Fortune Telling, Snow Cones, Tattoos & Say Cheese!

The blog is getting more and more challenging to update as time seems to slip away! The girls turned 5 last weekend. It was the final summer weekend before they headed off to Kindergarten, so I thought we'd go big! We did carnival theme, complete with a Tumblebus that you can rent for parties that has tumbling and games inside an air-conditioned converted school bus (my attempt at keeping kids out of my house if it was 100 degrees!). The Uncles and Aunt Maggie (with help from our amazing neighbor) staffed stations to earn tickets that could be traded in for prizes. The stations were Fortune Teller, Tattoo Parlor, Face Painting & Photo Booth. We had snow cones, popcorn, hot dogs, fruit/whipped cream cups & of course cake! Favorite gifts included anything Barbie, "Look-alike" dolls from American Girl, craft supplies/kits, cash registers that 'really' count and games! Thanks to those who helped and celebrated!

 Maybe in my next life I'll bake instead of blog :-)

Lilly is the sweetest most grateful little girl (most of the time) she came up to me half way through the party to thank me and tell me she was having the best day ever!



Addy & her two FAVORITE people--Grandma Linda & Grandma Jody!

 

Jacob & Jack being goofy in the photo booth

 The Harden's make it look easy!

Our favorite Trio: Livvy, Maddy & Harry

Always the life of the party!

*Most* of the kiddo's posed for a pic

A little Daddy orchestrated Red Rover rounded out the night!

Preschool Graduation, Spring 2012

Last week, the girls graduated from the pre-school they have ADORED for 2 years. We were lucky enough to be one of the inaugural families at a center when it opened and the teachers & staff have treated our family like family since our arrival. It was such a fun event, the girls were SO proud, worked hard memorizing the songs they did and LOVED that both their grandmas were there to watch. This means we are off to Kindergarten in the fall, with mixed emotions. They will be two of the youngest in their class and we debated holding them off for another year, but in my heart, I think they are ready. One is more ready than the other, so we'll see how they do! August 15th will come quick, so we have big plans for the summer, trying to soak in as much time as I can with them and just enjoying being together.

Family Photo at Graduation!

Addy avoiding a real smile for the camera!

Lilly LOVES being in the spotlight!

Proud Grandma Jody

Proud Grandma Linda

Their teacher, Mrs. E.

Flower Girls!

This wasn't our first rodeo, Addy & Lilly had done this before, but this time it was different. It was UNCLE Jon's wedding. It was NEW YEAR'S EVE. It involved traveling to another state. There were other little people involved. We were the role models??? I really wondered what we had gotten ourselves into...

However, after a bit of anxiety, I calmed myself down knowing that the bride (Aunt Maggie) was laid back and LOVED our kids. This whole flower girl under the age of 8 doesn't work any other way. It also helps that my families are so intertwined, my in-laws and brother-in-laws and some great friends were all invited, so we had all hands on deck when necessary.

The girls were so excited to be a part of it, they loved the other bridesmaids, loved having their Aunt Cat in from DC and their favorite 'big-boyfriends' from Atlanta came too. They loved going to the salon for their first 'up-do', then they loved slowly pulling it out as the night progressed. They LOVED dancing. They LOVED sleeping in a hotel. It was one of those weekends when you look around and realize how lucky you really are to be in the moment (well, at least in the moment when you weren't about to kill a kid.)

The pictures are wonderful, some mine, some the professional photog. It will be tough to decide which to frame! Enjoy....

The Ash/Sadler Pic

Addy--just before midnight--these girls pushed the limits of bedtime!

Cat, Maggie & I

Lilly with my bouquet (they carried flower balls which I loved)

Cat, Jon & I

The girls in the 'green' room right before the ceremony!

Charlie, Maggie's nephew, was the victim of some serious stalking over the weekend!

Me & Lilly

They've never met a stranger....

Addy & Lilly Take Columbus

When Grandpa Ian called and invited us all to go on a business trip to Columbus (OH) with him, we didn't hesitate--a fun family outing with grandparents--yes please! The girls love staying in a hotel and swimming in the hotel pool. We visited the Center of Science & Industry (COSI), adding another museum stamp to their passports.

We took them out for one of their first "fine" dining experiences and they did great! Lindey's in German Village was amazing food, amazing service and they LOVED our dining divas. Certainly not something we will do often, but they felt so special and their behavior was amazing.

We hit up Easton shopping center the next day and Grandpa & Dad took the girls to see Lion King in 3D while Grandma & I shopped. It was a great trip! Enjoy the pictures.

