Diet Vanilla Dr. Pepper

Oh, life's little luxuries! On afternoons while Aaron is at school and I get done with work by noon, I steal some "me" time. Usually these outings are just much needed trips to places like Target or the mall. I stroll down the aisles toting only my baby girl in her stroller and relishing the time where I don't have to power walk to complete my shopping list while juggling a baby and a 3 year old who is attracted to anything shiny or electronic.
Since I have to pick Aaron up at school at 2:30, I almost always drive by a Sonic right smack dab in the middle of HAPPY HOUR. :) I think the carhops know me as Mrs. Diet Vanilla Dr. Pepper Lady. Isn't it funny how some of the silliest and simplest things become a mini-vacation and almost a guilty pleasure? So that's my weekly little getaway.

Ella Claire will be 7 Months old NEXT WEEK. This is my absolute favorite age. She is sitting up securely, responds to us with the sweetest smiles and giggles, sleeping all through the night (7:30-7:30), takes two LONG daytime naps (one while big brother takes his...which means more ME TIME!), content to sit in her bouncer or take a ride in her stroller, and just so easygoing! She's not in the "getting into everything" stage yet because she hasn't begun to scoot around or roll everywhere. Yes, this is by far the easiest, most enjoyable baby age.

We signed Aaron up for T-ball a few weeks ago and he asks every single day "When is my game?" It's going to be a long 6 weeks...
I started doing what we call "schoolwork" every other morning with Aaron. I have a Preschool workbook which is a really neat book that focuses on how to trace letters and learn the sounds of the letters. He loves it! Aaron has been an avid lefty, but I am trying to train him to write with his right hand. He seems to not care and is doing great. He knows all his letters by sight and can spell his name out loud. Such a smart boy. It's interesting to see his learning pattern. It's a mix between Thomas and myself. Unlike me, Aaron likes to take his time. Unlike Thomas, Aaron doesn't care much for detail. So we end up with tracing the letter "B" for 10 minutes only to end up with a mixture between an 8 and Q....

Oh I am SO glad to see the warm sun again! Today was the first day in awhile that Aaron didn't have to go outside with multiple layers on and then come inside with a dripping nose. Best bud, Deron came to play and those boys had so much fun together.

Thomas and I are ready for a getaway. Oh we need it so bad. He has been working so hard lately. By the time we get the kids in bed, we are both ready to crash in bed from exhaustion. His day is spent with long phone calls, meetings and project details while mine is spent keeping the children and house in order while balancing a part-time job. We both love our life and jobs, but it's been almost a year since our last "just us" getaway. Ella is in the process of being weaned (that third tooth did me in), so I am hoping to make time for that in the next couple months.
Our birthdays are both coming up soon...hmmm...