My little girl is 9!

Nine years ago my little girl was born!

It's funny, because while it seems like yesterday, 

I also think 'She's only 9?'

Morgan is so responsible and mature for her age.

Most people who don't know us think that she is older than Ronan.

(Maybe even some who do know us.)

When she mentioned it was her birthday to a few people this past week, 

she was asked if she was turning 11 (she liked that).

BUT, I'm in no rush to have her grow up any quicker.

Morgan and I were talking about all she's done this past year.

It's been a fun one!

Visited with cousins & grandparents in Colorado

Mom, Morgan, & Nana in matching pj's!

Baptized by her daddy.

Swam on our neighborhood swim team this summer

And got lots of ribbons for it!

(Also attended her first Taylor Swift concert)

Lazy summer days at the creek.

Good times at the beach in Delaware.

I LOVE how Ashlyn loves Morgan, and wants to be just like her!

Started 3rd grade!

Family trip to Disney World!

Got her ears pierced!

A day in NYC with mom!

Central Park, FAO Schwarz, and a Broadway play!

The Nutcracker ballet together!

Tubing

8 was a good year, and I'm excited for 9!

I love you, my darling girl!

Happy, happy birthday to you!

Is it Friday yet?

This has felt like a seriously LONG week!

It's been full of ups and downs, crazy and quiet, 

but I think I'm ready to be done.

Here's a bit of our week:

Ashlyn FINALLY wore the dirndl I had as a little girl!

(Which she calls a 'Kitchen Dress', because it has an apron!)

 For weeks now I've been asking her to wear it, and she refused.

Then I took a few of the kids to a local High School production of the Sound of Music last Saturday (which was AMAZINGLY good!), and we were talking of Germany and looking at a German map, when I mentioned that the dress was from Germany.....and it clicked-she wanted to wear it!

 She even let me do her hair in braids, AND kept them in for the ENTIRE day!

Wooo hoooo!!

***Ashlyn note****

Ashlyn realized that she is 3, I am 33, and Hayden is 13, and she was SO excited that we all have 3's in our age. She said : "We're all on the same team! 3! We're the same team!"

I loved it!

She also said something in the car while we were driving with Hayden that he just LOVED-kept him laughing for quite some time.  "I'm freezing back here!"

She was cold, and I told her to nicely ask to have the heat turned on, but Hayden said, "NO! I love it! It's so cute the way she said it!"  

Cute now, but no so much when she's older....I have a feeling he might not be helping in that regard.

 Ronan's belly friend (with some French name), who speaks with a French accent.

Apparently HE had some down time this week!

Madelyn decided to try and eat lotion!

 It was all over the stairs, my cell phone, her face, just everywhere!

I made this 'gruel' for dinner....

It was NOT a success!

It was a 'soup in a jar' thing someone gave me.

I followed the directions, but it didn't turn out like soup.

I didn't make anyone eat it.

Then, on Wed. Ronan pulled the fire alarm at school, when there was NO fire!

Apparently he'd asked "What would happen if I pulled the alarm?" 5 times that day.

The only answer given to him was: "I don't know, but it would be a negative consequence."

Well, he quickly found out!

Everyone had to be evacuated.

His mother was called.

His sister was drug out of bed from her nap.

He got suspended for 2 days.

The Fire Marshall yelled at him.

We have to attend a course with the Fire Department to avoid

a $1000 fine.

He will be paying Hayden to babysit the younger kids while we attend said course.

He's grounded from anything with a battery or a cord.

He'll be cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, and the basement for the next 3 days.

He is now scared of Firemen.

Hopefully we will no longer be curious about this topic!

Tomorrow Hayden is going camping.

I have to clean out the big van so the Scouts can use it.

And help him pack.

(I only allow him to pack himself in the summer-he never brings enough layers in the colder months)

And pick up the house for Brian's 'class party' here on Saturday.

Actually Ronan will be doing most of that!

Then, I'm going to enjoy Friday night!

(Probably by sleeping through most of it)

Come on week....you seem to of been here a while...time to go!

All or nothing....

I seem to be a do it all or do nothing kind of person.

Yesterday I got up made 4 school lunches,

went to the gym for 90 min., 

took the girls to the library,

then out to lunch,

picked up seed & fertilizer at Home Depot, 

went to the Post Office,

filled some prescriptions at Target Pharmacy,

did BIG shopping at BJ's,

put the food all away,

seeded and fertilized the front and side yard,

washed laundry,

picked up paperwork needed for new deck,

picked kids up,

took Morgan to piano lessons,

stopped at Panera Bread for a treat for a friend (& bread for dinner),

picked Morgan up from piano,

made dinner,

did more laundry, 

played outside with family,

dishes & more laundry,

and fell into bed just before 10:00pm.

Today....

The kids took 'Lunchables' for lunch for the FIRST TIME EVER!

