I said this at the end of January, and I'll say it again now that it's the end of February:

How is this year going by SO FAST already?

There. I'm done now.

Not really, though. Odds are, I'll say the same thing at the end of every month. Because the faster time goes by, the more and more I realize just how much my boys... and my husband...and I'm growing up.

Can it just stop already?

I want time to stand still. I never understood it. Like everyone, I was in such a hurry to grow up. Now I'm in a hurry for my boys to stay small.

#6

Michael plays flag football with Dada.

Levi conquers the bouncer, with a cold.

#7

Levi explores the water table in the Arizona "winter".

Michael becomes a teenager at age four in Batman pajamas.

#8

Papa, Marmee, Michael, and Levi act silly at the zoo.

I hope my parents don't kill me for that last picture. It's pretty much my favorite all time, since they're making the same face and Michael is looking AT the camera and Levi is just hangin' out enjoying a french fry.

I love my life.

Welcoming March with a good attitude! Bring it on.

Practising Simplicity's 52 project

My husband's mother has been here for nearly two weeks, so I decided to attempt a few pictures of her and the boys. All the "pretty" ones were edited (at least, my version of edited), and this is one that clearly didn't turn out the way I'd hoped. Michael is laughing, Mimi's hand (now cropped) was blurry, Levi was getting cranky-- and you can see his fantastic Star Wars band aid on his pinky (he got his finger stuck in the garbage can pedal).

But I love it to pieces.

Practising Simplicity's 52 project

I'm finding it hard to believe that we are in the last week of January, let alone that it's 2016. I know we all fret over time and how fast it goes, but it makes more and more sense to me why our parents always warn us about it. Michael is four, and Levi is just about 8 months. I can't handle it.

I decided to try and do Practising Simplicity's 52 project this year (again...). The problem is, I decided it about a week ago. So although I'm sharing four pictures, I'm honestly not sure of their timeline. I intend to be more intentional with pulling out my "good" camera and not just my phone to snap some shots as time passes. After all, life is made up of small moments. And I definitely want to capture as many as I can.
#1

Goose Poses.

#2

Loving Chaos.

#3

Brotherly Fun.

#4

Levi's Curious.
These boys just make my heart burst. Michael has started just playing with Levi whenever I'm preoccupied. He'll crawl on the floor and hand Levi some cars or try to play patty-cake. And while Levi isn't always amused by his big brother, anyone can tell by the way he looks at Michael that he wants nothing more than to keep up and be like him.

Making a Valentine's Day banner wasn't the only craft we've done in preparation for this wonderful holiday. Some may say that it's crafted by Hallmark to make people buy cards and chocolates and flowers, but I say it's what we make of it. And I love this opportunity to teach Michael about the purist type of love-- God's love.

On good 'ole Pinterest I found this link for Bible verses centered around Love for a countdown to Valentine's Day. Michael has a hard time counting past twelve, so it was the perfect opportunity to start working on the next round of numbers with him. We spent time cutting out more hearts and learning numbers up to 14.


On the back of each heart, we taped a verse. Then we taped them on our fridge. Right now they are front and center, and every day Michael will point to the numbers and count. It's an easy way to help him with 13 & 14. Next week, once February begins ::gulp:: we will take the number down that matches the day, and tape the verse on this:


Not my finest work, but it serves the purpose. We've taped it up in Michael's lesson/art corner (a post to come about that soon!) and that way he'll be reminded each day about the true meaning of LOVE.

Have some Valentine's Day ideas? I'd love to hear them!

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Last week we were out in the heat no matter how hot. We were suffering from cabin fever and could not be kept indoors. Michael was one happy camper to get out and play some baseball.


Our neighborhood is graced with a splash pad... so if you come by our house and find it empty, that's the next place you should look. Michael does lap after lap and will not tire of it-- even after running it for an hour.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Michael is making leaps and bounds with his potty training, though I still see some bumps ahead of us. We try to encourage him as much as we can, so when he last made some progress-- he became SUPER MICHAEL!


Sometimes we need to just get outside, even if it's 105. The sprinkler is positively perfect for days where our grass isn't jungle-length and it's "cool" enough where we won't be too hot with the water going.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

While Clark was home he really wanted to do some camping. Since we weren't quite sure how Michael would act, we decided to test the waters in the backyard first. The other reason for this? It is already way too hot. Odds are, real camping won't happen until fall.


