Botanical Gardens, Book Club, and growing plants!

Yesterday was a beautiful day and we just couldn't stay inside. We always go to the park, so I thought we would do something new. I had been wanting to go to the Western Slope Botanical Gardens for awhile, so I figured, "Why not?"

Leilah, Devin and I.. This is my favorite picture of the 3 of us.

Devin and I looking at the Box turtle.

Devin LOVED the Koi fish.

My favorite flowers- Orchids.

My babies and I again :]

Devin loved this great train out in the gardens.

Leilah bug watching the butterflies.

Pretty butterfly landed right next to me.

The box turtle.

Beautiful Koi fish.

It was really beautiful there, and Devin had a great time. Leilah even had fun looking around at all the colors. I'm glad we went, it was something new and fun to do on a quiet day.

So, the other day, the group of moms I talk to online and I decided that we should start a book club because we all like to read! I just blogged about how much reading means to me not too long ago, and I can't even tell you how excited I am about this book club. Our first choice of book is Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. 

I had never heard of this book before, but when I read what it was about, I could already feel myself being pulled in. I love that- when a book pulls you in from the beginning, and you just can't put it down.

I'm still finishing up Eat Pray Love (which I LOVE by the way... I'll write about that later.), but I can't wait to start this new book.

I posted pictures last week of the pots that I planted flowers in. I have been OCD about watering them everyday, and I check on them constantly. The other day while watering, I was so excited to see little sprouts poking through the soil!! I've never grown anything in my whole life! 

I'm so proud of myself. I can't wait to see how beautiful these flowers grow to be. 

Tomorrow, Leilah is 4 months old! And I think we're going to go get her ears pierced! I'll post pictures!

New milestones

I've been meaning to write this for a few days, but every time I sit down to write, someone needs Mommy.
This past week Leilah did two new things! 

• rolled over from front to back and from back to front for the first time
• laughed out loud at Mommy 

I was so excited to see Leilah roll over because she HATES being on her tummy. She lasts for maybe 2 minutes before she starts crying. But lately, she's been tolerating it more and actually started to roll over!

I didn't get any pictures of her rolling over, but I did get some cute pictures of her on her tummy.

And spending time with Daddy.

Leilah also loves playing in the bath, and the other day while giving her a bath, she looked up at me and just laughed out loud! I was so excited that I called Jr at work to tell him.

She is so cute! I fall more in love with her every day!

A lot of my posts have been about Leilah lately, because she has been doing so many new and adorable things. But Devin did something today that completely melted my heart. When I asked him how much he loves me, he replied with "Big much!"

I love my babies so much!

Spring

I love flowers. Jr buys me flowers almost every year in spring to put in pots around the house. I don't have a green thumb. I always seem to kill them. So This year, I decided to try to plant some flowers and grow them myself instead. 

Leilah helped me to plant my flowers :].

I'm excited to see them grow.

An escape...

Many of you don't know this about me, but... I love to read. It's such an escape for me. If someone was to ask me what I do for ME... I would say read... ( I also like to do other things like paint pottery... but I don't get to do that often...). Even if I can only read for 20 minutes a day... That is 20 minutes of time that I can check out and just lose myself in a story. 

I love my children very much, but I think everyone needs a little time to recharge and unwind. Or I might lose my mind. :].

I devour books. Jr always laughs because I finish books so fast. He even surprised me last year and bought me a Nook (the E-reader from Barnes & Noble) for our anniversary. 

I have read thousands of books and I still just can't get enough. I think that my love for reading started out being read to as a child, then I really fell in love when I was going through a hard time in my life. I would read 4 to 5 books a week, just to get away from what was going on. 

I don't read as often anymore. (Having a 2 year old and almost 4 month old makes it kind of hard to find time.) But I try to read a new book every 2-3 weeks. 

I am currently reading Eat, Pray, Love-By Elizabeth Gilbert. I saw the trailer for the movie and I really wanted to see it. But I wanted to read the book first.

So far, I love it!... I can't wait to finish it and watch the movie!

Toddler bed

Yesterday, we changed Devin's crib into a toddler bed. My baby boy is a big boy now! AHH!!... He did great for his nap, except for falling out of the bed once, then going back to sleep. And this morning, he even stayed in his bed until someone came to get him after he woke up!

I am so proud of my big boy. I'm glad we waited this long, because we didn;t have to fight him about it. He is definitely ready...

Now I wish he'd just be ready to potty train!! 

Here's my boy in his big boy bed!

And yes, those are a bunch of stuffed animals that he HAS to sleep with every night... Silly boy.

76 degrees!

Yesterday was a scorching 76 degrees! WOOHOO. It's finally beginning to feel a little bit like spring. This whole week has been warming up and I'm so excited!
Thursday afternoon we took the kids for their first walk of the year.

It was so nice to get out and get some fresh air. Devin had fun, and Leilah stayed awake and alert the entire walk (she passed out as soon as we walked in the door). 

And yesterday, we watched Kailynn for a bit, so we took the kids to the park.

I can't believe that Devin and Kailynn are both over 2 years old, and they had never been to the park together!

 The kids had a blast! They were running around, going up and down slides, and climbing up things. We were there for a good 2 hours. I just couldn't bring myself to make them leave.. They were having too much fun.

 I think their favorite part though, was the tunnel. They would just sit in there talking to each other and laughing!! It was so cute!

We ended the day by going home, eating some pizza, watching Toy Story 3 (which by the way, made me cry like a baby) and reading stories.

This has to be my favorite picture, it's just so cute :]

All in all, it was a pretty good day. I just wish Jr hadn't been working so he could spend it with us.