Daddy Favorite

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If Handy Manny (yet another Disney reference) had a human counterpart his name just might be, Kelly May. My husband definitely loves all things handy. Between maintaining his P1 status and organizing his freakish collection of drill bits, Kelly can spend hours in his "shop" in complete peace. Not going to lie--- carpenters sure can be sexy.

Here is his recent work in progress (new work table)

When I married my husband I also married his extended family. You know, the Dallas Cowboys, The Ticket, The Dallas Rugby Team and Jere Lehtinen. Kelly is a sports lover. I am told there is nothing quite like a good sports cry--- or perhaps mowing in sport gloves?My husband is a very hands-on-dad. One of my favorite qualities for sure. I really believe that he might have a constant podcast in his head replaying Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Craddle" over and over. Our children want to be just like him... and how can that not be a favorite part of your life?!


If only Kelly could get Molly into yard work as well than I would have a full force yard crew. Not too shabby at all.

Molly's Favorite!

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Our Molly girl is a princess nut... certifiably obsessed. The very pulse of her existence is in complete rhythm with twirly dresses and the clickity clack of fancy heels on the floor. She looks for any excuse to use the word fancy in a sentence...even when referencing her brother's ears. FANCY.

Molly's most recent love is Princess Melody. For you non-addicts out there, Melody is Ariel's daughter. You read that right, this ever-evolving princess love apparently runs generations deep. Since her discovery of Princess Melody in The Little Mermaid II, Molly is quite taken with finding treasure. And while yes, the treasure does resemble rocks, shells and weeds from the ground DO NOT BE FOOLED--- it is wonderfully magical and now lives in abundance in my everyday purse. As if I don't have enough to carry around.

You see, Melody is prepared for treasure. She wears a special satchel at all times which Molly loving refers to as a "Melody Bag". Her greatest desire in the ENTIRE world was to have her very own Melody bag... and as of 2 hours ago... she does. Thank you Sam Moon, now I can get the playground out of MY purse.

Definitely a new FAVORITE for our princess Melody

and her treasure hunting ways...
Her "puppy?!" approves too...

My Favorite

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Tonight was my favorite. Well, I guess it might just suffice to say that spring is my favorite---especially a spring night like tonight where the air feels so refreshing and the barren world around me is almost spontaneously wrapped up in green. The sun stays awake longer and I can watch my children play outside, while having a glass of wine and laugh with my very best friend.

Um, yes please.

Throw in the fact that I actually created an incredible, EDIBLE, healthy dinner (Pesto Salmon!!!) that EVERYONE in my house devoured while dining on the back patio just makes the evening that much more a favorite.
Seriously, folks’ not a dismal task here--- have you seen my scars? To actually taste my improvement is contained bliss!

I mean, how can quality dinner conversation with this crazy group not make you smile?

My perfect "dessert round one" is to go on a family walk (ahem, with quality paper cup wine …) and just breathe a little outside. Apparently, twilight is when all the neighborhood cats come out to say hello as well… perhaps Rosie’s favorite moment to the day too. Of course "dessert round two" is actual dessert that will totally negate healthy dinner/post dinner walking--- but well worth the added calories. Besides, favorite Julie nights do NOT involve anything mathematical… like calorie counting or limits on wine and such.

More nights like tonight, please.

Rosie's Favorite

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So, I am going to change it up a little here on the good ole' blog and have separate posts about current favs of the members of our family because quite frankly, it is nice to have these memories to reference.

First of all, a definite family favorite is our sweet, Rosie George. What can I say... there just aren't enough posts about our Rosie girl and she is such a quirky dog that there really could be a million posts.

I know everyone loves their dogs (or at least they should) but we really do think that Rosie is the BEST dog for us. Yes, she is a CRAZY, untrained dog that prefers to be held like a baby (cute at 9 lbs but HEAVY at over 40) but she is ours and we love her! She has a freakish love of kid socks, her stuffed monkey that she sleeps with and Kleenex. She can never have enough Kleenex in her diet. She thinks that the cat really wants to play even though his body language says otherwise--- Rosie just won't settle for NO. She often sits on the picnic table to upset the squirrels.

Her real favorites are fluffy spots like the couch and Molly's bed. We are really working on it because let's face it--- she is a couch HOG and leaves us no room. So thus, Rosie has been booted off it for good. She apparently was too dainty for the floor so now she has a new favorite---

Her "pillow"...

