A Perfect Day Outdoors

Yall... this weather... oh this weather is so beautiful!!!  Sweet Pea, Peyton (my dog), and I wanted to do nothing but be outside all day long!  I love Texas.  Really I do.  I can absolutely not see myself living anywhere else.  I know the humidity is not fun in the summer, but I would take it 100 times over snow and cold.  I am just not a cold weather person... sorry to all you cold weather lovers.  It's just not me.  

No Filter... Glorious absolutely glorious!

So now that you know the weather had been absolutely gorgeous, you know why we just could not stay inside. My backyard is taken over by moles, hills, and holes dug by the dog, so we can't really hand out there, so Sweet Pea and I found the most level flat area which happens to be my driveway.  

Yall, we had the best time!  I bought some thick outdoor chalk that was less than a dollar at Walmart and we drew on the sidewalk. Then I drew a circle and Sweet Pea just loved to stand in it and be told "You are in the ____ (color name) circle!" or "You are out of the _____ circle!"  She just laughed and would go from one circle to the next. 

A few of the circles

 Then we laid out the blanket, and put the Valentine rice sensory bin on it.  She worked on her pouring skills with all sorts of heart shaped spoons and dug around finding the buried treasures that match.  All of the little treasures were found at dollar tree.  Her absolute favorites were bracelets and erasers that look like dogs.

Heart shaped slinkys are great to stretch... and fling!

Even Peyton wanted to get in on the sensory bin action.  Look at those braclets on her arms.  :)  She thinks that once she puts them on, its time to go.  Sweet Pea always waves and says "bye-bye" after she puts anything on her wrist.

Sweet Pea enjoyed trying to make the chalk stay on her skin too.  We must have stayed outside doing these 2 things for 2 hours.  In that time, we also had a little picnic of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches once Daddy came home for lunch who works only 5 minutes away.

During this time, I just took in all of God's countless blessings...
this beautiful weather; the fact that I GET to be home and PLAY with my girl; seeing her enjoyment in the simple things like circles and pouring rice; picnics; a dog who loves being around us; a husband who can come home during lunch and see his girls....

I seriously am so humbled that God saw fit to give us this girl.  And those 39 months of infertility were so worth it to have a day like today.  The Lord knew what He needed of me... He needed me to be home with her, and if we had been blessed with her beforehand, I honestly do not think we would have been able to afford for me to stay home.  His plans are so much better than our own, and I am so grateful and humbled that I get to enjoy a day like this past Friday.  It was perfect.  Just perfect.

This post has been linked too the Gathering Place Week 162, a place to gather all sorts of fun ideas to do with your tot, and the Practical Mom's Monday Link Up!