Weekend Review

We had another beautiful, busy weekend.

Soccer verdict: Getting better, but it is still ugly.

Abby honestly would be fine if they just kicked the ball back and forth.

When the cones come out, she is all about it.
Unless people talk to her, then the hands go up and she starts crying.

And for the first 30 minutes, they do games such as red light/green light or Sharks and Minnows.

She just whines on the sidelines.

But oh those cones, she is a professional.

So she gets about 5-7 minutes of play time a week!

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We went to my Mimi's 85th birthday party in Knoxville after.

Sadly, I took no pictures.

Well just this one. Luckily, my bro brought their Ipad and Abby watched a movie on the way there.

She looks so grown up!

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Today was church and then we cleaned out the garage. Exciting times.

Abby was quickly bored with the garage clean out, so we got out the water table.

She loved it (and yes, I know she needs a hair cut. If she would just let me pin it back, it wouldn't look so bad)

She also fell in love with Popsicles. This was her second just today.

She had it all over her face, her arms, and her legs.

Good times!

Queen of Bull

Some nights, Abby just doesn't want to go to bed. We have a strict bedtime of 7:30 on school nights (trust me, she is impossible to get up if she stays up later).

If it is one of those nights, she comes up with every excuse in the book.

• It isn't dark outside.
• I need more milk, my mouth is thirsty.
• My stomach hurts, I need medicine.
• I'm coughing, I need medicine.
• I need a book.
• I need to say more prayers.
• I have to potty.
• I don't have lotion on.
• My leg hurts, I need a band-aid.
• My arm hurts, I need a band-aid.
• I need to see what outfit I am wearing tomorrow.
• I need to see the shoes I am wearing tomorrow.
• My blankets are falling off.
• I can't find [insert 1 of 50 stuffed animals].

You might think these are valid excuses, but when she uses every.single.one of them in one night, they begin to lose credibility.

Luckily, it usually only lasts about 20-30 minutes and then she is out like a light.

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And some pictures from dinner out tonight:

"Well of course I cross my legs like a lady"

"Isn't it a shame that my Mommy hasn't cut my hair?"

Easter Fun

What an end to a 3 day weekend.....

Today was an awesome, beautiful day. And we went to a great service at a new church. What a way to kick things off!

Well before that, we had a little visit from the Easter Bunny.

Abby got a Tag Reader and a Little Mermaid book. She has read that book quite a few times now.

She also got a Minnie Mouse headband - loves it!

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I am so bad that I didn't get a picture of Abby in her Sunday best. It included a hat!

Today was just too busy!

Abby is loving our new dining room table. She loves to crawl under it and hide.

And she got out her doctor's kit to take the temperature of all the chairs....they all got smiley faces!

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We hosted both of our families at the house.

Since Abby was the only kiddo, I wanted to find something fun for the adults to do.

An old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt!

Let me just tell you - I was so nervous about this not being fun for all the adults.

They loved it. I now will call it, "The First Annual Easter Egg Hunt", as it will be a tradition going forward.

Abby got into it as well.

Pretty much, all my beautiful shrubs (and fresh mulch) contained multiple Easter Eggs.

It was hilarious to see everyone stirring up the 1,000 bugs that live in my greenery. I just hope we found them all!

Then it was time to open them!

They were filled with money, candy, letters and challenges.

The big hit was the "glitter eggs". I emptied eggs and filled them with confetti to bust over people's heads (Thanks for that idea Pinterest).

The prizes were all silly - back scratcher, whoopee cushions, chocolate bunnies.

Abby getting a glitter egg busted on her arm.

The Staples boys - Steve, Stuart, Kevin and Sean.

All of them were asleep on the couch shortly after!

Gammy got Abby a picnic table for Easter. Since Daddy was inside sleeping off a big meal, my brother and sis-in-law put it together. (With a little help from Abby)

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She also got a cute basket from Nana - with Minnie pj's.

I think that sums up our Easter - note to self to take more/better pics next year!

Egg-austed!

I don't even know if I spelled that right - that is how exhausted I am!

We had a very busy day!

We started in our soccer attire. Since Abby is not that happy about soccer, I figured Hello Kitty socks might make her happy. You be the judge.

