Photo A Day

Dear Diary,

I got this idea from another blog that I read sometimes. I figure I enjoy taking pictures and now that I have a smart phone, it makes it easier to snap photos on the spot. Soooo, starting tomorrow - "Photo A Day" for the month of June!

Sincerely Yours,

Lindsey 

Nature Hunt

Dear Diary,

I am just going to go ahead and assume most of my blog posts during the summer months are going to be about the activities we partake in.

Today's activity: Nature Hunt

I don't know how the idea came to me, I just know Addy got super excited at the mention of it so off I went whipping one up.

I thought of things she might find on a nature walk, printed some pictures to glue into a booklet, and found a bag for her to keep her findings in. For anyone thinking a nature hunt is a good idea, DO NOT include a feather as an item to find. I thought it would be an easy one... not so much. And of course a feather was the only item she REALLY wanted to find. We went home featherless but I have promised we would search again another time and I have no doubt she'll hold me to it.

As with any outside activity, bugs got in the way. Addy is terrified to put it mildly and she was sprinting away from every ant, dragonfly or "crawly thing" that came her way. I am not sure how to overcome this fear but I hope the more I make her get in the middle of it, the faster she'll learn to not be afraid. Either that or she'll get stung by a bee and hate my guts forever.

I didn't have time to take many pictures as I was on bug and stroller duty but here are a few shots from our hunt.

Sincerely Yours,



Once Upon A Library

Dear Diary,

Like most mornings, I asked myself, "What are we going to do today?" I had no plans besides a grocery store run and finishing two loads of laundry. I decided a trip to the public library was a good idea. Books are Addalyn's favorite thing in the entire world and the nerd in me LOVES a good library so off we went.

Addy had a blast looking through the aisles and even though I steered her away from a couple of book choices that I found lame, she did the picking herself - a tale of a tall giraffe, a dog that turns "werepup" under a full moon, a bear trying to find his way and two Clifford the Big Red Dog books.

Going to the library as a child is one of my favorite memories. As I was using the self checkout today I realized things are slightly different than they used to be. I remember waiting for the librarian to stamp our books before we left and today I didn't need a librarian at all. I scanned my card, let the electronic mat scan my book, printed my receipt and headed out the door.

I would like to say that I wish things were how they used to be instead of all the technology taking over, but who am I to talk? I have a Kindle and was slightly disappointed when I had to switch over to a regular ol' paperback that I borrowed this week. But, there is something about looking through shelves of books that I just love. I may have to take a break from Kindle reading every now and again just for the satisfaction of going to the library and picking out a book.

I've already read Addy all 5 of her books and she has read them to herself at least twice since we've been home, plus asked to go back to the library again. I have a feeling we  wont need the full 2 week checkout time frame.

Enjoying "Betsy B. Little"

Enjoying non-library books she can't tear up.

Sincerely Yours,

Rain, Rain Don't Go Away

Dear Diary,

Today I am thankful for rain. We have been going and doing a lot this week and I have to say I am happy to have an excuse to just stay home. Not that it hasn't been a fun week - park on Tuesday, picnic on Wednesday, shopping with Granna and Chelsea on Thursday - but sometimes it's just nice to have a rainy, do nothing, kind of day.

And for an update:

Addy fell in the parking lot yesterday and scraped her knee and she is milking it for all its worth. You would think she has 3rd degree burns with as much complaining as she's doing. Drama Queen.

As of last night I am an owner of a smart phone. After researching every option possible, Garrett found a plan that is cheaper than what I was previously paying without Internet. So we made the switch and he spent last night trying to teach me how to use it - almost resulting in a divorce =) haha. Let's just say I am not patient AT ALL and learning new technology is not my strong suit. But hopefully I get the hang of it and don't hate the thing to death like I currently do.

I finished the 3rd book of The Hunger Games series last night. Very glad I decided to read these, but am happy to move on to something else now. I also did see the movie (by myself with only 2 other people in the entire theatre on a Thursday night as any cool person would do) and loved it. Expect me in line at Midnight with all the teeny boppers when Catching Fire comes out.

Here are my reviews:

Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games"    A+

Suzanne Collins, "Catching Fire"     A

Suzanne Collins, "Mockingjay"    A-

They were all "A" quality for sure. As I was told, the first was the best. I really enjoyed the second as well, but probably not quite as much as the first. And the third took me longer to get to that "can't put it down" feeling and I was slightly disappointed with the ending, BUT still very good.

Now to decide what to read next...

Sincerely Yours,

Talk Around The Easel

Dear Diary,

Our park trip today was an eventful one. I helped reunite a lost dog with its owner, Addy was attacked by a bee (or maybe it was just flying a little too close, but I will pretend it was going to destroy her like she thought) and we discovered that Liva has the coolest static hair ever when she slides down the slide.

The three of us tend to be just that, a threesome. We do everything together and it is pretty rare that I get any one on one time with the girls individually. Last night was one of those rare occasions. Liva went to bed early and Dad was busy so I sat down next to Addy at her art easel in the playroom and just soaked in my little 2 1/2 year old baby.

