Budding out.

The bushes and trees at Hannah's violin teacher's class are screaming into spring almost overnight.

So beautiful.

Look what we got to do yesterday!

Spring fever demanded it, no matter how cold it was.













Partway through the playing, I realized that I was heading the same way with this pregnancy that I did with Ainsley's and if I didn't fix it, I was likely to be handing my husband the camera in the middle of labor and saying "Quick! Get a picture of my tummy while she's still in there!"

So I handed Hannah the camera and asked her to get a picture. "The picture is to show my pregnant tummy, so don't get too far back, ok?" Ok.

Whoa. That's close. Sorry 'bout that.

We're counting down in weeks, not months now. Deep breaths.

I really *am* that smart.

I was busy doing something yesterday when Hannah came up and asked me what red and yellow make. "Orange." and she ran off. I heard her tell her sister "You should go ask Mother a question. She's really smart today."

Ainsley appeared by me. What's seven and nine? "Sixteen." She ran back to Hannah. "You're right!!! She really is that smart today."

See? I really am. Today.

Blowing out winter.

It takes months to kick winter out. It won't be until mid-May that we are truly into summer weather for good. It's taking its toll on my oldest this year. We have had to stay inside all day, every day except for goat-milking and she's having a hard time with it. The wind is just too. strong. here when it blows.

So we find things to do. Lots of games - Connect 4. Guess Who. Gardenopoly.

Jump in the jump house.

Destroy the play room.

Go through the pattern books and match them up with fabric.

Work at the style table.

Sit in the sun coming in the window.

Dress-up.

I worked in the kitchen a lot.

So did Ainsley.

Found hidden stuff.

We made it through. We'll see what today holds.

Hannah's 'Boutique' Restaurant

We were stuck inside for some of the afternoon today as the wind howled, so Hannah made a restaurant. 'Boutique Restaurant'. I love projects like these because they take so much energy and concentration and time as she makes menus and plans and sets up tables and makes food. Then is the actual restaurant when we get the food. Yum.

This time, she took it to a new level. She drew coloring pictures and had crayons ready in case any kids came to her restaurant. They did, and they appreciated the effort.

She also had puppets ready if coloring bored them.

Ignore his face and shirt mess. He ordered three popsicles. She was a very attentive waitress.

I want to show you her dessert menu. This is the front.

Apparently, she's warning you about what will happen should you order from it.

It wasn't an empty warning. I ordered 'a bowl of chocolate ice cream'. This is what I got.

As you can see, I then ordered a few more spoons. Then I ordered the waitress to sit down and help us finish it.

I'll be going to that restaurant again. And taking more people to share my dessert with.

Hawaii in my kitchen.

If you're around Hannah for very long, you know that she *loves* Hawaii. It's one of her main obsessions. Hawaii and Style. Those are her two main obsessions. Well, Hawaii and Style and Superheroes. Those are her three main obsessions.

Let me start over.

The girl loves Hawaii.

We still don't know where she originally heard about it, where she got the idea that it is this beautiful place equivalent to heaven, but she did, and the past two years have seen lots of talk and learning about Hawaii.

Today she decided to make Hawaii in our kitchen. She ran into a problem. She's frequently made Hawaii in our bathroom which is easy - there's a bathtub there for the ocean. She had no such option in the kitchen. Well, there was the sink, but she didn't think of it and I didn't suggest it. I would have had to do the dishes.

She came up with another option.

The stuffed animal bucket.

It's funny how much work kids will do when they're focused on a goal. She and Ains hauled a lot of water to that tub, getting it just the right temperature.

She was Ains' waitress.

Then she got tired of being the waitress.

Bowling fun.

About 8 months ago now, we were having an 'off' day. You know those days when every. single. person in the family is just ... off? Snarling, squabbling, all because you're just ... cranky.

So Matt had the brilliant idea of taking us bowling - the kids first time. It really was inspired. It was such a hit that we go about once a month now. Ains in particular *loves* it. She even has her special designated 'bowling socks' that she has to wear when we go.

This last weekend, we went again. Too much winter blah. It worked its magic again.



But I'd like to say one thing.

She needs to stop growing up.

Look how old she looks!

And him.

Carrying around a 6 pound ball like it's nothing. STOP GROWING UP!

And HER!

Oh. Never mind. She's good.

Cookie cutter stories.

Literally.

It's the cutest use for cookie cutters.

It makes my years of collecting them worth it.

It adds ten minutes onto making cookies since I have to make sure they're washed before I use them.

But that is such a small price to pay for the cuteness.

We just added some doggie cookie cutters thanks to a great friend, Danni - everyone from Bella to Cygnus to Scooby Doo now make an appearance in the stories.

Right this minute.

Well, 'right this minute' TWO HOURS AGO which is how long it took my computer to upload the picture. *grumble grumble*

Two girls hard at work at their 'style desks'.
Gray was sound asleep at the time and I was not about to chance waking him up with a picture.

Nu-uh.

No way.

Not going to happen.

Apparently I've been a mom for 7 years.

That's what the calendar says. That's what her number of birthdays say. But it's not true. It was only a few days ago that she was like this.

I stared as long as I could but I had to blink.

And blink.

And blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

And look where we've ended up. Seven years she's been on this earth.

So a celebration was in order.

Swimming.

Presents.
(That one was obviously from her sister.)

A birthday sundae.

A birthday skirt.

And the best part of the celebration - the part I thought might not live up to expectations, but surpassed them - lighting Sky Lanterns. If you've seen Tangled, you know the possibility for this to be a romantic, beautiful experience. It was.

The lantern company sent an extra lantern - in pink, no less - so that's the one Hannah used.

They are so easy to light and set free.

And there they go.

A picture really can't do them justice. It was lovely. We have a few extra that we're saving to send off on a warm summer evening.

As an aside, I wish we could take snapshots of our inner selves so you could see just how much I've changed in the last seven years, from being this child's mother. Inconceivable, as a certain Sicilian would say.