Swimming in April

I think we've broken a record. I'm pretty sure we were well into May before we got out Nat's pool last year, but after a week of being pestered Every Single Time she walked past the pool in the garage we dusted it off and filled it up Sunday morning. As usual she couldn't even wait for it to warm up before she was in it splashing around.






Channeling her inner dog

Snuggling up because "it's cold momma."

A Little Bogey Lovin'

I won't go as far as to say Nat has a favorite of our two dogs, but Mulligan in an "acquired" taste to say the least. Bogey on the other hand is just so cuddly and lovable that Nat is just drawn to hug and roll all over him. Lucky for us, and Natalie, Bogey takes it all in stride.


And I thought this was sweet. This is Nat's "izard." She got in a goody bag at a birthday party and she carries that thing around like it's real. Thank God it's not. Sometimes Byron and I will go out at night and move him so she has to look for him in the mornings.

Playing at the Park

We were so anxious to take pictures with the new camera we decided an impromptu trip to park was in order. Not only did Natalie get to blow off some steam but we got to play with our new toy too.

She's gotten bad about looking away when someone is taking her picture. Yes, that's how many pictures we have tried to take in the last two days :) So I told her to stick her tongue out at Byron.

Bless her heart, she wanted to "push momma" so bad.

My little monkey in every sense of the word. Climbing UP the slide without help and balancing on her sandbox.

The sandbox has quickly become a multi-purpose toy. Even the lid comes in handy for surfing on the grass.

Momma Got a New Camera

And Daddy's been hogging it :) He took most of these and although I have no idea how to work it yet, it takes amazing pictures. For anyone interested, it's a refurbished Canon Rebel T2i. Canon let us trade our old one in for a rebate so the price was unbeatable.

The first thing Byron asked when I got home was "Is there anything going on this weekend we can take Nat to and take picture?"

Stopping to Smell the Roses

This weekend was one of those "lazy" weekends. Nat was in the best mood all weekend and we spent most of daylight hours outside. We did sneak in a little yard work but other than that we just played t-ball, dug in the sandbox and even plucked a few roses.

Zippity Do-Dah Carnival

Yeah it was a bust. It was a benefit for the Children's Hospital and we thought it would be fun to take Nat (during her nap time). Mistake number 1. The things she could do, she didn't want to do. The things she was still just a little to small small for, she couldn't but wanted to do. She was just an overall grumpy butt, so home we went. Maybe next year. I mean all these things are new to Byron and me, and are completely trial and error on our part.

She did enjoy the bubble pool, even tried to take a dip in it. And or course the bouce slide is always a hit with her. There were just so many kids and Nat's not one for standing in line and waiting her turn. I have absolutely no idea where she get's that from :)

This sums up our morning, Zippity. Flippin'. Do. Mom.


She did have a blast however down at the neighbors house that afternoon (after a 3 hour nap). They rented a bounce house and slide for their son's birthday and let's just say we were dragging her home at sunset. She looked like a little orphan with little black feet from being barefoot all day and sucker all down her shirt. But that means it was good day right? At least in the eyes of a child? She even had pizza for dinner. If we hadn't made her take a bath I'd say she would call that THE perfect day :) (And yes, we are back to boycotting bath time. I have to bribe her with chocolate most nights)

But first she helped me clean off our pollen covered patio. She's a good little helper. She carried her sponge and bucket to each and every chair and helped wipe them down.

Lunch for Two

That's not really what Natalie had planned. She wanted to each her lunch by herself, in her playhouse w/o interruption from nosy dogs looking for her to drop something. Well she should just know better by now. Bogey and Mulligan go into shadow mode these days now that Nat likes to take her food outside, either at her table and chairs or in her playhouse. Byron caught Mulligan getting an ear full and a swift push in the rear from Nat for getting a little to close to her plate.

Finally enjoying her lunch without any four-legged interruptions.