Spring has sprung!

It was a long time coming, but we've finally gotten beautiful spring weather. We also have colds/allergies, but I'm willing to deal with it if we're able to be outside. For playgroup today we went down to the Botanic gardens in Ft. Worth to have an Easter egg hunt & picnic lunch. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we took tons of cute pictures. Being down there brought back old college memories. I used to ride my bike down to the gardens from campus and study out on the grass. When Josh & I were engaged, we went with his company to the symphony in the park where they choreographed fireworks to Star Wars music (sounds kinda funny, but was very cool!) One year our Kappa pictures were even taken near the entrance to the gardens. I love thinking back on those memories- and and making new ones today with my 3 daughters.

3 Months, Dresses & Lizards

Baby smiles are the best, especially the first few. Adelyn started smiling a few weeks ago and I can't get enough! Her whole face lights up, her eyes get big, and there's an occasional giggle. It's the cutest thing in the world. Sarabeth & Anabelle have started to make her smile also. I love seeing her react to her big sisters' attempts to get a toothless grin. Here are just a few of her at 3 months old...

3 months old

Done performing. Still cute.

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I decided kids' clothes are way too expensive. I don't buy anything unless it's on sale (or will be gone before it gets a chance to be on sale!) and even then it can be ridiculous. Now that we're responsible clothing 3 kiddos I thought it was a good time for me to dust off the sewing machine (my mom's 35+ year old model) and try to make my own. Lucky for me, I grew up watching my mom sew just about anything. I'd be pleased if anything I make is half as good as her work! My first few attempts actually turned out ok- just don't look too closely!

These will be their Easter dresses.

Super-simple knit sundresses

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We've finally had some warmer weather & it's been so nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Earlier this week I went out to pick the weeds in our garden with the help of the girls. They ended up having a different job than picking weeds though- I asked them to make sure this

didn't get too close to me. I'm not a fan of reptiles.

Spring Break

The girls had the week off from Mother's Day Out and we got the chance to head out of town. I've travelled twice with Adelyn by myself since she's been born, but we hadn't been on a trip with all 3 girls yet. What better way to break in the minivan than to take an inaugural road trip with all 3 kids by myself?! My sister had her 2nd little boy on March 4th. Jonah Michael Falco joined the family and he couldn't be cuter! I wanted to go visit them and meet our newest nephew, so we went to Austin Tuesday. After spending the day with them, we continued down to San Antonio to spend a few days with sweet friends of ours who we met while living in Waco. Sarabeth and their daughter are a couple of weeks apart and we clicked immediately. We've seen each other several times over the past 2 years but not at length, so we went to celebrate their daughter's 4th birthday. It was a great trip, and surprisingly manageable by myself with the kiddos. Don't get me wrong though, I was glad to be home (especially because it took an hour to make it the last 30 miles of the drive!!)

The birthday party was a "pretty puppy" party so the kids were all transformed into puppies.

Pretty stinkin' cute if I do say so myself :)

Having "dog food" for a snack

Cupcakes

The girlies

Sweet Aidan and Adelyn

All 5 (when we met, Sarabeth & Ava were 18 months old, Anabelle was 3 months old!)

Things change quickly!

Swinging in the backyard

We need a swing (oh wait- we need a tree first!)

Tonight I have 4 sleeping kids in the house. Lauren & Matt are in visiting a church in Dallas where he's being considered for a position starting this summer. Selfishly I'd LOVE for them to end up in Dallas, but only if it's best for their family. They're out meeting some of the committee tonight so we kept Lucas for them. It's been fun to see the cousins grow up together. I'm so thankful they've been as close as they have for the past 3 years. The girls have bad a blast playing with him twice this week. We got a little surprise while he was here also- snow on March 20th! It was 70 degrees yesterday, now it's 32 and snowing. Gotta love Texas!

Sarabeth, Lucas & Anabelle

2 Months Old

The past 2 months have been full of change, excitement, love, and lack of sleep. They've been wonderful thanks to our 3 little darlings. I love having pictures of their growth month-by-month to see their resemblances/differences from their sisters. We've been looking back at pictures of Sarabeth & Anabelle as newborns and infants, and it seems almost impossible that these girls who are so vibrant and full of life were once as innocent and helpless as Adelyn is now. I'm treasuring every minute with them and hoping for time to slow down just a little- I don't want to miss a thing!

Happy 4th Birthday Sarabeth!

This year has flown by.  It's hard to believe it was two years ago that we celebrated Sarabeth's 2nd birthday a week after moving into this house- and now she's 4!  Four years old seems like a milestone birthday.  She's growing into this beautiful, smart, independent, articulate little girl who still kind of resembles a newborn I had once with lots of hair.  We've been looking ahead to her school years (not to rush things, just to plan!) and I'm in disbelief that she'll be in kindergarten a year from August.  Everyone always said they had the hardest time sending their youngest to school, but I'm already anxious about my oldest going!  It's a good thing I still have a year and a half to soak up every minute with her, and that's what I plan on doing.

Happy Birthday, Sarabeth.

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I decided not to have a big party at the house this year.  Instead, we did a family party at the house with both sets of grandparents on the Saturday before her birthday, and on the actual day we went to Build-A-Bear at the mall with the girls' friends.  Thank goodness for my friend Stephanie who has an iphone, because I completely forgot my camera.  Thanks for the pictures Steph!

The Birthday girl!!

Stepping on the pedal to stuff the bears

Anabelle was a little afraid of the noise...

Giving their bears an air bath

Ringing the Birthday bell!

The girls with their sweet friend Camryn

Motley Crew.

Heading to the car.  3 kids? check.  2 bears? check.  2 umbrellas? check.  Mom's sanity? undecided.

Posing with her birthday crown & sash.

Blowing out the candles.

Present time!

The girls with Papa, OG & Daddy.