Friday Fun

In our month that is jam/packed full of celebrations, sometimes it is refreshing to appreciate a good regular ordinary day.

Since our house is on the market, I am finding it easier to get out of the house with the girls... It's easier to keep it "show ready" that way. After a lazy morning, we ventured out to Target to spend some Birthday gift cards, and what do you know!?! Both girls picked out Ariels.

Ariel is overtaking my home!!!! 

They thought it was so cool to pay for their goodies themselves, and their favorite thing to do at Target is to sit in this red circle thing. I love that the best things in life are free.

Afterwards, we had packed a lunch, and so we went back to Pinkerton Park to eat and play with friends from ballet last year. We had each been to Disney back to back, had even planned our trips together during ballet hour, so we were both aching to swap stories. Aubrey and Addison are both in PreK, and Ainsley and Ansley are both about to be 3. Love it when things work out like that!

Good play equals good rest, so we all three took some hard naps today! After we woke, up we played with new Birthday toys until it was time for Pizza-Movie Friday. The girls got all they could have asked for or dreamed of, and one of their cutest gifts came in the mail yesterday from their sweet friend Mary Ella and her talented momma. These peg princesses are so intricately detailed. Ariel, Belle, and Mulan are displayed in Addison's room, and Cinderella, Sofia, and Aurora are in Ansley's room. 

Haley has an etsy shop where you can buy personalized family peg people, princesses, and Pixar people. We love our long distance friends!

Now, we're just watching some Cinderella with full pizza bellies. Loving these days with little ones in the house. 

So thankful to celebrate the ordinary today with some Good Friday fun!

In our month that is jam/packed full of celebrations, sometimes it is refreshing to appreciate a good regular ordinary day.

Since our house is on the market, I am finding it easier to get out of the house with the girls... It's easier to keep it "show ready" that way. After a lazy morning, we ventured out to Target to spend some Birthday gift cards, and what do you know!?! Both girls picked out Ariels.

Ariel is overtaking my home!!!! 

They thought it was so cool to pay for their goodies themselves, and their favorite thing to do at Target is to sit in this red circle thing. I love that the best things in life are free.

Afterwards, we had packed a lunch, and so we went back to Pinkerton Park to eat and play with friends from ballet last year. We had each been to Disney back to back, had even planned our trips together during ballet hour, so we were both aching to swap stories. Aubrey and Addison are both in PreK, and Ainsley and Ansley are both about to be 3. Love it when things work out like that!

Good play equals good rest, so we all three took some hard naps today! After we woke, up we played with new Birthday toys until it was time for Pizza-Movie Friday. The girls got all they could have asked for or dreamed of, and one of their cutest gifts came in the mail yesterday from their sweet friend Mary Ella and her talented momma. These peg princesses are so intricately detailed. Ariel, Belle, and Mulan are displayed in Addison's room, and Cinderella, Sofia, and Aurora are in Ansley's room. 

Haley has an etsy shop where you can buy personalized family peg people, princesses, and Pixar people. We love our long distance friends!

Now, we're just watching some Cinderella with full pizza bellies. Loving these days with little ones in the house. 

So thankful to celebrate the ordinary today with some Good Friday fun!

Partying like a PRINCESS

Well, today was the day--the day we celebrated my 5 and almost 3-year-old! This is a picture of their beautiful, decadent, dairy and egg free princess cake! [One of my preschool co-worker friends has an amazing cake business that has exploded. If you are in the Middle Tennessee area, you should totally look in to 'Tis So Sweet Cakes.]

They gasped when they saw it! I was overjoyed that Ansley could eat her own cake! She was too--so much so that she had two pieces! ;)

They had fun running around Tinkerbell Playground at Pinkerton Park with their friends and eating cake. It was a beautiful day!

We went to dinner afterwards, and they had so much fun that they looked like this on the way home:

 But they totally got a second wind after bath time. They insisted on wearing their Sofia dresses to open presents from their friends.

These are all of the pictures that I have from my phone, but I didn't want to let the day go by without documenting this special celebration! These girls are blessed with many people in their lives who love them.

