Here's the Diehl

The fascination with all things pink and fluffy and princess-y. Balls still win, but the flowing gowns of fairy tales are gaining.

Clearly, making the noise of the popcorn will make it pop better.

I may need to explain this one. So, it's been really hard to fit workouts in. But I need them. They make me feel good. I've tried waking up early before work and I've come to the conclusion that after being raised on 5am workouts for 15 years, it's only fair that I get to sleep in until 6:30 every day for the rest of my life (until have to drive Julia to swim practice at 5). Sometimes I run at lunch, sometimes I work out after Julia is in bed. This time, however, I decided I would try and do some circuit training in the yard since the weather was so nice while Julia was playing with her outdoor toys. Multitasking, if you will. Watching her play and working up a sweat at the same time. Enter problem. I was doing my push ups in the grass and Julia started YELLING at me. "Mommy, are you doing?" What am I doing? "Exercising." Ek-her-izing? Yes. And then she proceeded to imitate my push ups. I assure you, I don't do them this way. I do big girl push ...

Our birthday gift to Julia finally came today. We have been keeping it a secret for several weeks and it paid off. The installation team announced to the block they were here by not being able to navigate our street and blowing diesel fumes and beeping into an 80-point turn before getting set up with ample parking in the back yard. Julia apparently slept through most of the install and then when she woke up from her nap, Brian showed her what was outside her window. A playground! That now takes up our yard! With a slide! And a swing! And flower boxes. And a playhouse. And Nanna got Julia a kitchen to put inside (look out mud pies and dirt cookies). You all have to come over to play. It's the best. And it covers up the bare patches of lawn quite well.

It was warm (for a bit) on Friday and Julia kept asking to go to the swimming pool, so I took a chance and pulled out her little pool. I don't think she was impressed. Besides asking for "more water", it was cold and windy, so not really optimal conditions for lawn pools yet. After taking a few minutes to get adjusted to the temperature. She finally say down and played a bit. It was enough to satisfy her pool needs for the day. And that was enough for me. :)

We met a new friend today in the yard. I wished I had caught everything on video, because she actually said "Nice to meet you" and "I'm Julia". I wonder if he heard her...

She's getting good at it.

It was a busy Saturday last weekend in Del Ray. Not only was it the Big Flea (the neighborhood flea market at the elementary school), but the library next door also had a book fair. We scoured the flea market for some cool finds, and in typical fashion, Julia was the only one who came out with anything. She bee lined to the box of creepy baby dolls (you know, the ones whose eyes open and close) and pulled out the biggest one. Of course, she has named it Big Baby, in honor of her favorite movie character. We also got her a little three wheeler scooter, which she climbed on and rode all the way home while i pushed her. My back still hurts. The book fair was another story. We came home with a stroller full of books and a toddler with a painted face. But, it was darn cute.