So behind...

I feel behind...I realized how many events I have photographed, but have yet to tell about..like Alex's award at school, and Leah's frame project, and welcoming home Aunt Ivy from the Army, and cool random things, like Dana's flat screen (that he has patiently waited and saved for, for over 2 years)...so, here they are, in no particular order...



I have more to write about, so hang tight...

Popi Makes Life Perfect

Popi left last week...it was so nice to have him visit us again this year- we look forward to his visits more than we ever say...
We love that he spends time with us, playing games, telling stories, playing basketball, and just hanging out with us- this is perfect Popi time! We couldn't ask for better moments than these. When Popi first got here, the weather was WONDERFUL!! It was Spring Break for all of us, and the warmth of Spring was here every single day! We went down to the Shoe and shopped there- buying Popi a new OSU vest- and me a new shirt- always fun! Then to the park with lunch and so much more! We did something every day, but more importantly, we spent quality time with him...these are the moments we remember and will hold on to until next April when Popi comes again...

Every morning, Celeste would set out a yogurt for Popi's breakfast, complete with spoon and lid off- she took such care of him- she would even sit with him the whole time he ate! This girl was melting his heart- I could tell...I wish I had a pic of them together during these moments- but rest assured, she remembers and I know he does too!



Popi went golfing for a week after he got here- and while he was gone, it was cold and rainy...the day he returned, so did the warmth!! It stayed super nice the rest of the week, and the day he flew out, he turned colder again! Must be something about him that brought the sunshine...if only he would stay next time!! Only 2 more years until Popi and GeeGee come back for good- we can count the weeks...but that seems like forever...we hope it goes by fast!

My Favorite Number...12

12 Years...12 Years...it really has been 12 years- I am not kidding...this was just yesterday...A beautiful, sunny morning in Washington DC...
Today, I woke up like this:And these 3 were waiting for me:I guess that is what has happened over 12 years- This is my wonderful life- I could not ask for more- I could not dream of more- and I won't-

thisis Heaven on Earth!

MIA again....

I haven't been MIA on purpose...it's just that it's Spring, and I have been a busy girl and have slacked on this blog...Sorry to those faithful readers (Mom), who look to this for updates on our crazy family...but we are all good...we are enjoying the weather and our time with Popi, who is with us for a few more wonderful days...Dana's baseball team is doing really well, and he is loving every moment of that...I have been teaching, and trying to keep up with some hope repairs- (new back door, yesterday! and some attic finishing today)...so not to worry, I will be back....soon, with fun pics of our time with Popi and new housing projects (the house comes off the market in 2 weeks, and we will be staying in it, spending some time and money to make it as perfect as we can...apparently, we are meant to be here...just wish I knew more about that- any ideas?!

Easter Extravaganza...

This year, Easter fell during General Conference, so we didn't actually "go" to church, instead we watched it at home, and it was so wonderful! Conference is always so good for me, and this year was no exception- especially to hear from the Prophet on Easter Sunday- what a wonderful day!
I still had the girls dress in their Easter clothes for some pics, but Alex chose to wear shorts, so I just had these taken of my girlies:
Then the egg hunt pics are from our house on Saturday....

The festivities continued on Sunday afternoon at my parents house with Sean and Steph and the girls, here is a condensed version...I love Easter- and this year with the beautiful warm weather, I loved it even more....the kids and I had a great opportunity to talk about the true meaning of Easter...they love learning about the Resurrection and of it's importance in our everyday lives. They are like sponges right now- they soak it all up and I love the questions they ask...my children are the best blessings in my life- I wonder/hope/pray that they know how loved they are- how eternally important they are- how divinely real they are and that they are sealed to parents who love them without end...just as we are all loved by our Heavenly Father...if they continue to make good choices and feel of their Savior's love for them, life will be perfect.
Happy Easter!

Catching Up...

I failed to finish posting about Alex's birthday last month...
I noted that I made those cute cookies with the cute tags on them...remember those?! Well, apparently, that is "embarrassing" for him, so he removed them prior to handing them out to his classmates- nice, right?!
Good thing he is cute, or else I might be mad! I was sad, though, and now realize how much he is growing up and how he needs to not be "embarrassed!" He had the Pinewood Derby that night, and was upset about the results- his car got 4th place- so he chose that moment to tell me to not take his picture when friends are around, and not to "embarrass" him!
So, I am trying....
He did, however, let me take these, because these, are with family, and taking pictures of him when they are around is OKAY...I will try to remember that!
Here are the Pinewood Derby pics that I forgot to post too:Still, I am pretty sure he had a great 10th birthday! He is one lucky boy- and we still haven't gotten to go to the indoor water park- that will be later this month- so being 10 isn't so bad after all...I just hope he lets me take some pics of him there....and even if he's not too happy about it, I still will!!

