It's Your Birthday...

Yep...I'm another year older and none the wise...just kidding. I'm actually quite wise...as in wise guy! Okay, I know I'm not a guy, but wise gal just didn't sound the same. And I've also been blogging for a while and have a goal of finishing my May blog posts, so I may be blogging slap happy...or just plain punchy. Either way, my 34th birthday was... ...spectacular! At least for most of us...Rachel Lee is still a bit afraid of the ocean.... But a coffee seemed to perk her up. Or more appropriately chocolate milk. After Jeff got home we went to dinner with a few friends while a sitter took care of the girls. It was really a special time and I felt very loved by Jeff, the girls and friends! Praise God for all the blessings that 34 years have brought me! And here's to 34 more years of living in God's grace and knowing love from God and others!

"Wrap Me Up"

All my girls have loved being swaddled as babies. I remember when Hannah outgrew her swaddle blankets, but I refused to let her go unswaddled because she slept so much better swaddled. My friend Jenny and I made larger blankets and sat there joking that if it meant that we slept better, we would swaddle our kids until they went off to college. Joking...but then my sweet Rachel Lee decided that she wants to be wrapped up before she sleeps...and if she is wrapped up she sleeps so much better. So, here is my two year old, swaddled for nap time (and don't worry, she can get out of the swaddle just ask her sisters who see her play around during nap time...shenanigans I tell you!)

Painting with my Girls

Although I've quit my morning women's Bible study I feel busier than ever! Both older girls have end of the school year activities that are keeping us occupied, and Ellie, the little girl I care for, has been needing a few extra hours of care here and there. Add in extra work for Jeff and BAM! things are busier than ever. But every so often I just have to stop everything, sit with my girls, turn on some quiet music and enjoy painting. Painting is always so relaxing for both me and my girls!

Closing Ceremony at the San Diego Art Museum

Well, the display at the San Diego Art Museum, the Young Artist, is over now, and Hannah's head will soon be returned to her. The closing activity was a brief question and answer time. Each artist was given 3-5 minutes to speak, and the art docent asked questions to get the kiddos speaking. It was a fun time, and Hannah spoke slowly at first, then with confidence at the end. My parents came down for the ceremony, and they brought Amy. What a treat! Rachel Lee was trying to make a great escape...but Kate was determined to hold onto her. We were a bit early, so we stopped by the art workshop to sketch a self portrait and then use water color to paint it. So fun! And you know the interview is over when: And of course, what trip to the Art Museum would be complete without a trip to the dragon...at least that's what I call it because I think it is a dragon...I'm pretty sure it is... But whatever it is, it sure is fun to climb!

Pool Time

Jump! Jump, jump! Or, just hang out poolside look cute.

Messy Paint Day

It was a good day....a messy day...a paint and shaving cream day. Yes, it was a good day! Sweet Kate was nervous about Messy Paint Day. Her teacher had told her that there would be paint all over the playground and that they would get messy, messy, MESSY! Kate heard those words and thought, "No thanks." So, it was tough to get her to go to school (for that and other reasons). Volunteers were wanted for the Messy Paint Time (mostly for the clean up) so I called a few friends, found someone to take care of the three other kiddos (it happened to be an Ellie day) and made sure that I was there for Kate in case she wanted to go home. Fortunately she did have a good time and didn't have to get too messy. Just messy enough to have fun! And of course, when your friends are getting messy you want to as well! It was a good day...messy and good!

Crazy Hair Day!!

I may have spent way too long doing hair last Tuesday morning in preparation for Kate's crazy hair day at school. The problem is, when one kid has crazy hair with bands, baby-buns, pony tails, braids and GLITTER, all the girls want bands, baby-buns, pony tails, braids and GLITTER! So, I stood there banding and glittering their hair, and I can't help but look at the pictures and smile...they were quite proud of the crazy hair dos! And of course, crazy hair leads to crazy behavior...this is what happened when I asked them to turn around to see the back...the started spinning and before I knew it they were running all over the front yard. Good times with the sweet ones!

