Bed Bugs

Hannah was so excited about getting out the summer pajamas. I think she was even more excited that Sarah Jane had the same lady bug pajamas. Hannah was really concerned that you wouldn't be able to see her lady bug shirt in the photo. I just love that SJ has her little legs crossed. She is such a lady.

Good Night Girls I Love You!

It is just amazing how much you love your kids. I remember someone asking how I was going to love another baby. Isn't it amazing that God gives us all the love we need. I wouldn't trade them for anything. As for Brian... just kidding I couldn't have picked a better husband if I tried. He is just so good at what he does and I am so grateful that I can stay home and raise our children. As many of you commented last week... how many husbands out there actually scrub baseboards? Brian is such a dedicated husband and father. He loves to help in anyway he can even if that means scrubbing toilets. You are the best Honey!

Kids Snacks

I had to do kids snacks the other day. I love cooking for the women, but it was fun to take a break and make something fun for the kids. I just LOVE the mini bananas. I just love that my kids pick fruit and veggies over the 'junk food'. I hope this continues!!

Dinner is Ready!

I just want to pat myself on the back for a moment. When Brian and I got married I was able to make him Kraft Mac and Cheese and that is about it. Well I did make Hamburger Helper a few times. My favorite story was the time I asked him what he wanted me to make. I wanted it to be a really special dinner. So he asked me to make a steak. I was so excited I got to the grocery store and bought a flank steak brought it home and just threw it on the George Foreman. I am sure many of you are already gasping at my stupidity. So proudly I served Brian his Steak and let me mention that I didn't worry about any type of garnish or side for that matter. End of the story is that our Weimaraner wouldn't even eat the meat.

The truth was that I had never even cooked meat. Brian had to teach me how to cook chicken. Anyway I was not into trying anything I liked chicken and that was it. No steak. No pork. No Fish. etc. So since we have bee married I have really tried to learn more about cooking. I must thank my Mother-In-Law for much of the guidance.

Now getting to the picture. Thursday night I wanted to try something new. I can now cook pork, steak, chicken and many other things. BUT I haven't tried fish. So Thursday night I made Brian Sole stuffed with scallops and crab meat served on a bed of brown rice and sauted spinach. I must admit that it was good.

Spoke Too Soon

So as you know I was up blogging late last night about the dolls. So I left them sitting on my desk and of course the kids ran down this morning and found them. So if you read the earlier post I am sure you know why I spoke too soon, Carter seems to really be into Molly.

Samantha & Molly

Samantha & Molly
my childhood dolls

When I was 8 years old my Grandmother started me on the American Girl Dolls. When I got my first catalog there were only 3 dolls to choose from Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly. Now they have a selection of have 13 Historical Character Dolls, 1 Girl of the Year Doll, or a Just Like Me Doll which, is where you create a doll that looks just like you.

Allison has a Bitty Baby which is the American Girl Doll for girls 3+. Hannah asks to go over and play with Bitty all the time. She loves to dress her, feed her, give her a rattle etc. So anyway I decided that I think I will invest in the Bitty Baby for Hannah Grace. I wanted to buy her a Madam Alexander doll, which was my first baby doll. The photo to the right looks just like my baby doll, Sweetie Pie. My Grandmother would make sure that my baby doll and I were always wearing matching outfits. I have so many photos of me with sweetie pie and we always had matching outfits. That is just so amazing to me. I have a hard enough time getting clothes on all the kids let alone dress a doll to match.

Anyway I was so excited looking up all the information online I went down to our storage room in search of Samantha and Molly and I found them. Brian thought it was slightly odd that I was so excited. Anyway American Girl has a doll hospital where you can send the doll away and they restore them, wellness check up, and they return with a hospital gown, hospital bracelet, get well balloon, Certificate of Good Health, and a band aid sticker. So in my excitement I decided I wanted to send them away to get a check up and then I will give one of them to each of the girls. I don't think Carter will mind if he doesn't get one. So now I need to decide whether to send them to the doll hospital now and put them in storage again, send them to the doll hospital now and put them on display in the girls' room or just wait until the girl get older and send them together? I think Hannah would think it was really cool to send her doll to the hospital now. Anyway let me know what you think?

Foto Friday

Helper Hannah

Hannah @ 2 years old


Background Information: Our neighborhood is about 3-5 miles from farmland, which is wonderful because we get very fresh vegetables. I love having fresh bell peppers and corn.

This morning I opened all the windows since it was so nice out and I love the spring breeze. The kids were playing, I was doing laundry and Brian was scrubbing baseboards (Thanks Honey!) Of course when you are cleaning all you smell is that wonderful citrus clean scent. So as I am enjoying this clean smell I notice Hannah going from one baby to the next. She starts with Allison and grabs her waist and smells her. Next, she squats next to Sarah Jane and smell her. Last, she walk over to Carter and grabs him in a bear hug and starts to smell him. He is obviously resisting this capture. Then Hannah starts this routine all of again. After 2 or 3 times she finally walks over to me and says, "Momma, I think someone has a poppy diaper, but I just can't figure out who. Maybe you should change all the babies."
Now I pause for a moment and realize that as Brian moved upstairs the citrus smell was faint and was being replaced with the smell of fresh manure from the crops. So I chuckle and try to explain to Hannah that the smell is outside. She still doesn't understand so needless to say we closed the window.

Rock Climbing

Hannah climbing to the top

Mountain Man

The Observer

For all you wondering what rocky mountain we are climbing. It is our back yard. I feel like I need a disclaimer that reads: objects appear higher in photos.

