Girl Time

The past Saturday my mom took my girls to an American Girl doll tea. They went last year and my girls were really looking forward to it again. Bummer that I didn't get a pic with them and my mom, maybe next year?? Thanks, mom, for taking them, they had a great time with you.

Fun in the Sink

Nice Legs

I am LOVIN' this

Thanks to Food Network, the last few years my hubby has had a growing interest in cooking. It's pretty impressive what he can throw together from the fridge and have it taste good. Monday (his day off) he cooked all 3 meals. Oh my, what a treat that was. The other day I sent him a e-mail that said, "If you love me, cook this." I had a link to a Trinidadian chicken curry. While I was napping with the little 2, he snuck off with the older girls and got the ingredients. It was heavenly.




Little Miss Claudia can now make desserts all on her own. She made us a pan of c. chip brownies. Morgan was drooling over them, waiting to dive in.



Aaron was thrilled with his sparking grape juice.

We have a porch!!

Thanks to a weekend of gorgeous weather, the stone on our front porch is done!! The porch is complete with a rocker and pot of pansies. All we need is a post(s?) and maybe a rail (haven't decided on that yet).


Steve did some grading around the house and driveway. Some little toes found a home in the fresh topsoil.


Some work, some play



Dirty, but oh-so-happy

What a Day

This past week has been so great. I am LOVING this amazing spring weather that we are having. It makes me feel like a new woman. I love to send the kids outside and see them get dirty and have fun running around.
It was also a special birthday week for Steve and I. His birthday is the day before mine. Thanks to all who sent me sweet comments on his post. I was very surprised and honored by your kind words. And for the record, my dance moves are not old school. I don't know what he is talking about.
Today was a busy day with extra activities and we spent the afternoon/evening doing stuff in our yard. There is much outside work to be done!!
After I worked for awhile, I spent a few minutes with my camera. Aaron and Greta were fighting over the tricycle.


Greta won.


Actually, Aaron just resigned himself to his "big boy bike" that he is still getting used to.


Aaron said to me, "Let's go over there and take some photos." That cracked me up, I don't think I ever say "photos". Not sure where he got that. He wanted me to take a picture of his gum.


Some serious nostril flaring going on




Oh, I love this kid. I never had much of a desire to be a mom of a boy. He has been such a pleasant surprise to me. He's interested in every part of life, can talk your ear off, and is such a sweetie. Today I went to the Amish greenhouse to buy some flowers and took just him with me. It was so sweet, I rarely have time with just him. He was so excited to see all the flowers and touch them and tell me the colors. It was so fun!


The love is mutual here




Ahhh... my heart skips a beat when I look at these flowers! I have not planted much in a LONG time. Last summer we were ripping the house apart, the summer before we had just moved from MD and I was massively pregnant. I am in love with my pansies.




We have developed a bit of a ocean look to our front yard. This sand pile has been here for months b/c of the stone mason. The kids are loving playing in it. I think we will all be a bit sad to see it go.

25 Things I Love About Lori on Her 34th Birthday

(A surprise guest post by her husband)

1 That she has given me 12 (almost 13) wonderful years together


2 How her nostrils flare when she laughs


3 Her complete lack of insincerity


4 How easy she is to talk with


5 Her genuine interest in others


6 Her deep, unfeigned love for God


7 Claudia


8 Morgan


9 Aaron


10 Greta


11 Her desire for truth, even above ease


12 That she'll still occasionally pull out her "old school" dance moves


13 That she has followed me gladly and faithfully


14 Her model as a wife and mother for our girls


15 Her grasp of the gospel


16 That she'll forget she's 34 in about a month


17 Thousands of shared moments together


18 That she's learning to enjoy coffee with me


19 Her family


20 Her cooking


21 Her laugh--quick, free and hearty


22 Her humility


23 The dozens of songs she's created that use our kids' names or nicknames


24 Her beauty, which has only grown


25 The joy we all experience when she's around





What about you? Anyone else have things to add?






Love you baby,

Steve

Helper

Little Greta thinks she needs to be a part of any action that is going on around here. She doesn't miss a beat!! The other day she pulled the chair up to where I was cooking (no, the stove is not on!). Claudia snapped these shots.

I could start a series...

Seems I"m getting a number of pictures that I want to label, "Why you shouldn't..." Here is: Why you shouldn't let your 3 year old "raisin" his own oatmeal.

More Pigs

I keep trying to put pig tails in Greta's hair to see if they will last. Yesterday was the longest, I think they many have stayed in for about 15 minutes. She rips anything out that I put in her hair. They are so stinkin' cute, can't wait till she stops pulling them out.




The stone on our porch is getting closer and closer to being done. Our mason can only work on Sat.'s so it's been a bit of a slow process, but it's getting there. It really changes the look of the house and can't wait to see it all done.

Aahhh....

A glorious moment happened on Monday. We got carpet installed in the girl's new room, hallway, and steps. It is so lovely, I wish I could just lay there all day and smell it and enjoy it. But alas... these is still much work to be done. Bookshelves and headboards to be painted, decor to be found or made.
We made an unofficial move into the room as soon as the installers left. The beds are in but nothing else is allowed b/c we still have to fill all the nail holes in the trim.






I am so excited that the girls now each have their own closet. It will be so much easier to keep their things in order. (At least that is the theory...)


This is my favorite from Morgan's closet. The girls each labeled their own bins. This is supposed to be "tights"