As I expected, yesterday was an amazing day. I truly felt like myself again, probably more so than any other day since Seth was born on February 2. As my friend Joanna said to me, this is the perfect time for me to recover from having a baby, because SPRINGTIME itself is enough to put happy, rejuvenating thoughts in my mind, and give me renewed energy.
The Morning Walk
The weather yesterday was beautiful and mild. We needed jackets on our morning walk, but by the afternoon we only needed sweatshirts, or in the case of the active children, no jacket at all. The air was fresh and the birds were happy (during our daily phone chat, my mom listed off so many birds that she observed that I was inspired to finally refill my feeders again). As soon as Seth went down for his late morning nap (and after David got home from school) I went outside for a little walk. We were all happy and silly. Jacob and I walked side by side (he’s such a friend these days) and enjoyed David and Caleb’s antics. Ethan and Grace stayed home.
This first picture is of Caleb. I dangled him from a grapevine. He liked it so much that I did it again so I could take his picture. He held on tight and said, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!”. Then, silence— as he let go and dropped to the ground. When he knew, a split second later, that he was still alive and well, he was SO proud of himself and squealed to his brother, “DAVID! Did you see that?” He adores David and his opinions. He really looks up to his big brother.
Dangling:
Dropping:
During our walk, David allowed Caleb to touch his sacred pop gun. David got this gun as a gift over a year ago and promptly broke it. Rich put it up in his closet in disgust and David recently discovered it (stacked a suitcase on a chair to reach it) and fixed it all by himself with an entire roll of scotch tape. He and Caleb were behind the couch and I could hear the tape going and going and going. Finally he tried the gun. “I need more tape”, he said. “BUT! Mama will be SO MAD!” said Caleb. “NO! She won’t!” said David. They didn’t know I was right on the couch, listening in amusement. Anyway, here’s a picture of Caleb, looking down the barrel of the gun. When I asked him what he saw, he yelled, “GUN!”
By the way, the gun used to shoot a cork on a string. As soon as David repaired the handle, he cut the string so he could send the cork flying. However, the cork is now lost. Just as I suspected would happen. At least the handle is fixed?!?
We walked to the field near our house. The little boys ran down to the stream. Jacob and I let the dog go so he could run…..and as usual, he ran away and Jacob had to go after him. That’s why he’s not in any of the pictures. Jacob informed me yesterday that he is currently training for the Marines. As a result, he was quite happy to run after the dog, because every bit of training helps.
As you can see, things are very brown here in New England.
The little boys always gravitate toward this pipe. It is large and the water is very loud, rushing and exciting. They spent a bit of time yesterday, throwing rocks into the pipe to watch them flow back out with the water. David tried all sizes of rocks. It was a great experiment for him. If the rocks were too heavy they didn’t come back out.
(When David was Caleb’s age, he fell right in the water here. During the winter. I had to carry/drag him home soaking wet.)
“The out-of-doors is a little boy’s (and girl’s) friend. It is big enough for his energy and filled with things that he cannot hurt. He is a natural scientist. Take him out as much as you can, summer and winter. Let him walk as far as he can with you following him; allow him to explore, pick up sticks and leaves, shred them, throw them. Let him get dirty. Strollers can be convenient for parents, but they restrict a child from walking and exploring. Once a child is able to walk and run, a stroller should be used only to get him somewhere and bring him back or when he is really tired.” ~Michael Thompson
The Afternoon Snack
Back at home, I nursed Seth while watching the Paula Deen cooking show with Jacob. She was making ooey gooey cinnamon rolls. Jacob got up impatiently. “Way to go, Paula! Now I’m craving SWEETS!” he said. So, we decided to make MONKEY BREAD together. When it was done, we sat right on the floor with forks and dove right in. The last time I made this bread, Ethan ate so much he felt sick. So, we were all very careful to stop eating before we had those sick feelings. We still managed to eat half of it in one sitting. It was all gone by the end of the day.
It was so much fun to sit like this with the kids. Jacob got up to take the picture. Yes, David has socks on his hands. Not sure why.
Monkey Bread (we think it’s called Monkey bread b/c if you try to eat it when it’s too hot, you scream out like a monkey…..at least, that’s what Ethan did yesterday)
3 (10 oz) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
3/4 cup white sugar
3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
Mix the 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon.
