This girl was so excited for her 7th birthday! She got up at 5 in the morning ready to start the day by open her gifts! This girl got spoiled!
I got a couple of requests from Ashlyn about how she wanted her birthday. She wanted all her stuffed animals there, in order of tallest to shortest and she wanted us to wake her up with the song "7 Years Old", which didn't happen because she woke up super early so we played the song during breakfast with everyone singing out loud!
The birthday girl wanted to be checked out of school for lunch and she chose to go to Subway.
A few weeks ago I received a text for the girls' gymnastics teacher (they took private lessons) that she isn't teaching gymnastics anymore. These girls were heartbroken (seriously)! So I called around hunting for a gymnastics class that these girls could get into. Well it turns out that I can put ALL 3 of the girls at the same time (A&B in one class and C in another)! It is a miracle and time saver! On Ashlyn's birthday we tried a free trial class and it turns out that they had a blast and I was so impressed with the skills that they were learning. It took a lot of confidence and bravery to do some of these skill, like rings, bars, and doing somersaults on the beam. It was so fun to see their scared faces change into confident, beaming smiles.
There are only 3 kids in each class (which I love because they work hard the whole hour). Their classes stretch together and then they separate into their classes. I later found out that there is no photography allowed so I didn't take more pictures. I wish I could capture the delight in their eyes and faces!
While the sisters were at gymnastics, Desi got a date with Daddy making brownies and cleaning the house! What a great helper!
Leave it to Daddy to fix our broke broom! He placed paint sticks and wrapped them with tape.
Ashlyn received many sweet gifts, but one was from Aunt Maren who sent her drawing books and glitter gel pens that are scented (which I love writing with these pens- I may have to order some for myself!)
Thanks Aunt Maren! Ashlyn loves them!
Derek's hairdresser (which she is a patient) gave him our first baby boy gift! It got Derek even more excited for this baby boy to come!
There is a dear lady in our ward who is going through chemo and having a difficult time. The girls and I made a care package for her and took it to her house. When I serve others, I try to get my girls involved so hopefully they grow up with memories of serving others and how it makes them feel happy and loved.
It isn't very often when I get to wake up Desi. There is something so special when you get to watch your babies sleep. It is so peaceful!
These two girls are troopers. I don't remember the last time I went to two stores in one morning with my kids. I had many errands to run and these girls went to 5 different stores with me and were so well behaved! Because we were out and about we ate with Daddy at Chick-fil-a for lunch! It is a real treat to see daddy on a work day for lunch (even though he comes home almost everyday for lunch). We are so lucky!
Daddy and Claire date. She got to buy an unicorn!
She loves it when it is her turn for a date!
Claire is so sweet and loves wearing pjs and dress ups.
Early morning fun!
Ashlyn loves her art class. This is her mixed media pieces. They used pastels, which Ash was excited about. She did great!
I had these curtains for about 3 months now and I finally got Derek to hang them up for me! I love how it adds so much to the room.
We went to a MOPS playgroup which was at a local church. They had bikes, blowup houses, and treats for everyone. We walked in and Brinley says, "This is the best church ever!" ha ha. After it was over (yes we were the last to leave because these girls had so much fun), all three of them asked if we could come again tomorrow. I tried to explain to them that they only have the playgroup at this church once a year, but that idea flew right over their heads.
We had a few slightly windy days and the girls (and Derek) love to fly the kites they got for Christmas. They discovered that if they tie it to their bikes, they have better success.
We love living in a cul-de-sac and living next to other kids. The girls love to play outside with them all the time, after school, weekends, and whenever they have time. This particular Saturday, the girls were outside for 4-5 hours with their friends.
After we came back from Utah, Sable (our babysitter) found each girl a seashell from her family trip to the beach and she made a necklace for each one. The girls love them! Sable even put a little bead in each shell and told the girls it was a special pearl. She is so thoughtful and I love how much she loves my girls!
Brinely loves preschool and this is her most recent craft.
A priceless moment when all the girls are playing together, while getting along.
I love how they are making fond memories with each other. I hope they are best friends forever!
