Cousins, Just alike, unbirthday parties, and ESME WALKING!!!

We had family visit us a few weeks ago. Kris and Crystal and their four kids came from Kentucky during their spring break. We were delighted to have them around for a week and the girls LOVED having their cousins in town. Sophia and Camille are quite the pair. Just three months apart-

They dress alike

Play alike

Even get in trouble alike

Our good friend Jennifer ("Mum" to the kids) came up one day and had a magical playdate with the kids. She had the great idea of having an "unbirthday party" for all the kids bday's this year.

Here are some pictures from a day at the Dallas Zoo

(waiting to touch the sting ray)

If I wanted to have any idea what it might be like to have my sister-in-law running around my house at age 2...I might just look at her cute Carina and know

LAST but not least is the announcement (for those who don't already know) that our little Esme is walking!! She is almost 11 months and has been doing this since 9 1/2 months. I can't say I am that thrilled because it means our littlest will not be so little very soon. Here are some pictures of her at the zoo to prove it. She is getting around so well that she managed to walk around this water area at the zoo and make her way to a waterfall.

She is always quite pleased with herself

3... Yipeeeeeee!!!!

Our Sophia turns 3 today. We celebrated Monday night with pizza and a chocolate cake decorated with lady bugs (the girl LOVES bugs!) Here she is below at just 3 months-hard to believe how much they change. Oh how we love her so...

Did you know?

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Quiz
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You. We hear about child abuse in the news nearly every day, but how much do we really know about it? During National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April), Childhelp is asking everyone to learn more about child abuse and what each of us can do to help stop it. Test your knowledge.

QUESTIONS:

1) Three children die of child abuse in the home in the United States each
a) Year
b) Day
c) Week
d) Month

2) How many people report child abuse when faced with an actual situation?
a) 3/4
b) 1/2
c) 1/3

3) What is the single, leading cause of death for children ages four and younger?
a) Drowning
b) Motor vehicle accidents
c) Child abuse and neglect
d) Choking on food
e) Residential fires
f) Suffocationg) Falls

4) On average, child abuse is reported somewhere in the United States every
a) 10 seconds
b) 20 minutes
c) Hour

5) Strangers pose the greatest risk of sexual abuse to children.
a) True
b) False

6) Child molesters get their sexual gratification only from children.
a) True
b) False

7) The average age that child molesters first attack a child is when they (the attackers) are
a) In their early 20s
b) Middle-aged
c) In their teens

8) Which of the following actions can help stop child abuse and neglect?
a) Helping a stressed-out parent by baby-sitting, making a meal for their family or lending an understanding ear.
b) Learning the signs and symptoms of child abuse so you can recognize them when you see the “red flags.”
c) Reporting known or suspected child abuse to the police or local child protective services agency.
d) All of the above.


ANSWERS:
b) Day
c) 1/3
c) Child abuse and neglect
a) 10 seconds. Based on 2.8 million reports per year.
b) False. Most children are abused by people they know.
b) False. Many child molesters also have adult sexual relationships.
c) In their teens—and even as young as age 12.
d) All of the above.

A Happy Easter

Our week leading up to Easter included lots of crafts, egg decorating, egg hunts, and a good reason to bring out those spring hats! It all led up to the most important day of all-Easter Sunday. We enjoyed our chance to teach the little ones what this special holiday really means, and to remember ourselves. We hope you all had a nice Easter too.

Highly Recommend

http://movies.aol.com/movie/horton-hears-a-who/24695/video/clip-no-1/2071191

Antique Shopping

So I have recently (thanks to the help of friends who know Dallas much better than I do) found some great antique stores. I never considered myself a girl who loves antiques- and I still don't. I don't appreciate them near as much as antique lovers. I basically like to find interesting things that other people don't have- and that mean something to me when I find them. I also like a good ole piece of furniture or home accessory from target or pottery barn sometimes. Heck, I have some great baskets and a play room rug from Walmart, art from France, a sleigh bed from JCPenny's, a desk from Mexico... I picture my home being accented with antiques and not full of them. Ive been going through many magazines and online photos of furniture and decor of all different styles to figure out what I really want my home to look like. My friend and I were recently talking about what our personal "style" is- because hers is similar to mine. She came up with a great name that I will now take on for myself.

