Little Ladies

I woke up this morning to a rainy, cold, and really very gloomy day. So while I was laying in bed the kids came running in and I decided that I would make it a special day for them. So I picked up Kacy and Jaelyn and we had a girl day. Carter just thought he was so cool hanging out with the ladies.

The girls played for a while in the playroom. They got out all the princess stuff and played really very well. The only problem I encountered was who got to play with Island Princess Barbie. So I set a timer and each girl had 2 minutes. It was like watching them play hot potato. One girl would watch the timer and the other 2 would watch the Barbie. Ding! They would pass her very quickly and say I am next after ____.
After playing we decided to have a very special tea party. I got down my tea cup collection and pressed the table linens. The girls were so excited. They had lemon tea (lemonade), finger sandwiches, macaroni, and little danishes for dessert. Carter loved being the butler. The girls would say excuse me butler Carter may I have some more tea please. He would say yes Ma'am and pour. He also got to answer the door.

They were such ladies and loved watching the Island Barbie movie. I just loved listening to the 3 girls sing every song. I guess maybe they have seen it before?

Thanks Kacy and Jaelyn for making this such a fun rainy day for Hannah Grace!

Dinner for 12

Tonight we had dinner with the Hilsher Family and it was a blast. We made enough food to feed an army. I think they will have to come over again tomorrow night just to help eat all this food. I just love watching all the kids run around together. Peyton riding the cozy coupe down the hill still makes me chuckle. Joyce I always love our chats.

Joyce made a dirt dessert for the kiddos and they all thought it was GREAT!

Carter couldn't eat enough he had some on the fork and some in his hand. I will let you all know that I had to bath the kids tonight!

Carter was so sweet when the Hilsher van was loading he stood at the door waiting to get in. As they started to drive away he started to cry "go, go, I go. No no bye" He just loves playing with the boys.

Hannah Grace has decided that she is in love with Isaac. I guess he is quite the man with multiple girlfriends. Hannah decided that she would like to invite Isaac to her birthday party because he would get her the most special present. (I hope it's not a football. wink wink.) I love that she sat at her vanity fluffing her hair and putting on all her "jewlies".

Flower Clutch

I just found these wooden clutch toys for Sarah Jane. I am so excited because the only toy she really loves is the wooden brio toy that has a bell inside that was mine as a baby. I recently left the toy over at Jen's house and now I have decided that I need to have a back up toy. I also need to get her another Little Giraffe blanky. I just love how soft they are and I love the polka-dot satin.

Happy Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Brian made me breakfast and the kids showered me with cards and gifts. Hannah asked if I could give the card back to her because she really liked the crown on the front of the card she picked out for me.

After just a perfect morning we went to church for the baby dedication. Sarah Jane did a great job up on stage.

There is an old German saying that all good things come in threes. So it is no surprise that Sarah Jane is the third child. With the constant tutelage of her older siblings, she blissfully navigates the challenges of babyhood. Or is that blissful expression just an overwhelmed blank stare at the constant chaos? Whatever- she knows how to go with the flow wherever she goes.

The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.
Psalms 45:11

Afterwards the kids took me to lunch and planned a big dinner to cook for me. I know there is steak and shrimp involved. I can't wait! Thank you for spoiling me today.

Thanks

Thank you Hostetter Family for a great night. The food was great. Jena I had so much fun on our road trip without kids. I think we really need to start to plan more kidless activities (trip to Philly/ Baltimore or even just the spa) before the men leave on this extreme camping trip. We need to take all we can get.

Anyway we are grateful for your friendship. Sunday we be a fun day and I am so glad that Avalyn and Sarah Jane will get to share the special day.

Congrats Hannah Grace

Last night Hannah Grace went to the Awana awards ceremony. Hannah got a certificate and a bear for completing her first book, which entailed 25 weeks of memorizing Bible verses. I am so proud of her. I even got to go up and accept an award for being a good coach/parent.

I just love that Hannah had to take her purse up to do the pledge and song.

Kallee, Kacy, & Jaelyn
Kallee was swinging her pig tails for part of the ceremony. The girls are so cute. I just love watching the different personalities emerge.

Hannah & Jaelyn
Afterwards we all got to enjoy Rita's Ice. Yum

Rolex Equestrian Championship

As many of you know I have been riding since I was 2 years old. My Mom is a trainer so I had my first pony, Night Light, at a the age of 5. I spent most of my teen years in the barn with my favorite horse Fazoo. Now, that my Mom lives on the other side of the country and the fact that I have been pregnant for the past three years I haven't been up on a horse in a while, but I still love to watch it on television. This weekend I watched the Rolex Equestrian Championship and Carter loved every moment. When a horse would hit a rail Carter would say, "OH" as if he knew what was really going on. For part of the show he road Brocky, the rocking horse, around in front of the TV. I know this would make Grammy proud.

Cinco de Mayo

I don't really celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but I had a great time drinking a Margarita on the back deck with friends. Thanks to everyone who came. We had a blast.

Day @ the Spa

What a wonderful morning! The sun shining, my handsome husband taking the time to chat before he left for a busy day. I got a hot shower, new outfit, and my summer make up on. I knew I had to run out to the grocery store and post office this morning.

