Mother's Day 2012!

I am one lucky gal to be loved by a houseful of my favorite people!  My dear sweet husband got up with the children while I lounged in bed, in and out of sleep, and then enjoyed some quiet moments reading.  Peace.  Eventually, the kids couldn't be contained any longer and wanted to come in and wish me a happy mother's day and shower me with gifts!  Every girls dream!  Hyde made me a set of little bowls out of clay that he baked and then wrapped so nicely in a package!  Will also made me a clay bowl, that was extra fancy.  Ivy gave me a present also which had a couple of items from her room in it: a crocheted ball that has her name on it and her dolly.  Nate gave me hugs and kisses which are just as wonderful as anything!  Andrew eventually came in with my meager breakfast, per my request--poor guy couldn't be that creative or overly indulgent since breakfast while pregnant is pretty much my worst meal of the day and everything makes me sick.  So, he made my usual solitary piece of french toast with cut up banana on it and a glass of water.  He sure was sweet to prepare it for me!  I also discovered his gift to me when I finally left our bedroom and came into the living room.  Hanging above the TV was the picture of the Los Angeles Temple I've been wanting him to make for me!  We bought a photograph of the Temple several months back, he scanned it in, extended it so it was the size I wanted it, and then doctored up the picture a little.  He finished it off by making a frame to fit it.  I LOVE it!  It's just what I've been wanting!!!  He really is the best!

After our afternoon church services I came home and laid on the bed while I called my mother to wish her a happy mothers day.  During which, Andrew and the kids were preparing dinner: ham and provolone paninis.  YUM!  We then put the little kids to bed and played a game of Monopoly with the big boys (Andrew creamed us all) and then, after all the kids were in bed we skyped with Andrew's mom to wish her a happy mother's day!  I am so grateful to have a mother that works hard, loves to learn, and taught me correct principles all my life.  I am so grateful to have a mother-in-law that possesses the same qualities and raised an incredible man for me to marry.  And I am infinitely grateful to a husband who loves, supports, encourages, helps, and sustains me!  It was a happy mother's day!!!

Please excuse my non-showered, still in bed appearance--I promise I didn't stay that way all day!

Nate made this for me in sunbeams.  Apparently he's obsessed with monkey bread and thinks I am too!

My new temple picture!  It looks really small in this picture and the colors are off and I'm a horrible photographer, but you get the idea.  I love it!

girls night!

Last Friday was the father/son over-nighter!  And Andrew took Nate with him this year! Yaaaaaaaaay!  His requirement has always been than he only takes boys that are potty trained.  I believe Nate was potty-trained this time last year, but I probably gave him a pass.  Not this year, though!  I've also informed him that I'm going to have the new baby potty trained by this time next year, so he can go too!  HA!  

So, while the boys were away, we girls played!  Sis. Stamper's husband also went on the campout so the three of us went to dinner at Cracker Barrel and then back to the Stamper's for a sleep-over!  We painted nails per Ivy's request--poor girl has me for a mother and I don't ever paint my own nails!  So, this was only the second time I've painted nails with her.  She picked out the color--glittery purple--and insisted on painting her own, and then mine, and then Sis. Stampers.  She took it all very seriously!  Afterwards we watched TV and visited then after Ivy went to bed I introduced Sis. Stamper to my new favorite show, White Collar, while we ate snacks galore.  Sis. Stamper seriously spoils us!  She bought Ivy a stuffed animal at Cracker Barrel and then had her house stocked with candy and chocolate and all the great things girls NEED for a fun night!  The next morning, the spoiling continued with 2 sugary cereals for Ivy, 3 kinds of homemade muffins, bacon, and juice!  We left about 10am and the boys got home about a half hour later.  And then it was back to the real world!  But what a fun weekend!  We girls can't wait until next year!!!

Ivy's new pet: Lamby. 

All ready for some serious TV watching!

Snacks for us old people: candy, brownies, and tums!

thirty-three!

It was Andrew's 33rd birthday Saturday and we were all SO excited to celebrate with him!  I started the morning by leaving him in bed while I started making breakfast and got the kids decorating.  They had a great time blocking daddy's door with streamers.  We then enjoyed one of Andrew's favorite breakfasts: monkey bread.  YUM!  The rest of the morning was spent doing Saturday jobs and getting ready for the day. 

At 12:30 we loaded up the car to drive up to Andrew's work for their annual company picnic.  As we drove away we discovered we had a flat tire!  Andrew put on the spare and we were on our way.  It was SO fun!  They had mexican food in honor of Andrew's birthday Cinco de Mayo and then bounce houses, endless churros, music, and games!  It rained like crazy about 5 minutes after we got there but then it was clear the rest of the time as the kids had the time of their lives bouncing and sliding on the (wet) inflatables!

I'm trying to get more creative with Ivy's hair.  We were both excited with how these cute knots turned out!

Hyde, can you please smile nicely?

much better....ha!

 

When we got home it was time for presents!  The day before, the kids and i made this awesome pinata and put all of his gifts in it.  We also added some candy and 33 pieces of paper where we wrote all the reasons why we love daddy!  The pinata was actually NOT fun for Andrew since he was pretty freaked out about the kids (Nate specifically) wielding a large stick in the house.  But, nothing was broken (except the pinata of course) and everyone had fun!  After that daddy opened his presents and then went outside to fix the flat tire.  I know that that is what he dreamt of doing on his birthday!  That evening, after kids were in bed, we had a few couples over for lots of yummy snacks, fun conversation, and to watch the latest mission impossible.  It was a great end to a great birthday!

Reading all the reasons we love him!

Hyde gave daddy some reese's (daddy's favorite)!

Ivy gave daddy a drawing and a worksheet she made of math problems.  She's WAY into do adding and subtracting worksheets that I make.  What a good girl :)

I gave Andrew "slide 5" an awesome new card game my parents introduced to us. 

And, a brian regan t-shirt.  TAKE LUCK!

The Judd's gift to Andrew was to let him wear Amy's medal from running a half marathon earlier that day.  Jacob and Jessica gave Andrew this awesome t-shirt!  Serious stud-muffins!

this girl

It sure is nice to have a girl around!  Not that I don't love the boys and all that having boys entails, but Ivy's little personality and definite female attributes are such a nice change of pace!  One day I went in to tell her she could come out from quiet time and I found her playing "the Ladybug Game" with her dolls.  It was so cute.  When I peeked in on Nate I found an entirely different situation.

Nate's quiet time is anything but quiet....

Then last night, before I went to bed, I checked on Ivy.  She wanted to sleep in her sleeping bag on her floor.  This is what I found:

I just love this little girl!