Easter Egg Hunt

{an up-to-date post}

It was time for our annual "friends and kids" Easter egg hunt! My two friends put this on every

year for all of our children and it is so much fun!! This year we painted flower pots and then did the hunting :) It was Olivia's first egg hunt and she loved it! Although I have to admit she enjoyed covering her pot and herself in paint more than anything.

As you can tell by her basket, Sophia is an old pro at finding eggs. :)

Painting on a beautiful spring day!

I have a couple more posts from over the past couple months...but I am trying...do I get and "A" for effort ;)

love and kisses....

The Pumpkin Patch 2010

{My attempt at cute Fall pictures}

Unlike last year we did not make a trip out to the "mega" pumpkin patches. You know, the ones with petting zoo's, corn mazes, hay slides, hay rides, food and lots of people. We stayed super local and visited the cute little patch about 3 blocks away. They had pumpkins and that's all we needed :)

They were bigger than she was and it was pretty cute.

"sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters"...sing with me now!!

Andrew's girls

Loaded up and ready to go!

Love and kisses!

ARGGGHHHH....Sophia be turning 3!!!

{The Pirate Party}

Yes, it is true...my sweet, girly, little Sophia wanted a "Pirate Dance Party" for her 3rd birthday. She really, really did...I am not sure how or why she came up with the idea...but that's what she wanted and I have to admit- it was a blast to plan and throw!

We turned our playground into the "Jolly Roger". We also had a sandbox to "dig fer buried treasure", a balance beam to "walk the plank", a pirate ring toss, and some eyes patches and swords for everyone to play with. Sophia said it was the "best birthday ever!!!" and that was enough for me :)

Captian Sophia and her favorite Pirate...arrggghhh...

Ready to party!

Here is some of the goodies and decorations.

And here are some of the other partying Pirates!!

Love and kisses matey....

Reality....

{busy and not always picture perfect!}

I will readily admit that I have been gone for way too long!! And I will admit that I really didn't think that anyone really cared. I see now that I have been selfish...I know that there are some dear family members who do love to check in on us...and watch the girls and us grow :) So to you {aunts, grandparents} I am very sorry for being gone. I promise I will do my best to make it up to you!!

Honestly, it is not that I haven't thought of blogging, there have been days when I sit down and attempt to start a post {there are so many things going on around here} but I get distracted, something comes up {someone pees on the floor..etc} and I never quite get it written and sent.

Okay...so it's been over six months since I posted last...and there is SOOO much to catch you all up on. I will try hit the major events!!

I will start with some biggies...

~Sophia Started Pre-School and Olivia turned 1~

{on the same day}

The Birthday Girl ready to take Sister to school!

Mommy and her girls! {rough Morning for mom...lots of tears}

Look! I am standing!

The "big girl" ready for her first day at school!!! She was so excited and did a great job!

Cute little backpack :)

Okay...I have started our comeback...I promise I will post more within the next day or so!!

Glad to be back....love and kisses!!

OUR NEWEST ADDITION....

Now that we cleared out some more play space in the back yard...we got the girls a swing-set!!

They love it {read: LOVE IT!} Sophia plays on it whenever she can, which is not all that much since N.C. has had a heat index of 110-114 the past couple weeks. But when it is not so blazing hot she is swinging, steering the ship, peering through the telescope into the woods, sliding, giggling climbing and having a great time!

Olivia loves to swing and is content to swing, hang out and smile sweetly at everyone! It has been a nice addition to our yard...and hopefully they will enjoy it for years to come :)

Hope you are well!!

love and kisses...

California Trip!

{a tad late...but worth the wait}

Alright...so technically we have been home for about 3 weeks...but it's summer and things are busy! Here are some pictures from the trip to L.A. We had such a wonderful time...I am ready to go back already!! Sophia had a blast swimming...she had her first swim lessons with Ms. Jennie. We went to my parents cabin, we shopped, we ate Mexican food like it was going out of style {no good Mexican food in N.C.}. We just played the trip away with family and friends. It was perfect!!

Sophia the swimmer!! Having a blast in Mimi and Grandpa's pool :)

Playing at the cabin!

Happy 4th of July!!

Shopping and playing with friends and family!

{more post to come...sooner than later :)}

xoxoxox

No Greater Joy.

{in my humble opinion}

This is a small part of a day in my life. We go to the park. The three of us, I pack up our snacks and water bottle in the double stroller. I put on my not so glamorous running shoes, and pull my not so stylish (and graying) hair into a pony tail, and we walk to the park. On the way there Olivia chews on whatever toy I handed her and tries to peek out from under her sun hat. Sophia and I talk about the beautiful sky and who created all of it, and why He created it and why we should be so so thankful for Him. We name the color of plants and houses. We sing songs...{only after I have regained my breath from pushing a double stroller up hill}.

When we get to the park we play and snack and snack and play. We really do have so much fun. And sometimes I look up at the sky and think about how in world I (an L.A. born and raised city girl), ended up in North Carolina. And I think about how the Lord knew from the creation of the earth all about me, and that this is exactly where I would be, right at that very moment. And I think about my sweet girls and how we moved from Los Angeles (so far from so many that I love and miss) so that I could be able to live this exact life. The life where I get to spend every day teaching, and training my sweet sweet girls.

Then I snap back into reality when I hear Sophia call me, or Olivia squeal...and I run off to tend to them and all that they need. They are not perfect girls, I am not a perfect mom...but it is a perfect life...for me...and I am so so thankful. And I pray that I will always remember to be.

love and kisses....xoxoxo

Wordless Wednesday ~ Around the house

(a day late)

The girls.

Since our last post Olivia is now eating solid foods, loves cheerios, is sitting up and trying to start to crawl.

Sophia is always curious, loves to ask questions and learn new things. She recently had a haircut and we had 3 inches cut off. Now that it has warmed up here, she wants to be outside playing ALL the time.

Hope everyone is doing well...will post again soon (I promise)

love and hugs!

Piper Quinn Melvin

My sister Alison and her husband Andy had their first child this week. Her name is Piper and she came 5 weeks early. She weighed 5lbs 7oz and was 19 inches long.

I am so thrilled for them...what a blessing this little girl already is!! I am so proud of my sister and her

hubs...they are going to be wonderful parents.

Piper and her Mommy...minutes after she was born.

A family of three :)

Love you Ali, Andy and Piper...sending kisses and love!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxox