April Visit To Grandma's House: A Morning At Milliken Park

During a recent visit to Grandma's House in April, our family spent a beautiful spring morning (while Grandma was at work) exploring, tree climbing, and feeding ducks at Milliken Park.  It was so much fun watching the girls run free. 

In March . . .

OK, back to catching up.

So, in March I turned 33 years old. No biggie-- just another year. We celebrated by spending the day as a family doing one of our favorite things-- hanging out at a museum!  After a day at the NC Museum of Natural Science, we ate scrumptious hamburgers at Red Robin and Mommy delighted in some chocolate chip cookie dough (with mint and Oreos) concrete at Good Berry's (my favorite frozen Custard dive).  My family gave me a wonderful rice cooker (which I use at the very least weekly), my very own sushi roller and paddle (I've tried to steel my mom's from our years in Japan), and a wonderful red and black Asian inspired bowl. 

While at the NC Museum of Natural Science, Madeline and I recreated a picture we took four years ago when she was about 6 months old.

In March we began spending more afternoons outside, taking walks and riding bikes, and even enjoying some school lessons or classwork on a blanket in the backyard.  I went crazy cleaning out closets and organizing clothing tubs in the attic.  And, our church held our second (all in the name of fun) "Dessert Competition."  I entered a spring cookie bouquet, and my big girls made whoopie pies.  Emerson spent the entire night following me around crying.  Her fussing was only abated by feeding her constant stream of cookies-- she's a clever girl . . . she knew we had gathered in the name of all things sugary and sweet (and fellowship too).

Somewhere in the middle of March I was able to meet my dear friend Kerry Drummond, her Mom, and the kiddos for lunch.  They had traveled our way because her Dad was here on business.  It was so much fun to see her and catch up for a couple of hours.  We also enjoyed a visit from my Mom and my sister's family.  This was the first time our sweet niece Jovie had been to our house (and only the second time we had seen her).  Needless to say we were very excited to have everyone here. Unfortunately, it rained the entire weekend they were here.  So, our entire visit was spent inside-- not much fun for little kiddos who had grown accustomed to lovely Spring weather and the great outdoors.  We somehow managed to have fun . . . you know eating, and talking, and eating; and, when we got really restless we ate some more!

April Showers

1 Down . . . 19 More To Go!

Baby teeth that is!

Hannah lost her first baby tooth on the Saturday evening before Easter Sunday. She is thrilled, of course, viewing it as a right of passage or coming of age. Hannah is also pleased that the absence of the afore mentioned tooth is quite obvious. The first one to go was her upper right central incisor--leaving a very big hole.  Hannah is also convinced she looks "WAY older."  I concur and find this very distressing!  

Hannah had been wiggling her tooth for a couple of months.  There were weeks when she would eat a whole apple daily, hoping to dislodge the pesky tooth.  I just bit my nails and hoped that the tooth wouldn't decide that it needed to be pulled on my watch.  I determined long ago Daddy was the man for the job!  

So on Saturday afternoon (Hannah also happened to be rocking a 103.5 degree fever--more on that later)  Hannah and Daddy decided it was time.  They situated themselves on the couch, while I began video recording and photographing the event.  However, it was not time-- not until later in the evening that is!  After an afternoon of pulling, twisting, tugging, wiggling, and one final meal, Daddy finally removed the tooth to the delight of an anxious and brave six (and a half--very important) year old little girl.

 

 

And, for your video watching pleasure:

Under Construction

 

Yes, Mommy Thoughts is "under construction" or "re-construction" once more.  Please bear with me as I experiment with layout and design.  You will find that some things (like my blog roll) have already moved (to the page titled "Blogs and Links"), other things are temporarily missing, and some things are just gone forever.  All of the page tabs currently visible are finished or functioning (being added to).  I am working on an "Art" page,  a "Photography" page, and a "Home School" page . . . all in time.

Thank you for your patience and please stay in touch!

Cowgirl Birthday

Remember waaaaay back to February 19th . . . when our sweet Boo Bear, Madeline Grace, turned four years old??? I posted her 4 year old pictures and my traditional birthday letter; but, I never got around to sharing her birthday celebration with you.  So, I thought that  would be a great place to start my recap of life since Spring arrived.

Every birthday is special in our house-- I love to make a fuss over my hubby and kiddos (Not going to lie--I don't mind having a fuss made over me either).  But, "4" is especially special at our house, because it is the year our children get to have an "invite some friends" party .  We also give the girls a super special gift on their 4th birthday (another Brooks family tradition)-- their very own Bible. When asked what she would like to do for her special fourth birthday, our little Jesse lovin', boot wearin', lasso swingin' cowgirl asked for a "Cowgirl Bowling" party.  After all . . . . nothing says "cowgirl" like bowling!!!!

 Cowgirl boot and hat pancakes.

Special sign from mommy.

Opening her Bible. 

 

Thanking Daddy (what can I say . . . drama is in their DNA).

Daddy reads his special message to Madeline.

We enjoyed a leisurely birthday breakfast and Madeline opened family gifts before we put on our cowgirl wear and packed up the party wagon for an afternoon of bowling.  Madeline chose to have some of Mommy's special sugar cookies and some basic cupcakes rather  than a sheet cake.  So, with cookies, balloons, Toy Story cups and plates, and cowgirls in tow, we headed for the bowling alley.

Mommy's "couture" cowgirl boot cookies . . .  check!

 Ridiculously adorable cowgirls . . . . check!

 Super fussy baby, who is ready for a nap . . . . check! (zoom in, you can see the tears rolling down her face!)

Ahhh, that's a little better  (not the last break down though) . . .

How to party like a cowgirl!!!:

 Karis, Carly, Hannah, and Madeline.

 

 

We all had a wonderful time (and found out that we are only amazing bowlers when playing the Wii) and Madeline was incredibly grateful to Daddy and Mommy for her special day.  We were incredibly grateful to God for our super sweet cowgirl!