Hannah's Baptism

On Saturday May 18, 2013 Hannah was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Before the baptism she opened even more gifts.  We got her a new set a scriptures with her name on it and a journal.  She also got a "Great to be 8" necklace and a scripture case.

The baptism was amazing.  It was so great to see my daughter make this awesome decision.  I felt so overwhelmed with love and the spirit as I saw Hannah and Chad together in white.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of Jesus Christ's gospel that we have and that we can be together as families for eternity! 

  It was so great to have friends and family there to share in this wonderful day!

Hannah-Palooza

We had so much fun with family here that it has taken me a couple weeks to get back to normal!

We were lucky enough to have my mom and dad, Chad's mom, and my sister and two of her daughters.  Thanks so much for coming guys!

We did so many fun things while they were here.

Our first day we went to Luray Caverns.

It was pretty cool.  Like my sister said, "Once you've seen one cave, you've seen 'em all." but we still had a great time.  Our guide was an interesting character.  The girls all had fun and their cousins were so good to look out and care for Grace.  She loved the attention.  The way was paved so I was able to push the stroller through the whole thing!  Nice!

After the cavern we went to the ropes adventure and the garden maze.  It was very hot!  We decided that we should have switched and done the cavern tour when it was hot outside.  Mandy took the two older girls on the ropes course.  I was very proud of Hannah and how brave she was!  Grandma, Grandpa, and I took the three younger girls through the maze.  I was an interesting experience!  Grace was not a fan.  She was ready to be done after the second turn and would heave a big sigh after turning every corner.  It was hot and luckily my niece made a wish in the wishing well that we would find our way out or we might still be in there!

The next day we headed up to the Shenandoah National Forrest for a hike.  It was a really great hike.  The weather was perfect and we saw some cool things.  The way back was a little long and we were concerned that we were heading the wrong direction, but we made it!

The third day we went on a tour of Monticello.  The grounds were beautiful!

It was a neat experience, but I think the girls enjoyed the play area in the visitor center much more than the actual house tour!

That night we came back to the house and had a little party for Hannah.  We had cake and opened some presents.  She got earrings, a nail kit, a stuffed animal fox that she names Sugar, and a bike horn (which represented the bike we were going to let her pick out).  She was a pretty spoiled and happy girl!

Happy Birthday to Hannah Banana

My first born turns 8 today!  I cannot believe it!

Here are 8 facts about our Hannah Banana:

#1-You wouldn't know it now looking at her long skinny legs, but she was my biggest baby, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces.

 #2-  She is kind of a chicken.  Heehee.  She is becoming more brave as she gets older.

 #3- She is a swimming, reading, and dancing machine.  She loves those things and excels at doing them.

 #4-  She is such a sweat heart.  She makes friends easily and has a very tender heart. 

#5- She has freckles all over her face and gets compliments on them constantly!

#6-She is a saver(hoarder).  She doesn't like to throw things away and always wants to find a use for every piece of (in my opinion) trash. 

 #7- She has a major sweet tooth (like her mama) and eats sweet things like they are going out of style.

#8-  She has her ears pierced!

We love, love, love having Hannah in our family.  She is a great big sister (most of the time ;)).  She is becoming so responsible and has been working on doing things before we even have to ask her.  She is such a great girl and we are so proud of the person she is growing up to be!

This birthday is extra special for her because of her baptism and family visiting.

Look for those pictures and adventures next week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Bubbles

Playing with Bubbles

My 3 Little Monkeys

We did an impromptu photo shoot with the girls the other morning.

I love these little monkeys!

A Day with Daddy/ A Day to Myself

Last week when Chad was on break from school he gave me an awesome surprise.  

While Hannah was at school, Chad took the two other girls out for the day!  

I had most of the day to myself.  

At first I was wondering what I was going to do with myself, but the day went by so fast!  I took a long shower without being interrupted, I went shopping without buckling kids in the car, and I got my haircut.  

It was fabulous!

Chad took some pictures of the girls at the park.  So cute!

May Day

Hannah's school had a May Day celebration.  Each grade preformed a dance.

Hannah's class did the Virginia Reel.

Hannah's May Day Dance

She did such a great job and looked so cute out there.

At the end they invited everyone out to do a sill dance.  Grace LOVED it!

Tutti Ta

Touch a Truck

Our local Chick-Fil-A had a Touch a Truck day.  They had all sorts of fun things to see and do.  They had big trucks, buses, tractors, an ambulance, firetruck, police car, and a mobile command unit.

