March Happenings: Part 1

These pink overalls and those chubby cheeks. You're welcome. :)

It's no secret that Abby and Ella are totally in love with their American Girls, but you can imagine my shock when they came to me and told me they are pregnant with their next girls. Abby would love to add Samantha to her family and Ella loves Kit. I love their heart for babies and the way they play with their dolls for hours. You should see the bags they pack for their "kids" when we are taking a trip. All that to say, we had a talk about how they will have to save their money for their next American Girl, which led to the dumping of piggy banks and the realistic lesson of just how much saving that would mean. Their motivation is very real and they are working hard to earn some money. You should see their excitement when they find a nickel somewhere. I wonder how long they are going to be pregnant for! :)

Here comes the sun and spring is in the air.  Joe and I took Juliet on her first spring walk one morning while the big girls were in school.

It's safe to say she loved it!

Abby and Ella started swim lessons this month.

Our house is full of little girls learning to tell jokes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNSdXDKIfs

We had a March day in the 80's, which called for shorts, a picnic and books in the backyard. 

We were all pretty excited. Can you tell?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgIvDlglr-U

Look who is sitting up!

"She's moving on and I can't always go with her. But while she's here, I'll sit beside her." - Emily P. Freeman

Watching Juliet grow is such a gift. Her sweet personality is really starting to show. She loves the camera too. And those cute baby toes...

My thoughtful little helper loves to help with the laundry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vNX_O9CSfs

Family walk around the neighborhood

Ella and her little buddy

Juliet loves dancing with her daddy, just like her sisters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fSKZ_xPqMI

We made green smoothies filled with lots of yummy fruits and veggies (including spinach, kiwi and apples) on St. Patrick's Day. Then, we sent a picture to G-Diddy, our green smoothie pro, and he sent his green smoothie pic right back.

It's more rare these days to get an entire morning alone with just my big girl. We chatted about life and dreams and books while we did some stocking up at Sam's. Then, we finished of our trip with some lunch. I'm soaking up these days. 

That core is getting stronger at 23 weeks old!

2.28.16

Ella: Mommy, how come when you milk the baby you call it nursing?

 

Juliet loves listening to her big sisters read to her.

Abby has always loved books, but THIS! The moment when she chose to pick up a chapter book that she can read on her own and liked it so much that she couldn't put it down until she finished. I'd say that's evidence of a true bookworm in the making! AND I love it. Her very first favorite book was Owl Diaries: A Woodland Wedding by Rebecca Elliot.

Abby came home from school and excitedly taught us all about "glyphs". She then proceeded to create a glyph project for her daddy to complete as homework in his free time. :)

This month, we celebrated with Aunt Alex and Uncle Brad as they prepare to welcome their baby boy, our first nephew and the girls' first cousin! It was our girls' very first baby shower experience. They helped me make a diaper cake and pick cute baby boy outfits to give Aunt Alex.

Only certain things can make New Jersey traffic a little less horrible and a whole lot more sweet.

We even got to celebrate Aunt Cyncy's birthday with her!

We are so excited to meet this little guy.

The girls were serious about the gift unveiling!

Girlies and their Grammy

Added bonus: the shower was at a restaurant right on the shore. Nothing like being next to the ocean and Boardwalk in winter coats to get you pumped for summer.

My sweet baby, I love you!

A Night in Paris

When I think of memories that will mark a girl's childhood forever, I think of nights like this. The girls put on their fancy dresses and I helped them do their hair before their date arrived. At 5:00, their daddy walked through the door looking handsome in his suit and ready to pick his girls up for dinner and the Daddy Daughter Dance! The girls couldn't have been more excited.

Look at our darling little beauties!

Daddy brought them their very first corsages.

Pizza and chocolate milk: the path to a little girl's heart. While they were at dinner, I got a text from Joe that said, "Fancy dresses and pizza grease stress me out!" :)

Joe and a few school parents did an amazing job planning the night. The theme: A Night in Paris!

Considering our girls' love and fascination with Paris, this was the night of their dreams. Macarons and Madeleines, a chocolate fountain, the Eiffel Tower, lots of dancing, twinkling lights, lots of pink and quality time with their daddy = bliss.

Abby enjoyed building a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows with her friends. 

 

There was lots of dancing!

A Daddy Daughter gameshow

These girls adore their daddy and their daddy adores them.

Ella loves her teacher, Mrs. Michaud. We are so thankful for the influence Mrs. M has in our little girl's life.

These two buddies have been friends for as long as they can remember!

A Day in the Life: Leap Day Edition

At the beginning of the year, I randomly picked a few days to document what a regular day in our lives looks like during this season.  Because the truth is....the days are long, but the years are short and I want to remember it all.

