This is soo Adelaide:

The kids did lots of coloring,

and painting…

(with only one disaster involving Arianna, lesson learned),

hanging out with Papa,

playing games…

taking care of new babies,

going to the library (not shown), playing the leappads,

and I got to have lunch with Mer.  :)

That night Andy and I had a date at PF Chang’s (yum) and then went to Mission Impossible 4. Very fun. Saturday was spent celebrating Drew and packing and then we got a babysitter for 4 of the kids and went out to dinner with my parents for New Year’s Eve.

Too bad Ethan won’t remember all the fun things he gets to do.

Building a little gingerbread village:

Drew’s was a train.

Before Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents’ house:

(I’ve had a haircut since then.)

On the way to church, goofballs:

It’s so hard when you’re 4.  You have to wait for everything at Christmastime.

Christmas morning:

Breakfast, after stockings and before gifts.

Wherein Rebecca and Emily come to live with us.

Papa flying his new toy.

Carrissa’s surprise iPad.

Drew kept hiding behind the chair to play legos in peace.

One of the most beautiful dolls I’ve ever seen,

with THE cutest boots.

Watching football? Can’t remember…

Dollhouse minivan that plays 4 stations of music – HILARIOUS to watch her dance.

Hope your Christmas was merry!!!

It’s times like these where all God’s blessings sort of get in your face, demanding notice. It makes a long hard week lighter. People around, help with the kids, laughter, talking, good food… And my mom is staying until next Friday.

I’m doing my happy dance.

And sorry for just disappearing for so long here!!

We had a surprise party and actually pulled it off.

A couple of funny things inevitably happened. He showed up at home on Jim’s motorcycle, borrowed for fun (what else would Andy do on his 30th birthday?). But that meant his car was still at the office. Which we needed to “go out to dinner.” So my mom and I had to squeeze in picking up his car along with all our crazy running around town for last-minute party stuff.

Logistically, it was interesting getting her and the kids out the door BEFORE US when they were just “going to the park.” Thankfully Andy didn’t ask too many questions. I already felt like I was in the hot seat, trying to come up with explanations/excuses on the fly.

Then when we were trying to leave, the heavens opened and TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR ensued. What in the world?! It wasn’t even raining over by the church! The highway was slooooooow going because of poor visibility. I thought we’d never get there and it was doubly frustrating knowing tons of people were standing around waiting for us. Oh and THEN, my sister and two of my kids (finishing up the last of the food when we left) passed us on the highway. Me, trying not to laugh, PRAYING Andy hadn’t noticed.

When we got off the exit I made him lay his seat back and cover his eyes since I forgot a blindfold. He thought we drove way past the church and was a little surprised when we ended up there. Everyone had parked in the back so the entire parking lot looked empty. I told him we had to just pick something up someone had left there for us and then we could go to dinner. Ha. Worked like a charm.

So it all worked out in the end.

Waiting… (happens a lot when you’re small)

With Papa:

Family photo (rare):

With Grandmommy:

My little silly clown Adelaide, always good for a giggle:

With great-grandparents:

4 generations of ladies:

The Graduates!

(And yes, it does sorta feel like they were in junior high only yesterday.)

My sister-in-law also graduated from grad school on Saturday so we went up to their place for a big graduation bonfire/cookout party which was FUN. No photos from that, though (besides, it was dark). And yesterday, being Mother’s Day, the festivities only continued. Now I need a weekend to recover from my weekend!

We’ve been having a sweet (if insanely busy) weekend with my parents and grandparents here. I still have to sort, edit, and resize graduation photos before I can post them – maybe later today. On Friday we took my grandparents to the tea room for lunch and unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures. I did snap a few of my Granddad reading to Arianna at home later, so cute:

And my dad took some of our four generations:

(My kids are blessed indeed.)

She’s been doing this thing with her mouth, like a duck beak – so funny and cute. I couldn’t get a good photo though…

And then Carrissa and the girls brought back queso & chips for a little Cinco de Mayo fun.

Ended the evening watching part of a movie on her laptop.

Junk food and movies – what else are aunts for?!

Well last week was one for the history books. Easter was fabulous. Monday evening two of my kids felt feverish so they stayed home from school Tuesday. And then Wednesday the storms hit. It’s really kind of twilight-zonish to sit in a hallway with your kids on a mattress with the doors shut riding out tornadoes. What is this, Kansas?