Quarter the biscuits with kitchen shears. Dip biscuits into sugar mixture, and place in a greased tube pan. Do this until all the biscuits are used.
Melt butter and mix in the 3/4 cup sugar. Pour mixture over biscuits.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. A powered sugar frosting can be poured over the warm biscuits….ultimate yumminess! And, with all that sugar, you are guaranteed a party atmosphere for several more hours until it works it’s way out of your (and your children’s) system.
Seth goes outside
After naptime, the kids all went outside again so I bundled up Seth and took him out for about 15 minutes. We sat on the yard, then sat in a rocking chair, then walked around on the porch.
Isn’t my little groundhog adorable in his white beanie and blue blankie? (Seth was born on Groundhog’s day)
Elizabeth Mitchell, the same woman who sings 2 of the songs on my playlist, also has the most adorable song on one of her CD’s called, “Oh Groundhog“…it is PERFECT for Seth, it’s “his song.” I wish I could put it on here for you to listen to. She has another song that I like to play in the morning called, “So Glad I’m Here“, it’s the perfect upbeat song for Mama’s (or, anyone, really!). If you have an IPOD, buy it! It’s a 99 cent song that really focuses me on the fact that I’m truly happy and joyful in my day to day life.
Sunshine makes things grow.
After a while, I put the sleeping baby in the house and then went outside just in time to catch David and Caleb beginning to make mud balls with the hose. Their hands and feet were so dirty that I had to bring out some warm sudsy water before they could enter the house.
It was just as much fun for them as the mud.
Caleb and I took one last walk in the evening before I had to start dinner. I didn’t take pictures but there was one thing that happened that I thought was so cute. On our way back, I bent down and showed Caleb a rock that was covered with different varieties of moss. He immediately squatted down pulled it all off in chunks with both his hands, “We’ll take this home…..and put it in a bowl….” I thought it was precious because guess what? I had already put some moss in my own pocket without telling him. I didn’t even realize that he knew I liked bringing moss home with me. We’re the same. 
He ended up planting his in my flower garden. I spent some time uncovering my baby tulips and daffodils.
Also, Jacob, Ethan, and Grace did more training for the Marines. They ran a lot. I was amused when Grace told me later, in a confiding tone, “Running is easy if you think about something pleasant.” (she paused) “Like standing still.” 
Happy Springtime! If you can, get outdoors and enjoy God’s beautiful world. There’s nothing like it, each visit is a healthy adventure.
The earth is FULL of the goodness of the Lord!
Love ~Shanda
Good to be Home 
Seth is so precious out in the spring sunshine!! I am so glad that you were able to take him out, and that you had such a great day (don’t you LOVE when you finally have a day where you feel like yourself again, after a dark cold time in your life?)
I have had three or four dreams about you in the last few weeks. It’s weird having dreams about people you’ve never met face to face! But, my dreams have all been about either me coming to your house or you coming to mine. 🙂 You always have all your children with you. I would so love for these dreams to come true!!! 🙂
I have a helper coming today. She’s 11, and she’s going to entertain Sam and Maryn while I work around the house. I’m so excited! And, she’s fairly inexpensive because of her age (and the fact that I’m home!). I’m looking forward to it!
Lucy is still waking so much at night! She’s my first pacifier baby. This is a new world for me. I love and hate the thing. I love that it helps her be soothed, but I hate that it falls out! Why don’t they make them so that they attach to their faces? Probably not very safe…
Wow, this is long! All my love today! Thinking of you often and shooting up prayers for you!!!
Glad to see that you were able to get out several times yesterday. Seth even got his dose of vitamin D! The bare ground (brown or not) and sunshine are sweet to my eyes. So, you have Marines in training, eh? See, maybe the dog IS good for something. LOL! The monkey bread sounds scrumptious as always. Love the pic of you eating on the floor with the kids. Hope today is another good day for you!
i LOVE how a walk outdoors is sooo refreshing!and you know what? if i’m not able to get out,it’s still refreshing to take a break and read about your day outdoors! I absolutly love the pictures of your walks. i am glad you had a great day! there are many more warm happy days ahead,it gets even better! (Spring gets you primed for more fun in summer!) Seth is sooo cute and he is still so tiny!
