Strawberry Pickin'

Still so behind.  This was our first mom and kids playdate with the kiddos from church.  We went strawberry picking and had so much fun.  If you can't tell from the pictures...the kids may have ate just as many strawberries as they picked.  :)  

Spur of the Moment Play Date!

Aren't these the best?!  We got a LITTLE snow one day (is it really December?!) so we had to celebrate with a spur of the moment play date at Joshua's house.  

The kids had pb&j for lunch (the Mommy's weren't hungry because we were full from a delicious Christmas brunch at MOPS).

Then they played in the tunnels

Later, we bundled up for less than and inch of snow and went out to play...so exciting!  

 These kids are ready for snow!  

 Isaac LOVES to find spots where he can sit...this one was perfect!  

 Too much fun!  

 We love playtime with Joshua!  :)

Playdate fun!

It was nice to take a break last week from the busyness of Christmas to enjoy a playdate with Hannah's little friends. I'm so glad that she has such good friends to play with and learn with....and I sure do love their moms and the friendship that we have. We are so blessed!

Please note...this picture includes SIX smiling children looking at the camera (or at least in the general direction) and one precious sleeping baby....the moms were thrilled!

Birthday Buddies!

On Saturday, we had the chance to have enjoy some time with our friends Cliff and Ali and their beautiful family. We were able to meet their newest addition, little Josiah. Ali and I were pregnant at the same time. Even though she was due a few weeks after me, Josiah decided to come early and our boys share the same birthday! It's been very encouraging to share stories, ideas, and just encourage each other as we are going through all the lovely newborn phases with our boys at the same time.

they are just about the same size!

Hannah adoring the babies

the older children loved playing together..this pic was taken after they had been playing hard for several hours :)

5 precious gifts from above

Playdate with Milan

Another blessing of yesterday was the chance that Hannah had to spend time with her sweet friend Milan. Craig and Julia took Hannah for the morning so that I could have some good rest time, and Seth could come to my doctors appointment with me.

The girls had fun playing and playing all morning. They played in tunnels, sang and danced, rode bikes, read nursery rhymes, and much more.

I broke my bedrest restrictions for just for a quick lunch date with my hubby before my doctors appointment (hey...I was already out of the house and across the street from the hospital anyway...that's okay right?!). Let me tell you...it felt SO good to wear real clothes and makeup, enjoy some one on one time with my wonderful husband, and have lunch at one of my favorite spots...Olga's kitchen.

We are thankful for our friends the Forresters and the blessing that they were to our family yesterday!!

Julia sent me some pictures of their day together...here are just a few:

this one's my favorite...don't those faces melt your heart?!

Fun with Mari, Ezra, and Tobin

Today I watched Mari, Ezra, and Tobin for my friend Trenda. It was fun for us to have friends to play with during the day. The kids were so patient with Hannah and shared their toys with her so well! She esp. had fun playing a great sandwich game with them and pretending to be in space. This was their spaceship. It was a challenge to get them to all look at the camera at one time...so I figured 50% was decent....funny thing is...I got the two youngest. Anyway...thanks Trenda for sharing your kids today...they're great! :)

Playing with Milan ALL day!

On Monday, I had jury duty. The Lord worked it out to be a day of blessings. On Sunday at church, I asked Jack where a safe place to park downtown would be...he insisted on taking me. What a blessing! I didn't have to worry about driving in rush hour traffic, I didn't have to find my way there, or find parking, or find the court house. He picked me up and drove me to the front door.

The other blessing was my friend Julia's willingness to watch Hannah while I was away. I didn't worry about Hannah one bit...I knew that she was in great hands and was having a ball. Sure enough when I went to pick her up at the end of the day...she didn't want to go home. Thanks Julia for giving of your time and energies to take care of another toddler!

Here are some of the pictures that Julia sent me of Milan and Hannah's adventures:

I didn't know if they would keep me or dismiss me from jury duty because of my pregnancy. I ended up getting sent to the juvenile court and was one of 24 other possible jurors assigned to a case there. We heard the beginnings of that case and the questioning began. I was the second one called into the jury box. After the first round of questions, 3 were exempt, but I was still remained. I thought that meant I was there for good....especially after two more rounds of bringing in new people, questioning and dismissing them, and all of us from the earlier rounds were still seated. Finally at the very end of the third round of questioning (it's now about 3:30pm) the last attorney dismissed me. I think that she was saving her no-cause exemption for me. It was a child abuse case and I'm sure she didn't want a protective, emotional, pregnant mother on the jury. I was fine with that. By this point, I had adjusted my attitude about being there; and was willing to serve, but was sure glad to go home and get to spend the rest of the week with my little one. What an interesting day!

Three Little Friends Have a Ball at Java Jungle

Last Wednesday was a rainy yucky day outside...perfect for a playdate inside at Jungle Java! The three girls had a wonderful time together!!

fun on the slide!

I love that smile!

Hannah feeding Brinna puffs...notice the open mouth :)

taking a snack break

silly girls :)

Happy Birthday Olivia, Addison, & Amelia!

We had a great time celebrating 3 special girls birthdays yesterday afternoon! With the theme of tutu's and tiptoes...there was lots of dancing and lots of fluffy tutus...what a sight! :) Sheri is great at throwing parties...the cake was wonderful, the house was beautiful, and each girl went home with wings, a tutu and a hairbow.

Hannah wants to wear her wings and tutu all the time! But of course...she's been into the ballerina thing these days...so this was right up her alley!!

our sweet little ballerina :)