YUCK!!

After church today the kids wanted to play in the backyard.  It was really hot today though so I told them to put on bathing suits and they could hook up the sprinkler while I stayed inside with Grant.  After a while there was a knock on the door from Kate with her yelling for me to come.  When I walked to the back door I was in total shock!  I found my crazy Kate with her bathing suit pulled down and covered in mud!  They decided a mud hole would be a much more fun way to play than just a childish little sprinkler.  Oh my!  I was not completely thrilled about their choice, but they were so excited that all I could do was smile.  :)

On the 7th Day....

On the 7th Day....God rested!

And what better way to help bring that point home to the kiddos at preschool than with pajama day!!!

Gabe has been looking forward to this day for a couple weeks now!

He picked out his favorite pajamas days ago and was sooo excited to go to school today!  :)

Happy Birthday Mommy!

After spending the first half of my birthday with Mickey Mouse, it was time to spend the rest of the evening with just my family.  The kids and my mom baked me a delicious butterfinger birthday cake!!!

As the storm clouds moved in all around us outside, I was so glad to be relaxing inside with a few of my favorite people!  As I turn 32, I can truly look around and say that I am so blessed.  I love my family and I love where life has brought us.  This past year has been so wonderful as we welcomed sweet Grant into the world and there are several exciting things scheduled for this next year...including a move into a bigger house! 

For my birthday, my family blessed me with money to go shopping and passes to the local water park...just what I wanted!!!!

I'm a happy mama...one year older!    : D

Happy 1st Birthday Andrew!!!

Today is a special day...it's my birthday!!!  : )

And what better way to spend my birthday than with my birthday buddy Andrew!!!

If you've not spent much time with Andrew, there is one thing you should know about him,

he has the most infectious smile that will light up any room!

Happy 1st Birthday Andrew!!!!

I am so glad to be celebrating with you today!!!

After playing for a while, the kids were all called to gather on the sidewalk...

Our big girls and the baby boys!

The kids were waiting so patiently when all of a sudden, Mickey Mouse starts walking up to the party!

I think everyone was surprised and excited!!!

Mickey watched as the kids played a very wild game of Hot Potato...

Posing for pictures...

Now for the moment we have all been waiting for:  CAKE!!!

Andrew was very excited!  It didn't take him long to dive in and get covered in yummy icing!

Happy 1st Birthday Andrew!!!!

When I wasn't looking, Andrew gave me a little taste of his smash cake.  : )

Grant may not know it yet, but he and Andrew are going to be great friends someday!

 He already loves Mrs. Nicole!

Thanks for letting us come celebrate with you guys today!!!

Thinking Day

Kate is a Daisy Girl Scout.  I kind of have mixed feelings about it, but for now, she is still in it.  I think the Girl Scouts, as an organization, are extremely liberal!  That alone would not cause me to take Kate out, but mix that with the fact that our troop has done nothing but color worksheets every other week...and sell cookies...I just don't see the point.  However, we did talk our troop leader into doing a small "Thinking Day" event where each of the girls chose a country, made a board of facts at home, and brought a snack.  Kate didn't know what to pick, so I suggested England, and she liked that idea.  Jon was born in England, Kate loved the idea of Princess Kate living there, and they love soccer....it was a perfect match!  Oh, and better than all that in Kate's opinion....Harry Potter!!!  :)  I don't know how much the girls really know about each of the countries, but we did have fun tonight!

Kate's good friend Emma was set up next to her with Spain.

And on the other side of the room was there other good friend Harper Mae with Italy!

SMILE!!!

Kate LOVES her baby brother!

She is also NOT a morning person, but the one person who makes her smile in the early morning hours before school, is Grant!  If he is awake (which he almost always is), she is still grumpy with me and fights getting up and going, but once she sees her baby brother she snaps out of her bad mood and smiles big for him!

She talks to him, tickles him, and tries her best to make him smile!

And this morning, she got the HUGE smile she was hoping for!!!

Grant started smiling a few days ago, but this morning was the first time I was able to catch it with my camera!!!  I love seeing my happy smiling baby boy!

Thanks Gabe!

This morning, while I was getting stuff done around the house, Gabe came to me and said, "I gave Grant some stuffed animals to play with."  I knew the baby was sleeping in the swing, so I went to check on him and this is what I found!  Thanks Gabe for taking care of your little brother.  : )  I had to take a picture before uncovering him from all the toys.

