Jarrett's Birthday

Happy Birthday Daddy Bear! We celebrated J's birthday this year with a BBQ! Since Christmas he has been patiently waiting for the weather to cooperate for him to use his new meat smoker. Now, here in the north east we are still getting snow in early March, so it was a gamble. Since there was no precipitation, although it was COLD, we thought his birthday weekend was the best time for a relaxed BBQ feast celebrating our favorite nearing-over-the-hill guy ;) 

My Handsome Man xo

Mmmm Hickory Smoke...

Yum. Had a hard time waiting 5-6 hours for it to be done!

I was surprised we didn't have anyone drop in... it smelled GOOD in our neighborhood!

Us folks from CA tend to get BBQ'n confused with grilling out. This was indeed a real BBQ, and complete with Baby Back Ribs, Collard Greens & Bacon, Mac n' Cheese and Baked BBQ Beans. We had sweet tea and J wanted ice cream sundaes with homemade hot fudge, caramel and whip cream ;) 

Little Buddy loved the feast...

We love our Daddy!!

Our BBQ theme was complete with red checkered table cloth and blue bandanna napkins... the girls had so much fun coloring on the butcher paper their favorite memory with Daddy...

Madison: "Daddy takes me the best baths"

I helped out Andy a little bit

Lindsay: "I love camping with Daddy"

Happy Birthday, blow out your candles and make a wish!!

He had plenty of helpers to blow out his candles...

Presents time!! Thank you family for the wonderful cards and gifts!

Jarrett is THE BEST husband, father, son and friend. I cannot say enough of what a wonderful man he is, or how many peoples lives he has touched. A man of integrity and deep faith, he models with his life what it means to be a selfless leader. Happy Birthday My Love, I love you and had so much fun celebrating YOU and the day you were born!!  xoxox

Our Lucky Charms

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! 

Love, 

Madison (5), Andrew (17 mo) and Lindsay (7) 

Lindsay Diane at 7

Happy 7th Birthday Lindsay Diane!! 

Stats:
height: 47.5 inches
weight: 43 lbs
shoe size: 11
clothes size: 7
teeth: has lost 2, 2 more are wiggly
hair: blonde (although darkening slightly)
eyes: green

*Favorite Song: "One Call Away"
*Favorite Book: Lots! She loves informational text books, about Volcanoes, Mummies, Archaeology, Oceanography and fantasy books about unicorns, fairies, mermaids etc..
*Favorite Color: 1. Pink 2. Magenta-purple 3.Turquoise. Rainbow.
*Favorite Foods: Mashed potatoes and gravy, twice baked potatoes, roast beef, steak, any dessert, especially ice cream and double chocolate cookies, broccoli, asparagus. pizza. Dislikes: Cheese, hard carrots.

We opened presents in the morning of her birthday

She loved the mermaid jammies... in one of her favorite colors.

*Favorite Places to Go: She loves to go to swim at the high school pool, dance class, school, and Bath and Body Store, Children's Place Store, Justice Store, out to eat.
*Best Friends: Archena, Jenevieve, Mackenzie, Lila, Madison. She has tons of friends, and makes them wherever we go!
*What I want to be when I grow up: "A Volcanlogist. I like science and volcanoes!"
*Favorite Movie: "Aquamarine" 
*Favorite TV Show: Magic School Bus, Unique Sweets on the Food Network

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Daddy and his Baby Girl

Lindsay and her partner in crime, Maddie

Lindsay told me she wanted a chocolate raspberry cake for her birthday...I have to admit, it was a deliciously good choice! I think we've been watching too much food network ;)

7 candles on her cake

*Personality: Lindsay is our happy, helpful and easy-going girl. She is a fan of routines, and is enjoying some new found independence. Being the biggest kid in the family, she is a leader and very helpful with Madison and Andrew. When I am busy with Andrew she will put toothpaste on her tooth brush and Madison's, or get a snack or entertain Andrew while I make dinner. She is adored by her younger siblings, and the feeling is mutual (most of the time ;). Lindsay is becoming more opinionated, and sharing her preferences for clothes (loves bright rainbow colors, infinity scarfs, leggings), food (sometimes she just wants a salad instead of nuggets), hair (no bows please, but a side braid) and places we go (I just want to stay home!). Being at school all day makes a kid just want to be home, where she enjoys building forts, baking with Mom & Sis, playing school, writing in her journal, and doing arts and crafts. Lindsay internalizes what she is feeling a lot of the time, and won't necessarily share if something is bothering her. It takes a lot of questions and sometimes a blowup to figure out what going on. We're working on sharing our feelings in a healthy, respectful way... some good skills that will help us in the pre-teen years ;)    

