Live Free

Valentine's

 

Happy Valentine's Day to all! I'm stopping by to quickly post a smorgasbord of photos from the past week. There seems to be a Valentine(y)/February theme to them, don't you think? Love, sunshine, flowering bulbs, sweetness, cuteness, etc.  

All is well in our parts despite the running lists that never seem to shorten in length and nightly 4am awakenings, due to the very indecisive house kitty (ehem), and my racing mind. 

We took a trip to Houston last week to visit Byron's parents and had such a lovely time. We squeezed in a trip to visit The Natural Science Musuem and (drumroll, please) Trader Joe's. You see, several years ago, when we moved to Texas from Maryland, I went through a mourning phase for that place. I truly felt at a loss without it for a long while, even though we had the flagship Wholefoods and a plethora of other health food grocery stores. In my world, none were as worthy as Trader Joe's. 

Over the years, (thankfully) I've adapted and I've grown to love certain grocery stores for certain items. I've all but whittled away my need for Trader Joe's, but it was nice to reunite, and to remember the people we were and the lives we were living when we shopped at Trader Joes in Annapolis. I stocked up on just a few items that we were needing: soap, shampoo, pistachios, and granola bars. I also splurged on a bouquet of tulips and daffodils.  Oh, how I love bulbs! One day, I will see, in person, the patchwork fields of tulips blooming in the early spring. I will. I will. I will. 

On the home front, the little one is as exuberant as ever. She's been really stoked about celebrating Valentine's Day with her little school friends. They are so dear together. They all get along so well and truly do love each other. It's such a treat to watch them grow together. This is a fun, fun age. Besides, her school friends, Beatrix is loving fossils (and even read the word 'fossil' today). She's growing up way too fast. She is also loving a gifted leotard and creating spontaneous afternoon dance routines in the living room. Her expressions and form are something to see y'all. For reals.

She is also rediscovering the So Many Fairies stories from Sparkle Stories. When we first subscribed last year, they were a little to deep to hold her attention. Now, she is soaking them in with a newfound peace and attention. So Many Fairies are truly such delightful stories. As is the trend when it comes to me and Sparkle Stories, I'm enjoying them just as much as she is!

Lastly, I am dreaming of more rain, green grass, damp soil, and a certain little one's 4th birthday which is quickly approaching. Lots of plans for these next few months. 

Life is good. 

I loved this day!

As we sat around the table at dinner time, Beatrix cleaned her plate with an unusual gusto. Her desert, because it was Valentine's evening after all, was a little gift from her daddy. A cupcake with sprinkles on top. Her favorite. A real treat. The cupcake was adult size, so she only had a fraction of it. Still, she was very pleased. Byron could not of brought home a more appreciated gift. She sighed deeply and announced, "I loved this day!" 

After she ate dinner, she courted her cupcake. Unlike myself, who can inhale a sweet something in a minute flat, she savors it, licking bits of icing here, tasting the cake off the tip her fingers there. While she ever so slowly enjoyed this special treat, she declared to us both that the cupcake was "deeeelicious." Oh my girl, you have a way of brightening up this world. 

She makes me smile. I love her so much. I love that she could care less about anything of material value. And that what she loves most are the simplest of life's pleasures: a red balloon, sprinkles on a cupcake, her Daddy home from work early, the sight of finches feeding from her bird feeder...

I hope she always maintains an appreciation for life's simple gifts.