the best groupon ever

it was a mother daughter tea...with princesses.

we arrived and belle and cinderella invited us back to have a party with them. the girls were shown to a huge closet of clothes, boas, crowns and hats. they could pick from whatever they wanted and get dressed up as fancy as they could.

alaythia could not wait to get a picture with belle, her favorite princess.

princess music was blasting while each girl went to belle to get her hair done.

and then to cinderella to get her nails and make up done.

when the girls were all appropriately 'done up' they turned down the lights and belle announced each girl. 'princess alaythia' walked down the isle and struck a pose.

we sat down to tea, juice and cookies with the princesses waiting on us.

in the middle of the tea we were surprised by sleeping beauty who came to play a game with the girls.

they each touched her finger (or pricked it) and then had to go hide. when sleeping beauty found them she gave each of them a kiss (hersheys that is). they played several times and then headed back to their table.

they found a coloring book of princess and an autograph page for the princesses to write a special note to each girl.


we were in the middle of a new game of freeze dance when prince charming arrived carrying pink balloons for each girl.

there probably doesn't need to be much said about how alaythia felt about the night. they only way i got her out the door was because cinderella told her they had to get ready for a ball.


it was a joy to me to watch sweet alaythia and get to be there to watch her bask in the fun of the night!

belle again...as we were in our normal attire...but had to get one more picture.

at one point in the night alaythia went up to her and told her that she loved her.

food

making hot chocolate on a rainy morning.

enjoying mini-muffins for an after church treat.

donuts as big as your head.

a woman of leisure...eating and reclining.

brownie vultures...lots of help, but lots of eating also.

cobras

last weekend was thunder over louisville - an airshow and massive firework display. we had some friends invite matt and the older kids to go and see the fighter jets and helicopters as they landed for the event. our friend is in the reserves and therefore could get them in to see everything. so one rainy afternoon they headed out to the airport.

they watched them land and then got to go inside some of the helicopters.
alaythia was a little scared to get in as she had seen them land
and was a bit afraid they would take off while she was inside.

it was such a unique and amazing experience. seeing little isaiah in the cockpit...
made many wonder what he'll do with his life
as he's had so many amazing experiences at such a young age.

gardens

we have been working hard on the outside of the house. with each year i feel like we get a little more brave on the things we take on and think we can accomplish. my mom and dad were out for a little while and that definitely helped boost my confidence, as i had their help to get started. but like i said last year, i think there is a deep love of gardening that has been inside me that is finding it's way out. taking something plain and adding beauty, planting and nurturing, watching things grow... i love it!

we replanted the bed in the front of the house and took on the rocky bed that runs along the side of the house. we even got some starts from a neighbor to help in our endeavor.

in the back where our garden was last year we planted carrots, peas and artichokes. green beans will go in in a few months. the kids and i took a whole afternoon to clear a new bed on the far side of the house and decided to try some strawberries. i'm not sure we'll get any harvest has we have little bunnies that roam the neighborhood....

strawberry plants

we've had several working lunches at lowes.

alaythia loves the flowers and was very involved in getting things done.

the finished product with everything planted and with mulch.
i wish i had a before picture....

thanks mom and dad for all your help to get it done!

spring

we're well into spring here. the weather has allowed us lots of play time outside, soccer, golf and trips to the zoo with friends. it's been a long winter and we are basking in the warm weather and all the beauty and freedom it brings with it!