A trip to the Botanic Gardens, a teachable moment

We had a great time with some sweet friends last weekend. 

Our plan A was to meet in Denver for a trip to the Botanic Gardens, but when the weather didn't look like it was going to be warm enough we started working on various plan B's. 

To our surprise, we awoke to a gorgeous Saturday morning, a little chilly, but beautiful. 

So back to plan A it was! 

This is a picture Natalie took, I think it really captures Max and Evie's excitement, they were so cute together. 

it's nice to see something alive and colorful in February. 

We walked slowly through the grounds letting the little ones explore as we went. I love that the gardens are beautiful year round, even in the middle of winter.

Max and Evie found a little uphill trail, called it a mountain, and climbed it a few times. 

Max singing his "grumpy old troll" song 

Max tried to block Evie from crossing the bridge by singing his favorite song from Dora the Explorer, "I'm a grumpy old troll, who lives under the bridge."(Why does my child identify with the troll of all characters?!?)

Anyway, Evie just walked right past him. 

Natalie and I tried to sneak in some family pictures.

We always joke around that we badger our families a little bit with our photography efforts...but we were pretty easy on everybody on this trip :) 

Love this one, thanks Natalie! 

Soon to be family of four! 

Eli was starting to get a little bit cold and fussy so we headed inside to the greenhouse. 

Max almost got on an elevator all by himself (can you say nightmare?). 

I caught him in time but not before he had pushed the emergency call button...boys. 

It was nice to warm up and breathe some humid air. 

The flowers were stunning. 

It seems like every time we get together we take pictures on a bench. 

It is a fun tradition and pretty easy to uphold since benches are...everywhere. 

three on a bench and not one looking at the camera...

For comparison...here's Max and Evie just one year ago...

Oh, how they grow. 

We finished up with some lunch and by then the snow was rolling in and the little ones were aching for a nap. 

It was almost the perfect ending to a wonderful day (Thanks friends for such a good time and for sharing your passes with us!)...literally as we were walking out of the gardens...

Julian dropped my camera. 

(While trying to finagle our gigantic stroller through a doorway) 

( PS: I love you honey)
My poor 50mm lens broken into pieces. 

I was actually pretty mentally prepared for this because Natalie's camera was pulled off a counter top just a few days earlier...what are the odds? 

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Which brings me to the teachable moment. 

I'm not attached to many material possessions, but my camera is one that I care about a lot. 

Yes, it is just a thing. 

Yes, it is insured and it can be fixed. 

I'm not proud to say this, but once we got home and sorted everything out and found that we might have to send my camera away for awhile...I started thinking about all of the events coming up that I was looking forward to capturing... 

I cried. 

Then I heard a little voice next to me say, "Was wrong Mommy?" 

And that pulled me right out of my little pity party. 

In mothering a two year old, I am realizing that every minute is a teachable moment. 

If I want him to be calm, I need to be calm. 

If I want him to be generous, I need to model generosity. 

If I teach him that kindness, honesty, and joyfulness are qualities to cultivate in yourself and respect in others...he needs to find those qualities in me. 

If I don't want him to throw a tantrum over broken toys, then I better not do the same. 

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So, broken camera and all we had a wonderful day. 

We made it back just in time to watch the snow fall and watch our new obsession, Downton Abby. 

My loves. Pictures or no pictures, I hold these days with you in my heart.