Over the Mountain and Through the Woods

We took a quick drive up to Truckee because Leshanta found an amp he loved on Craigslist, it turned out to be a lovely day trip.
It was really crazy seeing snow-capped mountains and driving through hail so close to home when it was ninety degrees just the day before. After we picked up the new treasure (even I like it, it's purple), we drove into Tahoe and played on Kings Beach. Minnie is so much fun now that she can enjoy everything like a big girl. She gets excited to go on trips, packs her backpack, grabs her favorite hat, and takes in everything. She had a good time on the beach running after the birds and throwing rocks into the water. We stopped into a thrift store and scored a bentwood bistro chair that will match our other dining chairs perfectly once I sand and paint it, I've been looking for one forever. Then we drove back into Truckee to check out their historic downtown and grab a late lunch. Historic downtown Truckee is totally cute and quaint with a bunch of tiny shops, a variety of restaurants, and a cool historic hotel. We're looking forward to going back when it's warmer and maybe go swimming in Tahoe or Donner Lake next time.

"...the fairest picture the whole earth affords." Lake Tahoe is breathtaking, Mark Twain is right.

{Downtown historic Truckee}

***posting this a month after the fact, ha!

How Does Your Garden Grow...

Every year I look forward to seeing what will happen with my established plants and dream about the new plants I'll add. This year, I started watermelon, eggplant, cucumbers (although something already ate them to shreds), and sunflowers in front of Minnie's playhouse. Everything is looking good so far (minus the cucumbers). I also have the mandatory full-proof tomatoes that I've had every year, specifically different cherry varieties (whenever I grow large ones they get disfigured and look like butts). The real stars are the well established plants that I've had for 4 years and get better and stronger every year: the cherry tree, the grape vine, and the artichoke plant (that is finally producing an artichoke for the first time this year! So exciting!). There's also the ever-resilient rosemary, small batches of oregano, parsley, and lemon balm and newly planted lavender and snap dragons for color. Minnie and I love checking every day to see what has bloomed and how it's progressing.

Minnie's First Easter Egg Hunt

Minnie enjoyed all the perks of Easter like an official kid this year instead of a baby, including her first egg hunt. She was way more enthusiastic about it than I expected and caught on to the whole concept right away. She excitedly zipped around the yard finding the eggs, squealing and exclaiming, "Wow"! My idea of hiding tiny cats in the eggs worked perfectly and she was as amazed as I envisioned her being, speaking sweetly to each one as it emerged from the egg. She also really enjoyed looking through her little basket and said, "Ta-da," as she pulled each item out. Holidays are so much more fun now that Minnie is here! Everything is, really.

Tutu, Whoo-hoo!

Somebody's enjoying the whole girly tutu thing quite a bit. She's had it on for hours. Now all she needs is a magic wand and a dressed up Princess Cousin Kiki and she'll be set. 

Easter Party at the Preschool

Minnie is getting well aquainted with the preschool since we go for all the parties. It makes me a little sad how well she blends in with the "big kids". The next step before she can go like a real student is potty training, oof! I sat her on the toilet before bathtime the other night and she acted like it was some kind of joke! The highlight of the party was watching her break up horseplay between some of the older boy siblings that were visiting the school since big school was on break. She ran towards them yelling, "No! No! No!" and successfully dispersed them. Fearless little lass! I've started putting together treats for her Easter basket, it's so exciting for me! One of my favorite parts of being a parent is making magic for her.

Turn Back Time

Since my older sister started a blog, I figured I'd do the same in true younger sister fashion. I'm still trying to figure out the format and how to customize he design and all of that is fairly challenging from a phone, so progress may be slow for a bit. I'd be shocked if anyone besides my sister read this anyways! She has requested daily Minnie posts, and I shall faithfully try my best, and probably add anything else I find dreamy or exciting.

Without further ado, I present my Minnie musing of the day!

Minnie in Uncle Stephen's Power Wagon on St. Patty's day. Why are vintage cars so awesome to just hang out in? I loved doing the same thing in Stephen's VW Bug as a kid.

And this I just have to throw in here because this is what she looked like one year and three days ago. She is growing and changing so fast it is disorienting. Cher was right, "if I could turn back time..."

For real Cher.