Future Cheerleader?!

See this pretty little lady?

She's got a big day ahead of her today - it's the first day of an action-packed week of learning dances, cheers, practicing jumps, and working her cute self to death because she SO wants to be an Oak Park Middle School cheerleader! She's been wanting this for so long now, and we thought this week would never get here! We're so proud of her and how determined she's been. Maybe you could give her a word of encouragement?? She's about as special as they come and I KNOW she'd appreciate it!

Good luck this week, B! We're behind you ALL THE WAY!!!!

A Movie Kind of Day

The older two girls and I had a little outing planned for this morning which was great because it was so cold and cloudy - a perfect movie day. And I must say that they make pretty fun dates! Cate and Jonathan had tons of play time while we headed to Bridge Street to catch the first Hannah Montana - The Movie showing this morning at the Monaco. Is it crazy that I'm 28 years old and probably loved the movie more than the kids?! I think I could see it five more times before it's out on DVD, and then I'll be the first in line to buy it I do believe! We had a fabulous time at the movies and then shopped around, had lunch, and ended on a high note with a crazy train ride. I think B was mortified and scared to death she'd see someone she knew! She was such a sport about it, though, because Towns was dying to get her turn on it. The girls each got a little treat - Bethany got new sunglasses and Towns got orange fingernail polish. {She's currently obsessed with the color orange and every day she asks if we can change everything in our house over to orange....the fridge, the bathtub, her room, the outside of the house, etc. I keep telling her that orange is such a fad color and that an orange bathtub wouldn't go over so well when we go to sell our house.} Thanks for being such fun company, girlies! And major thanks for my fun new bag, B! You're the sweetest and most thoughtful girl ever!!

April Showers

It's a rarity these days that our front sidewalk doesn't look like a stand-in for the Atlantic Ocean. I'm teaching (let me clarify - trying to teach) Towns to be thankful in all situations, so when the monsoon and tornado warning came upon us last week she wasn't the least bit thrilled that it ruined her play time outside. She's always been anti-rain, but lately we've been talking about how all the things God made that live outside need it to survive - all the things she loves like flowers, trees, grass, etc. So she told me the other day that she'd finally figured out how she could be thankful even when it rains - it meant she could stomp around in the puddles (or lake if you're at our house)!

Please excuse Towns' outfit in these pictures...she's obsessed with wearing Cate's clothes and you can bet we wouldn't be leaving the house in those 18m play clothes! But I didn't want to spoil the fun and make her change just for the sake of pictures! :)

Towns was all about dancing and putting on a show...Cate was more into quenching her thirst. GROSS! But it was way too funny and typical of little Bug!
Notice the sequence of pictures here...






I didn't really think she'd go this far...

But yes! She did!

There's never a dull moment on the homefront!!

Must Love Dogs

Cate loves animals - you name it, she loves it. My friend Amy was over yesterday with Hart and she brought Lulu (Cate's furry friend below)...

Cate was fine with only the hugs until she figured out that she, too, could hold Lulu like a baby...she was so determined to snatch her out of Amy's arms!

We tried explaining to Miss No Patience that Lulu was almost as big as she was and that holding her wasn't the greatest idea. It went over like a lead balloon...

Lulu had had enough of Cate's tricks and hopped in the car to escape, but the dog lover wasn't too far behind! Lulu bolted to the front seat where she knew Cate couldn't get to her, and what's funny about this picture is that Cate is none to happy about it and Lulu has the 'look who's laughing now' glow! :)

I do believe we've got a head strong little lady! The other day the girls and I were at lunch and no less than 10 minutes into the meal the owner of the restaurant had informed me that I had 'a fireball on my hands'. Nice!

Dentist Office Drama

Bethany and I did a number on her hair this morning not knowing exactly how it would all turn out...I had a feeling the girl had a little wave hiding deep down somewhere that needed to be let loose! I don't think she's ever looked cuter! Wouldn't you agree?

