4.26.12 — number 117

Comparison photos.

Because I love to compare before/after pics or, in this case, pictures of my own three kids at roughly the same age that Isla is now: 28 months. What an amazing journey I have been on with these three little people. I can't wait to see where the journey takes me next!

4.25.12--number 116

Playing on the top bunk.

Because what is cooler than the fort-like magic of hanging out on the top bunk with your sister and BFF? It's almost akin to having a treehouse, only without the bugs.

4.24.12--number 115

Shades.

Because we look cool in 'em, yo.

4.23.12--number 114

Isla's love for dogs.

Because of all three of my kids, Isla is the most inclined to want to pounce on any dog she sees, full of glee. It's nice that my neighbor and great friend has a dog as sweet and patient as Sadie here, who never made a fuss when Isla laid on her, tried out her bed, and even (at one point) tried to taste Sadie's rawhide bone.

4.22.12--number 113

The Color Run.

Because when your running partner is one of your favorite people, you're bound to have a great time. Add to that the pure joy on her face when she basically became the embodiment of her favorite color, and it's aces.

4.21.12-- number 112

Sprinklers on a hot day.

Because there are days when I just don't feel like taking them to the pool, and there's something really nostalgic and old-school about running through the sprinklers, anyway. Takes me back to my own childhood. The only thing we lack here on the West Coast to make it more perfect is lightning bugs.

4.20.12--number 111

Three silly monkeys.

Because when they all climb in bed to squeeze together and celebrate the youngest having a big girl bed, they are so adorable it's all I can do not to pinch them.

4.19.12--reason 110

Watching your toddler run through bubbles on a gorgeous sunny day.

Because there's something sort of glorious about the way she twirls and whirls in the bubbles, her face lit up with abandon in that way completely unique to children who lack self-consciousness.

4.18.12--number 109

Big girl milestones.

Because when you've just disassembled the crib for the third and final time because your 2-year-old is ready to make The Leap to big-girl-bed-status, you cry a little that one of the last vestiges of babyhood is gone. And when your almost 7-year-old gets to sleep on a top bunk for the very first time, marking two very momentous milestones in the lives of these sisters who happen to share a room, you know it's a big big day.

4.17.12--reason 108

My painting pants.

Because, you know how you have that certain garment that you always wear for certain chores or activities, and somehow even just the act of putting it on gets you all psyched about the job ahead? Yeah, that's what my paint pants are for me. They scream, "PROJECT!" and I answer inside my head with a little "squee!" of excitement because it means I am doing yet another home improvement project. I know, it's a sickness.

4.16.12-number 107

French braided bangs.

Because even when you still kind of adore your new bangs, it's nice to be able to get the off your forehead once in a while in a way that doesn't make you look like a kindergartener.

4.15.12--number 106

Our coffee maker.

Because it makes a mean cup of coffee. 'Nuff said.

4.14.12--number 105

Songs that take you back to a specific moment in time.

Because I can distinctly remember standing in the bedroom of my eighth-grade best friend listening to this song and talking about all the boys in our oh-so-complicated crush relationships. Sigh.

4.13.12--number 104

Double rainbows.

Because when you're hanging out in your neighbor's garage on a Friday evening and it suddenly stops raining long enough to allow not one but TWO rainbows to make an appearance, you're suddenly inspired to stay for just one more drink.

4.12.12--number 103

Discovery Science Center.

Because we made a goal to do lots of family-friendly activities with the kids during spring break, and today's trip to DSC was definitely a winner.

4.11.12--number 102

Introducing the kids to the silliest board game ever.

Because, unless your name is Alfred E. Neuman, this game is awesome. I haven't laughed that much in a while, and the kids had a ball, too.

4.10.12--number 101

Mini golfing with the kids.

Because if you thought mini golf was at all challenging, you should try it with a 2-year-old who just wants to pick up all the balls and drop them into the holes.

4.9.12--number 100

Little chefs.

Because my kids are starting to have a genuine interest in cooking, especially with their daddy. Oh, alright, Isla is really only interested in culinary masterpieces made of wood and plastic, but still... She's great at plating.

4.8.12--number 99

Easter candy.

Because it's ridiculously addicting, especially those crunchy chocolate Cadbury eggs. Oh, sure, I know that's not really the point of Easter, savior rising from the dead, yada yada yada... But those eggs kick ass.

4.7.12--number 98

Lemonade stands on sunny mornings.

Because when your kid and his friends take it upon themselves to make a lemonade stand and wind up making $9 (at 50 cents a cup, it's not a bad haul), you can't help but be proud of their ingenuity, even If they did snatch all their supplies from your kitchen and lemon tree, which means technically I should take a cut of that profit. Right?

4.6.12--number 97

Random silliness.

Because when you discover your 2-year-old wearing a luchador wrestling mask and wielding a vampire bunny puppet, you know it's gonna be a good day.

4.5.12--number 96

Open House Night at the kids' school.

Because they are so eager to show off all the amazing, fun, unique and creative projects that they made in preparation for this one special night, and I am consistently blown away by the sheer awesomeness of it all.

4.4.12--number 95

When my kid loves the skirt I made for her.

Because when I realized she had busted the knee out of a super cute pair of jeans I immediately thought to repurpose it into a skirt like the one I had made for myself a couple months back. And she adored it, and insisted that I wear mine on the same day so we could be twinsies.

4.3.12--number 94

Morning snuggles with my wee one.

Because there's something extra sweet about stolen moments with just one child at a time, like when this one wakes up a tad early so I bring her into my bed where we snuggle together in silence for a bit before deciding to take self portraits instead.

4.2.12--number 93

A New Madonna cd.

Because ever since the first time I heard "Lucky Star" and watched her bop around on MTV wearing black lace gloves and a gazillion crosses, I was hooked. Sure, I know, she's not terribly relevant these days... But every time the lady M releases new music, my inner 12-year-old secretly goes, "squee!!"

4.1.12--number 92

Beer can chicken.

Because whoever figured out that shoving a beer up inside a chicken carcass would make it juicy and delicious is a genius, and I salute you, sir.

3.31.12--number 91

Edie being a bookworm.

Because she begged and pleaded with me to let her buy a 7-book set of fairy books at the school book fair, then promptly went home and devoured three of them that night.

3.30.12--number 90

Unexpected thank you notes.

Because when you are approached every other week by neighbor kids selling something or other to raise money for this fundraiser or that school program, it's nice to receive a handwritten note of thanks from your neighbor's 12-year-old daughter. Reminds me that chivalry is not dead, and good manners go a long way in my book.