Celebrating Audrey

While compiling this blog, I realized that we celebrated Audrey A LOT!  When Luke turned 4 we took him on a date with just Brian and I, and we wanted to do that for Audrey.  We couldn't even think of a time when it was both of us with just her, so it was way overdue.  She absolutely loved being the only kid there, and kept saying she was glad "those stinkers weren't with us so she wouldn't have to argue that day".  haha!  We took her to the mall where we ate at the Cheesecake Factory, let her play on the playground, rode the carousel, saw a movie, walked around the Disney Store and had some ice cream.  She was in heaven, and I loved just being able to focus on her.  We are going to try and keep doing this at least yearly for their birthdays.    

Tula and Pop were out of town on her actual birthday, so Tula brought her presents and a little treat to a park the week before. Audrey scored her first Barbie gear.

On the day of her birthday we had some fun as well.  Here is the puffy faced little early riser blowing out some breakfast candles.

After breakfast, Savannah had Meet the Teacher, and then we made a quick pit stop after that.  Audrey just started gymnastics for the first time 2 weeks ago, and when we went to sign her up about a month before, she saw this very nice, very orange, very expensive leotard.  I told her we couldn't get it because it was just too much, and I thought she would leave it at that.  Well... for weeks I kept hearing about the sparkly orange leo.  She was always sweet about it and kind of just talking about it, not whining or even asking for it.  I decided on a whim that for a special birthday surprise we would go get it.  She was sooooo excited and wore that thing the entire rest of the day.  It came with a matching scrunchie, so obviously we got our monies worth! ;)  Haha!  That thing better last!

After the leo purchase, we met our cousins, minus Luke (which is so weird), for a little fun at Jump Street.  It took some convincing to get Audrey to wear her pants. (Oh and please note the crazy moms photobomb in the glass, say cheese!)

After picking up Luke from school, we just enjoyed a nice afternoon at home.

Nonnnie, Grandpa, and Aunt Tracy came over to watch Audrey open some presents, and then we all went out for a fun dinner to Cracker Barrel.

Luke used one of his assignments at school to make Audrey a card.

We sure do love celebrating this girl, but I think for now, this years celebrating is over!

First Day of Preschool

The girls are both back in school, and this mama now has two free days for 5 hours!  Whoohoo!  I have not had any consistent kid free time in 6 years, so this milestone is a little sad, but mostly exciting!  I will have Tuesdays to myself, and Thursdays I am going to start volunteering at a local women's center.  I am very excited about this time, and knowing how much they love school makes it even better!  

Savannah started school a week before Audrey.  With Savannah's birthday being September 16th, she missed our preschools cut off day for the 2 year old class by 2 weeks.  Our preschool has a 1 year old program, but it was only 1 day a week.  Both Luke and Audrey went 2 days a week at 2, and Savannah was so ready to go 2 days.  I was super bummed, but found out that the preschool across the street offered a 2 day program she could be in.  On a whim, I put her on the waiting list, not thinking much of it, and then got a call a week before school started that she got in!  I jumped on the chance and she is now in the Busy Bee class and loving it.  Her school is literally across the street from Audrey's, so it is not that hard going back and forth.  

This was also a huge blessing for me!  I have felt that the Lord has been leading me to this volunteer opportunity, and with her being in school only one day, I was getting a little stressed with fitting everything in. I knew in my heart it was something I was suppose to do, and prayed this summer that I wouldn't feel so stressed about it.  Well... what a pleasant surprise when I got the call that she got into the 2 day program.  Took a huge relief off of me, and the Lord truly answered my prayers.  Now I feel like I can fit volunteering in there, and be excited about the opportunity, and even have a bonus day to myself.  God is so good!

Ok now to the pictures of our sweet preschoolers.  

These two just love their classes and are pretty pooped at the end of the day.  Here they are resting and Savannah tells me, "I snuggle Audey".  Oh how I love these sisters!  Here's to an awesome year!

Audrey is FOUR!

Our precious Audrey Girl is four today!  I can't believe it!  She is so sweet and kind and we just love her to bits.  She is the quietest of our three, but probably would be the loudest in any other family.  She just has to compete with the loudest kids I know, Luke and Savannah.  =)  She is a great little sister and big sister.  She loves playing with Luke, but also loves pushing his buttons, and knows just how to do it.  She has really started playing more with Savannah and is usually the sweetest with her.  She can be a bit of a drama queen, and if those tears start flowing, it is sometimes hard to get those floodgates down.  She is very creative and loves arts and crafts.  She loves dogs, and is my kid most into Otis.  She loves princesses, but more often than not will pick a boy show to watch or play.  She is a big fan of Ninja Turtles,  Rescue Bots, and Ninjago.  Her big brother loves this! Audrey gets her feelings hurt pretty easily, but is also pretty tough physically.  She loves to wrestle and tackle Luke, and can hang pretty well.  She is very into dress up, and changing her clothes multiple times per day.  She usually wants to wear dresses, and is very picky about her fashion choices.  So overall, Id say we have a girly girl who is also a tomboy, and I love that!  She is a little model when it comes to taking pictures, because she is always posing and I don't have to prompt her at all.  We love this sweet girl so much, and are so blessed to be her parents.

Here are her 4 year stats:

• Height - 3 ft 4 inches (41 inches) - 75%
• Weight- 35 pounds 6 ounces - 60%

Here are some hospital pictures and pictures from previous birthday parties.

Here she is starting at 2 weeks, then 6 months, and then yearly after that.

Happy Birthday sweet Audrey Girl!

First Day of Kindergarten

I just dropped off my big boy for his first day of school.  He was so excited and woke up at midnight asking when he could get up, and then for good, all dressed at 5:20.  He asked to go outside and look at the stars, and I had a some great one on one time with our little man.  Luke did just as we expected and walked right into school as confident as could be.  We were so proud of him.  Here are the pictures from our morning.