a busy weekend

whew - what a busy weekend

so i present our weekend in 3 collages :)

...

i normally detest craft projects in my kitchen-
but the kids had fun with potato stamps & paint
and only 1 kid fell off their stool {ryan - typical!}



right before bed it was time to break out the heart jello
and hang out with the grandparents

sunday was little ellery's baptism

my mom made her dress & it was beautiful!!!
check out the cake -
one of matt's co-workers made it.

party time

it's party time again -

yesterday at garrett's school...

and today it was olivia's turn...

needless to say we won't be giving the kids any candy tomorrow!

wordless wednesday

bike bike, baby

as seen around our house yesterday...

snow free sidewalks & driveways
rain boots
puddles
bikes

we loved it!!!

we decided to go for a walk around the block yesterday afternoon.
against my better judgement i let ryan ride his big wheel and put josie in a single stroller.
not a good idea.
at exactly the 1/2 way point ryan decided he didn't want to ride anymore.
i had to lug a muddy big wheel and push josie while keeping ryan from running into the street.
meanwhile, garrett and olivia were constantly fighting about who should be in the lead,
who was going too slow, blah blah blah...
and at random times ryan would want his big wheel back only to not want it a few feet later.
45 minutes later we made it back home.
did i mention we just went around the block??

and that is why i prefer a nice run ALL BY MYSELF!!!
miles & miles of peace & quiet
{ha ha - kidding!}

it was a crazy bike ride - but who can't love 60 degrees in february???

fun at the zoo

day off of school
AND
almost 40 degrees

we had to go to the zoo!!!

the zoo was so empty
the kids just ran around like hooligans
it was great!

keep out

olivia's new favorite thing is "privacy"

here's what i found on her door this afternoon

and here's what she said about it
"mom, if people would simply knock on my door
i'd be happy to answer any questions they have."
well isn't that nice of her!


6 yr old translations

"keep off - no climbing allowed"
she said this meant no climbing on her door.
personally i've never seen anyone climb on her door.

and my personally favorite-
"no ryan - but garrett is allowed"

wordless wednesday

a tv lesson

while watching little einsteins & eating breakfast olivia informed me that while the characters and rocket were fiction, the setting was non-fiction.

maybe having a tv in our kitchen isn't all bad.

although, as i type this ryan is crying on the kitchen floor because i won't turn that tv on.
never mind that diego is already on the tv in our living room.

i think the tv in the kitchen will be short lived even though hearing about fiction & non-fiction from a 6 year old over cereal cracks me up.

mother may i

mother

so at first i thought it kind of cute
just a funny thing he was saying to make me laugh

now it's the only thing he calls me
i still think it's funny

but

it's kind of embarassing when we're out in public
like when he yells "mother, can we buy poptarts???" at the store
i feel like i should be wearing a long drab skirt, my hair in a bun and have my kids dressed in some sort of amish overalls

celebrate

josie posie... today is your birthday!!

we can hardly believe you are 1

you are truly our little gift from God

we love you so much!!

...

here's a little of behind the scenes to get ready for your big day...

i had 2 great cupcake helpers

your sister said the pink frosting was so "freaky good"

garrett was more than happy to make sure she was right

we opened a few presents before church in the morning -

lots of little hands were happy to help you open them :)

later it was off to lunch at grammie & grampie's house

and what's a birthday without a birthday onesie????

thanks, grammie!

and finally...

happy birthday, baby girl!!!!