Livi has a gift to see the pretty in every day things. A couple of weeks ago while we were waiting on Will at his soccer camp, she found another little sister there. Before you know it she had a little bouquet of flowers.....or are those weeds? Either way, we brought them home, put them into a little vase for our dinner table. 
Most significantly was this magnolia in the front yard. I seriously didn't think it would come back. One branch snapped right in the middle of the main trunk. Another branch was touching the ground from all the ice on its branches. 
So this past spring, I was pleasantly surprised to see these gorgeous blossoms on our little tree.
While we were in OH for Memorial Day, my sister-in-law had her baby. He is such a good baby. These hands are baby A's and his daddy's hand. We were all sitting around the fire, munching on s'mores. He was so content, lying there so peacefully, while all the crazy cousins were taking full advantage of a sugar high.
Six days before her second birthday, her Daddy deployed for 15 months. This shot appearred in the Austin paper. It was also one of my first blog entries: Stuff Portrait Friday: Freedom. Probably not the best time to try to take the bunny to stop the thumb sucking....(the only time she sucks is when she has the bunny.)
Fifteen months later in Dec '07, Bunny is the one thing she wanted to bring to the welcome home ceremony. She was worried her Daddy forgot Bunny. Again, not a good time to take Bunny away.
Last night, on her own free will, she announced she was ready to give up Bunny. We have had a tiny gold ring in a princess Limoge box. We promised her when she was ready to put Bunny away for good, she could have the princess box and the ring. Going to sleep was a bit rough, there were a few tears., but she did it. All by herself! First thing this morning...Thursday, May 28, 2009, she earned that golden ring!
This week I was able to chaperone a field trip to the zoo with Will's class. Just as we entered the zoo, we could hear a peacock....it was hooping and hollaring very close by. You can only imagine how startled eleven four and five year olds were when this beauty swooped down just in front of them. I, myself, didn't realize peacocks could fly! I was hoping he would fan his feathers. But he just walked on by, still rambling his distinct cry. 
What do you see? Just a wee little candy that holds magical powers over the kids. I am so not above bribing them. These are the mini M&Ms. Yes, those tiny ones that barely register chocolate in my mouth. But for the kids, they are magic. Will and Livi both practically potty trained themselves using them. Once for pee pees, two for.....well...for two! 
But this afternoon, the mini M&Ms were used in a sorting activitiy. Using the animal characters from one of my favorite children's books: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
This week the kids and I are in OH at my in-laws. Earlier in the week, we headed to Dawes Arboretum. Despite the cooler temps, the kids and their cousins had best time running along the trails. At the end of one part, there was a little bridge they could follow. It led to a little island. Will started throwing pine cones into the water. The little cousins had to imitate Will. Cousin S would crack himself up laughing with each splash in the water. 
This past weekend, during some gorgeous eighty degree weather, I noticed some little green shoots sprouting up around the trees in the backyard. We moved here in the summer....so this was a little sweet surprise. I can't wait to see what these will be! I stepped out just after noon to take these shots. I noticed it was getting very chilly. 
Livi has already found a teeny tiny little flower to pick. I have a tiny "mom's" vase...but even that is too big for her baby blossom. I usually float these in tiny salt cellars. By now, I am thinking, "It is really cold out here." Livi is starting to shiver.....I tell her, "Run inside, baby. I'll be in to turn on the fireplace for you." I was eyeing the tree's blooms out front and wanted to take just a few shots.
I walk over to the front of the house. The wind is really starting to pick up. Now I am shivering so much I can't even focus. This shot is so blurry as a result. But there is a little bit of bright pink and green and yellow. Whew hoo....waiting for spring.
Livi wasn't quite sure what to do with it. She said, "There's white ones, and blue ones, and green ones too!" She loves those little sprinkles on the top. I told her she could pick it up to eat it. 
Livi: "Doughnuts are good.....super good good!"
Livi: "Once your tummy gets full, you have to stop. " **I really need to apply that rule to my own cravings!**
Finally, the funniest thing she said about the doughnuts: "Why didn't you ever tell me about these?" That my dear, is a good question!
I am NOT a morning person. I have never been a morning person. I could care less about seeing a great sunrise. I think perky people in the morning are the worst. By the time they are on their third or fourth sentence, I am still registering the, "Good morning!...." that is usually said in some sing songy voice that reminds me of birds chirping in Snow White. So you get the picture. 
I will be the first to admit, I don't have much of a green thumb for indoor plants. I can plan flower beds, hanging baskets, and pretty much anything outdoors. But bring those plants and flowers indoors and they curl up and go to plant heaven. 
While trying to take some shots of the violet, Will had to get his mug in there. "Cheese me, mommy!" *See the ugly brown plastic pot it is in? I guess I need to call her and ask her when I can transplant it!*
This was taken at the change of command for the First Cavalry way back in April. ...<----Army speak for basically when one big dog takes over for another big dog. The big dogs hand over the leadership in symbolic ceremony....see those big flags? Each battalion/brigade has one. There are little streamers from each flag or guidons for each thing they have fought in. Since this was a division change of command, there were six battalions, which is a whole lot of honkin' soldiers. 
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