Story Time

I haven't posted about story time in a while because it is just one of those things we do every week after gymnastics.  The girls STILL love going each week.  When I was a new stay at home mom about to drown in baby toys and lack of adult conversation, a little library in Little Rock saved me!  Amelia and I started going to story time there and Barnes and Noble and we never looked back. 

This is how we always start.  Elise in front of me and Amelia in front of her.  Try to pay attention and not be distracted by Elise's hair...

The girls volunteered to show the activity on this day.  They love our teacher!

This is how they usually end up--all sprawled out on the germy floor.  I don't even fight it anymore.

Amelia loves these letter beanbags they have in the play area and had a blast practicing her words last week. 

 I am so grateful for the wonderful library systems in Springfield.  The program here is top notch and of course I am obsessed with all things books.  They have a cute cafe that we eat lunch at sometimes and I have gotten a couple of great gifts at their giftshop.  Library love.


Something else I love, as you know, is Amelia's sweet little preschool.  Here she is standing up on a special chair while the class sings her Happy Birthday. 

Eating cookies with her buddy Gavin

I took cookies and the kids ate them very quickly and had time before the day was over, so Mrs. Lisa got out some activity centers for the kids to do.  I was going to wait in the hall because they weren't focusing with me in there.  Elise asked to stay and do the centers and Mrs. Lisa let her.  I cracked up.  This is a picture I took through the parent spy window of Elise and Lila doing the color center.  It was hilarious- she just went and did the stations like it was her class.

When You Give a Four Year Old a Bike

When you give a four year old a new bike for her birthday, she is going to want to try it out.  When you let her try it out inside, she will want to go for the gold and try it outside.  When you get outside, you will take a picture to capture this wonderful bike riding day.

 When you let her try it outside, you will not need to bring her coat because the weather on this certain day will be GLORIOUS.  When she does so well outside, she will want to try to ride ALL the way to the bridge.

When you agree to let her try this, since she is FOUR, she will want to stop to take a break because her legs are tired (since she is FOUR) and throw some rocks in the river.

When she remembers she is on a great journey, she will hop back on the bike and reach her goal.  When she gets to the top, she will hop off her bike and do a few victory poses.

 When she starts the trek back down, you will have to choke back tears because your baby is FOUR and has just biked to the bridge.  When she rides all the way to the car, you will just go ahead and cry because she just biked a mile her first time on a bike.

Pirate Party Highlights

 This party was entirely Amelia's vision. She has known exactly what she wanted this party to be for well over half the year.  And for that, I am thankful.  Parties and hosting aren't really my thing, but she made it so easy.  She wanted to be Izzy and wanted everyone in costume.  This was her number one request.  Thankfully, I have a fabulous family who got into it and made it totally hilarious and fantastic for my girl. 

Julie let us borrow this Captain Hook outfit and Amelia could not stop jumping up and down when her daddy emerged in it.

Here are the girls' sweet faces when Jen and crew walked in.

Our precious pirate family.  Like MY WHOLE HEART is in this photo.

ARGH, MATEY.  She was giddy to see her G and Pa in costume.

Jessalyn held Elise QUITE awhile because she could not figure out why her dad had on the strangest wig...

 Back in November, Jen made an awesome, 3-D pumpkin cake for Meme's birthday and Amelia said, "If Aunt Jen can do that, she can make me a treasure chest cake."  She even had me call Jen that night after we got home and ask her to do it.  And, Jen is a perfectionist to the core and delivered this...

Amelia was tickled as can be.  She ate about 75 of those gold dabloons and devoured the candy on top.  I couldn't believe that all the scallywags ate the ENTIRE cake.  It was that good.

Ross and Tom

Oh how I love this picture of Jake and Izzy.  They are best friends on the show and Amelia was thrilled beyond thrilled that Ingrid chose to be him.  Steph made the vest and it is a spitting image of Jake's. 

This is the whole crew:  Cubby, Izzzy, and Jake

Jen made the prettiest pirate ever.

I was a little worried about Amelia opening her gifts because she was so excited that it was HER special day and HER presents and HER party.  I had talked with her a little about letting her cousins/sister help and look at her toys, but didn't want to harp on it, because it was indeed her special day.  However, I just couldn't believe how sweet and kind she was.  Inviting the girls up to see her gifts.  Asking if they wanted to help.  Sharing what she opened almost immediately.  That's the stuff tears are made of.  So proud of my big girl.

Cutest packaging by Aunt Steph, of course

HAHA Smee, Izzy, and Skully the bird-- loved their outfits

Henderson Crew plus one

New car from Meme and Pop!  They couldn't come to the party due to Meme have shingles and being in incredible pain.  Such a sad thing, but Amelia handled it very well and loved their gift. 

She asked for a (very expensive) curling stick from the mall.  Each time we are in there she begs to get her hair curled for free and when they try to sell me the curling stick she screams, "YES, we will take it."  I got it for her and then wanted to bawl because she seems so old.

Her new outfit face.

Modeling her new necklace from Jessalyn and Brandt.  She slightly loved it.

She made a special wish, but wouldn't tell me!!  My special wish came true.  I prayed so hard for health on her party day and tons of energy and fun and excitement.  I prayed that her kind heart would shine through and that her expectations would be exceeded.  I prayed for a lasting memory of love and a house full of family.  All of these prayers were answered and God's goodness was just poured out on my home during the party.  I truly felt it.  A pirate party fit for a princess.

ALMOST Four

My sweet girl woke up on the morning of her party and immediately started doing "The Party Dance."  These pictures really capture her sweet spunk.  She was excited from the moment her eyes popped open. (Her sissy shared in the joy)

She saw the presents that I had wrapped while she was asleep and begged to open one before the party and I obliged.  A Lalaloopsy drawing pad :)  She got right to work creating a masterpiece. 

Ross and the girls headed off to church while I finished getting everything ready for the party.  Pirate pictures coming up ye landlubber.

Visiting Lily (And Brandy and Nate and Ginger)

Two weekends ago, we headed to Conway to see the Hopkins.  Actually, we left from Harrison after a quick visit and we were so excited to see their new house and her baby bump and of course, play with Lily.  The girls did great on the trip down and slept most of the way.  When we got there, Lily was asleep for her nap and so we just played with all her toys and toured the house!

This front door is one of my favorite parts of the new house!

It took her a while to get going when she woke up because Amelia was insistent on smothering her with love and hugs and kisses!  We had a yummy supper of lasagna and then Playdough fun.  They had a great time playing together and Lily even shared her high chair with Elise, which for some reason, was VERY important to my little one.

Amelia told me leading up to the visit that she was NOT going to like Nathan and was going to be very shy around him.  Here she is cracking up at him as he is playing with her.  Needless to say, she loved him. 

When we lived in Little Rock, we took care of sweet Ginger a couple of times when Brandy and Nate went on trips and she has always had a bond with Ross.  I don't know if she remembered him, but she stuck to him like glue.  Too sweet.

Someone else loved her too. Amelia cannot wait, "to get a dog just like her and name her the exact same name."  Lol.

Their home is so gorgeous.  We loved the big, open playroom upstairs and had a blast playing outside in their massive backyard.  The girls just ran and ran.

Brandy was tired and nauseous and preggo and STILL the best host with homemade delicious meals.  We had a great weekend with our friends!!