not to rub it in, but….
it’s been just beautiful these past few days…warm sunshine and afternoon breezes. air that smells new and fresh…like a michigan spring. and the constant sound of lawn mowers and happy little birds. just this blessed culmination evocative of nothing but goodness. it’s drinkable, really.
so, we’ve set out to enjoy it as much as possible with morning walks where she points at everything and i answer her uh? uh? uh? ‘s with as many enthusiastic responses as i think her little brain can handle. with afternoon picnic-snacks on a blanket sprawled out on our side lawn. with welcoming our mornings by sliding all the glass doors in the house open to invite the goodness in…and, although we might have to slip on a sweatshirt or slipper up our feet for those first sips of coffee, it’s worth it…to greet the morning as everyone should be so lucky. with fresh, sweet february air.
i love living in florida in february. i love the thick woodsy barbecue smoke that curls its way around the neighborhood in the afternoons. the barefoot kids that land in our driveway on the weekends for a riotous game of manhunt. the backyard bonfires we’ve been enjoying and the way brett gets all excited about the bonfire possibly mastering the level of “coolness” needed to get all the neighborhood kids to choose our house for the saturday night hangout. he called me last weekend while i was out and all little-boyishly said…”i think we’re gunna have a lot of kids. get three bags of marshmallows and a ton of hot dogs.” and as the embers heated up and more lawn chairs were added to the ever-growing fire perimeter, i saw him get happier and happier. we did it. we’re cool enough.
…and then watching lainey get completely soaked with attention from all the boys’ friends…just sittin’ there in her brother’s lap, enjoying the marshmallows they all eagerly made her…and her smile. as happy as i was, i couldn’t help but be more happy for brett because i knew he had to be beaming.
i love the fact that, after bemoaning the fact that our neighborhood is so blessed with a slew of little boys, i wasn’t sure lainey would ever find a little girl to play with…a new family moves in four houses down from us just weeks ago. and, on our walk to introduce ourselves, we see four kids playing in the driveway. and, as we get closer and closer, we notice a blond head about lainey’s height. and closer…we notice curly pigtails. and, upon introduction to this sweet family, we learn she is only a month older than lainey. and i love that two nights ago, we all stood in our driveway with a cooler of beer, a box of sidewalk chalk, and a trail of wagons and trikes and talked for two hours while our kids played in the moonlight. that’s outside. in february.
i love afternoon hose fun and the sound her little painted toes make when they squelch and squerch in the puddly mud.
i love getting dinner started and then escaping with her to practice some trike-riding in the driveway in the afternoon light.
oh, and i really, really love these pictures we took today.
i love little bare shoulders and thin cotton straps. in february.
i love…sunshine and sea breezes. warm pavement on bare feet when i run to get the mail. vivid blue skies. saying ‘yes’ everytime she points to go outside. trikes and bikes that don’t hibernate to hanging garage pegs for half the year. going coatless. polishing my toenails because it does matter and people will see them.
i love february florida.
and i love…her.
…but you kinda already knew that, no?
…enjoying the sunshiney things. ~k
oh, you’re rubbing it in!
finally catching up on here…LOVE the silhouette shots…and the tricycle ones are so…sharp. and the babydoll ones…oh, there is just something about a little girl and her baby dolls…
off to bed.
that is after I check my facebook.
and turn off my jonas brothers cd.
and put clearasil on my face.
that last part was for dad…
love you.
loving…barbecue smoke that curls it’s way throughout the neighborhood.
loving…puddly mud.
magnificent!!!
i wanted to use a word i hadn’t lately…and it is so fitting!!! these pictures are full of so much color. LOVE the vintage trike!
backyard bonfire…you guys are soooo cool!
priceless…again! bonfires are such great ways to make memories. i am excited for both of you that there is a new little girl on the street!! many more memories on their way!!
Way to rub it in! Hahaha, I’ll have you know the windchill is below zero today and I froze my heiny off walking from the parking lot to school today. I need to come to your bonfire and warm up!!!!!
those sparky pictures from the bonfire are too cool! how do you do that???
and the lil’ girl nearby … stella met her best friend that same way. it is always so amazing to see them together … more sisters than friends. hope you get that too. plus … it’s always nice to have another mama to befriend.
You’ve got to be the coolest family on the block.
I enjoy the Feburary sunshine too… though in a different place- HI.
It’s simply blissful.
Your little one… I hope for a sweet girl playful girl like her someday. How adorable is she!
What a great thing to have in your backyard. Your house is the place to be for the boys. Love the picture of Lainey in the pink and green with the new shoes!
That’s always been our goal too. Have a fun enough house where your kids want to bring their friends. I’m sure you rock it out!
Florida’s February is just a little more appealing than our Michigan February. Winter storm warning. Blustery wind. 20 degree high! But Mike’s making chicken chili and homemade bread so we’ll be ok. :o)
Love everything your sister said. And, have to tell you that I just got home and it’s 1:23am after my two bug, giant fundraisers this week/year and came to check in with your blog first thing. Currently, I am a bit drunk, wearing a really tight wine-colored dress with skin-colored fish nets and heels in a pile on the floor. Feet aching. Successful evening. Snarfing leftover rice with cheese on top (hey, it works) and a giant glass of water.
Thanks for having stuff for me to look at and read.
xo
And Lainey’s cutie pie eyes are too much.
LOVE
“…a month older and she has pigtails…” Find out what they are feeding the girl and give Lainey a double helping. My theory is, she’s just so advanced in the cuteness thing, the hair follicles will just have to catch up someday. Love the Daddy you married–those moments are his greatest joy, you know. Sweet laughing shots of ‘da girlie. Maybe next weekend I can take a break from working and actually see her!
I too love “puddly mud” and also heiny…but I think that spelling is reflective of Molly’s German roots or her love of Heinekin…I think it is Hiney, as in “Get your hiney in here before I woop it!”
i miss lainey posts…i had to go back like 4 posts to get a fix. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the tricycle pics, so crisp!