{pretty, happy, funny, real} - Florida Edition

Linking up with Auntie Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter for some contentment!

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 Evie loved, loved, loved the beach. She ate lots of sand, and had fun in the pool. All of us came back with a nice little tan, which was desperately needed after that long, cold winter.

My mother-in-law printed and framed this photo for me as a birthday gift. It makes me so happy. I love it.

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 For the first time since our honeymoon, Zach was able to go kiteboarding. One day we drove him down to a beach 8 miles from his parents house, and he surfed all the way up to their beach. I don't know how he did it, because just the thought of it makes me tired, but he had a great time.

 
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 Evie's little head and legs in this picture make me laugh. Turtle baby. Speaking of turtles, a leatherback turtle came up onto our beach one night and laid eggs! We didn't see it, but the marks were left in the sand and the nest was marked off the next morning.

 Before we went to Florida, Grandma D sent Tony a book - Penguin on Vacation. It's a cute story about a Penguin who sails to the beach on a raft made of ice and meets a little crab, who in turn visits Penguin's chilly home. Zach found this toy penguin and built a boat for him to sail around the pool. It was so much fun.

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 I don't have photo proof (yet), but on our last morning, Zach convinced me to take the kayak out in the ocean. Despite the fact that I am not a very good swimmer, and I am terrified of the ocean (it's so big! And you can't control it!), I agreed - provided that he sat with me. Everything was calm when we went out. Underneath of the terror I was feeling sitting on top of a kayak on the ocean, I was enjoying myself. The enjoyment lasted about 2 minutes, as seeing baby waves made me want my feet back on the sand STAT.

Zach saw the waves coming, so he had me get out of the boat and start swimming back (did I mention I'm not a good swimmer?). My feet were on the ground and the water was only chest-high, but I was too slow...Zach was just a few feet away and told me to just go under the wave, realizing too late that I don't know how. Crash! The wave took me under, and unbeknownst to me, it pulled my bathing suit skirt off of one leg. I was trying to move forward in shallower water when I realized that unfortunate fact, and saw my in-laws watching us from the shore. So, as I'm struggling to get my leg back in (never swim in the ocean in a skirted bottom! And if you do, make sure that it isn't even the tiniest bit too big, like mine was), Zach comes over to help, and then we see another wave. As it pulled me down, I thought I was going to die. I hit the bottom, and then I bumped Zach's knee, and thought it was over. I am so lucky that Zach is strong, and a fantastic swimmer, and not scared of the ocean, because he pulled me up and dragged me a little closer to the shore, trying to preserve my modesty through it all.

In the end, I managed to pull my skirt on enough to get out of the sea's mighty grasp, and I don't think anyone was the wiser. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever be venturing out on the ocean in a kayak. Or any other small vessel that could be overturned or give me reason to try swimming to shore.

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Last week we took a walk to the playground. It ended up being much colder than we anticipated (I didn't wear a hat or a decent jacket and greatly regretted it), but it was so lovely to see the sun shining (from the outside). 

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He doesn't look happy because I was taking a picture. This is my sister, Emma, reading The Cat in the Hat before bed. It was the cutest thing ever. (And strange to see my child being read to by one of my little sisters.)

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Teething has caused some napping issues for Evie. It's hard on everyone, but twice last week she fell asleep in funny places. The picture below is where she sat while I cut out her Easter dress. She was chewing on a piece of fabric and just sacked out.

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 On Sunday I was having a meltdown. All of this cold and the snow that's been on the ground since Christmas has worn me out. So, Zach took me to get a .99 latte at Dunkin Donuts. We sat inside, with both of the babies, and it was lovely. Lifted me right out of my slump. Yesterday Zach was telling me that it is supposed to warm up (30's and 40's - yay!) this weekend, praise the good Lord in heaven.

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{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

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 Flowers for Valentine's Day! Zach came home with flowers in hand for both of his girls. I thought they looked pretty mixed together.

