how he can make a crazy huge mess in record time, how he prefers cheese over any other kind of food, how he sprays me with the garden hose, how his buns look in his big-boy underwear, and how he kisses me more than anyone else in this entire house! He keeps me on my toes and keeps me humble. If not for him I might think I know a thing or two about how to raise children. It turns out that I don't actually know much at all.

It's all new with him, and I'm happy for that because it makes for a lifetime of great adventure. Happy Birthday Son. I love you. 

week's end iPhone dump

Monday: sunburned

Tuesday: planting lettuce

Wednesday: out to lunch

Thursday: date night

Friday: yogurt and pjs, coffee to go, playing at the park, and afternoon run

It's fun to look back over the last few days and see all the good stuff. I love keeping track of simple things.

Guess who turns TWO tomorrow?  Can't believe how fast time goes. We all say that don't we? What if we lived like we really understood that? I'm eating cake tomorrow. Hope it turns out!!

downpour

We had thunder, lightning, and rain earlier this week.  Yesterday afternoon the clouds again approached slowly and I was a little giddy, hoping, hoping! for more. I could smell the rain in the air- fresh and mossy. There's nothing like a good downpour. I'm not talking about the constant gray drizzle that I grew up with. I'm talking about big, huge, splashy raindrops- maybe even a little warm.

We were in luck. It caught me and the kids coming out of costco with a cart full of stuff, and I'm glad it did! We made a mad dash to the car, screaming and squealing. Wearing sandals, short sleeves, and a skirt, I was soaked! Even the mascara was running down my face. I'm sure it was quite a sight. So fun!

Storms like that make me come alive a little bit. Do they do that to you? Don't they sort of set you free from your inhibitions? Don't they make you want to hold hands and run through the puddles? Kiss under an umbrella? Snuggle under a blanket by the window, counting the seconds between the flashes of light and the rumbles of thunder? 

So perfect, an unexpected little adventure. Let's do that more often.