Crafting for those with visual perceptual issues…

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I struggle sometimes with kindergarten crafts.  For example, we made this turtle one time.  Now, I don’t remember exactly what the situation was, but I know the kids I “helped” had turtles that turned out a little different from the other students.  Other challenges include making those fancy smancy criss cross pies (name?  lattice pies?).  I had a particular occasion when I messed up the pattern, and my sister had to stand there and tell me “over…under…over.”  I’m not the most artsy, craft-oriented person.  Every once in a while I punish challenge myself and take on a little craft project.  This is what I’ve been up to lately…

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This was a salvaged frame from Goodwill about 3 bucks, sanded, and repainted. Then, I just got colored paper and printed out what I wanted it to say.

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What a mess! That’s the problem with crafting. These are delicious. Just a 16 oz bag of pretzels, 2/3 cup of vegetable oil (I tried coconut oil this time…not as good!), 1/2 cup of sugar, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Bake for 30 minutes stirring twice in 300 degree over. Presto!

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Basically, these were all pretty simplistic crafts.  That’s certainly the best kind.  :)  Have a happy weekend.  Here’s a H picture to start it off right!

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S.K.D.

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H and I had a fun little outing today to Beach Garden Park down at the oceanfront.  This was brought on by arm pain for me (he’s a heavy thing to tote around) and sheer whininess for him.  Fresh air was necessary STAT!  We pretended not to have cold (and he had a runny one!) noses and climbed all over at the playground area.  We tried out their swings and practiced walking all over the equipment with the ominous sign “5 years and up.”  Then, we bounded off to Panera to use the not one but two Panera gift cards I had in my wallet.  Well, eating out is challenging when you can tag team H.  When it is just me, it gets really interesting.  I always have a slight moment of panic when I enter the restaurant.  As I plodded on up to the register to place my order during their busiest time of the day I might add (12:30 PM!), the very nice man offered to bring my food out to me and also get me the beverage of my choice.  Score!  I thought this might be doable after all.  Then, I notice there isn’t one. seat. available.  ANYWHERE.  Slight panic setting in.  I realize that this is not life and death, but I was oh so excited about my lunch out amongst other folk plus the not-having-to-wash-a-dish concept was so enticing.  I lugged said baby, wooden high chair, diaper bag, and purse around that restaurant about 3 times.  I had to loudly ask other women to move out of my way.  Clearly, I had a wide load.  The kind of crazy thing is no one really offered to help.  I’m thinking-didn’t these women have bambinos of their own a little while ago?  Are they thinking it would be weird to offer assistance to someone they don’t know.  Just then, a sort-of hippie looking man came up offered his table to me and helped me get set up with H.  He was all finished eating and just sort of hanging out.  I really appreciated it. A LOT.  I know myself how nice it can be to just hang at Panera for a bit, digest, and people watch.  He put himself out for me and for H.  I actually got a little teary eyed after he left.  He has know idea how much it meant for him to just be kind and offer a little bit of help.  It probably didn’t impact his day besides a slight blip.  Me, however, it allowed me to enjoy a treat, spend time with H while we could both relax, and most importantly it reminded me of how much a small act of kindness can do for someone.  It was me this time.  SKD-show kindness daily.  

Pausing to Savor

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Well, Easter has come and gone, and spring break is well on its way to winding down.  I tried to hit the pause button in my mind several times over the past week or so.  We’ve grown up in many ways with new shoes sizes, new holiday traditions, and new skills learned every day.  We’ve also said good-bye to a few things…breastfeeding being one of them.  This was actually a lot smoother than I thought.  That’s not to say I didn’t nearly lose my mind (again!) about three times.  Thank goodness the Mr. remains a rock for me and understands when my hormones make me say crazy things and act like I’m on a emotional roller coaster.  Whew!  Glad that’s behind me.  The last time I did breastfeed him I hit that mental pause button and tried to remember exactly what it felt like and what he looked like.  Storing up these memories for my mind and my heart to have when I’m eighty-five, and he’s having a hard time picturing me taking care of him.  What sweetness in that face and those eyes looking up at me.  A perfect mix of the Mr. and I.  Jake’s colors and my expressions.  It’s a little eerie seeing  yourself looking up at yourself.  I feel it in my heart now that I hadn’t for so long.  He’s mine.  Call me crazy, and I know I had him over a year ago.  It’s this spring when it finally clicked.  As I see him develop into a person not just a generic baby (sorry all babes are a bit alike, seen one seen them all to an extent), I see a little piece of me.  To experience the world with the slightly me slightly Jake creature means a new chance to watch the waves and discover ladybugs as the coolest thing ever.  What a gift.  

