InstaFriday.

Happy Friday Everyone!

I have a zillion things I need to be doing right now while the kids nap but somehow sharing my instagram pics seem much better. 

Are you on instagram? Because you should be.

It's the best and my fave thing at the moment. 

Find me @adielewis.

Ok, so here are some of my pics from the week.

A walk to the park at the perfect time of day which led to this awesome shadow on the ground. 

Date Night. 

Lunch in the dugout. 

My niece Radley cheering on the USA!

A day at the nature center. 

Best Friends. 

Cartoons in the big bed. 

I hope you had a great week and an even better weekend.

Brett's been gone for the last couple of days so I'm taking some much needed time for myself and getting a mani/pedi tomorrow. 

My poor feet and toes are going to be so thankful.

How about you? Any big weekend plans?

I'm linking up here...

The Nature Center.

Today my sister and I took all the kids to the El Dorado Park Nature Center. 

I'm not sure why we don't come here more often.

It's 5 minutes away from our house and it's just $5 to park.

The kids love it.

There are turtles, ducks, lizards, spiders, insects of all kinds, beautiful trees and flowers. 

We went on the 1 mile trail, which is super easy and great for the kids.

I remembered to take my camera with me.

I haven't been taking it with me too much these days since it just seems like one more thing to lug around, but I'm glad I did. I got some fun pictures of all the kids, so get ready for more pictures then you'd probably like. 

 I really love how little Lucy and Jacob are having a conversation in the picture above. 

 This crazy duck was attacking us.

Lucy had dropped some goldfish and this duck popped out of the bushes and was not scared of us at all.

Lucy was a little terrified but she still managed to kick that crazy duck in the bill.

 They were so adorable with one another today.

Some days they fight like brothers and sisters but today they were wonderful.

We had a great day and we will definitely be going back sooner than later. 

On a side note: Jacob would not leave the house without these hideous socks on with these specific shoes.

He's getting so opinionated. Geesh!! 

Monday, Monday.

Today has been one of those days.

There are too many dishes in the sink, purple marker on the couch, toys all over the floor, crumbs underneath the table, fit throwing, whining and complaining to no end.

I'm grouchy. My temper is short. 

I'm tired.

Which really is only my own fault since I can't seem to pull myself away from watching the Olympics and season 4 of Breaking Bad.

(does anyone else watch that show? because it is amazing. best. show. ever.) 

Once both kids fell asleep for their naps I only wanted to sit on the couch and throw myself a pity party.

But I knew I would feel worse if I did.

So I tidied up a bit, swept the floors, and got things ready for dinner.

I felt a little better but I was still having somewhat of a pity party.

I sat on the couch and started looking at the pictures on my phone. 

These smiling faces were staring back at me....

Almost instantly I stopped feeling sorry for myself and my "bad day"

I mean, how can life really be that bad? Do you see these wonderful people in these pictures?

My people. My husband and my boys. 

Yes, sometimes it's rough and some days feel like too much, but really it's not.

It could be so much worse and selfishly I forget that sometimes.

God has given me my family and this day. He's also given me the choice in how I deal with it and I'm not too sure God would be thrilled with how I have acted today..

So I'm turning my attitude around, taking a deep breath, and starting over. 

No more pity party here. 

And really who cares about the dishes, they can wait until tomorrow. 

Ethan's 4th Birthday.

Tomorrow Ethan will be 4 years old. 

I know every mother says this but really time is flying by like crazy.

Last night we celebrated our big guy's birthday.

Which by the way is very confusing to an almost 4 year old since he's not quite 4 yet. 

When I had asked Ethan months ago what kind of party he wanted he told me Spiderman.

So Spiderman it was.

 He was just a little spoiled by our family and friends with more Spiderman loot than we know what to do with. We had a great time and I know Ethan loved every second of it. 

Happy 4th Birthday Buddy!!

To Blog or Not To Blog?

Big life changing question I've been contemplating these days.

Ok, not really. But it is one I have been thinking about lately.

Over the last couple of months I haven't really been into the whole blogging thing. 

I haven't been posting much and I haven't really been reading other blogs as well.

I don't know if I just got tired of it or I got too busy or I've found other things to take up my time.

I don't really have a good reason.

I do know this was going on in my head...

I don't know if this whole blogging thing is really my gig. 

I mean, I don't aspire to be a writer of any kind.

I don't have an etsy shop where I'm trying to sell my goods.

I'm not crafting up a storm everyday.

I'm not crazy into fashion and post my fabulous outfits daily. 

I'm not ready to share "my story" and let the whole wide world into my deepest darkest secrets. 

Don't get me wrong...these things are great for others.

I think the blogging world is a great community and a wonderful resource.

I've actually learned a lot from what other bloggers write, share and create.

And then silly questions started nagging at me...

How can I get my blog to grow?

Why don't I have hundreds of followers?

Why didn't I get any comments on that post?

Why can't I make "that" and make it better?

Who really cares about what I say anyway?

Then the other day I began to remember why I started blogging in the first place.

My purpose was to document our life as a family.

It was a blog for me. 

For Brett and for our kids.

To remember the days that go by so quickly which we will soon forget.

And when I remembered this I felt a little sad for what I've let pass the last couple of months. 

We've been to San Diego and Arizona.

The local zoo, the beach, the park, Disneyland.

We've spent countless days in the backyard playing in the water. 

We celebrated the 4th of July. 

We've had some rough days in there too, don't get me wrong.

But I have nothing to show for it. 

Maybe just a few snapshots here and there, but no words to remember them by.

I guess my point is I do want to continue blogging. 

Not for the followers, the praise or the comments.

But to remember with words, and not just a few photos I snapped with my iPhone.

I want to blog for me and my family.

Because really at the end of the day, that's what is most important. 

Ethan's Last Days of School {in pictures}.

Before summer gets too far ahead of me I wanted to go back a minute and share pictures of Ethan's last couple days of school.

He had a little preschool picnic in the park and then a little parade to finish off his first year. 

My nieces also went to the same school and while Ethan will be returning next year the girls will not.

They are off to big girl school.

So without further adieu here are some pictures.

Ok, that's it!

No more last day of school pictures. 

Let summer begin!!