Heartbeats & Hiccups: Spring 2016... Holy Busyness, Batman!!

Yep this time of year is pretty rockin', but it moves quickly, doesn't take a breather, and is over before you know it! Grateful for my handy, dandy iphone- ha! Being able to whip that thing out in a moment's notice to capture the fun is a blessing these days, so here we go: photo-dump, spring style!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Love popping in to enjoy this fun holiday with Harper and her classmates as they enjoyed everything green AND sweet they could get their hands on.

Note: Harper's Fruit Loop Shamrock necklace has ONE loan piece of cereal hanging from it- ha! She eat her whole necklace in one sitting- awesome...

Lucky us, our great friends, the Fischer Family picked US to help them kick off their Spring Break 2016! Pretty amazing, and we LOVED having them here!! They happen to be Harper's Godparents, a and we are their son, Oliver's. Loved getting the 'Godsiblings' together, spending a couple days catching up and showing them a little of what Northwest Arkansas has to offer!!!

Truly its as if we see them all the time: the kids clicked instantly and of course Kessha, Lonnie, Pete, and I picked up right where we left off... LOVE!!

{Time at Crystal Bridges}

Thank you, Fisher Family!!!! It was a BLAST sharing in your SB '16 festivities!!! Love you all SO MUCH!!!!!

Ms. Harper is getting older by the second! We registered her for Kindergarten at Central Park Elementary School- she's so excited to be a Gator next year!! In the same week she started making her bed and getting ready for school in the mornings ALL BY HERSELF! So proud of her, but holy smokes with the growing up?!?!

She's moving along with swimming lessons- hoping she'll be swimming on her own this summer!!

This year for spring break we stayed in town, but enjoyed a few special surprises along the way to spice things up: Zootopia Mommy-Harper date, ice cream sundaes, and going through the specials buckets.

Funny story: Harper and I ran out together for ice cream sundaes, she was a bit confused about why they were called sundaes and I told her that was just the name of the dessert, and asked her what all she would like on hers. She said that she'd been to the restaurant before, but with Daddy and she got M&M's on it and they called it an Ice Cream Friday. I laughed so hard- maybe you had to be there, but get it- ice cream SUNDAY, ice cream FRIDAY?! Ha!

We enjoyed going through the special bins together as well. She loved to hear stories about all the special tokens of her life, and I came across a couple t-shirts from my childhood. I threw them in the laundry and they're now the first choice for jammies. Lil' Punkin' Face was my nickname growing up- love that these shirts now fit OUR Lil' Punkin' Face;).

{A couple snapshots from school}

Thank you, Ms. Amy & Ms. Jayme!!

Makes me smile each day when I walk into school and see this picture hanging in the hallway. Looks like that little cutie loves her school to me;)!

{Spirit Week 2016}

Each day was a different theme... she loved being able to wear her 'wedding dress' aka: flower girl dress from my sister's wedding again for Princess Day... and yes, Crazy Hat Day was also a fun time- ha!

Daddy's Work BBQ Cookout was a good time... nothing like some good 'ol southern food and friends! Harper made a new one: little Ms. Nora is a sweetheart- we look forward to a playdate soon!?!?

Last Minute Plans are the BEST!!! Love the Pate Family!!! We had so much fun having them over for some dessert and fun times together... love you guys!!!

Maggie Lou has been giving us a run for our money these past few weeks as we have slammed into Two-Year-Old tantrums for sure, but get this baby outside and she is happy as a lark! She LOVES her new bike!

She has been sitting more and more on her own and has even got up on all fours a couple times- she wants to move on her own in the worst way- keep that determination sweet baby- you'll get there!!!! Her big sister has LOVED helping out with snack time (and her Mommy loves the help as well;))... so sweet!!!

Warm Fuzzy Sunday

Back when Maggie was at Willow Creek NICU here in Northwest Arkansas, she was in an issolette next to another tiny and fragile little 1 pound baby. Us mommies didn't get a chance to visit very much when our little ones were first born, but Pete connected right away with the Daddy of Maggie's 'bunk mate'. Two weeks after birth, these two little ones had endured many scares, ups and downs, and countless miracles, but the girls parted ways: being sent to two different hospitals in two different states. We sadly lost touch with the family, but never forgot the little miracle baby that stole our hearts those first couple weeks Maggie was with us. A few weeks ago when I was waiting for Maggie to come out of therapy I saw a face that looked familiar, but couldn't place it... until, I saw the little one I hadn't seen in years, WALK out of the therapy to see her Daddy. This was the little one we had prayed for, Maggie's partner in crime, and a true miracle. We exchanged numbers and got the families together this past week- it was a WONDERFUL visit leaving me with a few tears in my eyes and a grateful heart- a blessing for sure.

Speaking of hospital buddies, these two birthday buddies ALSO got together for the first time this past month! Born the same day in the same hospital- ha! They were so stinkin' cute and had fun 'chatting' and playing together!

Little Ms. Evelyn LOVES listening to her Daddy play guitar. We have learned our family has a 'Golden Hour'. Although not so golden, it is that time right after dinner when everyone starts to lose their kindness from the day and the meltdowns begin- ha! It's too early to go to sleep yet ('cause if they did we'd be up at 5am with bright-eyed and bushy-tailed little ones) and we're always trying to find something fun to keep the peace before getting ready for bed. Enter Pete and his guitar! THEY LOVE IT! He sits on the floor, guitar in hand, and 'sings' to them. They eat it up... no joke, it's precious!!!

The littlest sister is also checking off milestones. She is popping up, cruising along everything, climbing (and falling) on the stairs, and has cut 3 1/2 teeth so far! She is into ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING and can tear apart anything in 30 seconds flat. Spice rack- dismantled. Scrapbook materials- torn up. Remotes- stuffed in couch cushions. Dishwasher- unloaded to the floor. Endless laughs and smiles- oh ya... especially when she looks at you, with her hands outstretched and babbles very purposefully about whatever she has to say- hehe! You can't really be mad at her. Mommy needs to baby proof pronto!!!