A beautiful day at the park....Come on SPRING!

We all enjoyed some fresh air and meeting our sweet friends at the park this weekend!!  My Duchess and Duke brought their scooter and tricycle to ride along the wooded trail.  There is something so special about the feeling of getting lost in the woods!  This reminds me of a funny childhood story......

When we were kids, we all played soccer - however, our games were always at different times.  So on Saturday mornings my mom would load us all up and we would head out to the soccer field in our hometown.  On one particular occasion I remember going off into the woods with one of my older sisters and two cousins, and possibly a friend or two if I can recall.  At the time we were all really into Punky Brewster....
                                                     
It was "THE" show to watch!  At least we thought so!  Anyways, we were lost in the characters of Punky Brewster, Margeaux, Cherie and Allen (don't be alarmed! I did not remember all of these names! I had to look them up.  It was special, but not that special! )  As we were searching for something - I can't remember, I am sure my sister or cousin will remember - we got so far back into the woods that we were turned around and really lost; maybe a little scared too!  Well, maybe a lot scared, but my older sister would not show it!While I am sure my mom was happily watching my older brother play soccer, enjoying some mommy time! 

Eventually as we cut through the brush we came out to a clearing and what do we see before us?  I can distinctly hearing my cousin saying, "Oh no! Market Basket!! Now we are really lost!"  Truthfully we were not that far away from the soccer field, but in the eyes of a child it seemed SO far. 

We still laugh about our Market Basket adventure today!  Needless to say, I stayed with my kids and their friends and we did not find a grocery store, just some really cool rocks!  I sometimes wish we could go back to the days when kids could be kids and wander and explore.  Geez, my husband and his brother where sent per my Prince, out in the woods with a pack lunch, BB gun (?) and a machete!  I am a little too controlling for that! :)  Baby steps.  For now, my Duchess and Duke can play on the back porch, where the Governess can have her eye on them!

I am seeing tulip sprouts!

Spring is Around the Corner!!!
There are many reasons I love spring!!!  One of those reasons believe it or not is SLIP'N'SLIDE! 

While my duke informed me today that "[he] would like to go slip'n'slide, [he] will not do it today because the water may still be a "wittle" bit cold and then [he] would have to do this......"  lots of "shibbering" noises and shaking in his car seat!  :)  It's true though we do love to slip 'n' slide.  In fact we do it right in the front yard and ask any neighbor passing by our circle to put their suits on and lather up for a trip down the slip!

Some important lessons learned to truly enjoy this experience....
1.  wait until the water has had a chance to warm or you will be a "shibbering"!
2. Mommy or Daddy should control the soap or else it is gone quick and the slippers wind up with carpet burn or slide burn :)
3.  warn your friends that yes you know your duchess and duke's lips and fingers are BLUE, but they do know how to "shibber!"
4. um, take turns!  a soapy, sudsy slip down the slide is sure to be followed by lots of tears!
5.  stock up on tear free baby shampoo, for those times when Mommy or Daddy don't have the soap
6. if you really want to rev things up...have Mommy or Daddy "throw" your slippery sliders down the slide! 
See fun for all!

Last of all in anticipation to the newest member of our family, Tinker Bell - our papillon -
HIDE WOOCHIE POOCHIE or else you might be next down the slide!

Just My Life

In our house there are lots of hysterical cackles and red-faced tickling episodes!  To walk in and hear the love-hate of being tickled one may hear boisterous giggles accompanied by "stop! stop!"  and "more! more!"  My duke likes to try "I just want a hug!  Just a hug," when all he really wants is to be tickled just a few more times!  No, I know better than to fall to his sweetie-pie manipulation.  So, being the willing Mommy, I oblige until they just can't taking it anymore! 

I love this pasttime mainly because of one older sister of mine that would repeatedly "TICKLE TORCH" me until I cried; not that I want my kids to cry, but it was a bonding that I didn't share with anyone else.  I am that girl who laughs so hard and so hysterically that I have to lay on the floor no matter where I am and do a sort of lamaze deep breathing of OOHs and AAHs to gain a tiny ounce of self control, or else unimaginable things happen!  Well, you may be able to imagine...  Isn't this what you really wanted to know! 

Needless to say my duke, duchess and I share that same feeling of elation and joy and pain after a tickle session that one still longs for.  It is actually part of my ritual with them before they drift off to sleep (hours after "bedtime") to dream of happiness and joys of life!  Try it, you will like it! I promise