Kayla's Birthday Party

  My little girl is 6 years old! It is so hard to believe.  I will write more about that in my next post, but since we had her party the day before her birthday I will start here.  All week the weather forecast went back and forth as to if it was going to rain or not.  Thankfully we had a wonderful party outside and the kids had so much fun playing.  That's my kind of party. Order food, order cake, mow backyard, put out the toys, and let them have at it. 

The pink Barbie jeep is always fun.  We just had 2 little babies and a volleyball net to watch out for.

  

They even make up their own games!

2 babies + 1 red car = 1 interesting afternoon

Chasing butterflies.

Silly girls!

 

Kayla was quite embarrassed when we started singing "Happy Birthday." She is so much like her mama in that she doesn't care for a crowd of attention to be on her.

Brooke is loving her freedom walking.  Occasionally we will see her crawling and that seems so strange. She is quite comfortable walking on the grass now and she LOVES being outside.

Kayla is blessed to have so many people who love her and want to share in her special day. 

Brooke and her Nana. 

Sharing some kool-aid.  We put some of the individual powdered kool-aids in the pinata and of course the girls had to try it out as soon as everyone left the party.  I don't think we have ever made kool-aid and they think it is the greatest thing that you mix it up in a bottle of water and then you get a sugary treat.

Daddy wrote "Happy Birthday Kayla" on the patio and Kayla followed it up with her own sweet message.

That night when I asked Kayla if her party was as fun as she thought it would be she told me that it was even more fun.  I guess that makes for a successful party.  Happy Birthday sweet Kayla!

Spring Break Part 3

Today is going to be blog catch up day.  We have had a lot of exciting things going on.  The Andersons invited us to join them on a tour of Cagle's Dairy.  Kayla had been asking to go for weeks since she passes the farm every week going to and from soccer practice and games.  When the Andersons said they were going we of course had to join in the fun.  Emily spent the night with us so we brought her along for the fun. 

 First we learned about plants and they even planted a pepper plant on the farm.  Seems to me that is a sneaky way of getting free labor, but that's just my opinion. Next we headed over to a barn where we saw a calf drinking milk out of a bottle as well as several other animals.  The girls we given some cabbage to feed the animals. Macy got her little finger snapped by a duck.  Poor baby, but she was as good as new after some love from her mama.

When then got to see how a cow was milked.  The elderly man was difficult to understand, but it was still neat to watch. 

We then loaded up for a hay ride that took us around the property and we watched the herding dogs in action.  The first puppy herded some sheep.  The second dog was older and brought these cows right up to the tractor.  I thought I knew what nasty cow smelled like, but these cows STUNK! Oh my!

After feeding the goats we were finished with our tour.  The girls had a great time and we were lucky enough to experience the fun of Cagle's Dairy with some dear friends.

Brooke missed her morning nap and konked out in the car.

Just a couple of random pictures of Brooke to wrap up the post.  This girl can down some cinnamon waffles.  Actually all three of the girls love these waffles and we can easily go through half a box in one morning.  As you can see Brooke is not going to let anyone take her breakfast from her.

 

Brooke loves her babies and has now figured out how to carry a purse.  I officially have three prissy girls on my hands and I couldn't be happier about it.  I love all things girly!

Happy Birthday Kayla!

Kayla celebrated her 6th birthday today.  This was the first year that we didn't have a family day because she was in school.  Marc still took the day off and we had lunch with Kayla and brought her a cookie cake to share with her friends. 

When I asked her what she wanted for dinner I told her we could go to a restaurant or I would cook whatever she wanted.  Her request was chicken nuggets (I made some breaded chicken breasts - healthier option), pasta with parmesan cheese, and peas.  I surprised her with our new favorite homemade bread - garlic poppers.   After dinner she opened her presents from the family and she got a new bike! She has really outgrown her old one, and while this one is still a little big for her, it is much better than her old one.

She spent some time playing outside while my mom so graciously helped me clean up the mess I made in the kitchen.

And before long she was ready for some cake! When she came home from school I had 7 baked cakes on the dining room table and I had to tell her that none were for her.  Ha! I needed them for my science class the next day, but I did save some batter and made a couple of cupcakes.  With leftover birthday cake from the party and leftover cookie cake from her class we had enough cakes.  She was quite pleased with her little pink frosted cupcake.

