Love, marriage, & all things republican?

A bohemian girl met a very Republican boy. They married, moved to Florida , had a baby, & very wisely stopped talking politics.

[allthingsrepublican]

I know dance has her heart but I'm hoping there is a little room for tennis in there too. Balloons and giant badminton rackets for the win. #lifewithpip #livingoutsidethisspring

[allthingsrepublican]

Poppop sent "butterfly seeds" for Easter and Pip has been dying to plant them! We planted lavender and cornflower today in hopes of getting some monarchs to visit #martingarden2016! #growingourgroceries and butterflies!

[allthingsrepublican]

When life gives you a sick kiddo and leaves you stuck at home all weekend... I de clutter and decorate. I packed up all the easter stuff but couldn't say goodbye to this one. We are calling him Fred. #LifeWithPIP #theweekendlens

[allthingsrepublican]

The easter bunny had a few minutes to prep a scavenger hunt for Miss Pip's basket this year. Scavenger hunts are all the rage in VPK (so he is told). Here's hoping for an early bedtime and a morning wake up without the icky sickies. #LifeWithPIP #wethreemartins

[allthingsrepublican]

A pink pink pink flamingo big girl room! Another project finished. 🙌🎉 #martinhomerefresh #LifeWithPIP

[allthingsrepublican]

Scenes from St Patrick's Day. Our leprechaun, Lucky, visited our house and he even stopped by Pip's school to leave a trail of glitter, make a rainbow and leave behind lots of green footprints. Pip celebrated with friends dressed in green eating rainbow cupcakes and fruit kabobs. After school the local pipe and drum corps were playing across the street and we walked over to listen and in Pip's case dance and Irish jig. We ended our night with corned beef and cabbage (thank you crockpot!) and green macarons for dessert.

[allthingsrepublican]

Lucky stole the gold and left a trail of clues leading Pip to a surprise treasure. She is now the proud owner of Go Fish and Old Maid.

[allthingsrepublican]

Lucky's Irish Pub aka Piper's Leprechaun trap. I love that Pip and Jeff love legos and that they built this together on Sunday afternoon. I love her excitement as she talked about each section and how she can't wait to wake up tomorrow and see if she caught a leprechaun or at the very least tricked him into leaving her a few gold coins. Almost five is a great age and I am loving that I get to be her Mom.

[allthingsrepublican]

The only respectable choice on pi day! Truth be told I kind of forgot it was pi day! Jeff saved the day with an email alerting me around noon. Plans were hatched, a stop to the grocery store was made, and PIP and I got down to mixing up this no bake deliciousness just in time to celebrate. Happy 3.14 day to you! #intentionalfamilytime #familydatenight #eatmorepie

[allthingsrepublican]

You can't buy happiness, but you can buy a bike and that is pretty darn close. Our weather has been perfection! We've soaked up sunshine and took long walks after work.

[allthingsrepublican]

Plant dreams. Pull weeds. Have a happy life.

[allthingsrepublican]

We had a date! And Marty McFly was our third wheel :) With the help of our library cards we get discounted tickets to the symphony. When the symphony announced a concert series to classic movies and one just happened to be Jeff's childhood favorite, I could not say no! We had a blast reliving. And getting dressed up, listening to our music in the car, and eating takeout pizza at our leisure was pretty nice to. #steppingupourdatenightgame #52datesin2016

[allthingsrepublican]

The best dating advice I ever got was to marry up. Find someone different from you and better than you in those tough to admit areas. Allow that person to push you to be better and form a partnership that make you both stronger.

I married up with Jeff. Jeff and I tag team parent often and this Sunday I needed to be tagged out. A few nights of no sleep coupled by serious allergies left me drained and Jeff thought a Daddy daughter date was just what the doctor ordered.

Pip loved Zootopia! She is still singing the theme song and wearing her rabbit hat.

[allthingsrepublican]

Today I said yes to making a no bake pie, I said yes to painting sun catchers, I said yes to playing outside in the sunshine, I said yes to the sprinkler ball and soaking my clothes and eating dinner late. And yes, the pie was delicious! #piday #3.14

[allthingsrepublican]

so it's been a while...

I planned to take a short blogging break over Christmas and then three months passed. I'm not sure how 12 weeks have come and gone, but as usual time is flying by and I have my iPhone in my hand capturing memories. 

In January I started my second semester teaching photosynthesis and Piper is reading short sight words and adding with Gus the plus. Jeff and I talked a new budget and made a monthly savings goal. Jeff recommitted to crossfit and we decided to step up the ur date night game. Our plan is 52 dates this year with only five of them being dinner and a movie.

February started with a family cold that we passed around twice and a citizenship celebration for a family friend. Our beloved grandmother died on February 23rd and I walked around heart broken until last week. I was asked to find pictures of Grandmother for her memorial service. And I immediately went to the blog. Our life is chronicled on this little site and our happiest moments, holidays , and saddest stories all live here. As hard as it is to continue life after losing someone you love our story goes on and my camera will keep clicking and I will keep typing.

Love and republican stuff,

Hilary

[allthingsrepublican]

Winter hats and Wawa coffee! #themerrymartins

[allthingsrepublican]

Recital Day! #themerrymartins #lifewithpip