Easter Egg hunt and Charlie's Birthday (part 1)

I thought I was on top of things and caught up with pictures...and then I realized that I forgot to go through the ones from the Easter Egg hunt at the Millers and of course, from Charlie's birthday too.  Since Charlie's day fell on Easter this year, we went to the Millers on "Easter Eve" for an egg hunt and sung Happy Birthday with friends.  Charlie really understood the egg hunt this year, running and picking up as many as he could.  It took Sam a few minutes to warm  up to the idea, but then he had fun as well!

  The group keeps growing...

  Julia didn't participate but loved watching!

 The Hunt!

  Charlie ended up helping Sam fill his basket (pointing out eggs)

 Singing to my (almost) 4-year-old

 Very surprisingly, he loved being the center of attention (a repeat from last year's birthday)

 Since we planned cake for his "real" birthday, I made this chocolate chip cookie cake and it was delicious.

A post NOT about my kids?!?

This blog was created to keep far away family and friends in touch with our kids...so 98% (ok, 100%) of my posts are about the kids.

This time it's about me...or rather, my girlfriends.  When I had Charlie back in 2009, I didn't really know anyone else with young children.  Surprisingly enough, I met my first "mommy friend", Devin, through the internet (please, you can laugh) while searching for a good daycare in our area.  We met in person after a few months and many emails, and our friendship blossomed...Devin and I used to purposely go places (pool, park, on walks, etc) in attempts to meet more moms...often failed ventures but at least we had time together!  Devin has now relocated to Chicago, but when we chatted last night on the phone we both couldn't believe that it's been 4 years since we met!!! And we're looking forward to our week together in Colorado this summer.

Through Devin, I met my friends Katie and Erin...and over the years the group has expanded.  Each one introduced into the group in their own way (Scott met Sarah on an airplane and asked for her number--for me!!!!  And Erin met Mandy at "Waffle Cone Wednesday" and got her phone number; the list goes on).  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends whom I can share the motherhood journey--the good and the bad.  To my point...this week we made time for a "girls night" dinner down at Bru Burger.  We had to schedule it over a month in advance to find a night that worked, but it was worth it--4 hours of chatting, no interruptions from our kids, and leaving me feeling refreshed and ready for whatever my family throws my way. (although, slightly tired the next morning after a "late night" out) 

Between the 8 women pictured, we have 16 children...quite a clan.  Erin captured the picture for us!

Halloween Playdate

The day before Halloween, my friend Katie hosted a Halloween playdate for several families.  For months, Charlie has wanted to be a ghost for Halloween, which I thought was strange because he doesn't really like scary things...but I went along with it.  Day of, it took a LOT of convincing to get him to wear the bottom half of his costume, and he refused to wear the top/hat...not that it was anything fancy.

The party was meant to be partially outside, but it was really cold, so we went out for a photo shoot before retreating back inside for a Halloween story and "trick or treating".  We never can get the perfect group picture, but you get the idea!

 The kids listening to Katie read the book

The kids had a great lunch of "mummy" hotdogs, oranges carved to look like pumpkins (filled with fruit), and cracker/peanut butter/pretzel "spiders"--and yummy cupcakes for dessert!  The moms even enjoyed chicken salad.  We had a great time despite the chaos all our children cause (12+ kids ages 3 and under).  Thanks Katie for hosting!!!

4th of July!

I have a confession...since I am a year behind in my scrapbooking, I have been slacking at taking new pictures.  I figure, if I don't take pictures, less to scrapbook, right?  On July 4th the Miller family hosted a kid-friendly celebration...at the time, we were "living" at my parents for the week (our AC went out and could not be replaced until July 5th) and remembering my camera was apparently too much to ask for...so Erin was the official photographer.

We had quite the crew...all the kids left to right, Quinn, Tripp, Evie, Ian, Emelia, Rosie, Miles, William, Cole, Charlie, Sam and William.  Each family has two little ones, the oldest at the party just a few months older than Charlie, and the youngest just a few months old!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Strawberry Picking!

My friend Erin, our activities director :), once again put together a trip to Spencer Farms for strawberry picking.  We made the trek last year, but don't have pictures (Erin probably does...I was wearing a screaming infant and trying to keep Charlie from eating all the berries).  Spencer Farms is located in Noblesville (way outside of my "normal" travel range for activities, ha) but well worth the drive.  I somewhat failed in my picture taking adventure, but I did manage to get a few (imagine, trying to keep Charlie from walking on the plants, keeping Sam from eating ALL of my strawberries, picking strawberries myself, AND taking pictures?  Didn't happen)

Charlie, pointing out the strawberries.

 Ian takes the first bite...Miles showing me his strawberry

 

Walmart outfit ended up covered in strawberry juice

 A rare group shot!  Lucy, Eli, Ian, Evie, Miles, Sam, Tripp and Charlie 

(missing babies William and Quinn)

Playing on the rockers

Charlie's best smile, and Sam showing me his "dooo"

 

The yummy berries!

I also did not manage to capture pictures of the ice cream we all enjoyed (mommy, err, Charlie picked chocolate chip cookie dough).  The highlight of the trip?  It's a tie...either the detour on the way home past the stone quarry (Charlie wants to live there...he says at night after all the workers go home, he can play with all the rocks), or the HUGE construction site on 146th/US-31, a hit with both boys (yes, Sam wants to be JUST like big brother and thus, also has a truck obsession..."kuck!!!")

Egg Hunt!

The day before Easter, our friends the Millers were brave enough to host the Easter Egg hunt again this year. (remember last year?) 

Since then, we've added a few families and a few kids too!  Thus, a group shot, while a valid attempt, was not successful.

 

 (yes, that's my kid with the bag ON his head)

 Sam rally liked picking up the eggs and putting them in his basket...then taking them out and throwing them back.

Charlie decided early on that he only wanted the "bigger" eggs...so only selected a few eggs while bypassing literally hundreds.

  Yep! Not only was I there, but I made it into a few pictures!  Success!

 (it was taken right before Sam found an egg with melted chocolate in it, and smashed it all over before putting the entire thing--foil and chocolate--into his mouth.  And then rubbed it on my shirt)

 Our friends the Marys:  Mandy, Chad, William and Evie

 Cole with cakepop in hand!

 Our best attempt at the family picture...

  And this one is the more "honest" portrayal.  Classic.

  Hey Sam, what's in the sky?

 Evie's pink balloon.  Guess we should have held on to that one!

Thanks again for the fun time, Miller family!