Well, today was the day--the day we celebrated my 5 and almost 3-year-old! This is a picture of their beautiful, decadent, dairy and egg free princess cake! [One of my preschool co-worker friends has an amazing cake business that has exploded. If you are in the Middle Tennessee area, you should totally look in to 'Tis So Sweet Cakes.]

They gasped when they saw it! I was overjoyed that Ansley could eat her own cake! She was too--so much so that she had two pieces! ;)

They had fun running around Tinkerbell Playground at Pinkerton Park with their friends and eating cake. It was a beautiful day!

We went to dinner afterwards, and they had so much fun that they looked like this on the way home:

 But they totally got a second wind after bath time. They insisted on wearing their Sofia dresses to open presents from their friends.

These are all of the pictures that I have from my phone, but I didn't want to let the day go by without documenting this special celebration! These girls are blessed with many people in their lives who love them.

Celebrating 5

I cannot believe that my baby is 5.YEARS.OLD.  The day before her Birthday, I instagrammed this collage of some of my favorite photos of her:

It really does seem like just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms for the first time--falling completely in love with this little person, my Addison Camille.

On the day before her Birthday, I made some castle and crown princess cookies and took them to school to share with her class (on Sofia napkins to boot). She was excited to get to wear her special hat and have Mrs. Carrie do the Birthday "cha-cha-cha" with her.

After school we went to our favorite park, Pinkerton, for a play date with Savannah that she had been begging for. Savannah brought her an early birthday surprise too--a Sofia plush doll and...The.Amulet.Of.Avalar. All she has EVER wanted. ;) Loved letting these kiddos play with each other!

The next morning when she woke up, she requested Mickey Mouse pancakes. Of course I obliged the Birthday girl this request, and I surprised her when it came on an Ariel plate with an Ariel napkin and a "5" candle. I wish I had recorded the giggles.

Next she got to open her presents from her great grandparents: Ariel Lego Duplos, duh. The only OTHER thing she has EVER wanted. (We may have heard this a few times. ;) )

 We had to get ready for her 5-year-old well visit, and I let her pick out her clothes. She insisted on bringing Kit (in her Birthday dress--thanks, Mom!) and Sofia just in case she had to get a vaccine.  (I hadn't told her, but she was supposed to get 2. We got there, and they were out of vaccines... Special little Birthday surprise she didn't even know she got...)  She also orchestrated this picture. Bless.

We dropped Ansley off at my mom's since she lives down the street from our pediatrician, and it was Ansley's nap time. On our way there, my dad called and said he was coming home for lunch, so he and mom gave Addison her birthday presents: roller skates and an Alice in Wonderland dress (the ONLY other things she has EVER wanted). We had a quick lunch and went to the doctor where I learned that Addison is in the 95% for height and 65% for weight and is growing and developing as a little 5-year-old girl should.  She wouldn't stop talking to Dr. Leeper (who we love love love as a ped and even-more-so since he is a shepherd at our church)--even as he had a tongue depressor in her mouth. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, and I just shrugged. I did get tickled as I watched him fight getting tickled when she told him that she's really not eating her boogers anymore because they have dirt and germs in them... Bless...

When we picked Ansley up and got back home to make Addison her Birthday dinner of Poppyseed Chicken Casserole, rice, strawberries, and salad (her request), she immediately transformed into Alice and began signing autograph books, playing Disney World with her sister again.

As they waited for Patrick to get home, they stared longingly at her presents that she got to open AFTER dinner.

First she blew out candles again with another iced castle cookie (saving the cake for their little party).

Then she opened her card and money from her Nana and Pop, and by then, her sister was busting at the seams to give her the present that she got her.  She had already told her earlier in the day--I heard her whisper to her--that she had gotten her a new "Kit book," but Addison was sweet and still acted surprised.

