#LEONSUMMERCHRONICLES

well, we're back at it! for the third year in a row, i'm posting all of our summer fun on instagram {i'm @lindseyleon, let's be friends!} under #leonsummerchronicles. i love doing this, it's so fun to have all of our summer pics in one place, and it makes it really easy for me to print out a book in the fall. though, living here in az, i'm not entirely sure when summer ends cause there isn't really fall or winter... haha poor us! {seriously, living here is the bomb. come visit!}

here are a few of our first summer posts this year!

LIA-GRAMS

a few favorite instagrams of our lia girl from the last four weeks...

SUMMER LOVIN'

while i won't lie and tell you that this has been the most exciting and carefree summer of my life, i can say that we have managed to have a bit of fun along the way. luc's favorites have been going to the beach and playing with his cousins- he asks for both daily. i think we are both really going to struggle when we move and there aren't any cousins or beaches nearby…

also, i'd like to draw your attention to the CURLS luc is now sporting! he was not born with curly hair, but it's getting curlier and curlier every day and i LOVE LOVE LOVE it with all my heart. who knew he could get any cuter?!

hope you all enjoyed your summer and are wrapping it up in a spectacular fashion! let's soak up as much sunshine as we can before our days get shorter and the cold keeps us inside. cheers to summertime!

BEACH BOY

i didn't have to ask luc to smile, the beach just naturally makes his face look like this. and what's better than a cold slice of melon on a perfectly sunny beach day? 

summer, you seriously rock.

FAREWELL FEBRUARY

hasta la vista february! is anyone else glad that february is such a short month? i think its a tender mercy because i don't think i could stand three extra days of february. i mean, march doesn't often start much different than february ends but even just the name is happier. like we're marching into spring, hallelujah! all together now- three cheers for march! am i right? of course i am.

as we wave goodbye to the last official winter month and get ready to greet spring with open arms, here's a little buffet of pictures from our february. to be fair, it wasn't terrible. how was yours?

luc become obsessed with selfies

he stayed in nursery all by himself, the whole time! hip hip hooray!

and he had a few cute dates over for some one-on-one time ;)

these dimples made the gray days better

luc learned to expertly navigate the grocery store

and we got family tattoos

for valentine's day, my handsome man and i went to a movie and enjoyed divinity in the form of a banana split and a warm brownie sundae. i'm a lucky lady!

luc is finally forward facing in the car and we both love it!

his current loves are trucks and diggers so when he saw these at the dollar store, there was no way we were leaving without them

another dollar store score- watercolors! such a fun activity- i might enjoy it more than he does haha!

easter candy is here, HOORAY!!!!!

more forward facing & selfies- definitely a big part of our february

also, he's a mountain goat and climbs EVERYTHING. and in three seconds flat too.

and on to march! 

HOW WE ARE SURVIVING

lots of bubble baths, tractor videos on youtube, peanut butter m&m's, new story books, and naps.

please spring, please come early!

BALANCE

i got back on instagram this weekend. after three weeks without it, i felt both like i'd built some good habits of putting down my phone AND like i was too cut off from what was for me a mostly positive social outlet. so i am back, but only during nap time and after bedtime, that's my rule. a friend suggested i turn off notifications, which has worked wonders for me because there's nothing pressing on my iphone screen, so i don't feel the need to check it constantly during the day.

it's not a new concept, but definitely something i'm always trying to learn a little better: balance.

i need balance between being 100% present for luc and having a social escape every once in awhile
i need balance between my salad and ranch dressing {i eat salad for the ranch dressing}
i need balance between playtime and chore time
i need balance between late nights and early bedtimes
i need balance between eating chocolate and carrots {why can't carrots taste yummier? like chocolate?}
i need balance between a good novel and scripture study
i need balance between laundry and dishes and an episode of sherlock holmes {are you hooked yet?}
i need balance between braving the winter cold and cozy pajama days inside

balance seems to be the magic solution to most of life's little issues, and an incredibly valuable skill i want to pass on to my kiddos. and the best way to pass it on is teach by example, right? phew, looks like i've got some practicing to do.

{braving the cold. twenty minutes of heaven for this kid!}