Park it

Harper loves-loves-loves to play outside. We play in our backyard and front yard quite often, but not often enough if you surveyed my daughter. I have caught her staring longingly out the back patio door many times, while our bulldog stares back longingly into our living room. It makes for an amusing sight.

Yesterday, we met our friends Deanna (with Makenzie and Piper) & Kim (with Kylee) at the park. The girls had a lot of fun, particularly on the slide. The moms worked out an assembly line of sorts, shuffling the girls from the ground to the bridge to the slide and back down again. Efficiency is key! Kylee and Piper enjoyed the swings as well, but Harper does not share that interest with them. Go figure! She would much rather explore the park grounds on her own...she's really working that independent streak lately!


Kylee, Harper and Piper--hopefully, this is the only time they will spend together behind bars! ;)


If you could only imagine how funny this really was...quite an accomplishment!

This is getting serious

A little cheese and crackers, save the wine for the moms, and you've got the perfect date for the under 2 crowd.

Carson and Harper's first dinner date...first of many that will be orchestrated by their parents!

Interruption of your regularly scheduled programming

I should be working on my literature review. I could be helping Jeff work on a project outside. I was in the midst of a search for a Gruyere potato gratin recipe that once graced my lips courtesy of Miss Lara LeAnne. However, I had to pause when I saw this kid run past my desk...

In this case, the distraction was welcomed.

If you've got something to say, say it!

Many of you without gmail accounts have expressed an interest in leaving comments on the blog, so I'm here to give you a quick tip. Click the pull down menu and select "Name/URL." Insert whatever name you want to use, and don't worry about the URL part. Your comment will appear as "so and so said...." Easy peasy Japanesy!

(Oh, who am I kidding? Only two people, max, read this blog!)

I'm a lucky gal...

My fam. 'Nuff said.

House for sale

Jeff and I are a tad impulsive. Well, more Jeff than me, but let's not get technical. We were engaged six months after we met, and married eight months later. We had a kid one month after our first anniversary. We don't tend to wait around when we know what we want.

The most recent example of this impulsiveness involves us listing our house for sale last week. We have twice looked at a house for sale by owner a few streets over. The house neighbors Jeff's grandparents' house, and is also a stone's throw from his parents' house. Needless to say, we pass by this house often and it piqued my interest. We also viewed two other homes on that street. (I still want the first one. So, if you're searching for birthday/Christmas gift ideas....) We casually viewed all three homes. We weren't exactly looking to move right now. Heck, we even have a rough draft of plans for a remodel of our kitchen/den.

In the span of a week, we decided that we did want to move, and accordingly, we have to sell our house. If you know of anyone looking for a home in lovely Woodway, Texas, send 'em our way! Or send 'em to the listing!

Bonus pics of a cute kid playing in front of the house. Kid not included in price shown. Additional negotiation required. ;)

Cornucopia of "firsts"

Over the last fourteen months, Jeff and I have rejoiced (and shaken our heads at) many of Harper's "firsts." Some are significant, while others run precariously close to the mundane. Some of these moments may cause you to take no notice at all, to allow a fleeting thought of recognition to flow in and out of your brain, or to drop everything and immediately call/text/blog/run an ad on cable television exalting the news to anyone that will listen. Good or bad, there never seems to be a shortage of notable moments.

Allow me to share a recent sampling of first occurrences in Harper's life:

* FIRST time to eat venison, dove breast, and shrimp.

* FIRST time to brush her teeth without a knock-down, drag-out fight.

* FIRST time to sleep in a toddler bed.

* FIRST molars. Ugh, I personally hate 'em.

* FIRST time to ride a tricycle. Or at least ride on one while someone else pushes her around.

* FIRST real scrape. Bonus: first scab!

* FIRST kiss! That sneaky ol' Carson stole a kiss on Halloween while sitting in the wagon with Harps. Until then, I wasn't aware that monkeys are attracted to cats!

* FIRST time to lick homemade butter cream frosting from a beater. This moment probably rates #1 in Harper's book. She was absolutely elated!

* FIRST time to perform long division! OK, not really, but I'm keeping hope alive! ;)

* FIRST time to poop in the bathtub. Yep, folks, you read it right. Last night, HP pooped in the tub. I saw a bubble and guessed fart, but I was quickly proven wrong. Luckily, Grammy was available to dry and clothe Harper while I called in the HAZMAT team. Oh wait, that would be me. Sick, sick, sick.

* FIRST time to go out of town without Mom and Dad. Maybe that will lead to another first...first time to poop in someone else's bathtub! Muhahahaha....

Tell me a funny "first" you can recall with your kid(s). Don't hold back!