Michael loved being in the tent, as long as the "door" was open so he could see outside. He waited patiently anxiously excitedly for it to get dark outside and the stars to come out. We passed the time with s'mores and books. Granted, the s'mores didn't have roasted marshmallows. Nonetheless, Michael was a big fan.



We had a wonderful time. Once it was dark and Michael was getting sleepy, though, he requested to go inside. We didn't fight him. It was eight o'clock and over eighty outside. We'll try "serious" camping in the fall, but this will always be remembered as his first-- and mama's favorite.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Last week we ventured into our backyard for a camping adventure. Michael was so excited at the aspect of sleeping in the tent with us. In the evening he snuggled onto Clark's lap to read, and it was a moment that completely pulled at my heartstrings. I love my boys so much, and nothing makes me happier than seeing them together.

Check back in to read more about our camping adventure next week!

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Never leave a jar of Nutella unattended. It was on the counter when I went to switch the laundry upstairs, and when I came back down it was, well, all over Michael. I love his curious spirit, and the fact that he loves this stuff as much as I do. This was one time I didn't mind cleaning up the mess-- I just joined in the fun.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

I know, I know. I've been awful about posting this over the past month. I promise to do better. We have been busy bees around here. Michael has decided that he needs me every.waking.moment. Not even every waking moment, actually. As we are now potty-training, it seems me leaving him during nap time or bed time causes distress. I'm sure it will all pass, and I can't say I mind the cuddles. Now that Clark is home, I am no longer wanted. I was just told that I was to stay inside as they went out and play.

I didn't argue with him.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
19/52

Michael absolutely loves that we have grass in our backyard now. While we still have a few patches of dirt that have yet to fill in, that doesn't stop him from running from one end of the yard to the other with his lawn mower. He wants to be "just like Dada."
Please excuse that this was taken with my iPhone.


20/52

On a very hot day, it was necessary to let Michael play in the ::ahem::doggy::ahem:: pool. He absolutely loved being able to stay in our backyard and cool off. This is not to say that we don't enjoy visiting the neighborhood pool, but lately the big kids seem to like to play in the kiddy pool and that makes Michael a little nervous... or maybe it makes me a little nervous.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

Things are always crazy when Clark comes home. It's easy to fall behind. Michael was way too excited to take Dada to "the trains" as he calls the railroad park. We had a blast, even if it was pretty hot.



Clark and Michael got sick, starting around my birthday. It's taken us all week to get Michael up and running again, but yesterday he finally seemed to be his "whole self". Now if we could just get his sleep back on track, I'll be one happy mama.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
This week has had a lot of ups and downs. Michael is really into the "mine" stage. This means everything is his, everything has to be done a certain way, and if we don't do something as soon as we tell him we're doing it-- prepare for a meltdown! So one afternoon we sat down and painted with fruit. He loved doing it, made some amazing artwork (I'm biased, I know), and went a whole hour without declaring something was his. I count this as a win.

Sadly, this photo was taken with my iPhone. We were having too much fun (did I mention the peace & quiet?) that I forgot to pull out my DSLR.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.


HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!

My dad got to visit us at the end of March. My parents took turns, since they both work for a church in Iowa they couldn't be away at the same time. Of course, now that they've been, they're determined to come together next year for a winter vacation for, like, two weeks.

Michael had a lot of fun with his Papa, but I'm still hearing about how he and Papa went to the baseball game and the park. Before Clark came home, my dad, Michael, and I went to a Cubs vs. White Sox spring training game. Michael had SO much fun. Playtime with Papa was pretty much the center of his world.




As for the park, my dad watched Michael while Clark and I got a movie-date in and they went to the park for a very long time.

Other than that, we all had a lot of fun. We got to go hiking, just hang out, and try some of the local foods that we hadn't just yet... and some that we had. I mean, who can come out West and not go to In-N-Out?

If you hadn't noticed on Instagram or with previous posts, we've been enjoying some baseball. The great thing about where we now live is we are in the midst of spring training and just 30 minutes or so from Chase Field.

