Playing at the Park

Spring is finally here! This last week has been beautiful and the snow has finally melted enough for us to go to outside to play. We have a great little park right down the street from our house and Tyler and I finally took Neal for the first time. Neal's favorite part of the playground was the big wheel and the big curly slide. I forgot to get a picture of him on the curly slide but he was all grins when sliding down it and would immediately ask to go again. I have a feeling we will be visiting the park quite a bit this summer, even Yawkey enjoyed running around.




This video from the park just makes me laugh. Neal wanted to try and climb up the slide. It didn't work out as well as he thought...it was a lot harder then anticipated, and frustrating after a few attempts. I like to call this video "Neal on a treadmill"

Easter

This was Neal's second Easter and we had a wonderful celebration. We slept in Easter morning and then all got ready to go to church out in Palmer with Grandfather and GiGi. GiGi was singing in the choir for Easter service and we got to sit with Grandfather and listen. Neal sat on Grandfathers lap almost the entire service and loved all the singing, he even tried singing along to some of the songs. We then headed back to the property and spent the whole day with Tyler's family.



Since Neal is only a year old I knew that all the fun kid activities for Easter were a bit too old for him. I found a little felt "basket" that Neal had gotten at one of his friends birthday parties and filled it with some of his favorite matchbox cars. Pulling out his already favorite cars from a "basket" was great fun for him. It was just as special as getting an Easter basket with new toys but better, since we don't really need any more toys in this house. Next year we'll introduce him to the fun of an easter egg hunt and maybe even some egg decorating.

Stash Project

I have been brainstorming the last few weeks of things/toys that would be good to entertain Neal when we fly to Seattle next month. Neal's favorite toys are his little matchbox cars, but they are hard to carry around without loosing being so small. I found this great little car carrier/road mat that a friend had and decided to make one for Neal. The best thing is that I had almost all the supplies I needed already. The only thing I actually bought was a little fat quarter of car fabric for the outside. So here is Neal's new toy for the plane or anywhere else he wants to take his cars...



He already loves taking the cars in and out of the little pockets. The idea of making a stash project, using what I already have, is a great way to use the loads of fabric I have stored away here at home. I am linking up my stash project idea with others on my friends website here...

What better way to spring clean then to start using all that extra fabric you have sitting around.

Embracing the Camera

I found this blog the other day and every Thursday the gal who writes the blog challenges her readers to "embrace the camera." What does that mean you might ask, well here is the idea:

Do you have pictures of yourself, with your little ones? These days many of us are always behind the lens...rather in front of it. If you are anything like me you feel much more comfortable behind the lens rather then in front of it. I mean really, who wants a picture of themselves in the sweat pants that you've worn for a third day in a row, or that t-shirt with the PB&J stain from your kids lunch that afternoon. Not to mention the way my hair looks by the end of a busy morning/afternoon, especially if I haven't had time to hit the shower yet. I may think that I don't want those pictures...but I'm sure my son does- or, at least he will one day. Just think how fun it was for you to see old pictures of you as a kid with your parents. Isn't it fun to look back at those pictures and memories, nothing compares to memories with family. So, I would like to make sure my kids have those pictures to look at and memories to share with me and my husband. I want them to have an abundance of pictures...to remind them of these days that we spent at home together. So...Let's embrace the camera.


My picture this week is of Neal and I after shopping at Costco. We bought a fruit smoothie to share and he loved it. How fun that he can drink out of a straw now like a "big boy". I think he drank over 50% of the smoothie...


Will you embrace the camera?

Weekend at GiGi's

Well not technically the weekend but it sure felt like a weekend. Tyler had a some work to do up north and was going to be gone for two days so Neal and I decided to spend a few days with GiGi up in Palmer. We went out Thursday afternoon and stayed 'till Friday evening.

Neal had a great time playing and spending time with his GiGi and Grandfather. There were so many fun "new" toys to play with.




Neal also acted as quality control and entertainment for his GiGi and I while we spent the day quilting. We worked on piecing together quilt squares for my sister-in-laws wedding quilt. The whole table was taken over with fabric and sewing machines and soon the walls were being covered with finished squares. Neal joined us from time to time at the quilting table but only if there was food involved :)




This little trip made me really excited for this summer. I think we are going to have a lot of fun up at GiGi's property once the snow melts. There is lots of room to run around and lots of fun farm animals to see.


It has felt like an extra long weekend already, in a good way. With two days in Palmer fallowed by the real weekend her at home it was been a delightful few days.

Mommy's little helper

Just thought you might like to see what great help I have around the house each day...



Besides helping with laundry Neal also loves to help unload the dishwasher and vacuum. He ends each chore with shouts of joy and clapping for a job well done. I have the best help in world, and the cutest (in my opinion)....but all that work sure does wear my little helper out.