Wordless Wednesday

March Photo Faves

A collection of random photos from the past week follow...

We headed out to Ben&Jerries for free ice cream with our donation to autism research.  Meredith tried her hardest to get the very last bit of ice cream out of the cone, without actually eating the cone

Reminding Mommy that she needs to vacuum. 

Lucas painting with his favorite color - GREEN!

Luc trying on Daddy's new glasses...

They are from the army - the new version of their standard eye protection are much classier. 

Check out a few more photos of the littles

over at

http://domesticallydevon.blogspot.com/

Super Saturday

This Saturday was filled with fun, sun-up to sun-down. 

We build a kaleidoscope at Lowe's. 

Then spent another hour or so collecting wood and a few other supplies for a project we will be working on!

Sorry, I don't want to share what it is right now to help keep you interested :)

Lucas was super dooper excited about everything, and loved the scrap wood that he got to take home.

After a lunch break, we headed up to a car event, that brought all dealerships to one parking lot.

The event was a big hassle for car salesmen, (as said by carsalesmen to us)

but wonderful for us!

We were able to look at ALL the vehicles we have flirted with getting, across many brands.

Meredith found what she wanted... 

Lucas had already jumped in the driver's seat and was ready to roll!

Safety first!

After our car exploration, we went searching for a bug catcher. 

Just to let you know, if you ask someone for a bug catcher, they have no idea what you are talking about.

Infact, they look at you like you are crazy.

We went into every store you can imagine and FINALLY found one in Richard's favorite store.

And in case you are one of those people who looked at us bug-eyed when we asked what a bug catcher is...here is a photo JUST FOR YOU.

To top it all off, we ate dinner at a BUFFET and

Lucas had a B-L-A-S-T!

He wanted some of everything, ate amazingly well and we even let him try gummy bears for the first time.

Are we great parents or what?

How did you spend your Saturday??

Slide!

My Meredith typically sticks to the little slide.  She is quite independent and wants to things all by herself.

Sometimes she is willing to give in and accept Mommy's help, so she can go on the bigger slide.

But about three days ago, Meredith, who is still an itty-bitty, pulled herself up the steps.

You may not be impressed by this video, but this is the first time my little one has every achieved this.

(Okay, that is a lie, she did it like three times before I recorded her!) 

How Does your Garden Grow?

If you remember, this past weekend we planted seeds with the kids.

Although Richard thought it would be a while before anything came up, those seeds showed him a thing or two!

Ours has already sprouted!

The little seedlings are so cute. 

Note to others:  Do not let 3-year-olds touch these cute little greenies.  They will be pulled from their home.

Night Night

Lately, bedtime has been a struggle. 

Meredith has been out of control, begging for one more story, throwing tantrums when I say now....

Begging to go downstairs, screaming forever when I leave her from frustration....

Although it is a fight, she is still super cute with her pouty face.

Lucas will patiently wait in his bed, listening to Meredith fight us. 

I sneak in to steal kisses and he always greets me with a smile.

And he always begs for me to take another photo.

This is him "pretending to sleep".

I hope you have sweet dreams too!

The Avett Brothers

You may not know this about me, but in college I was part of the Activities Council.  We planned all the major events on campus. 

I really enjoyed being a part of the planning process.....I have a friend who actually went into event planning after college and is very successful..... 

I still dream about it.  But until then, I will stick to planning birthday parties for my children....

One of the things for which the Activites Council was responsible included bringing music to the campus. 

I don't remember how we found them, but we invited this band to the school.
We absolutely LOVED them.

The Avett Brothers were a group from Charlotte, NC just getting their feet wet. 

They were young and attractive.
They were very bluegrassy. 
They were lovely.
They had just recorded a record with only a few songs.  I have the album autographed.

Now they are breaking it big. 
They have signed with Columbia Records.
They have been on talk shows. 
They are on the mainstream radio. 

I will link you to their current cut "I and Love and You":




I know this music isn't for everyone...but that goes for every style. 
But I think it is pretty cool that my school helped act as a platform for getting this band on its feet. 

I hope they stand tall for a long while.

Blogging

In the past few months, this blog has started to incorporate various things that don't necessarily apply to my original intent...to share the changes my children experience as they grow. 

I have included crafts I am doing, recipes, and projects I have completed. 

I sometimes do multiple posts.
I sometimes do not include the mass amount of photos because they don't seem to "fit." 

I wanted a place where I could make the hodgepodge fit.  I enjoy being able to post this information and don't want the ideas to get lost.

After much deliberation, I decided to start a second blog. 

I would love if you would join me as I continue to share information that pertains more to ME than my family as a whole. 

Please visit    http://domesticallydevon.blogspot.com

Sandbox

When we purchased our home in Oklahoma, this sandbox was left behind among other things.

We have loved this Ladybug.

Dixie used it as a swimming pool.

Lucas used it as a swimming pool.

