Before I delve into Derby Day, I have to share this picture.  It doesn't fit into any of my posts, but this cake, made by a friend of mine, has to be one of the most beautiful things I've ever eaten.  Everyone should go out and find a foodie friend immediately.  Best decision I've ever made. ;)  It tasted even better, because I told myself that while I'm nursing, desserts have no calories!  Hooray for self-delusion!


On to Derby Day!  I'm just now beginning to scratch the surface as to why this day holds so much meaning in Anthony's family, but it sure is nice to have an excuse for everyone to dress up and have a party!  Nana and Papa bought all the kids these adorable outfits.




3 kids may be the perfect fit for our family, and I'm totally fine with that right now because I have this adorable love muffin to smooch on everyday.  People are always saying that I hold him too much and that I need to put him down, but NOPE.  With that face, it's an absolute privilege to love on him all the time!  (Note his little red nose...I didn't know this was in inheritable thing, but he got my itchy-when-tired nose!  It's such a nuisance, and poor Harrison's nose is always red from mashing it into my shoulder and shaking his head to itch it when he's tired.  He also does it on his crib mattress.  Some days it is so raw!)


Such a cute subject, but I need to go back to portrait school!  First, high noon Easter photos, now dappled sunlight? Sheesh!


Noah just looooves Harrison and has been so interested in him from the moment we brought him home.  He loves babies!


Amanda loves babies, too, so I'm sure watching this was pulling at her heart strings!




Such a beautiful time of year!










I remember Mary Ann saying that she thought mint julep were pretty and looked like they were probably quite tasty.  This, Mary Ann, is how a mint julep tastes.  Blech!


They say it gets better with each sip.  Amanda's face makes me question that. :P


All of us, plus an injured horse in the background.  Perfect timing! :P


Lindsay, Amanda, and I had a girl's night to get together and make our hats.


Ryan put together a system to bet on the horses, then auctioned them off.  I think I'm saying that right. :P




We watched the Derby, and it was quite obvious who had money on California Chrome! All of the effort that went into Derby Day to make it successful was so worth it.  What a fun day!


The next day was Star Wars Day (May the Fourth), and we celebrated by watching one of the movies while Alaina taught Harrison how to lightsaber fight.


With all the festivities over (for the next 6 days, at least), we buckled down and got back to packing.  Harrison takes this shaking-of-the-moving-paper business VERY seriously.


Quick pause to be cute and happy.


Then, back to business.


Next up, Connor's birthday!

Spring is really here!  I was beginning to forget what sunlight felt like after being indoors with a new baby since September!  Unfortunately, spring does not mean green grass at our current house.  We didn't have a whole lot of time to look when we were deciding on places to rent when Anthony got his job offer last year, and the day that Angela and Ryan went to the open house, there was 6 inches of snow on the ground, so I was surprised when we first pulled up to a nearly dead lawn.  We spent a lot of time and money just trying to keep it somewhat alive last year, but since we're moving, it's been quite liberating to look at it was someone else's problem now!  Behold, the beauty!


One of my favorite memories as a kid was Dad telling me that he'd pay me a penny for every dandelion I picked.  I told Alaina and Daynarae the same thing, and they were thrilled until fatigue set in at around 300.






They were in heaven, until they realized that since our yard is mostly "flowers", there were a lot of bees!  Whenever I'm walking back from the mailbox, completely humiliated that we are "those" people with the gross yard, I just tell myself that we're doing our best to support the local bee community. :)


On to the fun stuff!  I took some "Before" pics of the new house.  We love that this house has everything that we liked about our current one, but has changed everything that we complained about.  We've made quite a few changed to our decor, which has been soooo much fun for me!  No more camp chairs at our dinner table or bunking with the kids when family comes to visit! *ahem!*  This is the view from where you walk in from the garage.  Behind the house is our small, fenced yard, then a chunk of HOA-maintained grass and trees, then a huge drainage area that is perfect to play in.


Looking into the kitchen from garage entrance.


Taken from the farthest corner of the great room.


Kitchen


Bigger coat closet with sliding doors next to door to garage, then front door on the far left.


Taken from back door looking all the way to the front door.


I love that when I'm standing at the sink, the view out the window is over the greenbelt, not right up against a house.


The dining room, which we are actually going to use as a sitting room with chairs, a coffee table, the piano, and Anthony's guitar now that we have a bonified breakfast nook in the great room.


Main floor powder room.  It's smaller than our current one, but who cares about losing space in a water closet?


I hear angels sing when I see this photo.  A laundry room!


With counter space on the opposite wall?!  Be still, my heart!


Master bedroom.  Notice the absence of those hideous accordion closets?


A huge walk in closet, aka fourth bedroom for Harrison.  His crib fits beautifully in that cutout!


Master bathroom with beautiful high counters, two sinks, and a walk-in shower with a seat!  I think I will miss having a bathtub, but I can count on one hand how many baths I've had in the last year!


Loft area that will still fit our desk, but is smaller than our current one.  Once again, who cares?


Alaina's room


With another huge walk-in!


Kids bathroom


Connor's bedroom


Connor's window has the best view!  I can't wait for all the fun we're going to have out there.  I should have taken a pic taken the other direction, because you can see the neighborhood park (not yet finished) a block away, then the pool the block behind that!


Unfinished basement.  I'm sure you read on Facebook how we got this incredible carpet from Craigslist.  We're going to transform this space, just you wait.




I've since moved all of this storage to the previously shown corner.  This area will be transformed into a bedroom, so we have plenty of space for when you all come to visit! :)


I'm excited to post pictures once we moved in!  We bought some new furniture!  Moving day is May 17!  Ahhh, exciting!