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. :)

“Don’t worry mommy. I will always keep you company. I will always love you. When you are sad I will fill you back up with my joy,” says Eve to me at dinner tonight, while rubbing my arm. What brought about this sweetness? I bit a yucky tomato and spit it out on my plate. Eve was very concerned about me and my happiness.

Now I’m off to snuggle with Lex in bed because, as Alan just told me, “The boy awaits the most sought after cuddles in the house.”

I’m such a lucky mommy!

We discovered a nice neighbor last week. He’s in the other kindergarten class, but Lex knows him from lunch and recess. They get off the bus together every day, but have never expressed interest in one another… until last week. Out of the blue this boy ran our doorbell and asked Lex if he wanted to play. They have played together outside for several afternoons and today, because it was cold and windy, he came and played inside. He is polite, has good manners, and is nice to Eve (important in my book!) I’m excited to find another friend in the neighborhood. He has an older brother as well who is also quite polite. I don’t know his parents at all, but I’ll have to make an effort soon to meet them :)

For those who know and love them as we do, welcome baby Kate. Born yesterday. She’s adorable, of course.

This year I decided to participate in the March of Dimes’ “March for Babies” walk held at DHMC on May 7th. I’m very excited to be a part of March for Babies this year and hope you will join my team! The course is 3 miles around DHMC, with registration at 9am and the walk beginning at 10am. I think it will be fun and it’s certainly for a good cause!

To walk with me, check out my team page at: www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1562136
Or if you’d rather donate you can go to my personal page at: www.marchforbabies.org/tessaj

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. We’re walking because we want to do something about this. The money we raise will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!