Hey, Ho!

The weather. Oh, the weather. I’m finally starting to believe that we’ll be able to peel off all the extra layers, shed that skin, and enjoy warmth pretty soon. A couple days ago we were out in the yard and before I knew it Maggie was running nudie-patootie through the grass. I have to keep in mind that she’s got an internal heater unlike anyone else I know, so the rest of us decided to keep our extra layers on. But I’m still hopeful for the coming months. 

We’re plugging away here, spending time outside when it’s easy. Audrey, who can walk but chooses not to, tends to get dirty/eat gravel/pull on flowers/try to ride the bike, makes it enjoyable for only small bouts of time. Once she can do a few more things without needing me rightnexttoher, it’ll be easier. She isn’t content to play with some toys or ignore dangerous stairs/walls. She’s got to be a part of it. I mostly love that about her.  We have a tiny bike that my parents got for Maggie and Mags has never really used it, or even shown any interest, but Audrey looooves that bike and is determined to swing her little leg over and sit on the seat. Pictures of her on it at a later date, but I think once she can put her feet on the peddles, she”ll be happy as a clam. 

Our lives have also been saturated by Frozen, a movie that both Barry and I like nearly as much as Maggie does, and we got to go to a Frozen party a couple weeks ago. Maggie’s heart soared and wore her Snow White costume (Side note: I donated the Cinderella doll right after we got back from Disneyland and I’m not sure I’ll ever live that down. My mom said it perfectly : “Even I wouldn’t have donated it that early….”) for days leading up to the event. Maggie has asked me a number of times “Mama, in a couple days, can you get your sewing machine out and sew me an Elsa dress….”  Ummmm….I guess she has failed to notice: 1. I still haven’t put the buttons back on her comforter (is that even considered sewing? ha!!) and 2. The sewing machine only comes out when Grammy is here. 

Rather than sewing her an Elsa dress, I’ve half-heartidly looked on the internet….but I did buy her a couple dolls for her upcoming birthday. Frozen dolls and she’s going to flip out. I was having major mom-guilt about it, and texted my friend Lara about it asking what I’ve become and Lara’s answer was so simple. She said I was a good mom. And I felt redeemed because even though I like the movie and it’s the soundtrack of our life right now, I still felt bad about giving into ‘the machine,’ but I know Maggie is going to love those dolls and I suppose that’s enough for me right now. 

And you know what else? This is how my blog posts go these days: I upload some pictures. I start typing some words, I don’t proof read and someday I think I’ll come back and read about my life during these years of having young babies. 

audrey bell and sydney-2 audrey bell and sydney audrey bell bloomers on head audrey bell audrey bellhat hb family_ maggie chalk maggie mae jumpingmaggie mae in bed
maggie mae on driveway

Tick, Tock.

audrey and sydney

We’re working on it. The house, parenting, our marriage, healthy living, etc. We’re really working on it. Barry has recently added a commute to his life with a new job and we’re trying to find the balance of what means, because after 3.5 years of working two minutes from home, it is certainly an adjustment. We haven’t fine-tuned anything, but we’re working to make it the best situation for or family. Since the commute takes time away from our beloved family time, we’ve started to puppy-guard our weekends and how we choose to spend our time. 

It is ever-so-tempting to run errands or high-five one another while we each try to finish prospective projects, the other one with the kids. We did that for a while and most Sunday evenings we were all grouchy and bummed out because we didn’t get the time together that we all value and need to re-charge for the week. 

We’re learning to say ‘no’ more and ‘yes’ to what works best for us. And last night, after the girls were asleep, Barry and I shared a slice of pie and reflected on our weekend. It was the first time in a long time that we didn’t lose part of our Saturday because we ‘had’ to run some errands or do some ‘important’ task. We busted out the sidewalk chalk, ate our lunches on the stoop, mowed the lawn, and only really left home to go to a Frozen party (which was awesome!) and I met a friend for a walk. 

We’re working on it….this time management thing. 

maggie mae

A Basket Full of My Babies

Yesterday I finally uploaded over 1,000 pictures that were on my camera to my computer. I never have let myself go so far between getting them off my camera, but the last two weeks have been so full and busy. With the first day of Spring, hurray(!), I’m feeling the need to get out and enjoy the sunshine while it is here. I got to take Maggie in a walk in the stroller this morning while Barry, Audrey, and Sydney held down the fort. It was a quiet and brisk walk, both Maggie and I searching for signs of the new season. We saw the Cherry Blossoms blooming and the sunrise painted the sky a beautiful purple, but we were both freezing by the time we got back home. Right before we got to our driveway, however, we saw a bird pull a worm from the cold ground. Yahoo!! 

Here’s a snippet of life at HBHQ:

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