 

On a lighter Easter recap note, we had tons of fun playing with our little one and creating many spring memories and traditions.  Our fun started out with a egg hunt hosted at Moochie and Poppy’s house.  My mom actually wrapped puffs and placed them as a “treat” in each little egg.  So precious!  H was pretty good about keeping up the pace until he figured out that the eggs had a little more to them than first thought!  He loved it, and we certainly did too!

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Dada showing the good stuff to H

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Tromping around the yard with a little help from his wagon.

Although I was a little hyper about H’s “late” walking, I’ve really cooled off about it.  I’m savoring this stage of crawl – walk – fall into Mama’s waiting arms.  I know pretty soon he’ll be running every which way and that may or may not be into my arms.  

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Happiness…

Next on our weekend agenda was celebrating Jesus, family, and bunny ears.  We even managed to sneak in some sunshine time on the warmest (by far!) day of spring break.  

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Sweet little one at church on Dada’s lap

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with Aunt D looking like the cutest Easter bunny ever!

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dining al fresco under Roscoe’s watchful gaze

I can hardly believe how fast time flies!  It seems like just yesterday I was prepping his very first Easter basket and learning fast what it means to be a mama to a little baby boy.  

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Look at that teeny tiny baby!

How time does fly when you’re having fun.

 

Natalie

Easter Goals…

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about Easter traditions.  As with many things, it is much easier to talk ( and pin on pinterest.com) than to actually do!  We started off our Easter celebration with Shrove Tuesday pancakes which was appreciated by all especially boys who like fun breakfasts.  Then, I attended my first Ash Wednesday service (and got my forehead ash).  My thing to give up for Lent was chocolate.  Well, that proved to be a bit of a failure.  I did really well for about a week and a half.  Then, Holden got a mild case of the stomach flu, and the Mr. and I got a BIG case of it.  After coming out the illness fog, I stumbled into the kitchen and inhaled a KitKat bar which technically was Jake’s Valentine’s present.  I thought that getting over the worse stomach illness I’ve had since 2nd grade was reason enough to steal his chocolate and break my Lenten sacrifice.  So…Lent sacrificing was a fail.  Easter egg dying was not!  Small victories I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jake was the head project manager in this operation, but I did make sure to tell him that next year H would be the go-to guy.  We also added a little copper-ish bunny to the Easter decor along with my sparkly pink egg door decoration.  Holdie and I have read the Easter story book that I got him last year.  He sat pretty still for it yesterday.  Little did I know that he was cooking up an ear infection that will be traveling off to the doctor’s to deal with tomorrow.  He doesn’t look to sick, does he?

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drooly baby boy

A new recent development are the weekend fun breakfast-es around these parts.  We are so rushed during the work week that it’s really nice to sit down for a yummy breakfast on the weekends.  Selections have been pancakes, french toast, berry french toast casserole, and hot cross buns.  I did the buns this Palm Sunday morning following the idiot proof recipe from here. I’m not a baker by nature, so these require no punching of the dough or active yeast or other scary baking terms.  They turned out to be quite delish and will definitely make another appearance.  

 

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filled with yummy raisins and cinnamon and the ever popular honey!

I do confess that I’m most excited about the actual Easter weekend.  Holdie is going to have his first Easter egg hunts at my parents.  Due to swimming lessons and our sometimes gypsy lifestyle of weekend travel, we’ve missed out on a real egg hunt.  There is also an Easter basket to fill with treats, new duds, and a special surprise for another “good egg” I know.  

Life is sweet.  Happy Sunday!

A Slight Case of SAD and Why I HIIT To Fix It!

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Who says we don’t look alike?!?!?

This snowy weather we are having is really causing this spring and summer loving gal to struggle with some mild seasonal affective disorder.

The cold makes me want to curl up with carbs which is definitely not a good thing for me or the box of Cheerios that are supposed to be H’s!  Today, I definitely ended up munching a few handfuls but check myself before completing wrecking myself.  I made a little slightly sweet hot chocolate (3/4 cup milk, sprinkle of cinnamon, tablespoon of honey, and hefty shake of cocoa powder).  I put that on to simmer while jumping in the shower and taking a hot, hot, hot one.  This alone time was provided by Holden’s nap which typically ends about 4.  Therefore, I resisted the mom guilt drove straight home from work to get to business aka warming up my freezing self!  I’m well aware that a good work-out is also the ticket to warm up, but I did quite a number on myself yesterday with a 20 MINUTE work-out.

 

I’ve always been one to hold myself to 30 min. moderate cardio and 30 min. weight lifting at the gym.  It must be at the gym.  Since Baby H arrived, I have been more flexible with the location but still the cardio/weight requirements remain the same.  Well, I got tied up at an interesting work meeting yesterday which could potentially REALLY shake up my J.O.B. for next year in a mostly good way.  But nonetheless I missed out going to the gym due to H’s nap time crunch.  I got home and had about 25 minutes to do something, so high intensity interval training here we go!  I did minute increments of different cardio activities.  I did high knees, butt kickers, jumping jacks, squatting punches, hop/pop squats, pseudo-jump rope, and twist and shout (literally hopping around twisting my hips looking quite a bit like a first grader I’m sure).  Well after back to back 1 minute activities (which I realize is not exactly HIIT), I was soaked in sweat, sore, and ready to quit!  That brings up to today.  I am sore.  Let me say that again.  I am sore.  Who knew this would be such a good work-out?!?!?!  I know I’ve read numerous good things about it, but my 30 minute gym-going head wouldn’t let me believe it!  If you’re ever in need of a good, quick and dirty work-out, google it on up.  It is intense for sure, but seriously…20 minutes and done is pretty amazing!  A soreness!  I’m impressed.  Not a convert but I won’t hesitate to use it again when I get pushed for time.  Today was not that day.  Today was a day for long-johns, hot beverages, and baby cuddles.  Happy sort-of Spring!

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Plowing a bit

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Long johns yes!

 

 

 

 

Happy One Year in the World and Random Updates/Thoughts…

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Richard Holden Leatherbury is officially a one year old big boy now!  Looking back to how I was feeling last year this time, it kind of makes me want to cry for my old self or at least take myself out for a coffee/adult beverage!  I’ve learned so much this past year, and I know he will continue to be my biggest teacher.  Some important lessons that Mr. Leatherbury has provided include (but are certainly not limited to)…

 

1.  I am by far second fiddle in the everyday logistics of life.  No longer do I have oodles of time to peruse the internet at leisure or plan complicated lessons that require lots of prep work at school.  Me and my interests still remain, but they are far outweighed by the basic needs of food, clean diapers, and getting everyone on a consistent sleep schedule.  Man cannot live by bread along…sleep is right up there!

2.  I am much more capable than I give myself credit for.  Capable of figuring out this crazy first year that includes breastfeeding, playing with an itty bitty bambino that can mostly just stare, maintaining and growing a relationship with the Mr., juggling work and family life, carving out time to work out and cook/eat healthy, and accepting that I can’t control every.last.thing.

3.  I’m more patient than I realized.  This is self-explanatory.  Not that I haven’t had my moments for sure.  5 time-outs during dinner is normal, right?

