saying "good bye"

Being the age of our girls (and the fact that one is SUPER sentimental), we really tried to do alot to let our girls process what was happening and helping them "say good- bye" to our house.  At the beginning of our serious packing up, I took Ava upstairs and said I wanted to get a picture of her in her room so she could remember what her room was like.  Well my first born immediately insisted she just wanted to take pictures of her room herself.  So sorry for the following picture book . . .this is more for our memory than your entertainment. : )  Let's just say you aren't even seeing half the pictures my sweet girl took of EVERY facet of her bedroom.

Her bookshelf

 Barn and trailors

 Her night stand

 Her shelf of her nightstand (I spared you the look inside her drawer and some close ups of some favorite items)

 Her dresser : )

 One of her shelves

 can't forget her step stool

 the curtains

 and growth chart

 I'm sure you're disappointed you didn't see the closet (every angle), the door, the door handle, the light swtiches . . . .get the point yet?! : )

Then it was time for Kate and Olivia's room

Posing in their beds

 Their dresser

 And beloved climbing wall, I mean, bookshelf.

 My two monkeys!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day came the day before all our official moving madness began.  So it was so nice to stop for a day and just enjoy my family and our home that has held so many neat memories.

Me and my girls ready for church

 These two monkeys always make me smile

 I kind of love them . . .alot.

 To make the day even neater, my mom had come into town to start helping us finish packing up for the move.  She was a HUGE help and I know we would have never been as together or organized without her.  Not to mention the girls were thrilled to have Grandma here.

 One quick attempt at a family shot as the girls were about pictured out

 Am I awful that I let my mother cook on mother's day?!  We all agreed with everything going on it sounded nicer to eat in .. .Ava loved being Grandma's helper.

 The girls showing off all their pictures

dancing shoes

Ryan's cousin Dane got married in St. Louis in the beginning of May and we headed down for it.  We had some time at the reception before things got started and my girls were getting antsy.  I finally decided, what use is a dance floor if no one is on it?!  My girls were the dance party for the a good majority of an hour before they got much company.  They had so much fun and I loved seeing my little girls just love being girls.  Daddy was quite a good sport that night and I think his girls felt very loved.

Daddy and Ava dancing

It's a good thing I have 3 girls or Uncle David and Grandpa might not have had anything to do!

Uncle David and Olivia

Grandpa and Kate

Mother's Day Tea

Are you amazed I'm posting?!  Me too . . .and just as amazed that I finally got blogger to upload decent quality photos!!! Hopefully I can start to play some catch up as our life reaches more of a "normal" busy.  We are moved and have been in our new house for about a month (10 days of which were spent out of town).  Somedays I am still beyond overwhelmed by all we have yet to do but I am so thankful for how the girls have done, all the help and support from family and friends and that we are almost owners of only one home (July 3 is fast approaching!!).  God has been good in more ways than I can begin to share.  But on that note . . .on to some catch up!

Ava's preschool had a Mother's Day tea back in May.  Ava was so excited for it and loved to tell me they had some surprises but wouldn't share beyond that.  It was so fun to watch my little girl that day - can't believe how much she has grown.

Standing by her classmates getting ready to sing their songs to us.

Singing one of their songs

During one part, they had to hold up signs they had made about why they loved their mommy.  Loved this.

In case you can't read it, Ava wrote, "I love my mommy because she takes me to the swimming pool."  I'll admit, being that this was in the midst of our crazy house showing phases (if I have it right, it was the 73rd person who bought our house in roughly exactly 3 months), I was a little nervous what she might say . . .that I could keep a house really clean???? : )  Thankful she saw past the craziness.

Ava and Felicity - it has been so fun to watch their friendship grow this year in preschool. 

Ava and Mommy and her flower pot she made for me

A couple more of her classmates, Mallory and Ben

April Numbers!

For our april numbers, we were thankful to see some movement again.

Girl Number: 89

Boy Number: 68

We don't anticipate this next month's numbers to move quite as much as the past two, but I am forever reminded that regardless of the numbers, every day is one day closer to our child.

He is good.

My helper

The other week, Ryan took Ava and Kate to church while Olivia stayed home with Mommy to help me clean the house in between showings (we officially surpassed #60 this past weekend).

But I digress. : )

As we moved around the house, Olivia stayed faithfully by my side, sweeping a bit in each room, and just enjoying the chance to be on her own.

She was quite the happy helper.

As we were leaving a room, I caught myself thinking, "cleaning seems simple and fun with just one helper.  Those were the days . . ."

Then I thought back to that time  . . .and how the thought of trying to clean the "whole" house while Ava was awake even then at times seemed like "work."

Oh how perspective and time changes our mindsets - huh?! : )

It was a good reminder to embrace the sweetness of this stage I find myself in with our girls and not just let the parts that can exhaust me take center stage.

Because all too soon, I will be looking wistfully over my shoulder at today and wishing for the simplicity of giggle, hugs and baby dolls.

Besides, you should see my 3 helpers dust.  I'll put them up against your cleaning lady any day.  : )

Pinata!

To help celebrate Uncle David's birthday, Aunt Callie got a pinata.  The girls were super excited and we all had fun.

Olivia takes a swing

Kate's turn!

Ava and Grandma

Then I suppose it was nice of us to let the birthday boy have a turn?

The peanut gallery

 Kate acted like she didn't know what to do with all the candy

Ava happy with her stash

Kate happily posing with her candy and Hallie