This is what she does after Gabriel says, "Rosie! On your pillow!!!"

And then she gives you this look...

Sweetest dog ever. Well, except the days she runs off with all the socks :)

One Hoppin' Holiday!

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This Easter was hoppin' for sure and yet, it really felt like we were moving at our own speed. My kind of holiday for sure. Especially when there is a 2 hour nap squished right in the middle of it all.

Easter morning started a little early but we still managed to make it to church early. Mom, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!?! We were actually the first in the cry room. We were quickly joined by a million people including Jack and our new friends Peyton and Mallory!

So question here. About how much longer can I manage to have my children in matching clothes? I mean, seriously... it is sooo stinkin' cute! I really think if I had two girls I could get away with it a little longer. I don't know that Gabriel is going to put it up with it forever. SO sadly I will probably have to stop by the time they are teenagers.

I kid I kid.

I'll stop when they are tweens :)

"Seriously Mom. I have some trucks to play with."

Gabe quickly remembered his love of chocolate bunnies.

and then promptly went into a food coma.

Molly was too distracted with her Melody Barbie for some candy... she is in complete Heaven. No way the bunny could forget what she wanted... she told him at the mall and then repeatedly told us EVERY day for the past MONTH.

This is the first holiday ever in the history of my marriage that I am in more pictures than Kelly. Feels a little strange.

We had a yummy breakfast at Nonnie's house in which Molly preceded to empty all the puzzle pieces and flash cards in the closet. Poor Nonnie spent the morning in a Molly sized mess. (and unlike her actual size, it was a HUGE one!)

After we trashed the inside we took to the outdoors! True Easter love right here.

This Easter was also part birthday celebration of a Haji, Aubrey and a Valda. I mean why wouldn't you add a little cake to a sugar infested day?! Makes sense to me. After all, we had some great resting options post sugar high...

and awesome snuggle buddies...

Both of our kiddos were really into the hunt this year. Molly's ballet lessons really served her well.

All Haji wanted for his special day was for the kids to enjoy an Easter egg hunt. Does this not tell you how incredible a grandfather he is?! Haji explained to the kids all about Cascarones...

Molly was initially nervous about breaking them on Uncle Jeff's head...

so she settled for her easy go-to target. The sitting duck.

Confetti was EVERYWHERE. What a day of celebrations! Now, if only the weekend could have lasted one more day...

Time to Dye!

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You can always find our family at Easter morning mass. Our children are the ones with the purple and green hands. EVERY YEAR. Happy almost Easter!

The Hunt

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It was a day unlike any other. Gabriel and I waited under a shady tree nearby with heightened anticipation of the events yet to come. The day was finally here. While we sat fathoming all possibilities, we looked off to the horizon and just like that --- they appeared.

What they lacked in stature they made up for in speed. Their fluid pack-approached mirrored the riders in the tour de France however their passion and speed much rivaled Pamplona…

Okay, so not really...but a pack of three and four years old approaching a field of eggs is a definite force to be reckoned with--they were on a hunt!

Thursday afternoon, Gabriel and I joined Molly and her classmates for their Easter Hunt/Party at school. There were enough eggs for about every child to get 15 eggs in their bucket (little brothers included!) I swear that my ears rang with war music watching this brood storm the hill towards the “hiding grounds”. While there was a limit to the number of eggs to find --- expecting a 3 year old preschool class to stop at the designated number was a bit far fetched and let’s be honest here--- in no way happened. The goal quickly became to cram as MANY eggs in to your basket as possible. Well, that was the goal for MOST of the kids. Gabriel caught on quickly and he was having the time of his life. I looked over to Molly and found a MUCH different picture.

There she was in her red ruby slippers, long bunny necklace and faux-fur basket (held like a purse) walking right past all these highly coveted eggs. My first thought was that she just didn’t get the object of the game. But after further imploring of my dainty diva I found that was not the case at all. The eggs that she passed were just not right for her. You see… they weren’t fancy enough. It seems that our Molly has rather refined taste in regards to her Easter eggs.

So while Molly’s friend sat next to her a in sugar-infused haze with a basket full of about 40 eggs, Molly lovingly clutched onto her proud little basket of 5 fancy eggs.

Forget the candy folks’ … one of the eggs had POLKA DOTS!!!

While there were clearly very different approaches to the hunt, it was a stellar party indeed and everyone left HAPPY!
Can't wait for Sunday!!!