Beauty in Bloom

She's not a baby.

Little Miss Sunshine.

Our Annabel June.

This sweet girl of mine has gone ahead and got all big on me. It is going to take me a while to recover, but in the meantime let's take a look at a few photos of a little girl whooooo graduated from preschool this week.

Before the big show.

All of the kiddos were so cute. They sang, played instruments and sang some more for a captive, adoring audience. The Pastor of the church where the preschool is located said that this class gave the most hugs of any class in the history of the school. I thought that was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. :)

Here she is receiving what I hope is only the first of many degrees of her precious life....

The preschool had a small reception after. Cupcakes and milk of the plain, chocolate and strawberry varieties.

 

Yes indeed. Look whooooo's graduated. She was so happy that day. "Mommy, are you so proud of me that I graduated?" was all she kept repeating. "Yes baby, SO proud!" I would reply. Then the biggest smile you have ever seen would follow.  All I want to know is how I am going to ever let you go? Good gracious my girl....I refuse to even think about it.

 

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The last few days around here have been crazy fun. Well, crazy and fun. A really dear friend of mine, Heather, came to visit this week. She brought her two kiddos, one whose is good friends with my Faith, and we have spent the last two days catching up. They are staying with other friends for the next two nights, but we are all heading to the zoo together in the morning. I never realize how much I miss her since she has moved away until I see her again. We have the best talks. Love you Heather. Can't wait until we come out to the farm this summer!

In other news, I got a tee vee in my bedroom today! I have dreamed of this day for almost 10 years.  It has satellite hook-up and a dvr(that I got for freeee!).  If you are one of those people who think tv's in the bedroom are a big mistake, please keep that info to yourself and don't ruin my happiness. ;)

Let me figure that out on my own.

Today is the day.

Today is the start of our Spring break. It also happens to be Good Friday. Two very important days in the life of our little Family.  We do not have any big plans for today, but I can promise you that we will be remembering what Christ did for us on this day. How He paid with His life so that we could be forgiven.  Oh how I wish I would have had this knowledge when I was growing up.  My kids are so blessed and lucky.

There will also be a few fun things too, you know, because we have small kids, and because Easter weekend also brings things like egg-dying, dressing up, family time, a big potluck style breakfast before Easter services and of course an egg hunt or two. It's my favorite Holiday,

Since joining Instagram this week, I have been documenting life with my cell phone more than I already too. This app is too fun.

1. We registered Miss Annie for Kindergarten this week. I have very mixed emotions about this. I am very happy for her because I know she will love it, but I am a bit sad because she is such a super sweet kid and I LOVE having her at home with me.

She got to ride the bus. Hasn't stopped talking about it since.

She also received and new book and aced the evaluation.

2. We went to Michaels this week too. My happy place. I picked up a few goodies and then took the girls to their happy place. McDonalds. Ha!

They finished that day all together in the sandbox.  It takes so little to make them happy. I pray it always stays that way. Yeah right!

3. There will only be three bullet points because I have only had Instagram for 3 days. Ha! So yesterday the girls begged me to bring up their tub of Polly Pockets from the basement. They set it all up and played for a while..while they watched tv too. Of course.

J'adore these kids even though they stress me out all the time!

Yesterday also brought dinner out at the Applebee's. Half price appetizers baby. We eat them as our dinner cause we are cheap.  Daddy and Faith playing tic-tac-toe. She loves him so.

Last night I was watching a show and had kicked my family out of the living room for 30 minutes because honestly, they were driving me crazy!! In the middle of the show, the kids came running in and said Mom, you have to come see this. I grumbled, but got off my butt anyway. So glad I did cause this is what I found.....

Little rascals! Just when they push me to the brink of insanity, they do something like this and I get hit with a charge of guilt because how could I ever get angry with kids this cute and funny?!  I will never know!

That was our week. I am loving this app! Did I say that already?

Anyway, I hope your weekend is wonderful and full of celebration, joy, and most of all gratitude.  For Christ is risen!

HAPPY EASTER friends.

XO

It's the little things...

Today's mission was simple:

Find the girls some parasol picks. (a.k.a. tiny paper umbrellas)

The kind that are put in fancy drinks.

Or at our house, used for Polly Pocket props.

Yesterday, I searched every store in Upper Alton while I was supposed to be out buying Claratin for Liv.

All 3 of them said, "We just stopped carrying them, or we just clearanced them out."

Yeah, sure.

For some reason my kiddos think these are a hoot and Olivia just broke their last one that Faith and Annie scored at a bridal shower like 8 months ago.  When I shared with them that I had been on a mission to find some new ones, they were excited.

Until I told them I couldn't find any.

So, I did what any good mother would do and promised Annie that Mommy would get her some tomorrow.

All of this was my fault anyway.

So this morning we headed to Schnucks because I was told by many I could find them there.

Great. I need to go there anyway.

No luck.

I was told, "we just stopped carrying them."

Of course. I knew that.

We leave the store. Annie wasn't upset. Probably because I told her we would hit up the party store later. I was hoping she would forget. I mean all of this was my idea anyway.

Not so.

At 4:15 today, I was downstairs doing laundry(which if you know me at all you know I would rather be clawing my own eyes out), just about ready to head up to finish dinner. She comes down and say's, "Mommy, you said we were going to the party store to get umbrellas. Can we?"

You should have seen that sweet face. Even Bob said he would not have been able to resist.

"Yes, Annie. Go get on your shoes and coat."

This is the year of saying YES more often to my children.

I feel like I say NO way too much.

Within reason of course. I have no intention on being wasteful or indulgent.

Look how happy she is.

144 count box = hours and hours of fun.

Best $7 I have ever spent.

We also had fun trying on glasses & masks.

This one was for daddy. She insisted that I take a picture of her wearing it and send it to him.

This last one is proof that all of this was NOT for nothing.

Now Polly Pocket has protection from the rain.

Too bad they are made out of paper.

 

I think I am going to like saying Yes.