Spontaneous Saturday Tulip Trip [and a party for one of favorite new1-year-olds]

It has been a beautiful Spring day here in middle Tennessee, and we have been so thankful to spend the day outdoors. This morning we enjoyed celebrating our sweet friend Lauralee's first birthday--I just LOVE 1st birthday parties, and this little one-year-old was an angel at hers. Afterwards, we needed to look at some of P's properties to drop off plans and check on things, and then the girls needed to go to the bathroom, and then we just happened to end up at the beautiful tulip exhibit at Cheekwood. It couldn't have worked out better if I'd had planned it myself. ;)

So, of course, we used this opportunity to snap some pictures with our little wildflowers.

I love spontaneous Saturdays.

Before our Cheekwood tulip adventure, we got to celebrate this little beauty, Lauralee, turning one, and I borrowed some of her mommy's pictures so that I could brag on my friend Reid. She planned such a perfect little party for her precious 1-year-old. This poster picture below is one of those $3 Staples creations. I have got to try one of those one of these days.

This L photo board started off inside, but as the morning warmed up and the party moved outdoors, the L came out as well to be a present opening backdrop.

Remember that poster photo up top? Well, Reid also turned it into a coloring sheet for party favors for all the little girls. So precious.

She made a classic month-by-month banner to show all of her changes and developments...

And she also did this cute photo tree.

Her party food was both beautiful and delicious.

My favorites were the cheese blintz with strawberries, the asparagus fontina tart, and apple potatoes.

The cupcakes were almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. They were too delicious NOT to eat.

Reid's parents have a little girls' backyard Heaven, and my girls had so much fun playing with their little friends.

Daddy had fun playing with his friends too.

And, well, I did too!

Lauralee was the cutest little cake eater.

Big sister Lane was such a BIG help!

And we even got a fun family shot also. Thanks, Reid!

We had already had a full day, but it didn't stop there. After we came home to rest, we went back out for a triple date with some of our favorite friends [who we had already partied with that morning] --Reid, Franklin, Katie, and Robert. We waited an hour and a half to eat the best burgers in town at the Pharmacy. We had so much fun and are so thankful for an adult night out. Our kids were sad to miss out--Addison was actually devastated about our "adult only lifegroup"--but we are also thankful for great family who took care of our kids so we could enjoy it. Thanks Linds and Daniel for sending these fun pictures throughout the night:

Helping to make dinner

Taking batting practice with Uncle Daniel.

We were so thankful to have a fun-filled Saturday.

It has been a beautiful Spring day here in middle Tennessee, and we have been so thankful to spend the day outdoors. This morning we enjoyed celebrating our sweet friend Lauralee's first birthday--I just LOVE 1st birthday parties, and this little one-year-old was an angel at hers. Afterwards, we needed to look at some of P's properties to drop off plans and check on things, and then the girls needed to go to the bathroom, and then we just happened to end up at the beautiful tulip exhibit at Cheekwood. It couldn't have worked out better if I'd had planned it myself. ;)

So, of course, we used this opportunity to snap some pictures with our little wildflowers.

I love spontaneous Saturdays.

Before our Cheekwood tulip adventure, we got to celebrate this little beauty, Lauralee, turning one, and I borrowed some of her mommy's pictures so that I could brag on my friend Reid. She planned such a perfect little party for her precious 1-year-old. This poster picture below is one of those $3 Staples creations. I have got to try one of those one of these days.

This L photo board started off inside, but as the morning warmed up and the party moved outdoors, the L came out as well to be a present opening backdrop.

Remember that poster photo up top? Well, Reid also turned it into a coloring sheet for party favors for all the little girls. So precious.

She made a classic month-by-month banner to show all of her changes and developments...

And she also did this cute photo tree.

Her party food was both beautiful and delicious.

My favorites were the cheese blintz with strawberries, the asparagus fontina tart, and apple potatoes.

The cupcakes were almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. They were too delicious NOT to eat.

Reid's parents have a little girls' backyard Heaven, and my girls had so much fun playing with their little friends.

Daddy had fun playing with his friends too.

And, well, I did too!

Lauralee was the cutest little cake eater.

Big sister Lane was such a BIG help!

And we even got a fun family shot also. Thanks, Reid!