Kayla, 

You have grown into such an amazing little girl.  You are loving, kind, sensitive, helpful, and you love Jesus.  I am so blessed to be able to call you my daughter.  I love you so much and I am excited to see what this next year of your life has in store for you and our family.

Love, 

Mommy

Spring Break Part 2

On Monday we went to Tellus Museum with my mom.  My mom had never been and since it is fairly close to our house we decided to spend a few hours there.  We started with a picnic lunch which is always fun for the girls.  It wasn't very crowded so we were able to allow the girls some freedom to roam.  Even Brooke enjoyed walking around. We worked "backwards" through the museum so that we hit the exploring area last.  I knew that if they started playing then the rest of the museum wouldn't hold much interest. Kayla enjoyed seeing some of the things that she has learned about in my science class this year. 

 

We didn't spend too much time digging for fossils or panning for gemstones, and they didn't seem to be as interested in it as they have been in the past. 

Spring Break Part 1

This past week was spring break, and it was really the first spring break we have ever had.  Sure, we've had a week of of dance and Timothy each year, but that is just a couple of small things.  With Kayla being in school this year, and spending 3 days a week homeschooling her, this has truly felt like a week off.  We have had a lot of fun and Kayla has already said she doesn't want to go back to school because she loves spring break so much. This coming from my child that LOVES school.

Brooke is finally eating some vegetables.  She loved gnawing on the corn and has had broccoli on several occasions this week.

Saturday kicked off with Kayla's soccer game.

And we spent time playing outside.

We had a few mood swings, but with three girls that's nothing new.

Just Some Pictures

I tried once again to get some pictures of my girls in their matching shirts.  Not an easy task.

Precious little girl fell asleep in my arms.  It's been years since that has happened, and it is probably the last time it will ever happen with her.  I cherish those moments. 

Grabbing a late snack before bath time.  

School Time After Lights Out

Kayla and Macy have shared a room for 2 years now, and we still struggle to get them to go to sleep some nights.  They LOVE to play together after we have turned the lights out.  We do allow for that some nights of the week, but not when we have to get up for school or church the next morning.  We also make it very clear on the nights that they have to go right to sleep that there is to be no playing.  If they do play it would be disobedience, and they know all about the consequences that come with disobedience.  Still, we often have to go back in their room and lay down the law, so to speak.  One night Marc heard them playing as we headed upstairs for the night.  He walked in to find this sight.  They were playing school and had lined up EVERY doll and stuffed animal in the room as the students.  They were working on a art project of designing shirts so the girls had pulled out a "few" examples for their students to see.  I love that they play so well together, but oh my, the mess those two can make.

Soccer

Soccer season has begun! Marc and our good friend Mark A. are coaching the girls again this year.  Kayla LOVES playing and LOVES that her daddy is the coach.  Marc LOVES coaching the little ones and LOVES that the uniforms this year are orange and white. ha!

 Got myself another people watcher in the family.

Last year Kayla was one of the smallest players on the team. Well, not just the team, but the entire 4/5 year old division.  While she is still pretty small for her age she has grown and isn't quite as intimidated as she was last year.  She will get in the middle of things and try to get that ball! (She is #5.)

Resting.

I am so proud of her and all that she is doing.  Macy enjoys our special time Thursday nights while Daddy and Kayla have soccer practice, and she did great at the game last week.  She hasn't shown any disappointment that her sister gets to play and she doesn't.  I'm sure she will be excited when it is her turn next year, but I'm not sure what Marc will do about coaching with two girls playing!

Just Some Pictures

We are starting to phase out Macy's naps.  It's not always easy in the afternoons and evenings, but most of the time it is easier to get her in bed at night.  She does still occasionally fall asleep in the car or while watching a movie.  I just LOVE watching my babies sleep.

Brooke thinks she is such a big girl sitting at the table just like her sisters do.  The chair is still a little too big for her to get in and out of by herself, but she absolutely loves sitting in it.  

Kayla and Macy spent some time coloring our patio with chalk.  They made this huge blue rectangle and Brooke thought it was great.  She was covered in blue chalk.

Kayla worked so hard on making a lemonade and apple cider stand.  She loves that she can read (and read quite well for a kindergartner I might add), spell, and write.