Me and my oldest baby

*Learning: Wow! Lindsay has been doing fantastic with reading this year! She is reading above first grade level, and enjoys reading books of her choice. I don't think she thinks school is "hard" yet, and hasn't had problems with math, reading, spelling etc. She does her homework quickly without much complaining, and then moves on to something she'd prefer doing... like art or playing with Maddie. I've heard from friends it isn't until 3rd grade that kids begin to feel school gets challenging, so we will be ready! In the meantime I am encouraging her to be a critical thinker, and to look at problems she faces from different perspectives to find a solution.  

*Spiritual: Lindsay is a joy to watch as she begins to connect the dots in our faith. There have been many questions about why we believe in God and about the Bible and the stories in it. "Did a fish really swallow Jonah?" or "How can God be Father, Son and Holy Spirit?" It is a wonderful time as a parent to have the opportunity to present the gospel to her and share our own testimonies. We build our faith together as we find answers to her questions, and help her navigate how the Word speaks to the world we live in today. She is beginning her walk with Jesus, and questioning if He really is who he says He is. Her faith is growing with each question, and discovering a relationship of her very own with Him apart from us. I pray through the next year as she seeks Him, that she is convicted of her need for a Savior and will find it in Jesus. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13  

Our precious daughter, you are joy to us and we love you more than words could say. We are to lucky to be your parents!!

Valentine's Day 2017

Happy Day of Love!! We celebrated Valentine's Day as a family and had a feast, complete with chocolate fondue! I found another way to use my thrift store candelabras... as a centerpiece for a romantic dinner for 5! LOL. The girls helped me decorate the table and make our fancy dinner: Prosciutto wrapped Rosemary Chicken with pasta & asparagus and Caprese Heart Shaped Mini Pizzas, and for dessert, Chocolate Fondue.

Table for 5 at Restaurant a la Fisher

 The biggest hit by far was the chocolate fondue...

We dipped strawberries, brownie bites, blueberries, pretzels, marshmallows, potato chips and pretzels!

 Little Buddy LOVED the chocolate... boy, he was a sticky mess of sweet love!!

Grammie's Visit 2017 & Great Wolf Lodge

We had a great visit with Grammie celebrating the girls birthdays, hanging out and visiting!

Grammie read and read with Andrew, and had a couple other listeners too!

Grammie helped out at Madison's party and wrangled Andrew with all the guests. She also decorated Maddie's Belle cake with help from Lindsay ;)

We high tailed it to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate Lindsay's 7th birthday (a week early) and had a blast at the water park!

Ahhhroooo! Our wolf pack... Andrew was not going to be still!

Miss Sassy Pants struck a pose...

Daddy and Andrew in the wave pool...

Drew loved the water and waves and slides!

One of the favorite things the girls enjoyed doing with Grammie was wave jumping in the wave pool!

WEEE! 

Grammie treated the girls to pedicures at Scoops Spa for their birthdays... what a special time! Madison picked yellow polish with cheetah spots, and Lindsay chose purpley blue with paw prints!

All decked out like princesses!! 

Thank you Grammie for the wonderful visit, the baby sitting while J and I went out for dinner, helping out at the party and all the loving/reading/snuggling of the grand babies! We love and miss you!!! xoxo

Madison Grace at 5

Height: 40 inches
Weight: 29.4 lbs.
Clothes: Size 5T
Shoe: Size 8
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown

Favorites...
Food... Pizza, Turkey, PB&J or Nutella Sandwiches, Potato Cheese Soup, biscuits and gravy, sour cream flavored potato chips, goldfish crackers, Princess Soup. Queso dip. Just about any dessert, and chocolate candy will please her. She loves carrots, broccoli and asparagus, but will tolerate green beans/salad/brussel sprouts only if there is a treat afterwards. 

MMMMmmm. Queso!!!

Dislikes: Meats, macaroni and cheese

TV Show...Magic School Bus
Places to go... Community Bible Study, Preschool, On the Border for Queso Dip, Shopping with Mama, Dance Class
Color... YELLOW
Toys... Baby Dolls! She is in love with her dolls and will play for hours with them. She will take them with us in the car, and will diligently pack her diaper bag full of things they might need. LOL. She enjoys ponies, Barbies and has a couple animated stuffed toys she pretends are her pets. Maddie loves to play veterinarian and heal all her sick pets. 

