3 Orangeleaf Trips and a Wedding

   Last weekend the Mullers headed to Lex Vegas for my cousin David's wedding.  It was a short little vacation, but a much needed one.  We got to spend time with not only my out-of-town family, but Matt's as well.  One of the highlights of our trip was eating at The Outback where our cousin Mary Taylor works.  

Charlie scoring some free ice cream at Outback with his devilish good looks!







   We decided to do it right and booked a hotel with a two bedroom suite and kitchenette and a made to order breakfast.  And of course an outdoor pool.  Now as most of you other parents know that when you tend to "talk up" something as exciting as a hotel with a pool to your kids... for some reason things tend to not measure up with your carefully thought out agendas. 
   The pool was closed... too many chemicals.  Green hair, burning eyeballs?  No problem I told the guy behind the desk.  No way he said back.
   My brother and his family came to the rescue and both families went shleping downtown to play in the fountains.  Best idea ever.  Pool, schmool.... huge fountains are the extreme way to get wet!!!

   The absolute best part of the weekend was David and Sabrina's wedding.  It was held out in a beautiful vineyard and everything was perfect!  Great food, great music, great family!  The best part for me was getting to watch Caroline through it all.  She sat so contently on her Daddy's lap watching the "prince and princess" get married.  Everytime Sabrina walked by in her georgeous dress Caroline had to say hi to the princess.  Even Charlie got in on the fun dancing the night away!  After the DJ spun "Sweet Caroline" we decided that Neil Diamond can never not end the night on a bad note and we bid our farewells at 11 o'clock!  I couldn't believe my kids lasted so long!  Fun was had by all.  Congrats Baby Dave... I couldn't be happier for you!


waiting for the bride




aunt carla also cut caro's hair while we were there



a lonesome dancer



Cousin Jilly will dance with you!




and so will Mom and Charlie!



And Daddy too!




Singing Sweet Caroline


P.S. the best place on earth is an Orangeleaf Frozen yogurt bar!

Memorial Day Weekend

  The Mullers were super excited this weekend because finally the pools are open!  Last weekend we were a little bummed because our super dinosaur blow up pool for the backyard completely deflated after Mommy spent a really long time cleaning, blowing, and filling it with water (darn mice in garage!).  Fortunately the sprinkler was just as fun.

   Late in the afternoons when the air had finally cooled off a bit we headed over to Mimi's pool for a dip.  Both of my summer water babies dove in head first ready to try it out.  Unfortunately neither one can actually swim.  Terrified, I quickly signed Caroline up for swim lessons this summer and am searching closets for Charlie's floaty swimsuit.  :)   Bring on summer:

Matt and I have been working on two big projects this spring: the back yard and the basement.  The basement is coming along, literally being transformed by our friend Bert into a magnificent playroom and guestroom. (Thanks so much Bert).  Pictures will be coming soon.

Our backyard on the other hand... the area that I used to refer to as The Jungle.... is complete!  We have spent many hours digging, planting, mulching, weeding ect ect.  And now we have a place to relax and play!  Every dinner was eaten out on our patio this weekend and I think that its going to become a regular mealtime place.  There's nothing better than paper plates and being able to clean up your mess (especially Charlie's highchair) with the hose!

Oh Beautiful

Just thought I would post this:

  Last night I found Caroline putting her make up on in front of our mirror.  Her make-up being a pink Crayola marker.  She said, "Oh Mommy, don't I look beautiful!".  

Yes Rosie, you look GORGEOUS!

Easter Eggstravaganza!

This year the Mullers hosted Easter at our house.  First we had to work on decorations.  Nothing like dying and glittering up Easter Eggs for the dining room table.

Finished Product! 

Easter morning started off with a bang.  Caroline was a little leery the night before about a rabbit coming into her house in the middle of the night hiding baskets and eggs everywhere.  But the thought of candy and toys waiting for her won out and we had a blast searching for all of our goodies (and surprise... Mommy and Daddy did too!)

UL shorts for Daddy and the new Harry Potter DVD for Mommy! How did that Easter bunny know?

After the big hunt it was off to church and the sun was actually shining!

And then back to the house for the outside egg hunt (in rain boots) and lunch with the fam:

Let me out! Are you looking for more eggs without me???

 And of course... a first Easter tradition.... the first set of golf clubs from Nana Rose:

On a positive note....

    So things have been a bit crazy in the Muller household since I last blogged.  On Ash Wednesday I made a promise to myself to take start taking a positive outlook on life.... whatever life throws at me there is always something good that can come out of it.  I woke up that morning with a renewed sense of energy and commitment.  My husband left for Chicago that morning, it was just me and the kids until Friday living it up!  I planned on taking the kids to the park, eating out, putting our pj's on at 5 and just taking it easy.

  And then the storm hit. Literally.  A huge storm hit Louisville and our roof leaked right into baby's room.  And two days later I discovered the swamp that was our basement. Yikes.

Charlie's ceiling

   No need to worry!  When life hands you lemons... make lemonade.  We now have a  new roof with lifetime warranty shingles.  Apparently something our poor house desperately needed but we couldn't have had done without a little thing called insurance checks.  And now we are working on finishing our basement which will be converted into a guestroom and playroom for my kids.  HOORAY!! No longer will Matt and I be picking up 170 balls from our living room floor each and every night! 

Woo woot! Fanciful new roof!  Sadly, we chose gray, opposing Caroline's pink roof idea.

   This Lenten season I have truly learned how blessed I am.  To have such wonderful people around me each day.  My two kids who go with the flow (Charlie had to move into our room for 3 weeks while his was being repaired), a husband who spends night after night doting on his family and then working down in the basement, a mom who will help clean out a soaking wet ceiling, and especially Matt's family who has helped us out in more ways than one.  If anyone is ever in need of restoration or flooding services COIT carpet cleaning is the absolute bar-none BEST!!!

   The following are some pictures that celebrate the Spring starting with pics from our Spring break:

Starting off with tubes and adenoids out for Caroline: a total positive since she apparently couldn't really hear much before.... who knew???

Early Easter baskets with Pap Pap and Lulu who will be in Europe for Easter... OOO LaLa!

p.s. thanks pap pap and lulu for the bunny that sings and sings and sings...

UK made it to the final four!! CATS CATS CATS

Cutest Cat fans Ever!

Go CATS!!!!

Zoo trip with mom

Naked mole rats......eeewwww!

Jungle gym at the zoo

Feeding the ducks next to Home Depot

Mowing the lawn is a lot easier when your not on the grass!

Digging in dirt... her sign says "The Earth Laughs"... yep, it laughs at our yard and my garden all of the time!

Barbie Kite Flying Extraordinaire!

Pooped out from all this fun

Tumble Tumble Little Ones

Have I mentioned how much I love Caroline's preschool.  How loved she is there, how loved we feel there, how relaxed and engaging her classroom is.  I really feel that Caroline has come into her own this year.  I love to see how she socializes with her friends and teachers.  Did I mentioned that she's potty trained.  I got a note home from Caroline's teacher about two weeks ago that said she wasn't wearing pull-ups at school anymore and that she really didn't need to wear them at home. "Well that's new" I thought to myself.  I was actually going to go sans diapers over Spring Break.  Apparently another little girl in Caro's class started wearing princess undies and that did the trick.

Sweet Girl

Sunday we were invited to a birthday party for Caroline's friend Molly.  Molly had the Tumblebus (ingenious) come to their school and then celebrated with treats afterward.  A fabulous affair for all! Happy Birthday Molly!

Tumblebus!!!

Music time