Easter

My favorite part of Easter for years was coloring eggs..... This year I came around to enjoy so much more of the holiday.  Having young children really awakens your holiday spirits.  This year Easter just seemed so perfectly whimsical and colorful.  I find it important to embrace each holiday, and to teach my little all the beautiful traditions that come with every one.  I try to be sure I decorate and expose her to all the colors, tastes, sounds, and activities.  Our celebrations are extended, usually starting early, and then ending shortly after the big day.   This year we had numerous Easter egg hunts, played with lots of bunnies and eggs, read Easter stories, and smelled all the daffodils. Being festive is so fun and keeps life interesting and exciting.

The Importance of Experiences

Lately, I have been coming here to write, and have either gotten sidetracked, uninspired, or began incomplete posts that I have not felt inclined to finish. But today is different, today I am inspired.  I'm not sure if I have posted about my new work situation, but I have recently been blessed with the opportunity to spend two more days a week at home with my daughter.  I am so grateful for it, and feel much more present in her life than ever since it's begun.  Thank you to my boss for creating this dream come true for me!

Today, in honor of fall, Zoey and I went to one of my favorite places in our area, a place I have spent a good amount of time at, but have not been to recently.  It's a county park, with a greenhouse, horticulture center, the cutest bonsai trees, and breathtaking grounds that include a stone gazebo, and a magical garden maze of sorts. Deep Cut Gardens is the name of this glorious place that I hold dear to my heart.  When I was younger, I had always dreamed of being married there -- that didn't happen, but hey, that's life. I loved my wedding. (just sayin)  Anyhow, the place has been updated, more flowers planted, more paths created, new gardens, etc.  It looks incredible! Even more photographic than I remember.  I brought the jogging stroller, we strolled, and hiked, and stopped and smelled the flowers, took lots of adorable photos, ran, blew bubbles -- it was so much fun! We both truly enjoyed ourselves.  On the way out, we stopped by the greenhouse, which I was thrilled to see was open for us to walk through, and as we were about to enter one of the park employees came out with a butterfly in her hands -- a butterfly she had found caught in a web and saved.  She brought it over to Zoey and I, it must have been exhausted from trying to escape the web.  So it just sat in her hand for a bit, the park employee told us it was a yellow spotted purple butterfly -- beautiful, eventually the butterfly worked up enough energy to fly away, but I just absolutely loved that Zoey had this close encounter with nature.  It's not every day something like that happens.  One of my biggest focuses for Zoey is to provide her with experiences. 

P.S. I can't believe what a little girl my daughter is turning into.  It's like she is not a baby anymore.  It's kind of sad, but she keeps getting more and more fun, as well as more and more sweet.  She now likes to cuddle, and hold hands, and caress.  ::::Sigh::::



Is that The Carlton?

#highchairart

I really love taking photos. It's been a passion of mine for so many years.  And I'm so thankful for many things in my life that have contributed to my motivation to take more and more photos.  The more photos I take and play with, the more I feel confident in my "art".  Social media -- namely Instagram, getting married, and having a baby, are a few of the contributors off the top of my head.

I have recently started hashtagging photos of Zoey's meals on her highchair tray table with #highchairart to try and "start something".  I have a lot of mommy friends and I am hoping they will catch on and post some pictures under the hashtag.  Sadly, I haven't been very lucky yet, but if any moms out there read my blog and use Instagram, please post a photo to the hashtag #highchairart.  Have fun with it! Get creative!  Or just feel good in supporting my "creative movement" :) 

Thank you!