Time

My grandparents old house isn't far from where we live and I sometimes feel like driving by. It recently went up for sale and is currently vacant. I couldn't resist nosing around and peeking through windows. It's amazing how different it looks inside, not only because of the remodeling, but because it's been about 17 years since I was last in there. I rememebered the rooms being about 3x the size they actually are. I can't imagine how they fit their furniture in those little spaces. Anyway, I let the kids peek in and I took them around back to show them the backyard where my brothers and I used to play. I remembered it sunny, with a huge tree in the middle and a tire swing that made circles around the entire yard. And the clothes line, of course. Today the yard is very shady and the big tree has been replaced by several smaller ones. No grass, no tree swing, no clothes line. My grandpa's shed is still there as are his citrus trees, which are covered in fruit. So I let the kids pick some fruit and look in the old shed. Then I promised them gummy bears if they let me take pictures of them there. I'd like to go back and get more sometime. Pictures and oranges.

Moss Park

We took a trip to Moss Park this morning. The water looks like chai tea, completely opaque only a few feet from shore. I can't imagine setting foot in that lake, which I'm quite sure is full of gators. But they have a whole swimming area, and my mom says she used to swim there all the time as a kid. In fact, my grandfather camped in Moss Park as a boy. So I guess that makes my kids the fourth generation of our family to visit the park. The kids loved birdwatching, gatorwatching (from a distance and we didn't see any) and finding animal poop in the woods. It's funny how poop is really exciting when you're walking through woods. It's proof that there are actually little creatures hiding up in the trees as you walk past. There aren't many places left in Orlando where you can go for a walk in the woods.

Christmas Break

Sitting out by the fire at night, waking up late the next day, staying in pj's til whenever, four thousand changes of wardrobe all over Darby's room, last-minute online orders, fresh cookies everyday, Christmas-inspired artwork by the kids, using date night to hit every Walgreens and Target in town for the pink Zhu Zhu pet (unsuccessfully), no schedule. I love Christmas break.

mama

They love "playing bed". Not so much actually sleeping in the bed, unfortunately. Mama is a favorite talking baby doll.

I see London

This Time, Last Year

Some pictures from our Christmas tree getting last year. I can't believe how much they've grown, especially Darby. She's definitely lost that baby-look. I'm sad that I decided not to bring the camera along this time around. Seriously considering getting a second tree for photo purposes.

Family Photo Fail

I took all three kids (mine plus the primo) out this afternoon to try and get a picture of all of them together, smiling or at least with their mouths closed and reasonably pleasant, for grandma. That didn't happen. And after spending time trying to swap heads in PS to make it happen, I give up. There's something about taking your own kids' pictures. They know my buttons, and I'm less patient. It's a completely different experience than working with other people's kids. And therefore, these were the best shots I got. All cute shots (I think) but not of the kids together. Sorry, Grandma. Oh, and I took more of the Primo than of my kids because I already got their Christmas pictures. Not because I love them less.

mine.

I love that this is all mine.

Getting Better

Darbs is feeling much better today. Turns out she had a double ear infection on top of a respiratory virus. And she never once complained about her ears. This was from our backyard naptime the other day.

In other news, our dogs are terrible models. I got them these cute ram costumes at the 90% off post Halloween sale at Target for $1.27 each. Terrible, terrible job, guys.

Bees Knees Sweet Treats

I have so much fun doing product photos for Erica and Emily of Bees Knees Sweet Treats. They let me eat all the sweets I want afterwards and I could eat these bite-size babies all day long. I just love people who bake good stuff. I know I seem to be favoring the little chocolate-chip covered treats and I think it's a tie between those bad boys and the berry tartlets. Those are mint leaves on the tartlets, which makes them so good. The wind was a-blowin that day, so that's why the mint leaves are looking a little sad. Anyway, they seem to have an endless supply of flavors and combos and I really think you should get some.