Our fun week planned by Macy

Macy's friend Alyssa is on vacation for two weeks. I wasn't sure what we were going to do without them since we usually see them twice a week. Macy stepped in and planned out whole week out for us. 

Monday was a normal day of grocery shopping and staying home which is why I think Macy wanted to do fun things the rest of the week. We went to Target and Macy wanted to take pictures of things she wanted for her birthday. She was taking pictures of individual items which turned out to be most things here. Then she said, "I want it all." And took and picture of the whole end cap. 

Anna wanted this cute purse. I love that little smile that got captured. 

Tuesday Macy wanted to have a picnic at her school then go to the kids museum. They both love it there so much. We've been going for a year now, too many times to count, but they love it as much as the first time. We spent 2 1/2 hours there and they didn't want to leave. But I had to go home to make these amazing calzones. 

Wednesday we ate lunch after preschool then went strawberry picking. Macy remembered the place we went a year ago (Hall Family Farm) and wanted to go there again. It was a hot and sunny day but we had a lot of fun. The strawberries were ripe and there were plenty of them. 

These bouncy balls are what Macy remembered from last year. 

Anna was so adorable in her sunglasses and hi-pack (aka backpack).

Water trough duck races. 

There was an old fire truck to climb in. Macy looks miserable but was having a great time. 

Macy found some fireman dress-up gear. She rode all over the place on her trike and fireman gear. Her cheeks were pink and she was sweaty but she didn't want to take the stuff off. She was zipping and zooming on that tricycle. 

I think I picked most of the strawberries but the girls did help. Anna loved the little baby ones. We ended up with six pounds  of strawberries!

Here's Anna and Owen while I picked. 

Since it was so hot and the girls behaved so well we bought slushies to cool off. 

Our beautiful and delicious berries!

After feeding Owen and Macy zooming around on her trike again we headed home to eat dinner. We had more to do that night!

Macy wore herself out and slept most of the way home. I had to wake her up when we got home. 

After dinner I took the family and our neighbor Ron on a walk. I've been wanting to show them the trail I go running on for a month now. I knew they would enjoy it. The day cooled off and the evening was perfect. Macy rode her bike, Owen slept, and Anna was pushed in the stroller. The trail we did was 1.5 miles and I think Macy rode more than that. She would ride ahead of us, then come back to us, then go ahead again. 

I knew the girls would love climbing the rocks at the end of the trail and I was right. It was hard to get them to leave their "castle." 

Anna at the top of her castle. 

At this point they were on a train. 

Macy was in rock climbing heaven. 

Ja leaped from one rock to another. 

Anna was so cute with Ron and talked a lot to him about rocks. 

Thursday, Macy had her last day of Soccer Shots. She received a medal and was thrilled with it. It's very special to her and she's very proud of it. 

After soccer we went to North meck park with Emma and the girls had a great time. I was really proud of Anna because at one point both her and Emma wanted the purple bucket and shovel. After fighting over it for a minute Anna shared with Emma and said, "your turn." She had a big smile on her face so I know she felt good for sharing. 

Macy ate all her dinner with no coaxing from me which is a big deal so I have to document it. 

Friday, we ate lunch then went to the museum again for 2 1/2 hours. Once again the girls loved it. 

We left so we could go out to eat with Ja. Macy choose Brixx pizza since they give the kids dough to play with while waiting for the food. The kids were all well behaved and ate all their pizza. Dinner was great! So much quieter than eating at home. And the weather was perfect so we ate outside which was nice. 

After dinner we headed over to Ben & Jerrys for ice cream. They girls ate all of that too! They worked up an appetite!

My two favorite boys!

And my two favorite girls!

We came home and Ja mowed the grass to get a jump start on Saturday. The girls played in the front yard rolling around in the freshly cut grass. They were both covered in grass stains which amazingly washed out. 

Then Ja helped me sweep, mop, and clean the bathrooms in preparation for a baby shower I'm hosting tonight. He also helped me made the goodie bags. I couldn't have gotten everything done without him. Today he power washed the patio and blew the leaves off the walkway out front. He also took the girls to two parks so I could decorate. He is the best. I didn't have to ask him to do any of it. He asked me what I needed help with! Ja is the best!

Mother's Day 2015

The one thing I wanted to do on Mother's Day was take pictures with my kids. I wanted to get one with each child, but Owen is the only one who obliged. Seeing that he can't walk he had no choice in the matter. Although, by his expression he wasn't too happy about it. His facial expressions are the best.

Here we are trying to get set up. Anna got upset about something- probably me telling her where to sit. We quickly lost her as she ran away.

Then she fell down and came running back for a comforting hug.

 I have to include this picture because it's something I see Anna doing many times a day. She is taking in a big breath right before she has something important to say. Or she's about to ramble on and on. I know a lot of words or loud words are coming when I see her do this.

We eventually got a good picture! We don't have coordinating outfits, Anna's leg us up, and Macy is wearing a dress I don't care much for, but here we are! I love my three kids so much! I'm so glad they are all mine forever!

We tried a different pose but as you can see that wasn't successful. 

Ja helped the kids make me garden stones for Mother's Day. They are perfect and match their personalities. Macy stamped her hand in the cement, Owen stamped his little foot, and Anna wanted to poke her fingers into the cement. She is her own authority. I also enjoyed a nap after church and delicious vegetable lasagna for dinner compliments of Chef Ja. 

Best Friends

I wanted to take picture of my kids to send to parents and grandparents for mother's day. Macy and Anna had their best friends Alyssa and Kinzley over so I seized the opportunity to take pictures of all of them. I knew Macy and especially Anna would be up for it if their friends were over. Again, they aren't professional quality because I didn't do the girls hair or give them super cute outfits but I think the pictures show more of our real life.

 

Kinzley

Alyssa and Kinzley

Alyssa

The 4 buddies

 They loved being silly.

Later on in the day I was able to get a few of Owen. He has such a cute little face!

Macy wanted to model for more pictures after watching me take some of Owen. She asked me for some ideas so I showed her these two poses. I think they turned out so cute!

Then I tried for all three kids together. I wasn't able to get one with all three of them looking at the camera. I love this shot I captured because it shows Anna stealing a hug from Owen. His sisters love him so much!

This is the best one I got of all three of them. It's not perfect but I love it! These three kids give me such joy!

Muffins for Moms Day

Macy's preschool had a special morning to celebrate moms since Mother's Day is Sunday. She is such a sweet girl. It's nice to spend some one on one time with her. 

I was able to go alone with Macy which was very special. We ate some muffins then I went to her classroom to see the things she made me for Mother's Day. 

Her teacher Miss Julie cut out silhouettes of all the kids. 

Macy colored pictures of a story that is totally my life. This is the story (it's patterned after If You Give a a Mouse a Cookie)

If you give a mom a muffin, chances are she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. 

Her 3-year old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor she'll find a dirty sock. She'll remember she has to do the laundry.

When she puts the laundry into the washer she'll trip over a boot and bump into the freezer. 

Bumping into the freezer will remind her that she has to plan for supper. She'll get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook "101 things to do with hamburger."

The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. 

The checkbook is in her purse, which is being dumped out by her two year old. She'll smell something funny. She will go change the 2-year old's diaper. 

While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring. Her five year old will answer and hang up. She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee. 

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. And chances are...

If she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it. 

She wrote her name in this card. 

She drew this adorable picture of us. 

And she planted some flowers for me.