plum

new toys

 

You know when your kids get new toys and everyone gets to play?  He knows.

Rock on Daddy.

 

day two

 

Any zoo with their own tram car is a clue that it's big and, yep, the Maryland Zoo gives their animals room to roam.  Though, roaming my Max was not.  Baby Bear refused to get out of his stroller all morning {tired legs!} until the moment we met his beloved elephants.  From that point on he blazed through the woods and walking trails with a spring in his step.  But little boy wasn't the only one enjoying the woolly mammoths.  One of my favorite moments that day came from little girl as we walked away from a boy elephant separated from the others. 

Pip: "I hope they get another boy elephant and put them together.  It's no fun to be by yourself.  He has no one to play tag with."

^^^ ok, yes I don't like birds, but look at his purple feathers!! ^^^

 

And we finished off the day with a stop at the Zoo's brand new {yellow} playground where the kiddies ran circles around Daddy and my tired legs!

 

 

 

 

 

day one

 

Just like last year, our trip was a blast!  A perfect spring weekend for dragon boats, street performers, Federal Hill playgrounds and elephants!

Speaking of blasts, Emerson blasted her ribs on a fall {bed jumping} and Max blasted his head {bed jumping} and I wondered if we'd be visiting Baltimore Hospital.  You know those moments when you say, "pretend Mommy isn't here for 10 mins.  I'm sitting down to relax"  and then ten seconds later, screaming and tears.  That happened both times! 

Well, relax I did last night when I konked out on the sofa after putting Baby Bear to bed.  I. was. exhausted!  This forty-year-old body is feeling every inch of two days of nonstop chatter and sightseeing and fun and play. 

Parenting is the hardest workout I know!

 

Have your elephant and eat it, too.

 

Baking magic.  That's what this is. 

Yeah, yeah it's a three-year-old's birthday party.  And yeah, yeah any old Dumbo-style elephant cake would have been fine, but why stop there?  It's a party!  I crave design!  As soon as Baby Bear demanded "elephant cake!" I knew only Patti Paige would do.  Do you see the trees?!?!  Look at the detail on those elephants!!!  And the best part of all?  They were d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.  Delicious!  The most perfectly baked sugar cookie topped with the delicate crunch of sweet icing.  Baking magic.

So, thank you.  Patti Paige.  For giving young Max his elephant and giving me and the little partygoers such a treat. 

 

 

See more of Patti Paige and her amazing work on Facebook or Bakedideas.com.

 

 

 

Herd photos by Patti Paige

others by Michael Handwerk Photography

 

 

 

for him

 

The details were for him.  His favorite things. 

1. yellow {still and always}  
2. elephants {forever}  
3. M - A - X  {letter obsessed}

Two and three could be my favorite ages.  It's such a great phase of development and fun.  I want to remember these days forever.  Thankfully, I can through the great snapshots Michael Handwerk Photography captured for me on party day. Hostessing is busy, busy and I never had a second to snap a thing.  My tip for you:  post on Craigslist.  The few dollars you'll spend are more than worth it.  I'm so grateful he was there. 

warning: photo overload  :)

While my party at the park wasn't to be, all the party prep paid off and we bounced and planted and bubble chased and laughed...  My boy never stopped smiling and we all met bedtime exhausted and content. 

Happy Birthday my sweets.  I love you so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow meet the herd.

 

 

 

why girls are awesome.

 

There is so much fantastic about this that I don't even know where to begin. 

~~~

One little boy had the best birthday party on Saturday and what follows a great party?  The afterparty!  Emerson enjoyed three little girls' company well into the night on Saturday and Baby Bear got a treat when they let him play, too.  At one point, I wandered upstairs after Daddy found them huddled in the closet with the announcement  "we're starting a club".  I peaked in her quiet room and found a delightful sight.  Two girls on the bed playing with stickers, two girls sitting at the table painting nails, and one little boy flopping on the floor waiting his turn.  "We're playing spa." 

With that, I turned ~ heart full, smile giant ~ and went on my way.  Not sword fights or wrestling.  No guns or throwing balls.  Spa.

It was later in the night when I went upstairs to tidy up that I found this note perfectly placed outside Emerson's door, with her Hello Kitty mirror acting as a nightlight. 

~~~

I'm never moving it.

 

 

little naughties

 

It wasn't 'til about age 4 that Emerson had any sort of timeout.  She was, and is, the best kid ever.  ever!   That's not to say her devlish little brother isn't good.  His teachers always tell me he's the best listener and his daily worksheets always have "good job" clean up stickers, but boys will be boys.

For a time there, Maxi Bear had a rough go.  Not so much because he was doing naughty things, but because he wasn't able to calm himself down and Billy Webb and I really didn't know what else to do other than put him in time out.  Thankfully {thankfully!}, those days are gone.  Until yesterday when his butt hit the time out spot and the wailing erupted.  Why you might ask? 

Blame it on one irresistible chocolate bunny wrapped in gold. 

     ~~~

"Don't eat that candy, Max.  You can have it after dinner."

5 minutes later, it's oddly quiet in the dining room and hmmm, where's Max?  Is that him hiding under the table?

enter Emerson.  "Pip, go over there and see what Max is doing."

"Maxi, what are you eating".....

~~~    

 

 

 

spring?

 

If you live on the East Coast and enjoy the outdoors, you're probably as annoyed and grumpy as me.  It's been god awful windy and cold and left me thumbing my nose at Mother Nature.  Thankfully, my kids enjoy being outdoors in any temp and are doing their part to help spring along. 

Hi Daddy!

 

 

 

the best way to nap

    

summer.

 

We're ready. 

 

 

 he looks great in blue.  don't you think?  :)