And Granddaddy came to visit, all the way from Pilot Mountain.

And Linden turned ONE!!

Eli is awesome in costumes. The Christmas costume box has been put to great use. We're adding bits and pieces (scarves, shirts, shoes, masks) all the time. He comes up with the strangest combinations.

Okay, where to begin? I'll start with pictures of the last nearly two months since my last post we've been having fun!

Linden continues to be a happy and voracious eater.


She even likes to go shopping in the cabinets. Here she is picking out her own snack.


She's discovered her brother's old rocking horse and she loves to bounce!

Poor little blog, you have been so neglected!

I am not exactly sorry, I've been too busy out doing things to write about them. I hope to do better, but who knows.

To make it up to you, I've given you a little facelift. I hope you like it. Maybe it will help me get reconnected. We shall see.

And we busted out the wading pool! This will be a big favorite this summer. Linden would have been happy to stay in all day. Eli preferred to use his lizard watering can to fling water around the yard, but both had loads of fun.

Summer came on fast here in Atlanta. And with summer weather comes fun times outside! We played with friends at the Piedmont Park playground. The firetruck is a big favorite of Eli's and Linden is learning quickly!

Our new nephew is here! Big brother Hunter loves him and we can't wait to meet him.

Welcome to the world, little Lucas Michael!

Linden is 11 months today. That is so wonderful and a little sad. She's getting so big so fast. I am really going to miss her babyhood.

Thanks to Beth Frilingos for this picture.

Eli and I planted a garden today. There is a sunny patch of dirt between our house and the neighbors house. I bought a small electric tiller and dug up the dirt and mixed in some good organic compost.

Went walked our wagon up to Garden*Hood, our local gardening store and bought two blueberry bushes, some Celebrity tomato plants, jalapeno plants, anahiem chili plants, and this year, I'm going to give okra a shot.

Eli loved digging in the dirt and searching for worms. He stomped on a couple of our newly-planted crops in his gardening excitement, but all-in-all, it was a great adventure.

Apple eatin' buddies.

Eli made a fun snack yesterday, ants on a log. Here's how it went...


The ants (raisins) lined up to march across the log (peanut butter on celery). We counted them. There were 19.


As the ants marched across, they got stuck in the peanut butter. Oh no!


Mmmmm...


Delicious!

Easter was lovely, as were the kids.


Linden and Mommy


Double E's: our lovely friend Esther and sweet Eli in their matching Easter duds.

And climb...


and climb...



and climb!

And Eli loves to climb.

The weather is finally amazing here in Atlanta and we have been taking advantage of it to spend time at the park. Linden loves the swing, just like her brother did.

Dinosaur dress! Our friend Della made this dress when her daughter, now in high school, was a toddler. It is just right for Linden, a little girly, a little tough. Totally cute.

I was mother of the year for about half an hour this morning and I'd like to share my triumph with you, internet world.

After putting the baby down for her morning map, Eli and I cleaned the bathroom (one of his favorite activities). Then I moved his kid table into the bathroom and put a giant dollop of shaving cream in the middle of the table. He was in heaven playing with it and I had half an hour to myself to shower.

Bliss!

Linden (recently dubbed "Moon Pie" for all of her deliciousness) did not get to play in the snow. She liked watching it fall, though! And good heavens, friends, she is pulling up on everything. She is even able to keep herself upright for a few moments without hanging on to anything. Walking is next and we are so doomed!

I'm a little late in posting these since our snow day was a few weeks ago. The truth is, I really hate snow. A lot. I had plenty of it in the few years we lived in New Haven and I'd be happy as a clam if I never encountered it again. Ick. But even I will admit that this was a fun snow day. The park near our house was absolutely gorgeous. Eli, Arthur and Anna and I were among the first people to come sledding (on a cafeteria tray, of course) so when we arrived, it was still pristine and quiet. By the time we left, 45 min later, it was full of happy sledders and snow-people. Eli had the best ride home, wrapped in a waterproof blanket bundled into the wagon eating a chunk of snow (his choice, I thought it was weird!). Who needs a one-horse open sleigh when you have a one-mommy open wagon?