Mother's Day Weekend

Grandma & Grandpa L came down on Friday for the weekend. Unfortunately, Steven was working overtime the whole weekend, so he didn't get to participate in all the fun we had. Friday night, the rest of us went to Mackenzie's school to see their play "The Wizard of Oz". It was really good! They did such a good job, the kids were very talented! Addy really enjoyed it, too. After the play was over, we got some pictures with a few of the characters.

Saturday morning, Addy and Grandpa played a lot of ball...actually, they played a lot of ball all weekend!

Then we went to Katie's soccer game. It was supposed to be a nice day, but it didn't turn out that way. The sky remained cloudy and it drizzled off and on all day until dinner time when it started to really rain, and it didn't quit until really late Sunday night!

We had a quiet afternoon and then went to Jen's house for dinner. We had a lot of fun! The girls played, and we played cards.

Mackenzie made dessert for us, too! She made chocolate cupcakes, from scratch! Then she decorated them with buttercream frosting and a few different variety of toppings. She presented them to us like they do on the t.v. show "Cupcake Wars". Let me tell you, they were soooooo good!

Sunday was Mother's Day! Steven came home from work before we left for church. He brought me a hot apple cider from Starbucks and a beautiful bouquet of flowers along with a very sweet card. My parents gave me a new pair of pajamas. Addy was just the sweetest thing ever. I am very blessed, that is for sure!

After church, my dad made breakfast for us. The only time I eat a fried egg is when he makes it!

Grandma & Grandpa had to leave that afternoon, but before they left Addy and Grandma played a little more. Addy's wearing "pig tails" just like Katie does sometimes, at least that's what she tells me!

So those were the highlights of Mother's Day, but there were some lowlights as well. I was missing Logan so much on Sunday. It brought me to tears a few times.

I was super frustrated with Maggie the whole weekend. She woke me up both Saturday and Sunday at 6:00 a.m. to go outside. And I was angry about it. Especially on Sunday because it was raining and she won't go out in the rain. I didn't realize until later, through some tears, the reason I was so frustrated with Maggie was because it was HER waking me up so early, and not Logan. I wanted so badly to be woken up at any hour of the day or night by Logan. I just miss him.

At the same time, I feel so blessed to be Addy's mom. The joy she has brought to our lives is immeasurable. So I felt myself going back and forth in prayer all day, thanking God for the gift of our children, all of them, and asking God to keep His comforting hand on my heart as I struggled with missing Logan. And as He always does, He came through. The Lord blessed me with the best husband. I can't imagine my life without him. You know the song that says, "When God made you, He must have been thinking about me"? Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Thank you, Lord!

Singing In the Rain

On Monday night, Kenzie's team had to play in the rain! We found a great place to sit and watch the game that was covered, but the girls wanted to play in the rain. So they did. And had a lot of fun!

They were literally singing in the rain! It was so cute. Thankfully for the girls playing softball, the rain cleared up about half way through the game.

Fun, Fun, Fun!

I haven't been writing much about our weekdays, mainly because each week is kind of the same...a couple softball games and a couple nights at home just hanging out. We love this time of year! Then we load the weekends with as much fun as we can.

Last weekend was full of fun. We started by going out for dinner and bowling on Friday night with Chris and Jen. Mackenzie had to do a service project and asked if she could babysit for 3 hours, for free! While we were out, the girls ate pizza and watched movies. Of course, they had fun too!

Saturday morning both Mackenzie's softball game and Katie's soccer game was cancelled because of rain. We ended up going to some garage sales together instead, after the rain cleared up!

Then Addy had a birthday party to go to at Maggie Moos. Her friend, Avery, was turning 3. Avery is into the princesses, too, and had an Ariel cake.

After they ate cake, the kiddos got to make their own waffle cone, choose their ice cream, and mix in anything else they like with their ice cream! Addy loved it.

Addy chose chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips and marshmallows mixed in. No surprise there!

Then Maggie Moo came out to see everyone and pose for pictures. Addy was super excited about that, too. As usual, I had to remind her that the other kids want to see Maggie Moo and we have to share! Sweet thing just wanted to love on Maggie Moo as much as she could!

Addy, Avery, and Maggie Moo.

Addy had a lot of fun at the birthday party!

When the party was over, we headed over to Jen's house to swim! Addy was apprehensive, but enjoyed sitting in the chair with Katie!

