Rose Colored Glasses

Must be what's going on with Jimmy.  The kid is one hot mess. Our past few mornings have looked like this: Until he naps.  Then Ray and I tiptoe around the apartment and whisper over Dr. Seuss and I grab a shower.  Only he woke up early from his nap yesterday and all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and spent way too time uploading this it was so worth it How do I cope do you ask? I walk. We walked to Publix the other day. It's a nice easy mile around the lake at our complex. We have to stick to the paved path or risk landing in dog poop. pretty, huh? Out of desperation yesterday I took the 2.5 mi route to the park. By the time I got there Ray was passed out and Jimmy, who hadn't slept a wink, was ready to run and roam in the grass.    no dog poop in sight. roam free little one you think you're sooo cute, don't you? that's more like it And then I noticed Jimmy chewing on something (a piece of glass) and a used band-aid...

That's what Greg told me last night. We live in an apartment.  The closest park is two or three miles away. Not bad, right? Add the ten minutes it takes to load the kids up in the car, plus the thirty minutes it takes to get them dressed with hot cocoa sippy cups in hand, and the additional hour or so it takes for me to get ready (with kiddie interruptions).... getting there is never as easy as it should be. And the play equipment there is more like adult size, but that's besides the point. Outdoor time is a scarcity around here. I know, I know, I've had nice beachy pics up.  That's because Greg was here and we all know that four hands are waaaay better than two. I wanted to get outside and it turns out there's a shortcut to the park through a swampy, gigantic, 43 acre undeveloped park. Here, I drew a map just for you: Don't judge. Over the river and through the woods to the park we go.  I packed snacks and hot cocoa and blankets and a toy zebra an...

I didn't know it existed... until today. Greg drove off with both boys, sleepy-eyed and a tad cranky, to the beach.  The plan is for them to sleep on the way in the car and then wear him out with lots of chasing and running around before they all come back home.  You think I am joking? I kid you not. Greg has a big test.  He will be sitting for hours and hours. This is his time to tear it up on the sand so much that he'll want to keep his butt glued to a seat for two days. Work him hard, boys! Meanwhile back at the ranch, I am a cooking machine.  My thoughtful mother-in-law gave me The Nourished Kitchen  cookbook for Christmas.  I love it. It's beautiful. It is full of amazing pictures that foodies would love and I will never be able to duplicate. In fact, I'm sure the following photos may turn you off to the recipes: Please don't judge the food by its cover... I mean my pics.  I made these awesome beefy cheesy stuffed red peppers last week...

This week we went to the beach. Greg has a few glorious days off before he takes his Step 3 exam next week. We hung out on Neptune for a day. Jimmy decided to practice walking all-day-long... meaning Greg spent most of the day hunched over a wobbly Jimmy who refused to let go of his hands. Where was I? Laying out, taking pictures of them. Where was Ray? In the stroller, munching on a cookie and shielding himself from the chilly breeze. Greg and I played some overdue frisbee. Wide open beach + steady wind = spectacular frisbee. The beach was empty apart from a few walkers and a fisherman and his wife. The waves spit out dozens of jellyfish throughout the day.  I peeled Ray from his seat and dragged him to check out the jellies. The kids and I touched a bunch of their clear, stiff, slimy tips. I showed them where the tentacles were (between you and me, I *think* they were the harmless kind). I felt sorry for them laying helpless in the sand. I wanted to pick them up and c...