A Family Affair

We were privileged to get to spend a few precious hours with the Wells' Family this past weekend! They came to see Jeremy's step father, who is ill, and consequently, we got to visit them at their hotel and go to dinner! The cousins were ecstatic and so happy to have this time together- it has been over a year and a half since we last saw them- and wow...they have grown so much! We only wish we didn't have to wait so long in between visits- and that we lived closer! Not fair!
Well, here are all the crazies having fun....

Dana and Es at Bob EvansLeah and Ethan climb the tree

The kids in the pool having fun when Uncle Jeremy jumps in too!

6 of the 8 (I didn't get pics of Christian and Julian...but I will steal them from Es)

Isaac still has an inch or two on Alex!

These kids LOVE Bob Evans!

Annie and I ate all the Cherry Bread (well...Annie had a morsel and I had the rest!)

Jeremy, Liza, Jim, Suzi, Evey and Es

Evey could not get enough of the pool!

The hot tub was HOT!!!!!!

Evey let Alex take her swimming!

Celeste shows off her new bathing suit!

Such fun we had...it was super nice to get together for those few hours- we miss them already! Thanks for letting us borrow your "pool and bath tub"!! That was from Celeste! Love ya!

101 Small Pleasures You Can Enjoy Everyday

Sometimes life can be unfair, unkind, and not so fun...
I found this today and it made me smile, so I felt the need to share...
Sometimes life can be fair, kind and very fun, too!

1. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of hot chocolate
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. singing in the shower
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs (see nieniedialogues.blogspot.com)
31. a glass of whatever you like in a wine glass
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional (think Bella and Edward!)
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda (oh, how I love Cherry Coke from the fountain!)
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. cheesy, uplifting musicals
75. hearing a great story
76. the smell of gasoline
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies (my fav's- Tagalong's and Thin Mints)
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. yummy candles burning
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. Ella Fitzgerald
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning (that you didn't make!!)

Luck o' the Irish

Another year of St. Patrick's Day festivities down...another beautiful day for a parade with my girl...great times, great food, great family and friends...enjoy!!











I didn't get a pic of my kids all wearing their green on St. Patty's Day, but they all were, including Dana, who got a "Callahan's Auto" green shirt for the day! Gotta love Green!!

10 is Terrific!

10 years ago today, I became a Mom...Alex Christopher was born on Saturday 18 March 2000 - weighing in at 7lbs 3oz- so full of life and adorably handsome even at that very moment he took his first breath. I instantly fell in love with him and my title of "Mommy" became the most important role in my life.

Alex is a great kid-

honest

fun

funny

handsome

respectful

smart

a good sport

a great friend

and all around wonderful.

I just love this kid and am grateful for him more than I can tell you. He makes me smile each day and laugh in ways no other person can do. I look forward to more years of growing with him (though I am so not looking forward to teenage years!)....he is a special one, and we love him so very much!

Happy 10th Birthday, Alex!!

For his gifts, the girls gave him Bakugan's...that was perfect! He loves those dumb things!
I think he was happiest with that gift than with any other! Dana and I got him a Tony Hawk (ridiculously splashed with skateboards), a Bakugan watch, and a deck of cards (my kids are so into playing card games right now), that have a different picture of him on each one, (I designed them on Artcow.com). Love them!

His big gift, is a day at CocoKeys, an indoor water park during his Spring Break! He picked that over a party with friends....turning 10 is a big deal, right?! Lucky kid. (Added benefit, we all get to go- and the girls and I got new swimsuits, a little early!) Lucky us.

I asked Alex is he felt 10 this morning when he woke up- he said, "it feels great!" I made him peanut butter blossom cookies (his request) for his classmates, with tags on them that say, "Alex is 10!" He saw them, and a little embarrassment spread across his face- he said "I didn't want them to have my name on them and that I'm 10!" I didn't realize that he would feel that way- and as a matter of fact, it took me longer to make those little signs than it did the whole batch of cookies! I made him keep them on there! They pass them out at lunch, and don't make a huge deal of birthdays in the 4th grade at school...so sad! I love birthdays!!

On Sunday, we invited my parents and Dana's sisters and families over for food and cake- he wants a big chocolate chip cookie for his cake- and he made Bakugan drawings out of paper that I laminated for the decoration. Such a boy- a big one now...double-digiter - so not fair- I am not old enough to have a 10 year old- I just had him yesterday!