We received a very fun package in the mail this week from Grandma! Seriously, the whole family loved it. Inside was the bedding for little miss Crawford's room, which is great because now I can start matching some sewing projects to it. But even more fun were the costumes. First you have to know what an amazing seamstress Chris's mom is. She taught me everything I know about sewing and man have I learned a lot! In the package were two adorably cute colonial outfits complete with white "tights", knickerbockers with vintage buttons, shirts that tie together at the top and a three corner hat! I just about died. Jan also made a matching outfit for the boy's cousin Aiden who is coming to visit and a colonial dress for their cousin Ally. I am delirious from thinking about the pictures I am going to take. The fun didn't stop there. Next we pulled out two costumes, one Batman and one Robin. Both complete with built in muscles, masks and utility belts! I thought oh man these will be awesome when the boys grow into them. I thought for sure they didn't make costumes this cool in their sizes but I was wrong! Liam gets to be Batman 
and Sam is Robin! 
I love that Liam's pecks are up to his chin! 
Sam says he takes fighting crime very seriously.
I love this one of liam looking to the side, he should have his hands on his hips and wind blowing his cape. 
We of course thought it was the cutest thing ever and had to show someone esle, so we marched the boys over to our friends the Thornocks for an April Trick or Treat. Apparently walking in a full fledged hero outfit in 95 degree weather is Batmans equivilant to kriptonite. 
Thank you Grandma!
I was worried that it would put him off getting close to the other animals but the next pen had a deer and Liam became friends with it right away after shoving some clover through the links. Sam kept a nice safe distance but would pull up grass and hand it to me. There was this amazing albino peacock roaming around and I had to get a picture but I have promised myself to not take pictures of just animals so we got Olivia and Ella in the shot too :) 
It really is a great place but their are roots from trees and gravel every where and Liam must have ate it about five times.
Luckily little miss Ella was doing great toddling around and I think she had as much fun as the boys! 
After seeing most of the animals we headed over to the VERY crowded playground and Sam went straight for the line to go on the huge slide. I thought what in the world? A. there is no way he is going to stand patiently in line and B. that slide is extremely steep there is no way he will go down it. I was wrong on both accounts. 
He waited patiently for his turn and then gave me a huge triumphant smile once he reached the bottom.
Holy Cow my baby is a little boy. He then decided it would be super fun to go face first down the smaller slide. He wanted me to pull him by his arms though so that I could stop him at the end. I am SURE the other parents were grateful for the excellent example we were setting for their children. 
While Sam played on the slides and Liam ate snacks sitting in the dirt, Olivia and Ella took a turn on the swings. It is always so funny to be a parent and not know if your child is enjoying something or not. Olivia had to ask if Ella was smiling or not so I thought I would do one better and get a picture of the pure joy on her face. 
After lots of playing Sam crawled into the stroller and announced he was ready to go home. It was pretty hard to pry Liam away from the chickens though, he found them to be much more congenial then the turkeys. On the way back to the car we found a field of dandelions so I taught the boys how to blow off all the seeds. Sam caught on 
but Liam decided he would only do the yellow dandelions and instead of blowing he would just put it in his mouth. YUK! 
He also was on shoe strike. I know I know horrible mother but those crocks kept tripping him! 
That evening Olivia and I got together again and made bows for our little girls. We had done this previously and with the help of Nora come up with some pretty good ideas. Luckily we had Ella to model them... until she zonked in the high chair :) 
In all I made six head bands and twenty bows so far. they are all waiting patiently in her bureau!
The weather was phenomenal and the boys had so much fun exploring and watching all the runners come in. Sam also decided he would hold a little contest of his own and see just how many goldfish he could shove in his mouth at a time.
After watching Kevin finish and hearing about Olivia and Nora's great triathlon experience I am really excited to make a goal of my own after little miss is born... of course we will have to see where in the world we are living and what kind of races they have, but I have really missed competing. Thanks for being an inspiration guys!
Sam found a few eggs but then announced that he wanted to go back in the house because his feet were getting wet. WHAT!!! Who's child is this? 
Liam had fun once he got the concept and enjoyed the few eggs he found, but what he enjoyed more was plopping down and finding the chocolate filled ones. 
He and Atticus went through their baskets finding the "good ones". This is him saying "come on mom, more Jelly beans?" 
It was hilarious to watch Samuel Harrison because he would find a few and then systematically chuck them back out of his basket. It made me laugh pretty hard. But not all was lost Nora was able to make this great daisy chain.
