++Life These Days++

I'm not sure words are necessary as the story tells itself.  She's always up to something.  There's a lot of activity.  A lot of supply moving.  Singing, talking, chatter.  Favorite Baby is usually along for the ride.  Busy, busy, busy in her own little world.

++Life these days++

On this day, Wyatt was so thrilled about discovering that he could swing his Lovey around with his eyes closed that he asked me to take his picture so he could see what he looked like.  We spent a good twenty minutes on this little project.  And that, my friends, is the glamorous life of a stay-at-home mom.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

++Egg Hunting++

I think this year we officially had the hang of egg hunting.  You may recall we've done a few of these before.   Here, here and here.  Phew.  Glad I'm getting my money out of that Easter basket!

We do a fun egg hunt in our neighborhood park.  I like it because the eggs are actually hidden so it takes longer than about thirty seconds to complete it.  It also didn't hurt that Wyatt was at the upper end of the 5-and-under group. 

 Claire even had the hang of things this year.  If nothing else, she looked cute.

 It's photos like these that make a parent proud.  Here's Wyatt helping Claire find eggs. 

 Wyatt and Cooper showing off their loot. 

 Claire couldn't wait to sample her goodies.

 The three buddies of the cul de sac. 

 Sometimes it's hard to tell if Claire likes chocolate or not.

++Tulips and Trucks++

 Did I mention before that I'm taking round two of my photo class?  I'll blame my lack of timely blogging updates with spending any free computer time working on stuff for that class.  The good news?  I've been taking lots of photos so there's lots to share as I get around to posting it. 

Spring was VERY late to arrive this year.  I still don't know what's normal but according to the news, this is not normal.  I just think they keep telling us lies like this so we don't leave en masse.  Anyway, one of the great harbingers of spring is the Skagit Valley tulip festival.  I guess these fields do a large part of supplying tulips all over the country.  Who knew?  They were sure pretty to look at!  All those colored stripes.  Even the kids had fun.

 I kept telling them to smell the flowers even though tulips don't smell like much.  It kept them engaged enough to snap some photos.

 Wyatt brought his binoculars. 

 This was pretty much the highlight for Claire.  I honestly used to wonder who would ever wear rubber boots enough to justify owning them...then we moved here.

 So cool.

 I think the signs probably said not to touch the flowers.  She can't read and I was too busy taking pictures so hopefully they'll cut us some slack.

 Love this kid. 

 This one is a keeper too.

 My web research before we left tipped me off to a once-a-year open house at the nearby PACCAR test facilitiy.  For those of you who aren't up on your large trucks, PACCAR manufactures all sorts of trucks, including Peterbilt and some others.  For those of you who aren't up on your 4-year-old boys, large trucks that you can see and touch=heaven. 

 Think we would make a good long-haul trucking team?  To be honest, I think this may have been the first time I was ever in a semi cab.  Remember my previous post about raising boys?  See all the fabulous new life experiences I'm gaining?

++Artist Trading Cards++

I was tipped off to a super-fun kids activity from a blog I read. Kids are supposed to create little trading cards of their art and mail them off to a group of other kids from around the country.  In return, Wyatt received all of their cards in the mail too.  I guess this is a well-known thing and they even sell little pre-cut cards at craft stores. 
Here are Wyatt's masterpieces.

 His mediums were Cray-Pas, glitter and googly eyes. 

Don't you love that his monsters and robots have hearts?

 This whole thing was so up my alley.  He had lots of fun too.  Oh--and did I mention that one of the artists was from New Zealand?  I was annoyed we had to make a trip to the post office to mail hers UNTIL we received our card from her and on the envelope was a fabulous Kate and Will stamp.  If I wasn't lazy I would photograph it for you (YES I kept it!)

++Life these days++

This is what it looks like when you need to fix the toilet and you have a two and four-year-old in the house. 

No joke, this was the highlight of Wyatt's day.  He couldn't wait for Mark to get home to tell him they had a project to tackle.  He is always begging to take the lid off so he can see the "motor".  This kid is totally mechanically minded.  I have NO idea where it came from.  I'm so glad God makes all kinds.  It's going to be great to have him in our house.

Also...I had to look at this a few times.  I don't think Claire's mouth is on the toilet.  Please tell me her mouth wasn't on the toilet.  Maybe it's better not to photograph these things so details like that go unnoticed.  Well, maybe if I wasn't trying to photograph these things I might notice my daughter's mouth on the toilet in the first place.  I can't win.

++Meet Murphy++

**Note--if things go as planned I will overload you with posts over the next few days.  I am so behind.  If things go as they usually do, I won't get to it.  We'll see!**

I'd like to introduce you to a visitor we've had in our house a few times this year: the class dog, Murphy. 

 It's amazing.  You take a little stuffed dog, give him a name and a collar and send him home with the kids one by one and they go nuts.  You can always tell which kid got Murphy for the night because he/she literally runs out of class beaming.  Murphy gets the royal treatment at our house.  Wyatt made sure he had dinner.

 And even played a little soccer with him. 

I think we could all gain a little perspective from the joy our kids get from something as simple as the honor of caring for the class "pet" for the night.