LBD

In 1926, the French designer, Coco Chanel unveiled her little black dress. Chanel intended for the dress to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color, its continued ubiquity is such that many refer to it by its abbreviation, LBD. It is believed to be an essential part of the wardrobe, by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a "rule of fashion" that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down.The LBD is arguably the right answer to nearly any fashion dilemma, easy to dress up with pearls and heels or dress down with a cropped sweater and flats. Since it is meant to be a staple in the wardrobe for a number of years, the style of the little black dress ideally should be as simple as possible, but still sexy.

Today the world is "going green" and so has the little black dress. Now eco-conscious labels have made it simple to oblige your inner green fashionista with their use of bamboo, hemp silk, and organic cotton. Some of my favorites are below. My favorite is from Brook There. It is the dress in the middle.

Fun in the Sun

Nancy

Hannah loves Lucy

Lucy and Hannah Grace had a blast outside. Lucy decided that the girls should pack a picnic and eat outside. The girls giggled most of the afternoon and I was happy to sit out in the sunshine!

Spring Beauty

Today I actually stopped and admired the beauty of the world around us. Praise God! I was a little worried with two kids with ear infections that it was going to be a long day, but it has been the opposite. Not only that but with my new camera I am able to capture the beauty and share. Thank you again for the best gift ever!

I hope that after naps we can go out again and collect more photos with the kids and the beautiful day. Click here to see more photos.

Saucer Magnolia

Stilettos & Flip Flops

Hannah and Carter love to be pretend grown ups all the time. Today they were playing Mommy and Daddy. Mommy was wearing a dress and stilettos and Daddy was wearing pajamas and flip flops. I think that I like this because Mommy was the beautiful woman that was taking care of everything and Daddy washed the car (cozy coupe) and then pretended to take a nap on the couch. Isn't it so funny how the kids perceive our lives?

Little Words

I love listening to the kids talk and learn new words. The other day Hannah was just making smile with all her observations:

We walk out the door to get in the car to go to school and Hannah says, "Momma I don't think I can go to school. It is so 'froggy' I can't see anything."

On the way home from school I put down all the windows in the car to enjoy the warm spring day and Hannah says, "Momma I love you. I love that you let the 'French' air in the car."

The morning of my wedding anniversary I was getting everyone dressed and ready for the day. I said, "Today is a very special day. This is the day that Momma and Daddy got married." Hannah looks up and suddenly her eyes fill with alligator tears and she burst out, "Momma if you and Daddy are getting married who will take care of us?"

After going downstairs and looking at our wedding photos Hannah says, "Momma, Daddy was a very handsome Prince and you are a 'studding' princess. Can I wear your princess dress?"

Another favorite is that Hannah takes her baby doll in the car seat carrier to church. She drops off her baby, Sarah, at the baby room. She always takes the baby in the nursery and sets down the car seat and tells the nursery works that " if my baby cries then you can hold her or put her for a nap. She likes if you make faces for her."

Faith Forum

Tonight Brian and friend, Matt Brouillette, went to Messiah College to watch The Compassion Forum with Sen. Hilliary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama. Upon arriving they realized they had VIP tickets/floor seats. So they picked out some seats on the aisle figuring it would be a spot out of the way and they would be able to get out if they needed. As many of you already know it was the seat where the candidates made an entrance. So Brian got to shake hands with both candidates and talked to Obama after and also got him to autograph his program. I do have the video clip of Brian with the candidates, and I will post it soon. For now I just wanted to give a shout out to my husband. I am so happy that he got this experience and that he had so much fun with Matt. When they called me after getting out they were so pumped. It just made me smile. I love you and your passion. I respect all that you do and are.

Thanks for all the phone calls tonight. I think that some of you may have gotten a busy signal. I didn't really mention this to anyone, but as soon as Brian was on TV my phone was ringing off the hook with people wanting to make sure that was really Brian. I am glad that I didn't tell our small group that he was home sick tonight or he would have been busted.

Six Months

I can't believe my baby is already 6 months. She is now sitting up and talking all the time. I can't wait for her to develop into her own person. Hannah and Carter are so different that it will be so fun to see how Sarah Jane fits in with the bunch. We love you sweet baby girl.

Foto Friday

Sorry I got a little carried away with photos, but I couldn't pick a favorite.

flowers & fruit

Happy Anniversary to the Love of my life!

I don't think I could have had a more wonderful day! The weather was just as beautiful and warm as the day we got married. This afternoon the kids and I went through the car wash and cleaned out the car. I guess this is what happens after a few years of marriage. I remember Brian picking me up for dates in his shiny clean car with every last detail polished.
This evening Brian took me to The Pressroom in Lancaster. He knows they make one of my favorite meals and they had live jazz. So we enjoyed a delicious meal and then sat at the bar to enjoy the music and each others company. It is amazing that I think I love him more this year than last. It was such a romantic evening . Thank you for 4 wonderful years and 3 perfect children.
I will admit that I was a little concerned when I read the card: "Another year, another baby seems to be the trend!" I thought we were done, at least for a few years?! Our theme for gifts this year was flowers and fruit so I decided I would have to go to Harry and David for the fruit and for the flowers I got sterling silver cuff links that had a photograph of our wedding flowers under glass. Although the cuff links didn't quite work out. As for Brian's gift this year I was very worried because he was very excited about my gift because he has put so much thought into it. If you remember last year he put a lot of thought into my gift and I got a pregnant figurine. It was a wonderful gift, but I wasn't all that excited. Actually I wasn't sure what the message was, 'this is what you have looked like for all the years we've been married' Anyway thank you Honey it was all the thought you put into it that made it so special. Needless to say this year you TOTALLY redeemed yourself. I don't think I will need anymore gifts this year! I love you for knowing me so well. I think I had more fun at the playground trying out my gift than the kids did playing for hours.