Getting Fancy

As a present to Mother Edwards, all the Edwards' girls got dressed up and went to The Secret Garden in Sumner for a Tea Party. Unfortunately it was raining and snowing, which took away a little bit of the Spring feeling, but it was still a great girly time together. Symantha and Hailey were SO excited to go to a real tea party, instead of the pretend ones we have at home all the time. They kept asking things like, "Would there be waiters with fancy trays to bring out the food?" and other things they had imagined. They also were POSITIVE they would love tea, and as sweet as we made it, neither one of them liked it! They did enjoy the lemonade and the yummy strawberry shortcake after lunch.

All the Edwards' girls

Symantha pouring tea

Hailey drinking lemonade. Notice the pinky up, as this is the proper way to drink!

Hailey posing for Grandma.

Me and my fancy girls

The girl cousins: Hailey, Symantha, Lacey and Amanda

Hailey's rules

Hailey has begun writing like crazy and she is always asking me how to spell things. Usually they are long, like "Please come to my tea party in my room after nap time. We will have snacks and party games and it will be lots of fun," which I have to convince her to shorten a little! A couple of days ago she decided to write some rules to put up around the house. She patiently asked me how to spell each word, and I did not help her at all. Here is the first rule, made for the bathroom, and obviously taped by her:

After posting this, she came out and told us all that there is a rule put up in the bathroom to remind us to wash our hands so no germs will be on us. I'm good with this rule!

Then the next day we needed another rule for by the front door. This one is a little trickier to read, but it says "Take your shoes off at the door".

Of course, we must leave these rules up to refer to often. Derek and I are ok with that because they make us smile each time we see what our little "rule-maker" has been up to. I wonder what will be the next rule?
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Faking Spring

After morning after morning of snow, I picked up some tulips at the store yesterday. I'm amazed at how happy they keep making me! The best $6 I have spent in a long time. I love how this picture shows Addison in her green shirt for St. Patrick's Day, with the snow out the window and the bright, cheery tulips on my table. Spring must be on it's way soon:)

Addison's new favorite thing

I moved the kid table and chairs to the office area so they could work by me while I'm on the computer or scrapbooking. It's a good spot for Symantha to do her homework, however she will have to fight Addison for it because Addison is OBSESSED with climbing on the chairs and up on the table. Here are a few shots of her being successful in climbing, however we are working on her learning it is not ok! These were yesterday....

Don't you see the mischievious look in those eyes? She knows what she is trying to do is a no-no!
Haha! Maybe if I am quick, Mommy won't stop me this time.

Success - my favorite thing to stand on! Except for on top of the table.

Today, she seems to finally be learning and she sat on this chair while I was on the computer for a good 20-25 minutes. Just wiggling around, putting her feet all different ways, singing "mama" in this sweet, soft voice, and every once in a while trying to stand up, although a quick "No" and she sits right back down.

I can't believe how long she is keeping herself entertained just by sitting in a little chair.

I do love all the cute picture opportunities!

This is ridiculous

This is a scrapbooking layout about my pregnancy with Addison and I started it FIVE MONTHS AGO! I can't believe how lame I am becoming. In my defense, I have been working a lot on my Project 365 and I have that all up to date, but to take 5 months to finish a pretty simple layout is unacceptable. So I am posting it on here to celebrate - it's not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. Let's hope it doesn't take another 5 months to finish my next one!

My Five Senses

Today, I am...


Hearing

Addison saying "Mama" and "Boo!"
"Mommy, can I have a snack?" multiple times
The big girls fight
The big girls giggle
Addison scream in frustration because someone besides her mother is trying to mother her
Symantha asking about when Derek and I "fell in love" and whether we were shy to tell each other
My Ipod playing loudly as Derek and the girls dance

Seeing

Various screens, mostly the computer
Messes I need to clean up
Through the camera lens
Addison doing the sign for "more" nonstop
Dancing girls who are complete ragamuffins
My Bible and study books, which are encouraging me so much right now
A few sad blogs I have been reading and praying for their families

Touching

Addison cuddling me with her blanky when she wakes up
Bread dough that our family is creating animals and shapes out of
Laundry, warm out of the dryer
Addison holding on to my legs while I try to get something done
The best hot shower with no children interupting me
Dry hands from cold weather
New Bare Essentials make-up that I am loving

Tasting

Coffee with Italian Sweet Cream creamer, first thing in the morning
Pretzels that the girls and Daddy made, which they accidently measured double the amount of salt... not so tasty!
BD Bakery cookies that Derek and Symantha went to get after the pretzels were a flop
Whatever I will be ordering when we go out to dinner tonight with our home group

Smelling

Cleaning supplies as I clean like crazy
Cinnamon fusion sugar candle burning
Addison's unpleasant diaper
Bread baking - smells much better than it tastes:)
Bath and body works Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion

Feeling...
Happy to be home with my family today and so thankful for the ordinary, everyday things that God blesses me by.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

It's that age - into everything and when it's too quiet, you know something bad is happening! Addison is exploring every nook and cranny of our house lately and I spend my time cleaning up whatever she discovers!

She found a chocolate candy meant for Symantha, and felt no guilt whatsoever devouring it. This is how I found her.

The girls were having a special movie night and Addison loves to terrorize them.


The office area is especially vulnerable, despite rubbermaid bins!

This would be my purse emptied on the floor. It was a nice opportunity to clean it out!

Interview with my big girls

This little interview was floating around facebook so I asked the questions to the girls and here's what I got. Just wanted to record it here because it cracked me up.

Symantha age 6 and Hailey age 4.

What is something mom always says to you?

s-Be good behavior
h-Don't be too crazy

2. What makes mom happy?

s-Having fun with your friends
h-when we obey you

3. What makes mom sad?

s-if one of us died
h-disobeying or if one of us gets hurt

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

s-when you are in your underwear
h-tickle us!

5. What was your mom like as a child?

s-playing with Nana, because she is always pretty crazy and she probably spoiled you
h-playing with your friends

6. How old is your mom?

s-62? 72? oh wait, maybe 52? I know there is a 2 in the ones place...
h-8

7. How tall is your mom?

s-I don't know
h-82 hundred feet tall

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?

s-Rachel Ray or house hunters
h-the cook show so you can learn new things to cook

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

s-clean up
h-go on dates and someone watches us

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

s-for your great cooking
h-so you can show everyone what great drinks you make and great smoothies you make

11. What is your mom really good at?

s-playing with your friends
h-cooking! Or teaching us things

12. What is your mom not very good at?

s-burning things
h-making tables because you don't know how to, right?

13. What does your mom do for her job?

s-you don't have a job - wait cleaning!
h-make our beds

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

s-the salad you had at the Rainforest Cafe
h-the spaghetti with chicken

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

s-cleaning our messes
h-cleaning!

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

s-Minnie Mouse
h-Zoe from Elmo's World

17. What do you and your mom do together?

s-go to some of my own friends' houses
h-go on special days!

18. How are you and your mom the same?

s-we have long faces
h-we have the same color eyes

19. How are you and your mom different?

s-you are taller than me
h-you have a big pinky and I have a little pinky

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

s and h- Giving us hugs and kisses

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

s-he doesn't go on trips ALL the time
h-he takes you on dates and is nice to you

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

s-scrapbooking - oh wait, Bed,bath and Beyond
h-Rainforest Cafe (uh, this is hers!)