On the long May 2-4 weekend

(finally warm and dry enough to get the bikes out) 

(smoothie picnics in the backyard) 

(we got all our camping gear out. it's been over 2 years since we camped) 

(cookies in the tent. everything is better in a tent) 

(more biking. the dude is obsessed. he kept saying, "this is fun!") 

(family selfie) 

(dinner at a diner) 

(love these two so much) 

(we visited five parks this weekend. jon and i were exhausted)

(a train ride at the local campground)

This long weekend is the one where everyone we know gets their camper situated in the campground it will be parked at all season long. Our town was super quiet all weekend. Jon and I took the opportunity to bike on the traffic-less roads, and visit the completely empty parks. The weekend in numbers:

Highest temperature reached: 18 degrees C. Very warm!

Number of restaurant meals: 3. Dude had a bun-less burger and fries every time.

Number of playground visits: 7. No joke. 

Cost of one 4-minute "train" ride around campground: $2 per person. So worth it. 

Number of times Cohen exclaimed "bike ride!!" at random: 100. At least. It's for sure his favorite thing of all time. 

Number of minutes spent on our bikes: 90. At least. Again, it's all Cohen could think/talk about. 

Number of bullet coffees consumed: 4 each. So good. 

An update on Cohen's wheat-free, nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free diet

We have been dealing with eczema and allergies for a while now, but things are starting to look up! We haven't had any Benadryl situations for a while, and those sweet cheeks are looking much better these days. 

(3 months old-perfect skin!) 

(5 months old- red cheeks) 

(6 months old-super red cheeks) 

(18 months old- not too bad)

(currently, 22 months old-just a teeny bit red)

Just a little reminder of how we ended up with such a restricted diet for our little guy:

Lately...

(cannot resist a mud puddle)

(what a little sweet face)

(on last week's "family date" to Jungle Jim's)

(shopping for bike parts)

(painting/trying on mom's rings)

(taking a little break after eating two hamburger patties at McD's)

(that face again)

(loves ATMs. waiting to get into the pool)

(he doesn't like to go too far from these steps at the pool or his dad. i have started bringing a magazine instead of a bathing suit to the pool. so relaxing and fun to watch these two play)

(visiting work after drop in playgroup with his babysitter)

Since getting back from Miami, I have just been loving doing our normal life. Going on walks with the dude. The second we open the front door, he bolts for the road, and runs down the hill, yelling "Run, Cohen, run! Not too fast!" It's so cute. Obviously he is used to us telling him to slow down all the time. He likes to run on people's yards all the way to our community mailbox. He loves checking the mail. After that, it's all about dogs, birds, and mud. I often end up carrying him up the hill back to our house. We are currently without a stroller, and I am thinking maybe we will just buy a wagon instead? Cohen is just a little too wiggly to be willing to sit in a stroller for longer than two seconds, which I love. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's day was always kind of weird in our house because my mom is a florist, so Mother's day weekend is one of the busiest times for her. When we were in high school, she ran the only flower shop in our town, and we all worked for her sometimes: running the cash, answering the phones, delivering orders. We all spent a lot of time at that flower shop, because that's where mom was. 

I've always been so proud that mom is a florist. She has done hundreds of beautiful, insane weddings, and so many arrangements. Mom has made a career out of helping people give awesome gifts for special occasions. There's really no better role model. Happy Mother's Day, momma! I love and admire you so much!

We went to Miami

I just got back from five days in Miami for a friend's bachelorette trip. We were a group of six (plus the bride's mom) who all went to the same high school, hung out in university, are friends for life material. The whole trip went shockingly well, and I had the best time, despite missing my little family so much. 

(flight #1)

(the pool at our condo. very nice, slightly eighties)

(a few of the girlies)

(this is the maid of honor/trip planner. she made the trip killer and amazing for everyone, though it meant she spent lots of time on her phone organizing and double-checking the next activity.)

(nothing better than catching a moment of joy. the bride and her momma)

(sweet seats at a Miami Marlins game)

Some stuff we did (Only of interest to someone planning a South Beach trip):