Morning and Afternoon

Yesterday, this is what Howard did in the morning...

And this is what he did in the afternoon...

 

Picking My Battles

Some days I have to pick my battles... and this is not one I chose to fight.

Tracey that she looked like a clown and she corrected me... "I look like a star!"

I'll be honest, I actually like that Caroline's looks like she actually tried to do tasteful makeup... and I like that Howard's looks like warpaint.

 

One Year

One year difference between these pictures

 

So Thankful

We remain so very thankful for those who have served and protected our country throughout the generations.

Happy Memorial Day!

Asleep

Last night I finished cleaning the kitchen and went upstairs to Hubby and my bedroom.  I was very surprised not to find Hubby relaxing, or asleep in our room.

Well, turns out he was asleep... just not in our room.

Three children and Hubby were all asleep in the kids' room with the light still on.

Cutie

Here are just some adorable picture we've been taking of our Cutie Pie Lee Lee Girl lately.

 

Dedication

We had Addallee Marigold dedicated in church last Sunday.  Our parents were not able to be with us but it was a very special to have our church family and some close friends celebrate this.

 

My Girls

This picture encapsulates so much personality of my girls.

Caroline found her fitting in our family when Addallee was born.  Caroline has loved babies since she held her first baby doll and loves being a big sister to Lee Lee.  I know they will fight in days to come... but more often than not, Caroline is inserting herself to help take care of Addallee.

Lee Lee loves her role as the youngest of our crazy, loving crew.  Her favorite place to be is anywhere getting attention from one of her big siblings.  She usually has the biggest smile on her face any time a sibling is playing with her... which is often.  If not a smile, it is this wide-eyed gaze that you see here as though she is desperately trying to catch up with her siblings and be a part of the fun as best she can.

And then there is my oldest, Tracey Ann.  We listen to a lot of music in our home... and with that comes a lot of awesome dance parties.  When this picture was taken, Tracey has asked to put on her dance costume and was dancing all around the basement.  I think this picture caught her mid-jump and twirl.  When I told her that her dancing looked great, she informed me that this was, "Tracey Style!"  I don't think truer words have ever been spoken.

... And Howard.  Where was Howard when I took this picture?  

If I had a nickle for every time I wondered where Howard was.

 

Really Fun

Tracey's weekly dance class ended last week, and so this week I invited two dance friends, and their Mamas, and their little brothers over to play outside and have a picnic during the regular dance time.

After that was on the calendar, another friend was in a jam and asked that I watch her son and daughter all day... so, the more the merrier.

It wasn't the warmest day ever... but the sun was out and the kids were happy to jump in and out of our water activities and then sit in the sun, or play in our playhouse.  All in all, we had eleven children and three moms... and it was a really great time.

Two friends had to leave before our picnic, but it was one of the best times I've had with friends and mothers over.

Welcome summer fun...

 

The Best Mother's Day

We've been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to write the details of, what I am calling, my best Mother's Day to date.

It was so much fun to have my parents here leading up to Mother's Day, and to help the kids prepare some gifts for Grammie.  The older my kids get, the more fun Mother's Day becomes because the kids get so excited about it.  We bought cupcakes, and the kids said, "Happy Mother's Birthday!" to my mom.

We celebrated Grammie earlier in the weekend, and then she attended the school Mother's Day Tea with us.  It was the first time my mom could come (I had been once before) and it was so nice to have her.  As we were getting ready to leave she made a comment about how special this was for her to attend... that she had wanted to attend ever since she heard about it two years ago.

Having her there helped me remember what a privilege it is that I get to attend these events with my little ones.  I will only get a handful of Mother's Days when my children are this age... and just a bundle of Mother's Days when my kids are living at home.  What special years these are.

 

Hubby gave me a wonderful Mother's Day gift that I really wanted -- Bowflex select weights.  I have been working hard on a workout program, and I have started to need heavier weights -- and Hubby bought me the select weights so I can now lift 5lbs - 50lbs in 2.5lb increments with the turn of a dial.  They are so space efficient and I love them.  I also love that Hubby supports my workout efforts and made such a big investment toward my good health.

This was all before actual Mother's Day weekend!

We spent the Saturday before Mother's Day at a bike safety event in town where they gave away bike helmets and had a drawing for free bicycles -- we won one!

On Mother's Day, we all went out to breakfast before church and I opened my presents from the kids at breakfast.  We had a great time and then enjoyed church.

We came home, and EVERYONE napped (AT THE SAME TIME!!! -- that was a huge gift right there).

When everyone awoke, we all went bowling for the first time as a family.  It was so much fun.  We played one game (the kids were antsy by the end, but they made it through) and we ordered appetizers to eat as we bowled.

It was such a fun day -- and NO dishes were generated at all.  Breakfast out, snacks at church, and dinner at the bowling alley.

One thing that made the day so much fun was that I really just wanted to have fun with the kids and Hubby.  I had school work to do, but I let myself take the day off without feeling guilty.  I had laundry to do, but I let myself take the day off without feeling guilty.  I wasn't expecting my Hubby to take over my housework... some chores still had to be done, but I wasn't upset about them, and other things were put off for another day.

It was such a great Mother's Day!