Some Random Tidbits from life lately...

Are these the most fun treat you have ever seen? If you have never made/tried CAKEPOPS, you should! You mix a baked cake with icing, roll the goo into balls, and dip those balls into chocolate! What could be better?? These were for cousin Chloe's birthday, and they were a hit!

The same day we celebrated the afore mentioned birthday, we also celebrated FATHER"S DAY! Amazing breakfast in bed, a new camera lens, and 4 HUGE Root-Beer Float mugs complete with a case of Root Beer was what we got our daddy :) The camera lens was a HUGE hit, and this picture of Laynie was the first picture ever taken with said lens.

If you look closely, you can see that one of Laynie's front teeth is gray :( She was paying frisbee with her friend (a little 5-yr old) when suddenly there was screaming, blood, swollen lips, and apparently a tooth that had been knocked from its spot and died...all that from a frisbee! It doesn't seem to bother her at all though, her mom (yes me) is way more sad about it than she is!

I couldn't find a great picture of Addison from the past couple of weeks...mostly because I don't think he has held still long enough for anyone to take a picture! He was in heaven to have his cousins here an extra week after the wedding, and lately we have visited the local pool where he swims for seriously 4 hours straight...this boy's energy astounds me.

Hailey also astounds me with just how cute she can be! and how she can flash a smile at her daddy and get whatever she wants! Hailey can sing every song imaginable, she 'swims' like a fish, and has also picked up a few habits I don't totally love...like the other day when I said "Let's go put Jammies on..." and she said "No, I NOT put jammies on!" and promptly ran away. "I NOT" is her new phrase- but sometimes even that is cute :)

Talk about cute...check out my black eye! Okay, I know it's not bad at all, but it's my first black-eye ever, so I had to post! I was reading stories to Addison and Laynie in bed, and Laynie sat up to readjust, and then promptly laid back down, right on my eye! Actually, when my eye is open it just looks like I'm wearing purple eye shadow :)

And here's a sad story, with a happy ending: I rear-ended a lady last week...she had slammed on her breaks right as I was looking in my rear-view mirror to see why Hailey was crying, when I looked forward, I slammed on my breaks, but I was too late. I say this story has a happy ending because our favorite neighbor Steve, called the junk yard, found a new hood and bumper, took them to Macco to be painted, and tomorrow will put them on my van! and all for under $400! (Steve still owes me hours for babysitting, so it's not ALL out of the kindness of his heart....but still!) I still wish it hadn't happened, and I still feel STUPID when I re-tell the story, but hooray for insurance and awesome neighbors!

Marwage is what bwings us togever today...

(Princess Bride people!)

And the million-picture post begins...

Blayre and Ryan got married Saturday and our whole world has been revolving around this day for so long...we hardly know what to do with ourselves any more!

My sweet Dad flew out from PA to be the "professional photographer" at Blayre and Ryan's wedding. He almost killed himself (a couple of times!) getting the best shots...like the one above- seriously a gorgeous couple!

It rained until 6:30pm on the picture taking day :( but we were able to find some cool in-door spots- in fact, out of 681 pictures, my dad swears at least 500 were amazing...

Finally no rain!...so a little smooch in the middle of the road won't leave them soaking!

I was the "photographer's assistant"...just in case you're wondering why I'm posting so many pictures of the couple...I feel some ownership here!

Speaking of ownership, this one was my idea...I thought the chairs looked like King and Queen chairs, so this is Queen Blayre and King Ryan...

Friday afternoon I hosted Blayre's bridal shower for the family...I actually fit 27 people into my living room!! Here is the spread, we tried to keep most everything turquoise or yellow!

Thanks to my S.I.L.s (Sara too!) the party went off without a hitch!

Saturday morning was the big event...here are the little girls waiting for Blayre and Ryan to come out.

And here is the family/friends that showed us for the blessed event (My dad was on top of his car to get this shot!!)

Blayre, and now Ryan, have 11 nieces! and all of them looked ADORABLE in their pettiskirts... all the way from Hong Kong (we found a great deal!!)

And they have 10 nephews, who are also pretty cute.