We had already had a full day, but it didn't stop there. After we came home to rest, we went back out for a triple date with some of our favorite friends [who we had already partied with that morning] --Reid, Franklin, Katie, and Robert. We waited an hour and a half to eat the best burgers in town at the Pharmacy. We had so much fun and are so thankful for an adult night out. Our kids were sad to miss out--Addison was actually devastated about our "adult only lifegroup"--but we are also thankful for great family who took care of our kids so we could enjoy it. Thanks Linds and Daniel for sending these fun pictures throughout the night:

Helping to make dinner

Taking batting practice with Uncle Daniel.

We were so thankful to have a fun-filled Saturday.

Sunshine School Spring Program

My favorite things about preschool are the programs. Addison has gotten to participate in a Thanksgiving program, a Christmas program, and now a Spring Program. The Spring Program was a year in review of all of the Bible Stories, and Addison's class sang about Daniel. (For any family who is on here, scroll to the bottom to see videos of the rehearsal. This was my first time uploading videos from my phone to Youtube, so sorry for the shakiness. ;))

At the end of the program, all of the classes got on stage and sang songs together. Addison's God is so strong. ;)

My class is so cute...

 Aren't they?

 Savannah's class

 My class performing

 Sawyer's class

I just love her.

 This has been such a special year to go to the same preschool as her cousin! What a blessing for these two little best friends.

 We even got a picture of the four of them together--probably the only year that these four kiddos and their two mommies will be at the same school. They will have such sweet memories of this.

 It's never complete without silly faces either. :)

Our family enjoying the refreshments afterward (and isn't my class' bulletin board cute!?!)

We have been so thankful and blessed to enjoy this preschool experience. If you are still hanging in there, here are three short videos below:

My favorite things about preschool are the programs. Addison has gotten to participate in a Thanksgiving program, a Christmas program, and now a Spring Program. The Spring Program was a year in review of all of the Bible Stories, and Addison's class sang about Daniel. (For any family who is on here, scroll to the bottom to see videos of the rehearsal. This was my first time uploading videos from my phone to Youtube, so sorry for the shakiness. ;))

At the end of the program, all of the classes got on stage and sang songs together. Addison's God is so strong. ;)

My class is so cute...

 Aren't they?

 Savannah's class

 My class performing

 Sawyer's class

I just love her.

 This has been such a special year to go to the same preschool as her cousin! What a blessing for these two little best friends.

 We even got a picture of the four of them together--probably the only year that these four kiddos and their two mommies will be at the same school. They will have such sweet memories of this.

 It's never complete without silly faces either. :)

Our family enjoying the refreshments afterward (and isn't my class' bulletin board cute!?!)

We have been so thankful and blessed to enjoy this preschool experience. If you are still hanging in there, here are three short videos below:

In Addison's World this Week

Miss Addison has just had a regular week, but I wanted to record some of her special moments in her every day. This below is one of them: Addison has been taking on more chores and responsibilities, and one of them has been taking Maggie out. Of course her little sister joins her whenever she can. I was opening the blinds in the living room, and I happened to catch this shot of the sisters just chatting away in their pjs on the ottoman. I am so thankful I looked out at the moment because it didn't last long, but how sweet how it lasted.

On Friday, we had an unexpected and welcome invitation to go to the Adventure Science Museum with my old friend Hannah from Montgomery. Hannah worked with Patrick in youth ministry at Landmark, and we shared ministry experiences, mission experiences, simultaneous engagements and weddings, creating our first home havens, and sharing the recipes from our early married dinner parties. We've kept in touch since we moved back to Nashville, but we've missed the raising children together phase of friendship. It was super fun to get to spend the morning with her and her precious boys, Nolan and Bennett, while their family was in town visiting other family. Addison soaked up every bit she could of all of the exhibits and games. Her highlights were going to the very top of the lookout with Hannah, and, as always,  the capillaries and veins. She cracks me up splashing through the water.  Ansley loved being along for the ride too, and while she didn't understand the "science" part too much, she is always up for the "adventure" part.

Addison's buddy Ben had his birthday party this weekend at Monkey Joe's, and she was so excited to get to go run and jump and play. She did not stop the whole time, and I could hardly get an action shot she was moving so fast.  There were 8 kids from our class there, and it was so much fun to get to be there both as a teacher and a mommy.

