Weekend Festivities

Wow! What a weekend!!

It started off with a busy week and spending as much time outside as possible. We started the mowing for the year, as the lush dark green spring grass beckoned us to cut the prairie that was beginning in the backyard. Daddy got his first sunburn of the year with many more to come. It feels like spring!! I have tried to get my runs in every other day for the race coming up this weekend. Battling injuries, the running hasn't been going very well. When I can I have been running with the jogging stroller and Lil Miss. She makes me work up an extra sweat pushing another 30+ extra pounds and making me perform acrobatic acts picking up thrown out baby dolls or delivering snacks into the stroller while trying to keep my balance. Passerbys have to get a good chuckle.

Mommy all sweaty.... Lil Miss ready to play!

Doing her own blogging while at the park.

Our visit to the park was cut short when Lil Miss went straight for a mud puddle and fell flat on her butt. Her white pants will never be the same.

Bubba played pirates looking for his treasure in the backyard. Being cooped up in the house all winter, I am so greatful for this wonderful weather to bring our imaginations out and be creative. Love Spring!!!

On Friday night, Nate and I took part in a school fundraiser. It was a trivia night and while I was volunteering, Nate and our friends took part in answering the trivia. One of the categories was video games and Nate was a pro at those. The category about the kid's school.... not so much. He needs to read the PTA newsletter more. LOL There was lots of silent auctions, 50/50, and raffle items. Rosie was the proud reciepent of the American Girl Doll raffle. They had sent tickets home with the kids at school to buy and we had bought $20 worth and put the three kids names on the tickets equally and she won!! When she woke up Saturday morning and saw Saige on the kitchen counter she was smiles from ear to ear. She reminded me that I had told her "we won't probabley win so don't get your hopes up". I ate my words. I forgot how lucky my kids are. Saige went everywhere with us this weekend.

Saturday morning we went to the zoo to have breakfast with the elephants. It wasn't really eating with the elephants, something I had to clarify with the kids because Gigi was afraid they would eat us, it was a buffet and then a private elephant talk with the handlers. We walked into the elephant barn and saw where they take care of the elephants and check their enormous feet and teeth. Unfortunately we didn't get to take advantage of staying long and exploring much more of the zoo because of our busy busy day.

Lil Miss with her friend Livvy.

Can't go to the zoo without riding the train.

That afternoon after breakfat with the elephants and baseball practice, the whole family headed to the lagoon for Bubba's first fishing derby with the cub scouts. I had purchased three fishing poles just for the occassion. I made a visit to Wal-Mart to pick up bait and dessert for a cook out that night. Not two things that go together in a cart. ewww. I kept the worms and peach pie far away from each other for sanitary sake.

Gigi was the family fishing champion. She caught two catfish, one being 7" long.

Rosie's fishing technique was to fish near the lagoon edge. This won her a caught blue gill. The little thing almost jumped out of the water the way she caught it.

Lil Miss even tried her hand at fishing. She didn't want any help though, big girl wanted to do it all herself.

Poor Bubba was the only one NOT to catch anything. He tried his hardest, a couple times he even pulled them out of the water for them to fall off his hook before he could pull it ashore.

He and Gigi though learned how to bait their own hooks. I was impressed. Rosie didn't want to have anything to do with the icky woms.

That night we had our first cookout for the year. Lil Miss and livvy got to play some more. Neither one of them are hip on sharing their toys.

First smore roast of the year... yum!!!

On Sunday, mommy finally got that nap she had been craving all weekend. I could hardly keep my eyes open after Sunday school, so Lil Miss and I layed down for an hour to get some rest. Oh, that was so needed. I then had enough energy to mow, do yard work, go for a run, and still enough to take the kids to the park to practice baseball. The girls and I played outfielders, while daddy pitched to Bubba. I took myhand at pitching but after almost hitting Bubba for the fifth time I gave the ball to Nate. He was much better at it than I.

Cutest little outfielder.

It was a busy but rewarding family weekend. Can't wait for more weekends like this!!!

 

Rosie's First Communion

Rosie made her first communion this weekend.

We had several family members in from out of town to celebrate with us.

Rosie did really good and I am so glad the weather got nicer for us to get some pictures outside.

{Rosie and Father Mac}

{Grandma Pam and Grandpa Bill}

{Godparents} 

{Gigi wanted a picture with her "pretty" sister}

Our little girl is way too grown up!

{The family}

{Aunt Kathy and Rosie}

{Cousin Megan and Rosie}

Of course, every girl has to shoot hoops in a white dress. 

Ugh!  This was before we went to church.  I was

glad there wasn't a basketball sized dirt spot on her dress when we walked into church. 