There were even characters to meet and get pictures with.  You will notice that Clara is not in any of the pictures.  She only liked them from a distance.  She would wave and smile at them, but if we got too close she would start clinging to me like a little monkey.

 It was a really fun activity that the girls really enjoyed.  

The Gus Bus (the mobile library) was there also so we were able to read some books.  

I think that was Clara's favorite part!

Also please note that Grace has one of Clara's bibs on backwards.  She was a superhero.  

She wore that bib for 3 days straight. 

 That girl is one of a kind!

Under the Big Top

The circus came to town!

I took the two older girls with me and Chad stayed home with Clara.

 We had a really great time!  We had free general admission tickets for the girls, but when we got there and I saw where we would be sitting, I decided to shell out the few extra bucks and get us better seats!

.

 We then had to spend time in a forever long line to get the upgrades.

Finally we got in our seats!

 Awkward picture of all of us!

 It was a cool circus with lots to see.  The girls loved it!  Hannah kept saying she couldn't believe what she was seeing and Grace was screaming and clapping.

About 3/4 through the 2 hour show Grace yelled, "Oh my goodness!  They even have grass in here!"  So observant....

As a special treat I let the girls pick out a balloon animal (the cheapest item you could buy). 

They were over the moon happy!  They kept hugging me and thanking me!  Who knew their love was so easy to buy!!?

 Hannah with her monkey Lola

Grace with her shark Big Blue

It was a fun night with my girls!

Thinking Inside the Box

I really don't know why I spend money on toys for these girls.  Give them a couple boxes and they are busy for hours!

Hannah's box was a lot more detailed and decorated.

Nice family picture

 The finished product.

Clara didn't have a box (poor third child), but was happy watching her older sisters work.

 Of course, Grace is a giant goofball!

 They honestly spent the whole weekend working on, playing in, and imagining with these boxes.  Seriously, who needs toys!?!

Safety First

The other day the girls decided they were going to have a pillow fight.  

They gathered up all of the pillows from the whole house into my room.  

Two minutes after the fight started (which was one minute longer than I thought it would be) Grace got hurt and came crying to me.

After she was comforted I said, "Pillow fighting is dangerous business, huh?!"

Grace said, "Yeah.  I think I better get my helmet."

I thought..it couldn't hurt!

After she was suited up she went back in the fight!  

She was the victor and took a rest on the top of the pile of pillows!

p.s.  Hannah is underneath all of those pillows

In the Leafy Treetops

Right outside our front window we have a tree.  It is starting to get beautiful blossoms on it.  The other day we were outside admiring them and noticed something else in the tree...a nest!

We were able to watch the bird fly away and collect twigs and leaves and then come back and add them to the nest.

We are excited to keep an eye on this bird and nest.  We are hoping to be able to see the eggs and maybe even some cute baby birds!

Yet Another Cute Clara Video!

Click here for a super cute video!

A Perfect Picnic Spot

The weather has been so lovely here.  The other day we ate lunch outside. 

 Hannah and Grace had the perfect picnic spot all set up.  

They are such cute girls!

Bike Rodeo

Hannah's school had a bike rodeo.  The fire department was there giving tips and teaching bike safety skills.

They had an obstacle course.

Hannah's Bike Skills

Of course, Grace wanted to take a turn.

Grace's Bike Skills

They had oranges and water.  Grace ate a tree's worth of oranges.

I swear Clara is in her stroller in almost every picture!  This time I was keeping her safe!  With so many little kids zooming around on bikes, it was a danger zone.  Hannah got hit by a bike and Grace almost died several times!

 Luckily we all made it out alive and had a great time!

 They even had cool tattoos that said, Be Cool!  Wear a helmet!"  

Look What We Got!

Chad and I have always wanted our girls to learn piano.  Recently I was in a meeting where they needed someone to play the piano and no one had the skill.  I was embarrassed to say that even after 7 years of piano, I really can't play!  

After a lot of thought and a wonderful tax refund we decided to take the plunge!

We were able to find a nice, used piano for much, much less than we were expecting!

We surprised the girls!

We have a friend who is going to teach Hannah lessons starting in the fall.

I had to show off my mad Chopsticks skills.

Clara also loves to play.

Now I just need to practice! 

1st Pool Time 2013

We had some really nice weather this past week so we decided to break out the pool for the first time this year.

Hannah thought the water was a little cold....

but Grace didn't seem to mind.

Clara was more happy hanging out on the outside of the pool.

We also enjoyed some Popsicles.

 Clara thought she was in heaven.  I can't get over the cuteness!

I have a feeling we will be enjoying lots of pool and Popsicles this summer.