Boating w/ Dallas...

Somehow we were talked into meeting Dallas + his buddies @ the Lake.  I hadn't done this since college, but was super excited to share a boating day w/ Shawn + Elsie Anne!  Getting ready to go...

Little did I know... we were the ONLY people w/ our child:)  That didn't stop us from having fun though!  Uncle Dallas (JaLa) knows how to show a good time!

Elsie Anne experienced a 'Life Jacket' for the first time.  She wasn't too sure about putting it on, but once on, she didn't mind @ all:)  She was in + out of the water all afternoon... EA + Daddy taking a little break!

Super fun day... Thanks Dallas for a fun Boat Trip!!

Laying Low...

The first few days we didn't do much, b/c we wanted to keep Elsie Anne out of her carseat as long as possible!  We played @ 'Strickland Park' from morning to night... EA couldn't get enough of the OUTDOORS!

Hanging out w/ the boys after Daddy + Uncle Sydney got home from work!  Thatcher + EA hit it off instantly, their interactions were completely different than our March visit. 

Uncle Sydney (NiNi) + Big Daddy (DeeDa)

Our first outing was to my friend's 'Baby Bootie Camp' class!  Aunt Kirsten (KiKi), Thatcher, EA + I had a great work out, then enjoyed the park nearby...

Elsie Anne LOVES steering wheels of any sort... w/ her hands on the wheel, she rocks back + forth on her feet, while saying... "fffvvvrroooo", her version of 'VROOM'!!!

She thought this was hilarious... I was doing it to her, then she'd smash her face for me + we just cracked up @ each other:)

ROAD TRIP TO FLA...

We decided on Monday that we would leave on Friday for Tallahassee, FL!  Yes, the THREE of us, driving in Shawn's truck, for 30hrs!  I know, we're crazy, but it really went well:)  Here are some of the places we stopped...

Somewhere in Kansas... we found signs for a park + followed them... PERFECT SPOT!!  They were having a car show!  It felt so good to stretch our legs, dance to the 50's music + play on the slides!

Here is the fun slide @ the car show...

Somewhere along the way... SNACK TIME!

Just before Dallas, TX... we found another convenient park!  This is the first time Elsie Anne slid be herself!!

Somewhere in Louisiana... nice grassy area @ a gas station:)

Same gas station just hanging in the back of the truck!!

Pensacola, FL 3hrs away... Where is Elsie Anne???

PEEK-A-BOO!!

10min away from Casa Strickland:)  We are delirious w/ excitement!!

10:30pm Sunday evening... WE MADE IT!!

Happy THIRTY-TWO!!

We were so happy that Shawn got off early for his birthday!!  We went to 'Nothside Grill' for a Birthday Dinner!  All Shawn wanted were 'atomic hot wings'... and that is what he got!!  It took him 2hrs to get 3 of them down:)  He loved the intense heat + the sweat on his forehead, hahaha!

Daddy + his sweet baby girl...

We love you Shawn... I'm so blessed to have the best husband + father a girl could ever ask for!!

My Dad + Brother have been making beautiful, hand-crafted outdoor furniture, w/ hand-picked cypress wood, for over a year now!  They have recently added CHILDREN'S FURNITURE to there inventory!  Visit their BLOG to sneak a peek!  Each piece of furniture is gorgeous in it's natural color + can be enjoyed indoors or outside on the patio.  They can also be proffessionally painted to become an accent piece! 

Our Buddies Are Back!!

Elsie Anne + I were getting bored w/out our playmates in town!  After 2wks of NO WORK, we finally had a busy week:)  I feel so much better when I have a schedule to keep + not just bopping around trying to find things to do.  Remember that we still can't do much outdoors when its mud season:( 

Adeline + EA had so much fun Tuesday + Wednesday... In the last 4wks, Adeline has learned to crawl + pull up on things! 

Look @ these cutie pies!  They shared + played so nicely!

Today we went over to Henry's house... the day started off w/ snow, but by 10am it cleared + we got to play outside:)  It was neat to watch these guys play together.  Now that EA is walking, Henry acts like she is more of an equal!  We brought his 'bike', grocery buggy, golf clubs + hockey sticks out.  I was impressed that they stayed out for almost an hour:)

We also row, row, rowed the 'boat' around the driveway!  They both enjoy this song + thought this was a funny idea!!

I get excited to think what this summer will bring for us... this walking stage is SO MUCH FUN:)

Frisco Marina Park

We were so happy when Daddy came home early + we went to the Park as a fam!!  This was the the first time Daddy has seen Elsie Anne in action, since being mobile!!  We chose this park b/c it has an entire climbing/sliding area that is perfect size for EA.  Although I didn't get any pics of EA enjoying the toddler area, this shows that she learned just what to do on the climbing wall from the older kids!

And, of course, we enjoyed the SWINGS...weeeeee!

We walked to the Marina, which takes much longer than one would imagine, having to explaine each + every stick, rock, pinecone, trash, bump, mud, etc!!  Pretty incredible to see EA's little mind working:)  I'm happy for Shawn that EA does have a tomboy side in her + loves throwing sticks + rocks!!

Since all the big boats are still wrapped up + trailored (b/c the lake is FROZEN, for all you peeps that can't imagine it), we settled for showing EA the canoes + kayaks!  She loved them just as much + said "BOAT,BOAT" over + over!!

BALL POPPER!!!

Can you say EXCIIIIITED?!  Elsie Anne got to play w/ one of these in Cincinnati a few months ago, w/ her cousin Abby!  They must have noticed how much she liked it b/c Abby sent her one for her Birthday... and she LOVES it:)  She dances + bounces to the music + goes crazy when they pop up high + fly right out of the slide!!