That time of year...

It's that time of year again (or at least it was about two weeks ago when we did this!  OK, so I"m just a little behind!)  But it's time to plant our garden.  Our "big" garden is in the back of our yard (it's the only real place we can have a true garden) and it gets quite a bit of shade.  So, the only veggies that will really grow there are "greens" and onions.  We've decided to plant a few types of lettuce & 3 types of onions.  We'll do tomatoes later in the spring (up against in the house where there is more sun.)   This is one of Anne Marie's favorite times of the year.  She LOVES to help plant the garden (and anything else for that matter).    We've even got tiny little onions & lettuce coming up out of the garden as of today & she came running in the house to make me come outside to see.  She's very very excited!  It's such a fun thing for her & daddy to do together and it's such a great way to teach her about our earth.

A Weekend Getaway

"Someone" has been begging to "take a trip".  This is her way of asking if we can take a weekend night and go stay somewhere.  For someone who HATES driving in the car, she LOVES to go on trips.  (She doesn't even like to really watch movies in the car - and they even tend to make her a little queasy, so we don't often do it).  But we knew this past weekend she was going to be THRILLED when we told her we were ready to take a trip to visit our best friends that recently moved about 4 hrs away.  Mike and I have been friends with them for YEARS!!  We were there for the birth of their daughter and they were there when we brought Anne Marie home - now the girls are the best of friends.  Jen was the 1st person that showed up at the hospital when we lost my dad, and Eric and Mike remind me so much of each other it's hard to tell them apart some days.  I can not imagine our life without our very special friends -- so no mountains or 4 hrs of travel would ever keep us away!!

These two BFF's were so happy to see each other!!

The night we got there we spent a little time just catching up.  The following morning we were able to go to Avery's soccer game.  It was so fun to see her in action!!

Then --- the crafting began.  I have to tell you it's quite funny....these two LIVE for crafting!!  Every time we get together this is their main goal....to craft as many items as possible before the weekend is over.  And true to form, they had an "Art Show" for us this weekend.

They were so creative, they set up a "check-in/check-out" station.  Complete with a cup of pens and papers to sign in & a box to turn in your tickets (they presented us with tickets with our name on them a few hours earlier), and a "computer" to help them keep track of the money we spent (because you KNOW that you MUST buy the artist work before you leave the show!!!) They turned a few boxes over and taped &  layed their art-work out for us to see, Avery walked us around & described each of the pieces of art & told us how much they would cost us.

It was so funny - the art work averaged about $40 a piece (some $10, however there were a few the girls thought were worth $66!! Haa!!)  We had to break out our plastic to be able to pay for all these beautiful pieces of artwork, however in the 1st picture you'll see Avery saying "NO!  I don't take credit cards and I don't take change, I only take dollars!!"  Anne Marie, on the other hand, was happy to take credit & change... that's my girl!

"You know you wanna buy this!  It's ONLY $41!!!!!!"  (Might I just say this is currently hanging on our front door - and yes, we paid with "plastic". Haa!)

One of the signs they wrote out & were hanging around the "show" - it says "Welcome and I hope you have a good time".  Sooooo cute!!!

Then, it was time to dance!  Again, another thing these girls live for ... performing!  They took about 20 minutes in a back room giggling & jumping around & came out to the living room & announce they had a dance to preform for us.  We turned on a requested song & then started the show!  They even got the dad's involved in the performance, helping with the drums................

The boys may have gotten a little too excited about joining in the fun.  My friend Jen is now missing one of her tupperware containers.  ooooops!!

My friend Jen is so creative as well.  She came up with a few cute "food" recipes to share with the girls.  First, she helped them make "empty tombs" (I think that is what they were called).  This is to represent Jesus empty tomb @ Easter.  You take a marshmallow covered in butter, cinnamon & sugar & roll it in a crescent roll & bake it.  The marshmallow melts and you get an empty crescent roll filled w/ yummy butter, cinnamon & sugar.  The girls had a BLAST making & watching them bake.  Then, she helped the girls make a fresh berry smoothie that they froze into little freezer-pop molds.  The were thrilled & had no idea how healthy it really was!

Thanks to the "H" family for such a BEAUTIFUL weekend. 

We miss you ton, and can't wait until we see you again!

Spring is in the Air

The Sunday after Anne Marie's birthday we were actually able to celebrate with friends and family.  It was not a big party, but both sets of grandparent's were able to come, my two sisters and their family - and I let 2 of Anne Marie's friends come along after Church with us as well.  My mom was nice enough to let us have it @ her house.  I wanted to have a little "theme" for her party, but I didn't plan on having a big party, so I came up with a cute little idea to make it fun for the girls, but simple for us.  "Spring is in the air".  

 Our girl (and baby Ling) ready for her party - with matching cupcake dresses.  (You gotta love TJMx and their oh-so-cute "me and my dolly" outfits for CHEAP!!)

The kites that Anne Marie made & decorated at home before her party.

The cupcakes.  Anne Marie helped decorate them (fun-fetti cupcakes of course) with sprinkles & pinwheel-tooth-picks on top!!

 I found a cute little craft for the girls to do....make/decorate your own pinwheel.  They loved it!!  I had enough for each of them to do a few and they went to town w/ stickers & crayons.

We then took them outside to "test" them out.  They did really well (and it helped that there was a little wind that day.  And girls willing to RUN all over the yard!!)



I got each of the girls a kite (and just take note : YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! -- we bought cheap little (but cute) kites for a dollar-something ... well ... Anne Marie's didn't last the whole day, but they still had fun).

A couple of her gifts.  She got the little lamb from my sister and she LOVED it!  Her shirt was from her friend (and her mom obviously) she made it w/ a stencil .... it's the Chinese symbol for "Friends".  

What a wonderful party it was!  She's so lucky that she got to celebrate twice for her "Big #5!" .. and we're so blessed to have such wonderful family & friends!