Full House/ Muffins/ Tobin loves me.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 48

     Spent the day at my parent's house. Me, Adelyn, Tobin, Patty, Casey, Sophia, Shane, and my parents. It was definitely a full house. The kids worked on some crafty things in the kitchen. They played with all the cool toys that Omi has. We played outside for about 15 minutes before we called it quits. It was way too cold and windy out today for little ones. Had some lovely things to eat. Homemade chicken noodle soup, homemade muffins, grilled cheese sandwiches. My family is on a major grilled cheese kick at the moment. Again, I'm in awe of how my Dad will just whip something up with no recipe involved. He wanted to make muffins. So he just made them. No recipe. Who does that? And not just any old muffin. Pecan muffins with a cinnamon and pecan crumble topping. Filled with a sweet cream cheese filling. They tasted more like cupcakes than muffins, honestly. They were the best muffins I've ever had. I know someone might be reading this thinking, come on, the best muffins you've ever tasted? Give me a break. But somewhere out there, someone's Dad really does make the best muffins in the world. Why can't it be my Dad? And his muffins?

     My Mom and I tried to escape to Trader Joe's while Tobin was sleeping, and Adelyn and Casey were busy watching, The Lorax. We got a call halfway through our shopping trip. Tobin was up. And he wasn't happy I was gone. Makes me smile when I think about how much he needs me.

     Thankful for a full house. A full house that is filled with the sound of children playing, laughter, and love. Thankful for my Dad, and the best muffins in the world. Thankful for my short trip to the store with my Mom. Any amount of girl time these days, no matter how short, is treasured. I love talking with my Mom. I'm blessed to call her one of my best friends. But, then again, I'm blessed to call every member of my family my best friend. I'm seriously blessed. Thankful that my sweet Tobin loves me and needs me so much.

     P.S. Something else that made me smile today was this: Shane came into the kitchen when we first arrived wearing mesh shorts. Adelyn took one puzzled look at him, and said, "Those are my Dada's pants."

Best muffins ever.

Adelyn slurping some delicious soup.

This was taken after we all devoured the whole pot. Only a bit was left...

THIS is one of two pictures I could capture of Casey boy today. He is moving WAY too fast lately.

No joke, this is how Tobin sleeps EVERY single night. Both hands behind his head.

Sweet sleeping Goose.

The Art of the Silly Dance

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 47

     Adelyn loves to dance. All the time. Even when there is no music playing. Which, in my opinion, is sometimes, the best kind of dancing. It means my girl has soul. Sometimes, I think about the fact that my neighbors could look in my window at any time, and see me dancing with Addy quite clearly. Especially when we dance after dinner. We never shut the blinds until the sun has completely set. Therefore, at dusk, watching the spectacle that is me dancing with Addy must be too hard to resist staring at. Sometimes, I think about it. But, I always push the thought away as quickly as it comes. Because I learned the art of the silly dance when I was a child.

     My Dad first taught me the art of the silly dance. My Dad, when he dances, is the silliest of all silly dancers. It could make the most sour person smile. He would silly dance with Patty and I all the time. He was great at it. He taught us well.

     The other two people who taught me the art of the silly dance was my Mom, and my Grandma. (Us kids call her, Gamie.) We were at my Gamie's house. The men were probably out hunting or fishing...or doing some manly thing. So, it was just us girls inside. I'll never forget the song that was playing during our silly dance. "Now, I've had the time of my life, No, I've never felt this way before, Yes, I swear, It's the truth, and I owe it all to you..." There's a video of us dancing that day actually. We would all take turns dancing down the room. We put on wigs. Dress up clothes. And we danced to that song. Over and over again.

     See, the art of the silly dance is this: you just dance. Doesn't matter what you look like. Doesn't matter who may see you. In fact, if someone is watching, it's all the better. You dance just because. Just to be silly, and to have fun. And if at any time, you stop to wonder what you look like, or who is watching, it ceases to be a silly dance. It ceases to be an art. And you might as well stop dancing if that happens.

     Thankful for my Dad, my Mom, and Gamie. Who taught me at a young age that dancing should never be reserved for special occasions. And that when one is dancing, one should be silly. Which is kind of the best rule ever.

Omi and Adelyn moonbouncing.

This was the only picture of Casey I could get the whole night. He moves too quick for the camera, sometimes!

February 15th

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 46

     Thirteen years ago, Matt and I began our journey together. Today is the anniversary of us. The very beginning. I made him chocolate chip cookies for Valentine's Day the day before. That must of sealed the deal...

