Since I'm TRYING to get back into blogging with more regularity (especially since I love reading about all of you!), I thought this little question-and-answer would be a fun way to "re-introduce" myself!  Thanks to Sarah for sharing it!

1. Are you named after anyone? 

No...my parents wanted my name to be unique and not connected to any family members.  I think there was a distant friend of my mom's who had a daughter with the same name and that's where my mom had heard it.  My dad wanted to name me Annie and that has been my nickname since I was born...and what all my nephews and niece call me :)

2. When was the last time you cried? 

Sunday...when I bit my tongue while chewing steak and trying to correct my 3-year-old who was throwing his food!

3. Do you have children?  

Yes - 4!!  Tater is 11, Bruiser is 9, Sassy is 7, and Bubba is 3.  Oh, and the husband...you understand!

4. Will you ever bungee-jump? 

Never!  I've always said I'm afraid of heights but I think its more about the falling...and this is the epitome of falling!

5. What’s your favorite cereal? 

Banana Nut Crunch :)

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people? 

Usually, their clothes because I love clothes!  But also how they carry themselves and treat others around them...so important to me in this changing world.

7. What is your eye color? 

Brown (Brown Eyed Girl!)

8. Scary movie or happy endings? 

Happy Endings :)

9. Favorite scents? 

Vanilla, always!

10. Summer or winter? 

This is tough!  I love the freedom of summer but HATE to sweat!  I love the coziness of winter but HATE the messy side of snow and ice (especially living in New England!)

11. What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home? 

We took a "second" honeymoon to St. Thomas and St. John - I still fantasize about returning someday, without children!

12. Do you have any special talents? 

I'm super-organized (Type-A personality!)!

13. Where were you born?

Pennsylvania

14. What are your hobbies? 

Reading, crafting, binge watching TV shows :)

15. Do you have any pets? 

A giant crayfish named Harry Jr. the Third (It's Tater's and it's creepy big!!!)

16. Favorite movie?

The American President (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE).

Feel free to copy these questions and answer them on your own blog!

Summer!

Well, I always have big hopes of updating this blog regularly...and joining actively into the blogging world - but then real life gets in the way :)

At the end of this week I hit a big milestone (ugh for big birthdays!) and one of my ambitions is to write more and record what my sweet life is like.  So...welcome back, I hope!

We've been busy with summer - pool, play dates, vacations, ice cream...and s'mores!!!

Pray for Me, I Mean, US!!!

This is my week...

...followed up next week by my 11-year-old graduating to middle school.

I'm not sure I'm going to handle all this...at least not well!!!!

Say prayers and I'll be back later this week with an (hopefully positive) update :)

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with darci, april, christina + natasha for Five on Friday!

I'm looking forward to spending my weekend right here...with littles digging in the dirt patch..

 And enjoying our outdoor living space with a nice glass of wine...or two...

I'm sure there is a hike planned to get some energy out of the bundles of energy that live at this house!!!

Today was our last day of MOPS for the year.  We have several playdates planned for the summer and I've joined the steering team for the next year.  I'll be putting my love of technology to use by heading the publicity for our group.  I'm looking forward to the new friendships and a place to grow in my motherhood and faith!  

And for fun, here is the painted pot we made this month!

Another favorite this week was a fun visit to Wicked Tulip Farm.  It was so pretty and I loved visiting with a great new friend!!!

Sweetheart Dance

 The girls went to the annual Sweetheart Dance with Daddy!

This was Tater's last one in elementary school (holding back tears!).

And Bubba had to be in all the pictures, of course!!!

Wicked Tulips

We spent a morning at a local tulip farm with friends :)

These two really do like each other...even with their silly faces!!!

Life Lately

It's time to just catch up on life lately!  This will be extremely picture-heavy but I need to get back to present time :).  Enjoy!

It was rainy and chilly but we re-mulched our play area in April.  It had been several years and was much needed!  Also we added the pergola on the deck and the love seat...both which I have been enjoying every day that is warm enough!  

We've been visiting the library every other Sunday and this boy has been filling his bag to the brim and then reading books without stopping!  I LOVE this!

Bubba was Super Bubba one night!

Tater had a chorus concert at school one night...and was not thrilled that I made her dress up and not just wear leggings and a t-shirt :)

Bubba had his first (temporary) tattoo!

Then he put on his brother's sweatshirt and told me he was "Hoda".

This is the scene when a 2-year-old skips his nap!

After over 9 years in this house and with a bathroom covered in pink and blue tile, we painted the tile white and had Bath Fitters cover the walk-in shower.  It was pricy but soooooo worth it!  

We LOVE it!

 

This was Bubba's 3rd birthday gift from us and Papa...it's really is the ultimate car garage!  It's huge and in my living room and he plays with it constantly...so I'm ok with that!

He was playing the "shy birthday boy" :)

Cupcakes for the win!

And then a birthday movie in Sassy's bed...the big kids let the birthday boy pick the movie and watched it without complaining!

Bubba got birthday money from Pop-Pop and Memaw and picked out a Nerf gun...sigh...

The basement playroom was a disaster...so I purged and organized and it is amazing!  We filled the Suburban with things to donate, including 2 large furniture pieces and many, many, many toys that were never used.  Now they can see what they have and actually play with the things they love!

The day after a birthday means several snacks of cupcakes (and pants are optional!).

Outside play time!

Daddy built me a raised garden bed for vegetables.  Our ground soil is so sandy that we never have had any luck growing anything...hopefully this will help and we will have a plentiful garden this year!

I snagged a Groupon for our local Audubon membership this spring and we payed the education center a visit.  It's fun to check out and poke around.

There's a great walking path down to the bay...but Sassy found it to be a little long and tiring!

A sure sign of spring is having the dirt patch back in action!  Boys love dirt!

Loving beverages on the deck!

Family movie night - we introduced them to Honey I Shrunk the Kids!

Dirty pants and feet are the sign of a good spring day!

This was totally unprompted but all 4 kids snuggled outside on the couch and listen to Tater read them library books...so, so, so, so super-sweet!

We've been enjoying the nice days and hiking as a family on local paths...well, Daddy and I are hiking, Bubba is riding, and Sassy and Bruiser run.  Tater is not a fan of hiking so we try to go when she is busy with other activities :)

This day, Tater was at Girl Scouts and Bubba was napping...Sassy treated her brother to a treat from the ice cream truck.  The kindest heart!

All these beautiful sunny outside pictures make me crazy for spring and spending our days outside...it's been raining for a week and is soon chilly!  Hopefully things will turn around soon!