Recital and such

Today was Abs' piano recital.  That girl was so nervous and excited all rolled into a cute adorable package.  My Mom was able to come and watch her perform.  That really made her day.   It takes about an hour and we got to hear 29 different students.  Some played two pieces.   Those that played two pieces created  their own compositions for a contest held earlier in the year.   It was a great time.  The boys were getting antsy at the end mostly due to hunger.  

Since it was all for Miss Abigail we went to eat at her favorite place - Ruby Tuesday's.  She was introduced to this restaurant last year via The Ball family.  Let me just say that she was giddy with excitement when we got there.  She loves loves loves the salad bar and boy did her plate show that.  It was stacked up like a volcano.   Not only does she get the salad bar but also the pasta marinara.  I think she smiled the entire time.  Her only disappointment came when Daddy said no to dessert.  Only to find out that he had other plans.  (DQ).

Then off to DQ for some yummy dessert.  I think both Abigail and I wore about as much as we ate.  For some strange reason my ice cream melted quicker than I was able to eat it.  Such a rarity.  We are ice cream consumers in this household, so it is shocking when there is a meltdown.  All except Abigail.  I believe I stated it before  - she is never able to sneak any food as she always ends up wearing it!!  Her pretty dress was dripped upon.  Thankfully it was after the recital.  

Stephen had another youth group outing this evening.  He was off to a scavenger hunt at Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA.  (I know I mentioned this place before, I think it was on the other blog so I will digress again.  This town has a special place in my heart as Bill and I were engaged there on a cold snowy December night 14 years ago.  I also had my bridal shower at one of the restaurants there.  It really is a great place to walk around and eat and such.)    I tell you he has more of a social life than I do.   (I am very happy about this!)   He is usually the youngest boy that shows up for these functions but I am ever so grateful that he has made some good connections and has had these many opportunities with various outings.  I honestly don't believe he would have had the same experience if we stayed in Ohio.  

Speaking of Ohio we will be leaving here Sunday and having a quick visit until Friday!  We are excited about getting back even if it is only for a few short days!

On a separate note - you haven't seen any pictures because my pocket-size camera's battery died and I have not been able to locate my charger.  I am thinking I may have left it in Ohio from our last trip back.  So hopefully I can locate it.  Otherwise it is off to Best Buy for me to purchase another charger.  I am truly lost without it.  I do have another camera but it is big and bulky and not very convenient.   Prayerfully by Monday all will be well again!

Lots and Lots of shopping

This lady here just spent 4 hours on Friday at various malls shopping for clothing for my kids.  Let me just say that that was surprisingly not too bad.  If any of you don't know, I must tell you  that I don't like to shop!  Yes, I know that is an anomaly but it is true.  So imagine my surprise when I totaled up the hours yesterday and realized that it all went okay.   We began our outing looking for clothing for Stephen.  In the past few months he really has grown into young man sizes.   We spent hours doing that.  If I am doing this I make them try on the clothing so that I don't have to go back to the store and exchange.   

We then enjoyed some lunch in the food court.   The young ones hopped on the carousel.  Then a little more shopping.  After that it was home in the car.  We were on a time schedule as Abigail had her rehearsal for her recital.  

On the way home from piano class, Abigail and I stopped at Hoagie Haven for our dinner.  (We got 3 long subs for dinner.)  Yummy!!

Then it was out the door again for Stephen to his youth group.  It was on the way home from there that the young ones and I stopped at a different mall to shop for shoes for Abigail (we also looked for a dress for Uncle Mike and Rose's wedding - no find yet) and more summer shorts for Joshua.  

I think this year really marked a first for us.  Having to buy all 3 kids new clothing.  Abigail's clothes shopping was done online a few weeks ago.  I am definitely going to be in for a shock when the credit card bill arrives.  Yikes!!!

I do hope all the shopping is done.  I know we will still have to find wedding clothes for everyone and that can be more annoying than what we normally wear.  Those clothes just sit different and my kids are not used to being formal.  As I am a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal, I rarely think to buy them fancy clothing.  

Performance and the Pond

We knew going into this day that we were going to be busy.  Woke up, ate, started school, jumped into car (with work) for a performance by the NJ Symphony and Enchanted Theater group, back home, lunch, more school work, back in car for Pond exploration at The Watershed, stop at store on way home, shower, wash clothes, make dinner, and finally sit down and relax.

