Northern Southern Mommy

Hello internetians......... What do you call the people of the internet world? Eh, I guess I'll just stick with "Internetians", I grew up being an "Oregonian" so I'm gonna stick with what I know. It is currently hurricane season, and it lasts from June until November.... That's FIVE MONTHS! Almost half the year!! So before the likelihood of my internet going out gets too high, I'm going to write things down. So, I've been absent recently. I figure why write things down when I haven't photographically documented them, and since I started truly using and understanding my big girl camera, my phone uploads just seem to not cut it any more. So here's what else happened in May; We went to the library story time My sprained ankle didn't fully heal in record time Mr. A got the stomach flu We went to a new park We tried play dough We MADE play dough We tried to play outside as much as possible We got rained in ALOT Our frie...

As most moms do, I turn to Pinterest, when I feel like I need inspiration to entertain my son. It's amazing how you can have all these fun toys for them and yet, after 10-15 minutes they're asking for the TV to be turned on, or to go outside and play with bubbles, or they just hang off of you like some sort of strange growth until you play with them! Like, seriously! I buy toys for my son that I am also interested in, so playing with them isn't a drag for me. (He also has just random toys he likes, that I'm not a huge fan of...) And yet I feel like he's bored more often than not. So today I did something that I'm sure many mama's out there will cringe at.... I brought out beans.... AND RICE. Why? Why would I subject myself to the extra clean up and the chaos that definitely followed this decision to put down bowls, cups, a scoop, a measuring cup, and a funnel, along with several helpings of dried beans and rice? Here's the answer; BECAUSE GR...

I love that my little boy loves to go outside and play! It's probably my favorite characteristic development he's had, other than feeding himself, walking, talking.... Yeah, I have a lot of favorites. My favorite memories growing up are from being outside exploring or just being in nature. And being able to share that with my son is amazing, I don't have to really take him anywhere unless I really want to. We have a great backyard that we are slowly, but surely making into our own oasis. So far we have put in a sandbox (which the little monkey adores)  and a small pallet garden bed. We've got strawberry plants, a couple of tomatoes, a jalapeno plant, rosemary, two different lettuce plants, and my chives just started sprouting!! If anyone knows the book "If You Give A Mouse a Cookie", you will have a thorough understanding of my daily struggle to keep my garden from being pick and eaten bit by bit. If you give a toddler access to your garden,...