March Photo Drop - Part 1

So March is halfway through, which I hope means that the snow will be a thing of the past very soon! We did have snow on Ethan's birthday, the 16th, which was crazy.  Thankfully we didn't have to get out it in, but it was pretty.  Hayden and I got to go see the Lego movie with some friends.  Sh may have fallen asleep within the first 20 minutes but still says it was a great movie.  

And then spring break happened.  Thankfully i got to share my spring break week with Hayden. We spent Monday and Tuesday running around and enjoying the time together.  We visited Bass Pro Shops (to see the animals) per Hay's request. Abbs and I went to the library story time.  We played outside. We went to my school's playground.  Whew.  And then Grandma Diddle came down to visit. She took both girls back with her for a few days to the farm. They were excited and I have no doubt that they had fun. 

Hayden and Ethan also did a project at Lowes - she made a birdhouse! We had to buy some paint, yellow paint, so she could make it pretty. So far no birds have moved in. 

Other than that, it's been the normal silly, chaotic, loveable days here at the house.  Ethan and i love sitting back and watching the girls interact and seeing how they're changing.  They both amaze me everyday. 

Inseparable at times

Saturdays at Home Depot these days

Oh, did you see the post about their new ride? They love it...Hayden does a little bit more, haha. 

A New Ride ((VIDEO))

So we finally broke down and got the girls a power wheels.  Hayden was super excited to get in and drive, Abbie was excited for the ride and ticked that she couldn't drive.

It took Ethan a little bit to fully assemble it and then for Hay to bedazzle and sticker it. But once it made it outside, Hayden was all over the yard. Of course she took that opportunity to chase Chili Dog around, haha.  Abbie rode with her for a few rounds but then quickly escaped after one fast ride.  I foresee a lot of yard time spent on the trampoline, slides, and Jeep this summer!

Finally Outside ((VIDEO))

During Spring Break last week the weather got warm enough that the kiddos could actually play out in the back yard!  The trampoline got a lot of use and Abbie learned that it wasn't as scary as it used to seem. Hayden decided to perfect some of her trampoline tricks!



Abbie mastered the slide as well!

Thankful for the nice warm weather break and the chance to be outside, even if it was short lived.

February Photo Drop - Part 2

And this post is a hodge-podge of pics from the 2nd half of February!

The girls and I spent a day in Springfield running around with no true agenda one day.  Hayden dressed herself (stripes, skirt, red shirt, and heart jacket with a huge flower headband). I just love her! 

We visited Pet Warehouse where she tried to convince Daddy that we were going to bring this little guy home with us.

A quick stop off at mommy's work playground, always a favorite.

And then there's Abbie and her own style; Minnie Mouse hat and one glove. That's it. :)

The girls and I also created this button tree! I had my eye on this for a long time but had never gotten around to actually making it.  Hayden helped paint the tree, both girls helped pick out buttons and place them on the tree.  Abbie tried to help with the glue but we quickly discovered that it wasn't a great idea. 

So I guess this post wasn't really a hodge podge of pics since the all happened on one day!  Oh well. At the end of the day, these two girls love each other and I couldn't be more blessed .  This last pic just shows how much they love each other (or at least tolerate each other).  We were hangin out in the living room and the girls were cuddled together as Abbie put Hayden in a loving hug (maybe head-lock,not sure).  My heart is happy.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Hayden finaly got to go to a ball.  She was beyond excited as she had visions of a Royal Ball, like on Cinderella. She was excited that Daddy would go with her and that she would get a new fancy dress, those are the important things of course!  

We took the opportunity to stay in the hotel and of course you've gotta bounce on the beds when you check-in! Abbie's getting to be pretty good at it. 

Hayden loved to get all dressed up.  She decided on curls in her hair and loved getting to wear some of mommy's makeup.  Isn't she just precious.?!

 Ethan even got her a corsage, her very first one! pink flowers with yellow ribbons - perfect match for her dress. 

Abbie and I got to hang out with Heather while Ethan and Hay danced the night away.  She actually fell asleep within 1.5hrs of being there but she still said it was the best!    The next morning we hopped in the hotel pool and got to spend more time with Heather and Talyn.

It's a Birthday Day! ((VIDEO))

This post is for the man that's quietly in the background, the parent that is the fun one, the rough housing one, and the one that always has time to play.  This  post is for the best dad I could have wished for and the greatest "other have" I could have ever imagined. 

Happy 30 Something Birthday, Ethan!  

Every day (okay, almost every day) I am reminded how blessed I am to have you in our lives.  

As a daddy to our 2 sweet girls they absolutely love you and I love seeing you be silly with them.  

You've taught the girls so many inappropriate things...not sure I know any other girls that have the humor of 7th grade boys the way that our girls do.  

You're content to always play the part of the Prince, the Ken barbie, the one with stickers on your face and always the one to "fix" anything that's broken.  

And as a husband, I couldn't ask for more...you put up with my whims, my constant desires to change things up at the house, my crazy emotions, as well as being the calm when I need it most.  

God blessed us when he chose you for our family and i couldn't be happier.   

So for your birthday, we're gonna do our best (amidst Abbie's fits) to celebrate you all day!  

Hayden was excited for your breakfast cake and especially to put on the candle for you.  She keeps wanting to go out and buy you another present but with the freezing rain, I'm not sure we'll be getting out today.  But don't worry, we'll make something spectacular for you! 

                     

Happy Birthday babe...we love you. 

Pre-K Update

Wow. It's hard to believe that Hayden's PreK year is almost 3/4 over already! She has grown and changed so much since that first day back in August last year.  I am so thankful that she enjoys school, looks forward to it, and is bummed on the days that she doesn't get to go.

August 2014

First Day of School

The beginning of the year started off rough.  Drop offs were hard as she cried each day for nearly 2 months.  Yes, there were days that were easier than others but they were never easy.  Ethan had the hard job of dropping her off and picking her up each day. I doubted our decision nearly every day in the beginning...the decision to just have her go 2 days a week. Would it have been easier if it was every day? I'll never know but when the day finally came to where she would give him a kiss and head on in to the room, what a relief it was for everyone!

Day 1

She's made friends, although most days in the first half she only talked about playing with Tessa.  We always talk about who she played with, what activities Mrs Michelle had them do, what was her favorite thing at recess, and what they did in Art or Library that day. And just like any other kid, she never had much to say.  Some times it would be days later when she would remember something (like an assembly) and tell us about it.  She almost always tells us the out-of-the-ordinary things she did that day, like walk to the high school or a fire drill.

She's gotten to experience a Halloween costume parade, Christmas party, PJ day, ice cream party and Valentine's day as well as a few assemblies and several snow days, so far. Ethan has been able to go to the holiday parties thankfully. It's been good for Hayden and Ethan. And of course Abbie got to tag along.


Thankfully though she loves school now and drop offs are never a problem.  She has mastered writing her name, knows her letters, social/emotionally has matured enough to be okay in unfamiliar situations (HUGE achievement), better at following directions, and is a math wiz.  We still can't get her interested in reading - the mommy in me worries but the early childhood educator in me knows that she will be just fine. I truly have no worries about her and school at this point. She's a sponge with what she's interested in and I am amazed with what all she retains.  Lately she's been in a non-fiction kick with books...learning about the human body and animals.
 

 I'm excited to see where the rest of this year takes her!