Housebound

This weekend was not entirely a washout- we got to the bikepath for some family strollerblading, but spent a good deal of the weekend inside staying dry.

Evelyn has been a bit sick- waking up in the night with a cough. Her energy seems to have returned, so hopefully the cold has run it's course- we'll see how much sleep we all get tonight. Her nose has been a faucet all week. Someone must have turned up the pressure on it this weekend, for our tissue supply is getting scant.

Evvie has been notorious for pulling out barrettes and ponytails, so we considered it a small victory that she kept this one in for several hours.


She also is a huge fan of balls of all sizes. She likes to throw and kick them, and recently her favorite game is to sit in my lap and thrown the ball to mama and her stuffed puppy, who catches it (sometimes) and throws it back. We've spent hours at this on the floor.

Can you guess what the newest "balls" in her collection are?

If you guessed avocado pits, then you have very good eyes.


Evvie takes some downtime in mama's lap and rolls her blue car to me across the floor.

A Beautiful Weekend and a Beautiful Dog

After playing in the newfound sun and warm temps this weekend, we gave Evvie a bath, after which she played nekkid with Ruby. Not to be outdone, Ruby had a bath a few days later...

We had a great weekend at home getting springtime yardword done. The phone has been out since last Monday's storm so we stayed isolated from the world in our gradually drying backyard. (Spring in Maine is called "Mud Season" for a reason). We did manage to go to the bike path twice for the years first "Strollerblading", during which Evvie napped in the breeze. Now it's Sunday night, and our fresh-out-of-hibernation bodies are so exhausted that we may be in bed before 8:30 like a couple of old fogies.

After the busy weekend, we decided that Ruby also needed to be spring fresh, and here are the pictures as Evvie helps out.

"Soft. Wet! Soft. Soft. Soft. Wet! Wet!"


"Here, Ruby. Fishies always make the bath more fun!"

"Can I Please get Out Now?"

Time in the Yard

After the torrential rains of our mid-April Nor'Easter, our backyard is just beginning to dry out. Today was the first day to play on the grass since last fall. It's still mighty soggy and we're down one tree thanks to the storm, but what a day to be in the sunshine! (I officially wore my first shorts of the season!)

I did not weigh the two gargantuan bags of dog poo that I collected, but they were easily 10 pounds each. There's nothing like yardwork in the spring.

Evvie was wondering why we didn't use the canoe earlier in the week when the water was everywhere.

Takin' 'er Easy

Life can be so hectic sometimes.

Norah Jones and the Big Rain

We spent the weekend in Turner so Grammy and Grampa could babysit while we went to Portland to see Norah Jones & M. Ward. (Fantastic show!) She got to take a bath with the special ducky mat and wear her pink shorty robe. Then she got a visit from cousins Iris and Ava while mom & dad went to work.

Evvie had a great time with Grammy and Grampa and hopes for many more overnights!

I'll Never Know Where This Game Came From...

...but it's yours to judge.

Visit from the G'Parents

This weekend we got a nice vsit from Grammy and Grampa Prince who took us out to an Easter brunch. Evvie did great, sampling eggs, blueberries, watermelon pieces, grapes, cream cheese on a bagel and lot of ice cubes. Grampa stayed busy slicing up all the fruit, then we returned home so Grammy could read her a few new books before it was naptime.

Animals in the Library!

Because it was a slow and idle Saturday, Hallie & I decided to take Evvie to the children's room at the Patten Free Library. As we neared it though, the whole area was swarming with parents and children on their way in and out of the building. We finally managed a parking spot and headed toward the door where we were face to face with a miniature horse named "Mr. D". Evvie was interested, albeit from a distance, so we gawked for awhile and headed inside where the Easter Bunny greeted us. There were several pens set up in the children's area with live bunnies, a pygmy goat, a handful of chickens and a couple of ducks. Evvie really warmed up to the animals and pet the bunnies while repeating "soft, soft." On our way out, she approached Mr. D and pet his long black mane. I made a joke about his looking a bit sad (why the long face?) which served only to amuse me. His owner did remark enthusiastically that Evvie was the smallest child to touch Mr. D. I was proud of our shy little girl for coming out of her shell.

Later at home, we ran around in the driveway and took this picture with the first spring flowers in our hair. Evvie has a few favorite games. One of them is to go to a snowbank, grab a handful of snow and throw it down dramatically while saying "POW!". Another is to kick her easter ball while running. It's incredibly fun to watch her hustle around in the fresh air.

Digging out In Springtime

This week as I brought the garbage out to the curb, I tought to myself, "Oh, look. It's the first week without the garbage can being in a snowbank." Hmmm. Wednesday it began snowing on the just-emerged lawn, and didn't stop until we had accumulated 12 inches, a power outage and a day off from school (for momma). It's supposed to be spring- the robins were out in full force last week!

Evvie got a little concerned about the snow, and tweeted her pelican to the window to look for the birds. They all stayed huddled inside until Friday when the sun came out and the birds came back!
Thursday's snow


Friday's sun


Today was also the start of the new Music Together session. There were some new faces and some old faces (by old faces, I of course mean old young faces). Evelyn is not the youngest this time around- that title has been taken by a 7 month old named Hazel and 1 year old Chase. Evvie's gonna show them a note or two.

Interestingly, Matt (our instructor) metioned that "harmony" happens only when different notes are sung. Thus, nobody should worry about singing badly. It's just deepening the harmony (garnering a sigh of relief from this off-tune crooner).

Birthday Girls!

We made it to the birthday party all a'shawl. Ava was rife with April Fools' jokes- that child was born on the right day! Grammy Prince got to read to all the girls, who were incredibly patient waiting for the presents.

Sometimes, though, the packaging is more fun than the presents!

At nearly 17 months old, Evvie finally sampled her first cake! It was carrot (mama's favorite) and the two of them had a great time snarfing it down.

When the day was done, Evvie couldn't handle a bit more excitement, and was crashed out by the end of the driveway!

Showin' off the Shawl, Y'all!

We're heading off to a double birthday party of cousins Ava and Iris. It's a special occasion warranting a party dress and shawl.

Thanks, Auntie Zoe!