Fall Fun with Grandma & Grandpa

Eric and I were invited to a Halloween party over the weekend.  We went as "sushi" and ended up having a fun date night.

 While we were on our date, my parents took the girls on their own special date to a corn maze.  The girls had a blast!  First they shucked corn.

 They had a little dinner,

 went on a hayride,

 saw some farm animals,

 took another spin on the hayride,

 milked a cow,

 and ran and ran in the corn maze!

 Grandma and Grandpa made a strong effort to get the obligatory sibling picture next to the scarecrow.

 After some more picture posing,

 the night ended with cupcakes and

 climbing on giant tires! 

Wheeee!  What a fun night!

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day was perfect.  It truly was.  I only wanted three things on this day:  to spend this day as a family, my children to behave ALL DAY, and a cute picture of me with my girls.  Check, check, and check!  Hallelujah! 

 

My sweet husband started my Mother's Day off on Saturday evening when he got home from a business trip.  Eric presented me with my card and all the fixins for a fabulous dirty martini.  Be still my heart.  We grilled salmon and asparagus after the girls went to bed, had a lovely "dinner date" on the porch, and of course a dirty martini. 

 

My hilarious card that is PERFECT for me.  Eric wrote a sweet letter on the inside.

 

After church, we had lunch out at the Wild Wing.  Nothing screams "Happy Mother's Day!" like wings and beer on the outdoor patio!  The girls do really well there, and it wasn't important to me to go anywhere spectacular.  I just didn't want to prepare lunch for anyone, so mission accomplished.  The girls do really well out to eat on a normal basis, but today, they were true angels.  It helped that they were both famished, so they ate and ate.  When they were done, they colored and colored.  After a fun lunch, we headed to Menchies for ice cream.  We snapped a few pictures and back to the house we went.

The epitome of my children - one standing still and smiling & the other one being goofy.  Love them.

Mom and her girls - cute picture even with chocolate ice cream mustaches

 

When we got home, we went for a walk, rode bikes, played on the swing set, took a wagon ride, played in the yard, and relaxed on the back porch.  The weather was perfect - not too hot and humid!  Madeline and Amelia had a blast, and so did I.  It's days like today that make me realize all the day-to-day discipline and teaching is starting to show in the girls' behavior and attitudes.  

 

I am a very blessed woman to have a husband that makes an effort to show me love and appreciation everyday but especially on this day.  I am even more blessed to be the Mommy to these precious little girls.  I can only hope all my fellow Mommy friends and family had a wonderful day as well.

Homegrown Mother's Day Goodies

Madeline's Mother's Day cards are by far my favorite preschool project yet!  I will treasure these for many years to come.  Too adorable.

 

This little smile and pose is perfect for Madeline.

I love how she wrote her name before "Love,"

This little booklet says it all about me from Madeline's perspective.

Yep, couldn't be more true.

Again, so true.

Mother's Day Tea

 Madeline's preschool had a Mother's Day Tea to honor us Moms.  It was a really cute little performance (they sang "spring" songs) and reception. 

 

I was literally THE ONLY Mom dressed in workout clothes.  I only post this silly self picture because as I was showering, doing my hair, applying make-up, and choosing "nice" workout clothes, I laughed.  Surely no other Mom is doing this for the Mother's Day tea...only me.  I suppose most Moms would just take a day off from the gym.  :)

See the bag on the floor?  That is my spare "nice" tank in case I get too sweaty, my makeup for touch ups, and my deodorant for the last minute touches before the actual event.

 

Madeline was so excited to be in the line to the stage.  Even with my post workout self, she was delighted to see me.  :)  I suppose that is all she knows...

 

She sang her little heart out with a huge smile on her face the whole time!  She really does well in front of an audience.

 

Madeline and her BFF, Aubrey

 

My sweet girl and I had a wonderful morning together.