Grant's Dedication

This morning we went to church for a very special Sunday!  We stood before the congregation with several other families/babies and committed to raise Grant in a home where God is at the center.  Pastor Scott spoke a great message and blessing over each of the children and all of the families.  He also asked the congregation to commit to standing with us and being a support team as we navigate through the sometimes difficult journey of parenthood.  We often get so busy and caught up in our daily, long list of "to dos" that we forget to slow down and make time with God a priority.  But, it's so important!  Kate's at an age now that she's starting to ask questions about God.  She knows Bible stories and enjoys learning, but for her and Gabe it's still more of a "head thing" than a "heart thing."  Does that make any sense?  Kate told me the other day that Jesus is in her heart.  It was so sweet to hear her say that, but I want her to really know what that means and, more importantly, to know that Jesus loves her, is really always there for her, and she can talk to him whenever she wants, just like she can talk to us.  I want all three kids to know God made them, He loves them, and He will always be there for them.  I want them to know God, in a real and personal way.  I want them to not just know about God, but to really know Him.  I have to say though, that is something not always easily attainable....especially with church kids.  We grow up knowing the right things to say and do, and from all outward appearances, we're good little church kids.  BUT, all that is meaningless without a true relationship with God.  Today was a special day for Grant, marking our decision to help him learn about the love of God and how He fearfully and wonderfully made our baby boy and loves him so very much!!!

Also joining us at church today were my parents, my Grandma, and "Uncle" Dave!

MWR Festival

After soccer and t-ball, Jon & I took the kids onto the navy base for a small festival they were hosting. 

There were games, bounce houses, entertainers....and alot of heat!  Yes, it was HOT today!

But, we all had fun and the kids enjoyed the many carnival style games.

We were also surprised when, while waiting in line for a game, Mrs. Delaney came over to say hi!

This is Kate's classroom assistant, and she was helping out with the festival today.

The kids also got to play laser tag.  Gabe loved it, but Kate was disappointed and said the guns didn't do anything but make noise.  I guess she was hoping to really kill her opponents?!?  Not really I hope, but I do think she hoped it would better notify those who were "dead."  Instead you just kept shutting and then got to come reload once you were "killed."
Kate likes a winner...

Bowling reminded me that I need to take the kids again...

now that I'm not 9 months pregnant and having a baby the next day!

Last, but not least, water balloon baseball!

Let's Play Ball!

Lazy Saturday mornings don't often happen in our family anymore...  Grant wakes up to eat, then it's time to quickly get everyone else up, dressed, fed, and off to play ball!  Our morning usually begins at the soccer field with Kate, then we rush over to the t-ball field with Gabe, and then if we're lucky, we're home by noon for a relaxing rest of the afternoon!!!  I must admit, there are many Saturday mornings when I wake up and wish I could go back to bed until noon, but at the same time, I love cheering on my little athletes!!!  :)

What sport will Grant play in a few years?!?!?!

Easter Eggstravaganza

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pull off our annual playgroup "Easter Eggstravaganza" this year with our schedule being packed and my sleep limited.  But, as Easter got closer I couldn't stand the thought of not having it for Grant's first Easter!  I knew I couldn't decorate or plan activities like I have in past years, but a scaled down Easter party was a must!  :-)  Thankfully, the kids never mind....they just want to have fun with their friends!  Here is the whole gang ready to hunt LOTS of eggs!!!

We stuck to just our "Chick-fil-A" playgroup friends this year, but hid eggs as if we had twice as many kids coming over.  I think everyone could have filled their bucket/basket twice with as many eggs as littered the backyard today!

I couldn't stand the thought of not decorating, but honestly I just didn't have the time this year...or the energy!  However, I had to do something.  I decided that since pictures are sort of "my thing," that would be an easy and fun way to add something special to this years party.  I printed pictures from our Easter parties from the previous four years and used them to cover the kitchen walls.  It was fun walking down memory lane....these kids were such babies four years ago!!!

We played our traditional games:  Egg & Spoon race and the Bunny Hop

Go Brycie & Caroline!!!!

Kate got off to a quick lead in the Bunny Hop race!

This is the reason I couldn't NOT host this party...for Grant!

He happens to also be the reason I had little time and sleep to decorate!  :)

I know he won't remember this day, and he pretty much just got to look cute, but I will know he was here!

Jon's sister and our nephew Andrew were still in town for the first half of our Easter party.

Thank you both for hiding so many eggs for me this morning!!!

I didn't take many pictures of the kids playing, but I think everyone had a good time today.

I also want to thank Ava & Bryce's Grandma for getting up extra early to come into town in time for our party!  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of you...  Hopefully you can come back down again next year!!!  :)

Wyatt ~ Gabe ~ Amelia ~ Kate

Two adorable little ladies:

Courtney & Laney Grace