2 signs that it's spring

First- this picture was taken in the MIDDLE of my living room with NO flash.  The sun is finally bright enough to make it past the first few inches of our windows!! It actually fills the house.

 And if it wasn't already obvious-Ike's favorite item of destruction right now happens to be the wet wipe container.  He's pulled out every wet wipe and spread them around the house at least thirty times.

And the second sign that it's spring: After our run OUTSIDE yesterday we PLAYED in the park!  Ike slept through it but Zeb loved every second.  Plus we saw many long lost friends whom we hadn't seen since last Novemberish :)  I miss my park people. 

 In other good news- yesterday Ike found my little temperamental camera in my purse, got it out, and then chucked it onto the kitchen floor. I thought for sure it was finally totaled-only to be pleasantly surprised that it is now working better than ever.  The screen hadn't turned on for a few months which meant that I could take pictures but not see what I was doing or view them afterward. Now it works like a charm. Thanks, Ike.

Welcome, spring!  It doesn't officially start for a few weeks but we'll start the celebrations now.  Especially since my birthday happens to fall on the first day of spring- and birthdays are truly meant to be celebrated ALL month long.  Happy spring and birthday to me (and laney, too I guess).  I'll be posting my birthday wish list soon.

Michigan!!! woohoo.

We trekked up to Grand Rapids, MI for the weekend and had a blast.  Cousins Amy and Craig moved up there just a bit ago and we decided to go and check out their place. The drive was only 2 and a half hours. Have I mentioned how much I love having family on this side of the country?  Sometimes all I need is a little time with family to make life sweeter.  It was so much fun!  This morning as I packed the kiddos into the car to head to the gym, Zeb asked, "can we go to Taylor's house again?".  He loved playing with Katie and Taylor. And Ike and Sophie had their own splendid time.  We did really miss the other starkeys, though. I've become accustomed to visting Amy in Ashland- so we missed yaya and family quite a bit!

Staying with them made Kent and I realize just how nice it would be to have a house! Their place was AMAZING! a toy room, a guest room, a garage, and a yard.  What else could I ask for?!  oh- maybe  a perfectly paved and beautiful running trail right outside their front door! AND it runs along a river.  It was fabulous. I can't wait to go back when it's green.

Ike and Soph are just a month apart. They loved trying to steal each others binks.  and check out Sophie's eyes.  Our kids are all going to be brownies, I'm sure.

Zeb and taylor goofed off and giggled the entire time we were there. Zeb really was meant to have an older sibling.  He did EVERYthing Taylor did.

and here's peanut.

 

thanks for the fab weekend, guys! We can't wait to see you again soon.

 

Yesterday Kent made a surprise lunch visit home.  All of the boys wrestled around for awhile and then Kent had to get ready to head back.  Zeb yelled, "Kent! wait!" (he still will only call him kent) and ran back to his room to get something.

 He came back like this.

He told Kent that he had his "listenscope (that's what he calls a stethoscope) and box" and was ready to go to "school-work" (that's where we say Kent goes every day) and "give people shots".  It was really really cute.  When Kent told him couldn't go because the hospital is a place for sick people, Zeb responded, "I'm sick people".
Kent let him listen to his heart beat and then we walked Kent out to the car and said goodbye. Zeb wanted to go so badly.

Kent can get our kiddos laughing so hard they can barely stand.

This is downtown by the "slushy ribber" as Zeb calls it. Kent was doing something ridiculous and Zeb was beside himself.

this kid is BEGGING for spring.

I really need to find my (buy some new) sunglasses. I canNOT believe how bright it was today. Zeb kept reminding me that the sun was up and that we didn't have to go to bed anytime soon. He also asked to go to the park a gazillion times.  We didn't go to the park, but I did take him out to play while Ike took his nap.  It really wasn't warm enough to be in just a short sleeve shirt- but he insisted.  He also insisted on his rain galoshes. With all the melting snow- it  was a perfect day for them.

 

He ran around and splashed and played like it really was spring and not 37 degrees with lots of snow still on the ground.

I wouldn't mind just one more good storm- but last month was the second snowiest february on record for toledo so I can't complain. Occasionally I get snow for my birthday but we'll have to see what happens this year.

and here's ike.

This kid drives me bonkers!!!! he never sits still.  I'd say that at least 85% of the pictures I take of him end up blurry.  I took a gazillion on Sunday- and ended up with two. And they aren't even great.

He is very impatient, too. He refuses to sign.  Actually refuses and then throws little fits when I try to get him to do it.  He is starting to talk more, though.  He can say "what's that", "up", and "choo" - along with the basics "mom", "dad", and "ball".  I may be the only person who understands the words when he says them, but he speaks nonetheless.  And he's really really funny. He's going to be the teaser and jokester in the family.  And he's going to continue to make Zeb crazy for the rest of their lives.

Sunday after church we decided to venture out for a drive.  We ended up downtown and decided to check out the old building we'd been to a few weeks ago.  I got a bunch of pictures of Zeb- but almost NONE of Ike.  That kid is nigh impossible right now. Luckily Zeb is a little more cooperative and saves my sanity.

I'd really like to take a photography class so I can get a better handle on lighting and motion and whatnot. I forgot to switch over my images to RAW - so these aren't the best quality- but I still think this kid is mighty cute. 

Plus, this old building was really really cool.  I think Toledo used to be a really great city.  Don't get me wrong- I really do LOVE this city- but downtown is so desolate and dilapidated. It looks like there used to be a lot of great stuff to do and see and it makes me sad that we missed it (by a few decades).

 

 It really is fun to take pictures when you've got a good camera.  Plus- I am learning more and more about photoshop. I even removed zeb's scab in some of the pictures.  Did you know that there is a feature called 'weight loss' on photoshop?!