Friday! And I'm Lookin' Forward To The Weekend!

...especially because my parents are coming! Yay!!

and, also, because thanks to the kids my husband teaches we hit the gift card mother-load last night!

Behold:

We already had free Wendy's lunch today--woo hoo!!

And Granny and Pop have already volunteered to watch the kids so we can go on a Cheesecake Factory Date night!! Hooray!!!!!!!

I also was gifted these by the students:

Soooo pretty! They smell yummy too! It's good to be married to the music man! =)

Anyways, Granny watched the kiddos last night so that I could go enjoy the concert (thank you again Granny!)! 

 Here they are anxiously awaiting her arrival:

They lost their minds when their grandparents came in! 

They love them so! =)

(And yes, the girls wear matching pjs almost every night. Don't judge =)

Anyways, It was a great concert--I'm hoping some of the videos go up on youtube so that I can post one or two here--my husband is really amazing and I'm not just saying that because he's mine!! He is, I couldn't be more proud of him and everything he does. Seriously. And I *love* that at the concerts everyone tells him how wonderful he is, because he doesn't hear it enough, and he really is.

Anyways, =)

My parents are coming tomorrow and I couldn't be happier! I miss them so much all the time!!! Also, Pathmark is having triple coupons tomorrow so it's pretty much going to be the best day ever!
I hope your tomorrow is the best day ever, too =) Happy Friday!

Flowers! Finally!

Our first rose finally bloomed--I almost cut it and brought it inside--but it smells so heavenly I'm going to keep it outside and alive as long as possible =)

When I went out to take a picture of the rose I noticed that an iris was open (with many more to come)! Yay!

Trivial Things About Tuesday

It was another amazingly gorgeous day! We've been having some truly beautiful spring weather around here--my absolute favorite temperature, plenty of sun and lots of outdoor fun! Yay!!

Maevey had pre-k today and we were lucky enough to be able to stop at the park quick with friends before going home for (non-existent) naps. =)

It was *haircut day* in the Wonderful household...

it started with Ezra's hair (desperately needed--inches and inches long)

then I trimmed Maeve's 

and

then

Amelie came home and I trimmer her too

and I thought, *what the heck* and cut the dog's hair...

then my husband cut my hair and I cut his.

If we would have paid for these haircuts it would have cost $150 (puppy cuts = expensive)

so I think we should throw ourselves a party for saving so much money =)

ha!

We had a happy tuesday--I hope you did too!

You Know What's Better Than Seeing My Girls Love Each Other?

Nothin'! =)

(note the weird eyes in each picture--tee hee!)

 Happy Happy Mother's Day  Madre!

I am so thankful that you are my mother!

Thank you for

loving me

caring for me

supporting me

listening to me

teaching me

and for just always being there

(even though we're not *there* together)

i love you very much and am thankful for you today and everyday!

God bless you Ma!

Happy Mother's Day!

So thankful today and every day that I am a wife and mother!

What a blessing!

(And what a lot of work!! =)

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommas out there!

no good, very bad attitude

 i was dreading today

because i knew my husband was going to be gone all day

(and somehow it's harder to deal with that on a saturday than it is on any other day, for me)

and i had a no good, very bad, attitude

(i'm sure the waking up at 5:00 of Ezra and the no coffee had a little something to do with it =)

but we turned my frown upside down with lots of outdoor playtime (it was gorgeous today)

and games and a cookout and "camping" and laughing and a little photo shoot of the girls while Ezra was taking his morning nap

and then my darlings ALL took a nice long nap and so did i and we ordered pizza and everything was ok

and now my husband is home and everything is better than ok! i'm so thankful that God loves me even when i am unlovable and grumpy and thankless. 

and i'm thankful that *they* love me that way too!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

 

i meant to post yesterday but 

the

day

got

away

and my husband was working last night and i was tired and put my feet up and decided to do one better and went to bed at 9:30

*favorite* (aside from the husband working part!)

it was a glorious day yesterday--my favorite type of weather--cool (not cold) with the breeze, warm (not hot) in the sun. we met friends at the park after prek and though the wee one was melty--it was just what we needed! 

we may not have *needed* the happy meals on the way home--but really, it was perfect.

as were the naps =)

anyways, yesterday i also finally did something i've been meaning to do but haven't really gotten around to doing (any excuse is good enough) and exercised during maeve's prek.

i slapped ezra in the single jogger and did just that

(slow) jogging

i've been "running" (slowly) with him for over a week now and am going further everyday

the first day was like hell-ish torture and i thought (why oh why oh why must i do this?)

and the next day was torture too but not as much burning lungs and screeching legs

and then i took a day off

and then the day after that it was easier

and easier still the next day

i'm almost ready for a 1/2K

(and yes, that *is* what i mean =)

and somehow i crossed what i like to call 

THE WALL OF INABILITY

and my lungs didn't burn and my legs didn't ache and i almost enjoyed it

things that would improve my enjoyment of (slow) jogging:

1. better sneakers

2. not having asthma/allergies/etc (so much pollen and sneezing and wheezing render me momentarily immobile) 

aside from that, ezra is a dream in the stroller and loves our little time together; i've found a route with smooth sidewalks (necessity) and hope to continue, not with any grand expectation in mind, but just for health and fitness. 

otherwise i plan to get my exercise (fast) walking the aisles of pathmark with my coupons to be doubled and tripled in hand.