Mother's Day Part 2

On Mother's Day I was able to spend some the day with my mom, and we started the day off right, with a fresh cup of coffee and a tasty muffin. We then returned back to my parent's house and let the kiddos play in the water...it was a warm day in Brea! Check out Jeff, the lifeguard on duty! And my sister Jenna and her lovely family joined us for a nice afternoon lunch, compliments of Jersey Mike's (and the guys who ran out to grab the sandwiches so we could sit and chat while the kiddos played). I am so blessed by my family, and the only thing that could have made the day even better would be if my sister Rachel and her family were here with us. I do miss them all so much, and it's especially hard during "holidays" that my heart longs to see them again. One day...prayerfully! Until then I will appreciate all of these guys and the time I have with them!

Mother's Day Part 1

Jeff and the girls made my Mother's Day, celebrate a week before the Hallmark determined Mother's Day, very special. Jeff took us to Panera for a lovely breakfast, then to a park to burn off some energy before church, then a pot church bike ride around the lake and a picnic lunch. Phew...it was quite a day! The best part of course was just being together. And the best part is that I get to be a mother to my three lovely little girls. Praise the Lord for my girls, and praise the Lord for my husband!

Rachel Lee's Shenanigans

Shenanigans: plural of she·nan·i·gans (Noun) Silly or high-spirited behavior; mischief. Yep. That's Rachel Lee. She is silly and high spirited, and sometimes mischievous...sometimes. Most of the time she is just plain silly. Here she is one morning, after dropping Hannah off at school she came home and put on her swimsuit...at 8:30 am. Not that she wanted to play with water, she just wanted to wear her swimsuit. Then, she found my wool sock by the side of my bed (it was Monday morning...), put them on, then ran around the house laughing and saying, "Catch me!" "You can't catch me!" or one of my favorites, "Come booty-booty me!" After she tired of that, she climbed in Ellie's infant car seat and strapped herself in. So silly! This is her being silly with Chip. She was saying, "Chip pulls me!" But really Chip was wanting his bed back. He's quite fond of his bed, as is Rachel Lee. And at the park, I have to sneak up on her to get a decent shot of her trying to dodge me: And all of this is what she takes in the car to drop off or pick up the girls from school. It seriously takes her about 15 minutes to pick out her toys, grab blankets for her dolls as well as for her, get her gloves and shoes on...and then she has to drop it all in the car to get in her seat and buckle up. Such a silly little girl... And yet all of her shenanigans make her who she is, who God created her to be. A silly, sweet, and sometimes mischievous little girl. And we love her...and her shenanigans!

Go to Sea World, Pet the Dolphins

Our sweet Rachel Lee, when you ask her what she wants to do, will tell you she wants to, "Go to Sea World, pet the dolphins." I love living in a place where my two year old can and does pet a dolphin. In fact, on our last trip to Sea World all three girls were able to feed a dolphin too! How cool, right!?! Here the girls are, exploring a polar bear cave...it was actually really cold in there, so I forsee a lot of hot summer days hiding out in this polar bear cave!Plus... ...Rachel Lee is tall enough to go on most of the rides! And... ...there are lots of interesting characters there! Kate and Rachel Lee are waiting for Jeff and Hannah to come around the corner and spray water cannons at them...and those sweet little girls totally soaked them! But Hannah loves the water rides, so here she is with Jeff on Atlantis. Here the dolphin swam right next to Jeff and the girls, so they were all able to "pet" the dolphin (although if you look closely enough you will notice that RL's hands are quite touching the dolphin...poor girl couldn'r reach!) The trainer gave Kate a fish... ...and Rachel Lee a fish... ...and Hannah a fish! But the best part is just being a family, and being together. It's so great to be doing fun things with these fun people: What a blessed life I have! Praise the Lord for all the good gifts He's given!