My style folks is "global eclectic" that works doesn't it?

Anyway, it is fun figuring out what I want our homestead to look land feel like.

Here are the girls and a few of their friends trying on old hats in a antique shop. Ava and Sophia have been good about letting me drag them around these places. Even getting into it a little. Ava knows when we go to these shops they are full of "old" stuff. She walks around saying "look mom it's an old chair" or "look at this old ritz cracker can."

So, I'm curious- do you have a style? and what name do you give it?

ESME OVERLOAD

Esme just turned 9 months. Here are several pictures of a day in the life of our baby who won't be a baby for long... As you can tell I am still learning about my new camera-lighting, settings, and all the other bells and whistles. I think I need to hire a sitter just to sit down and figure it out! When you say "love" or "kisses" Esme immediately puts her face towards yours-it's the best
She wants to be right in the middle of everything. Her sisters are good about letting her join in...most of the time
Get it! (look at those toes!)

Got it! Everyday she helps me unload...all over the floor!

I think she smiles the ENTIRE time she is in the bath with Ava and Sophia- it makes her feel big
Sleepytime

Yes, in mommy and daddy's bed...somehow we don't mind.

Tagged

I was recently tagged by my sis-in-law to give 7 fun- unknown facts about myself. Here they are- they might not be unknown and some of them not so fun...

1. I played French Horn for 6 years-(I think I was a little cuter than this guy)


2. I don't recycle and I feel really bad about it


3. I have a bowl of cereal or peanut butter and jelly fold over almost everyday between 2 and 4pm- it is emotional eating at its best



4. I once pried two young kids off of their abusive mother, put them into my car, and drove several miles to a nearby childrens shelter while they cried hysterically for her. It was the single most depressing day of my life.


5. When I was in 6th grade I told my parents that my friend and I wanted to sleep in the back of my Dad's pick up truck for our slumber party so we could be outside like we were camping. It was all a plot to walk down the street and meet our boyfriends.


6. I love birthing


7. I wish I was creative on my own but I'm not. Instead I stalk other bloggers who I think are and often times steal their ideas. I'll share this one with you-I love her and don't even know her
Her blog is www.soulemama.typepad.com Her website is even better and is www.amandasoule.com
and she wrote this book


I TAG all my fellow bloggers who feel like doing this...

MY LOVES

I LOVE my husband who I feel so lucky to have everyday. I LOVE my little Esme who is 8 months old and is so cuddly and happy. I LOVE my Sophia who is a little reserved yet so goofy. I LOVE my Ava who wants to soak up all the good in life that a five year old can. I LOVE that I ran a 1/2 marathon with the support and excitement of family and friends.

HIJACKED!

Happy Birthday Cassie!

This is Jennifer, Cassie's sis-in-law, and I am hijacking Cassie's blog.

(I meant to do it yesterday in honor of her birthday, but I ran into logistical and technical problems, issues quite familiar to most Stewarts).

I had a funny little conversation with Ava earlier today where she informed me that her mommy was now 30 years old and that she was 30 inches tall. According to Ava, her mother's favorite food is cake and one her favorite things to do is to play Candyland with her girls. Sometimes, when she has work to do, she can't play.
She also wants to take naps a lot.
Cassie doesn't really sew clothes because she can get them at Target.
Ava says her favorite thing about her mother is that she reads with her.


As for me, I'm delighted to have a friend with whom I have so much in common. I love shopping with her and I love that she loves chocolate as much as I do.
I also love that she appreciates my black bean soup recipe.
She has proven herself to be a reassuring, encouraging and supportive friend (I'm thinking especially of the time around Neva's birth) and of course,
I'm grateful that she makes my brother so happy.
She is a lovely mother to my sweet little nieces, whom I adore.


I easily count you as one of my very closest friends, Cassie, and I'd bet my hands that most of your friends would say the same!

YIPEEEEEE!!!!

OH I can't tell you how excited I am to get my bday present early this year. We have had our digital camera for over 6 years now and it is time to let it go. In fact this pic of my Nikon may be the last one it takes. SO why do I not have any great pics to share from the new camera?- because I am slowly but surely figuring it out. Hopefully in the next few days...