February 29, 2016 (Leap Day)

6:00 Abby is up first. Joe gets up to be with her, so I can steal a few more minutes under our "coziness" (also known as the down comforter). I'm tired after a wakeful night with Juliet, so I savor every precious minute in bed.

6:13 Ella trickles out into the living room and the girls decide on one morning show, while Joe makes them breakfast.  

6:36 FEED ME!!!! I'M STARVING!!

6:45 All better! Belly full! There's no time to ease into the morning. It's time to get moving.

 

6:49 diaper change and get Juliet dressed

 

6:55 Then, we go to join the big girls who are getting ready in their room. Look at all that bedhead! Sometimes, I manage to lay out the girls outfits for them the night before, so the mornings run more smoothly. This was not one of those mornings. 

 

7:04 Diffuse a potential "situation" as the big girls start arguing about who should get a picture alone with Juliet 

7:12 Almost all dressed, but picking socks is the most dramatic part of the getting ready process these days. The girls decide that their sock colors remind them of fruit, so they pick the color of their socks based on what fruit they are in the mood for. I give them purple socks to wear, but they are NOT in the mood for plums today. :)

8:04 hugs all around! Abby and Joe are out the door for school. 

8:16  Sit for a minute to enjoy my green smoothie and get the girls' bathing suit shopping done online. SO thankful we didn't have to spend hours at the mall to be ready for swim lessons next week.

8:22  a little Daniel Tiger and a plate full of Ella's favorite morning snack: blueberries and strawberries

 

8:45 Juliet goes down for her first nap

9:10 The struggle is real when it comes to finding time to exercise with three kids. I'm off to Zumba. Ella "goes to work" with Daddy, which means she brings her Legos down to little desk in Joe's office and plays next to her Daddy while he works at his computer.

9:23 Let's do this! Feeling really good knowing I'm getting a good workout in before noon on Monday.

10:56  Just enough time to get dinner started with one of my favorite sous chefs. Ella loves every opportunity to get in the kitchen to cook/bake with me. On tonight's menu: Frito Chili Pie.

11:06 Look at my little helper prepping freezer bags for meat!

11:20 Have to wake Juliet to go get Abby

11:32 All loaded up and on our way to school. Ella insists we listen to the Grace soundtrack the whole way there. 

11:49 In the car pick up line waiting for Abby. One of my favorite parts of the day is seeing her face light up when she walks out the front doors of the school and sees my car there waiting for her.

12:10 Time to make lunch. I don't know what it is, but for some reason getting lunch made on school days is one of the most challenging parts of my day. 

12:45 Today the girls have a "working lunch" because they are determined to get all of their Lego sets built before dance class. They are focused and determined. Abby has a ham sandwich with mayo on a roll. Ella has sausage, a roll and more berries.

12:51 Once I get the big girls settled, it's time to nurse Juliet and put her down for her afternoon nap. I love these sweet quiet moments.

1:10 Sleeping baby

1:20 The big girls are busy building their town of Legos in the dining room, so I sit down to get some work done on the blog. Then, my lack of sleep catches up with me and I hit a wall.

1:21 I message my barista and he comes upstairs to make me his special Frozen Cappuccino. #allthehearteyes #truelove #secondwind

1:39 Ollie is living the dream. Winter in NY = a real need for vitamin D!

1:45 With my coffee in hand, I join in the Lego party! 
2:00  I look at the time and realize I haven't showered yet today. Time to get moving before Juliet wakes up.
2:29 After my shower, girls are STILL playing Legos. Juliet is still sleeping, so I take a moment to write Abby a note in our special notebook and place it on her pillow.

3:17 leotards, tights and tutus. It's time to get ready for dance.

3:30 Juliet stays at home and hangs out with Daddy while he studies.

3:42 headed out to dance class

3:51 Ten minute drive put Ella right to sleep. Mondays are tiring.

4:00  I love watching my little ballerinas.

4:32  Ella's class is first, so Abby hung out with me and ate a snack in the waiting room. I look up and am struck by how grown up my baby is getting as I watch her sitting there.

4:45 Abby's class is next!

5:45-7:30 The crazy hours. Home. Joe heads to the gym. All the kids eat. PJs and bedtime. It's all a bit of a blur, but it gets done. :)


7:40 Everyone is asleep and the house is quiet.

7:51 For the first time all day, Joe and I sit down face to face. He eats and we catch up on the day. up on the day.

8:30 I sit to relax and watch a little TV, while Joe does an hour of work on his class.  
10:38 in bed and spending time with Jesus by reading in my new devotional by Tim Keller. Hmmm...which day to choose? There is no Feb 29.

10:45 Joe and I collapse into our bed and I'm sure I am asleep within two minutes of my head hitting the pillow. It was a good day. A full one, but a good one.

I'm thankful for these days! :)