Her veil kept distracting her during her foul shots. 

 We made it through the ceremony and only at the end did Lil Miss see

mommy and have to shout it out for all to hear! 

We had lots of family time and pigged out all day.   

{the cake}

Lil Miss was fascinated by Rosie's new music box.  We are

going to have to put this high up on the shelf. 

Grandma Judy wasn't feeling well on Saturday so she missed out on the

first communion festivities, but she got Rosie the cutest Bible.

She knows what Rosie likes with sequins and sparkles.

 

The house feels empty today with everyone gone. 

It's just Lil Miss and me. 

Bright side is that I won't have to cook the next few nights because we have lots of leftovers. 

Yum!!

Party Prep and Grandma's Arrival

I really like to throw parties.

I love to cook and even better I love to try new recipes for a party.

I like buying matching plates, napkins, and putting up decorations.

I also like being ambitious and finishing new projects before guests come.

 

When our family comes from Ohio to stay, this is no exception. 

We have half the family coming this weekend for Rosie's first communion.

Other than my mom, the rest of them haven't been here since we first moved in.

So a lot of things have changed. 

The kitchen has been completely redone. 

Nate put in the beautiful hardwood floors in the dining room and foyer.

A ton more decorations (Nate would call it crafty crap) have been

put up making the house "me".

I have been a crazy woman the last 2 weeks, cleaning and crafting.

First I had to clean the entire house for my mom to come last Monday.

Even though she was coming a week early to help me clean up the house for

all the guests, I couldn't very well let her see the dirt and dust that I regularly allow in the house. 

I have to at least pretend that the house is dust free all the time. 

My mother is the most amazing housekeeper.

Growing up, my friends were always intimidated on coming to the house because they didn't want to mess it up.

We had cream colored carpeting in the house and I swear to this day it looks as good as it did when installed.  It looks better than our carpeting that was installed last year!

I strive to clean my windows three times a year like my mom does, or dust every week, but I truthfully would be rather doing anything else!!!

But I do it, and it's even more fun when I have help.

On Saturday, after I took my long run, I walked into the house to the music blaring and Nate and the kids cleaning.  They were cleaning windows, wiping down my baseboards, and moving their booties while they cleaned.  It made this mommy's heart so grateful. 

I moved around some furniture and toys in the rooms, something I am

always doing.  Bubba had the barn in his room but with all the furniture there isn't a lot of space to play.  So I brought the barn downstairs, with Bubba following asking what I am doing with his barn and put it in the play space downstairs.  It was like they had just unwrapped a new gift.  The girls were playing with the animals and pushing around the tractors all afternoon. 

That's why I love rearranging!!

One thing Nate wanted to get done before his parents showed up was to get the basketball pole up.

With horribly frustrating instructions, he got the basketball pole up on Saturday. 

It looks great and the kids love it. 

It adjusts up and down and we have already played lots of around the world and PIG.

Sunday night I was giddy with excitement as I picked my mom up from the airport. 

I love any visitors, but having my mom stay her for an entire week is like winning the lottery. 

I don't care if we get any work done, it's just fun to have my mom here to talk to.



 

 

{serious polka dot issue}

 Unfortunately the weather hasn't  been to great since she's been here,

cooler temperatures and rain almost everyday, but we have made the most of it.

The spring also brings new activities that the kids are in.

It seems like everyday of the week is filled with some sort of sport.

The kids have gotten pretty good at keeping entertained during all the long hours at the gym or at the soccer field.   Lil Miss loves to draw or write in her notebook and the other kids beg for the ipad constantly. I insist on more educational games, so we play Math Bingo or checkers. 

I guess if they are going to have their faces looking at electronics they might as well be learning something useful.  

 

The week is going to fast.  We already to Wednesday and my mom has to leave in 4 days, but we are making the most of the time we have.  We have walked the kids to school, gone out for lunch, and gotten a few loads of laundry done.  ;-)

Today I get to go on my first field trip with Gigi. 

I usually get these field trip notices and have to turn them down because of Lil Miss, but with Grandma Judy here I get to go.  Gigi has talked about it all week!

I got good sleep last night so I can deal with 24 kindergartners on the field trip today.

Can't wait!!

Sunday Best

I've been slowly going through closets doing spring cleaning. 

A little bit here and there, not a complete overhaul. (I get easily sidetracked into different projects)

I was sorting out the girl's closet and came across the sunflower dresses

hanging in the back.  Looking at the tags I was shocked to discover that

Lil Miss and Gigi are at the same size Rosie and Gigi were 3 years ago.

Crazy!!!

So I put the dresses in the front among all their other clothes to be worn soon.

