Happy 25th to Dallie and Papa!

Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of my in-laws, Ben and Dale Howard.  The family children all wanted to do something special to mark the occasion, so we planned a surprise party for the couple as they arrived home from their weekend getaway in the White Mountains.  Family and friends gathered to celebrate the special day and everyone brought a yummy dish to share. What an amazing turnout!  The food was beyond delicious, the karaoke was a hit and Candace even made a special video that featured family pictures along with music that brought tears to everyone's eyes.  So much thought and love went into the event but it was the guests of honor that made the day one to remember.

Happy 25th to Ben and Dale!  We love you and can't wait to celebrate your 50th!

A face only a mother could love

This is our sweet Pandora or "Pandy" as we would call her.  Pandy was our first baby to enter into the Howard household.  Ryan and I bought her from a puppy store a month after we got married when we had lived in Rhode Island. Our dear little pug has been with us for almost 6 years!  A year later we added her a brother "Bubba" as an addition to our family.  It looks like for the first four years of our marriage, we gained a new critter each year.  I think we are done adding to our crew... well, at least for now.

Getting Crazy with the Karaoke

In preparation for Dallie and Papa's 25th Anniversary party this Sunday, Ryan rented a karaoke machine because his family likes to get crazy with the sing-a-longs.   We decided to let the kids give the machine a test run before the event.  Apparently the crazy singing runs in the family because Rylan and Arianna seemed to love belting out as much as possible via the microphone.  Arianna even made up her own song, as she yelled, "I'm a blonde girl named Arianna, and I like cake."  Rylan just copied everything she said which made the whole experience even funnier.  God love em'. 

Costumes are in!

Finally, it is here!  Arianna had been waiting anxiously for her dance costume to arrive at the studio so she could see how it would look on her in preparation of the big day.  We can't wait until Sunday, May 16th for another great show that LPDC produces.  This year the girls will be little ballerina's dancing out of a gigantic music box.  We cannot wait to see our sweet girl perform for her second year!

                    I love the faded tattoos on her arms, so classy!

Family Days of March

Arianna's Preschool Portraits 2010

In Anticipation

Today was an amazing and beautiful day.  We have been stuck in our house for what seems way too long and beyond ready to play outside.  In anticipation of spring, Ryan hooked up the swings on our swing set and I grabbed the kid's Jeep and brought them outside for a little outdoor activity.  Although it was only in the 40's, it felt more like 60 and I was ready to pretend that spring was here.  The kids and I had a great time but I forgot how nasty the lawn would be with all of the wet grass and mud.  The kids had to change several times (clothing caked in mud) and then I finally just decided to call it quits because the laundry pile was starting to get a bit out of control. 

 

  

  

Rylan kept grabbing the watering can and watering the snow

  

  

  

  

Flying through the yard 

  

Yes, Arianna dressed herself.

  

They got suck in the snow and four wheel drive was not working well