Saturday in Instagrams

Ready to hit the town

 We had a few hours between checking out of our hotel and when Michael could leave. So Isabella and I went to some of my favorite places we don't have here in OKC, Crate and Barrel, Sur la table, & World Market. I could have kept going, but 3 places is about the max for a busy toddler and we didn't have a stroller. 

 We had lunch at la madeline on the patio.

 The man who took our order at lunch gave Isabella some free strawberries because she "is soooo beautiful". He only meant to be kind. I hope I can raise her to know her worth is not in her looks. I wanted to say, yes, but she is also smart, she likes books, she has a happy spirit... :)

 We walked over to Sprinkles and picked up cupcakes for the ride home.

 Time to assemble Isabella's easter basket! I was looking forward to this all day!!

Ready to go! I'm most excited about her lush egg and carrot bombs. I did just a little bit of candy, but not too much. I put a swimsuit in there last year and now this year, so I guess that means its a tradition, along with getting a new book. We decided to forgo the bunny prints on the floor for another year when she is a bit older.

Isabella and I are headed to Chicago this week to keep Ava during the day while Heather is in a conference. Isabella did not give me much hope for good sleep in the hotel this weekend in Dallas. But I'm hoping for great sleep, easy travel, and happy girls!

Already Thursday?

 Tuesday it rained a lot. We went to the grocery store and then Barnes and Noble in the morning. Isabella played with the trains while I looked at some books. After morning nap she went to mother's day out for a couple of hours while I went to lunch with my Tuesday lunch girls. Then I finished gathering things for Isabella's Easter basket, which I'm really excited about.

Late Wednesday afternoon we had a milk shake date at the lake. The park there is still closed so we just walked around the light house and sat on the bench out there for a while.

 The sky was absolutely incredible. I could have stayed until sunset. But it was windy and bit chilly, and after a while Isabella started saying 'Karr' so we went back to our car.

 Today we went to an Easter party. Your bunny cake was awesome Katie!

 

Olivia's outdoor patio is adorable and so fun, and makes me wish just a tiny bit I could be a little girl and it be mine!  

 

 Danielle's delicious carrots!

 Isabella is still a little slow on the whole idea of an egg "hunt". 

Perhaps part of this is because she has figured out a lot of eggs have a treat or candy in them. So she just wants to open the egg and eat the candy right away. This strategy works fine if you are the only one hunting eggs, but in a group you will miss a lot of eggs. I suppose she has time to learn more about these things... :) 

Isabella and I are making a quick trip to join Michael in Dallas for part of the weekend while he is working, and then be back to celebrate Easter with our families. And I will run 9 miles...YIKES!

Weekend scenes

 The weekend flew by and we enjoyed lots of things. I got some running in, spent some time with my mom and sister, hung out with friends, went to see the hunger games, did some cleaning...

Isabella's first egg hunt

Isabella enjoyed a special egg hunt her Nana prepared for her with lots of fun surprises!

 Isabella went to a princess birthday party Saturday morning. Here she is enjoying her first ring pop!

 Dying eggs at Mimi's house!

 Baby girl loves stickers (stik-kors)!

 

Our family egg dying tradition continues + Isabella now!

Our final products!

Spring

Happy Spring! It is hard to believe it is April first. We have been enjoying some Easter festivities and all things Spring! The memorial marathon is exactly four weeks away from today! My training is slowly coming along. I ran 7.5 miles this morning...and my body feels like I rode a horse for a few hours. Hopefully that goes away soon!

18 Months

Isabella turned 18 months this month. She was very interested once when I showed her the series of her in her chair with her zebra. But that did not translate into her sitting still so I could get her picture!

"Reading" Goodnight Moon

Aaaand what she really thinks about these pictures...

She is saying lots of new words, and repeats or attempts to repeat everything we say. She is constantly moving, and frequently jabbering. She loves reading books. Her favorites right now are Llama llama nighty-night, The monster at the end of this book, and Along came you. She loves to play outside in our yard or at the park.

Thirsty after playing hard at the park

Cupcake date this week

Enjoying her sucker from the nurse after her shots this morning

 We had her 18 month well child check this morning. She did the best she ever has with getting her shots. I found myself during and after the appointment just overwhelmed with gratefulness for such a healthy, happy child. The doctor said she is "just perfect". And any parent will tell you, it is always great to hear that!

I'll be gone for the day tomorrow at a continuing ed class, and I'm already missing her. I love you Isabella! You bring me so much joy!

One of my favorite movies is Return to Me.  A friend and I have talked about this movie often and quote parts of it. There is a part when the main character, who is single, meets someone. Late one night she rides her bike over to her friend's house, who is married to a boisterous character, and says, "I've met someone. I just had to tell you." And then rides away.
We have always joked about her needing to live close to me so that someday she can ride her bike to my house at night and say, "I've met someone. I just had to tell you." As circumstance has it we are not in bike riding distance from each other. But one day, a few weeks ago, there was a knock on my door, and then this:

I laughed so much...it totally made my day. 

(And to the single ladies out there...there are apparently many kind, single, Christian men to be found through e-harmony. And some not so kind, or really even single men. But I'm happy that my friend is happy!)

Happy Monday!

It was gorgeous when we got home yesterday, after a week of many rainy and cooler days. Michael went and got sand for Isabella's new-to-us sandbox. She went right to work and played for a long time transferring sand from one thing to another. She had her 18 month birthday on Friday and is changing and growing so fast!

This week is a good mix of busy days and slow at-home days. Have a good week!

Weekend scenes

Many thanks to Michael's aunt for letting us use their lake house for a long weekend!! We had a great relaxing time away!

Quiet time

We pulled out of town Thursday night and headed to Grand Lake. We made
a stop for a hot fudge sundae at a McDonald's that is built over the
highway. Isabella was fascinated by the cars and trucks blowing by.
We've been enjoying some quiet time with just our little family, and
some great skies, books, tea, s'mores, walks, and stars.