I could listen to Addalyn talk for hours. She is the smartest, funniest kid on he planet and she never ceases to amaze me or make me laugh. I asked her if I could get the camera and tape her and she told me I could. I must have hesitated because after a few seconds she turned and looked me square in the eye and said again, "Yes, you can," as if she really wanted me to get up and get that camera rolling.

It wasn't an outrageous conversation, just a typical Addy conversation, but I am so thankful I got it on tape. Talking to her is one of my favorite things in the world to do and as simple as it is, I am afraid I will forget those moments some day. Now I can turn 2 1/2 year old Addy on anytime I want to and soak in a Mommy/Daughter moment.

I love my girls so much! Have I ever mentioned that?

Sincerely Yours,

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Dear Diary,

I have a few things on my mind this morning as the girls and I have headed down to the playroom. They are as follows:

Phones
I get made fun of a lot for my less than thrilling cell phone. With no Internet and a slide out keyboard it is definitely a blast from the past. I have never been into cell phones and quite frankly could care less what it looks like as long as it makes phone calls and texts. Garrett thinks I am crazy and can't believe picking out the coolest new cell phone doesn't hold a special place in my heart, but it is just not important to me.

It is that time again for me to get a new cell phone and after seeing my non-smart phone options, I am pretty disappointed. Basically my best choice will be the newer version of the phone I have now, which will be the 3rd one of these phones I have gotten. I was kind of hoping for at least a change but I guess T-Mobile doesn't cater to those weirdos who don't want Internet on their phone. I am weighing my options and MAY switch to the dark side, but I really don't want to. I don't need Internet on my phone and to be honest, I think I just like the dare of going 2 more years without it.

Alone Time
I plan on going to the movies by myself this week because 1.) I really want to see the movie, and 2.) the thought of going alone sounds fantastic. If I would look back at my teenage self, I would see someone who would be MORTIFIED to do anything alone. Now, although still probably lame and pathetic, I am jumping at the chance to spend a couple of hours all by myself. The real trick will be getting me there, as we are already 3 days into this week and it hasn't happened yet. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Beauty and the Beast in 3D if that tells you anything. Oh the life of a Mom...

Hallway
I recently repainted, rearranged and revamped my upstairs hallway. I don't have before pictures but just imagine walls the color of blah from when we moved in, a hodgepodge of pictures that didn't go together and a chest that was neat, but I wanted in a different space in my house.

I went for simple and I amd pleased with the outcome. What better way to decorate a hallway than with the people I love? =)

Sincerely Yours,

"Have A Muffin Jessica"

Dear Diary,

The past two days have been slightly irregular for me, meaning I have spent them in somewhat of a grumpy mood. Mother's Day was a great day spent in Pittsburg with my in-laws, but by the time we headed home in the car I could feel a headache starting that came on full force as we pulled in the driveway and remained there until bedtime.

Yesterday I couldn't quite shake my grumpy mood and felt irritated at every false move anyone in this house made, which is a feeling I don't like to have. The typical daily "problems" the girls find themselves in seemed to frustrate me more than usual and by the time I made it home from my late night grocery run (the store is NOT a place to go when you're in a bad mood) I was definitely ready to end this no good, very bad day and go to bed.

As I sat in bed trying to fall asleep I started to think about the past couple of days and began feeling sorry for myself as one tends to do until all of a sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks. What in the world do I have to complain about? I could hardly pinpoint my reasons for being grumpy (although I have a pretty good idea) and here I have let it ruin an entire day. So many people are going through much, much worse problems, if you even want to call my mood a problem, and I am on the verge of tears feeling sorry for myself over nothing!

Needless to say I gave myself a quick kick in the butt and told my sour mood to take a hike. My life is fantastic and I should spend every day being thankful for what I have, not dwelling on the little things that won't even matter come next week. I think humans thrive for a conflict. We enjoy making something out of nothing and we like to be the martyr for whatever reason, but I am through with that. Life is too great to spend time seeking out reasons to be upset.

Everyone deserves a grumpy day, and yesterday was definitely mine. Today is a new day and I am moving on and being thankful for this wonderful life God has given me. The girls are eating breakfast (muffins I whipped up this morning because today WILL be a good day) and then we will spend the afternoon being happy and having fun, because what is there to be sad about?

There is an episode of The Electric Company (one of Addy's shows) that seems to be our favorite in this house. It is all about the "unmuffin," an unbelievably delicious muffin that turns you into the "unversion" of yourself if you take a bite. If you are normally happy, you become sad. If you are normally nice, you become mean. Everyone is trying to get everyone else to "have a muffin" in order to either change into the bad or good version of themselves and the target is a character named Jessica - "Have a muffin Jessica." We tend to use the phrase a lot around this house and today I think it seems appropriate for me to take a second bite of my "unmuffin" so I can turn back into the regular version of myself. Have a muffin Lindsey, have a muffin...

Sincerely Yours,