Well of course Gigi, my little dress wearer, saw the new (not new just recently placed in a spot she

could see) dress on the hangar and had to wear it right away.

On Sunday for church we put on the pretty sunflower dresses Kathy and I bought years ago and

they looked so adorable.  The girls were twirling around in the living room dancing to

no music.  It's funny how a girl can just put on a dress

and feel like a princess!

We didn't want Rosie to feel left out, so I pulled a coordinating dress out of the closet for her and we

had the girls all beautiful in yellow. 

I didn't think about Bubba feeling left out. 

So he rushed upstairs and had to be properly dressed to, of course.....  in a tie. 

Off to church we went as a family, very well dressed.    

{3 years ago }

To me it is surreal to have Lil Miss in the same size my baby Gigi was when she first walked

into my life.  I can hardly fathom how they are growing up so fast!!!

Way too fast!!

Rosie in three years has grown into such a little lady and Gigi has lost all the babyness to her. 

Lots of tears.  Can they just stay this small forever?

Spring Happiness

Oh, Spring you are finally here! 

How I love your warmer weather

your pops of color in flowers just starting to bloom

and the birds going wild in song.

Thank you for arriving finally!

(my ode to spring)

 

We have taken full advantage of Spring this week.

We have been outside everyday after school, made unexpected trips to the park

and have indulged in WAY to much frozen yogurt thanks to Daddy.

Daddy has been extremely busy at work so this sudden upturn in warm weather where the kids can play outside until its time for bedtime is so needed. 

I think my kids have jumped right from winter to summer.

They try to insist it is shorts weather and try unconvincingly to coax me into letting them wear

shorts, sandals and tank tops to school.  Maybe one of the three, but NOT all three.

Such a mean mommy, but I believe it needs to be at least 70* for te kids to wear shorts.

Call me old fashioned.

In all the rejoicing of spring finally arriving, the girls and I had a girl's night planned on Friday.

Rosie, Gigi and I went to an American Girl Fashion Show.

 The girl's were giddy.

We had spent all week making their dolls all pretty and picking out which outfits Addy and Bella would wear.   The dolls were buckled into their seats with seatbelts as we drove to the show.

{The girls with their dolls} 

Gigi was so excited to see her Addy doll on stage. 

She could hardly stay in her seat!!

During intermission they gave us cute pink boxes filled with a fruit cup, finger sandwiches, and a pink iced cookie.  The girls couldn't wait until intermission to gobble theirs up.  

The fashion show was just that.  Little girls parading out dressed up just like their dolls in the catalog.   Rosie kept asking when the show was going to start and was slightly disappointed when I told her "this is it!"

They has some crowd participation throughout the show and the girls chimed in and got up to dance. 

They started a wish list of what dresses and dolls they want next.  We might go broke!

Daddy and the other kids were fast asleep when we entered the house

that night.  Daddy had to get up before the crack of dawn for work on Saturday so we tiptoed

in and crawled into bed without making any noise.  

Saturday morning with daddy at work the kids were begging to do all kinds of things.

We settled for an impromptu concert in the living room, playing outside, bubbles on the driveway, and flying kites in the strong wind. 

I don't know who invented colored bubbles, but I am NOT a fan. 

They were a mess.  After only the first time playing with them, they are now in the trash never to be used again.  Gigi and Lil Miss were covered from head to toe in purple and green bubbles. 

The driveway was splattered with bright green and purple raindrops.

Luckily the rain washed away the splatters that night and their clothes and shoes went straight into the wash and came out clean.  Such a relief.  I wasn't sure their outfits would look the same!

{Wants to be a rocker when he grows up} 

That afternoon after lunch I decided it was a beautiful day to go fly kites. 

We walked down to the nearest park so there was plenty of room to run and less chance of the kites getting tangled up together.  It wasn't a perfect solution because even with all the space the kids were constantly running towards each other and twisting their strings anyways.  

 Bubba was ever diligent in trying to make his Yoda kite to fly high in the air. 

He got some pretty good height at one point.

I think the kids were more excited to get caught in a sprinkle on the way home than fly kites. 

They thought it was awesome that we nonchalantly walked home getting misted with rain.

At one point, I had them in fits of laughter as I pretended to be melting like

 the Wicked Witch of the West. Not such a mean mommy after all.

On Sunday, we had the most wonderful Spring day. 

The kids had to wait after Sunday school and church before they rushed out the door to

not come inside until bedtime.  We took full advantage of the weather. 

Mommy brought a few pieces outside to paint (good therapy) and daddy started putting together our new basketball pole.  It was a great weekend. 

Can't wait for more of this warmer weather!!