spring up oh well.

Spring.  fountains.  trucks.  water.  skinned knees.  friends.  sunshine.  community.  love.  life. 

  

little buddies.  crawling.  trucks.  water.  trucks.  buddies.  water.  crawling...

Jude & Hayden.

Grady & Olivia.  hide & seek.  peek-a-boo.  raaaah!

taking.a.break.  guy time.  Mr. Martin.  don't mind me I'll just sidle up beside you...

awkward-guy-side-hug.  cheek to cheek.  lean in.  pat on the back.  shoulder to shoulder.

dance-for-three.  created by breaking into the dance-for-two.  oh if we all had the courage to do the same?

I will get the water.  I think I can, I think I can...

 me & my boys.  taking on the challenges.  soaking it in.  Moving through the difficult & hard & yucky & smelly & unbridled & complicated.  My daytime job = crisis management.  #1000gifts.  Everything is grace.  grateful to have them & wouldn't trade them for the world.

hard.at.play

working hard.  playing hard.  eating hard.  ;-)  Hayden's first spaghetti dinner... yes, mommy didn't actually intend to hand it over to him = no bib.  But, he was so interested in the texture, and big bro didn't eat his at all.  So, Hayden got to try out his hand in the bowl of spagetti.  LOVE. 

Hard.at.play.  James in the bumbo, Hayden standing up playing the piano.... wait. haha

Hayden giving James a 'good night tackle'.  He is getting famous for those...  These boys are getting to be so much fun together.  We definitely have our moments of too many tears, jealousy, and selfishness- but the moments where James passes his bowl over to Hayden and says, "Hayden some??" or his sweet 'night night' kisses for Hayden or how they laugh and play together.  Hayden chases James up the stairs and everywhere else now.  James wants Hayden to get tucked in with him in bed & invites him up to his pillow forts sometimes.  haha, Hayden is caught in the pillow crossfire some, but he's happy to play with big bro even if it means some bumps.

James' motley crew includes: Thomas, pirate ship captain.  airplane, Percy, pirate parrot, cannon ball, more trains, airplane, fire truck, treasure map... all driving up the gang plank on an adventure I'm sure.

Oh, how could I forget Francesco & helicopter?  Love watching these boys playing these days. #1000gifts

the best B & B

The best little Bed & Breakfast I know... Grammy & Papa's house.  It has it all: totally affordable, very comfortable accommodations, breakfast ready when you are.  Oh, and complimentary child care.

Complete with its own playground.  This was Hayden playing 'peek-a-boo' in the window when his big bro decided to 'squeeeeze' in...

Hayden trying to grab James' toes...

Their pool is awesome.  The boys love it- James actually swam all by himself with this pool ring!!  He was just warming up, and then was ready to go for it.  I really couldn't believe it.

This guy was turning into a fish before our eyes.

Such a great way to finish up our family vacation.  Matt and I even got to go out for dessert on Saturday night- yes it did happen!!  I think maybe our second date since Hayden was born... Thanks Mom & Dad.  It was great to see you, and thanks so much for watching Roo!

beach.2

My beach bum.  His curls got serious with the humidity- this boy is so much fun.

There we go, Cheese!!

what could be better than a truck and the beach?  wow.  Seeing James really get to explore and let his imagination run free was... amazing.  He's really beginning to play- to create- to become so much more independent.  What a wild, untamed joy & determination & passion he possesses.  Toddler years- filled with extreme emotion: incredible happiness followed by extreme disappointment demonstrated in fitful tears.  But, I'll take him any day.  "...help please... help please... help please...." James' favorite phrase.

My boys.  Didn't have any expectation that they would actually sit for this.  Pretty stunned actually.  Hopeful for the future of their photos, as the past has been bleak. haha.  My sandy, sun kissed boys.

could just eat them up.

who's happy?  maybe beach bliss?? haha

Looking a little more alike these days...  such cuties.

family photo :-)

we love you beach.  We miss you already.

James running... wild abandon.  arms outstretched like he was flying...

a little more beach time with baby Jack & his mommy.  Loved getting to see y'all- enjoying the time was get to spend together & wishing for more!

aah. yes.

James became suddenly fascinated with finding a 'real pirate' after daddy told him we could see one at dinner to encourage him to get ready to go our last night.  hilarious.  We found this 'real pirate' for him to take his picture with.  I think he was unimpressed.  haha

glorious glorious beach vacation.  Thank you Matt for taking us- probably one of the only vacations we've taken in the past 4 years or more that was really restorative. relaxing. refreshing.  Thank you for giving us that time together- we love you.

beach.1

I love the beach.  I adore taking pictures of my family there.  It's beautiful.  I am learning how to apply the principle of finding joy in such beauty- at the beach its easy.  At home it can be done the same way.  Stepping back and admiring the scene before you.  How is each day filled with so much trail. obstacle. pain. grief. stress. anger. frustration. repetition. But also filled with grace. blessing. joy. innocence. beauty. awe. gratefulness. humility. comfort.