Let me back up.  The performance at the War Memorial Theater in Trenton was amazing.  The Enchanted Theater group performs different parts of the 1001 Arabian Nights all while the symphony is playing music to correspond to the different parts.  Wow, Wow, Wow!!  I can't say it enough.  I did not take any photos as I did not want to distract from the performance.  It was an hour long and the kids were glued to their seats.  Not a peep in the entire place.   There were multiple groups there and I must say all were enthralled.  

Before we left.

The Performers and Conductor

Seidles, Simpsons, and Sheas

The next field trip was with The Watershed people at The Pond.  This was very very cool.  Lots of mud.  Lots of water and lots of different critters.  

The Pond House

The Hike - We walked all around

the pond.

There is a painted turtle in there.

Upon our hike we found this skull of a deer.

We also found this cool moth.

Resting before heading into Pond.

Fish from pond net.

Telling us about the pumpkin fish.

They were allowed to go into the pond

and try to catch their own.

Abigail found this snail shell.

Sayen Gardens

Barb and I are so much alike that we decided we needed to see more of each other.  This week we met at a really nice park called Sayen Gardens.  Just beautiful.  We met for lunch and had a picnic on the lawn.  Then we walked around all the different paths.   We were allowing the children to lead as we were deep in conversation and before we knew it we were off the beaten path and going through some thickets and pricker bushes.  What were we thinking.  When we finally made it back to the correct path, we did the leading and they did the following.  (They were actually still in front of us, we just told them which paths to take.)  It was a great 1 1/2 hours together.  Thanks again my dear friend. 

Today Stephen asked to use the camera and capture some pictures.  Unfortunately my battery died in the camera, so there are not too many pics.  I remembered that my phone takes photos and used that as well.  So I do hope you enjoy looking at what we captured and that they can depict the beauty that we enjoyed this afternoon.

How can it be?

How can it be that Mother's day was just a few short days ago yet today I want to send my middle child away?   I am suppose to be riding high on the joys of being a Mom and how beautiful children are and what a tremendous gift from my heavenly father.  How he saw fit to bless me with 3.  But not today!   Why?  I really want to know!

Family walk

Bill and I try to take a walk every day.  I say try because we have been having weather issues and Bill's knee is still in the healing stages.   Well, Monday after dinner - when we usually walk - the young ones said they would come.  This gave me the idea to get eldest too.  He was none to happy.  What made him even more unhappy was that we walked around the townhome community that is located next to the apartments here.  He was soooo mad that he walked ahead.  Racing to get back home.  I think I just may incorporate this walk time every evening now.  (Admittedly I get very vindictive!!  Especially when I try to do a "family" event and I get grumblings and complaints.)  

Happy Mother's Day

This Mother's day is a bit different than years passed.  My hubby had to scoot out early for church.  But my kiddos are here with me and we will be heading to church later this morning.  Josh wants to me my server today and wants to get me all things.  Too cute.  I made the comment Friday that I don't want to really be "doing" anything today as I do all the time.   But I came to realize that I am a Mom and while it will be exciting and wonderful to hear all the accolades, I am called to be here for my family no matter what the day is.  So with a renewed mind and spirit I will be available for my family in their times of need.  

I was reminded about how precious my children are to me and how much I truly do love them.  I really enjoy being with my children, that is why I was very excited and ready to bring them home to school them.  I love really knowing who my kids are.  I was given a gift last night by Stephen, no it was not in a package it was in his words,  he felt he could come to me and talk to me about something.  That is a wonderful gift!!  I always want my offspring to feel comfortable enough to say anything to me.  I got that last night.   Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend with my one and only Abigail.  What a treat!!!

I remember that I went through several phases in my life about having kids.  I wanted to have more than one, I knew that.  Then I remember being scared out of my mind and not wanting to get pregnant - it was after we were married.  I think the Lord was foreshadowing for me (my pregnancies were not hard but they were not easy for me.  And my deliveries were unnatural). I remember a friend saying that I would probably only have 2 (after Abigail).  She had come over when Abs was only a month old and said that I was done having children.  I really did not give it any thought as I know all things are not up to me.  Then came my Josh and what an easssy baby he was.  The year we moved from PA to OH I miscarried.  There are still times that I wonder who God had for me to mother and also wonder why I did not get the chance to meet this little.  But my God is sovereign and I rest in that.  

(My apologies for getting a little nostalgic.)

To all you Mom's and future Mom's I do wish you a most blessed, happy, and joyful Mother's Day.  May your littles brighten your day!