Los Porchs

i am sitting on the deck watching charlie play with dirt and water and make her own mud. she looked at me and asked if she could get her hands and feet dirty. it's saturday afternoon and we have no where to be today -- go nuts kid. "i'm making poop." three-year-olds, folks, they are something. oh no. she's approaching the water table with a bucket of muddy water.  she redirects herself to a large bucket and dumps all of her containers into it. "this is a perfect holiday. this is a perfect holiday in our new house." i have no idea what she's talking about but it is so important to me that she have these experiences not only because it's fun and builds her immune system something fierce, but because it connects her to nature. she mixes the muddy water with a mini frisbee she got today at the farmer's market and then rinses it off in the "clean" water in her water table. she is quickly distracted by the frisbee and seeks a playma...

We got sunshine and warm-ish weather today so Charlotte and I had to take advantage!  She is happiest while playing outside and it breaks her heart every time I take her to the garage and she points at the little lawn mower yet I stuff her into the car seat. With no plans for the day, we loaded up the wagon and headed out for a morning walk.  We made it to the park without freezing so we spent some time playing on the swings and slide before retreating to the wagon for a snack date with Minnie and Daisy. We watched the ducks walk on water! GAH!  This kid. We made the same faces without prompting.  I could eat this girl's cheeks. After lunch, she took a 2 hour nap and then we quickly headed out again since the sun was shining and the skies were blue.  We can't just waste good weather like that!  We've been cooped up this winter with some super cold days and illnesses.  I've never seen my kid cooperate so quickly to get dressed for out...