April

Blueberries!

We were invited to go blueberry picking with our friends, the Bolins.  So we loaded up all 5 kids in our van and headed to Ashley's grandmother's house in Tampa.  It was fun and oh so yummy!!!

Blueberry Picking!

 When we got back from blueberry picking, it was late so our guy joined us and we had dinner at the Bolins.  While Bella was waiting for dinner I found her like this...

And our conversation went like this..

Me: What are you doing Bella?

Bella: Watching Duck.

Me: Why?

Bella: Because... shhh!

She is so funny!

Christian Campus House
Josh was asked to speak at University of Florida's Christian  Campus House.  The kids and I came along.  Arabella and Landon were really excited to be able to go.  We packed up some quiet things to do while we were there in their super cool backpacks from Aunt Sally.  They were so good! Yay!!  We had several people come over and tell them how impressed they were with how they behaved.  Landon was pretty happy with all the compliments he received.  Josh did a great job speaking too :)

Firehouse Day
We went with our MOPS group to a firehouse tour.  The kids were excited.  It was kind of a bummer, because about 10 minutes after we got there, the firemen were called out to help someone.  Thankfully the kids didn't mind.  They thought it was cool.  Rosemary, brought a Curious George book about Firehouses. She read that in hopes the fire truck would return.  No such luck.  So we  decided to head over to the near by play ground.  We hadn't ever gone to the playground.  It was a great day even thought it didn't go as planned.

Firehouse Tour

Playground and Crooked Houses

 Corks and Colors
I am changing our kitchen decor.  So I thought I would add personalized salt and pepper shakers and a butter dish.  I didn't do many painting classes in April, just lots of pottery.  These ladies were here for a bachelorette party and were delightful to teach!

Pottery and painting

Stop Cancer Gala with Corks and Colors

A bit of everyday

Silly boy

Silly Girl

Arabella's first french braid

Silly Family!

A boy and his dog

Landon napping is a rare sight

Cuties and their backsides.  

February Wrap Up

Painting

  Corks & Colors

I love working at Corks and Colors.  My boss is awesome, my co workers (although I rarely see them) are great and I get to paint and get paid for it all.  The other paintings below were parts of the wall mural I helped paint with Ashley Bolin for the boys room.  It was also tons of fun :)

The kids came to work with me one day.  They painted ceramic dolphins, Bella's is purple and Landon's is half blue and half red.  

 Lego Class

 Lego class is going so well.  3 of these pictures were taken on our "house" week.  The kids were asked to build a house after reading  The Best Place by Susan Meddaugh.  I loved all the house.  Some of the kids choose to work in groups.  I am impressed every week how well the kids work together.

Valentine's Day

The kids woke up to a heart shaped bagel with pink cream cheese.  We watched Charlie Brown's Valentine's day movie, we had lots of heart shape lunch items (yay for cookie cutters), we made Daddy a special Valentine's day picture, and had a a few heart shape things at dinner.  I didn't take pictures of all our Valentine Day events.  We had fun and always enjoy any extra excuse to love on each other.

Josh surprised me a few days before Valentine's day with a surprise date on the town.  We ate at Harry's and walked around downtown together.  Josh also got my tennis bracelet, he bought as my 21st birthday gift fixed.  About 5 years ago I broke it.  Due to the coming of a certain little boy, I forgot about getting it fixed and there always seemed like there was something better to spend money on.  I was so happy because I love my diamond tennis bracelet.

Happy Valentine's Day

 Arabella and her sweet girlie-ness

Arabella and her favorite doll, Dora getting a mani and pedi.

Arabella and her baby

Everyday Life at the Williams'

Lots of dress up and Legos, as always, filled out February.  Snuggles, naps, some walks, and silly antics were also a big part of our February.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Arabella!!

We had a  little birthday celebration at our house for Arabella at home.  We had her favorite dinner- chicken and rice with ice cream for dessert.  We also gave Arabella her present from Daddy, Mommy, and Landon.  Arabella LOVES playing house, taking care of babies and playing in kitchens.  I had thought maybe we would buy one but they are expensive and the used ones weren't anything that was that exciting to me.  Being a big fan of Pinterest and being crafty I thought maybe we could make one.  I searched the Internet and Pinterest. There were so many ideas on how to make one and most were under $75.  I looked for months and months for a used piece of furniture that was solid wood and inexpensive.  I wasn't  having much luck with my two specifications.  Finally, at the end of September, I found a lady who was moving and trying to quickly get rid of all her furniture.  So for $20 I got this TV stand/entertainment center.  There is a shelf in the middle that is sitting on top of the whole thing.  I was super excited! But now, what do I do with it?