I am so struck by how easy it is to miss the gifts and still be overwhelmed by the mess of this life.  But, a beautiful picture like this, of my husband and my son in our own paradise, this make it easy to see the gift of this moment.  May I take this lesson and apply it...  'always on vacation'?? haha

tenderness.

my sweet little guy & me.

Favorite hobby: chasing the birds.

Loves the beach.

A Gulf sunset. such beauty.

Simplicity & wonder & joy.  Flying a kite.

Definitely my favorite vacation we've ever taken.  Having a chance to rest, enjoy, eat, rest. maybe eat some more.  Boy do I love fried sea food. wow.

They had a kiddie pool as well- which was kinda awesome for us.  James poolside.

These two sitting side.by.side.  I got so many great shots of them both side by side.  just fun.

A popsicle break with Jack.  We were so lucky to have the Prose/Lyon clan over for a cookout at the beach.  It was great to see most of our extended family- James loves his Nana. ;-)  Matt hadn't seen them since Christmas, but we are so fortunate that the boys and I have been able to see the family more often- so that he knows them.  Thanks ya'll for coming- especially Nikki who was 'great with child' and has now welcomed their new addition: Alexander Lyon!! :-)  Welcome little guy, we were hoping to meet you in person, but you got an awesome birthday: same as your great Uncle Jim!

Disney. the whole sha-bang.

We packed up our whole little family- Roo included- to head down to FL for a good ole family vacation.  My goodness was it just was we needed.  We had been looking forward to having some time away since Christmas basically.

Thankfully, my parents watched Roo for us while we went to Disney & the beach.  Can't thank you enough!! I know he was well cared for and spoiled.  I don't know if he wanted to come home with us! 

We drove in during the night- got a couple hours of sleep- and first thing, headed up to the character breakfast at the hotel.  How is this for the best way to start a Saturday morning??  Yes, two words: Mickey Waffle.

We got to see Goofy & Pluto at the breakfast.  Hayden was by far the most excited of us all, but James was a really good sport too.  He kept warming up to the characters as we saw more in the park- especially Winnie the Pooh & Tigger.

Hayden giving Pluto a kiss on the nose.  Yes, you're thinking, that's so gross.  Actually, they clean his nose with a sterilizer after he sees each kid if they touch it.  Made me feel much better (considering I wasn't actually away he was kissing it when I was holding him & taking this photo at the same time).

Breakfast eaten.  We made our way to the park- which was a pretty big undertaking.  We made it onto the ferry to the Magic Kingdom and were pretty excited.  Loving the boat ride- the beautiful day- the excitement/bewilderment of our boys. haha

Luckily for us, just as we get in, we get to watch a parade.  Yes, Mickey and the whole crew of floats, dancers, etc all singing their way down Main street towards Cinderella's castle.  It was pretty fun actually- really set such a great mood for the kids.  again, luckily, no photos were taken of me dancing my way down the street.  haha

Our two + cousin Jack.  Prose boys on parade.

Cinderella's castle.  also known as Mickey's house by my 2 year old.  and- I got their t-shirts at Target.  Yes, clearance section.  Best ever.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.  'nough said.  ;-)  Jack & his daddy.

Hayden & his daddy.  This little guy held on all my himself- dad was just around for looks...

James- using his powers of deduction on some unknown phenomenon.  obviously something caught his eye.  This carrousel took.... determination?

Yes.  I put this one up.  Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.

Casey Jr. Train ride- Hayden & daddy.

Waiting to see the Country Bear Jamboree.  The boys really liked the show, but honestly, it was the most depressing song selection of hill billy heart ache I've ever heard.  Had no idea that a jamboree was so self-loathsome.  am I being too harsh- one bear's song was specifically about seeing lots of blood everywhere.  The three little girl bears' song was about how none of the men they fancy like them back.  Not what I remember from when I was a kid.

Day 2: morning swim with daddy.  Our boy is getting to be a fish.

This time, family photo at the castle.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.  Somehow caught Aunt Natassja & Jack in the background... :-)

Swiss Family Treehouse.  Such a gem.

Enchanted Tiki Room- this one was pretty cool.  Hadn't ever seen it myself- or done most of these rides actually- but the birds sing and Hayden loved it.

Ah, magical Disney.  You have cast your spell on us.  What a wonderful time.  Thank you so much to Mimi & Papa for treating us to a Disney trip with Aunt Natassja, Uncle Mike, and Jack.  Great memories- such a fondness.  Both Hayden and James got Mickey Mouse 'dolls' as a gift when we arrived.  They.love.Mickey.  Seriously.  Hayden just laughs and laughs and tackles his Mickey, and James has allowed his Mickey to sleep in his bed and carries him about a bit.  He's proud of 'James' Mickey'.  But, truly, we had a great time with each other.  Thank you.