The new toy...

Last summer we borrowed mom's mower (a lot) and debated what type of mower/tractor to get. Then with the crazy, record-setting snow year we had--it was easier to hire someone to clear snow, than to try to do it ourself.

This spring, we started shopping to figure it all out.

We went shopping and really agonized: z turn or tractor.

Eric test drove it and in the end, we decided on the tractor and yesterday, it arrived.

The girls were SO excited to see it and get on it. I don't think Eric or Amara got off of it for 2 hours after we got it. I even ordered pizza for dinner--everyone was so excited, no one would come into the house!

Eric may never come into the house again...

Kamryn turns 1!

Our only niece out of both sides of the family so far, Kam, just turned one and had a party at her house.  The girls were thrilled to go and see all the Young family and play with the kids.

True to form, they cared more about playing and chips than they did cake or frills, but we all had a great time just playing.

By the end of the night, everyone was getting sleepy and we had a long trip home, so we got on the road.

Spring planting

After an insane winter, it's starting to finally feel like spring is here! It was a lovely day and after a busy week and Saturday, we were THRILLED to be able to be home and outside.

Mom had mowed for us, always a nice treat, so Eric worked on more brush clearing and thanks to his flower picking girls, many flowers to get in (we're expecting some rain this week).

Even better, g'ma came over to help and she raked leaves to clear out some of the beds we hadn't even gotten to last year and now we feel like we really have a good idea of what we can work with, it's awesome.

Cora got right in there--especially since Eric had to use HER pink shovel to plant--cause we can't find anything (STILL) lol.  

Then she and Amara got into digging up worms and moving them all over the place while I got to grill for the first time this year and in a while. I could get used to doing the grilling while Eric plants, lol!

We had a super fun evening and G'pa even popped by--to get his mower, sure, but he was just in time for our burgers, dogs, potatoes and even apples that I grilled (and some mac and cheese as a backup just in case).  Everyone was tired, but it was a good and accomplished tired and the girls are already enjoying their beautiful plants.

Maria's exhibit

Our friend and painter Maria--who did all the murals in the girls rooms and soon to be the play house is graduating from Ohio Dominican and had a senior art show she invited us to.

I wasn't sure about going, but I thought it might be a neat opportunity to expose the girls to more of her work, plus we wanted to support Maria.

I was SO glad we went! The exhibits were great and Maria seemed genuinely glad we came too. We didn't stay all that long, but long enough to look at her incredible neon 3D artwork (behind the black curtain).

Maria will be graduating in May, so this, her Senior show--was the last time to see her work on display (rather than in our own house of course).

I hope the girls remember going--at least we know they love Maria and she's coming back soon to work on the play house! Can't wait to see what she does out there.

our new rain barrel

Eric and I went to a rain barrel workshop in town and got started on our latest project.  We planted berries on the side of the house and this gave the girls a chance to be able to water themselves with rain water.  

After the quick seminar, we brought the rain barrel home, and that weekend, in just a few minutes, Eric had it all set up! It looks amazing and works perfectly--the girls are even more excited about watering than before, lol.

skate class graduation

After just a few weeks of stretching, learning how to fall, how to get up, and how to stop--Amara is becoming quite the confident skater! At their last class; however, it was all about fun, and not so much about skills.  

The class did their usual games, obstacle courses, etc. but about half way through, they called the kids over and gave each one of them a can of silly string.  The kids got to "string" all the instructors till their cans ran out, then each of them were presented with their graduation certificates.

They got to do some more extra games too like the limbo which Amara liked, and had some more free-skating with the lights out and disco ball on (another favorite.)

But hopefully this is just the beginning. Amara has been skating up and down the driveway and Natasha tells me Irelyn has been skating around her house-- so who knows, maybe these two will be skating at open skates in the not so distant future?

day home with the girls

With Eric and I both working it seems like by the time we take a week or two off when each of the girls are sick, add in birthdays, and being sick ourselves, we don't have all that many days to take off just to enjoy our family.

Sarah needed Thursday and Friday off this week, and since mom took the girls yesterday, I got the luxury of having them today.

They slept in, which they don't always get to do--and Eric went into work super early.

Next, we got dressed and headed to Galaxy, an indoor play place we hadn't visited for a while. When the pizzas started flowing for other customers, the girls got hungry and I caved. We upgraded to the lunch pizza package and earned ourselves some tokens in the mix.

After an hour and a half of playing, we took a break for lunch, then quickly moved onto the games. It's always amazing to me from each time to the next how much the girls have grown and developed and are able to master things they couldn't just a few months before.

It was getting close to nap time, so we picked out our prizes (bracelets, pixie sticks, etc.) from our ticket loot and loaded up into the car.

On the quick ride home, I could already see Cora getting sleepy, so she wanted to go right to her room and Amara is drawing and listening to the radio having quiet time.  I get what everyone says about cherishing time with kids--and I am (but I still wish they'd slow down already)