Shanda, you are looking GREAT in your haircut and in that cheerful kelly green suit! Love it! And you look like your kids’ big sister, sitting on the floor with them like that. Really, you could pass for a teenager in that picture!Seth is sooooo cute. I can hardly stand it! It makes Lee seem huge. Now I need a tiny baby fix. P.S. Love the Michael Thompson quotes, keep them coming!
Oh, you look like you are doing really really well and enjoying being a mommy. 🙂 I loved this post! Seth looks so sweet in the sun! And the monkey breazd looks yummy!
You look pretty in your green walking in the spring “forest” by your house!
The groundhog song is cute!
Goodness, I would love for you to send some of that weather a bit south. It’s still cool here but tomorrow is supposed to be lovely. Wonderful pictures! My children would love monkey bread, I’m off to make my shopping list 🙂
Blessings~Cindy
Sooo glad you are feeling good again and enjoying that beautiful family of yours! LOVE the monkey bread picture….so fun! “Running is easy if you think about something pleasant, like standing still”…..so true! Grace, I hear ya…Blessings to you all!
Sounds like you had a wonderful day!! I would love to have land like that to walk & explore. Thanks for sharing your day with us, I will have to write down this recipe to. You have such good recipes!!
I love Grace’s thoughts on running! That’s so funny. Thanks for sharing your day with us. I too feel the out of doors is fantasic for children. The problem is that my fear of poison ivy is stronger than that belief.
Hoosiers say it is Monkey Bread b/c you eat it with your hands – like a Monkey! We eat it often, with huge smiles. My mother made it when I was growing up, but not often enough.
My monkeys are getting crazy …
Oh Caleb…what a big boy accomplishment hanging on to that vine. Way to go! Now is a good time to learn to not look down a gun …even a pop gun. Such a joy to get out and enjoy the outdoors, water, rocks, jumping, and running. And then have a wonderful mommy make monkey bread! Seth and you look wonderful soaking up the sun. I can sure relate to the boys…mud, water, suds…speaks of boys.
Shanda, the kids are so sweet! I can’t wait to see them again =)Seth is such a good baby too!!
How nice!! I love what Grace said about standing still….that’s my pleasant thought while running too! (lol)It’s not spring like here at all…it’s cold, rainy and muddy. 😦 But your pictures allowed me to pretend to go on a walk! 🙂
Shanda your post makes me smile the whole time!!! So wonderful you are feeking well and baby Seth is a little sunshine!
Great Post and tomorow is going to be in the 60’s YAAAAWHOOOO! I loved the pictures of Caleb on the Grape Vine! Are you still up for company? You look great in the grean zip-up with Sethie~pooh. Well I have to go shower now and get ready for work! ~Love ya sissy
PS (Well I didn’t die at the gym so that is a good thing!)
It’s so great to see you happy and enjoying being a mom again! Wonderful, too, to have the outdoors to play in, now that it’s spring.
like the grapevine shots~ we love swinging on those around here too! and so happy to hear you’re feeling more like your normal self these days. getting out and about in the warm sunshine does wonders that way doesn’t it! sweet shot of you and seth too~ you look great! happy thursday~
What a great day!!! Yes, Springtime is wonderful . You’re such a fun mom! I will have to try the monkey bread – I love Paula Deen. I seem to be craving sweets lately. Have you tried her ooey gooey bars? They are to DIE for!!!
I’m so happy you are doing better! What a delightful respite to sit down and read this story after a day out in the ‘world’ working. 🙂 Thanks for bringing a chuckle and a smile to my face.
David with the socks brought the biggest smile of the day for me, that and “what do you see?” “Gun!”
You sound so like your old happy, love to laugh self….God is SO VERY GOOD!!!!!!
You are blessed 🙂
I am glad to hear and see that you are doing better. I am also happy to see that the beautiful spring weather has made it your way!
Hi,really sorry to disturb but..errr…a lil’ help here puh-lese??http://esthern.xanga.com/696965984/chapter-136—esty-needs-help-/
spring walks are great medicine for the soul I think 🙂 especially when little ones are along to show us adventure at it’s best. 🙂 ~ blessings on your weekend and may the Lord give you His strength in extra measures and grace w/ it ~lys
God is awesome. It does sound like a wonderful day and all Shanda-ish. I loved the pictures and stories! Love you, Lish
Just wanted to let you know that I love your blog! I love seeing pictures of your sweet children- I have six about the same age as yours. Being a mom is the greatest thing ever!
Thinking of you/praying for you this morning.