ahhhh!

i'm the skeleton of america!
- ronan

kidless hiking

managed to score a sitter for all 3 kids and did some time on the trails over at m hill today. great weather and incredible vistas. it was freeing to walk hand in hand with out having to attend to all the needs that seem to pop up when the boys are with us. a big thank you to jessica over at jessa d photography for giving us some much needed grown up time. love, love, loved today!

a full heart

these are a few of the people that are most dear to my heart. and, in case you can't tell there's a little guy on the way that i haven't met yet but am already head over heels for. so excited for my brother and his wife to welcome their first child this summer. i'm gonna be an aunt!

home again, home again!

we made it back from our big, east coast adventure. the ride there and back was long and tiring but being in south carolina surrounded by family and friends made every mile worth it. driving east was like driving into a completely different world seasonally, one where shorts and t-shirts are already making appearances. we got to hike in several different state parks and camp up at jones gap state park in the mountain bridge wilderness area. all i can say is AMAZING!! i returned home with my feet itching to log more miles on our local trails but we need mother nature to cooperate first.

on the second day of our trek home ronan turned 5! we celebrated at the hitchcock nature center in iowa with a hike and a little playground time. waiting till this weekend to meet up with some friends and do it croteau style. it blows my mind to think i have a 5 year old who is going to be graduating from preschool in a month; kindergarten is just around the corner! eeek! not only did ronan turn 5 but while we were in south carolina he acted as ring bearer for his grandfather. he looked so sharp in his little tux and he couldn't have made me more proud when he walked the rings all the way down the aisle to his uncle.

all in all, april is shaping up nicely. can't wait to see what else this month is going to bring. much love to you all my friends.

brother love

i am amazed every day by how much these boys love each other. yes, they fight and bicker but more often than not they are sharing, sticking up for each other, and helping each other. i love my guys!

paris mtn. state park

a beautiful day in south carolina! temps in the 80's with full sun overhead and a light breeze. just returned from a walk around lake placid over in paris mountain state park. we saw tons of turtles and got to feed the geese. i'm so glad for such good weather on this trip and for such close proximity to outdoor adventures. finishing lunch and looking to see what the rest of the days gonna bring us. ciao for now!

ronan

my big man taking a breather after the wedding. he didn't last very long after this, i think all the excitement really took it out of him.