I stepped away for awhile to smell the daffodils.

More photos and stories of my trip will be posted in the next few days.

The requisite crocus shot, evidence of our excitement regarding the world’s bursting from a brown, desolate wasteland into an eye-pleasing landscape of purple and gold and green. Livia, newest Tredway gardener extraordinaire, discovered the first flower of spring.  

Step 1: Find the park in question. This usually involves Mommy driving around previously unknown neighborhoods in Lincoln, Nebraska, saying things like, “No, we’re not lost. I’m sure that park is here somewhere. Let’s drive around the block again.”

Step 2: Let child loose in park. Eagle eyes, with the help of given clue, will eventually spot the post.

Step 3: Take rubbing of aforementioned post. This part gets a little tricky when Mommy tries to take pictures at the same time.

Step 4 (opt): Since camera is present, make child stand by post. Smile in amusement when four year old holds up the rubbing to complete the perfectly posed moment. Wonder when she learned to pose like this.

Step 5: Take advantage of God’s creation and the beautiful weather and climb a tree. Notice powdered sugar still caked around child’s lips. Be overwhelmed with Mommy Love for this little face, powdered sugar and all.

Step 6: Take advantage of the man-made playground and put imaginations to work. Socks should be removed in order to climb up slides from the ground.

Step 7: Rinse and repeat a bazillion times in the different parks of Lincoln, Nebraska.

I could not have been happier with a special delivery to my door yesterday and here are the reasons why. 1) My husband gave me this delightful gift. 2) I love chocolate truffles, and 3) these phenomenal chocolates are handmade by my very talented friend Elaine Cranford.

Aren’t they beautiful? They are, honestly, the best chocolates I’ve ever eaten. Divine.

For more information on these truffles, check out Zola Chocolates.

Today was a good day. We played inside. We played outside. We walked down the block with Joie, Simon & Renae.

The wee one is in bed and now it’s time to watch tv and cuddle with my husband.

Goodnight, mouse. Goodnight, house.

Yes, it’s technically February, but I have so many fun pictures from the last day of January that I can’t help but post a few here. In one day we celebrated Adam’s birthday at Lazlos, Simon’s first birthday (1/30) with his family, and Joie’s 30th with a bunch of folks at Grace Chapel.

Kristin and Madeleine. I can’t resist a mom-and-daughter shot.

Adam and Matt. Matt made the blog! Hope I didn’t promise you otherwise, Matt.

Birthday Banner. Renae made this gorgeous banner for Simon’s birthday. It was so cool!

The Paparazzi. Simon was surrounded by adoring grandparents, great-grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Birthday Boy. Eating cake for the first time.

Joie and Keri. I love this pic of Joie laughing.

The recipe for Esther’s Orange Marmalade Layer Cake is posted on Needs More Butter. More photos can be found on my Flickr site.

This month I’m going to attempt to tell stories in photos. Apart from this little explanation of what I’m doing, I’ll try to remain wordless. Those who know me in person know that I am rarely wordless, even in the format of blogging. Hey, there’s a first time for everything, right?