Random things

In the last 10 days, the weather has gone from freezing and snowy

Snowball fight--notice the trajectory of Mabes' snowball

to unseasonably warm:

Mabes, chillin' under the fan after a walk

and now back to cold and rainy. I knew the warm weather couldn't last, so I was determined to make the most of it. We pulled out the spring clothes, had the windows open, went for walks, played at the park, and enjoyed summer meals (yay taco salad!). And while I love variety, this is getting a little ridiculous--it's 40 degrees colder today than it was just 2 or 3 days ago. Oh, come on! (said in my best Gob voice) My body has responded to this weather nonsense with a lovely cold/sore throat combination.

And since I have nothing to blog about, a few random things:


Mabes got this in the mail this week from Laura. I put it up on the fridge and every time I see it, it makes me laugh. This is why I love my family. Laura has already planned out her visit, and it sounds silly, but she pretty much outlined the perfect weekend. You know you want to join in on the strawberry pickin' cookie makin' hugfest.

Last night was the first night in a few nights that I didn't have to leave right after dinner. As I was cleaning up, Mabes asked, "Mommy, do you have meet-ning tonight?" I told her nope, I get to stay here with you. She looked skeptical, thought a minute, and said, "Mommy, I fink you have a meet-ning. Do you have to go to a meet-ning?" No, Mabes, I really don't have a meeting. "Then why are you wearing your pants?" Doh--how well she knows me. Once the ice was broken, Dave was able to ask, without sounding accusatory, why I was wearing jeans with nowhere to go. Because of the recent warm weather, I'd put my warmer comfy pants in the wash so only my cropped comfy pants were available. It was cold yesterday, so I had a choice between being comfy and cold or wear jeans and be warm. I chose the latter, and then did laundry.

And despite all her craziness, Mabes can briefly settle down and be really sweet and loving. She'll stop, put one arm around my neck, tilt her head to the side, do a slow, deliberate blink indicating her sincerity, and say very earnestly, "Mommy, I really love you." It makes the crazy worthwhile. Or at least bearable. So yesterday, when she got that look on her face, put her arm around me, "Mommy, I really--" my heart started to melt "--love Lumpy." What? I told her I thought she was going to say she loved mommy. "Well, yeah, but I reeeeeeeeeally love Lumpy." Thanks, Mabes.

Lumpy and Lumpy Junior. Kinda creepy, huh?

And since I can't end on that note, here's a picture of Mabes in one of her new dresses. Neither of my Costcos had the dress I wanted in her size, so I called my mom and had her look at her Costco. Hers didn't have it, either, but it had two other, cuter ones that mine didn't carry at all. She couldn't decide so she sent them both. Yaaaaaay, Grandma!