 



We had planned to make this a Christmas present.  Well, with holidays and a wedding I didn't get to it.  So 2nd birthday present it is. :)
Aunt Merry moved and she had some left over magnetic paint.  Sweet! Maybe we can make the refrigerator door magnetic?
A family friend/ architect, Linda, had a bag of knobs and pulls.  Ooo, controls for a oven? Knobs for the sinks?

After a bit of wood cutting and glueing 

A few of the knobs Linda gave us made into oven controls and the microwave door.

Brian, Josh's co-ower of his painting/ landscape business, had some left over paint.  Paint the whole piece.
I had plenty of craft paint and fabric to do little details. Josh had scrap wood. We had a few old CDs we didn't need

So we bought- a pull for the fridge door, a ceramic dish,  a bit more fabric, a little bit of paint and a sealer.
Total cost-$52 dollars

Josh did some woodwork and took my sketch into reality! Josh, Landon and I sanded the wood.  Josh, Landon and I painted. I painted and painted and painted. Josh and I added hardware.  I sewed. I glued. I painted a bit more. Josh and I sealed the whole thing, in hopes to make all that painting last a bit longer.

Daddy designed and created the sink all by himself.  Mommy was super happy and impressed! 

In all things, give thanks.  

Microwave and Oven

The refrigerator and yes, it is magnetic

A place to put all the food 

Josh remembered we had a rack which was rarely used from a toaster oven we no longer had.

Did I mention it has a light already built into it?

The (Christmas present from Daddy and Mommy) pots and pans look great

AND.....IT IS DONE!

Welcome to Arabella's kitchen!

Landon and Arabella love it :)

A couple of weeks later, we drove up to the panhandle to have a birthday party and celebrate with family.  Josh drove up a couple of days after us since he had to work and could only visit on the weekend. Arabella received some great presents, mostly fun stuff for her kitchen.  We were able to Skype with Aunt Jessica and Great Grandma Williams. Our good friends the Richards were also able to come help celebrate. 

Colorful cupcakes 

Williams family 2013

Tucked out after partying 

It was a fun visit

The kids and I were able to come in time to see Grandpa Williams in a Barbershop event.  The event was a tribute to Frank Sinatra. It was awesome as always! Landon and Arabella were amazingly well behaved and listened to the whole 2.5 hour long event. 

January Happenings

Travels
I felt like all we did was travel in January.  We were in Missouri for almost a week in the beginning. We went to the panhandle for 4 days, a week and a half after getting back from Missouri. We went to Jacksonville. So yes..we traveled...a lot!

We went to the panhandle to celebrate some birthdays.  My mom's birthday was on the 17th and Sally's was on the 21st.

A day of ice cream, park and boardwalk

Mall day- food and carousal 

Hanging around the house- suitcase fun, Legos, brushing teeth, and playing with Uncle Jon

Sally's Birthday celebration

Sweet Siblings

"I wear my sunglasses at night"

Lego Class

Last semester Landon had such a blast at his Lego class, and they weren't offering it in the spring semester I thought I would teach one myself.  We have class Friday mornings for an hour.  I read a story on the topic of the week, show the kids some ideas of Lego creations on that topic, the kids build and then we meet back in a circle to share about the creations they made.  I love it! Landon loves it! I hear every week how the moms and kids love it.  It is so much fun!  I already am planning on teaching another Lego class in the fall and maybe even this summer ;)

First Lego class of the semseter

Cooking
For some school work, I decide Landon and Arabella should make dinner from start to finish. We made from scratch homemade pizza.  We made the crust, sauce and picked our own toppings. It was yummy and we all had fun! Now that is my kind of learning!

Homemade Pizza

Dress up fun!

"Oh I know I am adorable!"

Our Beautiful Lady 

I love the hands in the pockets ;)

It's underwear kids!

In case you were wondering, that bottom middle picture of Landon is him wearing almost every single pair of undies he owns- boxers and briefs!

A few extras I just couldn't leave out :)