Madison and "Lola"

Cooking with Mama... This girl loves to watch "Pioneer Woman" on the food network with me and cook anything in the kitchen. She loves to bake and has fun wearing our matching aprons and making something sweet!
Madison is the sweetest Big Sis to Andrew, and the best Little Sis to Lindsay. Her brother and sister simply adore her.

Doing Yoga at Great Wolf Lodge

Friends...Eleanor, Kayla, Samantha, Sophia G. and of course, Lindsay.

Book: BOB readers, Kindergarten Sight Words. She loves to spend the first part of 'quiet time' reading to Mama. She is doing so, so well! I can't believe my Big Girl is going to Kindergarten the fall, although I know she will be ready ;) 

What she wants to be when she grows up: "I want to own a ranch and take care of horses." 

Madison loves her ballet class on Wednesday evenings, and absolutely adores preschool! 

Maddie hearts playing in the sand box.

Madison's Pre-4 Class

Madison has a tender heart, and a spirited side ;) She continues to be passionate about all she does, whether it is dancing, singing at school, or learning. She is super social, and loves to have play dates with her friends. Maddie is loyal, and is sensitive to feelings. She is the first to offer a hug, say a word of encouragement or a prayer. This girl is our snuggler, and our comedian. She has a contagious laugh and is super ticklish. 
Madison has really come into her own since starting preschool in the fall, and has been more and more independent. She knows our phone number, address, how to dial "911" for emergencies and can get her own snack and drink, put away her clean clothes and make her bed. She is growing spiritually, and when she says her prayers she talks to Jesus like he is sitting right next to her. Her child-like faith inspires me! Oh what joy this petite, big brown eyed girl brings to our day!

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet girl, Madison. We love you beyond words, and you bring sunshine and laughter into our lives. You are a gift, and we are so lucky to be your parents! Love You, Daddy & Mama xo

Madison's 5th Birthday Party

Happy 5th Birthday Madison Grace!! Our Big Girl couldn't decide which she wanted more, a Beauty and the Beast Belle Birthday or a Tea Party Birthday Party, so Mama made the decision to combine it! Our Belle Tea Party fit Madison to a "T". She told me, "Mama, Belle is my favorite princess because she looks exactly like me... brown hair and brown eyes. Plus, she has a yellow gown (also her favorite color)." This girl knows her mind! We had her party on the Saturday before her real birthday, and was lucky to have Grammie in town visiting to help out with the party!

 Madison began her party day with opening a gift... a Belle Dress!

 Grammie had fun decorating the cake with the adorable Belle figurines that were given to us from a sweet lady at church. Her older daughters loved Beauty and the Beast, and were happy to pass them along for us to enjoy ;)

 Our Little Miss was SO excited for her friends to arrive, and wanted to invite mostly preschool girls and her best friend from Bible Study; Lindsay and our best friends Lila & Inara completed the guest list.

Big Sister Table... We couldn't fit all the girls at the big table, so Lindsay and her friend Lila claimed this table for their own. 

 The decorations were so much fun, and I had fun making her banner and scouring thrift stores to find a cheap gold candelabra for the table. After weeks of searching I was thrilled to find one for $2 a couple days before the party. We did lots of yellow (M's favorite color) and I found cute plastic coffee cups at the party store that the girls decorated and drank lemonade out of.

 Beside decorating tea cups, we played "Pin the Petal on the Rose".

The girls took turns in a relay race to balance their books on top of their head, then pretend to drink a cup of tea and run back. We had about 2 kids go before they all got bored with it and decided to run upstairs and play in Madison's room. LOL. 

We enjoyed the company of the girls parents, and I made some more adult-themed tea party food. There were a few Dad's too, and they were such good sports!

Hummus, veggie & cheese plate and Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Croissants 

Little Smokies (Mad loves those), Fruit Cookies, Nutella Strawberry Tea Sandwiches, Mini Muffins

 Eating and decorating their tea cups...

Lindsay & Lila at the "Big Sister Table"... although there were also Little Sisters sitting there too. 

 Madison was so excited to have everyone sing to her while she blew out her candles. She had a lot of help from her friends too ;)

The little girl on the left is Maddie's best friend from preschool, Eleanor. 

 Happy 5th Birthday darling Madison Grace!! We love you so much!! xo