We don’t really have any trees close enough to damage our house but we have several friends with significant damage (house and auto) and the entire surrounding southeastern area has pockets of complete destruction. So sad.

While that was all going on, Andy’s high-school-aged cousin was hit by a drunk driver and killed – he had gone with his parents to the funeral and wasn’t home for most of the storm AND the 2 1/2 days we ended up being without power (LUCKY HIM). Doesn’t all this make you just long for heaven and lasting peace???

My mom said “my book” would be a best-seller and I said “yeah, you’re not going to be laughing when my roof blows off.” Thankfully it didn’t. But just to give you an idea, we have random bits of debris and insulation in our yard blown in from Alabama or who-knows-where. Strong winds, indeed.

Friday a little before noon our power came back on, Andy was back home and life was looking a little brighter. His parents stayed to visit for the day and in the afternoon everyone but Arianna and me went to the zoo. Madeline came home toting the biggest stuffed cheetah you’ve ever seen. I mean, HUGE.

Saturday was another pretty good day – Andy and one of his buddies took all their older kids on a waterfall hike and then we all met up later for a picnic dinner at the park (three families total). I told Andy chasing Arianna around a park at the end of the day did not sound like fun and he committed to watch her. So I sat my preggy rear on the picnic blanket and did nothing but eat and hang out with the other moms.

My kids are now back in school and here’s praying for a calmer week.

For my birthday, Andy took me out to dinner…

…and brought me some roses. (Funny, he looks different already since I just gave him a haircut.)

When we got back my sisters helped my kids throw a little party.

They were so sweet and cute and hilarious, as usual. Adelaide said to me later “birthdays take a long time.” (She means because we celebrated hers and mine near the end of the day.)

This morning we went to our church’s breakfast and Resurrection egg hunt. I thought my camera was in my purse BUT IT WASN’T. So sad. Which means all I have is two pix of Ari getting into the loot after her nap.

Night, night. Happy Easter!

Presenting “What to do if you don’t want your picture taken, steal your sister’s hairbow.”

Notice Madeline? What in the world!

Ooh, and this one too, just ’cause it makes me laugh:

Can’t remember what she was mad about but whatever it was, BABY NOT HAPPY. (I’m a bad mom to laugh, I know.)

And… we’ve been busy playing at home, eating crackers.

Monday was my sisters’ birthday so we took them out to dinner.

And had cake at their apartment.

Tuesday I went through our filing cabinet and ALL our papers and threw out a can and a half of trash! The kids have gone on bike rides and been on lots of walks.  One day we ran errands, the kids played at the mall, and I met some girlfriends for dinner.  Yesterday we had some friends over for tea and I made a dress.

This morning Andy and I went out for breakfast and we have another date planned for tonight.  See? When my mom’s here we just CRAM IT ALL IN.

My mom sent some Melissa & Doug painting sets for the kids to do with their Papa. They loved it. (Anything involving paint and mess is usually a big hit.)

Then we went to a park.

That night (Saturday) the adults went out to dinner at Chili’s – which my brother said was like going to Europe and eating at McDonald’s. HMPH! (At least you can count on the food being good, whereas some of the local places he suggested can be hit-or-miss or just plain expensive.)

On Monday Papa took Drew to Walmart to get new tires for his bike and also came home with a new bike for Adelaide. (Aunt Cassandra and Mommy have both taken a little detour over her old one.) I’m sure my dad hadn’t planned on spending the entire day fixing Drew’s bike but he sure had one grateful little recipient!

I fixed dinner here for everyone on Monday night before he left Tuesday. Great visit! Come again, Papa!

My cousin Vangie, her husband John, and Baby Bryonie. Stopped by over Christmas and fighting colds, poor things.

(Er, I’m so used to it but I realize ‘Vangie’ is rather uncommon. Her full name is Evangeline, in case you were curious.)

The kids:

And while I’m here speaking of cousins, my cousin Bryonie (Vangie’s sister) just adopted a little baby boy, finalized in the past couple of weeks. Meet Judah!

(Photo sent to me via email.) For more of their story, click here.

Waiting to spot her coming…

There she is! (notice Super Dad holding Arianna in the sling, ha!):

GO ERIN!

I loved this shot of Micah watching her:

Heading towards the festivities and the finish line:

She came in 4th for the females and 37th overall (1st in her age group).  So proud!!!

