Surprise Again!

Nancy's family had a great party for her with lots of friends and family on Sunday night. It was fantastic!

Mom, and the sisters.

A cute niece.
A cute niece.

A cute niece.
These two I couldn't keep off the dance floor. I really don't know where they got it.

Wait, maybe I do know. The next few could potentially be embarrassing. But I don't care, I love to dance and evidently I love to wave my arms around a lot and sing along too.

It must run in the family, Dani is getting into it too!

Sing it sistas

Really, we're all kind of shy, can't you tell?
And cameras really intimidate us.

There are no words...

...to describe how awesome this trip was.
My heart is full with good memories.
My stomach is twisted thinking of being apart from all that goodness that is my family.
My body and soul is so incredibly thrilled to be back in my own home with my sweet sweet hubby.
While words are few the pictures are many. I'll start off with just a few from the Friday night surprise and some cousin time (the kids) leading up to it.
This is with Memaw in a restaurant in Amish country.

This is my nephew Paul we have great memories growing up together (he is only four years younger then me), we liked to sing the Davy Crockett song together, play school and most frequently we could be found playing 'poor people'...oh yes we did. Here I was sitting on his lap and it made Kendall very uncomfortable, the whole time she was saying, "No Mommy, No"

This is my 'big' sister Kristy. I like this picture because it looks like I'm about to spontaneously combust or something. We have great memories of growing up too, mostly fighting over clothes. Other good memories too like when she talked me into sitting on the handlebar of her bike and then proceeded to ride at full speed and slam on the brakes. And then there was that time we play 'Dirty Dancing' and she promised me that she could to the lift. That was the first time I ever had the breath knocked out of me.

SURPRISE. Oh yeah, we got her good. And then, two nights later, we got her good again...more pictures later.

Despite the look on my face I was having fun. I must have been contemplating my second margarita at this point.

This one did not have a margarita. She did have some extreme reactions to those crazy bugs down there and she even fell out of the bed one night.

This one, I love this one. She birthed me...after birthing seven before me. Yes, she's hero material.

Playing shots.

Me:"Who stinks?"

Kate: "ME!"

He is ALL BOY, he looks boy, he walks boy, he acts boy, I love 'em.

Small Town, USA

What a perfect day. The remembering, the colors, the flowers, the friends, the perfect small town USA Memorial Day parade. We've also been doing some of this.

And VERY excited about Mom coming in just TWO days and our traveling too!

Kendall and Kate have been so lovey lately. Today Brian took Kendall to the bookstore and she was worried about Kate not getting to go so she said, "Maybe you could give Kate a little snack when I leave?" I told her not to worry that I would take good care of her.

Kate has been substituting the word 'no' for "doesn't, don't, not..." Example: "These no fit." It always makes me smile.

Grillin'

Today after Kate's follow up doctor's appointment (she STILL has an ear infection) we went to the mall playground for the girls to play.

After I took the above picture Kendall walked over to me and said, "That boy was in my grill."

Friends

I promise she plays with real live kids all the time. I have no idea why she felt such a connection to these "friends" at Old Navy this week.

These two sisters have been super snuggly and sweet this week, I did not arrange this at all. Kate declared that she wanted Kendall to hold her and this is what ensued.

We're getting so excited about all our summer visiting. Memaw comes in two weeks then we're going to start our traveling. So excited to see family and friends!! My brain is already on overboard thinking of all the packing to do.

Birthday Girl

Kendall's party was so much fun. Everything was so relaxed and casual (maybe it was the wine and beer) that I completely forgot to do the activity and the pinata! I almost forgot about the cake too. The kids all played on the swing, the sandbox and the bounce house and I think all the adults had fun mingling. Kendall had a blast having everyone over and she got quite a haul of loot too. We have enough new things to last until next year!

Playing Week

Brian was out of town all week so the girls and I have tried to stay super busy. If the amount of dirt in the bathtub at the end of the day is any indication of how good our days have been then they have been great. We've spent a lot of time outside playing on our swingset, digging in the flower beds and we even made a trip to the indoor pool at the gym. The pool is fun but it is so stressful for me. The water depth is just WRONG for Kate. It comes up to about her waist and she is so uncoordinated in the water. She'll fall over and then have her hands on the ground trying to push up but her face is under water the entire time. I'm not the type of mother that follows my kids around the playground but that is what I become at the pool! I stay 3 inches from her and it stresses me out. Last night she was face under and struggling to get up at one point. She was holding onto the railing on some stairs, her hand slipped and she went face into the bar and then later she went face first down a couple of steps. She never cried (until I said it was time to leave) but I could only handle it for about 30 or 40 minutes then we had to leave. She would have been black and blue if we had stayed.

I'm loving Spring this year more then I ever have. I love to walk around our yard to see what has sprung up. I'm also debating a trip to Lowe's (my second in two weeks) to pick up a few things to plant in the ground tomorrow. Yes, the long winter has made me this way but also this yard, I love it. It's kind of fun since we have never lived here in the Spring, it's a surprise to see what is poking up from the ground or what is blooming. The girls just love any excuse to be outside so they don't mind my constant explorations out doors!