Garth, Baby!

Way back in November, my two friends and I got tickets to see Garth after he announced his tour was coming to Baltimore for the FIRST TIME EVER.  We were so excited!  We bought tickets the day they went on sale, but already they were sold out so 1) the tickets weren't awesome and 2) they weren't together.  We had two tickets together and one in the row behind.  But oh well, at least we were going.  But then.... the concert (which was supposed to be last Friday night) got cancelled because of Snowmaggedon 2016 which started.... on Friday night.  We were beginning to think it just wasn't meant to be... but then our luck turned.  He rescheduled the concert for this weekend and as we were sitting there waiting for the concert to start, this guy came up and started talking to us asking us if we were together as he saw us turning around talking to each other.  We said yes.  He said "that stinks." And we said we knew, but we couldn't find three seats together. He was just some random dude in a sweatshirt, so we didn't think anything of it.  But then he whipped out three tickets and told us to go and sit together.  We asked him if he was serious and he smiled and said yes and pulled out his "Garth badge."  WHAT!!!!!  We had no idea where the seats were, but they said "VIP."  We showed them to an usher and he brought us down to the floor, then another usher, who told us to keep on walking...... Our seats were in the third row!!! We were ~6 feet from the stage.  We could see the sweat bubbles on his face.  It was SO AWESOME!!!!!

Waiting for him to come out.

And after he sang for an hour or so, he brought out his wife!  The lovely Trisha Yearwood, who I also love!

And then after the concert was over, he came back out and took requests and sang a bunch more songs acapella and/or acoustic.  It was AWESOME!!!!!  Seriously the best night ever!  The Dance, The Thunder Rolls, Friends in Low Places.... you name it, he sang it.  So. Much. Fun!!!

Belated Birthday Hollywood Style

Lacey was supposed to have her birthday last weekend.  But of course the snow foiled all our plans!  We had to cancel the party and reschedule it for a week later.  Luckily, most of the girls were still able to make it!  Lacey really wanted to have her birthday at a movie theatre this year. So, here we are in the "party room" before the movie.  We ate pizza and Lacey's giant chocolate chip cookie cake (another request) and other yummy food and played bingo.

This seriously cracked me up - they told me they only had two "Y" letters (which are used up in "Happy" and "Birthday") so basically, if you have a name with a "Y" in it (like the majority of the population!), you're just out of luck!  I suggested maybe they invest in another "Y", but they looked at me like that hadn't occurred to anyone, so anyway.... Happy Birthday Lace!

The 13 crazies

I saw this idea on Pinterest.... for their goodie bags, each girl got a popcorn bag with a bag of microwave popcorn and a box of "theatre" candy.  

After the party room, we stormed the theatre where they reserved a section for us - of course they all wanted the front two rows!  And then as part of the "birthday package," each kid got a drink of their choice, popcorn and an Airhead.  They were all set!

And last but not least, after saying good-bye to all our friends at the theatre, we came home and let Lacey open her gifts.  I'd say she did pretty well for herself! Major hits?  Shopkins!

So.... it was a little bit crazy with cancellations, rescheduling, RSVP's getting mixed up due to the rescheduling, but hey, it all worked out!  Happy Belated Birthday to my first born!  

Wright Brothers and Strom Siblings

Last week was MLK day on Monday and then half days for the remainder of the week (which meant Pre-K classes canceled) and then the snow hit. So.... Riley (and of course Ella) have not had any school for the last two weeks and Lacey and Tanner haven't had any school for the last week and only a little the week before, so now that we can finally get out and about, I was determined to have the kids leave the house yesterday and see something other than the four walls of their house and the snow.  I found a Certifikid (similar to Groupon or Living Social but specifically geared toward kids/families) deal for a family four-pack of tickets for just $6 to the College Park Aviation Museum. We've never been and it's just a 45 minute drive, so I purchased the Certifikid deal and we were on our way!

And here is what we learned..... the museum is located on the grounds of the College Park Airport, which is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world!

This airport was founded by the Wright brothers when the government purchased a 160 acre tract of land here in 1908 to have a more suitable space for training the Wright brothers' newly designed military airplane for the US Army flight trials.  

Riley channeling her inner Amelia Earhart 

This was a big hit - a 1939 Taylorcraft airplane that the kids were allowed to climb aboard and pilot.

A perfect way to spend a winter afternoon!  And hopefully the kids got a little education on yet another day of no school ;)

Three

Well, we've already had to cancel Lacey's friend party (which was supposed to be Saturday) and the family party for Lacey/Ella which was supposed to be Sunday.  But the plows have been working hard all day and by this evening Dave's parents and siblings were able to drive over here, so we were able to hold the party this evening, which was just as well since today is Ella's actual birthday.  And, in case you can't tell by the sign, we had a Peppa Pig-themed party.  A few months ago, she was all things Paw Patrol, but over the last several weeks, she has transitioned to all things Peppa Pig.  If she had it her way, she would sit and watch Peppa Pig all day every day.

