13/52 - flip flops and Spring Break

This week is our Spring Break and Grace and I are leaving Thursday to spend a few days

with this lovely lady and her family.

They just happen to live in sunny and warm south Florida.

Dan and Will will hold down the fort at home and will do fabulously well, I'm sure.

The word 'excited' doesn't even come close to how I feel about our little

mommy/daughter trip.

The above pics are of our flip flops (mine in the background and Grace's in the foreground).

So far in our suitcase are Grace's things, I'll pack mine tonight.

The only important items missing from Grace's are a few Barbies that will go along.

My friend Grace also has an 8 year old daughter...

and we can't wait to get these girls together!
(And the mommys too).

I'll be back to blogging next week.

black and white Wednesday - a little bit of sunshine

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine."

~ Anthony D'Angelo

"In the garden my soul is sunshine."

~ unknown

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

~ James Matthew Barrie (creator of Peter Pan)

This is Will pretending he's Peter Pan.

He's taken an interest in the movie and I've been reading him the story.

He was using a stick for a sword before I shot these.

I love this boy's imagination very much!

These two are my sunshine.

Always.

Their laughter and joy is contagious.

Everyday I'm thankful that I've been given a second and third chance to be a parent.

And blessed to have been chosen to be their mom.

Taken on Saturday, it was a beautiful early Spring day.

We had to get outside and get some exercise and Vitamin D.

I had found a park that we'd never explored before and I loved the light there.

We'll be back I'm sure.

Happy Spring.

If it hasn't arrived where you live yet, I'm confident it'll be there soon!
Enjoy these days.

12/52 - first blooms

They're finally here.

That's really how I know it's Spring in Wisconsin, I don't have to look at the calendar.

It's when these fuzzy gray blooms open on the West side of our garage.

We planted them a few years ago and they've gone a little bit crazy.

I usually cut some and bring them indoors

Welcome Spring, so happy you've arrived!

11/52 - Chicago

"Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful city left in the world."

~ Frank Lloyd Wright

(Tribune Building, showing a beautiful archway and ornate facade of the front.)

“I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.”

~ Michael Douglas

(Ironwork on the Du Sable bridge at Michigan Ave.)

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting a friend in Chicago.

When she told me she was visiting I jumped at the chance of making a trip.

It's only 2 hours away.

I've mentioned numerous times how it's my favorite city in the U.S.

We had a fabulous time catching up and doing a little shopping...
 ah...that would be for shoes. ;)
We also did more than our fair share of laughing, wish we could have spent more time together.
It was a fun weekend and good for me to get away by myself.
Thank you Lea!

(Du Sable bridge from a different perspective. The Chicago River was dyed green for St. Patty's day!
And yes it was THAT color green.)

Whether you love it, hate it, or feel somewhere in between...

Chicago is North Michigan Avenue, the Gold Coast,

Marshall Fields which is now Macy's on State,

home to the Cubs, White Sox, 'da Bears,'

Bulls, and the Blackhawks.

It is a history of political corruption, Al Capone,

the Picasso at Daley Center, the Field Museum,

Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science and Industry.

It's incredible music, historic Wrigley Field, great diversity,
distinctive neighborhoods,

friendly Midwesterners and delicious pizza.

It's my family history,

where all 4 of my Grandparents called their home, and

my Great Grandfather was the mayor in the early 1900's.

It's my husband born and raised on the North side and

my mom born and raised on the South side.
And where my parents were married.

No matter where I live, Chicago will always be a part of me.

black and white Wednesday - Clark Kent



Clark Kent has had a little cabin fever lately.

Can't say I blame him, 'cause I have too...Winter just keeps on hangin' on.

Friday is Will's day home with me.

I am cherishing these days with him, because he'll start Kindergarten in the Fall.

We try to do something fun.

I mean fun for him can be going to Target.

Last Friday we went to one of his very favorite parks.

I didn't expect this much snow to still be on the ground
...but came prepared with his boots.

The boy has NO fear about anything...

and I admire him for that.

A bit of a dare devil, a hanger from high places and a climber.

Even when wearing slippery boots.

Will had a pretty bad cold when I took these pics,

and it didn't affect his demeanor at all. 

He was just so happy to be outside in the sun and fresh air!

(The glasses were a gift last Summer from dear friends.
Will had misplaced them among his toys and recently found them again - to his delight.
He pretends he's Clark Kent.)

Spring really is in the air here this week
 and our snow is finally melting.
We're hoping it's the last of it.   :)

Please check out many more black and whites at Lisa's blog.

i heart faces - sunflare

This week's theme at i heart faces is 'sunflare.'

I haven't entered anything in quite a while and thought I'd use the one above.

Taken last Fall of Grace and Will, it's one of my favorites

because of the way he's looking up at his big sister.

Happy Monday!

black and white Wednesday - yellow hat

Last Friday we actually ventured outside for a little while.

It finally got up into the 40's.

Some snow is still on the ground and we are pretty deep in mud, muck and slush.

The above are Will's reactions as we first got on the sidewalk.

I felt inspired by a yellow hat that I found for Grace,

and wanted to try to get a portrait of her wearing it.

(She was trying to pick Will up and carry him around. She's usually successful.)

The giggle fest commenced,

honestly they were just delighted to be outside!
And not wearing all the heavy Winter outer layers that are necessary here.

There was some hat throwing (a la Mary Tyler Moore?)
(Grace's idea.)

We managed to get to our destination which was a bridge over a creek.

I was able to quickly capture a serious shot of Grace looking down.

And the portrait I'd been dreaming of in the pretty little hat...

You know it's funny...

in my search for the perfect image, I didn't find it in the portraits.

I mean, I'm very happy with them but

I found it in the ones of Grace and Will playing, laughing and having fun 

on our walk down to the bridge.

Sometimes (I think), the journey often is as important as the destination.

It's Black and White Wednesday, I  hope Spring is arriving where you live!

10/52 - puppet show

Yesterday was my mother's birthday and we spent the day with her.

Most times when we get together she has a little 'something' for Grace and William.

She's a knitter and this time her little gift was a set of 2 handmade puppets for each of them.

(He's playing with a puppy and a crocodile)

As much as my kids love the Wii and their ds systems, 

they love to use their imaginations even more.

This morning Will played and played with the puppets...the sound

effects were the best!

I couldn't choose one for my project 52,

these 4 were my faves! 

9/52 - Jack

He is the king of the castle, the master of our domain, and an affectionate, vocal fellow.

He's difficult for me to capture as he's either sleeping under someones bed
or trying to escape out the door.

Jack is 3 years old and the first male cat we've ever owned.

In the Summer he's quite the hunter and I often say a serial killer.

We've had many small 'bodies' left on the front porch.

Yuck.

He became the ninth photo for my 52 project.

I think the beautiful blue-grey of his coat suits him well.

Jack hasn't appeared on my blog much,

and here he is.