Seven Things...

I've been tagged! Here's what it entails:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Share 7 things that people may not know about you.

3. Tag 7 people to share 7 things and link to them.

4. Let them know they have been tagged.

Meredith tagged me for this, and it sounds like fun!

1. I was an exchange student in Sweden the summer of my 9th grade year. It was a wonderful, unforgettable trip. I've always appreciated having that experience.

2. I started first grade when I was 5 instead of 6, so I was a year younger than everyone in my graduating class.

3. I made up for getting a head start on my education by taking 6 years to graduate from college!

4. I've never tried a cigarette or any kind of illegal drug.

5. We don't have cable and I like it that way. We get FOX, ABC and PBS, but the channel never changes off of PBS...they have great shows for kids which focus on learning to read. No commercials. No unwanted influences pushed onto my children. No news. No depression. Perfect.

6. Many people think that Anne is my first name and Marie is my middle name. Anne-Marie is actually my first name and Elizabeth is my middle name.

7. Often times while I'm asleep, if I don't like what's going on in a dream, I try to "undo" what happened, like you "undo" on the computer (command "z" on the mac). It never works.

Here are the people I've tagged:

1. Niki (private blog)

2. Joelle

3. Alycia

4. Melissa

5. Amy

6. Vanessa

7. Roberta

Balls, Balls & More Balls

It was a great day. The weather, which started out a bit warm, turned out to be comfortable and perfect. Lee was in a fabulous mood and did a little dance of excitement as each guest arrived (and exclaimed their name). It was an intimate gathering where the chips, soft drinks and conversation flowed. All to celebrate a precious little boy turning two. Who could ask for more?

 

The theme of the day was "balls." Lee is c.r.a.z.y. about balls. He could barely stand the cake...he kept exclaiming "bah!" Notice that Jessalyn made a sweet little sign for his cake (click the photo to enlarge). She so loves her baby brother.

Lee has a few favorite words. One is "ball." The other is "cake!"

 

Lee received a lot of balls. He was thrilled with each one. And still is.

 

Jessalyn hugging the birthday boy. And the birthday boy marching about with cheetos in hand (his favorite chip).

Jessalyn and Russ enjoyed helping Lee open his presents. Jessalyn was interested to see which presents Lee could share with her.

It was a wonderful day. Happy Birthday, little man!

Spring Break: Day 5

Today Jessalyn and I started to prepare for Lee's birthday party. We baked his cake together. Jessalyn is a good little baker. She's a good little helper!

 

While the cake was baking, she picked flowers for me. She then wanted to pretend I was a rock star so she could throw flowers to me on stage (how she knows about rock stars getting flowers thrown on stage is beyond me).

I think it was just an excuse to get permission to throw something. :)

Jessalyn is all about crafting and recycling. So she gathered up scraps of paper and, while I was working on something else, she made a clock on the table.

She then decided to transfer her clock to a more permanent home, so she pulled out the construction paper. Clarice is very creative, too, and wanted to "help."

It's been nice having Jessalyn home. I'm going to miss her so much next week!

Spring Break: Day 4

After a lovely lunch with the children at the local pizza joint, and a rather long nap for Lee, we joined some friends for a play date. Jessalyn especially loves play dates. She kept telling me, "I love this day," and "This is the perfect day!"

My friend Jennifer has a great yard. Well, it's more than a yard...it's 18 gorgeous acres of shady trees. And a kiddie pool. With a built-in slide. And dogs. And other wildlife. (Sorta.) A real slice of heaven.

Lee was quite content to pilfer and plunder Jack's collection of balls. He watched the girls as he held tightly to new "foo bahs."

Jessalyn, Madison, and Anna Grace (a new Anna Grace) jumped right into the quite cool water of the pool. And slid. And slid. And slid. Lee was very interested in all the water play and soon decided to get in (Jack had already done this and decided the girls could keep their frigid water play).

Anna Grace, Jennifer, Jessalyn and Madison with Charlie and Maggie, the dogs.

Jack.

The children with Petunia the pig.

Madison and Petunia. Isn't she (Madison, not Petunia) cute!?

The girls feed Gertie (or this might be Gretchen....there are two goats!).

"Dag" was Lee's favorite word today. "Dag" and "fooh-bah."

After blowing bubbles in the bath tub and a quick game of "tickle monster" with the kids (Mommy is always the monster), Tom surprised me with a cake topped with my absolute favorite candy, Cadbury Mini Eggs!

And this was my present!!!

Spring Break: Day 3

Today we loaded up in the car and travelled to the zoo! We met our friends Cathy and Kirsten there (who we haven't seen since last spring at our annual zoo trip). We all had a wonderful time!

Jessalyn, Kirsten and Lee getting ready for the train ride.

 

Cathy and Kirsten

 

Lee has to do whatever Jessalyn does.

If she kneels, he kneels. If she runs, he runs!

Lee like the carousel....until it started moving. Then he wanted to "go-go." Seems to be a running theme this week!

Spring Break: Day 2

Today was Lee's day at daycare, so it was just Jessalyn and I. And we had a job...to clean up the NEW house (again). Luckily, Jessalyn is a very enthusiastic helper and really gets into her work. We were also lucky that MawMaw and Brick decided to stop by and give us a hand!

In the end, though, Alison saved the day once again. After we had been working for a couple of hours, she called up and invited Jessalyn to go to the park with the boys. She had a blast while I (almost) finished cleaning up! :)

Spring Break: Day 1

Expectations were high for the first day of spring break, but it was a rainy, dreary day. As I was contemplating what in-door at-home activities I could pull out of my hat, Alison called and suggested an outing to the bowling alley. The idea was met with much excitement (even more-so when plans for lunch at McDonald's were revealed), so we were off!

Lee checking things out. He later decided that he wanted to "Go-Go!" (as in "leave"). I think the noise of the pins going down and the machinery bothered him (and we were the only ones there!).

 

Noah and Jess having a ball. Lee, not having a ball.

Jessalyn, Connor (peeking) and Noah

Later that evening....

 

Jessalyn was quite impressed with Lee's new Superman pjs (complete with cape), so she decided to pull out her Batgirl costume so they could be super heros together! Capes were flowing as they ran around the house stamping out crime.

A good first day!

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