Then we gave her our boring ones: clothes and shoes--things she NEEDS. ;)

Then she opened her remaining few things:

Patrick gave the girls a bath, and then Addison put BACK on her Alice in Wonderland dress to watch her movie of choice: The Little Mermaid, of course. ;) [Side note: She has worn this dress EVERY DAY since her Birthday.  Sometimes like this as Alice. Other times, she just wears the blue part, asks for a low ponytail and wears blue slippers as Wendy Darling. Other times, she tucks in the collar, wears princess shoes and a "half-tail" with a ribbon and parades around as Ariel-human. We had NO idea she would love a dress-up dress THIS much, but it has provided HOURS upon HOURS of entertainment.] 

It was the perfect ending to a special day.

At 5 years old, Addison loves princesses, fairy tales, Disney World, Kit Kittredge, playing dress up, writing and coloring, reading, riding her bike, roller skating, and playing soccer. She is starting to read more fluently and is picking up new words and sounds every day. She loves to eat and has been going through a growth spurt. She is trying new things like avocado, mango, other new vegetables, new casseroles, and chicken salad sandwiches from Meridees and the Puffy Muffin are her favorites. She also loves oatmeal cream pies and starbursts. She is very social and makes new friends wherever she goes. She is starting to get more self-conscious about her beautiful curls, and she is starting to evangelize. Her teacher told me last week that she overheard Addison asking one of her friends if she wanted to be a Christian and follow Jesus. ;) Addison told me last night that she "lives life with merriment," and that made my heart overflow with love.

I love this little 5-year-old more than I could ever imagine, and Patrick and I are so thankful for, sometimes challeged with, but mostly blessed by this sweet, spunky, strong-willed, fun-loving, fierce, full-of-life, friendly little girl.

I cannot believe that my baby is 5.YEARS.OLD.  The day before her Birthday, I instagrammed this collage of some of my favorite photos of her:

It really does seem like just yesterday that I was holding her in my arms for the first time--falling completely in love with this little person, my Addison Camille.

On the day before her Birthday, I made some castle and crown princess cookies and took them to school to share with her class (on Sofia napkins to boot). She was excited to get to wear her special hat and have Mrs. Carrie do the Birthday "cha-cha-cha" with her.

After school we went to our favorite park, Pinkerton, for a play date with Savannah that she had been begging for. Savannah brought her an early birthday surprise too--a Sofia plush doll and...The.Amulet.Of.Avalar. All she has EVER wanted. ;) Loved letting these kiddos play with each other!

The next morning when she woke up, she requested Mickey Mouse pancakes. Of course I obliged the Birthday girl this request, and I surprised her when it came on an Ariel plate with an Ariel napkin and a "5" candle. I wish I had recorded the giggles.

Next she got to open her presents from her great grandparents: Ariel Lego Duplos, duh. The only OTHER thing she has EVER wanted. (We may have heard this a few times. ;) )

 We had to get ready for her 5-year-old well visit, and I let her pick out her clothes. She insisted on bringing Kit (in her Birthday dress--thanks, Mom!) and Sofia just in case she had to get a vaccine.  (I hadn't told her, but she was supposed to get 2. We got there, and they were out of vaccines... Special little Birthday surprise she didn't even know she got...)  She also orchestrated this picture. Bless.

We dropped Ansley off at my mom's since she lives down the street from our pediatrician, and it was Ansley's nap time. On our way there, my dad called and said he was coming home for lunch, so he and mom gave Addison her birthday presents: roller skates and an Alice in Wonderland dress (the ONLY other things she has EVER wanted). We had a quick lunch and went to the doctor where I learned that Addison is in the 95% for height and 65% for weight and is growing and developing as a little 5-year-old girl should.  She wouldn't stop talking to Dr. Leeper (who we love love love as a ped and even-more-so since he is a shepherd at our church)--even as he had a tongue depressor in her mouth. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, and I just shrugged. I did get tickled as I watched him fight getting tickled when she told him that she's really not eating her boogers anymore because they have dirt and germs in them... Bless...

When we picked Ansley up and got back home to make Addison her Birthday dinner of Poppyseed Chicken Casserole, rice, strawberries, and salad (her request), she immediately transformed into Alice and began signing autograph books, playing Disney World with her sister again.

As they waited for Patrick to get home, they stared longingly at her presents that she got to open AFTER dinner.

First she blew out candles again with another iced castle cookie (saving the cake for their little party).

