Well, 2016 has been eventful. Girls are growing overnight and the thought of summer is making us all giddy. But before I can move on to summer I probably need to recount the winter. I won't waste time with a lot of words...Ill move right on to the pictures that tell the story far better than I can!
We had one good snow this year. And it was not really that good. But the girls made the most of the icy mixture. When we were stuck inside we made a spaceship out of a cardboard box from dad's mill and helmets out of paper bags. Even Emmett thought it was fun a few days later!
Valentine's Day brought us a visit from the Murrays and a cozy family dinner.
I had hoped to make Valentine's with the girls pictures but things got busy. Here is the before and after photos from the shoot. You see what I have to work with, such talent!
Luke and I got away for a weekend to Charlottesville where we visited Monticello.
Poppy got the "little blue car" back from the repair shop. This was the first time that the girls had seen it (and remembered) up and running. Luke gave them a quick ride around the neighborhood!
All dressed up and no place to go. These were Jennifer and Susan's prom dresses and one of Peggy's dresses. They are ready for a dance!
The girls went to Doc and Teeny's in January for a weekend. I always get pictures with updates on their visit.
And while there they saw the new Chipmunk movie...they came back with all the words memorized and ready to choreograph a dance.
A trip to the art museum for the MC Escher exhibit. They were partially interested but it was so crowded they had a hard time seeing the art.
Basketball season!! Adeline played her first season of basketball and Luke was a coach. Lillian was a fabulous cheerleader!
The girls are always wanting to have a "sleepover" with each other. I have let them bunk together several times but always move Lillian in the middle of the night. In the morning they are usually miffed that they are not together. So I decided to take a picture of what they looked like in the middle of the night so they would know that I had to break them up...or someone was rolling off the bed.
A piglet. Need I say more?
100 days of school...dress like you are 100 days old.
Lillian. I give Adeline a lot of air time but there are a few shots of just Lillian. Probably because she is always looking for her big sister. She started gymnastics this winter and has loved it. Here she is with her buddy and fellow gymnast. And her at her Easter egg hunt. She still has not figured out exactly how to wear a headband. Or maybe she has.
TGISpring!
Their very first trip to the nail salon. Mani pedis all around!
This Easter Doc and Teeny came to town. Adeline and Lillian hosted an egg hunt for our friends and neighbors. It was so fun, and we even had a visit from the Easter Bunny...well the Easter Bunny's babies. The day before the hunt I uncovered a bunny hole in our raised bed that had 3 babies. The girls proudly showed them to all the guests. We also did an egg hunt at the Arboretum and then lunch at Wilson and Lindsey's followed by dinner the Murrays on Sunday.
We followed up that weekend with spring break in Florida!
We flew home on Lillian's actual birthday. We tied her birthday balloons to her backpack and headed home. The flight attendants surprised us all by making her a crown out of biscotti and coffee stirrers and announcing over the speaker that it was her birthday and that she was the princess of the plane. It was pretty awesome!
Mom and I got 2 glorious days at Biltmore in April!
This just gives you a glimpse into what they can accomplish before 7am. They "decorated" their faces with marker before we were even out of the bed yet.
This is just them being themselves.
Lillian wanted a gymnastics party for her 5th birthday. That is exactly what she got!
Luke's birthday does exist even though he tries to pretend it doesn't. Here is proof.
Adeline had "Pig Day" at school which is a day where they celebrate all the books written Mo Willems. Lillian and I happened to be there on that day and she got pulled into (enthusiastically) the activities. She even got a t-shirt!
It was a beautiful Mother's Day. We continued our tradition of going to Ayr Mount for a picnic. This time the girls met a new friend at the pond. We finished the day with a great visit with Nonni where Adeline was able to show her all she was learning in her piano lessons.
It was a wonderful day. I am so thankful for my own mother (who was in Pennsylvania this weekend) and my mother-in-law and the sweet little girls that made me a mother.
I am truly blessed.
