Nicholas Turns 3!

This little guy had a birthday a few weeks ago,

and I think I'm still in disbelief that my baby is 3!!!

His birthday landed on Bible school week, and I felt bad that we couldn't have a party with his friends because of that. But he didn't seem to notice!

He helped me make the icing for his birthday cake. It had to be blue, of course!

Grandpa & Grandma celebrated his birthday the day before when we were in PA

and they gave him a tool set. 

He was so proud of that gift, and he wanted those tools on his cake!

It may be the plainest birthday cake a child has ever had,

but he was happy!

Papa bought him his gift, so it wasn't wrapped.

He was told not to peek,

but I think he may have just a little! :)

He was so happy with the farming toys he got!

Honestly, I think Papa had as much fun buying and giving him the gift as Nicholas had in getting it!

                           A few days later, we were at the river with the Showalter family, 

                               and they celebrated his birthday, along with several others.

He was quite pleased that he had 3 birthday "parties"!

I shouldn't have worried about him missing out :) 

Nicholas is our busy little guy,

and loves to help!

Working with Papa is his very favorite, and he often gets to ride the tractors

and "fee-wheelers" as he calls them!

He was so pleased about this bowl of mint tea that he cut all by himself!

(And I can't get over how different he looks with long hair on this picture!)

At the beginning of summer, he didn't like the water at all.

But after Papa spent some time swimming with him, he started to love it!

 He's fearless, and you'll often find him jumping off the diving board!

He adores his sister, but he's often the one to get them in trouble!

He keeps us laughing with his crazy sense of humor! 

He loves the outdoors, playing with his friends

and riding tractors.

He's determined, and tender-hearted, and we couldn't love him more!

   Happy 3rd birthday to our Nicholas Edward! 

10 Things I Learned in May

1. No matter how many "free" hours you think you have in a day's time, they always fill up. Always.

2. Prune all the bushes. It's an instant facelift for your house! (Thanks Dad and Fredi for the tip!)

3. Underbaked cheesecake is a disappointment. But when you spend precious time making it for yourself for Mother's Day, you eat it anyway! 

 

4. Spontaneous work trips with the husband in the middle of a busy spring are a gift.

5. If you haven't tried something new, your sister will make you do it!

 6. Dreams do come true! Ten years later, my hammock from Guatemala has a home in my backyard!

7. You can't help but smile when you watch tiny ballerinas twirl on stage!

8. If you forget to bring flowers to your daughter's dance recital, you may need to dash to Walmart 20 minutes before she steps onstage, and spend $15 on the last decent bouquet they have. But when she asks to put them in her room because they are hers, you know it was worth it.

9. Potty training is like running a marathon: halfway through, you decide that quitting is probably better than dying. But we haven't quit and we haven't died, so I guess that means we're making some progress!

10. The smallest things can bring the most joy to a child. And she doesn't need to know that she's actually being trained to take over my job!

And now, enjoy some random pictures from my phone!

A Shenandoah Springtime

Every season is beautiful in its own way,

but spring will probably always be my favorite.

There's something incredibly amazing about watching a dead earth burst into new life!

         The long blossom-covered branches of the weeping cherry tree

remind me of a bridal veil.

I think that a tea party under these branches would be absolutely magical!

If springtime on earth is breaktaking,

I can't even imagine how glorious it will be in heaven!

We're getting a lot of use out of the swings!

And no, we haven't figured out which shoe belongs to which foot yet :)

I call this "the white way of delight".

{I think Anne of Avonlea would agree!}

Can you imagine waking up to a view like this one?!

Take time to pick the tulips...

....A L L of them!

There's new life on the farm too!

And the farmer stays busy in the fields {and garden!} 

with his little sidekick close by. 

After we bought a gardening set for her little friend,

Hadassah needed one too.

Because gloves and tools make gardening so much more fun!

"Are you going to climb over the fence? Me too!"

"See, that was easy Mom!"

These two have become such good friends,

aka: double trouble.

 Happy spring weekend, friends! xoxo