Winter Walks

Yesterday Gabe and I were able to take a Wisconsin winter walk :) During our bihourly ironchef time in the kitchen, I could hear melting snow coming off of the roof. We peered out our could-be-cleaner windows and saw that the temperature read 40 plus degrees. What the hay are we ironchefing when we could be snowballfighting we thought? (Gabe, I am sure, had the same thoughts as I did.) So we bundled up in our puffy gear, pumped up the stroller tires, and hustled down the stairs in our boots. (BOOTS!!!..as Gabe calls them. He also thinks that stollers are called pumps due to our pumping of the tires. I didn't have the heart to break it to him yet. Pump is so much easier to say than stroller. :) Winter sure has it's purpose and beautiful value. But oh how neat is it to get reacquainted with the neighbor kids' giggles, bikers buzzing by you, the freshness of the air, and the smells of life (even hibernated life). Not to mention the serenades of the birds helping you to keep in step. Gabe didn't say a whole lot while we ventured, just a few grunts of approval when I asked if he could see the trees or the snow, or the puddles and the doggies. So much of our days need to be filled with moments reserved to be awestruck and silent, where words can sometimes get in the way. (learning from my 1 year old)

We got back from the pump walk and decided to make snowballs. This is about the only thing that has the ability to take Gabe's mind off of the kitchen PANS these days. (captions so that you can hear the volume from Gabe's lil lungs). (Daddy took Gabe out sledding last weekend and we couldn't get him and his red face to come in. :)) We threw some snowballs at the snowbank and made mini me snowmen that Gabe enjoyed punting. I was able to really just be thankful in the moment and sit and smell snow. :-) (No roses except us around) I had been praying about that lately. And I am not sure why I am surprised that God came through with a yes on that one right away..since that is what he longs for us. Joy in our days. ( Can't wait to get out there again hopefully when daddy has off.....)

To winter walks....

Where would we be without the camera?

Cousin Fiona visits us during the week now. Yay! (jealous at first,but now buds for life)


Just in case she wanted that cheerio on the ground.


Was mad momma was paying attention to Fiona, but then I learned how to feed myself! Why doesn't everyone have this much fun at lunch?


Making sure momma's head is as big as it looks. Not sure if this is her hot or her hat. Momma keeps calling hot things hats and hats hot. Sound the same to me. :)


The squeakiest cutest smiliest Roses ever.


No one gives rides like daddy (I have tried)


Gabe absolutely adores frying eggs and hashbrowns in the morning.


Ahh...relief. :)


The cutest shoveler around.


Yes, I know I am a ham.


Another thing that keeps me remembering our grace in our moments is our camera. :)

A few of my favorite things...3

It feels like awhile since I have been face to face with Mr. Blogman here. Not sure where the time has gone really. I meet with a friend once a week as accountability partners in Bible study and in living His love and walking the walk. She asks me the hard questions and I pray to honestly answer them weekly to her and God. (would totally suggest this to anyone I knew) But anyways, it amazes me that each and every time we sit down, I have to fish deep within my memory bank (or not so deep depending on how you look at it) to see what my days are filled with. I know it's lots of love and giggles, lessons and play time with some trials and not so giggles , but those details......

So I decided to start journaling awhile ago (mini journaling I would call it) by writing the highlights of the days on our calendars. Looks like these last two weeks we are learning that sleep is not always a given, the last molars to come in are the largest, daddy is enjoying training for our family 10k run in June, mommy will never set the vitamix on fire again after finding out what it costs to repay it, Gabe gets a bit clingy when mommy is holding cousin Fiona, I take our speech for granted just about every moment...since I am seeing how tough it is for Gabe to put all of those vowels and consonants in order, daddy's work has been quite busy, friends are so fun to have over, neighbors are valuable to love and get to know, mild winters are fun to shovel in with a one year old, and wedding anniversaries are the best things to celebrate.

Here are some of Eric's favorite things: (according to his wife)
being with his family (sounds a bit vain coming from me...hee-hee)
Just about anything involving baseball:
previews, playing it, listening to it, watching it, talking about it, studying it, researching it, practicing it, saying it...
being amongst loved ones
appreciating a good sense of humor
giggling with Gabe,
competing
appreciating good service
golf (as of last summer)
racquetball (as of yesterday)
going to church
a good shower
the art of music
acting and directing
reading a good book (and thee good book)
being with lil people
being on time (early even)
watching a good documentary on anything from potatoes to Coke
warm even hot weather
earth tones
a good hair cut
going out to eat
the office
checking off lists
active work days
faithfulness

to eat/drink:
miso salmon
not too much caffeine
avocado chicken
a good glass of pinot noir
water
guacamole
meat
meat
healthy food
cookies being the exception
I could keep going
meat
:)

What can I say. I'm smitten....so blessed.