Front Landscaping Begins!!

So we've decided to use our tax return this year on a much-needed landscaping/driveway redo. So we've just begun the process by having all the rock, brick, plants, and shrubs dug up and dumped. We are SOOOO excited to finally get this project underway. Here are a few photos of Phase I. :)

The 60th

Saturday we had a surprise birthday party for my parents. Really, it was my dad's 60th birthday (Sunday, June 1st), but having discovered my mom had never had a surprise party, we decided to throw her birthday (which was last November -- also turned 60) in on it too.

What's funny is, my mom, who knew something "small" was being planned (she had to know in order to make sure my dad didn't go anywhere for the day) was more surprised than my dad, who was supposed to have no clue. I guess I sabotaged the surprise a couple months ago when I mentioned something to him about trying to throw a surprise party for mom on his birthday -- hahaha! Even I had forgotten that conversation. Oh well!

Over 50 guests attended, including family, church, and friends. Very memorable.

All in all it was such a fun day!

Daddy Reads to Abby

Here are a few pictures of Daddy (yes, he does exist and holds a very prominent place in our house :) reading to Abby tonight. I love how Abby starts out next to him and then ends up snuggling up next to him. What's he reading to her, you ask? Why, Cinderella, of course!

Sweet Nigh-Nigh and Grammy

On top of her inoculation, Essie's been recovering from a cold. Normally nigh-nigh (what she calls blankie) is saved for bedtime only, but of course, I've succumbed to her whims; I mean, come on, she's sick.

Here are a few photos of her snuggling with nigh-nigh and Grammy. What could be better than snuggling with her two favorites?

Playing Peek-A-Boo...gotta love the feet :)

Awch!

Today my sweet Essie had her 18-month immunization, and poor baby, she cried so hard afterward...it even brought tears to our eyes. After her nap, she woke up sweaty and grumpy. She kept pointing to her "boo-boo" and saying "Awch!" (ouch) and looking at me with a perplexed sadness. It made my heart sink. Even now, as she lay in her crib, she is sobbing on and off, refusing to sleep; it's just not like our child.

Can I say how much I hate these "well"-child checkups where they take a perfectly healthy child and inoculate them with a tiny element of some wicked disease? It feels like it goes against all reasoning!!

A Few Photos from Memorial Day

Sorry. We only took a few pictures, and obviously, Eric and my dad are sadly missing from them. They were with us, though, as we had a lovely barbecue on Memorial Day.

It's so hard, when you're busy preparing a meal and taking care of little ones, to remember who all had their pictures taken. Sorry Dad and Eric! :-)

Sweet Great Grandma read a book to Esther. Esther was so enthralled, she stayed sitting like this, listening to Grandma, for about 20 to 30 minutes. It reminded me of when she would read to me when I was little. So precious!

Grandma's turn to read. Essie just loves this "My Little Word Book." It's just a book full of pictures and words -- great for her stage, learning new words every day.