Watch out, girls! Tidal wave!

A good time had by all! Mackenzie was at a sleepover, which is why she's not in any of these pictures.

After a delicious taco dinner, Katie and Addy went up to the bonus room to play. We didn't see them again until it was time for us to leave! They played so well together.

While they were playing upstairs, we played cards, which is always a good time!

First Bonfire...

At Jen's new house! Last Saturday, we went over for dinner and s'mores. The girls roasted hotdogs with Steven's help.

Delicious dinner on the deck!

The s'mores were really good, too. Addy certainly enjoyed them!

Beauty and the Beast

Last Friday night I took Addy, Kenzie, and Katie to a local high school to see their end of the year musical "Beauty and the Beast". Our friends, Jessica and Rex, went too! It was excellent. Seriously, excellent. We had a lot of fun.

Addy wore her Belle dress and wig!

We weren't allowed to take any photos of any part of the musical because of the school's agreement with Disney. But we did get to take photos with "Belle" after the show. "Belle's" mom spotted us during the intermission and said she would try to get her daughter to come out in her costume for some pictures. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to do that, so we took pictures with her in regular clothes, but Addy didn't care!

Addy was one of two little girls who dressed up like Belle for the show, so they both took a picture with "Belle" and Rex! So cute.

Chris's Birthday and Special Guests

Thursday, April 26th was Chris's birthday. We had a delicious rib dinner, prepared by my aunt Carol, and then it was off to Kenzie's softball game, in the rain. It rained off and on, so we stayed in the car and watched from there!

After the game, we went to Jen's house to give Chris his gifts and eat cake.

My aunt, Linda, and uncle, Jim, called (as they always do!) to sing to the birthday boy...and we all got to listen!

Then he opened some gifts, with Addy right by his side!

Cake time...

Then it was time for Addy's favorite part of the night...holding Heidi. I mentioned earlier that Carol was here, well she didn't come alone, Amanda and Heidi came, too! Addy was so excited to see Heidi.

Addy, Heidi, and Heidi's Logan bear:

All the girls:

Can you tell she's in love?

When we were leaving and saying our goodbyes, Addy was giving Heidi a hug around her neck. Katie said, "Whoa, Addy, you're going to pop her head off"! It was so funny...and sort of true!

Late Discovery

Aren't babies supposed to get into the toilet paper? Not our 3 year old? :)

I know, I should be thankful it took her this long to discover the fun she could have with toilet paper! I just thought we skipped that normal baby activity!

Even though she's potty trained and uses toilet paper every day, she still found it fun to nearly unroll the entire roll of toilet paper. Thankfully, Grandma stopped her when she did!

Silly girl.

Addy's Getaway With Grandma & Grandpa

The week before last, Mrs. Wendy went on vacation so Grandpa L came down to watch Addy for us. He came down on Monday afternoon, and Addy was eager to read the paper with him!

Grandpa took Addy to My Gym on Tuesday and her dance class on Wednesday! They had a lot of fun together.

 Then Grandma came down on Wednesday night and the fun continued. Thursday morning, they had coffee on the back porch (Addy drinks "white coffee" while Grandma drinks black coffee).

Then they were off to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for a few days! Grandpa and Grandma took Addy to Dollywood. None of us had ever been there, so they were really looking forward to it. Addy was excited about the rides!

They went to Dollywood on Friday and had a really good time! I laughed when my mom texted me and said, "It's definitely not Disney World. I think you have to be 80 years old to work here"! Things just moved at a slower pace there, thankfully there were no lines for them to wait in! Addy enjoyed the rides!

They rode the black train.

Addy loves to "drive", so these cars were super fun for her!

Oh my, this next picture cracks me up!  I think we need to stick to the princesses!

Sweet girl was worn out by the end of the day!

She did perk up a little later at the hotel when it was time to go swimming!

Just being silly!

Saturday, they went to Parrot Mountain, another place none of us had been.  They had fun and saw a lot of birds! 

After they left Parrot Mountain, they went to The Incredible Christmas Place.  We stopped in there when we were there in January and had a great time.  There was someone there this time to actually read to Addy for story time!  

Then it was time to come home.  And what trip with Grandma and Grandpa would be complete without a huge lollipop?  Grandma assures me it looks much larger in the picture than it actually was.  Riiiiiight.  :)

And once they got home, Addy went back to playing dress-up like usual. Here's a cute video to prove it!