Brett invited me to come along for what is usually his special “dad only” date–an airport picnic. There are rules, I quickly learned. Like you don’t sit on the seats of the picnic table, you actually sit on the table. And you make guesses for which way planes will turn once they take off. And you don’t even think about suggesting anything for these picnics other than the way they’ve always been done because Lainey will tell you “that’s not the way Daddy does it.”
Our little airport picnic took place in a parking lot that looked a lot like prison grounds with its barbed wire border and frequent airport security drive-bys. But add a couple happy meals and a few “This is fun!” proclamations, and suddenly it’s very special. A tradition long to be remembered. There’s always the possibility of adventure hidden in unlikely places.
*******
And a little weekend fun…
Curlers. Because she thinks it’s very cool. We don’t get much curl because we roll them lukewarm, but still…makes her happy.
Some Happy Monday dancing to start the week…
Nella begs to carry our phones around so she can play music. She knows albums by their covers and effortlessly scrolls through them to find the song she likes. And then she’ll play it for all of seven seconds before switching to a new one. Her current moves and favorite accompaniment:
nella the dj
Songs: Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus, Get Lucky by Daft Punk, Scream and Shout by will.i.am, Can’t Hold Us by Mackelmore
Have a great week!
My two-year-old went nuts for the video. He was dancing along and, of course, his favorite part was when the puppy makes a cameo.
I think that sounds like a perfect way to spend an afternoon! Maybe I will see if my kidgets will go for something like that. Pre teen/teen outings are so different than the simple ones of early childhood. I am not going to lie, I miss your kind!
Nella has great taste in music : ).
Happy Monday, Kelle.
Adorable! Girlfriend has some serious moves! I’m betting the charming quilt for the picnic table was not “how daddy does it”, but mama has to bring something to the mix.
My dad used to take me to sit by the airport and watch the planes take off and land. We would get donuts and sit there and talk- such sweet memories. Love this post.
She’s awesome! Also, Nella and I have the same summer playlist.
Can’t Hold Us is Arya’s song, she can’t get enough of it, I love it! Hella has great taste in music! 🙂
Aww we used to do the same thing when we lived in Maryland, mcdonalds and watch the airplanes landing. Nothing like that here in Jacksonville, Fl. Hope Brett is feeling better, he looks it! Love Nella’s dance video.
Aww we used to do the same thing when we lived in Maryland, mcdonalds and watch the airplanes landing. Nothing like that here in Jacksonville, Fl. Hope Brett is feeling better, he looks it! Love Nella’s dance video.
Oh, btw is Nella wearing a amber teething necklace? Does it help and what kind is it ?
LOVE LOVE the sweet video of Nella dancing. Made my morning. 🙂 Thanks!
Kelle….
My sister sits on picnic tables, not the benches!! It drives me crazy!! But I am no comparison. I drive those who I’m in close proximity to even crazy-er!! Hee, hee, hee…. ;-D
“Our little airport picnic took place in a parking lot that looked a lot like prison grounds with its barbed wire border and frequent airport security drive-bys. But add a couple happy meals and a few “This is fun!” proclamations, and suddenly it’s very special. A tradition long to be remembered. There’s always the possibility of adventure hidden in unlikely places.”. Love. Love. Love!! 😉
–Raelyn
omg. FREAKING joyful!
lots of smiles and chuckles here today!
xo
Nella’s dance moves make me SMILE 🙂 loved the video!
Nothing makes me smile like watching littles dance in front of a mirror. Little sister’s got some moves! My faves are the “drop it like it’s (warm)” and the forward & back steps by the door. She’s soooooo cute!
Too funny! I just took video of my two year old dancing to Get Lucky this weekend too! Love the things they do when they think no one is watching!
so sweet! my daughter loves music too!
What a fun dad-daughter date….I’m glad you got invited 😉
Adorable photos and video.
xo
hehe I love it! I’m not brave enough to let my kids surf my phone but they regularly request their fav songs 😉 She’s got moves!!
That video! Cutest little dancer ever.
