High Tea & Birthday Wishes

For Hannah's fifth birthday, we asked if she wanted a big party with lots of friends or a small party with just one. She chose to have a small party....so as I thought of what we could do but I came up blank. Then came the idea of letting her dress up for a fancy tea party! I mean, every princess needs to have high tea with the queen!

And every young lad super hero needs to bug accompany his sister to make sure the tea is safe...

...and of course to have fun with Buzz and Woody!!

So on Saturday, we chose to have a small tea party with her friend Claire, and then cupcakes with "church grandparents" and a few friends.

The tea party before disaster strikes the girls arrive for their private party:

And we had balloons hanging waiting to be released as soon as they walked in:

Before Hannah's birthday, a few friends and I were at a consignment and found a new, big girl bike!! I debated over buying it since she just got a new bike last birthday. I knew she would soon outgrow her princess bike, I just didn't realize how tall she grew over the winter. So when we pulled out our bikes this spring, we realized that she would indeed need the new bike!! So anyway, my friend ended buying the bike that I debated over and her husband fixed it up like new!!

Hannah was quite excited!!

Then on her birthday, we dined with our "mountain family" (Nana (my mom) & Pops, Gramie Jo & Papaw, and Aunt Gail & Uncle Leon) and had lunch of Hannah's choosing: potato soup, grilled cheese and broccoli! We enjoyed lunch and chocolate chip pound cake (recipe coming soon to La Frazier Cafe). Then Hannah sat down to open her presents:

Her new Sunday Hat
(and dress up hat, I'm sure!)

Hannah received a new quilt that actually fits her bed (the other was for a twin) and since her room was painted in time for her birthday (a "ballet slipper" pink), she got to have a whole room make over!! Another blog to show pictures for that.

Also I'll get pictures of the sweet banner my aunt made for me Hannah once I hang it up!!

I can't believe the day has come that my precious little girl is now five!! I can remember bringing her home and having no idea what to do once we were there. I do remember sitting with her Gramie K and watching her smile. She still captures my heart when she smiles!! And she is such a grown little lady. 

I'm FIVE
I can reach more things!!

A few weeks ago, Hannah was looking at a mirror that was just a little high, and she said when she turns five she will be able to see!! 

I'm BAAAACCCCKKKKK

Well, I hope you aren't scared, but I'm back to the wonderful world of blogging, or as I will now call it:WWB. Okay, maybe that won't stick, but it's worth a shot! And since it has been quite a while, I warn you: This Will Be LONG!!! Especially since I slept all day (I think it was just a sty on my eye!!). So consider yourself warned. ;-)

So, I have been busier than I would have thought this winter: in order to keep the winter blues away, I have saved painting, sewing, and other little projects for these past few months! It worked!! I love winters here!!! They are very mild to my way of thinking and we were never snowed in for long. I mean, our biggest amount of snow was to my estimation 10", though possibly more! And that's just the right amount to play in and make snow men in....or dress up snow men and women!!! Plus, we have been hiking and enjoying the beauty of snow.  We have really had so much fun:

Arabesque, it's one of her dance poses for her recital

Andy doing Hannah's dance pose!!

We (rather Andy) had to try out a
new place in town that had a gigantic burger!

Unfortunately, the burger conquered him

 One Saturday, we took off in the van to conquer the woods....

 

 

Kim ended up conquering the icicles!!
They are bigger than they appear...and so much fun to karate kick!!! ;-)

Another time, my one of my best friends came to visit and we headed out to Rock Creek Park:

My kids during their "quiet times", 

this time they were actually in their own rooms and being quite and quite silly!!

 

This boy loves his dog.

My other project:
making a divider between the kitchen and laundry,
I mean, it is loads of fun after all!!

And did I say sewing?? I think I have sewed more in the past 6 months than ever in my life! But I love to create things and see how cute material can turn into something cute AND useful! Well, having more than one pillow on the bed may not be useful...but who's counting!

Pillows a friend "ordered"!!!

The back of Noah's pillow, my first Nolan Owl Pillow!!

Hannah's Owl Pillow: Lola!!

And of course I had to make a matching pillowcase for her small pillow!!

And this is my latest sewing project!!
Hannah asked for a butterfly and Ariel pillow...
so this is how far we have come!
And you can see her recital dress in the upper right hand corner...
but that is all you get to see until the big day!

Now that Spring is in full glory, we have been out driving, hiking, biking and walking in wonderment of it all!!! I have never seen so many flowering trees, bushes and such bright colors! I thought Autumn was a beautiful time of year, but Spring has surpassed by far! There are trees that start out white and are slowly turning green from the top, there are tulip trees, bright yellow bushes blooming next to "Support Our Troops" ribbons of the same color, pale pink, lavender, light creams and red blossoms! Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but I think God has made everything around here beautiful. (That didn't really make any sense...::shrugs::...it's pretty late!!) I think that Autumn is the sunset as we prepare for winter and Spring is the Sunrise after the long, cold nights. Although, to my estimation Winter is just as beautiful, it's just not as colorful!

Andy, Kim and the kids took a drive last Friday night 

in search of a waterfall, couldn't get too close to see the fall, 

but we caught a beautiful sunset going down behind the mountains!! 

Then just today, Noah and I went in search of 

pretty flowering trees, shrubs and plants to showcase 

our beautiful spring season, here in the "Valley Beautiful"

Beautiful Jane Magnolia tree blossoms ~ from pink to white

beautiful pear trees

Pink Dogwood tree

Might be a White Weeping Cherry tree

Well, with the arrival of spring, comes Hannah's 5th Birthday, Yes, I said she will be 5. AHHGG. I don't know what to do with a 5 year old! This means she will be starting kindergarten, which thus means she will be entering into school which also means the time will really fly!!!! So basically on her first day, I will be saying "goodbye, dear one, you are going to be graduating from college and moving away". That is how I feel and I can't seem to slow time down. Not that I know what we are going to do with her...are we going to Homeschool or send her to Public School?? My sister-in-law and one of my closest friends in FL home school their children and I have seen the positive aspects of homeschooling. But am I cut out for it? If I start this next year, will I continue or will I mess up my kids lives?? Yes, these are all the thoughts flowing through my mind!! However, for her birthday, we are going to take her and her bff for a girls private tea party!! Also, going to have lunch with the family and of course, cake and ice cream!! She is super excited!! Pictures of the birthday bash to come.