Backyard

I can't wait for summer...

the sun and sweat, and the caked on dirt under Gus's tiny fingernails 

ceramic planters on our front steps, overflowing with pink flowers and lush coleus

Saturday mornings picking out vegetables at the farmers' market

open windows that usher in a breeze throughout the house, giving way to dancing window sheers and the distinctly "summer" scent of freshly cut grass

runny ice cream cones making a mess of the stroller on the walk home from an evening trip to the park

a beer on the patio after the kids have been tucked up in bed

Oh goodness, need I go on?

So excited.

I am not a gardener.  In fact, I am so terrified of worms and creepy crawly bugs that I go to great lengths to avoid contact with any dirt or soil that doesn't come from a bag.  But my building anticipation for all things summer and a conversation with my brother at lunch about the vegetable garden he is planning on building have even me daydreaming of floral garden gloves and fresh peppers and meticulously thought-out planting grids.

For now, I will continue to enjoy this unseasonably warm spring we're having, and take advantage of every chance I can get to hang out in the backyard with the boys.

Because it has totally been our happy place this past month.

 

The Thomas tent is also Gus's happy place (a big brother gift from his aunt aunt and uncle!), though I suspect if it was a Cars tent he'd go even crazier for it.  It seems his Thomas obsession is finally waning a bit, and it has been replaced by Cars movie MANIA.  I've got to say, I prefer Pixar over those dull, saccharine, cheese-ball Thomas episodes that all seem to try to promote lessons on vanity and pride.  In reality they're generally about Thomas (or one of his friends) being a stubborn jerk and ultimately ending up in some sort of frustratingly avoidable trouble.  And that trouble ALWAYS makes Sir Topham Hatt very cross.  (Yes, I googled the spelling of his name.) 

Whoa.  What a digression.  Clearly I have watched too much Thomas. 

In full disclosure, this picture of Louie was taken in my parents' backyard.  But still!  So cute! 

That rug is hanging on the fence because my lovely son pulled a big snow globe off a shelf in the nursery and it resulted in an explosion of glass and glittery liquid all over the room.  I take full responsibility because I was the one that, just the night before, left it on the shelf within his reach.

Wow, yeah that was a horrible mess, and the incident certainly derailed a lovely Saturday. 

After a few 70 degree days we quickly realized that Gus had no sandals or crocs or really any summer shoes that fit, so we remedied that immediately.

That child did some serious growing over the winter.

Yeah, the shorts with patterned crew socks and tennis shoes look is NOT something I like to promote.  I also promptly went out and purchased for him some ankle socks so this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.