Lilly, testing gravity & pulleys with Grandpa at COSI

Addy LOVED the water exhibits

Addy finished her fancy dinner with lemon sorbet


Lilly opted for the standard vanilla ice cream

We stopped for some pictures at a park in German Village (Lilly & Mom)

Thanks for a fun trip Grandma & Grandpa!

IND-->ATL

Confession Time....my girls will be 4 in less than 3 months and we don't travel with them. They are spoiled beyond belief, but typically spoiled in the state. We have access to a beautiful lakehouse in northern Indiana and we've done a couple long car trips, but all less than 5 hours in their lifetime. The trips we've taken we've opted to do as a couple, leaving them at home basking in the glory of being the only grandkids on both sides of our family.

So, when we caught wind that Jeremy's good friend was getting married in Atlanta and knowing my high-school girlfriend relocated her family there last year AND we have wonderful family friends in that area, we decided the Memorial Day Weekend trip was in order. We planned to drive as a foursome, but my parents wanted to join in the fun to see our close friends, so Grandpa's frequent flyer miles were cashed in for Addy & Lilly's first flight! I thought it was important to have our car/car-seats and not pay out the a@# to fly with golf clubs and all our 'stuff', so we drove in the peace & quiet while the girls hit the sky! We were given strict instructions by Lilly, to make sure we "followed the big plane, not the little plane down to Atlanta." So that is what we did!

Once there, we hit great playgrounds, pools, the American Girl Place & the Georgia Aquarium. It was fun and a trip we will certainly do again. Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Sadler for your help--the trip wouldn't have been possible without you!

Addy, waiting for her ride to the airport, she'd been packed for days!

The sting-ray exhibit at the aquarium--they loved it!


The girls and little Dakota Rose--showing this girl what power-shopping is!


A & L and their dolls waiting for their lunch at the bistro-I'd spoken to a lot of skeptics about this place, but it is marketing genius and the girls were in awe!

Lilly, came round the table to thank her mama for bringing her!

Who knew my brother was a romantic?

Many folks know the story, but Jeremy proposed on the beach in Florida, the catalyst to us deciding to get married on the beach just a year after the engagement. He's not the most romantic guy, but it was wonderful and his mom was just thankful the ring didn't appear somewhere mid-flight and he didn't propose to me sitting in coach eating peanuts. Hard to believe that was seven years ago now! Until last weekend, I thought my brother was pretty similar to Jeremy in the romance category, but perhaps they all have a bit of a hopeless romantic bottled up inside!

I've known A LOT of proposal stories, but my brother's now takes the cake! He's been conspiring since NOVEMBER--with the ring bought, permission from her father given weeks ago, but he waited until all the stars alligned and it was perfect! He invited her family from Michigan and us from Indianapolis (Aunt Cat you were SOOOOOOO missed!) to Joseph Decuis Restaurant in Roanoke, IN. She thought she was attending a vendor appreciation dinner and they did a tour of the farm, complete with a winter sleigh ride. He proposed, she said yes, they then headed to the restaurant for dinner. A private room with all of us and her entire family awaited them! Good food, great atmosphere and a fabulous beginning for the two of them! Congrats to Maggie & Jon!

Complete shock as she came in the room!

The three look-outs watching out the window for their truck to pull up tot he restaurant. Charlie is in the middle--Maggie's ADORABLE nephew--apparently Lilly knew love was in the air!

Perfect Pair!

The blended families--Cheers!

Blessed Beyond Measure-Christmas 2010

I'm procrastinating putting the decorations away and still eating leftovers, not quite ready to kiss the holiday good-bye. It was a good one. Magical, to say the least. A & L's excitement and anticipation had me awake at 5:30 on Christmas Day. I lived my best holiday through them. A great benefit of being a mom, I guess. We had visitors and gifts and I'll surely rank their favorites on a later blog when I see which span the test of some time. I'll get to my thank-you notes, clean the fridge and edit some pictures, slowly ticking off the to-do list. However, my biggest hope is that the feelings revisit my heart and theirs again before next December.

The tree-taken at about 6:30 a.m.--just before the girls walked down!
Letter to Santa--written verbatim--gotta love the potty reminder!

Evidence that he had come and gone and taken that silly Elf on the Shelf with him!

Bedtime stories with dad!

Holiday walk in the snow with Uncle Joe

Christmas Eve before church--Daddy post-lasik! It's still weird seeing him without glasses! (Lilly, on the other hand looks like she might need them :-)

Picture from the Ash grandparents holiday card!

Picture from the Sadler holiday card (yes, A & L graced 3 holiday cards in 2010-we are really trying NOT to let the popularity get to their heads!)

Humbled to host this crew at our home for dinner every year! We feel the love!