Up on the Mountain

This past weekend we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior on Easter! We are so thankful for our time with family and so we thought we'd enjoy the day with them in the beautiful creation that surrounds us! I don't think I've been to Grandfather Mt. since I was a little, so it was fun taking my little ones! It was an amazingly beautiful day!! The mile high swinging bridge is still crazy high! We loved being with my mom and sister!! Enjoy the pics and breath taking scenery!

The Adventures of You, Me, and Junie B.

We have some very special friends who have known me for several years and are like a second family to me, and now all 4 of us. "Poppa Wade and Junie B"... as our children call them came up for a visit on Saturday. We had a wonderful time!! We cherish their friendship and feel so blessed to be a part of their family! We went to lunch, to play on a play ground, then played around our house before we grilled out! Thanks for coming to see us!

Fun at the park!

Easter Egg hunting!!

Playing hide and go seek... can you find Sadie Mac and Junie B???

Poppa Wade and Noah

Junie B reading to Sadie Mac

Little Helpers

Earlier this week NanNan had some things for us to do around the house, one of which staining some paneling. Sadie Mac was beside herself to HELP with the staining so, NanNan came up with a good plan. She stained a board with a paint brush and some water. She LOVED it!! She is a big fan of anything she can do to be with Daddy... I'm not sure who is wrapped around whose finger?!?


Noah was helping NanNan... just by being there


Easter Helpers...
Sadie Mac and I decided to make some fun Easter egg cupcakes for some friends. I'm wanting to be more crafty and creative, so I found this idea in a magazine and feel like they turned out pretty well. Sadie Mac's favorite part, was of course helping me clean the bowl!




Noah helped by staying happy in his jumper seat... His little legs won't reach the ground so we have a box and book under him to stand on! (Thanks Aunt Heather for letting us borrow it!)

Princess Tea Party

Well, speaking of tea parties from our last post, we had a wonderful opportunity for Princess Sadie Mac to meet all the Disney Princesses this past weekend and enjoy a tea party with them and her friend Sydney Kate. Sunday morning at church, our friends told us about the "Princess Tea Party" and we thought we'd join in on the fun!! At first, Sadie was a little hesitant... so we went down stairs and enjoyed our lemonade/tea and cookie with our friends and the other little princesses... then we went back upstairs to meet the Princesses. She had a great time although wasn't a fan of stopping to pose for a pic, so I just did the best I could. We had a great time and now I love seeing my little girl "twirl" like Cinderella taught her.

This is her Co-Princess, Sydney Kate

Cinderella, about to teach her the "twirl"

Tinkerbell... a favorite with her pixie dust!

Bell... and her beautiful gown.

Snow White... the dwarfs were also there!

Ariel, The Little Mermaid... and her beautiful tale

Even Alice in Wonderland showed up to enjoy a cookie with us!

Tiaras and Tea Parties

I LOVE being a mom. I can't just leave it at that though, I love being a mom to Sadie Mac (and Noah of course.) Sadie Mac is so funny and full of life. Her imagination and "drama" make me laugh, cry, scream, and bring me more joy than I ever thought I could know. I love that girl.


Today, while Stephen was working on French, I was trying to put Noah down to sleep and I had asked her to play quietly in her room, by herself (which she hates). I told her I would play with her after Noah was asleep. She kept coming to me, yelling for me, doing everything I had asked her NOT to do. Alas, we had to have a mother/daughter "talk". After a few tears on her part and having to play in her room for a while on her own, I decided to fix us a surprise tea party.
First, I went into her room and had her dress up... and she dressed me in her tutu, on my head... while she was all decked out with a purple crown, down to the glittery shoes on her toes! We enjoyed our tea party, full with "tea", fruit, and cookies. I am so thankful for that gift. As many moms can relate (and I'm sure my own can too...) as frustrated in one moment as I can be at her... I love her that much more in the next.

Our New Best Friend

The Rhyne family is on the move... on our way to a land where we will be speaking French!! It's true... sad and exciting all in the same breath. Here is a little bit of the "why"?
We found out at Noah's two month check up that he has hypothyroidism, which means he doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is quite serious in little babies and he has to be closely monitored until he's three. Due to the importance of his monitoring, we can no longer live in the sandbox. (The sad part) However, we love what we do and living overseas is a true adventure for our family so we continued to look for jobs, and found one in Paris!! (Hence, the exciting part).
As soon as we found out we would be moving to France (hopefully in the coming month or so, depending on how fast we can get a visa), we will be on our way. So, until then... we are practicing our new language. Even Sadie Mac likes to use the little headset!! Parlez vous francais?

Toddler Toes... and MORE!

Sadie is loving having almost daily pedicures and manicures. She now not only wants to receive them, but wants to give them. And what kind of mom would I be if I didn't let my little girl paint my finger nails and toe nails?!? (But, to be honest, the finger nails I always do a very LIGHT color!!) Here are my beautifully done toe nails!!


This past weekend, Noah and I went down to sunny south Florida to see a good friend of mine from college. We had a great time and had a nice break from the cold and snow that Stephen said we had while I was away! We played in the beach and the pool and little guy loved his "auntie" Jill. Fun in the sun for sure! (or shade for Noah!)




Grandmommie had a big birthday a few weeks ago and the whole gang came into town. Here is the birthday girl with all 8 of her grandchildren!


We have recently started giving Noah rice cereal in hopes this will fill his belly a little more to give mommy some more sleep at night. (Here is crossing my fingers to that one!) Can't believe he's growing so fast!


Here is our growing boy... 4 months! (a few weeks ago!)