We sat on the sidelines, again. Crying and whining.

This is the 5 minutes that Abby went out there.

She loves the cones and nothing else.

After the soccer fiasco, we went to an egg hunt.

I love this picture, Abby was so scared and Landon (you can only see the basket) was all about it!

After rolling backwards down tree roots, she got a little into it and got a few eggs.

Her highlight was the face painting.
Abs loves getting her face painted!

Duck game. She got a Tootsie Roll Pop that was well enjoyed.

Pin the carrot on the bunny.

We also met up with our friend Bella.

This is the sweetest little 7 year old that I know!

Abby doesn't nap. Ever. It makes for a very long day.

This was her 5 minute nap in the car.

She is so exhausted every weekend, but refuses to sleep. Trust me, I try.

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After all the madness, we tried to dye eggs.

I bought one of those $1.97 egg dye kits.

Abby was so lost with the little piece of wire included.

We moved on to tongs.

And really concentrated on it.

I mean, this was serious egg dyeing business.

I am so proud of her. She loved it and did a fantastic job of dyeing eggs.

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What did the Easter Bunny bring?

(he brought Mommy a new dining room table, but more on that later)

Stickers, a bubble wand, a Minnie Mouse headband, and Leapfrog Tag reader.

Let me just say, I have been playing with this Tag reader all night.....and I love it!

It is age 4-7, but I really think that Abby will enjoy it. She is so smart and loves to read. Hopefully it is a hit in the morning.

Good Friday

Abby's Day Care was closed today, so I took the day off.

What a busy day.....brakes changed on the car, re-mulched the yard (Well, that was more Stuart), grocery shopping....I'm exhausted!

And of course, we ended the day at the playground.

Doing her favorite thing, swinging. Such determination.
Blissful smile!

And look at this cutie that joined us!

Seriously, Amanda's little boy is just to die for. That hair!

He looks terrified, but I think he enjoyed his first time on the swing.

We ended the day with 24 boiled eggs.

And phase one of decorating them, more to come!

Book Club - The Sleeping Beauty Proposal

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer

Summary:

Admissions counselor Genie Michaels has dated professor-turned-author Hugh Spencer for four years, patiently waiting him out. When Hugh's bestselling novel lands him on tv, Genie's loved ones tuning in are surprised to see him make an on-air proposal to the love of his life. All assume it's Genie, but off camera, Hugh confesses to an affair, escapes to England for the summer and leaves Genie to do the explaining.

Best friend Patty proposes that, rather than moping, Genie keep her mouth shut and enjoy being engaged while it lasts. Soon, Genie's sporting a giant, self-purchased cubic zirconia ring, and massives of wedding gifts begin to arrive at her office. As the inevitable approaches, there's plenty of sticky situation comedy, including handsome charming carpenter Nick.

Review:

Very fluffy. I actually picked this author based on another reviewer, I liked it and will probably read more from this author. But it is def. one of those books that just won't stick with me. I really liked Genie though and her games of pretending that she was engaged. And I was hoping the whole book that her and Nick would get together! If you are looking for a "read by the pool/ocean", I highly recommend.

Link up Here:

Dancing Queen

Abby's new obsession is to watch Dancing With The Stars.

Every night, she wants to watch "The ladies dancing in the pretty dresses."

Tonight, she jumped on our bed and said, "My turn to dance!"

I took about 10 pictures, but this is the only one that came out clear due to her crazy dancing!

Egg Hunt

Today was our first Easter Egg hunt. And a great time for a photo op!

Aren't these flowers gorgeous?

Abby just looks so sweet among them!
Please note the shoes. They are sparkly pink/zebra flip flops. She insisted on wearing black velvet shoes to church and luckily I was able to talk her into more Spring-ish shoes for the hunt.

Looking for eggs. There were about 4,000 eggs out there and I think Abby got 8.

But she had a total blast getting those 8.

And really liked getting the candy out of them.

We have had about 15 egg hunts in our house today. She loves it! And when it is her turn, she hides all the eggs in one spot - it is hilarious.

We are hosting Easter at our house this Sunday (eek!) so it will be a house-cleaning week!