Happy days are here again!

Our local children's zoo is open again! The girls and I joined three of our favorite friends there and had a fantastic morning/afternoon there with them. Addy hadn't seen her buddy R since the fall but they picked right up where they left off.

The baby goats were pretty darn cute!


More food Mama!


These next three pictures melted my heart. Addy and R were incredibly sweet watching the penguins together.






Cally and E. They were awful cute to watch too!


There was lots of running and giggling! We had a wonderful day!

Happy Easter!!

Easter Egging!

Can you believe we were egged?? Well we were! Except this was one of those super cool, fun and even inspirational eggings. My friend Kristi does amazing activities with her kids year-round and my kids and I are often invited to partake in the fun. Lets see, thanks to Kristi my girls have experienced a candy cane hunt, May Day basket deliveries and traditional Easter egg hunts but now we can add Easter Egging.

I picked Addy up from preschool and told her that I saw some friends (ok, I said Bunny!) hiding Easter eggs in our yard. Addy was already on an Easter egg hunt high so she was pretty much bouncing in her seat. Because Addy already had her Easter egg basket with her, we were able to hop out of the car and start hunting right away!

Addy found the first egg, which had a super sweet note for my girls.


Addy actually paused to decide which egg she was going to capture next.


The hunt continues!


Cally finds one!


This picture make me laugh, Cally is covered in chocolate and Addy is chewing down on a starburst candy. Kristi's eggs also contained appropriate Bible verses as well as candy. Kristi also very kindly noted how many eggs they hid on the note.


Thank you SO much Kristi for an amazingly fun and surprising Easter egg hunt!! You are a fabulous friend! :)

Good intentions....

I am in total love with my Nook ereaders, I have the Nook wifi and I also have the tablet ereader, Nook Color. Both are fabulous and I could rave all day about them. What I do not love is the price of the ereader covers. They are pretty basic to make and I can make them for like $3 in supplies/fabric. Like most sewing projects I undertake I just winged them.

The one I just finished, I made with the intention of giving to Miranda, but we all know what is said about intentions. This one is fine, but I want to make another with a few less imperfections. Also, the fabric color scheme is much more my style than Miranda's! I have a more colorful and fun fabric set aside for Mir's now.

The outside, I like to use a more durable cotton fabric like an upholstery material. I also use a stiff interface inside to help protect the Nook from any dings and drops. You can always find decent size remnants too. :)


The inside, my nook is in the reading position. You can bend the cover back just like a paperback book.


I left an opening in the bottom holder so that the speakers and charging area are accessible.


I am not really a fan of the large side pocket but you can store the Nook in the pocket when you are not reading. You can really store anything in here and it is 'padded' (stiff interface) so the face is protected.

Off to school we go!

Addy's preschool class has an Easter egg hunt this morning at the local senior care home they visit. Honestly, it would not be possible for Addy to be more excited about it than she was. They also made Easter egg baskets out of a Kleenex box so Addy has happily told me she will not need to use the one I made for her last spring, she has made her own. :)

The Big N at the Big M!

Only in Nebraska!

Is it possible?

Can this really be my non-sleeping throught the night, non-napping (unless it is a group nap) two year old? Have the Earth's magnetic poles reversed again?

Sisters in the spring

Squirrel Fever!

Cally and dogs have one thing in common and that is a love for squirrel chasing. Addy does not share Cally's curiosity and was completely blind to the squirrel sneaking up on her. I think he wanted his acorns back!



Here the squirrel was ready to make his demands known.


Cally had been waiting all day for a chance like this and was ready with open arms to cuddle the squirrel.


Sadly, some things are just not meant to be...


The squirrel chase will be continued on another day I fear.


Who knows, maybe even Addy has caught squirrel fever!?

Addy's big adventure!!

Addy has been asking for a sleepover for at least 18 months! Well now Addy can plant her sights on something new because last weekend Addy spent the night with Grandma! Grandma planned a fun visit, there was a play, a movie, ice cream and then another movie before bed. Addy said she was too busy having fun to miss us so I would call that a very successful visit! :)

Addy and Grandma went to see Cinderella at the Minden Opera House. They serve a pre-play tea party, Addy loved it.


Eating popcorn on the balcony outside was Addy's favorite part of her day!


Addy and Grandma!


Cinderella and her fateful moment!

Sweetness...


Addy was all about leading our zoo jaunt with her extraordinary map skills. It took me back to my undergrad field mapping courses and field trips. This was much cuter though!


Cally had to follow her big sister's lead. She is always happy when she can be a big girl like her Addy. :)


Hopefully this will be Addy's only line up experience!


Uh-oh! A bear escaped!

New tricks!

Cally and Addy both had new tricks to show me last week. Cally is going to take over sewing responsibilities for our household and Addy is going to master a flip while eating apple slices.

Fantastic paints!

My Birthday!

We invited family and a couple of close friends to help celebrate Cally's second birthday at our favorite bounce house. David and I were to see that Cally absolutely knew that the party was for HER birthday. It was a great time and I wish I had more pictures to show but I am having a hard time getting blogger to post them. I can share a few I took with my point and shoot though.

Aunt Molly and baby Elsie! Baby Elsie is pretty amazing, she never fussed and was just a darling. She was quite happy to sit back, smile and take it all in.


I love this picture becuase if you look at Cally's arm at her side you can see her signature stand. Also, if you look at her face you see her standard glare starting to form. I am not sure if Jacob knew what he was getting into sitting next to the birthday girl!


Sweet sisters!