Now reality hits and I have to get all four kids ready to go. Finally, I got everyone loaded in the car and we had a great time at the grocery store. The kids were all very well behaved and they love that everyone stops us in the store. I think it must be because I am smiling amidst the chaos of 4 kids 3 years and under. So I pull up at the check out and realize that my darling Hannah had taken my wallet out at home. BUMMER. So now I graciously get out of line put all my grocerys back on the shelves because I need to use the cart to get all the kids to the car safely. So I load the kids back up and head back to our home. I ran in got the wallet and my mobile phone. Good thing I grabbed my phone because I happened to be talking to Jen on the phone and telling her about my wonderful morning and she said "Why don't you just drop the kids off with me?" I laughed and told her I was just about to pass her house so she should make offers like that. Well she insisted that I dropped off the kids. THANK YOU JEN!! So I left Hannah, Carter, & Sarah Jane.
I got back to the grocery store with Allison all went well and then I stopped at the post office. I felt like it was a day at the spa. Only one child to cart around. I felt like I should just soak up every moment. I forgot how easy it was just having one child. I am still feeling like I am on cloud nine. Thank you so much to a great friend, Jen. I owe you.

I am just so grateful for all the support and friends that I have made since moving here about a year ago. I am just starting to realize how many truly wonderful people are in my life. I have someone at a moments notice. Thank you to all of you. We really need to plan a girls weekend away without the kids. I am sure the guys would love to watch all the kids. Brian made a comment about going to Olive Garden with Mike, Steve and Ryan. Can you imagine? I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall for that one.

Brown Eyed Girl

Brown Eyed Girl

Loves that thumb

She is just such a delight. Click to view even more photos.

Boys Night

Tonight Brian and his friend took Carter to a Senators baseball game. It was free youth jersey night and Brian bought him the bat. I have a feeling that the bat will be in my possession for a while. Anyway they had a GREAT night. Carter will sleep well tonight.

Toys

Sometimes I think Brian bought me a new camera just so he could have another toy to play with? I do love that he enjoys photographing our children. Carter looks just as handsome as Daddy in this photo.

Getting Saucy

Our babysitters Laura and Elizabeth came to babysit while Brian took me out on a very romantic date night. They asked me if they could bring their younger brother and sister. I thought it would be fun. So I told my kids that Laura and Elizabeth were coming over and bringing their little brother and sister. Hannah gets very excited and says, "Momma do you think that I could hold them? What if they cry really loud like Sarah Jane?" With a smile on my face I told her that they might be a little big for her to hold. She would not hear of it. She knew they were little babies just like her brother and sister.
So they arrived and we ordered lots of pizza and the kids had a blast. They really loved having John over. Carter was glad to have a man to hang with. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job with our kids and for doing such an amazing job cleaning our home. We love you!
As for our date Brian took me to an old Bed and Breakfast restaurant where we say on a patio overlooking the old train station. As we sat waiting for our food to arrive he read the history of the town and the building to me. Thanks for switching it up. Afterwards we met up with another good friend of ours and sat and had a great chat. Thanks for just a perfect evening. Honey, I don't know how you do it all so well, but I am so thankful to have found you. I am so proud to be your wife.

Multi Tasking

The other day I got Hannah a new desk. She loves it! I love that she can keep all her art supplies inside. The first day we had the desk Hannah walked in to the kitchen where I was washing dishes and she said, "Hey Momma I need a lot of bills." I wasn't sure what she meant, but next thing you know Hannah had gone in my inbox and had a stack of bills, comcast, gas, electric and she was going through the pile writing a note on each one saying "PAID". If only it was really that easy.

Next Hannah decided to surf the web for a Kentucky Derby hat. She decided that if she road her horse while surfing the net she would have better luck.

All I can say is that she is a workaholic just like her Dad. Wink.

Bag Borrow or Steal

Do you ever just want to 'test drive' your purse? How long do you carry your purse? Do you ever dream of having the accessories of a star? Do you ever need something spectacular for that special event? Well here is the answer to your questions - Bag Borrow or Steal - It is a website that you can browse and when you find that bag or necklace or pair of sunglasses that you so desire you can borrow it for as long as you would like. Of course there is a fee. Each item has a price per week and if you love it you can purchase it or as they say Steal it. Another website has more of a focus on the jewelry - Bling Yourself. I don't know that I would use this all the time, but if I had a hot date with Brian and he was taking me somewhere special I would love to frost myself with some true goodies. Anyway I thought it was a great idea. Only fear I have is if the kids decided to use it for some science project? I think I will stick to purchasing my bags for now. Oh and if you are lucky maybe you will get the invite to ideeli.

Longaberger

A few weeks ago I got an invite to a Longaberger Home Show. I thought this will be fun I will buy some good steaks and make Brian a nice dinner. So right before the party Brian was asking about where I was going and I told him. He almost jumped out of his chair "Longaberger Baskets?" Still in shock I said "maybe I don't know what this Longaberger is." I didn't admit that I thought they were steaks. Actually I had never even gone to a home party until I moved here. So anyway Brian goes on to talk about how the home office is a giant basket (photo above). When I finally asked him how and why he was so knowledgable he said, "Oh the girl I dated a Liberty University lived near the basket" After that I gave him the look. Yes ladies you know what I am talking about... so he quickly changes the tune "Oh Honey, I mean some girl I knew. You are the only one I've ever dated." Thanks for making me feel so special Honey.

Anyway I went to the party and Brian instructed me that I MUST buy one of these baskets. Ladies do your husbands often tell you to BUY when you are walking out the door to a home party? Anyway I went and loved learning the company story and of course I bought a basket.I also learned that they have a lot more then baskets. They have ceramics, table linens I also decided to book a party.

So I am letting you know that I am a first timer here. So please help me out!!
The Party is two weeks from today. Look for your invitations in the mail. In the mean time I wanted to let you know about the specials:

Regular Price $51
YOUR PRICE: $30 From May 1-18th ONLY

Set of 2 for $30

It is also the time of year that you can get the American Starburst Fabric Accessories.