We live super close to the airport and hang out there, or where the old airport was, pretty often. Nice to see we’re not the only ones. 🙂
That’s awesome! How did that tradition of airport picnicing come about? 🙂
xox
giedre
http://www.walkingdotphotography.com
The first picture from the airport picnic is absolutely perfect, and love Nella’s back and forth move in particular 🙂
“There’s always the possibility of adventure hidden in unlikely places.”
Word. My seven-month-old taught me the same thing last weekend. 🙂
This is so sweet, because we actually do air port dates too, mainly during lunch time break for my husband.
Okay, Nella is seriously the cutest!
Nella is so precious. Love that video. Love your photos, love your blog, love your entire family. Happy Monday to you!
I love that Lainey is becoming a little blonde you! And that picture of Nella with the curlers and the phone – just too much sassy! So great.
What a happy little video!
It’s amazing that more professional dancers don’t dance with curlers in their hair!
A great video – thank you, as always, for sharing your life.
Ali in the Alps
That video of a little dancing Nella made me so happy today! Love, love, love it:)
OMG…I’m dying from the cuteness of Nella dancing and playing DJ. Love the idea of daddy only picnics and especially the photo of Brett kneeling down holding Dash and Dash is so cutely staring at the camera…his mommy. Just loved this post!
HAHA. This looks like many of our outings……making special out of the ordinary or very, very odd. Haha. And that picture of your husband with his babies just melts me.
Nella you can move!
Nella you can move!
I have been following you since Nella’s Birth and I have to just say thank you for sharing your life the way you do. You are an inspiration to myself. Today I opened this post to see Nella and I watched her dance and you made the end of a long day a good one. Thank you for sharing that special part of your life.
Tanya
That video literally made my day! Thanks so much for sharing!
Seriously ADORABLE! If only we all found such joy in a simple iphone playlist!
Kelle~I really don’t know how you can stand that much cuteness every day! The videos of Nella make me shout out loud whenever I see one of them. This one is the cutest so far! I love her!!
Daddies just think with their male brains and they come up with some awesome ways to spend time with their babies! Enjoy Kelly, they grow up so very fast. Relish every second! Advice from a mom whose babes are all grown up and is trying really hard to give them their wings.
Diane
LOVED the video of Nella dancing!!!!
Have you tried rags in Nella’s hair? She is a beauty!! Love!
uh seriously she is THE Cutest thing. I love her moves in the mirror. It’s so awesome that you have these little videos. I’m technically challenged…these are done so very well:))
Cool stuff my friend. The airport is a great place for photos, I love the wind and the disparity it provides as a background. Plus, dramatic skies! Photographer win!
xo
Melina
Cool stuff my friend. The airport is a great place for photos, I love the wind and the disparity it provides as a background. Plus, dramatic skies! Photographer win!
xo
Melina
I teach a K-5th cross categorical classroom and on Fridays we turn on Pandora during our fine and gross motor centers….which quickly turns into a dance party. It’s my favorite time of the week and this video made me miss the kiddos that much more this summer!!
What a great idea!
That is the cutest video. She is adorable.
This is one of my favorite posts you have ever done- especially Nella the dj!
This is one of my favorite posts you have ever done- especially Nella the dj!
Aw, that is the sweetest DJ I’ve ever seen! And I’m pretty sure Nella’s way, way, way smarter than me at memorizing songs by their album covers. 🙂
Oh such a cute dj , love the dance moves . The airport picnic – brilliant idea.
Funnest dad. Best post ever. Dj nella rocks! Well done your doing an awesome job at this parenting thing. The girls oh and dash now 😉 are soo lucky 🙂
I love that video – Nella has some really great taste in music! 🙂
Nella’s got it goin’ on!
Nella is so so precious! I just came back from my volunteering afternoon with the cutest little DS boy in the world, Joseph. He’s 4, I’ve been working with him since he was 2, and I see so much of him in Nella! They’ve got the same dance moves!!! They’re the best!!!
Oh, I LOVE the video! Thanks for the smile! Your little man is precious! Mwah!
