Exploring Warner Park Nature Center

Last Friday, Sawyer and I headed to Warner Park Nature Center to check out the new play area and wade in the creek. Just the two of us.

The new natural play area includes a big dirt hill - perfect for climbing, digging and throwing dirt around. There's also a little kid-sized log cabin and a few other nature-y things.

Sawyer climbed the hill, but he mostly loved throwing dirt.

Then we checked out the creek by the nature center. It's perfect for wading.

We did some light hiking.

Sawyer threw lots of big rocks into the creek.

What a great way to spend the afternoon - just walking, wading and wandering around together at this great park. We'll be coming back here a lot this summer.

Saturday was busy with a pancake breakfast to benefit Parker's school (the teachers and principal served the food), followed by a tee ball game. Here are Parker and his friend Connor in the dugout before their turns at bat.

Sunday was packed full, too. I ran 11.5 miles, finished staining our fence, played with the boys and did the usual stuff around the house to get ready for Monday.

I hope you had a great weekend, too!

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Soaking Up Spring

Spring is my favorite time of year, and we've been basking in these perfect days. Here's a rundown of some stuff we've been up to:

Tee ball is in full swing. Here's my view Parker's tee-ball practice when Sawyer comes along..

Sometimes he'll stay in one place and watch the big kids.

The tree in front of our house is amazing for just a week or so at the very beginning of spring.

Sawyer and I visited Parker's school this week to help with the spring egg hunt. It was a gorgeous day.

Then we went into the class and hung out with the kids during the party. The big kids are all so great with Sawyer.

Random photo: We're making some progress with the vegetables. Sawyer will eat corn if it's on the cob.

We've spent a LOT of time just hanging in the backyard - blowing bubbles, sifting sand, lying in the grass.

Parker and I painted spring pictures Friday while Sawyer napped.

My sister Susie and her boyfriend Terry sent a big box of gifts as a surprise: new jammies for Parker, bristle blocks for Sawyer, a gorgeous apron for me and a lavender sachet that has my whole living room smelling like spring. My family rocks.

Today we dyed eggs with our neighbor friends, Ethan and Amanda.

Parker didn't need that little wire egg holder. His hands were much more convenient.

Sawyer spent the day running around barefoot in the grass. We'll be doing plenty more of that.

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall." ~Nadine Stair

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Spring = Tee Ball

Parker had his first practice last Saturday, and we have another one tonight. The weather has been great so far, and it's been fun to sit in the grass in the sun and watch our little guys bat, throw and catch (or not). They're so little, so excited - and so easily distracted. It's hilarious to watch all the kids in the outfield digging little holes in the dirt.

Parker did a great job hitting the ball without the tee, and he can throw the ball from short-stop to first base, no problem. I know I'm biased, but he seems to have a knack for it. Baseball may not turn out to be his sport, but this learning phase - finding out what he likes, what he doesn't - is all part of the adventure. We're lucky to have two of Parker's good friends on the team (their moms are good friends of mine), which makes the whole experience even more entertaining.

Here's the coach giving Parker some pointers.


A solid hit!

Parker and Connor waiting to bat


Erica playing with her youngest son, Parker (not to be confused with my big Parker). Amy is in the foreground.

Erica with little Parker

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