outside our zone.

we take our routine around here pretty seriously. it makes everyone happier when they know what to expect and when. we make plans, have things we want to do, but in the back of our minds, we always understand that depending on how things are going with the girls, anything can happen or change.

we have been going to the local beach (the "res beach" or "raspberry beach" as avery likes to say :)) a lot. we've got it down to a science. from what we pack (and in what), what time we leave our house, where we park, who takes what kid/bag to the sand, when to leave to make sure we're either home in time for lunch and naps or on the road in time to pick up lunch to bring home.

there have been times in the last week or so when there's been an opportunity to do something different that conflicts with our regularly scheduled schedule. but we've done them anyway. and the girls have been amazing.

our town has free concerts in a park on wednesday evenings in the summer. we've gone the past 2 summers, but back then we had a baby, and then an older baby and a baby baby. now we have a big girl and a toddler. and they go to bed pretty early-especially for the summer when it's sunny until 8pm. and these concerts start after their bedtime. we decided to bite the bullet, accept any consequences that came our way from keeping them up too late, and have fun. and we did.

the girls played on the playground


we ate pizza


we met some new people (nola wandered to these people and grinned at them like they were long lost friends. she plopped herself down and just giggled with them for what seemed like forever.)


nola fed avery goldfish (in between fits of laughter from both of them...)


and snuggled under a blanket when it got chilly in the late evening shade.


we ended the night before anyone really lost their energy and the girls slept all night wonderfully. yay for summer and stepping outside our comfort zone :)