Welcome to Indiana, Evelyn!!!

This past week, we packed our bags and headed northbound to spend some time with family!  Pete had to be away on business, so I talked him into flying in and out of Indy instead of Bentonville so I could introduce Evelyn to our families... welcome her to good 'ol Indiana!  We also decided that it would be the perfect time to baptize her back at our home church where the other girls were baptized and Pete and I were married.  It was a wonderful trip that, although slightly last minute, came together beautifully and was just the family time we all needed:)....

Deacon Paul Lunsford (who just happens to also be my parent's next door neighbor:)), baptized Evelyn who wore a century-old gown that has been passed down through my father's family.  It was special to me that my brother, Aaron, and youngest sister, Anna, accepted their role as God parents to Evelyn.  They are incredible people inside and out and I know will be a wonderful gift to little miss as she grows- especially in her faith.

Evelyn was a trooper all through mass- even when the cool water and oils went on her forehead.  I have to admit, miss thang has been known to fly off the handle, so I wasn't sure how she would do, but she was totally content watching everyone... and I think being in Daddy's arms the whole time helped ;).

Aaron + Anna

I can thank you enough for being Evelyn's God parents.  It means so much to Pete and I that she have great people in her life encouraging and helping her and I know that you both are the perfect people for that.  Meant so much you being there- she's a blessed little girl for sure!

And one big sister was EATING IT UP!!!  First day in Indiana and she was surrounded by all her family: both sets of grandparents, most of her aunts and uncles, and her great grandparents... Heaven on Earth for Ms. Harper Grace!

...and Ms. Maggie was enjoying herself as well:)!

 

Welcome to the church Ms. Evelyn Marie! 

We were sooooo excited to have Pete's family there to celebrate with us!  What a blessing to have Pete's grandparents, Mable and Bob, there with us.... and Ms. Maggie was STOKED to have Grandma and Grandpa there!

After mass it was time to head back to the O'Connell abode to celebrate the best way we know how: amazing food and hanging out altogether!

Thank you, Mom from preparing all the yumminess- it was FAB and festive!

That following day, Pete flew to Minneapolis for his meetings and we enjoyed some much needed down time with family.  The weather was beautiful so we got out to enjoy some fun activities together and go out to eat (a real treat for the girls and I!!)  My brother just so happened to be headed up to Minneapolis to pick up his plane that had been serviced there... well, Pete lucked out and was able to come back a day early from his trip, riding alongside Aaron in his plane!!  From the looks on their faces when they landed it looked to be a crazy, fun time... I know Pete really appreciated Aaron offering to fly with him.

So, of COURSE upon their return a certain 4-year-old was a little jealous of the air time her Daddy got- ha!  I also had not been in the plane, so Harper and I started slow... first we just taxied around and sat while Aaron filled the plane up with gas, but Harper wasn't satisfied- she HAD to be Uncle Aaron's co-pilot!

 

So here we are about ready to take off- headsets on and ready for action!!!

...and away we flew!!!!

Thank you SOOOO much, Aaron, for making Harper's week with that flight... she had an absolute blast up in the sky with you, talking to you through the head set, and waving to everyone down on the ground- love it!!!!

 

Maggie decided Nana's house would be the perfect place to cut THREE teeth- oh boy!  Good news is that between ALL of us, we were able to keep her comfortable and happy MOST of the time- ha!

We were lovin' being able to spend so much time outside with everyone... this was some random game at a restaurant where you hook the washer to a hook on PVC pipe- who would have thought it could be so entertaining and HARD!

 ...and Nana pulled through to make sure little miss had her nails 'Frozen ready'... blue sparkly nail polish complete with snowflakes painted on the big toes- Harper loved it... thank you, Nana!

 Our great friends, the Elliotts, moved to Chicago last year and we've missed them dearly!!!!!  Jessica and kiddos were up for meeting halfway between Indianapolis and Chicago for lunch and playtime- it was wonderful!  I swear it was if Harper and Emma had never been separated- they were squealing as they ran and hugged each other right away- so sweet!!!  Emma's younger brother, Jackson, was ADORABLE with baby Evelyn- asking to hold her and everything- love them!!

