Behind the Scenes of a Five Year Old's Birthday Party...

We celebrated Daphne's five year birthday tonight, just one day shy of the real deal. Yes, our firstborn entered this world on September 7, 2003!

We took Elsa (born 8/17/03) and Tobin (born 8/27/03) along with Daphne to a yummy Italian restaurant and celebrated BIG - both in attire and food consumed:).

I got to thinking as I put these pictures up, that everyone has a "behind the scenes" story when it comes to getting ready for a birthday party. I so appreciate all the efforts our family made to make this a special night for Daphne.

To Jill and Shane who drove 2 hours to get here...

To mom for babysitting all three kids last night just cause we wanted a date, and for trying to dress up fancy tonight, despite the fact that you couldn't find any pantyhose and had to come in slacks instead:)

To Mike Sr. for sporting your tuxedo - handsome as all get out and done just for your granddaughter.

To Pam, for SLAVING over that Barbie cake - WOW - you went really worked hard on that one!!

To Becca, for arranging sitting for your little ones, and dressing up your bigger ones:), plus your beautiful self for this event!

To Sharon, who didn't even come to the party, but was at home watching the twins:)

To Matt, who didn't get to sit and relax after dinner, but worked on and fixed our computers!!

To my husband, who got up at 4:30am to prepare for a men's breakfast and then got home after lunch and started helping me.

To our babysitters who watched Ruby, Maisie and Josh back at the house during our dinner out.

Lastly, a little pat on the back for me - I dauned a form fitting dress (that I haven't worn for 9 years) at Daphne's request...because it is very sparkly. I know for a fact it looked a lot better 9 years ago, but tonight none of that mattered.


Since becoming a mom, I am getting so much more conscious of other people's lives. I sure appreciate everyone's hardwork to pull this one off.

One Year Blogversary...

I can't believe it! One year has past since I started this blog and I even missed it by a couple of days.

Wow, time flies and so many hours have been spent on this new hobby. I am SO glad I have spent those many minutes (even if there other projects got pushed aside here and there)recording all the fun stories, pictures and reflections this past year! It was totally worth it and I look forward to continuing this pasttime.

Well, wouldn't you know my very first picture on my blog was Daphne starting preschool for the very first time. And here we are today, "going back to school" again. But this time, Daphne and Maisie went and they went to the same school. Last year was fun and memorable, but having the girls in different spots, and adding a third child to our family...well, it was a bit exhausting. I felt like I was driving around a lot - too much.

I am predicting that this year is going to be so much more simplified for me. It will definitely be the most time I have ever had to myself. I will get 4 hours, once a week, alone at home with Ruby. AND to boot, I will get a morning with just Ruby and Maisie and then another morning with just Daphne and Ruby. (did I mention that Mike is going to take them to an evening gymnastics class once a week too) I am just so blessed!

My goal this school year is to come out of what has been an occasional state of just survival in mothering and into a world of more teaching and more fun experiences with them. I am hoping there will be more breathing and savoring this year...

Today was a little scary for Daphne and I, both hoping she would be okay with the change of schools. She did great though and liked it a lot! I'm just keeping my friend's wisdom in my back pocket - she said that nothing has to be permanent. So we're hoping for a great fit for her, but if not, God will show us the way!

I really am living my dream...Thank you God!

SCREAMING NOW: MY COMPUTER HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR WEEKS...AND NOW IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH OUR 2ND COMPUTER AND IT WON'T LET ME SHOW YOU THEIR CUTE PICTURES I TOOK THIS AM....NOT EVEN A SLIDESHOW...AGAIN, SCREAMING NOW!!!

Question for you!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just started using slideshows on my blog. I think they are really fun and to be honest just proud I figured it out!

BUT...some people's computers must not be fast enough to even view them.

Please leave a comment telling me if you can see them on yours....

A Summer Afternoon to Remember

Wonderful Summer Memories!

Jessi, my really good friend of many many years, moved back to our neck of the woods this spring, after four years of living quite a distance away! We're all so happy to be near each other again - for our own and our girls' friendship. This summer we did a lot of fun things together. We took the big girls to the zoo, then the little girls to the zoo (she has a 4 year old and a 2 year old). We took the big girls to the Children's Museum, and then the little girls to the Children's Museum. The big girls did VBS, and the little girls played with us at home. There was also the here and there get togethers and b-day parties! This photoshoot was from one afternoon after VBS. Paivi and Daphne had the best time riding Bucky - Mike and Pam's tamest horses:).

Jessi has never seen these photos... Jes, here's to us and our little girls and the memories we made!

Movie Date

Today Maisie went to school, Ruby took a long am nap and Daphne and I watched a movie we rented just for today - just for her and me...Nim's Island!

I tell ya...just as much as I mourn the fact that the girls continue growing up, I am loving them getting more able too. We both seriously enjoyed this movie together and the special breakfast smoothies I made just for the occasion. What made them breakfast smoothies you may be wondering...well, we drank them at breakfast time - duh!

You have got to rent this movie! It is so so cute and completely clean. Daphne, age 5 (in days) was really into it. I did have to stop and explain a few times. Even if your kids are too young to be enthralled yet with real people movies - - you will love it!