Wild wingers

The other evening we went out to dinner as a family of 5. This doesn't happen too often, but when it does you can usually find us at louder, kid-friendly establishments. :) This time around it was Ash and Natty's pick: Buffalo Wild Wings.
I'm not sure it's the extra creamy Mac n Cheese that the girls love, or the fact that they get crowns? Either way, even though it makes for a tough dinner, it's fun to enjoy special nights, just the 5 of us. 
And hey. Not cooking is pretty rad, too.

If that's true, she's the tiniest Wing Man to ever wing

Sometimes Ash comes up with the goofiest smiles!

A rare Natty smile caught on camera - what's even cooler about this is that Natty looked at her crown and say "Hey! There's 3 S's on this!" Smarty pants dance!

Earlier in the day, before din-din, Keely ruled at Tball practice

Baking with Natty Kat

It seemed like during the month of December all Natty Kat and I really did was bake. Cookies. Breads. Candies. Savories. Sweets. You name it, we baked it.
I'm so lucky to have little Bakerella always on the ready!

Save some for the recipe, will ya Natty?

No need to wash the lid (or the bowl) when Natty's around

Tasty!

Meanwhile, down at Keely's level.....these pics are from her "obsessed with wearing a coat and mittens" phase

Greatest little pocket person

Her shirt says "I'm on the nice list". Which is mostly true.

Very precise measurements 

Best part about baking with Natty? She's crazy insane about cleaning every speck off of the Kitchenaide.

Another baking creation....

...chocolate pie with Cool Whip and candy cane frosting

Licking it clean

High Tea

This afternoon I spent a lovely afternoon with some very wonderful and God fearing women at the annual MOPS Mother's Day Tea. Thank you to Mom, Kathy, Marilyn, Jean, Katie, Lindsay and Kelly for celebrating Christmas in April! I hope you had a memorable time and that you're looking forward to next year; I've already got the themed and decorations all planned out in my head. :)

Oh and in case you're keeping track....our table took home an impressive 5, yes FIVE, auction baskets! I do believe this was our biggest year, yet!

*FINALLY* had a chance to use my Spode Christmas dishes....also found it fitting to bust out the ugly Christmas sweater. A good hostess always matches her decorations, no?

No Christmas table is complete without a snowman cheese ball and holly-shaped cucumber sandwiches 

Pretty proud of my homemade peppermint candy topiary

Hostess with the mostess 

The other man in my life, Isaiah, getting some snuggles from Mom

Napkins match the plates, plates match the tea cups, tea cups match the cake platter. All is right and well with the tea table!

First snowfall of the season!

Here are some pictures of the first snowfall of the winter season! It was December 6 and I distinctly remember being torn because I was overjoyed that the white stuff was coming down, but nervous because Ash had an appointment with the dentist for some dental work. I had all 3 girls and I didn't even make it 10 ft down the driveway before I stopped and begged Jake to drive us. :)
Looking back it probably would have been a smart move had I taken that same approach just 13 days later. 
Life in the rear view, right?

Starting off the morning with a little ukulele serenade from Natty Kat

Future world famous duet 

There's just something about kiddos in reindeer antlers and tutus 

Home from the dentist and ready to play!

Keely's first snow walk

Natty was in Heaven 

Happy girls

Of course I made them hold still long enough for a threesome pic

Making snow angels 

I think she likes it!

We somehow lost our sleds, so Ash and Natty were using anything they could think of. Here they're attempting a ride on a flattened cardboard box.

I'm no expert, but I think Keely's telling me she's d.o.n.e.

Pink cheeks and hot cocoa: two signs it's a snow day!

Where did those come from?

So during a ticklefest with Keely earlier today, a flash of white waaaaay in the back caught my eye.

Could it be our teeny pocket person, our tiny little 3rd blessing, our little one that has insisted on doing things her own way since day 1 is getting a molar BEFORE she even gets her "regular" teeth. 

Yep. It would appear so.

You know I totally took pictures - nice shot up her nose, eh?

Her bottom chompers - the new guy that showed up a few days ago is that white speck to our left of her middle teeth. Interesting fact about that one? It's coming in completely sideways. Impressive? I think so.

The top teeth - its hard to tell but there is one working on busting through to our left of her middle teeth

Keely's new 'cheese' face

Later in the morning Keely was feeling all snuggly and Natty captured this cute pic of us

Just in case you missed it on FB, here's Keely at TBall practice yesterday taking her turn a swinging a bat

Natty turns 4!

A look back to December 3 when our middle crazy turned 4! 

Natty Kat got a rocking horse for her birthday from Daddy and Mommy; she spent the better part of the morning taking Keely Q for rides

Getting our birthday cake bake on

Lunchtime meant Natty got to pick ANYTHING she wanted. Her choice? Hotdogs with ketchup, Cheetos and ginger ale. Now that's a winning combo!

Bakerella enjoying the spatula 

Enjoying every taste

Know what happens when you leave the birthday cakes to cool and your birthday girl is alone, anxious and excited? This:

Birthdays mean picking the restaurant for dinner; 2 years in a row it's been Red Robbin. Any bets on where we'll be meeting at next year?

Now THAT'S some ice cream sundae excitement!

Keely was a total terror the first 45 minutes; after a dose of a Tylenol she finally started chilling out about 30 minutes later. The next morning she had her very first tooth poking through.

Wyatt and Grandpa helping Natty Kat celebrate the big 4

Birthday snuggles with Nana and Papa

Me and my guy WyWy

The finished birthday masterpiece: Natty wanted chocolate cake, pink filling, vanilla frosting with a pink Mickey Mouse and her name. Sort of a tall order for this mama considering my talents don't lie in the 'cake decorating' realm. Thankfully Natty Kat is extremely thankful for any and everything so to her this cake, well, took the cake!

Blowing out those candles

Present time!

Total excitement over her ukulele from Aunt Katie