Awesome, made me smile…Nella is so beautiful 🙂
Bless you xox
DUUUUUUUDE. She is so talented. I would have dropped that slippery iPhone SOOOO many times on the rock-hard tile!
I love Nella’s dance moves! Our 14 month old “little bug” loves to dance too and it makes me smile wondering what kind of moves she’ll have at Nella’s age. So precious!
Nella has some killer dance moves!! hope you have a great week too!
Love seeing Brett back and love that they have a traditional way of doing the airport picnic.
Our hut is under the flight path of small planes that do the flights down with hikers to the south west Tasmanian wilderness. Although I think our girls will be eagle spotters instead as we have a pair that hang out in our valley. Actually on the weekend I freaked out as I saw what I thought was a massive eagle soar over the crest of the hill opposite, I was speechless and trying to get Rob and Steph to check it out. Rob just laughed as it was one of those micro lite mini planes!!!
Thanks for sharing what you’ve been listening to in the last couple posts. I always enjoy your selections and it freshens up my own playlists.
Miss Nella you have got the moves. So adorable. Good taste in music too.. lol
Oh my gosh – the picture of Nella with the plane behind her (#3) – SO beautiful! She lights up a room, even when she’s outside!
I am 24 and still go to sit at the airport with my Dad sometimes 🙂 we are lucky to live 15mins from Brisbane Airport in QLD, Aus… I have taken my son there for picnic lunches too 🙂
I’m dying over that video!!! Cutest thing ever! 🙂 And the date at the airport… So very sweet! 🙂
Oh my goodness, the video of Nella dancing made my day! So stinkin’ cute!
What a great video! Makes me want to get up and dance, except its 2am and everyone is asleep.
And a great picnic date tradition…note to self…do not forget the picnic quilt.
I have a special place in my heart for your dear Nella. However my day is going, she will always make me smile. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Meli <3
http://www.paintingmariposasinthesky.com
Hahah these are really great shots and I love the idea of the airport picnic!
That video just made my day!
LOVE the dancing video. My son dances, smiles, and claps every time he hears anything remotely musical. Great idea to video and document it!
Nella the Dj is great! Love the photos too. You’re making very special memories with those three.
– Erin
Nella is SO stinkin’ cute!!! She is growing up so fast. We should hook her up with my little “special” man, Jamison. They would make one super adorable pair! Thanks for sharing that video….girl’s got moves!
Come on!! She’s so darn cute! Love the video of your little dancer. My two year old loves to bust a move too – and must have her dancing hat (an antique hat hanging on my living room wall of course!). Happy Tuesday!
video brought a smile to my face this morning – thanks! 🙂
I’ve been missing from blog land for a while and it was so happy to click on your post first. Thank you for the morning smile!
My Daddy would take us to DC every once in awhile and we finished each adventure in the parking lot of Regan. I love it. <3
haha Nella the DJ, seriously 4 of my favorite songs 😀
Love Nella “The DJ” she is great.
Love Nella “The DJ” she is great.
Okay that just MADE my day!!! So cute to see her dance!!!! My daughter (with Ds) is 15 months and has recently started “dancing” with her three older sisters by shaking her head and waving her arms in excitement when they dance but I can’t wait until she is walking and on her feet joining in on our family dance parties!!! My girls dance to “Soul Sister” a lot!!
Kelle me and noah-a-guy do the same airport picnic lunches. we are overdue, thanks for the reminder! Perhaps tomorrow 🙂
I love the drool coming down out of his mouth in the pic of you holding him up. Such a “real” picture of life. Boys drool so much!!
OMG, I just love her. awesome video.
Nella! You rock it!
That video is adorable! Nella’s hair looks beautiful.
Priceless. Love that video!
Nella the DJ just made my night. Soo stinkin’ cute. She is going to cut up quite a few dance floors in her life!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family with us!!
OHMYGOSH!!! The video of her dancing!! Too much! We were at the Ds conference and took the kids to the dance. One of my favorite parts! Love watching the little ones dance with one another!
I LOVE that first picture of Brett with his Lainey and Nella!