=)

happy friday!

Good morning! It's a rainy Wednesday and I couldn't be happier! My newly planted shrubs, flowers and baby grass could really use a good dose of rain! We've escaped the terrible rainy weather the rest of the country has been having and this is the first *real* rain I've seen in a while!

Anyways, Ezra's 18month check up was yesterday! And boy, oh boy, does he HATE poor Dr. Mark! Every time the doctor looked at him, Ezra howled and screamed.

Oy. =)

So we have the big results (my favorite part!!)

Height: 31.5 inches (25% percentile)

Weight: 24 pounds (25% percentile)

Head: I don't remember exactly--it was something like 40--is it centimeters they use to measure heads? I dont know, but I *Do* know that his big giant handsome head is in the 70th% percentile! 

Holy Cow!

I love that guy! Big head = more room on his face to kiss! =)

In other news, we got back Maeve's pre-k pictures yesterday! Now I was a little concerned because she's a non-smiler for professional pics these days--and we got exactly what I expected:

I love it because it accurately reflects this stage in her life--her little placid non-expression. 

Love it.

And then, we were surprised by this:

It's perfect! I love it and her and her little grin.

Funny girl--I'm so thankful you're around!

That's it for now, hope you have a happy day!

I Have Been Remiss!!

I can't can't can't believe my handsome little guys turned *18* months and I totally forgot about it (until my dear friend reminded me!)

So, you know what that means! It's time for an Ezra Update! =)

*My little one is not so little anymore! He can RUN now, and in honor of him, I took up (slow) jogging so that I can hope to keep up! =)

*He loves his sisters so much! He and Maeve play many games with no discernible English words and no real rules and no winner and no losers and love doing so! It's so funny to me--they have shared baby language or something! =)

*He loves going for walks in the stroller!

*His favorite snacks are grapes (cut into 1/16ths =), yogurt, and cheerios!

*He finally really truly does sleep through the night! (Amen!)

*He is coming to terms with nursery at church and no longer has a nuclear meltdown (just a tiny one =)!

*He is growing out of his size 5 shoes and his 18 month clothes--he has a check up today--can't wait to see his weight! (And head circumference oy!)

*His favorite game is climbing on the couch and walking off of it (like it's a cliff). So scary. He says, "ouch" when he falls and climbs up and does it again. I am on pillow protection patrol and fling them all around to cushion his crazy antics!

*He loves wearing shoes (especially the girl's sparkly ones!) and he always makes me laugh!

I love this guy so much and am so thankful he's a part of our family!!

4th Of July Clothes! *LOVE*

I was really looking foward to church today (even though my husband is out traveling with the music ministry team)! As if the kind greetings of friends and church family, and the uplifting hymns of praise weren't enough, our pastor shared a passage in Isaiah that really *spoke* to me: 

^{Isaiah 46: 3, 4}

  “ Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,

      And all the remnant of the house of Israel,

      Who have been upheld by Me from birth,

      Who have been carried from the womb:

       ⁴ Even to your old age, I am He,

      And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

      I have made, and I will bear;

      Even I will carry, and will deliver you."

I love so much that God took the time in His word to share with us that He has always carried us--from before we were born and still in the womb, until we're old and gray! 

What a blessing to be a child of God's! 

What a blessing it is to know that in spite of whatever happens during our time on earth, that at each moment He holds us in the palm of His hand. 

Thank you Lord!

So thankful that I could be in church today! 

Egg Hunt Part Two!

Front Landscaping Re-do

friday night already?

i am in love with this week and so sad that it is flying by!

what a wonderful treat to have my husband and my amelie home all day everyday

it's my super favorite!

i spent a good chunk of the day digging out all the landscaping out front, rearranging what was there and adding some new plants! yay! i've been dying to work on this project!

i'd post a picture but alas, my neighbors have been outside talking on the lawn for hours and hours and i feel weird going out there and taking a picture of our front yard with 20 people 5 feet away. 

i'm a chicken like that.

seriously though, that's a long time to have a conversation--they have been out there since 1:30ish and it's past 7 now--i'm pretty sure i wouldn't even have that much to say to my favorite people in the world, no less, people you live next to. 

it's probably me that's odd though and not them--they are happy and laughing, it's good. =)

anyways, the babies are asleep (and were early as there was NO napping today) and amelie is at granny's house for a sleepover/yard sale extravaganza! 

and mr wonderful is fully intoxicated with a local store's triple coupon weekend and has been sorting coupons for the last hour to figure out what we can get for free.

