Some Firsts.......

So last Thursday we had another gorgeous day so we hit the beach for the first time this season!

 Although the water was still a bit chilly the girls still wanted to take a dip.

 But spent most of their time playing in the sand with buckets of water.

 Anna Banana and her mommy joined us too!

 And then we picnicked before heading off to school!

 That night Brynn had a birthday party so grandma, Bella, Brooke and I headed to Tastee Freeze for the first time.  Definitely won't be the last!! :)

Park Day!

Another gorgeous day!!

What a blessing!  

Yesterday we apparently broke a record for heat.  Yikes, hope that's not a glimpse into our summer.  Anyway right now, we'll take it.  

We are so thankful to hopefully have cold and yucky days behind us.

So today (Wednesday) after school we headed to our neighborhood park for the afternoon!

(Oh have I mentioned Mormor Domier arrived yesterday 

for TWO WEEKS just to help me out?  SO thankful!!!)

All of our trees are officially green with full leaves or full of beautiful flowers!

While walking home from the park I had to get a pic.

So what to do?

Stick the girls up in a tree and snap a few with my phone. ;)

Hope you're enjoying the great weather too!!

Some random catch up.....

So just a couple of happenings I wanted to mention on here to catch up. :)

So last week was Teacher Appreciation Week.  Among other things, I helped the class put together a book for Ms. Denise.  Our theme for the week was Thank you for helping us grow!  Each student filled out a reason they were thankful for Ms. Denise.  The cutest thing was 3 (out of 5) of the boys mentioned playing soccer with Ms. Denise and they all included Brynn in their picture (the only girl that jumps in and plays (Ms. Denise plays on her team).  Her daddy was so proud. ;)

 Also last Friday, with thanks to Cheryl and Leah for taking the littles, I was able to volunteer at Bella's school for Discovery Day.  Each student got to pick 5 classes for the day to go out and do.  Bella did a soccer class, cheerleading, tie dying, Horseback riding (which she was very bummed that it turned out to be only informational and they pet the horse not ride it :) ), and the science of candy.  I helped volunteer in the tie dying class.  I was literally on my feet for 5 hours, which I haven't done in forever and not at 33 wks pregnant.  I was exhausted!

Sadly I was so busy I didn't even get her pic when she came in to tie dye.

Here we were having lunch together.

 And I caught a couple pics of her in the Science of candy class before I left, she had so much fun!

 The other day I found the girls all playing together, in Bella's bed, with box houses they made.

Maybe we don't need a bigger house. ;)

 Brynn has been begging for a haircut so on Monday she got the royal treatment (just a little trim).  She loves it since only she gets fun haircuts not her sisters. ;)

 On Tuesday this little one was sitting on my lap and I just was overwhelmed with thankfulness!

 She is a handful at times but she is also so darn precious all in one big package!!

 On Tuesday Daddy wasn't leaving until 1 for a trip so I sat in the sun and tried to get some color on my white legs while the littles enjoyed some weed picking with daddy. ;)  So thankful we have been having some very nice, warm days!

They were quite successful!

Not really dressed for weed pulling. :)

 Hey mom, look, traffic! ;)

 A little chalk tracing too.

 Fun times around here! :)

Happy Mother's Day 2013!!

First things first,

 I must wish a happy Mother's Day to the two mommies in my life!! 

(and of course my awesome grandmas in heaven)  

Thankful the hubs' mom brought me a partner for life and thankful to my mom for giving me life and being one of my best friends!

The hubs planned the most perfect Mother's Day ever!

As much as I love my family and spending time with them,

 all I really ask for on Mother's Day is to be alone. :)  

I know terrible right?  

I spend most of every day being needed in some way.  And I am definitely a people person but occasionally I crave a day of not talking to anyone.  And I like to use Mother's Day as this day.  Every now and then the hubs with take a kid or two out for a little bit (and usually just the older girls if he takes 2) but it doesn't happen very often.  He does better staying in with them, so I rarely have a quiet house.  This Mother's Day they let me sleep in and then I received breakfast in bed along with many homemade presents (and also a nice charm bracelet from the hubs).  Then the best part, the hubs took ALL 3 of the kids OUT of the house.  It was SO nice.  The crew left about 10:30.  I sat around, watched a movie (The Impossible- about the Tsunami- SO good), relaxed.  After a while I thought I'd get out (thinking the hubs was going to be back soon- turns out they didn't get back until 4!).  I grabbed lunch, alone.  Sat quietly, didn't have to share or serve anyone else.  Then I leisurely walked around the mall for hours. :)  Did a little shopping for myself.  Went to Babies R Us and drooled over all the baby things I'd love to have.  Then walked around Target and grabbed a couple essentials for the next day's dinner.  I grabbed one of my favorites for dinner, Buffalos, on the way home and get home about 6.  A perfectly lovely day on my own. :)

After dinner the girls were begging me to do something with them.  They said they wanted to do something WITH me on Mother's Day.  Ha.  So we played a board game together before heading up for baths and bedtime.

Couldn't have asked for a nicer Mother's Day.  So thankful for my hubs and the 3 beautiful girls (and one in heaven) that make it possible for me to be called Mommy, a life long dream.

Something else I like on Mother's Day is for the hubs to get some pics of me with my girls.  Since I take most of our day to day pics, I am rarely in them.  I also wanted a few maternity pics before I get too humongous (Blakely will be here in SIX WEEKS. ;)

So here are a couple of my favs that the hubby quickly took.