Miss you, Elliott family, so so much!!!  Can't wait until August when we can get together again!!!

This final picture pretty much sums up the week at my parents' house: things may be a little more complicated with 3 little ones, but it never got in the way of the fun- we embraced it- ha!  Got to love walking up to feed the horses with the double stroller fully loaded and the wagon ready for business... hehe!

Thank you Indiana for welcoming Evelyn, and her family;)), with open arms!!  Thank you, family, for all the fun times- gosh whenever we're all together its as if no time has passed.  We miss you all already and look forward to being back up that way in August.  Love you guys!

Baby Emma

A couple weeks ago, Pete and I made one of the toughest decisions... we decided it was time to say goodbye to a member of our family.  'Baby Emma' as she was dubbed in our family was an amazing dog and I cannot tell you how hard it is to say good bye and have confidence you're doing the right thing for a furry member of your family.  I wish she could have told me when SHE was ready, but Pete and I felt in our hearts it was her time...

 The first animal I ever raised from a baby.  I totally fell for the 'doggie in the window' at a local pet store and HAD to have her.  I worked hard training her when I was in college and was an incredible room mate- ha.  What a beautiful blond baby she was....

Toward the end of this past winter, Emma started having trouble breathing and was sneezing like crazy.  Our vet thought maybe she just had bad allergies and after a few rounds of antibiotics and steroids things weren't clearing up and she developed a lump alongside her nose.  She became increasingly bothered by it, and after a couple vet visits they felt confident it was cancer.  Treatment was so costly and with a dog her age, they don't respond so well, so we opted to keep her comfortable and let her live out her days in peace with us.  She never stopped enjoying time with us, running after her tennis ball, or loving Harper (I swear Emma was the older sister Harper always wanted;)).  The last month she started moving slower, sleeping more, and unfortunately because of her constant runny nose- couldn't be inside with us as much, which you could tell made her sad...

 So, we spent a beautiful May morning with her... she ran around, rolled in the mud (oh dear;)), and got lots of pets and snuggles.  We decided to make a stone with her foot prints to add to our flower garden.. . a nice memory of our furry baby.  We said our tearful goodbyes and brave Daddy took Emma on her last 'ride' to the vet office.

She may be a dog, but she was a special member of our family.  I'll forever miss her, but find comfort in knowing she's in a better place- free of pain- running after endless tennis balls I'm sure.  As Harper says constantly, "I miss Emma, but she's with her best friend Shirley (our friend's angel doggie) in Heaven".  I love the purity of how children look at life and death- amazing.

Love you forever, Baby Emma.

Spring is in the Air!!!

We are definitely feeling Spring around here!  Actually, as I write it is pouring outside!  We are loving how the rain is greening everything up, but holy wetness, Batman!  Honestly, I do love this time of year- everything looks so fresh, temperature isn't too bad, and there aren't many bugs yet- perfection!  We've been enjoying getting out and enjoying some family fun in the good 'ol out of doors the past month;)...

The Lee Family Garden has broken ground- ha!  Pete made a beautiful cedar raised garden box, filled it with what looked to be 2 tons of soil- no joke, he proved me wrong with how much soil that sucker took, and got to planting!  He and Harper had fun planting the seeds into our little greenhouses and then worked one afternoon transplanting them all into the outdoor garden.  I may have been a little TOO excited to contribute to this project: over bought on tomato plants by about 30 seeds (and I don't even like tomatoes) and added a handmade sign complete with hand and footprints of the girls- ha!  Sorry, Pete... you knew I couldn't take a backseat ENTIRELY with this project, now did you?!  Haha.  Well, I'll have to snap a pic soon of our little plants- all the April showers have done them well!!

