This year, Father's Day was twice as nice!

 It took a few tries, but...

 

We finally got there:)

 

Our little flower child

Give her a challenge and watch her go.  She may not do it exactly like you ask, her way is best you'll find out, but she'll get it done. There have been times though, like this one, where she took instruction very well and the job was completed with little to no arguing.  This is quite unlike our family but appreciated none the less:)

I give you, gardening with grandpa:)

A festivus for the rest of us

It was officially festival weekend for the Brown family!! 

This year (or actually starting around Thanksgiving last year) we have gone full throttle on the Raleigh event calender. We've hit up parades, tree lighting ceremonies, craft fairs, and now... festivals!! 
On Saturday we all went downtown to the "Artsposure" jamboree. It's basically like a big craft fair for local artists, extremely talented local artists!  They also had a whole section for kids with art projects for them to do.  Such a fun morning!!

Sunday, we went to the "Got to be NC" fair. Now I don't want anyone from my old stomping grounds to get upset. I am, and always will be, a New Englander; and I will gladly admit that after the recent passing of Amendment 1, I am thoroughly embarrassed to live here and am not a supporter of the state as a whole. This being said, we went, spent a little money, and had a fantastic time:)

 

 Harper made a beautiful crown fit for the princess she is:)

Dad made one for Stratton too...my little prince!

 

 

Even though we were busy on Sunday, we found time to relax and do some fishing.

 

She rode a magic train...with mom:)

 And a helicopter...with dad:)

 

We all had an extremely unhealthy lunch by the fountain.

 

Then ate our ice cream on the lawn and listened to the band.

If Stratton could crawl, Harper's chocolate ice cream would have definitely been in jeapardy!

 SUPER FUN WEEKEND!!

Ugh, will the workload ever end??

Adam had another M.O.M. clinic in Wilmington last month. I know these weekends are really hard on him...however, the rest of us definitely reap the benefits:)  We stayed at our friend's beach house again, and as always, loved it!!  This time they were able to come down too and keep the kids and I company during those long hard days:( 

This first time beach goer was happy just to sit on the sand and watch:)

We spent some days being lazy...

...and some days were all about fitness.

Cell phone download.

What have we been up too?  A lot!! Right now just posting some pictures so I don't get too far behind, but soon to come are, Stratton's 6 month pictures, Emilee's baby shower, and, yes I know, VERY LATE, but Harper's birthday pics. I have been waiting to get them all assembled from everyone as our camera died 10 mins after getting there:)

 

 This begins the "I can't stop looking at them" section:)

Strawberrylicious

I'm pretty sure I've cracked the "kid vs food" code! If your child doesn't like a food...make them pick it themselves.

Harper has always been anti-strawberry. I know what you're thinking, "how can a kid hate strawberries?" Well let me tell you, she's not your average bird. I had, in the past, snuck a bite or 2 into her, so I know she's not allergic or anything, just didn't like all the little seeds (her words). But despite this unprovoked hostility toward this delightful little fruit, we decided to take her out to the fields to pick her own. There is plenty of love for the strawberry in this family without her, so no worries about waste. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but as soon as that little hand got a hold of that bucket, she was off!! Picking berries left and right and LOVING every minute of it. This, in our minds, was all well and good, but it didn't mean she would eat them.

By the time we got home we had had lunch and a very filling trip to the frozen yogurt shop, you know the kind with the do it yourself toppings:) It never occurred to me she would want ANYTHING else to eat let alone strawberries. Not 2 minutes after we walked in the door she's asking for one. Well come on, this is total kid manipulation, right?? So anyway, I wash one for her and continued about my activities. 2 seconds later, she's throwing the top in the trash and asking for another, then another, then another. At this point I washed a bunch and gave her a bowl.

She hasn't gone a meal without having one yet! Code cracked:)

"Cheese" smile.

Some of our coolest finds.

Miss Harper enjoying the "fruits" of her labor:)

aaannnnddd mom & dad enjoying the fruits of her labor:)

It's Easter! Now somebody hand me a soda before I die!!

Lent bites!

I know whatever minuscule thing I decide to give up (soda this time) is nothing compared to what HE gave up for us. However, this knowledge aside, I struggle every year. I was hoping that, by giving up those sugary carbonated drinks I have become utterly addicted to, it would start a trend in my daily habits. Not so much:( I'm pretty sure my desire to crack open an ice cold can and hear that familiar refreshing sound, only grew over those 40 grueling days. By the time Easter came around, I was throwing them back like I just walked the Sahara. I surely made up for every single one I had missed over my personal Lent experience.

And now on the the festivities...

This was Harper's second Easter egg hunt of the season. It was the most perfect day in downtown Raleigh.

Checking out her goods.

I don't even need to tell her to pose anymore!

My little bug and buddy on Easter morning after church.

The image...

...the reality:)