November happenings...late but not forgotten!

Holiday season is a wonderful time for many reasons, but one of my favorites is all the extra family time! Life gets busy and we seem to see those we love less often than we should during the year, but in the midst of holiday busyness it somehow becomes more of a priority. Grandma Marian and Poppa came up to visit as well as G-G and John coming to visit from California. And then we went to Riddle for Thanksgiving. I already posted the cowgirl lesson pictures, but did get one of our visit with Auntie Penny and Zoey. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our visits.

Throw-your-head-back-laughing is the best kind there is!!!

I think Grandma enjoyed her birthday celebration over breakfast =)

All of our girls really enjoy music. Grandma Marian and Poppa graciously let us borrow their piano so that the girls would have a chance to learn to play; they even delivered it...which was no small feat!! We have yet to do any formal lessons yet, still just developing an interest in playing. However, while G-G was here visiting, she helped each one of the girls learn the correct way to play the scale.

Ainsley wasn't going to miss out on her lesson!!

Aubrey needed a little help to make her fingers do what they were supposed to do.

And she was SO EXCITED when she figured it out. This is her "I DID IT!!" face.

Ella is my serious learner. There is something about a black and white picture that makes the moment seem even more special. I love this picture!!

G-G was such a patient teacher. Too bad she doesn't live closer!! G-G, the girls are still practicing their scales =)

Ainsley and G-G. I hope everyone can appreciate how amazing this picture is. Ainsley rarely sits still for a picture these days, let alone is smiling in the picture!!

Cupcake race time!

John and the girls spent some time doing math problems. John is also a very good teacher!

Ainsley and Auntie P reading.

And I'll end with a few very random pictures from November. Hope everyone has a wonderfully Merry Christmas! 

Ainsley driving with mommy while we wait in the pickup line for Aubrey.

Can anyone guess what Ainsley's favorite pass time is?!?! In case you need help, she is laying in the middle of the kitchen floor on a dish drying mat with a book ;-)

Merry merry Christmas!!

Annual cowgirl lesson

Thanksgiving at our house is synonymous with cowgirl lessons. Actually, my guess would be that if you asked the girls what they look forward to the most about Thanksgiving I doubt they would say the yummy food ;-) The weather was perfect and Kristy helped each girl build her cowgirl skills with so much patience!

Ainsley's 1st ride on a horse. Judging by the smiles, I think she LOVED it!!

True cowgirls on the fence <3>

Love this picture of Kristy and Ainsley

Ella climbs into the saddle with confidence these days!

Kristy upped the lesson this year to add trotting! Needless to say Ella thought that was A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!!

Ella is right at home in the barn!

Aubrey chose to stay at the walking pace for this lesson. Kristy has so much knowledge that both girls listened intently.

Ainsley and dirty baby taking in all the lessons.

Aubrey waiting ever so patiently for her turn at cowgirl lessons.

Ella helped Ainsley go over to say "hi" one of the other horses, Penny.

"Mokey!!" Translation: Its Smokey!!

Ainsley decided that the beginner lesson that Kristy offered at the start of the day was a great "warm-up" but she was ready for a little more. Ainsley and dirty baby saddled up to walk all by themselves (while Mom held onto a leg and simulation took pictures while Kristy led us all around the pasture!)

One happy cowgirl baby right there!!

No lesson is complete without feeding the horses. I'm not sure who gets more excited during this time, the kids or the horses?!

This round of lessons I ended up with far fewer "good" pictures than I hoped for. Apparently wrangling an 18 month old and a 4 year old all while simultaneously holding/focusing/adjusting settings on a camera is a little more than this momma can efficiently accomplish!

We cannot thank you enough Aunt Kathy and Kristy for sharing your horses and knowledge with these girlies. This is truly as special time for our "city girls!"

Instalife November

Moms weekend at the beach included a surprise birthday celebration for Melissa and I! (Melissa and Melissa have birthdays 1 day apart =))

The place mommas go to recharge their batteries!!

A beautiful end to a wonderful weekend

Aubrey fixed Ainsley's hair for her this morning. It was so cute to see how nicely Ainsley stood for Aubrey. Considering the age of the subject, the relative stillness of the subject and Aubrey's maiden hair-fixing voyage...the end product was impressive!

Ella's thankful picture. Its so beautiful when you can see them articulate what is in their heart on paper. Continue to be the light Ella!!

We were able to celebrate Grandma Marian's birthday during her visit. Birthdays at our house include candles and a crown at every meal...Grandma said this was her first birthday crown! Happy birthday Grandma!!!!

Ainsley's first candy cane wasn't even enough to keep her awake on the car ride home. Such a cute sleeping sticky baby!

