Spring Break Camping

We went camping at Huntsville State Park over Spring Break. We actually ended up in the same campsite as last time we went 3 years ago. The weather was perfect...about 75-80 during the day and 65 at night. Everyone had a lot of fun it was so nice to not have a one year old trying to leap in the fire. Hannah did really good. The boys had so much fun. We played in the freezing lake and took a paddle boat ride.

Grapefruit Analogy

Grapefruit tress like warm weather. They don't do cold. In fact cold can kill them and at the very least stop their ability to flourish and produce fruits. Grapefruit trees like being warm, the thrive and grow in the heat.

Peach trees are a more hearty plant. You can find peach tress with chill hours over 800. They can survive the cold. They do well. They can do low temperatures without being damaged.

No one mocks the grapefruit tree when he freezes in 30 degree weather, no one tells him he is a wimp and it's much colder where the peach tree is. The peach tree is doing just fine, why can't you just buck up and be happy grapefruit?

People are like fruit trees. And I'm a banana.

Sprouting!

We started our garden. It is over 850 square feet...that is more than half of our house. We planted beans, peas, swiss chard, corn, cucumbers, lemon cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, basil, watermelon, cantelope, three different peppers, and 12 tomato plants (all different varieties). Mmm. Here's to hoping it turns out in the crazy Texas climate.

Sprout began coming up on the seeds we started first, they are beautiful. They make me smile.

Swiss chard is so cute.
Bean just breaking the soil.
Peas pushing out.

A few months back I said to Taylor, "I need to yell less. I don't think Mary yelled at Jesus." To which Taylor responded, "I doubt Jesus acted like Matthias."

"My Birthday in February"

Hannah kept saying this for weeks, to everyone. When Taylor got her out of bed on her birthday and told her Happy Birthday!, Hannah said, "my birthday in February." Also, my mom flew out for Hannah's birthday so she liked to say, "Gramma coming to my birthday" all the time as well.

This birthday was a big one being her second; which at our house means 2-year old quilt. My grandma always gave quilts to the kids when they turn 2 and 12. I started Hannah's quilt over a year ago when I picked the fabric and started collecting it as extras from customer orders. I finished purchasing what I needed and sewed the quilt over the last few months and sent it to be machine quilted. It arrived back 6 days before her birthday, and I finished binding it the day before. I think it turned out beautiful and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Hannah's day was great, we did presents in the morning. The boys gave her bubbles, my parents tons of felt food for her kitchen, we gave her the quilt and her 'birthday shoes' (butterfly sandals I told her she couldn't wear until her birthday) and a glow worm from gma/gpa Harvey.

Also, I got it in my head that I would make her a birthday dress since she had a Sunday birthday this year. Which really shouldn't have been a big deal since she gets a new dress almost every other week. But I dreamed up a dress with about 5 sewing techniques I had never done before the result was a hideous, home made looking dress. So Saturday night after the kids went to bed I whipped up an entirely new dress which turned out lovely.

She wanted a butterfly cake (thanks to me) and whenever I asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner she always answered, "a butterfy cake".

My little Hannah is so fun and delightful to be with. She is the chattiest little thing and talks constantly which still makes me laugh. I love all the little things she says. She follows me everywhere (which is usually fun) and likes to do everything I do. She loves babies of any kind, doll or real, and she loves cooking in her kitchen and with me. She is still in a crib which is the longest by far of any of my kids. She loves her binky but talks about how the binky fairy will take it away (which will be soon). Hannah loves clothes and shoes and anything girly. I love shopping with her. Recently she said to me, "I need new shoes", what the 6 pairs you have aren't enough?

Hannah loves going to nursery and she loves to sing. She sings to herself in the car, to her babies at night in bed. She knows tons of songs and always asked me to sing to her. She is so concerned about everyone and really observant of others and their needs. I love my little baby girl.

Grandma Urie

My mom came out to visit and it was so fun! The kids had a blast playing with her. I had a blast talking and being together with my mom. We mostly hung around the house and relaxed/played/talked. We did celebrate Hannah's birthday, ran to the capitol one afternoon and also took a trip down to the Alamo on Saturday. We played Legos, read books, spent time outside, did our nails. It was such a wonderful visit and we all had a great time. I'm so glad my mom was able to fly out and be with us since we don't get to see them too often anymore.

James Birthday

James birthday was really fun. He requested lasagna as his birthday meal. Also, his cake has changed several times over the last year, but a couple days before his birthday he received a card from Great Grandma Harvey in the mail with race cars on it so then he wanted a race car cake with a track and cars. That decision stuck so his cake was a race car one.

He got a Ninjago lego set from Hannah and Matthias since he'd been eying them and they just came out in January. Then the madness began. Both he and Matthias have bought Ninjago sets since then with birthday money and they play all day, sometimes up to 6 hours a day with those legos.

Also James has been wanting a robot so Taylor and I got him an a motorized erector set which he was really excited about. Taylor and James built the car that day and it drives around frontwards and backwards.

We basically played/cooked all day besides going to church. A very happy birthday all around. I can't believe James is already 6 years old! He is hoping his teeth will start falling out soon. And so are we.

James is a really good helper when he wants to be helpful. =] And he is so great playing with Matthias and explaining everything and anything. They really are the best of friends and it is so wonderful!