Pete also got a few tickets to the local baseball team here.  The Naturals were fun to watch- and all the yummy food and kid-friendly activities were AWESOME!  I mean- nothing much can stand between me and a funnel cake- so fab!  Loved the little putt-putt course they had there... Pete loves golf and it was so sweet watching him coach up Harper as they played;)!  I see many more Naturals Game outings in our future!

 

It has become an annual thing for us to do the Race for the Cure.  This year Harper was SO pumped up  to be in her first race (last year she rode in the stroller;)).  We only did the family fun run (1 mile), but she was determined to 'run' the whole thing... she was loving it... almost as much as she loved the watermelon at the finish line (can you tell by her shirt?!)!

We did it for you, Momma... hoping one day we'll be able to do it WITH you;)

Mother's Day!!!  

Harper's school did an amazing job at Muffins with Moms, making all of us mommies feel extra special.  I enjoyed sharing breakfast with my babies at the school and the precious gift- thank you, Pine Crest!  On the actual day, I enjoyed a quiet day with the fam: church, yummy lunch out, and cuddles with my girls:).

Such a bittersweet time for me... I think Pete can attest to my awkward attitude this year, but it is a day of quiet reflection for me.  I am so blessed with my three little munchkins here on earth that I am privileged to raise, but I also cannot help but ache to be snuggling my two angel babies as well.  I said a little prayer that day for my strength to get through the day, but also for other mothers like myself, separated from their children.

 Springtime Update on Ms. Harper: she's rockin' being a 4-year-old so far!  She's such a sweet girl- always excited to be around other little kiddos- I kid you not, she will say hello to everyone she encounters.  Here she's enjoying some time with Hadlea, a little girl in her class at school;).  She's loving everything outdoors... we try to walk the neighborhood as much as possible and she's puttin' some miles on that bike of hers!  I have to say, bath time has become a scrub down getting all the Earth out of her hair, nails, and feet- ha- but I don't think I'd have it any other way. Pete and I are constantly saying, "My GOODNESS she is such a kid"- ha!

The new community center opened here and we LOVE it!  They have an indoor pool area complete with lazy river and some crazy slides.  Harper's not quite fond of water in her face- lovely- so we're working up the confidence to attempt the big slides, but she was loving the lazy river with Daddy!

 

Ms. Maggie is growing up so quickly!  She is rolling CONSTANTLY- again, always off her play mat- little stinker loves the wood floor!  We also got her a walker (thanks for the idea, Mom;)), and after a couple attempts she moved her legs one in front of the other and MOVED HERSELF FORWARD!  Pete and I were stunned to see her do it... I was a little teary watching my child with so much muscle weakness squealing at the top of her lungs in pride as she scooted herself across the floor.  She amazes me every day... what a gift she is to us- pure happiness.

She's also doing so well at therapy.  Here you can see her clutching a block with her right hand (which is very weak)- so proud of her hard work- you're roarin' your way through life, Maggie- so proud of you!

And the littlest sister in the group is 2 months old- almost 3 now!!!  Eeeek, where is the time going?!

 Yep... most of my pictures of her she is sleeping, but her curled up, sound asleep on my chest is the BEST!!!  I am soaking up this time with her, as I know before too long she won't be small enough to curl up there!

 

Mommy and Daddy both enjoy our sleepy time with our little munchkin.

I have a picture of each one of our babies sleeping alongside their Daddy- love it. 

 Tummy Time!!  Ya... pacifier in the pie hole says it all.  Not her most favorite time, but we're working on it!!  After realizing just HOW important tummy time is with Maggie I'm making sure we get that work out in each day- hehe!

 The belly is growing... proud of her little chubbiness.  It's like she hit two months old and the rolls begin to form.. I love roly poly babies;).

All stretched out, hands above her head, butt pushed out- makes me know she's still my little baby... now please stop growing so fast!!!

HAPPY SPRING!!!  Looking forward to the following months full of sunshine, grimy and happy kids, and outdoor fun spent with friends and family... wishing the same to you!