Birthday Weekend

I've decided.

My husband is awesome.

Wait, maybe I decided that before, but this weekend REMINDED me that I liked him a little bit.  Maybe more than a little. 

I've really been struggling the last few months with just the weight of everything happening in our lives.

Those of you who don't know, Mark took a very nice position with another company, so not only is he operating his own business (which was taking up about 60-80 hours a week of his time) but he has another 40 hour a week job... because he's sick and twisted. 

Ryan has been teething.  And has had many many ear infections (okay, only one... but it's lasted about 4 months).

And Ryan is SOOOOOO not a mellow kid.  When he's unhappy, he lets EVERYONE know.  He even learned from a little girl at his daycare how to throw a proper tantrum... on his back, legs and arms flying, peeking out the corner of his eye as he twists his face up in a totally fake scream to see if you're paying attention. 

Evan has been flexing his independance muscles... and his stubborn side.

And work is crazy.

I've been overloaded.

And Mark knows it.  (I may or may not have had a melt down a few weeks ago.)

So my loving adorable husband took me to Vegas this weekend... without the boys.

And neither of us really LIKE Vegas... but we have some good friends who are living there right now, so we really went to visit THEM, and didn't even make it to the Strip.

We did go to a REALLY awesome Mexican Resturant... Lindo Michoacan .  Oh my.  I might go back to Vegas just to eat there!

Mostly we just hung out and talked with Rick and Robin, but we did make a trip out to see the new bridge they are building at the Hoover Dam.

It was a wonderful escape... And it was hilarious when we came home, Evan opened the garage door and Ryan peeked his head out and saw us and WENT NUTS!  He was clapping and gesturing wildly and yelling (happy yelling).  He kept transferring between the two of us, I think he wanted us to figure out a way for both of us to hold him at the same time.

Of course, he didn't want to let me out of his sight the rest of the evening, but it was HAPPY stalking. 

Anyway, it was a great weekend, and I feel sooooo much better and recharged and connected.  So I think it may have been the best gift ever.  Way to go Mark!

What a NOVEL Idea!

I had to go to the DMV to renew my license today.

Due to all the Real ID requirements, you can't do it online right now. 

Which means I had to take the boys or pay for a sitter.

I'm cheap, so guess which I did??

Well, at the beginning of April, they started offering APPOINTMENTS!

So I made an appointment several weeks ago, and I got there about 15 mins early this afternoon (there was NO traffic). 

And it was so smooth, I was back in the car BEFORE my appointment time even came!

Appointments for the DMV.  Awesome.

It's FINALLY Spring

After three weekends of slushy, snowy storms, today was beautiful!

Evan, Ryan and I played outside this afternoon... Well, I worked on a few projects and they played.

I painted my washstand, and tomorrow I think the boys and I will plant flowers in it.

I also got some beautiful printing press drawers from my sister, and I cleaned the dirt off, and now just want to make sure they are fully dry before I seal them and hang them.

Mark seeded the flower beds this morning.

The lawn in greening up.

Evan and Ryan were so dirty, they are on their SECOND bath. I seriously had to rinse out the tub and have them start over.

Awwwww, Summer is coming.

Hopefully tomorrow will be just as beautiful.