So... we had Peppa Pig table cloth, Peppa big balloons and decorations, plates, napkins, hats, you name it!  And Ella was very happy about that!

Girl Cousins Rule!

We had a ham (I wasn't sure if that was theme-fitting or sacrilege?!, but we'll go with theme-fitting), rolls, and two different veggie casseroles..... the perfect meal after you've been snowed in for 3 1/2 days!

And of course a Peppa Pig cake!

Ella attempting to hold up 3 fingers.

After singing to Ella, we re-lit the main candle and sang again to Lacey so the family could celebrate her birthday as well from 3 days ago.

And she scored with a few gifts as well ;)

Ella was VERY into opening presents this year and was not happy when there were no more left to open!

Of course I've been reminiscing today and looking at some old pics.  Here I am a few weeks before her due date.

Shortly after delivery.

A couple weeks old.

Dear Ella Grace,  you are my blond-haired, blue-eyed caboose.  You are feisty, spirited and opinionated (I'm afraid you get that from me).  But you are also gentle (you get that from your dad).  And sweet and loving (I hope you get that from both of us).  I look at this picture of you at just a couple weeks old and I just remember how perfect you were.  You never got that baby acne or that cradle cap.  You had a thick head of beautiful golden blonde hair and flawless porcelain skin. You've always been a beautiful little girl.  You love your left thumb and your blanket.  Nearly every single night of your life since we transitioned you to your bed from your crib (6-8 weeks ago), you come into our room with your left thumb in your mouth, your blanket in your other arm and without saying a word, you climb into bed right between us, nuzzle yourself in and go to sleep.  You are my shadow. At all times, you want to know where I am, what I am doing and want me to be sitting next to you or holding you.  It's tough to get much done around here, but hey, dishes can wait.  They're not getting any older.  But you are.  And I know those midnight snuggles and reaching up for me to hold you are limited.  So I try and live in the moment and soak it all in.  Happy, Happy Birthday to my Peppa pig-loving baby girl.  I love you a hundred million.

Winter Wonderland

Well, it finally stopped snowing, but we woke up to this..... you'd never know we shoveled yesterday!  So, needless to say, church was canceled and we enjoyed another fun-filled day of playing in the snow, eating chili and hanging out with the neighbors.

There were a couple people who tried to venture out and quickly discovered that wasn't such a great idea.... that's Dave on the left who spent a good chunk of his morning trying to help dig this poor guy out!

The kids quickly got to work building snow forts (That's T)

Riley and Lacey chipping in

Their finished product: an igloo!

Riley and her bestie Gianna

We all had huge mountains of snow where we piled everything we shoveled off to the side and Lacey had a grand time climbing to the top and sledding down.

This was the last picture I took this afternoon.  Our driveway is mostly shoveled off, but our court looks like this and we haven't seen a snow plow - I'm sure they are still busy with the main roads.  So, everything (school, work, etc) is canceled again tomorrow, which will be our third day snowed in.  But we're quite enjoying it!  We have food, friends and family... what more do you need?

But one last thought before I sign off for the night..... today is the last day of my little Ella being two. So, we're glad this storm didn't happen 3 years ago or I would have been up a creek! But alas, I feel a bit sad today.  I'm such a baby lover and for the last 9 years, I've always had a baby!  It's a little tough for me to see my baby turn into a toddler and now a 3 year old without having one follow behind knowing I still get to do it all again.  On the other hand, I keep telling myself "You've survived the terrible twos 4 TIMES and you never have to do it again!!"  The pros, the cons, the bitter, the sweet, the circle of life.....

Jonas

Yesterday ~1:30, the snow started to fall..... and just kept on coming!  It snowed all night long and we woke up to this! 

Boots + snow pants+coat +gloves +hat +scarf x4 kids x 10 (or more?) out then in then out then back in = one tired mama!

And the shoveling out begins

Somewhere under there is our street and court.....

It continued to snow all day long.  That picture just above was of our car earlier in the day and this is a shot of that same car in our driveway later in the day.

Tomorrow is my last day of being a mother to a 2 year old.  I'm rather in love with this little snow bunny.

She discovered the taste of snow and quite liked it!

Riley J

Lots of snow forts, lots of sledding and lots of hot chocolate!

BWI airport is just 15 min from us and their official reading as of now is 29.2", so I'm guessing that's what we've gotten so far.  Good thing we like each other because it doesn't look like we're leaving this house any time soon!