Then she opened her card and money from her Nana and Pop, and by then, her sister was busting at the seams to give her the present that she got her.  She had already told her earlier in the day--I heard her whisper to her--that she had gotten her a new "Kit book," but Addison was sweet and still acted surprised.

Then we gave her our boring ones: clothes and shoes--things she NEEDS. ;)

Then she opened her remaining few things:

Patrick gave the girls a bath, and then Addison put BACK on her Alice in Wonderland dress to watch her movie of choice: The Little Mermaid, of course. ;) [Side note: She has worn this dress EVERY DAY since her Birthday.  Sometimes like this as Alice. Other times, she just wears the blue part, asks for a low ponytail and wears blue slippers as Wendy Darling. Other times, she tucks in the collar, wears princess shoes and a "half-tail" with a ribbon and parades around as Ariel-human. We had NO idea she would love a dress-up dress THIS much, but it has provided HOURS upon HOURS of entertainment.] 

It was the perfect ending to a special day.

At 5 years old, Addison loves princesses, fairy tales, Disney World, Kit Kittredge, playing dress up, writing and coloring, reading, riding her bike, roller skating, and playing soccer. She is starting to read more fluently and is picking up new words and sounds every day. She loves to eat and has been going through a growth spurt. She is trying new things like avocado, mango, other new vegetables, new casseroles, and chicken salad sandwiches from Meridees and the Puffy Muffin are her favorites. She also loves oatmeal cream pies and starbursts. She is very social and makes new friends wherever she goes. She is starting to get more self-conscious about her beautiful curls, and she is starting to evangelize. Her teacher told me last week that she overheard Addison asking one of her friends if she wanted to be a Christian and follow Jesus. ;) Addison told me last night that she "lives life with merriment," and that made my heart overflow with love.

I love this little 5-year-old more than I could ever imagine, and Patrick and I are so thankful for, sometimes challeged with, but mostly blessed by this sweet, spunky, strong-willed, fun-loving, fierce, full-of-life, friendly little girl.

A Very Merry Unbirthday Party

 With our trip to Disney this year, I said a big NO to a big Birthday party.

That was hard for me to do.

Even though our little family celebrated Addison and will celebrate Ansley on her upcoming day... even though extended family has and will celebrate them... even though Disney was the best imaginable celebration... It was hard for me...

So hard for me that I bent...just a little...and am having a few friends to the park after school to play and eat cake right smack in the middle of my September and October babies' birthdays. That's all. 1 gathering. The park. Cake. Candles.

But, I am a sucker for anything that warrants making a cute invitation and writing in pretty fonts on envelopes--even if it is just for a few of them. ;) And we had just returned from a magical adventure that had the princess love exploding, so how could I withhold my girls a princess party at the pinnacle of their obsessions, right!?!

So, tada.

It is documented, and the girls don't even know it is small scale. Love them for that.

I love Birthdays. What can I say? So celebrate we will!

 With our trip to Disney this year, I said a big NO to a big Birthday party.

That was hard for me to do.

Even though our little family celebrated Addison and will celebrate Ansley on her upcoming day... even though extended family has and will celebrate them... even though Disney was the best imaginable celebration... It was hard for me...

So hard for me that I bent...just a little...and am having a few friends to the park after school to play and eat cake right smack in the middle of my September and October babies' birthdays. That's all. 1 gathering. The park. Cake. Candles.

But, I am a sucker for anything that warrants making a cute invitation and writing in pretty fonts on envelopes--even if it is just for a few of them. ;) And we had just returned from a magical adventure that had the princess love exploding, so how could I withhold my girls a princess party at the pinnacle of their obsessions, right!?!

So, tada.

It is documented, and the girls don't even know it is small scale. Love them for that.

I love Birthdays. What can I say? So celebrate we will!

Birthday Sunday

One of my favorite things about my church, Otter Creek, is the way that they celebrate and honor the Birthdays of the children. The first Sunday of each month, they call all of the children whose Birthdays fall in that month up on stage--kids in the range if ones who are celebrating their first birthdays all the way up to those celebrating their 18th Birthdays. Then they sing the Birthday song followed by a verse of "May The Lord Bless You." It is really so special.

