Tea Party!

So yesterday our church put on this fellowship event for ladies ages 4 and up.  We had a fancy tea party where people wore old bridesmaid dresses and all the little girls wore dress up clothes or flower girl dresses.  We drank tea from real tea cups and had an amazing lunch! I think close to 180 people came! Then there was a wedding dress fashion show where 35 wedding dresses were modeled!  Some were worn by great grandmothers, some were passed down from generation to generation, and some were only a few years old!  It was so neat to see all the different dresses and how the styles have changed.  Addison, Emily, and Hailey LOVED it!  Addison woke up that morning and said "I am soooo excited!" They couldn't wait!  Addison wore her flower girl dress from my brother's wedding.  Hailey wore her flower girl dress from my friend Elizabeth's wedding, and then since their other flower girl dresses were from when they were 8 months old and 2 years old, Em wore her dress up bride dress!  When you ask Emily what she wants to be when she grows up, she says "A BRIDE!" :) 

 Me and my fancy little ladies :)

 The girls loved the kabobs and the tea and the tea bags  (and the sugar packets!)

 Hailey and her good friend Isabelle got to model these flower girls dresses that were handmade and from a long time ago!  Hailey's dress was an exact replica of the bride dress...beautiful!

 They were in heaven :)

 Here's Heidi modeling a dress....I don't remember who's this one was but you can see some of the different dresses!

 Here's me modeling a dress - can't remember how old it was either...

 And my friend Des modeling one too!

 Here's the girls' 4K teacher for next year modeling her own dress from 1982!  This one looked super comfy!

 And this one was Ryan's great grandma's wedding dress!

 And here I am modeling my mother in law's dress!  It was neat to be able to wear her wedding dress..

 and it was kinda fun modeling the hat with the super long veil!  I kept thinking it was going to pull my head off!

 Love the long veil!

 Then after the fashion show, all the little girls got to model what they were wearing and walk down the aisle.  They were toooo cute!!  Reese, Emily, Hailey

 Emily

 Addison, Isabelle, Hailey

Spring

Hi everyone!
First of all - I just want to say thanks so much to so many of you who have lifted us up in prayer and written emails, notes, or given a hug.  I really do appreciate all of your support and I have truly felt your prayers as I have had more peace this month than I have had in a while!  It's crazy how I lost a baby...and yet I feel like I have more hope than I did in the months prior.  In the months (and years) before getting pregnant, I felt like God wasn't listening to my prayers (even though I know in my head that He is doing an awesome work but you know, I didn't FEEL that way)...so then when I actually got pregnant and then even after losing the baby, I felt like He was DOING something!  So now I have much more hope...and I'm hanging onto that and trying to continue to trust. That being said, I am so amazed at all of you who have written me about your own struggles with loss or with infertility.  It is unbelievable how common it is...and it has humbled me in many ways to hear some of your stories as well.  God continues to teach me that He is in control, that He never intended for this bad stuff to happen, and that He does love me and have an incredible plan.  I am looking forward to that plan...just like I'm looking forward to summer.  :) Spring is such a cool reminder of the hope that He brings.
Here are some pics of what we've been up to.
My niece Erin!  Isn't she adorable!  Check out her first high pony! :)

 The girls give her plenty of attention and toys when we babysit. :)

 Heading to school on a warm spring day!! (AHE)

 And, our latest exciting thing is that we purchased a lake property with my in-laws!  Ryan and I have been looking for a while just for fun...but then last fall when we started to get more serious, his parents said "we want to get in on this fun too!" :)  So then we started looking for two homes next to each other or two lots...but that is next to impossible!  So we decided let's just go in together!  It has worked out so great!  We closed the beginning of March and have been having so much fun getting it ready for summer.  It's such a blessing to be able to do this!  We want to be able to share the fun with a ton of people...so let us know when you want to come visit! :)  We have been up there for a couple quick weekends to bring stuff and paint....and then we went up after Easter for the whole week since the girls didn't have school.  It's so nice that it's only an hour and 45 minutes away so we can come and go easily.  Plus, Ryan does a lot of travel up there for work so now we can actually be together at night instead of him being away from home for a while!   I have the BEST memories as a kid with our friends who had a place on a lake...so I'm so happy the girls get to grow up making those great family memories too.  Here they are finding their "walking sticks."  :)

 Exploring in the woods....

 back at our house with their shades on...

 Easter bunny!!!!  The girls get a little competitive finding their eggs! :)

 Easter morning (Hailey, Addy, Emily)

 Our view of the lake!!!  Water is sooo amazing!

 Em, Addy, Hailey

 We borrowed the neighbors' Gator to pick up lots of rocks in the yard before the grass goes in.... the girls were awesome at this job.  :)

 looking for fishies...

 This pic was like whoa - mirror image... (Em and Hailey)

 Chilin'  by the water  :)  (Hailey, Em, Addy)

 Then Friday we went to a waterpark with some other friends and the girls had a blast!  Here's Addy going down the slides...

 Ry and Em

 me and Hailey Grace

Can't wait for summer!! :)