Mama's Day

It got an early start with a sweet luncheon at Abby Jane's school that began with a song...

and it was followed by a lunch that the children served the moms. They even had to wait until all the moms had received cake before they could go get their own. What sweet training of servant hearts and respect! Of course we also had a precious keepsake, too- LOVE this part of preschool- precious crafts!!

 I'm so proud of my big girl!

On Mother's Day, Abby Jane was so excited to get to join the children's choir for the first time!

The moms were a little excited too... this picture Jake took of Kristin and I videoing the kids makes me laugh.

It rained all day and was so chilly outside that it made for a cozy sweet afternoon at home.

 Mom came over for supper that night, and we all had a wonderful night with Grammy! We missed celebrating with Sandy, but she got to spend Mother's Day with the Gillies in New Zealand, so no doubt they had a fun day, too!

I think Mother's Day should be re-named something like: "I have an amazing husband and the greatest kids in the world" Day... something about that day makes me appreciate anew being a wife and a mom. Even changing diapers and wiping bottoms on that day is somehow special- like today is ostensibly "my" day, but if it weren't for you [kid], I wouldn't be a mom. Random, I know, but I always come out of Mother's Day extra thankful and humbled to get to do my job.

Happy birthday, 418!

Well, friends, 418 Stitches has turned one year! Check out the website to read my birthday post there, which included news about a couple of improvements I made to celebrate the milestone. But since this is our family blog, this post of 418 is going to be about the party. 

Yup, we had a party. It was a little awkward when I was checking out at the store with party hats, etc., and the lady looks at my girls and asks whose birthday it is... "well, you see, I have this sewing business..." But any of you who know us know we love a birthday party. And we had a lot to celebrate! 418 raised over $1600 our first year, which far surpassed my expectations, so we wanted to party a bit and thank a few of our local friends and family who had been sweet encouragers, supporters, and advice-givers. There are a lot of you who read THIS blog who I would have loved to invited if you lived closer. :)

We were thankful rain held off and the neighbor's housemate's niece's birthday party bouncy house was in their yard instead of the cul de sac in front of our home as we were informed was the plan just a few days prior. With those two provisions, it was a sweet night. Only two dear families and both of our moms were missing, and though it would have been great to have them there, the night was sweet and perfect in every other way.

 I think I have this same picture from every other party we have hosted. These two always find a few moments to have dad/son time!

 The Bop Bop factor was of course ever-popular with all eight of the four-and-unders. Of course mine took no warm-up time to know how wonderful their Bop Bop is.

 The double fire hat- one on the head, one on your back... for back up.

 We all had a good, good time.

 In keeping with 418's heart to keep overhead low- somehow it seemed counter-intuitive to host an expensive party to celebrate giving money away- we did a potluck meal that I served on leftover paper goods from an assortment of gatherings. Which turned out to be fun- pick your poison- polka dot Valentine plates, pink princess party plates, blue flowered camping plates, polka dot napkins, blue napkins, orange cups... you get the idea.

 So since it was my party, I got to claim desserts, too, and I did Holly's ridiculous strawberry cake with Sprinkles' strawberry frosting along with a new one to me- Peanut Butter Chocolate bars, which are addictive as they sound.

My sweet girls who were able to come- fun fact- except for me, everyone in this picture is carrying a baby one way or the other! So grateful for these friendships and for how they have walked this journey with me in our first year of this venture and ministry!

And of course, on this sweet early summer evening, after the last guests had gone, we saw the first lightning bugs of the year.  Bop Bop was there to help gather and contain, and Abby Jane went to sleep with the jar on her dresser.

So, so thankful to the Lord for His sweet blessings in every way!

The Market

It's here! Our local farmer's market kicked off in the beginning of May, and it is better than ever. This is my fourth season attending this market, and I think this season's mixture of vendors is the best yet. There are several new faces with things I love- my favorite unusual take-homes other than the usual suspects (zucchini, vidalia onions, tomatos, etc.) from last week: "Bright Lights" Swiss chard (stalks pictured below), variety of lettuces from a new organic grower (with several plots within 10 miles from our home- love the locality!) apple molasses vinaigrette, and a delicious variety of goat cheeses I served at a party we had last weekend.

I hoped the hot pink would invite my girls to join us in our delicious greens, but they weren't enticed enough... this time.

Along with our Swiss chard that night, we had this sandwich I adapted from Pinterest- swapped pita for flatbread and added a little Balsamic- and it was an explosion of amazingness in our mouths. Soooo good.

Then it happened. Today, the peaches showed up. OH the peaches. The twins (Jane's still in school) got samples and could hardly contain themselves until we got home for lunch, when they promptly together inhaled three peaches in five minutes.

Joy a.k.a. Peach Vacuum cannot get enough. No one in our family can. Let's just say I walked in the door today at noon with 15 peaches. At this point, we're down to four. I kid you not. It's a whole week til we can get more from our favorite grower, but it looks like I need to get two bags instead of one next time!  LOOOVE Farmer's Market Tuesday!! Our town may not be known for its general health-minded-ness or appreciation of anything organic or locally grown... but it's not for lack of opportunity to stock up on goodness every Tuesday morning!

Last picnic

After BSF every single week since September, with only a very few exceptions, we have picnicked at this same park with the Joneses. Next year, Abby Jane will miss BSF due to her new preschool schedule in the fall. So this was our last one with the whole crazy crew. How we love these friends and have loved our Wednesday lunches! So thankful, too, to share the rich, rich experience of BSF with Lindsey. It's a blessing to be moms together with that lady!

Camping Spring '12

Gracious, it was a great weekend. For the first time, we spent three nights instead of two, and it was great. My sister Jodi and her family joined us for two of those nights with us, and my mom joined us for one of those.  It was a good, good time. 

 Ian. Man enough to wear a pink bucket on his head.

 Our favorite hike. With some of our favorite people.

 Katie was particularly precious to her little cousin.

 It's this moment that I think of how much the girls have grown between each camping trip to Vogel. The first time we came here, the twins were in Bjorns, backpacks the second time, now big hikers on their own feet the third!

 My sis' family!

Biggest challenge/highlight of this trip: the twins' first time in sleeping bags instead of pack n plays. Read: took two hours to fall asleep for naps or bedtime. But GRACIOUS they had a wild rumpus in there!!!!

 Cousins at mealtime. Three two-year-olds strapped in together.

 My snugglebug.

 Grammy shows up and jumps right in the mix!

 Looks like Maggie wanted in on the two year old chair.

 There was a lot of laughing.

 Pottytraining took on new levels. Joy can do it under a canopy of trees and... get this... holding onto a tree... with a little help.

 Grammy reads wherever she goes.

 For our first time at Vogel, we used the beach on the lake. Ian and Katie were a constant blur.

 Maggie and Joy.

 Thinking Boo's hair has grown in the last couple of weeks.

 Creek playing took on a new level when we discovered a rope swing!

At one point we started collecting bugs in a cup... then trying to find friends for those bugs so they wouldn't be lonely... there were quite a few before the cup got tipped. Which led to tears.

Even Blythe, who has taken a bit of a rain check on potty training, decided she wanted in on outdoor pottying. And, as with indoor pottying in our family, there is never any privacy.

I can't wait to go camping again! These memories are beyond treasures.

Open class

Abby Jane's first ballet class is drawing to a close, with her first recital coming up this weekend! Last week, they let the parents come observe a normal class, which included a sneak peek at their recital piece. It was P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S. to say the least, and we surprised Abby Jane with her daddy being able to come watch, too!