Addison with the super adorable birthday boy

Addison and Sammy.

Other special buddies: Kristen, Addison, and Ivy.

We spent a lovely Spring night with our old and dear friends Kelly and Evan McCasland and their kiddos, Georgia and Kyle at Arrington Vineyards. There was free music and the kids just ran and played. Addison met every kid there, and I love how she doesn't meet a stranger.

Her daddy taught her all about static electricity, and she has been doing this non-stop.

She's been in Strawberry Shortcake, Ariel, or Jasmine character, and she always finds and outfit to match.

She's been insisting on fixing her own hair. This is after she brushed it out and put a bow in. Bless her.

She is been getting much more confident on her bicycle. After we went to get the staples out of her head from falling off of a picnic table at a church picnic, we went to the Brentwood library for story time and then River Park for bike riding and play with her cousins. Just a few short weeks ago, we saw and heard tears from Addison when we even helped her get on her bike, but once she has learned how to put on the brakes, and how to use her legs to pedal, she has shown much more interest and gained much more confidence. The fact that Savannah and her neighborhood friends are riding their bikes too has helped tremendously as well.

And last but not least, we are adding a piano to our household. While it is still a little early for formal lessons, I am excited about Addison (and Ansley) learning to play an instrument and music filling our home again.

Miss Addison has just had a regular week, but I wanted to record some of her special moments in her every day. This below is one of them: Addison has been taking on more chores and responsibilities, and one of them has been taking Maggie out. Of course her little sister joins her whenever she can. I was opening the blinds in the living room, and I happened to catch this shot of the sisters just chatting away in their pjs on the ottoman. I am so thankful I looked out at the moment because it didn't last long, but how sweet how it lasted.

On Friday, we had an unexpected and welcome invitation to go to the Adventure Science Museum with my old friend Hannah from Montgomery. Hannah worked with Patrick in youth ministry at Landmark, and we shared ministry experiences, mission experiences, simultaneous engagements and weddings, creating our first home havens, and sharing the recipes from our early married dinner parties. We've kept in touch since we moved back to Nashville, but we've missed the raising children together phase of friendship. It was super fun to get to spend the morning with her and her precious boys, Nolan and Bennett, while their family was in town visiting other family. Addison soaked up every bit she could of all of the exhibits and games. Her highlights were going to the very top of the lookout with Hannah, and, as always,  the capillaries and veins. She cracks me up splashing through the water.  Ansley loved being along for the ride too, and while she didn't understand the "science" part too much, she is always up for the "adventure" part.

Addison's buddy Ben had his birthday party this weekend at Monkey Joe's, and she was so excited to get to go run and jump and play. She did not stop the whole time, and I could hardly get an action shot she was moving so fast.  There were 8 kids from our class there, and it was so much fun to get to be there both as a teacher and a mommy.

Addison with the super adorable birthday boy

Addison and Sammy.

Other special buddies: Kristen, Addison, and Ivy.

We spent a lovely Spring night with our old and dear friends Kelly and Evan McCasland and their kiddos, Georgia and Kyle at Arrington Vineyards. There was free music and the kids just ran and played. Addison met every kid there, and I love how she doesn't meet a stranger.

Her daddy taught her all about static electricity, and she has been doing this non-stop.

She's been in Strawberry Shortcake, Ariel, or Jasmine character, and she always finds and outfit to match.

She's been insisting on fixing her own hair. This is after she brushed it out and put a bow in. Bless her.

She is been getting much more confident on her bicycle. After we went to get the staples out of her head from falling off of a picnic table at a church picnic, we went to the Brentwood library for story time and then River Park for bike riding and play with her cousins. Just a few short weeks ago, we saw and heard tears from Addison when we even helped her get on her bike, but once she has learned how to put on the brakes, and how to use her legs to pedal, she has shown much more interest and gained much more confidence. The fact that Savannah and her neighborhood friends are riding their bikes too has helped tremendously as well.

And last but not least, we are adding a piano to our household. While it is still a little early for formal lessons, I am excited about Addison (and Ansley) learning to play an instrument and music filling our home again.