Snapshots

Busy day led to a quick drive thru Wendy's stop for lunch. Ella couldn't stay awake long enough to finish her nuggets.

playing airplane with Mommy and Baby Lillian

Few things are cuter than this. Ella has a bit of a shoe fetish and feels pretty grown up in her big girl undies. Put the two together and she has rock star status.

Abby doesn't nap most afternoons, but chooses quiet playtime instead. Last week, I went down to check on her and found her sound asleep!

my morning work buddy

Who needs a stuffed animal when you have Oliver?

Calling Grammy

Rainy days and cardboard boxes = decorate your own car afternoon

Ella is the mommy. Abby is her baby.  Ella had to take a call, while she rocked Abby to sleep.

Daddy had to go to work one night after dinner for a few hours. He made Abby's night when he invited her to join him at Panera for a cookie and same Gameboy time while he worked. She felt like the most special little girl and went to spend some time side by side with her Daddy (in her PJs and all).

Mix matched fashionista?

no words

Afternoons like this are perfect for large stacks of new library books in the hammock with my little loves

Sisters and their secrets. Ella: "Tell me something in my ear!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3lph9ee4s8&index=1&list=UUE9rj8wUMKGKSsg2SQUzVMQ

Movie Night with Daddy. I was out working one night and Joe sent me these sweet videos with the captions: "Abby is that person you go to the movies with that asks a question about the movie every other second and wants to chat with you the whole time. Reminds me of her mother! :)"

She just loves quality time. We have learned that we need to make space every night to allow Abby to process life and share her thoughts with us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdYRMT32MJ8&index=4&list=UUE9rj8wUMKGKSsg2SQUzVMQ

Movie Night with Daddy: Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6QstVWfu1w&list=UUE9rj8wUMKGKSsg2SQUzVMQ&index=3

Because every boy needs a bow tie!

I couldn't stage this if I tried. He grabs his blankie and curls right up on the couch for a nap. This sweet boy really is like our third kid.

"Don't bother me, Mom!"

Calling Uncle Cory

Ella loves her puzzles!

OAC Community Day 2014

Every year, our church hosts a Friends and Family Day, complete with great food, pony rides, a bounce house, sno cones, cotton candy, face painting and an little animal petting zoo. It's a great opportunity to invite new people to join us for church and enjoy a fun time together afterward. The kids look forward to it every year. They love running free with their little friends. The weather always seems to be beautiful!

This year, Ella was old enough to enjoy the festivities too. Both girls had their faces painted, tried cotton candy for the first time and rode ponies. Ella was pretty fascinated by the caged chickens and her little peeps. She wanted to sit down with the sheep and play for hours. Everything in me wanted to chase her with antibacterial every time she loved on the little sheep, but tried to restrain my neurotic tendencies until she was done! I'm not the biggest fan of petting/feeding (smelly) farm animals, but I totally don't want to rob my kids of the "experience". I was the one freaking out at Catskill Game Farm as a kid because the petting zoo was running lose all around me and the cheeseburger stand we ate at was right next to the giraffes and their fly friends. My girls don't seem to be bothered by any of it and think they are sweet. I think a redeeming trip to Catskill Game Farm may be in our near future.

loving their pretty face paint

Ella's first ride

The FACE! :) I love her. Joe would say...proof that she is her mother's daughter

"I rode a pony today!"

Abby looked like such a big girl when she climbed up this year.

love her

Ella and her buddy Mason checking out the little chicks.

That sheep! Ahhhh...

Family BBQ

We had lots of fun at Aunt Charlene and Uncle Vic's annual family BBQ.  We enjoyed spending time with family. The weather threatened to rain us out, but we stole moments outside in between the storms. The girls loved spending time with their cousins. You would never know they hadn't seen each other in a year. This year, they had a blast playing on the big blow up water slide.

When I was seven, my aunt gave me one of the best gifts ever for Christmas. She filled a box with every office supply my little heart could handle and made me an insta-box for playing school and office. I'm pretty sure I squealed with excitement for weeks when I played with it. The "While You Were Out" pads got me every time.

After the BBQ, she sent me home with a sealed box addressed to our girls. We opened it to find their box overflowed with everything you could dream to play school with, including rolls of labels with their names on them. Their faces say it all! We've been playing with it for days. If you are looking for us, we are usually somewhere playing school.

Abby's First Day of Pre-K

It's official! We have joined the "First Day" club. As much as I don't want my babies to grow up, I've also been excited for the day when my kids get to experience the amazing experience that is school. I've always loved all things school and learning. Abby is no different. We have been doing school together for years. Not because I was pushing her academically, but because she always wants to learn something. She begs to read, do math problems, learn how to cook, make arts and crafts and even loves sitting in a structured environment with schedules and rules. It is so much fun for her and I can totally relate.

As a little girl, I remember what it felt like to put on my new outfit and backpack filled with new supplies, the smell of the first day in the air, and walk through the doors of a new classroom. I remember how I felt finding my new hook or desk. I especially remember the excitement and feeling of new beginnings and adventure that the first day of a new school year represents. So, as much as I love having Abby at home with me all day, I was just as excited as her for the new experience that awaited her.

 

Our Pre-K is three days a week from 8:30-11:30. She already loves her teacher and new routine.

 

 

As I held Abby's hand and walked her into her new classroom (and into this new season of life), I was reminded again of the total blessing it is to be a mom to these little girls. The days are long, but the years are short, aren't they? 

In other news, it totally smelled like the first day of school. Wish I could make that scent into a candle. I'm totally the grown adult who gets giddy over the smell of paste and new books.

  

The theme this year at Abby's school is God's promises. I love hearing what she is learning about God and his promises when she comes home every day.

Abby's very first piece of school art

 Abby's teacher, Mrs. K, takes pictures of the kids throughout the week and shares them with us in a weekly newsletter. I love having glimpses of what my little girl is enjoying while I'm not with her. She is learning a lot, having fun and making new friends.

I gave Abby a first day of school interview. Her responses are below: