the early bird gets the worm (and a wet butt)

Our town installed new playground equipment back in March.

For months (and months) LDC has passed by the park brimming with kids and I have continually told her "when this thing is over, we will go".

Waiting 9 months with no end in sight we decided on an early morning game plan.

Get there at the crack of dawn and play, play, play.

LDC set her new alarm clock for us and we all rolled out.

Literally.

No teeth brushing or face washing, just lots of layers of clothes.

Usually a mom knows better than to be the first at a playground. The equipment is always covered in morning dew.

Throwing caution to the wind, we executed our plan.

Sunrise.

Zipline.

Lisa:  "Andy stop pushing her so fast. She is going to get whiplash."
LDC: "Weeeee.  This is the best!"
Andy: "She is a kid.  Who doesn't like to go fast."

2 always beats 1

Cheers to an unusual Christmas Break that includes a crack of dawn visit to the local park and wet butts.

 

Murrels Inlet

We escaped to the seafood capital of South Carolina for a few days.

Blue skies,

 sunshine &

mosquitoes.

I didn't pack spray so I paid the exorbitant price in the park gift shop.

Geeezzzz.

"Life is simple, just add water."

You can't tell--but her legs are blue.

Getting ready for Jupiter and Saturn.

The conjunction.

(upper right)

Personal 2020 highlight.

Huntington Beach State Park

 

outside of the box

I think know we are ALL tired of "this"...

So we have been thinking outside of the box lately.

LDC has been creating and cooking up some unique foods.

I have been on a kick for us to explore new trails in Hitchcock Woods.

(stalking a Fox squirrel)

Ricky is back and up to some unique mischievous antics.

Afternoon book reading time with hot chocolate.

And while we are on chocolate...

Why not.

Think outside of the box.

 

Hunter's Moon

Hunter's Moon 

10/31/2020

Here is the phrase a-g-a-i-n....
 it was different this year.

Instead of ringing door bells, Granise and Grandpa welcomed us for a Halloween Zoom Party.

Hysterical
Hysterical
Hysterical

They forgot their Happy Hour libations so we embraced some technical difficulties to make sure all attendees were content.

Red Witch
Monarch Butterfly
Butterfly Catcher
Baby Yoda

"Grandparents sprinkle stardust over the lives of children."
- A .Haley

Blue Ridge

Andy has been hard at work on a project in North Carolina so LDC and I drove up his way Friday night, for a family escape.

Tent Camping

Blue Ridge Parkway

Saturday morning crawling out of the tent, "Mommy it snowed!".

More like a crazy hard freeze.

Happy Halloween.

We were the first to hit the trails...because we were in need of  thawing out from the previous nights upper 20's.

Kissing an Indian Trail Tree

Picking the nose of an Indian Trail Tree

From the valley floor up to...

ahhhhhh

the warmth of the sun.

Mission accomplished.

Escape the routine.

10/31/2020

Mt. Pisgah Campground

Blue Ridge Parkway

N.C.

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” - Sun Tzu

 

stand tall molly lou melon

"Smile big and the world will smile right alongside you."

Let It Snow...petals

Well is it 80 degrees or 30 degrees where you are?

 

double digits

Within our first month of summer I always let LDC brainstorm the theme for her upcoming September birthday.

This year her heart was set on a Luau, poolside.

Well....

pandemic.

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need." 

Mick Jagger 

Her double digit Saturday birthday started before the crack of dawn with crepe making.

5:10AM

Good Gracious.

She was so excited.

So Andy and I started the celebration with her before the sun came up on the 26th of September.

Go big or go home.

(good ole' Lee Press On Nails...that lasted less than an hour)

rainbow cupcakes

and a day FULL of smiles.

Happy 10th.

We LOVE you.

LDC,

See the stars? I made a wish on one, and I got you.

weekend, going with the flow

 A good weekend is usually about forgetting about plans or goals, and just going with the flow, even if we end up doing pointless, unproductive things. 

The beautiful thing about the weekend is that we can do whatever we want without feeling guilty for it.

grilling with a homemade pina colada in hand

reading up in a tree

picking the last of the summer crops

welcoming Fall