They had balloons for the kids, always a hit:

And a huge inflated slide:

We let Ari pretend she was bouncing too:

Another bounce house:

Sitting with friends waiting for the cannon to go off.  LOUD.

ONE GREAT DAY.

Madeline lost her first tooth yesterday!

Happy birthday to one sweet lady!

Speaking of the washer, our old one was leaking oil all over the laundry room floor.  (Like, I’m talkin’ our own personal Gulf.)  It had been going on for months and my mom cleaned it up the last time she was here.  (Brave woman.)  I finally googled “washing machine leaking oil” and apparently that meant new transmission.  Which was, of course, a more expensive repair than buying a brand new washer.

Thankfully we had it covered on our home warranty plan and they’ll reimburse us.  Sears delivered our new one on Saturday.  Some things to get used to, like the automatic water level.  (I’m sure it will save $ on our water bill.)

ANYway.

Yesterday was one of those happy Sundays.  (Except for going out to the van to leave for church and the battery was dead because someone left the lights on.)  We had a yummy lunch with my sisters and then my mom cooked for everyone for dinner – including my brother and sister-in-law.  (Getting used to hanging out with them!)  She made this almond-crusted chicken that was pan-fried and a PIE.  (Have I ever mentioned banana creme pie is my very very favorite?  Has to be with vanilla pudding though and yes, it makes a difference.)

Also, tried piggies in Arianna’s hair.  TO DIE FOR with the cuteness.

And, sorry, I can’t resist:

Girls with Grandmommy after church:

Just for kicks (pun totally intended):

Busy.

Busy, busy.

This week has been crazy. I’ve been in and out of town, my mom’s been here, my sisters and brother and sister-in-law have all been over a few times, I met two friends for “coffee” one night, we had a sweet (adopted) great-aunt over for tea:

Unfortunately all I got was a photo of the table.

We grilled over at my sisters’ apartment for dinner last night (supper!) and it was yum. Arianna had her 9 month check up earlier in the day.  Yeah, she’s 11 months.  20 pounds, 6 ounces = no wonder my back hurts.

And then today was just FUN. Dolly brought me Starbucks (this, specifically) and then later we met our friend Jenny for lunch. I didn’t get a photo of Austin but I did get this:

I stepped out on a limb asked our waiter to snap one of us:

That was some perfect weather there, too.  (Oh, see my purpley ruffley purse?  $6 clearance at NY&Co.  Man I love a good deal.)

After that I took Madeline to get her 5-year photos taken (PRECIOUS), got some groceries, made dinner and now I’m about ready to crash.

And it’s only 8:07 p.m.

Yes, a weekend full o’ family – minus my dad, sadly. My mom has been helping get my sisters settled in their new apartment and it is super cute. We all had pizza over there last night and my kids ran wild. They discovered sliding down the carpeted steps on their bellies, head first. (We don’t have stairs, maybe that’s a good thing.)

It was also the second meal of the DAY we ate with my brother and SIL. Which is just crazy since we haven’t seen them in, literally, months. (And we live in the same town! Can you say busy?!) We had hosted everyone for lunch here, after church. My mom cooked, always a treat.

This is the last week of summer break for my kids, perfect that Grandmommy is here to help fill it with fun. And I hardly know what to do with myself now that the sale stuff is done! (Take a long nap??)

Here’s to Monday, friends.

My mom made us cheesy eggs for breakfast, and we all sat out on the screened porch and there were even presents!  My kids sang to me (Adelaide has sung to me several times today, all different versions of ‘Happy Birthday’), and then a little later Andy and I went outlet shopping.  (Speaking my love language.)  We also grabbed lunch at a little cafe.  It was gooooood.  Pesto!

The afternoon was spent here with a teary Arianna, while my mom took the other three back to the beach, “buggie” boards in tow.  I took a nap.

Andy and I hit up another localish restaurant for dinner and it was… an experience.  Won’t say that we’ll ever go back!  But it was good for a story or two, and the food wasn’t, um, horrible.  (Ha.)  We thought about going out to a movie after cake (carrot) but we were both a little too tired and opted instead for snuggle time on the couch with the kids and The Sound of Music.  It was a great day.

Yesterday and today we’ve had perfect weather and no clouds.  (Sorry to bore you with more beach pictures.)

Her own personal baby pool:

Proof that I got in the water:

We just can’t get over how clear the water is!

Oh, and Madeline found another crab.