I couldn't help but steal some time away from the photographer to catch some pics of my own cute kiddos.

Could it be? Everyone is sort of smiling!
A Miracle!

Jumping for JOY!

All the nieces and nephews did a dance for the "talent" portion of the reception...(a Ditto family tradition!)

And the brothers sang a lovely little diddy...or maybe not so lovely, so they used the wigs and just made it funny!

And then we danced the night away! It was a Wonderful day and a Fabulous party!! Congratulations Blayre and Ryan!!!

Summer Begins!

It has officially begun! And the kids are loving it... Here are the girls on Addison's 'Field Day' -yes Hailey has cookie all over her face-

Speaking of Hailey, I should probably mention that the girl has an unusual love of airplanes- she can even hear them from inside the house sometimes and stop what she is doing to tell everyone that she hears an airplane... is this some sort of crazy sign or something?

Laynie loves to help- she'll come in the bathroom when Kelly and I are taking a shower, and she'll lay out all of the things we need to get ready...deodorant, lotion, shaving cream, hair stuff, etc! Then she'll hand each one to us as needed :) Very helpful.

Mr. Cool here is trying his best at Field Day...he finished school with flying colors- His teacher tested him to the end of 2nd grade in his reading! He LOVES school, but was also excited for summer. His summer didn't start off too awesome though, he threw up Sunday night a few times and then took most of Monday to recover, but he's feeling better now.



The Long Jump


On an unrelated note, I have been busy getting ready for Blayre's bridal shower at my house...I found these pots at Good Will and painted them blue- they turned out super cute!
We're so excited for you Blayre!!

Nice quiet Sunday Activity...

You know the scary quiet when you suddenly realize the kids MUST be up to no good? Here's what we found today following that very silence...

The kids made a nice size mud hole in my soon-to-be flower garden...all three of them were covered in thick, black, mud.

My biggest concern: Can the dress be saved? Only time shall tell....

And in other news, school is over for Laynie, and here is her cute class pic-
She ADORED preschool and can't wait to go back next year!

Addison has 2 weeks left of school, or 9 days as he would tell you- he also loves school, but is super excited for summer time! (Yes his teacher really is gigantic, like 6'7, it's not JUST that the kids are small...heck, he makes ME feel like a first grader when I stand next to him!)

Deliciousness= Chocolate French Toast

Disclaimer: Not a recipe for the calorie-phobic

This ridiculously yummy recipe comes from the book my Mother-in-law gave all the girls for our All Girls Weekend...I can't wait to try some more of the recipes!!

Chocolate french Toast:
1 cup milk
1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 large eggs
1 loaf bread

Place milk and chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave until chocolate is soft, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir to combine and let cool. Add eggs, and vanilla and stir well. Dip bread in mixture and cook until bread is toasted and firm (takes a little longer than your average french toast.

And just as equally delicious as the french toast (maybe even more so!) is this Butter Syrup recipe that goes with the french toast...to die for!

Butter Syrup:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sigar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Combine butter, buttermilk, and sugar and heat slowly to dissolve the sugar. Add vanilla and baking soda and stir- it will became very foamy-frothy...this is what it's supposed to do! Serve warm over you french toast, die and go to heaven!

Dancing Queen

Laynie was in a dance class this year because most of her friends were doing it...and it was cheap! But she really loved it! and she loved even more being on stage and having everyone clap for her! She also loved putting on makeup and looking at herself in the mirror while I did her hair...should I be worried?

This was her costume for the "Love Bug" dance.

Cute Sisters!! Hailey is quite the little dancer too...last weekend we went to the "Family Disco Night" at the elementary school, and Hailey can boogie!! (just like her daddy!)

Happy Mother's Day!!

I really do love being a mom. I have officially decidedd that when it comes right down to it, nothing else REALLY matters in life except family. I aspire more than anything to be a great mom...not quite there yet, but I sure do try. I love my kids! Thanks for a wonderful mother's day!! (that thanks is mostly for Kelly!) and thanks for the priviledge of being your mother.

And mom, happy mother's day to you!! You were (and are) the perfect mom and an amazing example for me to follow. Thanks for loving me always- I LOVE YOU!