(They wereVERY excited about this-I was kind of too...no lunches to make)

took kids to school,

talked with a good friend on the phone,

danced with the little girls for like 5 min., 

then just watched them dance for the rest of the time.

THAT'S it so far!

And honestly I don't have much energy for anything else!

Granted, I'm not feeling too well-and only got 3 hours of sleep last night, 

BUT

it kind of drives me crazy how I can be SO productive one day....

and do just about nothing the next!

Guess I'm just an all or nothing kind of girl....

and today is a nothing kind of day.

Here's to tomorrow!

Thank you weather!

Yesterday was the most beautiful day ever!

It got up 80 degrees, and we loved it.

The windows were all opened.

The kids played outside the whole afternoon.

We had some neighbor families over for dinner,

while the kids ran around outside well past dark.

I loved it.

Then, while Brian & I were sitting on our front porch watching the moon with Madelyn, we said this is the perfect weather to camp in. 

So we did!

Well, THEY did I should say.

I slept inside with Madelyn.

But, Brian, Hayden, Morgan, Duncan, Ashlyn, and 2 neighbor kids 

had a blast sleeping in the backyard.

(Hayden actually slept on the tramp-not in the tent) 

 Ronan started out there, but came in due to the fact that he couldn't STOP telling scary stories and making the little ones scared! 

I'm glad they did it, because our 80 degree weather is gone today.

And we are all a little bit more excited about spring/summer's arrival!

Here's to an all around good day!

We're feeling lucky....are you?

 St. Patrick's Day is such a great holiday.

 An excuse to decorate a bit.

And bake something fun.

(Biscuits for breakfast, cookies for the afternoon)

Wear some green.

And that's IT!

No presents, no fuss, just some fun in the middle of March!

May the luck of the Irish be with you today!!!

Hair

Ashlyn has beautiful long hair.

And I promise you that I brush and fix her hair EVERY DAY.

But most often she looks like a little rag-a-muffin.

Without fail, soon after I've spent time doing her hair-it's destroyed!

Most of our outings it appears that I've just taken my child straight from bed and plopped her in the van.

She doesn't fight me fixing it-she'll sit and have it done.

She just twirls and plays with her hair so that in 15 min. it's out!

Brian laughs at me for spending so much time and effort in doing her hair when I know full well that it will be destroyed so quickly!

It is a great day when we can make the 10 min. ride to church withOUT having to re-do her hair when we arrive!

It can quickly go from this:

To this:

But fixed hair or messy hair, I do so love this little face!

I'll just keep fixing it.

One day it will stay in, right?

Coercion?

A week ago we had some strong winds in the night.

When we woke up there was tons of fallen sticks/branches in the yard.

We took care of the front yard.

But the back still had a TON!

(This is where most of our trees are)

And the kids were starting to use them as weapons.

So, Brian came up with a plan to have them clean them up

without even realizing it.

We made a fire!

If you know my children, you know that saying the word FIRE gets them moving!

So, they set out frantically picking up the sticks 

and bringing them to the fire bowl.

It took no time at all.

And we had plenty to keep the fire going.

 So we decided to make 'SMORES.

And nothing brings out the kids in the neighborhood 

like fire and roasting marshmallows!

 It was a fun Saturday afternoon activity!

 Ashlyn and her marshmallow.

 Sticky, gooey, yumminess! 

 Madelyn preferred to just eat the plain marshmallows.

I think we will do this activity every time we sticks picked up!

A TEENAGER IS IN THE HOUSE!

Today my first born turned 13!

We have been so blessed to have him in our family.

I feel extremely blessed to be his mother.

I couldn't be more proud of him.

(Here Hayden is a 'pink' Indian Chief)

For the weeks leading up to his birthday I kept asking him what he wanted to do for his BIG 13th!

"Just have some cake with the family", was his reply.

Then 4 days before he asked to have a party.

Only he wanted to go to the Laser Tag place, and they had no availability.

So, he decided to just have a 3 friends over to the house.

It was a fun time.

 We ate his favorite-Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake.

 Played some games, and

danced to Duncan's birthday gift he got the week before...

JUST DANCE 2.

That game was SO fun, and SO hilarious to watch!

Everyone had a blast!

It was a good night.

Some of the many things I love about Hayden:

He is responsible.

He loves the gospel.

He loves to have fun.

He adores his baby sister like none other.

Actually, he loves ALL babies, and is great with them.

He can't wait to be a dad.

He loves to read-honestly that's an understatement.

He is caring.

He wants to do wants right.

He's honest.

He's fun to talk to.

He's fun to be around.

I just LOVE him so much!

Happy 13th Birthday son!

I'm so proud to be you mom!

It's coming....!

Spring is beginning to show herself!

I shot these in my yard yesterday...

 Buds on the trees...

 Tulips coming up...

Oh please come quickly spring!

We've missed you!