The Helfer Family: From My Phone

Justin started his new job managing a healthcare clinic for the government. He is doing a great job, he enjoys it, and he is exhausted. It’s a big adjustment for the whole family. Our days are longer, and our mornings are a little lonelier,

but at the end of the day, Daddy is welcomed home with open arms.

Meanwhile ironing is filling up my free time.

But you know what they say, work hard…

Play hard. And we have been loving our play time. The children’s museum, Edventure, has been our new favorite. They turn adult life into hands-on activities. James loves it!

And so does Connor. Isn’t he the cutest?

I love taking James to the zoo. It’s so fun to hear him talk about the animals this year. “Mommy da bears is swimmin’! Da bears eatin’ a snack! Hewo biwds. Da monkeys swingin’! Mommy, das a pebguin!” (penguin)

James and I made a long-overdue visit to see Aunt Beth and Uncle David. He thought we were literally going to see an ant. He’s so into bugs, nature and animals. And apparently mollusks.

It’s tradition that we walk to the pond to see the ducks with “Unc-Day” and “Ant.”

James was exhausted and wasn’t feeling well. He fell asleep on the way home, and I sat in the car for an hour so he could nap. I found out the next day, my poor baby had strep throat.

When you’re stuck at home,

you’ve got to be creative.

Because everyone has limits with TV.

So we have game nights

and daytime bubble baths. Inside…

And outside.

Our backyard is slowly becoming a waterpark.

We’re either playing in the water, or it’s raining.

After all the exhausting transition the last couple of months,

Justin is starting to find his groove with working, working out, and family.

He’s back into Daddy mode, and we’re very grateful!

I look forward to our Saturdays as a family. We usually do some kind of outing then lunch at Groucho’s. A few weeks ago we went to the Forest Acres Festival. The helicopter ride was a hit.

Someone taught James the sign language for please, and he now says “pleeeeaase” 50 times a day, expecting each ‘please’ to be granted its wish.

With spring comes cookouts. With cookouts come coolers. And with coolers come beer.

We’ve had leftover beer from Justin’s getting out the Army party. James is such a big boy now that he’s often trying to lend a hand rather than playing.

We had our first Saturday at the pool last weekend {blog to come}. I think we’ll fit that into our weekly schedule, seeing as how James' asks to go to Sasa’s house almost every day.