Today my upcoming almost 3-year-old celebrated her Birthday Sunday.

Her sister was excited for her.

Patrick and I are so thankful to be raising our girls in such a loving church. This Birthday Sunday is a small thing that has a big impact. It's a way to make a big church feel a little bit smaller. 

Loved celebrating this October girl's Birthday month!

One of my favorite things about my church, Otter Creek, is the way that they celebrate and honor the Birthdays of the children. The first Sunday of each month, they call all of the children whose Birthdays fall in that month up on stage--kids in the range if ones who are celebrating their first birthdays all the way up to those celebrating their 18th Birthdays. Then they sing the Birthday song followed by a verse of "May The Lord Bless You." It is really so special.

Today my upcoming almost 3-year-old celebrated her Birthday Sunday.

Her sister was excited for her.

Patrick and I are so thankful to be raising our girls in such a loving church. This Birthday Sunday is a small thing that has a big impact. It's a way to make a big church feel a little bit smaller. 

Loved celebrating this October girl's Birthday month!

Celebrating Getting Our Fix

When you're missing Disney, the next best thing is to go to Disney on Ice, right?!? Especially when you have two little girls and the theme is "Princesses and Heroes."

There will never be another surprise that matches the friendly bomb we dropped here, but we still get so excited about surprising our girls with fun things, and they were so excited when I told them where we would be going tonight!

Addison beamed and told me that she just knew that those princesses could find her in Tennessee, and she asked if they took the "Magical Express" to get to the airport to fly here all the way from Disney World. ;) love that kid.

When the "When you wish upon a star" intro came on, and Mickey and Minnie skated to mid-rink, the girls squealed and yelled, "We miss you!!!"

Then we settled in to watch the spectacular show.

We loved it all!

The girls kept "oohing and ahing" and marveling that the princesses were such amazing skaters.

I will never tire of seeing and experiencing moments through the fresh, animated, joy-spilling eyes of my children.

We had so much fun, and it definitely gave us our fix...

For now.

When you're missing Disney, the next best thing is to go to Disney on Ice, right?!? Especially when you have two little girls and the theme is "Princesses and Heroes."

There will never be another surprise that matches the friendly bomb we dropped here, but we still get so excited about surprising our girls with fun things, and they were so excited when I told them where we would be going tonight!

Addison beamed and told me that she just knew that those princesses could find her in Tennessee, and she asked if they took the "Magical Express" to get to the airport to fly here all the way from Disney World. ;) love that kid.

When the "When you wish upon a star" intro came on, and Mickey and Minnie skated to mid-rink, the girls squealed and yelled, "We miss you!!!"

Then we settled in to watch the spectacular show.

We loved it all!

The girls kept "oohing and ahing" and marveling that the princesses were such amazing skaters.

I will never tire of seeing and experiencing moments through the fresh, animated, joy-spilling eyes of my children.

We had so much fun, and it definitely gave us our fix...

For now.

Let her eat cake...

Well, it happened. Somehow, our baby turned 1, and I am still reeling at how fast this year went by.

Part 2 of our celebration included Ansley eating her very own birthday cake, something that at one point during the first year of her life, I wasn't sure would ever happen. If you've been around here, you know that she suffers with severe allergies to milk and eggs (and earlier in her life, to MANY other things). Thankfully she got to eat her very own ladybug (not to be mistaken for porcupine :) ) cake:
The winning recipe (I tried several) was 1 box Classic Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix (the only milk free kind I have found), 1 can of pumpkin, and 1/2 cup of water.

We stripped her down to watch for rashes, but there was no need because she did GREAT!

I made each of the cousins their own bugs and the adults cupcakes with these cute toppers.
We started off her party with a prayer from Patrick over her precious life.
Then we ate lunch. I served only things that Ansley could eat, and our menu was barbeque sandwiches, baked beans, chips, apples, and cake. The kids had some hot dogs too. Ansley had her favorite: bananas and peas. :) She'll end up being the healthiest eater of all of us.
Then we had cake!
And opened presents...