     It's amazing to think where we were then, and where we are now. Then, we were in high school. Senior year. Just started dating. Today, we had a family day. We took our two sweet babies to go visit my Grandparents at their new house.

     Thankful for February 15th. It always makes me remember our journey together. And how far...how very far we've come.

     I'm also so very thankful that my Grandparents live so close now. It was awesome to see them, and their new home. Our kids had a blast, and we can't wait to go back and check out all the playgrounds, and the lake, and the beach. I'm thankful that my children get to make memories with my Grandparents. Two people who are very special and important to me. Two people with whom I've made many a lasting childhood memory.

My guy looking super sharp today.

Just some Burberry shoes to match his Burberry outfit. It was a hand-me-down from Casey boy, who got it from someone who obviously doesn't know that one shouldn't buy Burberry outfits for babies, because they only get to wear them once before they grow out of it. But hey, he looked way cute in it!

Sophia smiling. Tobin chewing.

Check out Sophia's face here!

Busy.

No words needed.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 45

    
     Just. Thankful. On this day, Valentine's Day, I'm thankful for the love of my two sweet ones. It was a tough day around here for everyone, but at the end of the day, I'm thankful because even on very tough days at our house, there is enough love to go around, and around, and around again, and then some.

Why do you love Dada?

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 44

     "Why do you love Dada?" That was the question I asked Adelyn today. I was helping her make a Valentine card for Matt, and she just wasn't into coloring or decorating the card like she usually is. So, I improvised. We decorated the outside of the card together, and on the inside was a list of questions and answers. I would ask a question like, "what is Dada's favorite treat?" Her response, "jelly beans!" (Which is not correct by the way...) Another question was, "what do you like to do with Dada?" Her response, "I like to go to the gaygound with Dada." (Translation: gaygound means playground.) Her answers were all very sweet. But, my favorite was this question and answer: "Adelyn, why do you love Dada?" Her response, "I love Dada!" I asked again, "Addy, but why do you love Dada?" Her response, "I love Dada!"

     Her answer made me realize something. Children love unconditionally. She doesn't need a reason to love Matt. She loves him. Plain and simple.

     Even Tobin, at his young age, shows unconditional love. Matt walks over to him, smiles, and says, "hi buddy, hey Tobin, how are you?" And Tobin always answers him the same way: with a huge smile. It's as if he's saying, "oh, there's that guy again...I love him." I guess some might argue that he's smiling because that's just how babies are. They just smile at whoever smiles at them. But, I know him. I've been there since the first minute. I know what his smiles mean. Smiles, facial expressions, crying...that's his language. I understand his language. In a way no one else ever can. And I know, his huge smile for Matt means, "I love you." Mothers know these things.

     Thankful for Adelyn and Tobin who continuously teach me about love. And how to love. And why to love.

The Sun

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 43

     I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. Most days, I despise the sun. Probably just because I hate the heat. Like seriously, I hate the heat. I hate to be hot. It makes me insane. It makes me mad.

     However, there are rare days like today--when there isn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun is shining brightly--that I love it. From the moment I woke up, I wanted to get out. I wanted to run out the front door and soak in the sun. Guess I'm in need of some Vitamin D.

     When I was out with my kids today, I noticed something else about the sun. It brings out the most beautiful qualities in my children's eyes and hair. There is something about the bright light of the sun that allows you to see very clearly things that you were missing before. Things like the many different colors and shades of blue in both Adelyn's and Tobin's eyes. The most beautiful blues I've ever seen. Each tiny shade of blue overlapping with the next to create a blue that seems almost artificial.

     Adelyn's blond hair is so beautiful in the sunlight. She must have at least 20 different shades of blond on her head. It's amazing, really. You can pick out dirty blond, honey blond, platinum blond, white...it's amazing hair. I want to take her to the salon, and say, "see her hair, make my hair look like hers." And Tobin's hair in the sunlight is looking white blond. Matt had blond hair so blond as a kid that it was basically white. I think Tobin's hair will end up looking that way. His dark hair is ever so slowly fading, and as the sun revealed today, he has tiny white hairs all over now.

     Thankful that we got outside today, and got some fresh air. Thankful the sun reminded me today of just how gorgeous my babies are.

Roxy enjoying the fresh air.

Activities for outside.

Going fishing.

She got one!

She's not drinking the water, I swear. Btw...Matt took the last three pics!