Then we even used it as a sandbox!

As our kids have grown, the size of the sandbox is way too little for them both to enjoy it.

We purchased a larger one a few months ago, and finally are setting it up!

When moving the ladybug, we found another animal underneath....

A salamander FAMILY

Here is the baby....

Do you see him?

Here is another look, after we sent him running (squirmming) scared.

Lucas examining him....

We sent him back to his habitat he created under the sandbox and placed the new one on the same location to help maintain the moisture that was already there...

After pouring the bags of sand we had waiting (for months, under the snow)

The new sandbox is finally in its place.... 

and loved by all!

Sunday: Seed Sowing

A few weeks ago, we chose a few packets of seeds for the kids to plant.

They each chose their own flower packet.

Lucas patiently waited for Daddy to start.

They said "cheese" with their seeds.

 Daddy and Lucas got busy, filling the pods.

Making holes for the seeds

Meredith pulled out her "flower pots" from the sand box.

Lucas was quite excited about the finished product.

Meredith filled and planted the last pods.

The finished product!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for progress!

Green HOT Chili Peppers

During the month of March, Papa John's Pizza is running a $10 pizza special. 

This past Pizza Friday, we picked up a pizza for dinner.

Meredith was very interested in the pepper they include in the box, so we let her try it.

She looked at it.

She licked it. 

She shoved the entire thing in her mouth.

I don't have a photo of her actually taking a bite, but SHE hated it! 

Spring has Sprung!

Happy March 20th - the first day of spring! 

The snow has officially melted from our shady front yard....

The trees are budding...

The lawnmowers have emmerged...

The littles are playing kickball....

The birds are being fed....

(I know they should be fed all year, but seriously, is this a great photo or what?!)

The days of hide and seek have begun...

As have the days of relaxing in the shade, with a good book.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Shopping

My mother will tell you that I have always loved shopping.  Even as an infant, I could happily sit for hours... being in and out of the car, and in and out of stores. 

Now I am not sure if this characteristic is attributed to my own personality or the fact that capital punishment was allowed in my family, but somehow, spanking or not, I still LOVE shopping....

I see it as therapy. 

I can go for hours.  I don't even have to buy anything....just being in a store and looking and touching (I suck at internet shopping unless I know exactly what I am looking for!)

I get a high.  I am happy.  I am relaxed. 

Unfortunately, I have a few issues with shopping with children.....okay, let's be honest.  I have MANY issues with shopping with children. 

I am in superspeed.  I am distracted.  I am stressed. 

Where is the therapy in that? 

There is none. 

Wait!  It gets worse. 

I almost always shop for my children when I am out.  I cater my shopping to kid friendly stores. 

I go to Toys R US for fun. 

Jo Ann's  - no thank you, my child always has to use the bathroom when we are in there and you won't give us your key.  I have decided to stop shopping there all together at this point. 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go out on my own - ALONE. 

I park my car. 

I walk toward a store and feel like I have forgotten something.  Oh wait!  My kids are not in the car.

I go inside and get a cart.  I place my purse in the cart and begin perusing the clothing racks directly in front of me.

I suddenly feel very strange.

Why am I the only one in this store with a cart? 
                  I tell myself "Who cares?!  I know my kids aren't with me but I am using it for my purse!"

Wait, why am I the only one in this store with a purse the size of a suitcase?
                   I tell myself "Well, oversized purses are good even if you aren't storing cups and diapers in it.  You can carry a drink for yourself!  Hydration is the key to youth." 

I make it about five more steps before I pick up my purse, which must weigh 10 pounds without the excess baggage and casually abandon my cart. 

I continue to peruse the clothing racks.  I realize that I am the only one in the store who isn't college age. 
Wait!  I see a mom....she doesn't have a cart either.  Okay, I can continue shopping without my cart.  I can still see my cart though....just in case I change my mind.

By the time I make it to the back of the store, I am cursing myself for not having a cart. 

I wonder how I shop with a purse and a cart and 2 kids. 

I shake off my need for a cart and tell myself I can do this!

I re-evaluate my choices and decide that 2 pieces are worthless because they aren't "kid-friendly" - which translates into machine washable without falling to pieces. 

I realize I have dried snot on my shoulder.
I again become super self-conscious.  I don't have a child with me, to help convience people that I don't use my own shirt to wipe my nose.  I switch my purse the the opposite shoulder to try to cover it.
It doesn't work....

At that point, I walk toward the checkout in hopes of getting out as soon as possible.

Who would have thought that a shopping trip without my kids would be more stressful than one with them??

Sewing Project: Lucas' Valance!

You may remember this post featuring Lucas' new dinosaur blanket!

What I didn't show you was Lucas' new dinosaur valance!

Using the remaining fabric from the blanket project, I constructed a matching valance! 

Lucas gaves it two thumbs up, and I am happy because I have serious issues about matching!