snow play with friends

This week we played and went sledding on the hill beside our community garden.

Eliza Wren and Jack loved rolling in the snow!

Sledding with Adelle!

My older girls and I made our family in snowmen late one afternoon this week :)

They greeted Erik when he came home from work!

Meredith and Adelle in their snow igloo

(photo credit to Adelle's mom, Kate)

Trip to Michigan

We spent Thanksgiving with our dear friends, Isaac, Emily and baby Addie Belle.  It was a lovely few days - full of delicious meals, cold walks, reading, tent-making, snuggles and good conversation.

Thanks for having us, friends!

autumn at the arboretum

Over the past 2 months, we've spent several lovely mornings at the arboretum with our dear friends. 

I can't get enough of these girls together and their joy-filled smiles!

Matilda is growing up so quickly, and what a beautiful girl she is!

best buds :)

2 years ago, my friend Joanna and I took our 2 year old girls walking in the arboretum as our first play date meet up.  Since then, we've spent countless hours at the arboretum over the past two years, in each season - to visit the trains, play in the stream, explore the grounds, for family evening picnics and we've added another two girls into the mix!  I love that we have a chronicle of memories tied to the beautiful Morris Arboretum as our children have grown and the seasons changed.

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 :)

happy spring!

 Gardening season is beginning!  Hallelujah!! Though the temps are still chilly, we are forging ahead and embracing the earth again.  It's been a long, long winter.  Our friends, and new gardening buddies the Bo-Jo family, prepped the garden beds with Erik last weekend.  We'll be sharing plots this year to use space most efficiently, and hope to have a full spring, summer and autumn crop.

Youngest Bo-Jo surveying the garden.

This sweet gal is loving the freedom of playing outside again and quickly edging into toddlerhood!

NY trip

We made use of the long-weekend to make a trip to see our dear friends, Isaac and Emily and their new baby girl, Addie Belle. :)  What fun to cozy up together during this snow-filled winter over yummy food, lots of tea, stories and wonderful fellowship.  We visited with them and other friends last year over president's weekend too - perhaps this will become a new tradition! :)

meeting Addie Belle :)

fatherhood

lots of giggles!

caught the "just woke up from a nap" look

so excited to sled!

friends forever!