4.  Poopy baby clothes should be dealt with immediately with the help of old Mr. OxyClean!

5.  Sam’s diapers work just fine for baby’s behind.  I had cloth diaper dreams, but they lead into the next lesson…

6.  Sometimes good enough is just good enough.  I wanted to be a “green” mommy who focused on doing things naturally.  Well, the birth was natural.  Breastfeeding was natural.  I made my own baby food until H was about 9 months from mostly organic produce.  Then, there comes a time when you realize you have 59, 874,127 things to do before you go to bed to then start all over the next day.  Therefore, you do what you can do.  

7.  Prioritize!  My priorities from my ideals include healthy foods (organic or not), sleep/wake schedule, breastfeeding, and books daily.  I had to let go my totally organic dreams, cloth diapers, sleeping in the room for months (last like 3 nights then off to big boy crib you go you little noisy sleeper!), and all wooden/stimulating/educational toys.  He really prefers the curling iron or a water bottle these days!

8.  The Mr. is my biggest supporter and ally in this parenting racket.  He has by far been supportive of my decisions even when I try to phrase them as “our” decisions.  He has encouraged me, kept the baby for me to hit the gym as soon as I was cleared to do so (or maybe a little early for mental health reasons!), gotten up and given bottles in the middle of the night when the little stinker wouldn’t nurse early on, and basically kept me from thinking of myself as a frumpy mommy.  This was especially key in those early months when I was actually a very emotional frumpy mommy.  I love him for many reasons, but the father and husband he has become is right up there!

9.  Do what you can, when you can!  I’m not a person to nap, so I get busy when Holden naps.  As in busy with whatever is on my mind/to-do list, I organize, research, and even sometimes sneak in a little Instagram and facebooking.  Got to take advantage of the time when you can.  

10.  Boys smiling are the best!  Be they dogs, men, or little bambinos.  

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Playing with balloons birthday morning…

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Riding in his wagon…

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Curling iron fun…

Jelly Beans, Easter Eggs, and Traditions…

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Well, spring break is officially 3 weeks and 4 school days away.  As my principal shared at our faculty meeting today, March feels like we’re marching, marching, marching somewhere??  I know for me it is a time of anticipation.  Anticipating warmer weather, longer days, Easter fun, pastels and painted toenails (yes, mine are creepily bare right now).  Things we have going on in March to keep us busy include a certain baby boy’s birthday on March 7th, a fun family birthday party to follow, St. Patrick’s meal/beer tasting at casa de Leatherburys (oh the things I plan and then later think to tell the Mr.), plus a zoo trip that MUST happen since I have a groupon that goes out at the end of the month, and lots of fun Easter traditions to start this year with Holden.  

I think what I’m most confused about this March is this wording…

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Why on Earth are these called jelly bird eggs?!?!?  What happened to good old-fashioned jelly beans?!?!  I’m eating large amounts of them just to make sure they really taste like jelly beans!  ;)

Next on the list of weird is all the Easter egg dye!  While killing time at Target waiting on a Rx for Holden (again!), I was checking out the egg dye.  Looking for a totally plain egg dye kit that did not exist.  All I could find involved adding fuzzy, stickers, glitters, designs, etc.  Craziness!  I just want plain eggs which apparently can be done with food coloring?

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One of the super-charged egg dye kits!

Is it just me or is simplicity out the window sometimes?  I admit that it is sometimes my fault with the over-complicating of life.  I googled right up “how to dye Easter eggs” and got a lovely little how-to from, of course, Real Simple mag.  And it looks…real simple to do!  Here it is.    Then, we can’t forget about hot cross buns for Good Friday.  I’ve tried these before, and they turned out not so hot.  Not the same recipe, but honestly anything that requires yeast or punching/rising intimidates the heck out of me.  Panera’s version may be the best bet!