Clark and I both grew up loving baseball. He played when he was younger, and my dad took me to Rigley Field (and I played softball as a child). But I wasn't one to watch the games on TV (a little boring if you ask me), and I just didn't see following sports as a priority otherwise (I still don't, if I'm being honest). But now that we're here, there's really no excuse not to enjoy the game up close. Tickets are so reasonably priced and we're so close. Why not make it family fun?

The last day Clark left Michael had been asking to go to a baseball game after looking at pictures of him and Papa at the Cubs game we went to. Sadly, spring training was over, and we're not Diamondbacks fans, but then I remembered that the SF Giants were still playing in Phoenix. The Giants, thanks to my sister and her husband, is our new "family team". It was Clark and Michael's first pro-baseball game, even if it was spring training. While I know the Giants have a WAY better chance at going all this way than the Cubs (since the Cubs haven't won a world series in, like, over 100 years), I'm still a Cubs fan at heart. It was a my first game, and something special I always got to share with my dad.

I digress.

I bought last minute tickets to the SF Giants at Diamondbacks game. Even last minute the tickets were reasonably priced and we were on the First Base line and everything! It was so exciting, and Michael made it to the seventh inning stretch, which was the goal since it was a PM game.

Now, what you've been waiting for, the pictures. By the way... the Giants won... go figure.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
My wonderful friend from NC was out here for a Juice Plus conference weekend so we got to spend some quality time together... with Michael, of course. Saturday we made our way to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It was fantastic. I'm definitely thinking we need to get a year-pass for this one for Michael. He had way too much fun.

Also, this photo credit goes to Linden. I didn't actually take it, but it was too wonderful not to share for the 52 Project.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
Early this week before my dad had to leave to go back to Iowa we all went on a hike. It was a little too hot for my taste, so I don't foresee us really going hiking, er, anywhere come summer time. The boys, though, had way too much fun. There was a pass in the rocks that Michael loved going through, and the pass also made for a sort of rock slide which Michael went down over... and over... and over.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed since we moved here that I'm pretty obsessed with hot air balloons.

I'm pretty sure we live by a launch site, or just a place in general that you can take hot air balloon rides. I've done a little research, and I'm not sure going on a ride is in our future as of right now, but they are sure fun to look at.

Saturday morning Michael and I were up really early, and both rather grumpy. He didn't want to play outside. He didn't want to do puzzles, or color, or anything. We weren't very sure how we were going to start our day.

And then he spotted a balloon.


Then another.


Somehow, these things manage to just cheer us up every time we see them. We sat in the backyard and watched them come closer, and closer, and then disappear in a different direction behind the neighborhood houses.


It's magical.

From then on, our day picked up, which was wonderful. It was like we just needed a little reminder from God that it was going to be ok, and that's what the hot air balloons always seem to do.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
This week we had our first pool day, which just happened to fall on the first day of spring. Right now we haven't made any local friends with kids his age, but he gets along beautifully with little Grant. We had such a wonderful afternoon with friends, something we had clearly been lacking. It was truly a God-send when I was linked up with Jacquie for the first Cara Box I did through Wifessionals.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
Michael's new favorite thing is to water his garden, my flowers, and our newly planted lime tree. He also likes to tell me to put my camera away, hence the iPhone shot again.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.

One reason I'm so thankful for our move is we're clearly in a prime spot for family to visit right now. I mean, they're all facing snow... and here we are in our own little oasis.

At the end of February/beginning of March my sister from See You There and her family came to visit. We had the best time possible. I'm so thankful Michael is going to grow up being BFF's with his cousin, Maile.






Sadly, the only group picture we got was at the zoo, and my scanner is being dumb. But I promise, my sister was there. I can prove it, because she took all these pictures except the one of me and Maile.

We had a lot of adventures, but my favorite was definitely the baseball game. We saw the SF Giants play the Arizona Diamondbacks, and let's just say the Giants may have some new fans.

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "
Last week my sister (author of See You There) and her family were visiting. We all went to a SF Giants Spring Training game against the AZ Diamondbacks. Michael and Maile took their turns napping throughout the game, and when they were awake at the same time near the end-- they held hands. Perfect picture op, even if it was with my iPhone.

Part of Practising Simplicity's 52 Project.