Yes, Too, The Zoo: Wednesday:

When we ask Alivia a question she usually answers with,

"Yes too."

We don't know where this come from, but it's very cute!

So when we asked if she wanted to go to the zoo, of course she said,

"Yes, too, the Zoo."

 

 Wednesday was gorgeous, but I was worried about MeKenzie and her allergies. I brought along two packets of tissues and she used them up before we even got out of Woodbridge with a bloody nose:

But we made it and had a great time:

National Zoo:

 

 

 

 

 

  

But all good things must come to an end:

 

Alivia asked if we could go back and we said,

"Yes too."

I call this first trip to the zoo with Livi a success: 

 

Yes, Josh, too:

Speaking of Art: Tuesday

So, after Lexy and MeKenzie finished helping me with Eryn's Easter package, they went outside to create art with sidewalk chalk:

They finished off all the chalk:

Artwork by MeKenzie Fife and Lexy Rowberry:

An amazing head nod to the movie Tangled, which is a huge hit at our house:

We've had a few other pieces of artwork created recently:

Stars and Moon by Alivia:

Family Portrait by Alivia:

Map to Preschool by Alivia and Josh:

Louvre here we come:

Good Things Come in Small Packages: Tuesday

Josh, Alivia and I ran to Target early Tuesday morning. I needed to buy a few things to make a double batch of Lasagna, one for us and another one for a great family in our ward. I also needed to send a package off to Eryn because she forgot a few things and I wanted to put some Easter 'surprises' in for her:

So, Josh and I started a frenzied kind of cooking and baking. As I worked on the lasagna, my favorite recipe BTW, he started making chocolate cupcakes. As soon as the sleep deprived girls got up I put them to work too:

Lexy and Kenzie filling eggs for Eryn:

I ran to the post office to mail the box and while I was gone the girls found their own 'surprise':

We are going to keep this one:

 Josh and I finished up the meals and rewarded ourselves with watching Tron:

Josh is so into this movie. While we were playing Top Chef we had to listen to the soundtrack. Both the movie and the soundtrack are amazing. I cannot believe how young they were able to make Jeff Bridges look! If only they could do that in real life because I actually remember the original Tron:

Yes, it is hard to believe I'm that old, but, I am:


To be continued:

 

Spring Break: Monday, Monday:

 I thought I would get started on a few things we did thus far:

Monday:

MeKenzie and I played tennis with our good friends, Jacque and Lexy Rowberry. Well, we attempted to play tennis. It turned out to more of watching how far off the mark the girls could get. Alivia spent the time running after tennis balls, riding her tricycle and mostly trying to get as many dandilions through the fence that she could reach. Sadly, there are no picture of the tennis match

(you can all thank me later):

We took the girls to lunch at T.G.I.Fridays. Unfortunately, since neither Jacque or I had been there in forever, we didn't realize that it was more of a 'hook up'  atmosphere rather then a 'family friendly' atmosphere. Oh well! 
At least there was dessert:

Lexy and Kenzie:

Two scoops of ice cream please:

There was a sleep-over with lots of movies:

To be continued:

Best Part of the Day

Is there anything better than a clean little girl?  
We went to the park today and oh, what fun we had:

She became a huge fan of the swing today:

But, I think the best part of the day was giving Alivia a bath 

and getting her squeaky clean:
She makes up songs in the tub, which are always funny.

Tonight was "Wooby Woos Woon":

And the questions she asks every night are so clever:

"Where are the water pipes?" 

While I was brushing her hair and inhaling the scent of shampoo 

combined with the sweet scent of Alivia,

she told me that it was still 'morning time' because the sun was not asleep:

I told her that the sun was starting to go down.

She asked, "Where is it going down?"
And quickly answered her own question with,

"It's going to snuggle with it's Momma."

Aww:

"You are right, Alivia! And the birds are settling down to snuggle with their Momma's, and the squirrels too. 

In fact, all the world is getting ready to go to sleep."

"With their Momma's because they love them."

"Yes, sweetie. And their Momma's love them too."

