Twinkle Toes

A few days ago, I took my girls to the shoe store to find some good, sturdy, outdoor shoes for them to play outside with.

The first mistake I made, was turning my back.

I turned away for a moment to check out the shoes and within seconds, Ariana had spied a pair that she fancied, put them on and was utterly and madly in love.


The second mistake I made, was trying to take those shoes off.


Being the practical Mama that I am, surely nothing other than what I came for (sturdy outdoor shoes) would do. Besides, we are in a recession and all. So, I pried those shoes off her feet after a while and


major
meltdown
ensued


Now- those of you who know me- know that I'm not one to give into a temper tantrum. So, I did NOT put those shoes back on. But, ladies, I do have a heart. And to see how much she adored those shoes, I could not leave the store without them.

They are far from sturdy...




But one could argue that they might be practical (good for stylin around the house, looking good while lounging around reading books).



But, one thing is for sure, they are most certainly fit for a princess!

Weekend

This has truly been a beautiful weekend. The weather has been amazing! We've been able to spend a ton of time outside. On Saturday, we ventured over to a local park reserve area. The kids played on a giant playground (which proved to be a little too stressful for me, considering the number of other kids/families there! I could never find my kids!!). But after a while of chasing them around the playground- we walked by the beautiful lake where families were grilling, boating and people were fishing. It was the epitome of "Memorial Day Weekend!"

Here a few pictures of our Saturday.

Tuckered out Ariana...


Daddy & his kiddos...


Showing Ariana ducks on the lake...


Best Friends!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Angela

Mother's Day!

We don't have a ton of "traditions" in our home, but one that we DO have, and that I've been come especially fond of, is Mother's Day morning. For the last 7 years, Mike has made me a delicious breakfast of crepes, scrambled eggs & toast and brought me breakfast in bed. That's saying a lot, considering that he just doesn't cook.... other than that one morning a year!

After breakfast, we usually read the paper, get the kids ready and go for a hike. Though I'm normally a church goin' girl on Sunday morning's- it has become a tradition for us to go hiking because I really cherish and covet that time alone with just my children and my husband- but we also get together with my own mother and sister every Mother's Day afternoon, as well.

This year, we headed out to the Arboretum. Though it started out chilly- within an hour the sun came out and the weather turned glorious!

Here's a picture of my little family. Not bad, considering that it was taken the self timer of my DLSR! Perhaps not a perfect shot- but usually none are when you are trying to get 5 people in the same frame... all looking the same way and smiling!

The kids had a blast playing on (what we have come to call) the "Stick Park." It's a whole play area for kids to explore outdoors and the only things to play with or climb on are all made out of logs and wood. The kids LOVE it! Mike says- if we lived on 20 acres, he'd build us a stick park. That makes me laugh because he's not, what I'd call, a craftsman by any stretch of the imagination.

We also headed through the shrub maze. What a wonderful place for the kids to explore! You've gotta watch out for those big kids racing through - but all in all, it's the perfect game for the little ones...

I sure love being a Mommy. It's not always easy- but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures! This will likely be the only post you'll ever see with so many pictures of mwaaa in them... since I'm always the one behind the lens. But because it was, ahem, MOTHER'S DAY- I insisted!

"I'M the PRINCESS!"

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that out of my 2 year olds mouth, I'd be a rich lady. I have no idea where she got this notion. Though we adore our little girls, we don't necessarily adorn them with tiaras and lace the way some little girls parents do. Of course, you'll see the occasional bow in my daughter's hair, that is true. But nothing ostentatious.

Nevertheless, somewhere along the way, my 2 year old decided that she's 'the princess!' and it's something she likes to remind us throughout the day. Lately, she's been demanding to wear fancy costume gowns when we dress in the morning. And there she goes, about her day, dressed like Cinderella- just relaxing and reading books like any princess would do, natch!



And if I don't give in to her "diva" demands to wear a gown- I will usually give in and allow her to wear a comfortable dress. Though generally she insists on tights to compliment her outfit...



Different day... different dress.



I think I can still find a smidgen of "tomboy" somewhere inside there (notice playing trucks with Dad). But even if she's going to play with cars, she's not about to do so without a dress on!



And for those rare occasions I deny her a dress, believe me- she will FIND a way to dress up and "princess-ize" her outfit...



Because, there is just no mistaking it...

She's the Princess!