aaah

Last week was such a flurry of busyness. It was great - VBS and a visit from Aunt Beth, but it was really busy and we had 2 very tired little ones by the end of the week. Friday night we went out to dinner and before our food could get to the table, Aubrey was sound asleep sitting up. We couldn't wake him up to eat. It was so cute.

So we are really going to enjoy this week of doing nothing but whatever we want. Sleeping in, enjoying the pool and working in the garden are the only things on our list. (I do have to do laundry so we have clean clothes.) Other than that, our schedule is clear. Just the thing to make me say, "Aaaahh."

Back from the beach!

We made it home safe and sound from our beach trip. It was wonderful and consisted of lots of things.

Lots of riding in the car to get there.

Lots of luggage.
Lots of visits from Aqua Man. (Aubrey loves, loves his goggles)

Lots of putt putt. (Aubrey had never played before, but quickly became hooked)

Lots and lots of swimming.

Lots of playing in the sand.

Lots of kite flying and walking on the beach.

Lots of looking for sand crabs. (He's right at the end of the stick. Totally camouflaged. Isn't God's creation amazing?)

Lots of duck feeding. Both children loved watching and feeding them.

Lots of cute looks from our bathing beauty.

Although I didn't take any pictures, there was lots of lounging in the lazy river pool for me. I need one of those in. my. backyard. It was truly the life for me. I also got 4, yes 4 books read while we were there. My favorite way to spend time at the beach or the pool.

There was also lots of seafood eaten by me and D., and avoided by the children. Having children who are allergic to fish and shellfish is a challenge when dining out at the beach, but we didn't have any problems, thank God.

Now we're back and in the midst of Vacation Bible School. We're also anticipating the arrival of Aunt Beth today! Yippee! We haven't seen her since last July and it's just awful. We are going to have a great rest of the week. Please be in prayer for Chris and Leah as they try to sell their house, buy a new house and manage as a family while Chris is working away from home at his new job most of the week.

Aaack!

Last night I got to go to Lowe's all by myself! I had to get something for the garden, and D. didn't want to go. I was thrilled to get out and enjoy some peace and quiet after being home with the kids all day long. So I went and walked through the plants and flowers in the garden center. It was just nice. Then I came home to this:Yeah, it wasn't worth the trip.

Whatsa happening hot stuff?

(Title taken from the movie Sixteen Candles, which was one of me and my sister's faves from back in the day. We still quote that movie!)

So, we have had a lot going on in the past week or so. I thought I'd give you a run down on each family member.

Here goes:

Aubrey - turned five, had a wonderful party, learned how to ride his bike without training wheels (that was big), graduated from pre-school (sniff, sniff) and had his last day yesterday.

Mallory - is just full of preciousness still - of course she's full of sassiness already too - she is constantly trying to get into Aubrey's Legos (of which there are literally thousands in our house now) and wants to be outside all the time, is obsessed with babies and dogs, and also loves hiding in our closet -which is the pic to the right

D. - just got the bid for the site work for our new high school - this means he will be very busy this summer - he has also been working really hard in our garden, and taught Aubrey how to ride his bike

Me - just keeping all of us going and getting us where we are supposed to be - i have gotten a little scrapping done, but not nearly as much as i'd like, working outside a lot in our yard and the garden (it's coming along beautifully!), drowning in laundry and legos seems to be my mantra these past few weeks

Callie (can't forget our little guard dog) - she's busy keeping us safe from fierce groundhogs and getting us calls from the neighbors about her annoying behavior (yeah, i loved that one)

I had my friend Jill take Aubrey's five year pictures since she is just starting her own photography business. I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love them. They are awesome! I am so excited for Jill because I know if all of hers are this good, she is going to do really well with her business. Check them out here. You will love them! Of course her subject matter was pretty fab too.

The most exciting news is this - We are going to the beach on Sunday for a week! Woo hoo! I can't wait. We are all looking forward to it so much. I'll be MIA on here for awhile, but will be back with lots of fun pics I'm sure. See you after I'm tan and relaxed!

Birthday fun!

Just wanted to post a couple of pics from Aubrey's birthday party this weekend. My sweet friend Jill took these for me. I made the banner for him thinking we were going to have the party at home and we were going to decorate like a castle. It still added to the theme at the gym. Aubrey and I had so much fun making his castle cake. I looked at a bunch of pictures of castle cakes online and then we amended them to fit what we had to work with. He loved it. He told me over and over, "The cake is awesome!" I was glad he was so pleased with it. The party was fun. The boys definitely loved the inflatable swords and shields. The dragon pinata was a hit too (no pun intended). Very fun time was had by all.

Aubrey is so excited to be five. Every time we have talked to someone in public (people we know) Aubrey tells them out of nowhere, "I'm five now!" It's so cute.

Five things I love about my five year old:

1. He is so excited by the smallest things - our garden, bugs, cute animals, etc.

2. He is such a snuggle bug. (and I love to snuggle)

3. He is already particular about his hair and his outfits.

4. He loves, loves, loves Legos right now. I am amazed at his creativity with them. Way cool.

5. He has a humongous heart. He is such a sweetie. I am especially thankful for this part of him.

There are many, many more things I love about him, but I won't ramble. Love you Aubrey!

5 years ago

5 years ago today I became a mom. It was the most wonderful thing that has happened to me as a woman. I always wanted to be a mom when I was little, and my sweet little boy Aubrey was more than I could have imagined. He was a wonderful baby, eating and sleeping really well. He was content and happy. The past 5 years have flown by, and Aubrey is a wonderfully sweet, kind, loving little boy. He makes us laugh every day. He is such a gift from God. I am so privileged to be his mom. He teaches me as much as I teach him. Today we celebrate him.

This week we have been getting ready for his party. When we started talking about what kind of party theme he wanted he wanted a construction party. Then all of a sudden he wanted a "knight party". He was a knight for Halloween and is really taken with them. So, we figured out what he wanted and we have been working on it. I made a knightly banner and he and I made his homemade castle cake yesterday. He is so excited about it. We're having it at the church gym because it's supposed to rain, and 8 boys with inflatable swords and shields running through my house wasn't going to work for me. I will post pics of the festivities later.

Happy Birthday D.!

I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving husband. He is such a good man, and I am so thankful that he is mine! Of course it doesn't hurt that he will always be older than me! (especially now that we are officially in our mid-thirties) I hope he has many, many more wonderful birthdays.