"I love you, Mommy."

I love you too, Alivia."

What a great day:

How Did it Get So Late So Soon?

Boy howdy, it's hard to say goodbye...

 Again:

So, Eryn left early this morning. Like 4:30 am early! There has been some feeling of relief in her leaving, but mostly I've been in a funk all day and trying not to break down into tears. I've been trying to keep busy so I won't think too much about her:

9:15 - took Alivia to school

9:30 - went for a long walk

10:30 - stretched, and a little yoga  

(this is not normal behavior, so don't get excited, people)

11:00 - shower, dressed, etc...v e r y - s l o w l y

11:45 - picked Alivia up from school

12:00 - chicken house

12:30 - decide I must have a nap because:

1: I got up at 4:30 am and 

2: I'm going on the Youth Temple Trip tonight:

1:00 - story for Alivia

1:10 - laying in bed with headphones on so I can't hear Alivia singing to herself 

(I know, it's very sweet, and I usually love listening to her made up songs, but I am tired)

Now, at this point I've been feeling a little blue, but have been able to kept the worst part of being sad and the sobbing, at bay:

That is until my music, which is on shuffle, made me cry like a baby:

I am not kidding when I tell you that these songs came on in this very order:

Journey to the Cemetery (A child leaving your home will make you feel old!)

Never Think (Robert Patterson. Need I say more?)

On My Own (Eryn...my baby...)

Once Upon a December (Eryn's favorite song from this movie)

Safe in the Arms of Love (Did I mention that Eryn has a boyfriend?)

One Day More (oh, Marius...)

You Get Used to Somebody  (Yes! I am use to her, and I liked having her around...)

The Prayer (Oh dear...here come the tears)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (This one put me right over the edge)

Proud Father (This is getting really ridiculous!)

Mama's Song (Forget it, I'm a mess)

Eryn, about 1 week old, and me:

"How did it get so late so soon? 

It's night before it's afternoon. 

 December is here before it's June.

My goodness how the time has flewn. 

How did it get so late so soon?"
- Dr. Seuss:

Weather: It's All Relative

When I went outside this morning I thought,

"Burr. It's cold!"

 I love cold and/or chilly weather though...

It has to be my Idaho roots:

So, even though it was chilly, I wasn't complaining:

 Remarkably, and very timely, I got a picture from Dad that put 'chilly' into perspective:

Being the sweet daughter I am, I went for a walk around my neighborhood and replied: 

Idaho:

Northern Virginia:

Spring? 

Spring: 

I really want this tree:

Thanks for sharing your weather with me, Dad:

I love you:

Sisters: Kill or Be Killed

 

For all the times Eryn has picked on MeKenzie:

There is revenge:

Isn't sisterly love great:

I love how Alivia gets further and further away from Eryn and MeKenzie:

Smart girl:

Garden: Hope and a Prayer

Today was beautiful! 80 degrees with a breeze! Amazing for the beginning of April. What a perfect day to put in a vegetable garden. We really don't have a lot of luck with growing anything really...perhaps crabgrass, but we are optimistic that this is the year that we'll reap the benefits of our diligence! If not we're throwing in the trowel and calling it quits:

Hmm. I wish she had bigger biceps:

We have tried everything imaginable to have a garden. Box garden, container garden...And we've tried in every conceivable place in our backyard, but this is Virginia people. 

The dirt here is clay. Red, malnourished, rocky clay. Not much will grow here.

Yet, despite our obstacles, we really do believe in Provident Living. Wish us luck:

This is what we started with:

Oh my. We may have bitten off more than we can chew:

Love the tongue sticking out:

We had a great place to put the sod:

A planting we will go, a planting we will go:

She wanted it to grow. Immediately:

Look how excited she is to plant carrots:

The final touch:

And voila:

Little seeds lie fast asleep 
In a row, in a row.

"Wake up, wake up," calls the sun,
"Wake up now and grow."

Little seeds wake one by one

In a row, in a row.

Then they stretch up toward the sun 

And begin to grow.

Primary Children's Songbook