Throw-back-Thursday! Courtney and Brett's wedding, September 2010. I'm so in awe of how similar Ainsley and Aubrey still look!!!

----Hang with me, I'm slowly but surely catching up on blog posts. I don't want to think of how many I still have left, but nonetheless, another one is complete!!----

Random bits and pieces of October

I begin each month with such high hopes of blogging along the way. Documenting those funny phrases and cute faces at regular intervals. Alas, the reality of 3 little girls, working a few days and life in general...that is just not the way that this blog continues to live. So here it is, November 16th and I'm posting pictures from the beginning of October. Better late than never ;-) *** Correction, now its December 14th as I finish up! 

  I W.I.L.L N.O.T G.I.V.E U.P!!!!

Aubrey was beyond THRILLED when she received her very own fish from Sunday school. She fed her fish and watched the fish multiple times a day.

This wiggly 17 month old peanut gives me a run for my money every time I want to take a picture of her. I was only able to get this one by holding her down and tickling her belly ;-)

On the other hand, this little peach gives me a million dollar smile each and every time. It may be crazy, but always there!!

Ainsley loves sliding!

Ainsley found the perfect "pu-kin"

Aubrey was so excited for her very first field trip.

Superman style sliding...maybe it was a little scary based on the closed eyes ;-)

Aubrey's perfectly round and surprisingly clean pumpkin.

When the sun is shining so beautifully in October, how can you resist spending the afternoon in the pumpkin patch?!?! Logan, Quin, Amah and G-Daddy joined us for the fun... it was a blast!

Daddy found his pumpkin. Ainsley quickly found her perfect pumpkin.

Ready, set....everyone quickly grab a pumpkin before they are all gone!

"I was this big" at Lakeview Farms 2013

Neal loves being a daddy to 3 little girls who are ALL GIRL. He is quickly learning, however, that little girls are quite different that the 2 brothers he grew up with. Ella is weekly coming home with a new chant/cheer/clapping game/etc. Here they are playing "bubble gum bubble gum." The girly fun is only really just beginning....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy happy 7th birthday Ella!

The beautiful birthday girl!!

Thinking seriously about the birthday wish she is about to make!

A table full of friends helping celebrate Ella's special day

RUN!!! It was an hour full of noodle and freeze tag, and a little soccer in between.

Showing my not Martha Stewart side ;-) Free-hand painting pumpkins to look like soccer balls is actually a much harder task that it seems!

Taking time to thank everyone for their gifts.

7 years ago today this princess was born. Opening presents from the family.

At our house, you get to set the menu (within reason) on your birthday. Ella's dessert request= pumpkin pie with whipped cream!!

DISCLAIMER: Yes I know the pictures seem a little blurry/off color :-( The soccerplex where we had her birthday is probably the worst possible place to get a decent picture in. I probably took over 100 pictures and these were the best of the worst. Also, I think our camera is trying to die a slow death so it just thinks really hard before taking pictures and in the end, we again have less than desirable pictures.

It is so much fun to celebrate you turning another year older Ella. This year you have grown up so much! I'm constantly amazed by your knowledge, your vocabulary, your imagination and your heart. Everyone you meet is instantly your friend and you go out of your way to make sure they are included and loved. You often cause me to stop and think with your questions. Your sisters adore you. Your mommy and daddy think you are the best Ella ever =)

We celebrated by inviting friends to join Ella at the soccerplex nearby for soccer/tag fun. Mommy loved that they provided a coach to wrangle all 24 friends/siblings of friends for an entire hour! When we were discussing locations for the birthday party, I suggested a pumpkin patch like we have done in the past because we aren't as limited with the number of friends who can come. Ella, sharp as a tack, replies "Don't you think that 6 years at the pumpkin patch might be a little much?!?" I did manage to convince her of the pumpkin soccer balls ;-) Its seems a shame not to utilize such a plentiful and inexpensive item for party favors!

***It is now December 14th as I am finishing this blog post about Ella's birthday. With all the ideas floating around on Pinterest, I had high expectations to have Ella complete a little questionnaire about herself at age 7. The caveat that I forgot was that I usually blog while Ella is at school thus making it very difficult to ask her questions....oops! Better late than never though, right?

Favorite animal: a unicorn
Favorite food to eat: sweets
Things I don't like to eat: anything made with avocado
Favorite thing to do: dance
Favorite show/movie: Dora
What are you really good at? well, dancing. That's why its my favorite thing.
Favorite book: Magic Tree House
What do you want to be when you grow up? a veterinarian

Happy happy birthday sweet baby girl!! We love you so much.