Carnivals and Birthday Parties and Mother's Day, Oh My!

I'm a few days late, but I wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to our amazing moms! We love you both so much, and are thankful for all you have taught us!

I am now so blessed to be able to celebrate Mother's Day with my own girls. Norah and Maddie (and Dan) did a wonderful job of spoiling me on Mother's Day... no diapers and no dishes for me all day - just good family time! Norah and Maddie made me some beautiful presents - a necklace from Norah and flower holders from both girls - and got me a few other things for the garden. Norah was able to keep secrets about all my gifts this year (which probably made her want to burst all week!), though she did have me open the necklace when she first woke up Sunday morning. I am grateful (most) every minute of (almost) every day that God entrusted me with his precious gifts of Norah and Maddie.

Besides Mother's Day, we had plenty of activities to keep us busy last weekend. Norah's school had their carnival Friday night. The biggest hit of the evening... bounce houses! I think Norah spent the entire evening (other than the ten minutes in which she was forced to eat her hot dog/chip/cookie dinner) either in the bounce house or in line for her next turn in the bounce house. Oh, and she played musical chairs just long enough to win a popsicle, which she then ate while she was in line at the bounce house.

Bounce house!

Waiting for the bounce house (and repeat until they literally started deflating them)

On Saturday, Norah was invited to two birthday parties... one with a princess theme and one with a pirate theme. She had lots of fun and lots of cake, and Dan and I got a chance to meet some of the other parents from her class. By the time she got to dinner at my parents that night, she was a little overextended (she walked in and said, "Hi... as you know, I did not have a nap today" - sometimes, she talks like a miniature 40-year-old), but all in all, she had a great day. It did, however, take until about Tuesday for her to catch up on her rest.

Maddie got in on the pirate action

Since we've been having some crazy hot weather, the pool has actually warmed up enough for all of us to want to get in. Maddie loved the water. You can't see it in the picture below, but she spent her whole time in the water giggling at her sister and furiously kicking her little legs underneath the ring. Norah is starting to practice the swimming skills she learned last year as she gets ready to take lessons again this summer.

And finally, as I was looking for the Mother's Day pictures above, I came across the below picture of Maggie and I as little kids.

Fast forward about 30 years, take away a mustache, and you have...