Some "Bunny"s Turning 1 !

Here's Naomi's party...complete with bunny cupcakes, an egg hunt, and lots of cousin fun!

Next year I will choose NOT to paint my kitchen the day I throw a party. Its a good thing the weather was gorgeous so we could let the paint dry.

(I will post more on that when my project is complete...let's just say that Rosie is AWESOME!)

After the party mom and dad Lawton treated us all to dinner at Alicia's...it was divine.

I almost felt like it was MY birthday:)

Birthday Girl

Dearest Naomi-

I can hardly believe its been 12 months since I first held you in my arms. I suppose there's just something about being #3 that makes time go by much too fast. You are my baby that taught me to love the baby stage. You taught me to let things go and just enjoy things, knowinging that all too soon you'd wouldn't be a baby any longer. You adore your siblings and they adore you. You really do complete our little family.

A few funny things about you are:

-you think its hillarious to unfold and "swim" in laundry

-you could take baths all day long

-you insist on feeding yourself

-you must eat if anyone else in the room is eating

-you have 10 teeth already!

-you can say "uh-oh" "mama" and "dada"

-you click your tongue and make kissy noises

-you talk to animals

-you prefer to army crawl

-you can dance to any beat

We love you so much!!!!

Happy Birthday N'omers!

love mama

Deep in the Heart of Texas

I had a roommate who liked to sing that while clapping and stomping her feet in the kitchen. Little did I know that years later I'd be singing the same tune:)

We took a day trip to Austin on Friday.

The plan was to stop along the way to snap some pics with the bluebonnets but alas they were all gone! Instead we toured the city of Austin looking like fools in our matching white tops and jeans:)

With our extra time we got a chance to tour the state capitol.

The architecture was beautiful and I almost felt the urge to enroll in Texas history...almost.

After the educational part of the trip we went to Texas Relays at the University of Texas to watch one of Daniel's athletes compete.

We came home sweaty and exhausted but with a smidge more Texas pride.

Apparently you can never have too much of that 'round these parts:)

April Book Club

This month we discussed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Dianna hosted and provided our very own "roasted pig" dinner:) We ate ham, potaoes, fruit, salad, rolls, and lots of yummy desserts too!

Di, Rosie, Holly

Suzanne, Jeri, Elizabeth, Kathy Di, Holly, Caitlyn, Roise

Elisabeth, Charity, Brittany, Me, Abby, Amber, Andrea, Magan

After the feast...we answered questions in the form of "mail".

Trust me if you read the book, it makes sense:)

And just for funsies there was a fav. quote sheet at the dinner table.

Loved the book. Loved the food. Loved the adult conversation. Love these ladies!

For the birds

In junior high my bff and I were pet sitting for a friend. After "Beakers" pooped on my shoulder I decided birds were a nuisance. For years not only have I kept my opinion, but each morning as the constant chirping and cooing taunts me I have actually come to despise the creatures.

That was until my kids decided they wanted to learn about birds.

We read about every bird from peacocks to penguins to vultures.

My sister gave me this fab idea to make "bird-noculars".

We went bird watching and actually sighted a hawk, bluejay, woodpecker, vulture, egret, and of course some crows.

We had so much fun I decided to extend our very own bird week into my turn at teaching preschool. We wrote stories about birds, sang songs about birds, learned to tell time with our owl clock, danced like birds, and spelled bird vocab words.

I am sorry for loathing you for so long birds.

You really are a facinating animal.

That being said...don't get any ideas, you will just never be allowed in my home and it would be nice if you stayed away from my garden and occasionally piped down when i'm trying to sleep.

There is a time...

Awhile ago I went to a conference with these two lovely people...

The Perrys.

We all know and love her music but it was so refreshing to hear them speak of faith and families and overcoming your fears.

In her talk, Sister Perry quoted a poem.

I was reminded of it a few days ago when I attempted to take my 11 month old, 3 year old, and 5 year old swimsuit shopping with me. After a few too many visible stretch marks, not enough padding, serveral crawling under the door escapes, and two potty breaks, I remembered why my last three suits have been purchased online.

You're wondering what this aweful expierence has to do with Janice Kapp Perry or a poem?

The poem is called, There is a Time.

I love reading it because it gives me hope for the time when I will have "years of self expression" or simply swimsuit shop alone, and it makes me appreciate this time when I "seldom roam far from little hands that hug".

Enjoy all the times in your life.

There Is A Time

By Millie Foster Cheesman from her book Reflections of Modern Pioneers

I

There is a time to grow to receive to live to prepare. There is a time to learn to believe to serve to share. There is a time to love to marry to bear children. To stay close to home and hearth and seldom roam far from little hands that hug!

II

Oh, then is the time to teach from all you have learned, to let little ones see how you respond to the daily turn of events.

III

There is a time for tears and faith and years of routine days until legs and limbs and spirits are strong:

IV

And somewhere along this road is a time to let go, to release. And know that your children through you have also grown and received and shared. For they have been taught faith and served and shared!

V

Oh Yes There is a time of personal yearning so, through the years NEVER STOP Learning!

VI

For there is a time for years of self-expression when families are grown with children of their own. Oh, then is the time for endless creativity and service and personal productivity content in the knowledge that

VII

There was a time when you did not falter when hearts were young, and none were sacrificed at the altar of your own self-expression.

VIII

Yes! Through your life when deeds were bound close to baby hearts, in work somewhat less sublime than that which you had planned, you can say “Hold fast my inner self and remember . . . “There is a time!”