Mother's Day 2014

Our Mother's Day weekend was packed with tons of comings and goings. 

On Saturday we went to Union City to get some things at the outlet mall. We stopped and ate at Ryan's (and I was so disappointed because the UC one is usually good). 

The kids (really, Bradley) had to play the claw game and he picked this bear up the first time, but it fell not once, but twice before he finally got it. I estimate it to be a $6 bear. Lol. Harrison was ecstatic with his prize! 

On Sunday we did church, watched Gremlins (Mother if the Year!), and then ate dinner at Applebee's (a much better meal than Ryan's!). 

A great weekend in the midst of the chaos that is otherwise known as May! 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and all those who have been like mothers to people. 

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears theLord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

I'm so blessed to be a mother to these 2 little ones. I pray that I guide them up in the way they should go. 

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is such a fun day to me. I didn't care for it much before I had kids, but now I love seeing their Valentines and the fun that they have. We have the same dinner every year of delicious pasta and then just enjoy some family time at home. Just a nice way of making memories with our littles.

Where Valentine's Day threw up all over Wal-Mart

At our Girl Scout meeting the girls played a game moving conversation hearts using chopsticks. Ava is really good at using chopsticks!

Books from Nana and Pop

Chopsticks made us think of Chinese food, so since Daddy and and Pop were out of town, we took Nana out for Chinese! Yum!

He also loves using chopsticks

Cute gifts for our teachers.

My sweet boy on Valentine's Day

Sweet girl with her Valentine mailbox and wearing a crown for "hat" day at school.

Fancy dinner requires sparkling grape juice

Every year we enjoy a delicious pasta dish on Valentine's Day

Ava set up this craft table to go along with our dinner

 

 

New Year's Day/Scavenger Hunt

New Year's Day was spent at Nana and Pop's after a lazy morning at home.

After supper we played Mexican Train dominoes and after a while (a few hours), the kids got antsy. Ava had played for a long time, but since the game takes so long she had given up. I sent her on a photo scavenger hunt so you can see what she came up with below. ;) A good way to welcome 2014!

This has become Ava's go to spot for reading. Love seeing her reading challenging books.

This little guy spent some time curled up in my lap.

Rousing game of Mexican Train dominoes

The below pictures are from the scavenger hunt I sent Ava and Harrison on. They had fun and it gave us a little piece and quiet!

I told her to find an elf and take a picture. This selfie of her and the elf just makes my heart melt. Such a funny girl.

A ballet ornament???? She claims it is there.

I made her count how many ornaments were on the light. She says 67. ;)

She claims an elephant is in this picture

Not sure about this one

A blue towel

Forks forming the letter T

Wowza!

Can't believe that it has been so long! So many things have happened since our last entry (holidays, celebrations, etc.).

We hope you have all had a Merry Christmas and that you are gearing up for a marvelous way to ring in 2014!

Fourth of July Picnic in June

This past Saturday we had our annual Fourth of July cookout. We had it on the Saturday before the 4th so that we could be together. We had a great time. My mom had come back with us after we left Indiana and got to spend a few days here with us. Since we hadn't seen my family since Christmas we had a lot of catching up to do.

 

 I look forward to this all summer long and it was as yummy as in the past. We were missing a few key players which was sad and we definitely missed them.

Can you tell she loves this dog?

He looks so crazed here!

And she looks crazed here!

 

Apparently Ava has some sort of affliction that prevents her from taking a normal group picture.

Scout fell head over heels in love with my dad. Unfortunately, my dad doesn't feel the same about him. But while he was here, Scout had a buddy for life.

We were laughing because I said his love reminded me of Dug from the movie Up. He loves unconditionally from the beginning. Here is Dug: