Spring Break

Three years in Bloomington, three completely different spring breaks. First was Orlando when I was newly pregnant with Liam.

Second was Rob cramming like mad at home for his master's exams and Liam and I basking in the sunshine in the Cayman Islands with Rob's family.

This year, our spring break was different with a quick trip to Iowa and a lovely week at home.

We started spring break on Friday by driving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to visit the Talsness family. Lindsay was my roommate in college when I studied for a semester at Focus on the Family Institute. Their daughter, Eadie, is exactly five months older than Liam, and while they weren't best buds by the end of the weekend, they did well together. They are expecting their second baby in September. We try to see each other about every six months so it was our turn to visit them. We had such a fun visit, catching up, playing outside, talking, watching Psych and playing with the kids. We left on Monday afternoon full of fun memories.

The weather was in the 60s while we were there so we spent some time at the park

Liam finally learned how to go down the slide backwards! It was all he wanted to do.

Our only attempt to take a photo of Liam and Eadie together! Not very successful...

Playing in the backyard

Lindsay had a fun craft for us to do...here we are ironing and hot gluing...

Ta-da! Kitchen art. (I'm sure all you Pinterest people can find it there...)

The whole gang + baby Talsness

Once we got home, our fun continued. Rob decided not to do much school work this week and so we planned some local family outings. I also planned a lllooonnggg list of spring cleaning around the house. The week didn't end up being as much of a break for me, but now that it's all over I'm thankful I got done what I did. There were places I'm pretty sure hadn't been cleaned since we moved in. I will say there's something very satisfying about scrubbing behind a toilet.

Gross. Sorry for that image. Inspiration for you?

Moving on. What did we do this week? We went hiking, we went to new parks, we enjoyed the 70 degree, sunny weather, we tried new pizza in Nashville, Indiana, a cute little town nearby, we watched A LOT of basketball, we played and genuinely had a good time being a family together.

Bubbles!

"What? I can't take this bucket of soapy water inside mama?"

Hanging out with papa in the wilderness

Family shot

Signs of spring

Riding on papa's back makes you very thirsty

Our little park ranger

Sticks!

Love this little man

Basketball! Sometimes Liam stands in front of the tv and gives "commentary". It's hilarious to listen to him chattering away to the game.

Playing choo-choo's at home...

and watching a real choo-choo go by.

This is exciting life in Indiana

Playing disc golf with the Russells. (I guarantee you I was the absolute worst player)

Chasing after a disc

Disc golf champions

I think we have a future in this!

Our coming week is crazy with a capital C, but I'm thankful for a break this past week. I'm thankful for beautiful weather, good friends, a sweet husband and baby (ok, toddler -- I can barely bring myself to say it!) and for many good things in our life.