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Sweet delicious with adorable little sugary crosses

All these seemingly mundane things boil down to traditions.  Food is not just something to stuff our faces with or satisfy our energy demands.  Decor is just not something else to dust around.  Traditions are what make us human and what makes life special.  I’m not talking a particular style (like tradition v. modern, bohemian v. preppy).  I’m talking about the little things you do to make life more special for you and your family.  It may be as simple as planting a few bulbs around the front door (not me ha!) or serving pancakes with sprinkles every Saturday morning.  Maybe you like to write little message on your kitchen chalkboard/dry erase board to countdown to some special event.  Perhaps you mark special days candles at dinner.  Whatever you do makes life more meaningful.  I think about this even more now that I have Holden.  Every day is new to him.  I have the opportunity to show him life and how to live it at every turn.  I want him to know me as a mom who celebrated and was thankful for whatever she had.  A tradition that I want to pass on.  On this topic, Barbara Curtis from Mommylife.net wrote…

“We needed traditions.

Traditions – especially those children can see, hear, feel, smell and taste – provide vivid impressions on which parents can build year after year.”  

She continued on to list several fun and important Easter traditions to incorporate into your family life.  Barbara passed away recently, but she shared so much through her website.  You should really check her out.  

What traditions do you have?  Any special spring ones?

 

Perk up, buttercup!

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Sunshine finally came back to warm up these parts today.  A balmy 61 degrees was listed on my car thermometer on the way home in my car with the slightly cracked windows.  It’s so easy to get the late winter/early spring cabin fever blues.  I know some people who swear by sun lamps first thing in the morning, melatonin at night, tanning beds, and even cruises or vacations to warm locales.  I admit that after the vicious stomach virus this past weekend, the deluge of rain off and on, and the general chill in the air that I was feeling kind of glum.  Here are my tricks to help speed up spring or at least that springy, happy mood..

  1. Actually doing my hair and constructing some sort of hairstyle that does not resemble an old-school school teacher bun
  2. Fruit with breakfast really brightens me up even if it is frozen and then defrosted for my first meal of the day
  3. No more black, grays, or dark jewel tones – bring on the pastel colors in my daily dressing!
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    peach and lace for Casual for a Cure Wednesday at school

  4. Flowers in the house even if it’s just a daffodil – I make no bones about it.  I can’t grown things, and I don’t want to grow things.  I’m currently growing a baby up into a little boy and that’s about all I can handle.  Honestly, he’s just an excuse.  I don’t care  about growing things.  If it’s ivy or another extremely hardy plant, that’s fine.  I’ll look at it and maybe pick it if pretty.  However, I will not weed, water, or plant unless the Mr. makes me.  So there!  That’s my rant.  :)
  5. Special treats – seasonal desserts like jelly beans (I’ve currently gone through a bag this week.  Oops…, a delicious bakery chocolate chip cookie, Tazo tea, new seasonal decor (just purchased an adorable metal bunny for the entryway table from Target!)
  6. Outdoors time – walks, park time, just sitting in a sunny spot
  7. Lighter food like tonights recipe - 

Chopped Salad for 2

1 cooked chicken breast

1/2 red onion cooked just until soft in olive oil

bag of microwave edamame

1/3 c. parmesan cheese

1/3 c. mixed blend shredded Italian cheese

salt, pepper, dried rosemary and thyme leaves, red pepper flakes

dijon mustard

olive oil 

1/2 cup diced baby carrots

bag of lettuce

  1. Cut up chicken into bite-sized pieces while microwaving edamame.
  2. Cook onion and then mix with chicken.
  3. Pop edamame out of pods into the bowl they go!
  4. Add cheese, carrots, and a good bit of all spices to taste plus about 2 tablespoons of dijon and about 2 tbsp of olive oil.  
  5. Stir and let sit about 30 min in fridge.  Serve on top of bed of lettuce greens.  I also served with a piece of toast (lightly buttered with just a sprinkle of garlic powder).  

All in all there are many tricks to try to keep your spirits up.  It definitely seemed easier today with some help from Mr. Sun.  Do you have any tricks up your sleeve to perk up?  March is on its way, coming in like a lion and going out like a lamp.  Hopefully, it will be more “lamb days” coming our way.  