The morning got off to a rough start. The girl you see in the picture above rolled with it like a CHAMP! I had a quick dentist appointment this morning at 8:30, so we stopped to pick up breakfast and I let Bethany sit in the car with the girls while they ate. {Side note - doors were locked, car was parked at the front door of the office, I had my cell in my hand the entire time, and it was a whole lot smarter than letting all of them loose in the tiny waiting room. Everyone inside the building would thank me for it.} I sent B a text after a few minutes to check on them and she replied back that they were great and there was nothing to worry about. Approximately two seconds passed before my phone rang with Bethany shouting 'Towns is throwing up - you have to come NOW!!' I flew out the door because I know how Bethany is when things like this happen...she'd be the next one to get sick just from witnessing it! But by the time I got outside (accompanied by the dental hygienist who was armed with disinfectant spray and paper towels) she had the situation totally under control. Sister of the Year Award is definitely in the cards for her. Oh, and let's not fail to mention how she took the shirt that was under her jacket off so that Towns would have clothes to ride home in. Is that not the sweetest? She's the b-e-s-t ever!

After all the drama ceased, we headed to Huntsville to run a few errands. Since B had been so sweet all morning, she got to ride Dumbo as a treat! :) The younger two happened to get in on the action, too...

We're All Smiles...

...because we've got SO much to be happy about!

#1 - It's SPRING BREAK (i.e. nowhere to be, no dance classes to teach, no music classes to teach, no carpool lines...NOTHING) and life couldn't be any sweeter! I think I'd forgotten just how much I love being at home!

#2 - This chick is coming back to Decatur today!


We've missed you, Bet!

#3 - The weather and all that comes along with it! Like the 3 1/2 hour park trip yesterday...

We started out with a picnic that didn't last too very long - who can concentrate on food when there's people (and dog) watching to be done?! Towns was fascinated by a cute long haired chihuahua running around near us...

The dog and its owner left, which for some reason meant that it was time to break out this (this deserves a post of its own...I've become one of them...one of those people who is completely attached to the 3G network):

...and get the Hoedown Throwdown (Miley/Hannah? I can never keep up with who sings what!) going. The iphone wasn't the only thing we broke out. Oh no. Do you know my girls? Some serious moves were also broken out...



And this is Cate trying to copy Towns and her hand stand (with NO hands - in complete Cate fashion)...

After the impromptu dance party, we moved the party to the park...

Once again, Cate had to do every little thing her big sister did...

The girls made a break for the purple dinosaur once it was free, and when they got there they realized they'd really rather be in the red car just a few feet away instead. Of course, the only reason they wanted in it was because it was taken by a sweet little girl already. We learned a lesson right then and there when I caught these looks on their faces...

Actually, Towns wasn't that bad but Cate was shooting daggers through the little girl in the red car...the red car that she thought she should be in!
So the girl asked Cate to come join her...

Which didn't make a certain big sister so happy...

After the lesson in sharing, we moved on...

This one's funny to me. Cate saw Towns beneath her through those little holes...

Next up was the sand...by this point we'd been there so long and they were so dirty that it didn't matter to me if they rolled around in the sand and got even more filthy. If you know me, you'd think you'd need to check my temperature! :)


Towns wanted her turn at the camera...


Take a look at those jeans covered in sand...I'm beginning to like the idea of dirty kids! They look like they've had way more fun!


Just in case you've missed the hundred times I've previously told you how much Cate makes me laugh, I'll give you a little reminder...
She went and sat by this little boy in the picture below and tried her hardest to get his attention. She talked to him and the more she'd talk, the more shy he'd get.

So after a few seconds of that, she moved on to plan B...

The 'if you won't look at me when I'm talking to you, I'll just get in your face until you have to look at me' approach!
Oh, and then there's this one...

The park is right next to some retirement apartments and the sweet residents come out to sit and watch the kids play. The girls love it. There was an older gentleman who was walking a little ahead of us and Cate started trying to walk like him. This picture doesn't do it justice, though. His back was hunched and he hobbled a bit when he took each step. And Cate thought it was the greatest thing in the world that she could do exactly what he was doing. She had the biggest smile on her face!

I almost forgot...Towns' day at the park was complete when she saw a few of these...


Happy Spring Break!!!

Ladies of Leisure

Friday morning we thoroughly enjoyed not having a single place to be. After the girls had a bath, they wrapped up in their terry cloth 'lazy outfit' (Towns could have a dictionary of her own!) and were loving life...and each other!

B...the morning would have been complete if you had skipped school, hopped in an outfit just like this, and joined the party. I know they make them in your size if you want me to pick one up for you! :)