Then we went outside for some family pictures.




For treats, I got the girl cousins ladybug cups, stickers, and bubbles. I got Sawyer a book and bubbles. I also displayed her costume picture that I took on her actual birthday, the invitation the Haley designed for her, and her costume. We ladybugged it out! :)
And finally, my sweet girl on her birthday:


At one-year-old, Ansley weighs 20 pounds, 3 ounces and is in the 30th%, is 29 3/4 inches long and is in the 70th%, and has a head in the 95%.

She is learning to walk, and takes more steps and gains more confidence each day.

She moves her mouth all the time, and some of her new words are "gobble, tree, night-night, peas, potato, chicken, Bible, this, look, book, Elmo, Big Bird, Dora, and Boots.

Her favorite foods are peas and bananas and cheerios. As of last Thursday, she is no longer a breastfed baby! She is drinking 20 ounces each day of the second stage soy formula from a cup (but I still give her a bottle at night)! We are going to keep her on this for a little while so that she can have a complete nutrition for a little longer, and then we are going to transition her to straight soy milk. She is eating a mixture of finger foods and pureed foods. Getting her nutrition is my main concern with our slow start, so I am taking my time with making her do all finger foods.

She loves books. Elmo's So Big, Are You Ticklish?, Twinkle Toes, and Brown Bear are her current faves. At night, when I am reading to her, she signs for "more" when we finish a book. It makes my heart so happy.

We are thankful to have a happy little one year old in our house! Thanks to everyone who celebrated her birthday with her. She is so blessed!

Well, it happened. Somehow, our baby turned 1, and I am still reeling at how fast this year went by.

Part 2 of our celebration included Ansley eating her very own birthday cake, something that at one point during the first year of her life, I wasn't sure would ever happen. If you've been around here, you know that she suffers with severe allergies to milk and eggs (and earlier in her life, to MANY other things). Thankfully she got to eat her very own ladybug (not to be mistaken for porcupine :) ) cake:
The winning recipe (I tried several) was 1 box Classic Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix (the only milk free kind I have found), 1 can of pumpkin, and 1/2 cup of water.

We stripped her down to watch for rashes, but there was no need because she did GREAT!

I made each of the cousins their own bugs and the adults cupcakes with these cute toppers.
We started off her party with a prayer from Patrick over her precious life.
Then we ate lunch. I served only things that Ansley could eat, and our menu was barbeque sandwiches, baked beans, chips, apples, and cake. The kids had some hot dogs too. Ansley had her favorite: bananas and peas. :) She'll end up being the healthiest eater of all of us.
Then we had cake!
And opened presents...

Then we went outside for some family pictures.




For treats, I got the girl cousins ladybug cups, stickers, and bubbles. I got Sawyer a book and bubbles. I also displayed her costume picture that I took on her actual birthday, the invitation the Haley designed for her, and her costume. We ladybugged it out! :)
And finally, my sweet girl on her birthday:


At one-year-old, Ansley weighs 20 pounds, 3 ounces and is in the 30th%, is 29 3/4 inches long and is in the 70th%, and has a head in the 95%.

She is learning to walk, and takes more steps and gains more confidence each day.

She moves her mouth all the time, and some of her new words are "gobble, tree, night-night, peas, potato, chicken, Bible, this, look, book, Elmo, Big Bird, Dora, and Boots.

Her favorite foods are peas and bananas and cheerios. As of last Thursday, she is no longer a breastfed baby! She is drinking 20 ounces each day of the second stage soy formula from a cup (but I still give her a bottle at night)! We are going to keep her on this for a little while so that she can have a complete nutrition for a little longer, and then we are going to transition her to straight soy milk. She is eating a mixture of finger foods and pureed foods. Getting her nutrition is my main concern with our slow start, so I am taking my time with making her do all finger foods.

She loves books. Elmo's So Big, Are You Ticklish?, Twinkle Toes, and Brown Bear are her current faves. At night, when I am reading to her, she signs for "more" when we finish a book. It makes my heart so happy.

We are thankful to have a happy little one year old in our house! Thanks to everyone who celebrated her birthday with her. She is so blessed!