365:150

Day 150.  Even though I am terrible at updating this blog, I have been taking pictures everyday.  What a journey.  215 more days to go, to grow, to be challenged, to get frustrated, to get inspired.

I am normally not a fan of processed junk for my kid's snacks.  We picked these out special for camping earlier this month and then forgot to bring them, so today they both got to enjoy Cheese Kurlz.  My justification is partly that I support a local company by purchasing this brand and that I really love them too!

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I am usually not one for nonfiction books of this length.  Best book I've read in years.

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Popcorn is best eaten by the handful, unless that is you are my younger daughter.

She realized that she needed to transport some to the opposite side of the room if she hoped to get any and eat it one piece at a time.

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Memorial Day.  I took one picture at the parade we went to, one.  I was disappointed, but then again we can resist a 1 year old with the dust buster and ear muffs cleaning up before bedtime?

365:146

When we first moved into our house, I had Columbine all over the back flower beds.  It just seemed to spread every year to the point where I thought I would have to thin it down this year.  Well, this year I only have one.  This pink beauty.  On the other hand, my Alium multiplied this year after being in the ground for over 4 years.  A trade off, for sure, but what isn't to love about these giant purple globes.  Did you know you can spray paint them after they seed and they will keep color in your garden until fall?

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 We traded babysitting with my best friend today, so this little guy spent the evening with us.  The girls were absolutely enthralled with him and kept bringing him toy, after toy, after toy.  They especially liked making him smile and laugh.  I love this second one and he peeks around my youngest with a look of, you aren't leaving me alone with these two, right?

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There was yogurt everywhere today, everywhere.

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The little one has taken to imitating most things the big one does.  Today, she wanted to sit next to her and hit keys on the keyboard while her sister tried to play a computer game.

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I realized today that I still have a Christmas wreath hanging up on the inside of my garage door.  In my defense, I am usually corralling two unruly children to get them out the door with all our stuff.

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A favorite game at our house is 'get you' or 'chase.'  Dad plays it best and elicits the best reactions.  Caught her completely unaware coming out the bedroom.

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"Mom, take a picture of this!" 

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Finally got out to take our youngest's 18 month pictures (2 months late!).  She is a tough nut when it comes to smiling around cameras, new situations, etc.  My favorite two of the evening and yes, we had to pull out a sucker.

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I really dislike selfies, but just love the expression on her face and how the light caught her eyes.  Cropped to remove my lovely chin.

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She finally figured out that she too can dump water on the other person in the tub.

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Sauteed asparagus, toasted homemade bread, cream of chicken soup (homemade is best!).  Try it, you will thank me.  I could eat this every day during asparagus season.

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My 3 year old, with her grandparents picked out this beautiful plant for me for Mother's Day.  Had to get a picture before the blossoms were finished and it gets planted outdoors.

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One of my friend has had some amazing bubble pictures on her blog in the past.  When my husband got out the big bubble wand, I ran for my camera.  Wow.  Getting an in focus, not horrible background, cool color, not me in the reflection of the bubble picture is HARD!  I'm thinking next time I should try my zoom lens so I don't have to be so close.  My favorite 3 of about 70 shots.

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Someone likes watermelon, finally.

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 Mother's Day.  You would think I would have a picture of my mother, myself and my girls, my grandmother, something along those lines.  Well, those pictures are on my Dad's camera, so we have birthday celebration with my family for my husband and snow, on Mother's Day, in May.

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More pictures from Tulip time because I didn't pick up my camera today, instead I worked on putting together scrapbooks of pictures from my little one's first year of life.  Crazy how much she has changed.  My two goofballs below, cannot get a picture of them both smiling.

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We have only one day to visit Holland for the Tulip Time Festival and the weather turned cold and rainy from what had been above normal temperatures.  The tulips were at peak this year during the festival and were standing so beautiful, closed and kissed with raindrops.

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 My beautiful blooming trees have been giving me all sorts of allergy troubles this year.  It may be time they came down.  I would love to replace them with a pear and an apple tree, just need to convince my husband!

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An unexpected gift that brings us that much closer to our goals.

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A trip to the zoo is always fun.  This guy seemed to be looking right at us, waiting for to do something.

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 Happy birthday to my wonderful husband.  I'm not sure who was the most excited about the bubbles, but I do know they will all have fun with them!

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Day three camping: more rain = more puddles.

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Damaged bridge made for a long hike

Gorgeous cliffs

Muddy trails

Taking a snack break

One tired girl from hiking.

Love his sad eyes in this one.

'Throw'

'Throw'

We camped at one of our favorite places this past weekend, Turkey Run State Park.  They suffered from some serious flooding like we did, with significant structural damage to the suspension bridge.  We could see the bent rods and sway in the bridge.  Since the bridge was close, hiking was a little different than we were used to.  No fun trails walking in streams, climbing on rocks and going over trees, instead a flat hike ending at the covered bridge to throw rocks in the river.