Luke (Stacy's little guy) was adorable and ran all over the place until he fell down a few times and decided enough was enough. 
What do you do you ask if you have no kids but are supportive friends and come anyway? Apparently you make your husband give you a lift. 
Leslie saying "I'm flying!"
I am getting panicky about moving and not being surrounded by such fabulous people. (hopefully they will like me despite what looks like ginormous hair in this picture... what is that about. I apparently need to scale back the upside down blow drying). 
There were gorgeous bird cut outs everywhere and these gorgeous tissue balls of various shapes and sizes hanging from the ceiling. 
Beautiful white lights wrapped in pink and green tissue paper added a soft glow and flowers were every where. It was wonderful to have so many wonderful ladies in one room. Especially since MANY of them will be off to new adventures soon!
(Sarah D, Me, Olivia) 
(Leslie and me)
(Sarah C, Me and Jordan) 
She was a trooper since when we decided to quickly do these it was a whole heck of a lot warmer then when we actually got out and did them. Add to that the fact that she really doesn't like getting her picture taken and I think things turned out okay! 
Dustin was wary about the hands on the hands on the belly thing, they are with me on the thought that it is always a little weird when I guy sits there and rubs their preggy wife's belly to death. But for a picture I think it is kinda cute. 
There were these tiny baby lambs in the field behind us and I tried to somehow work them into the pictures but was rather unsuccessful. It was still fun to see them romping around and I am certainly taking the boys to see them if it ever stops raining. Next up some nice preggy pics of me! Well see who I can rope into doing that at Maymont.
We took the boys down to Jamestown as an excuse to get out of the house on such a glorious afternoon. Sam had so much fun clamoring down the steps and checking out every nook and cranny. He seemed way more into it this time then on previous visits, commenting on bunk beds and armor that must have been for knights. Liam is now adamant that he not be held or hold hands. It makes for lovely walks. (This is a photo of a man on a mission. You should see him swing those hips when he walks)
He loved the freedom of being able to roam at a comfortable distance. After a snack we headed over to the beach along the river. 
Sam wanted me to make him a sand snowman (See Curious George episode 182) and explore the rocks. When I pulled out my camera both boys walked right up and stood there and said cheese. It was a very bizarre moment for me. I am usually running after them pleading with them to look at the camera. My laptop that has 
They really aren't phenomenal or anything I just can't believe they looked at the camera!
I dug Sam a big hole while he was on a beach walk with Chris and it had filled with water by the time he got to it. He took one look and said "A pool!!! Thanks mom!" Who knew a hole could bring such happiness. In the end we took the boys home sopping wet but pretty happy. After nap time we took them to the little petting zoo Yankee Candle was putting on in their parking lot. Of course Sam was thrilled but tentative. 
He would get all excited and then refuse to pet the animal :) Liam on the other hand had wonderful conversations with both a horse
and a sheep. 
Against our better judgement we let the boys go inside and play with all their awesome toys and watch the train. Although we ended up dragging Sam out screaming we did score some of our favorite Easter bunny ears!
Apparently while there Sam had fallen in love with a pair of oven mitts (I had Liam tracking duty) Chris said he was playing forever pretending to take food out of the oven and cook things. So of course as soon as we got home I rummaged through my fabric and whipped out two pairs of oven mitts (just in case Liam showed an interest). 
I am pretty proud of these babies because I did it without a pattern and they are totally lined and filled with fluff so perchance he gets near a real stove they will provide some protection (not that it would EVER happen). Sam slept with them on his hands that night. That makes a mom feel good! I also noticed that toting my camera around in my diaper bag is not the best thing for it. But I don't want to haul a camera bag where ever I go. Since I already had everything out I made myself a camera 
I am also in the middle of making a bird mobile for little misses room. I am making my friend Heather one at the same time because she shares my affinity for bird culture (
I keep going back and forth between adding button eyes but when ever I try it out I think they look a little freaky and sort of evil. NOT what you want in a nursery. Sam and Liam have decided they are theirs and play with them often as the mommy and daddy bird. This is furthering Sam's love of birds. He now roams around the back yard calling for "Cassie" his bird friend who flew away. He really has an amazing imagination. This evening we spent most of the night being bugs or birds. My arms are exhausted from "flying" and being scolded for putting my wings away. He also has now taken to talking to my tummy and telling his sister how much he "