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 Daddy with his little girl. Evie was tearing petals off and trying to eat them. It took approximately 586 shots to get one of them both looking at the camera. And Evie still has a funny look on her face.

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In an attempt to be a little healthier, I followed my Mom's advice and made the LMLD brownies sans flour. My sister had accidentally forgotten the flour when baking them one night and they turned out fine. So I did, and they were delicious (I was wishing I had some whipped cream to balance out the sweetness). Next time I think I'll cut the sugar in half and bake them in a smaller pan so they are a little thicker and not so overwhelmingly sweet. The two that I had set aside for a friend didn't end up making it through the next day. They were even better the next day because they were a little chewy. Time to move on...this is making me hungry.

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Sitting with Daddy during Rosary. He isn't perfect every night, but overall his behavior is good. His church behavior has greatly improved, too, to my great joy. Other than his new found interest in digging for gold in his nasal cavities... how do you handle that mortification as a parent? The woman behind us last week sweetly complimented his behavior, which was reassuring, but still.

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 My sweet lovebird. Her outfit, courtesy of Grandma, arrived just in time to wear for St. Valentine's Day. I have just realized that those little leggings and onesies and shirts are the best outfits for growing babies. She has nearly outgrown the 9 month sleepers that she only recently grew into. And it isn't just because the cloth diaper gives her a larger than normal tush. She's simply too long.

 I couldn't resist snapping these while she napped earlier.

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These two make me happy, happy, happy.

 He was dying to go outside and shovel snow, so his Grandma D took him out and was able to get some awesome pictures.

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Hey, Jack. Over here.

 This sequence of events was rather amusing to me. Jack adores Evie. He loves to climb on the bed if she's sleeping, he plants himself on her blanket on the floor...he's incredibly patient with the tugs (and in Tony's case, whacks).

 Kisses.

Enough, enough.

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 I hate posting cellphone pictures when I have a nice camera, but I didn't have my camera outside earlier. That poor bush is weighed down with icicles.

 Tony calls them "bicicles."

Another few inches came down last night. The snow seems to never end. At least they are more prepared for it here, as opposed to the poor southern states that are getting lots of snow.

Linking up with the ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

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These sweet smiles help me through the hours when she just wants to be held. Dear Angel of Teething Babies, please, hurry this one along!

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 We had a snow day yesterday! For the first time this trimester, the school closed because of the snow. We greatly enjoyed the extra time with Zach, and Evie even napped long enough for the three of us to go outside and play!

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The boots. His determination to keep from smiling. Perched upon the freshly vacuumed stairs.

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 We live in an area with many, many Amish farms. I'm always amazed by their clothes hanging out in the middle of winter. I wish I was so dedicated to using my clothesline.

This cow was just asking for a picture to be taken as I was leaving the farm where we get our milk. Despite my great dislike for the usual annoyances that come along with snow, as long as the roads are clear, it is incredibly beautiful.

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Joining Rosie at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

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Watching her brother. One of her favorite activities.

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 We have snow...since last Friday. (I will spare you the story of how snow continually ruins my life. Between the freezing temperatures and the snow, I'm dreaming of a tropical getaway.) Tony finally decided that going outside was worth putting a snow suit on for. I braved the balmy high of 7 degrees to snap these photos.

 It's a challenge to catch him looking at the camera.

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 These boots have become Tony's favorite article of clothing. I ordered them last week, and nearly every morning he has come to my room wearing them. He will wear them all day long. If he's putting them on himself they often end up on the wrong feet. I put a pair of thick wool socks on him if we're going out and they keep his feet pretty warm. Definitely dry.

I agonized over which style to get - the Sunshower or the Stomp. Kamik didn't list what the differences are, so the more attractive colors won. I think that the Stomp boots have wider leg openings, but we have skinny legs, so...

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And, because I didn't take many pictures this week, we will end with Jack.