Comparing Ourselves…

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Like any “responsible parent,” I do more than my fair share of measuring up my little one’s growth and development.  As we approach the twelve month mark, I think it goes a tad into overdrive with the epic milestone of walking.  Holden has been crawling for quite some time.  He progressed from army crawling to rapid fire all fours.  I remember saying at Christmas “Oh, he’ll for sure be walking all around by January/February.  Well, we are definitely in the final days of February.  He’s crawling as fast as lightning still, cruising while holding onto the furniture, and pushing himself up with his arms (just not to standing).  No walking yet…  

 

And I can’t help but compare.  Compare to what my expectations were.  Compare to what websites say, books quote, bloggers write about their little precious dears walking at nine months and such.  I know I shouldn’t, but yet I do.  When, oh when, will he walk!?!?!  Why is this causing such upheaval?!?!?  After a few shed tears and hand wringing, the man of the house thankfully took over and “looked it up” to develop a “game plan.”  What Jake concluded is…Holden appears to be a typically developing baby.  He’s not sprinting from room to room, but he’s doing all the things that babes should do to prepare for some serious movement in the months to come.  And I need to face facts.  

  • Fact One:  I’m hyper.
  • Fact Two:  I’m anxious.
  • Fact Three:  I’m quick to overanalyze and judge our sweet boy.
  • Fact Four:  I’m too busy measuring his performance instead of savoring each moment.  
  • Fact Five:  I feel guilty about being a working mom and project those feelings on Holden (Am I doing enough?  Reading enough?  Playing enough?  Giving him enough?).  
  • Fact Six:  I find it very hard to live in the moment and not worry over tomorrow. 

With knowledge come acceptance and change?  We’ll see.  I like to think me knowing these things about myself at least helps me make better choices in the future.  Tomorrow, I’m not going to worry about Holden (except for how his current antibiotic is taking care of this ear infection!!!).  I’m going to trust and enjoy.  

 

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Cleaning out Mama’s purse

Where I’ve been…

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Well, long time no writey! I think my last post was about October last year. About that time, I got really overwhelmed with life in general and being a working mom/wife in particular. I don’t know if it was the upcoming holidays or just general anxiety that led to tunnel vision. Perhaps it was a good thing I took a little break from blogging (even though I was enjoying it). The November/December time is crazy, and it’s hard to squeeze all the fun, seasonal activities and traditions in when you’re busily crafting up a witty blog post for whomever might stop on by to read.

I know that we seem to have made it almost through the worst season of the year, winter. After a lot of thinking about blogging, social media, and my time. This thought led me to delete – deactivate more or less since facebook is like the mafia and you’re never truly out! – my facebook account and instagram. The instagram was reinstated after this weekend’s bout of insanely miserable flu. You gotta have something to do when you lie in bed for a 24 hour period more or less. Lots of perusing amongst other blogs, led me to the conclusion that blogging can be and should be fun! I decided to write again. This time I’m going to approach it more as fun for me and less scholarly. For example, I’m not a trained nutritionist, chef, or personal trainer. The only training I have is as a sister, daughter, wife, mother, teacher, gym-goer, sporadic runner, dog owner, short-order cook, and extremely easy crafter. My blog should be mine and about me, what I know. I’m going to use this blog to collect memories, catalog ideas, and throw in some cute pictures. Then, I’ll share them up. So what we’ve been up to is…

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Swinging with DaDa

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Family Portraits at Assateague Island

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My favorite!

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Pulling up!

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Happy Halloween from the Leatherburys!

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Checking out all the treats for the big kids…

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Not impressed by St. Nick

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Merry Christmas!

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Tissue paper is where it’s at!

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Target after Christmas shopping…a trooper the whole time!

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Staunton trip

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Watching and waving to DaDa as he fixes the busted pipe in our yard = saving $$$!

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My 3 Favorites

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Holden and Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear?

22 days until Spring!

Natalie