We had a busy weekend and are facing an even busier week, in preparation for a super busy vacation! Fun times all around.

Friday morning we woke to this beautiful sunrise. I probably could have gone outside and gotten a much better picture, but who has the energy for that at 6am?!?

Friday morning sunrise

Friday afternoon the kids got busy with paint-by-number. It has been on the counter since Eve’s birthday and they having been super eager to do it. I need to be in the right mood for painting though, particularly for them painting! I finally let them do it on Friday and they were thrilled.

Eve always insists on painting the edges and backs/bottoms of everything.

On Saturday we drove down to visit a tiny new baby, and the rest of her family, of course! :) Here are a few pictures, not of my kids, and Julie posted a few on her site as well.

Baby Kate

Big sister Molly. Eve brought a few tu-tus to share.

Sunday morning we did a hurried grocery shopping trip so Eve and I could make it to a birthday party at a pottery painting place. I’ve heard really good things about the place and was curious to go. I don’t think it was the best for a 4yr old party, but I would love to go back sometime for their “girls night out” nights. Wine, cheese, pottery. Sounds like fun!

Painting party. They were each given a big ceramic bowl to paint and I was one of the very few mothers who did not take over :)

Eve got a little bored towards the end, and tired because the party was right in the middle of naptime. She perked up pretty quickly with a cup of chocolate pudding though!

Back home, after a forced quite time (because I was exhausted!) we went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. Beautiful! Pretty quickly a neighborhood crowd drew. At one point we had four younger kids in my yard and six or so older kids (upper elementary/middle school) shooting hoops across the street. This is why we moved here. It was so nice.

The crowd begins to arrive.

What is this red plant growing with my irises?

Bubbles! Always a favorite.

I need to put this next to the other picture I have of Lex pushing Eve on the swing. Remember that one? I'll find it again.

I love this crew! We just need to find a few neighborhood girls for Eve.

I told Lex that I didn't want his friends inside (it was a beautiful day!) so he brought his toys outside instead :)

This morning it was dark and stormy, but before the storm came Eve and I were watching birds at the window feeder and suddenly we saw a deer! Did I tell you about the deer from a few weeks ago? Apparently there is a herd of deer (14, says my neighbor) who live in the small woods at the end of the street. A few weeks ago I saw four deer walking downtown, trying to cross Rt 5! I guess they are still around. I don’t think our neighborhood is the best place for deer.

Silly deer.

Then the storm came and Eve and I decided that it was a wonderful day to bake cookies. We haven’t baked cookies in awhile (which has been good for my WW efforts!) and I thought it would be fun to have some for the trip.

This picture is a little blurry, but I like it anyway.

Did I mention we are taking a trip? Next week! Eek! We are excited and I’m trying to keep the anxiety at bay. Cookies help. :)