*love*

anyways, i'm gonna get netflixy in a minute with *the tourist*

i'll let you know how it turns out!

goodnight!

Easter Pictures!

We took the kiddos for their Easter pictures today! I was a little worried we were going to have another Ezra-chasing-fest but he surprised me by cooperating very well! The only "problem" we had is that Maeve still doesn't really like to smile for the camera--she looked pleasant though and that is a HUGE step in the right direction! =)

Netflixy Notes

i can't believe spring break is already half over! boo!

it was another beautiful day here--the most amazing cool breeze is blowing through the house--all day the sky threatened rain but nothing much happened aside from a 5 minute light sprinkle--another lovely day!

we ran a bunch of errands today and i ordered a new pair of glasses as mine have been severely tortured and bruised by the children =)

anyways--i'm still continuing my netflixy love affair--here's a rundown of what i've watched recently =)

The Back-up Plan

I fully expected this movie to be ridiculous and it was--but in the good lifetime-movie-of-the-month-way. The story was implausible, the actors gorgeous, the homes/apartments featured stunning, the comedy so-so, but it was watchable and light on the brain--which, is really, the most you can hope for sometimes. =)

Harry Potty and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1:

I actually watched this through Amazon since I had some free movie credits and didn't want to wait another month for Netflix to send it to me! It was long and very much action-y.  It's a big budget blockbuster with lots of fancy affects and mood lighting. It's funny how mature the actors seem now--so grown up! I watched this because I'm a fan of the books and have seen the movies--probably not a must see if you aren't a Potter-fan (especially as it seemed light on actual storyline and super heavy on moodiness and action). It's a B+ for me, but if you aren't involved in the series I wouldn't run out and see it.

It's Complicated:

This movie was another light-hearted fluff of a piece that I wanted to see because of the lead actors (Meryl, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin). The acting was better than the script but it was an enjoyable movie.

The King's Speech:

I was very excited to see this movie (Colin Firth? yes please!) and since it had done so well during award season I was very interested to see it if lived up to the hype. Short answer? Yes! This was a lovely movie chronicling the unlikely friendship between King George and his speech therapist. It was a feel good overcoming-all-odds movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a bit of cursing but as a part of the speech therapy process I didn't find it offensive. I also really enjoyed a very understated Helena Bonham Carter in her role as royal-wife-to-be. Really, a great movie!

Burlesque:

I almost didn't put this one here because it's so ridiculous. I love musicals and was interested to see Cher in the movies again and for those reasons ordered it. It's not as risque as the title suggests and is mostly a love story interwoven with a David v Goliath type business story. Christina Aguilera is distractingly thin (but still beautiful)--and girl can dance (better than Britney) and sing (also, better than Britney) but the movie is even more chock full of what Christina does best--over singing, screeching and her oh-just-please-love-me-vibe. 

Cher looks and sounds great in this and is a very natural actor--all the acting was fine--although, I'll admit that there are a few moments where I felt this movie was a rip off of A)Showgirls B) Chicago/Moulin Rouge C) a lifetime movie I watched called, "All She Wants For Christmas" . Formulaic and uninspired and a bit bland for a movie with so flashy a title.

i am completely, utterly and irrevocably in *love* with spring break!!!!

we have been desperately waiting and desperately needing some down time together and it has been wonderful so far!! 

so many house projects have been accomplished and so many fun activities--today we headed to the shore for the morning! it was absolutely gorgeous--so sunny and lovely--the water was SPARKLING (and freezing! =).we had the entire shoreline to ourselves--awesome!

Ezra HATED the water =) as soon as his toes got a taste of the icy cold ocean he screamed and ran all the way up the beach to the stroller! he kept shaking his head *no* at the water and giving the ocean dirty looks =)

see? far away as possible!! =)

dejected. ha!

"mama, i hate this place!" =)

 

 Maevey isn't much of a water girl either--she does like water but is hesitant with the big waves of the ocean.

she loved spending her time scooping sand and running around and was very happy but isn't much for getting wet!

 observing. =)

and then, there's *Amelie*!!

 amelie LOVES the ocean.

 and jumping in it!

and wading up to her waist!

and dancing and splashing!

 she was in heaven! =) and i was in heaven watching how happy she was!

it was a lovely day! =)