Kitchen Re-do

After our big floor project in the kitchen and dinning rooms this past autumn, we decided to tackle painting the kitchen a few weekends ago.  It was a big job, and during the process we both agreed we were crazy, but it was so worth the mess and insanity for 3 days to have such a beautiful and fresh result!

 before with the old red

 primer done

starting to get the blue on....exciting!

ah..."clear water" blue :)

Eliza Wren dancing!

This video is from the beginning of April.

...it's too good not to share, since it shows off Eliza Wren's dance moves. :)

Ballet

Meredith's final dance class was open for the parents to observe.  The teacher led them through their class routines - so cute and fun.  It was so fun for me to see the snippets I've seen Meredith practicing at home in the context of the class setting along with her classmates. :)

Easter Sunday

We spent a lovely afternoon with our dear friends, Joe and Rachel and their beautiful family!

these kids loved romping together all afternoon

excited for dessert!!

Sunshine and Fresh Air!

Today was gorgeous, so I planned most of the girl's happy/wakeful time to be outside.  We frolicked all over north-western Philadelphia soaking in the sunshine, fresh air and beauty of early spring.

 girls in the nest at the arboretum

chillin' at cisco park with best pals, Leah and Matilda

(love this photo of them giving each other adoring looks!)

Quotes from Meredith today:

Driving into the Morris Arboretum, we stop at the entrance to show our garden membership to the man sitting in the office (a small, enclosed building).
Meredith: "Why does that man live in such a small house?"
Me:  "Oh, he doesn't live there, that's just where he works."
Meredith: "Why can't he live there, and have a bed, bathroom, and kitchen fit inside?"
.... Perhaps we've had a little too much dollhouse play this week  :)

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Meredith runs in breathless with Daddy skipping close behind.
"Mama, we are playing dance class!"
"Oh...are you the teacher?"
"Actually....I AM!"  :)

Mary Poppins Party

Meredith Jane turned 4 on Saturday, April 5th!  We celebrated with a Mary Poppins themed birthday party with visiting family in town, and 3 neighborhood girl friends. :)

The girls played "house" first and played night time in Mer's bed altogether :)

Drawings for their kites - "Let's go Fly a Kite!"

Mary Poppins girls!

chalk drawings

Two younger siblings enjoyed romping with the big girls at the end of the party

Rocket ballons!  Not in the Mary Poppins theme - but super fun!

Lots of make-believing that "it's raining!!"  :)

Silly cousins and the best of friends.  

Both turned 4 years old this weekend, within a few hours of each other :)