Little Critter

MawMaw and Brick found this baby armadillo on their front porch and came by to show the kids before they found it a cat-free place to roam.

Fancy Toes

Aren't Clarice's new pink nail covers cute!?! Tom thinks it's humiliating, but Clarice doesn't seem to mind a bit. And Jessalyn and Lee like them, too! :)

Opening Gifts

The Best Pizza Party EVER!

I don't think there has ever been a birthday as anticipated as much as Jessalyn's sixth one. She was grinning ear-to-ear every day of the week and counting each one down. She made me promise not to cry and swore to always, always be my baby. In reply to one of my pretend cries one day: "Mama, I'm still your baby. Besides, I'm not huge like you." Hmmm. Somehow I think she meant that nicer than the way it sounded.

Jessalyn helping Russ with his chef's hat.

We decided to have it at her very favorite restaurant, which appealed to me since (1): I didn't have to worry about bad weather (we have a huge yard, but a small house, so there's no rain plan for a backyard party) and (2): someone else cleans up!

Jessalyn and Emily posing at the "pin the pepperoni on the pizza" board.

But I just couldn't have a plain 'ole pizza party (although that would have been just fine), so I asked the owner if the kids could make their own pizzas. And he said, "yes!" So I got busy making invitations and planning aprons, chef hats and games.

Chef Lee and Chef Connor

Jessalyn was so excited to have her friends there with her and insisted on helping everyone with their aprons and hats. We had half of the restaurant to ourselves and were situated close to the kitchen, which made it convenient for the kids to make their pizzas.

While group number one made pizzas, group number two colored pizza pages at the table and vice versa. While the pizzas were cooking, the children played "pin the pepperoni on the pizzza!"

Pizza was served, followed by cake and ice cream and then Jessalyn opened presents. The pace of the party was great and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I was so proud of Jessalyn as she opened her gifts...she made each gift-giver feel so special and she was very gracious. I've had several parents tell me how sweet it was that she was so excited (and that the excitement was contagious), and that she really did make everyone feel so good. She's always had a gift that way.

Noah & Jessalyn (and a surprise delivery of six roses from Donna and Captain Ken!)

It was a wonderful, happy, happy day. And I didn't even cry.

House Update

Tom and Stephen have been busy, busy, busy working on the house. I've also been working 2-3 days a week, and Tom's parents have picked up a paint roller and hammer, too!

Some of the kitchen cabinets have been installed. The upper cabinets and the island still need to be put in place. And Tom is going to build the stove hood/chimney, too. Stephen has been working on trim and building the kids' closets. Photos of that to come later in the week (it's looking soooooooooo good!).

Tom has been putting the ceilings up. We're doing pine tongue & groove ceiling, so it is very labor intensive, but it looks GORGEOUS!

I've been priming the backside of the ceiling wood in order to seal it. And I also help Tom install the ceiling by cutting boards to size (YES, I'm using POWER TOOLS!) and handing him boards and tools so he doesn't have to get off of the ladder a zillion times. It takes a long time, but having me there seems to speed things up.

Ceiling boards in place, ready to be primed (by moi).

Painted ceiling boards.

Stack of ceiling board that I still have to lay out, prime, and help Tom install. It's a lot smaller than it used to be! :)

I hope to have more photos this week. It's really all coming together and looks amazing! Stay tuned...

My Week In Review

or: Why I'm so tired and behind on my blog. (warning: photo-heavy post ahead!)

This is all about last week, but could just as easily be this week since we haven't seemed to have slowed down too much.

SUNDAY & MONDAY

No photos on these days, but I was busy making aprons and chef hats for Saturday's make-your-own-pizza birthday party. I also went to the house to help Tom install ceiling boards.

TUESDAY

Went to Jessalyn's school to have lunch with her and read to her class. She was thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to have me there. It's nice to be adored so much! :)

After school I helped Tom prime the 12 foot ceiling he had just finished installing. A pain in my neck. Literally. Tuesday night I made cupcakes for Jessalyn's school party the next day.

WEDNESDAY

Birthday celebration at school. Jessalyn had such an awesome week. Turning six is FUN!

After a fun-filled afternoon, the children and I were off to AWANA, our weekly Wednesday night church activity where I am Jessalyn's class leader.

THURSDAY

Back to Jessalyn's school for the third time in one week to hide Easter eggs and help with her class Easter party.

"Batter-up!" We enjoyed watching Jessalyn at her t-ball game (after her piano lesson).

She even got to be pitcher!

Monkey boy LOVES t-ball games!

FRIDAY

No school because of Good Friday. Perfect opportunity for Jessalyn to help with final party preparations by making our "pin the pepperoni on the pizza" game board.

Lee also wanted to participate. Every time I cut out an olive or a pepper, he'd request a "suh-ka!" (aka "circle"). He ended up with quite a collection. I finished making chef hats and baked Jessalyn's cake while Tom took her out to the movies for a birthday treat.

SATURDAY

Church egg hunt. Apparently Lee was the only one who did not understand the urgency of finding eggs. He also was not interested in relinquishing his cookie for a measly plastic egg. He did, however, enjoy me pointing out eggs to him and holding his basket for him to deposit them into.

Me with my little egg hunters (Lee still clutching cookie).

After a full morning and a nice afternoon nap (for Lee), we were off to the pizza place for turning-six festivities. More on that to come in a later post. It was the best. party. ever!

EASTER SUNDAY
 

All dressed up for church (including "Peter Rabbit" which the Easter Bunny had delivered). Then changed into grubby clothes for getting messy.

After church (and another egg hunt), Tom helped Jessalyn dye eggs.

 

Then we were off to MawMaw and Brick's for Easter lunch, family portraits, and our very last egg hunt for this Easter.

Now, are you as tired as I am?

Updates Coming

I realize I am sooooooo far behind in updates and promise they are coming soon! It's been a busy few weeks, especially this last one with Jessalyn's birthday and Easter all in the same weekend (and all the events leading up to them)! Stay tuned....