A week before Ashlyn's birthday, Ash and I went on a date to walmart so she could pick out a stuffed animal that she wanted for her birthday.
She loved being so "adultlike" and checkout on her own.
This girl likes to explore all her options- it took her forever to decide which animal she wanted. We went through each aisle twice. (I was proud of myself because I was being very patient- #momvictory)
I started bathing these girls in the mornings and making it one of our weekly activities. They love playing in the bath and when it is in the evening, I am ready to put them to bed so Derek and I can have our time together. It is so fun to watch and hear all the giggles and laughters that happen with their hour long bath.
We love bath time!
The day after Martin Luther King Jr Day, we had a snow day for Daddy and Ashlyn. The weather was in the 30s and when it snows in East Texas- everything closes! So we had a party at home!
Movie time!
Ashlyn and I made Nana Cookies!
Crafts!
FHE dance party!
I got to teach a Relief Society lesson and this is how long the material is...1 short paragraph! So on the fourth Sunday, the first presidency gives a topic that will be studied for the next 6 months. It is Sabbath day. So I was asked to prepare the lesson (which is like preparing for a talk) and was hinted that this might be my new calling! I absolutely loved preparing and teaching this lesson!
I FINALLY broke down and bought decor for my bathroom. This room has been neglected since we moved in 1 1/2 years ago. It only had a "well-loved"green rug that Derek and I got for our wedding gift. We were in a desperate need for an update!
I love how it turned out!
Every time I look at this, it makes me happy!
After we pick up Ashlyn from school we play outside until Daddy gets home. Ash is doing her homework with me and the others are building a "fire" on the driveway. I love how we can be outside all year long! There is something special with kids playing in nature!
We went on a family walk (except Ash because she was at school) around the zoo park. This is our happy place!
I often give a thumbs up to my kids when they do something great. Desi hasn't learned how to do her thumbs up yet so she puts up her pointy finger. It makes me smile every time.
Ashlyn has been pushing Desi in the stroller all around the house while she listens to her headphones and new player.
I walked into my bedroom and found this priceless moment and had to capture this moment of fun. I love how Ash and Brinley and being kind and friendly to each other while working together and then Desi is scratching Claire's back.
So cute!
Brinley and Daddy went to a Daddy Daughter Dance that the city of Lufkin puts together each year. Brinley was so excited! She was counting the days and even hours until she could go on a special date with Daddy.
They both look gorgeous!
Just on our way inside the dance. It was raining a little so I was able to act as her carriage driver and hold her umbrella while helping her out of the car.
After about two songs Brinley said, "Can we go now?" I think Ashlyn didn't last too long either. We probably stayed at the dance for 45 minutes and that was with me pushing the limits. I held her off by getting cookies. They also had a bag of candy for each girl. She ate all the Reese's, Snickers, and Twix. She gave me the Milky Way.
Well, she still wanted ice cream after leaving the dance so we went to Orange Leaf. We played the rhyme game that Brinley loves. The rules are just that you say two words (don't have to be real) together that rhyme. Example: "Man. Slan." "Tree. Dee." etc.
After finishing our ice cream we sat in the car and played around 50 games of Tic Tac Toe on my phone. It is one of Brinley and Ashlyn's favorites. All in all, we had a great night and really enjoyed each other's company.
While Daddy and Brinley were at the dance, Ash and I did our own secret date and watched a show that she has been begging to watch- Duck Soup. We put the littles to bed and then popped popcorn and watched it. Ashlyn was in Heaven and we held hands and she would repeat "I love doing this with you Mommy!" She told me everything that was happening and I eventually fell asleep. She didn't know I slept through the movie, until Uncle Trevor asked her if I fell asleep in the movie (which happens majority of the time). She couldn't believe that I would fall asleep in a movie like Duck Soup. ha ha. Now I am busted. Thanks Uncle Trevor.
I have been reading the parenting book, "The Entitlement Trap" and it motivated me to be on top of chores and money for the girls. Derek and I bought each girl a bank from Deseret Book that has the three different sections: tithing, savings, spending. I am really excited to teach these girls about hard work and money. Derek and I's love hearing our girls say, "I want to buy ________ with my own money."
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