3 1/2

Elizabeth, today you are 3 1/2.  Here's what you're up to these days.

• You're about 40 inches tall and weigh about 35 pounds.
• You wear size 12 shoe and size 4t clothes.  Wow!
• I didn't think it was possible, but you are even more independent than ever before.
• You brush your own hair, and actually do a good job.
• You are a neat freak.  Everything in your room has to be in its place at night when you go to sleep.  You also make your bed every morning without prompting.  We've never made you do that.  You just do it on your own.  
• You are really into playing pretend.  I love spying on you when you're playing by yourself.  I love hearing and seeing the scenerios you come up with.  You are quite creative!
• You love ballet and swim lessons which you are currently taking.  
• Your favorite cartoons right now are Olivia and Peppa Pig.  I'm not sure what it is about pigs, but you even pretend like your sister is George (the pig) and you sometimes call us Mommy Pig and Daddy Pig.  
• Your favorite movies are Tangled and Little Mermaid.
• Every two weeks we go get new library books and you have us read them over and over until you pretty much memorize them.  Then, you "read" them to your sister.  
• You continue to adore your sister.  You love to pick her up, tickle her, and give her kisses.
• When we drop her off first in her classroom, you always kiss her and say, "have a good day baby girl."  
• You either read or tell a story to Caroline every night before she goes to bed.  She listens so intently to your stories that always start with "Once upon a time..."
• I'm scared to say it out loud, but you're terrible threes seem to be easing up a bit.  You still can get quite sassy, but you've gotten better at correcting yourself (with help from us of course).   
• If you do set your mind at something, it is HARD to change it.  Poor girl, you got that from your mama.
• Your ability to rationalize things amazes us sometimes.  So much that when you're talking back to us about something, we are often amazed at your logic.  
• You're off and on with your naps.  You will at least lay down and rest, but you don't always sleep. 
• You will only let your daddy put you to sleep at night.  He reads and sings to you.  You use to tell me to go check on Caroline.  Now you tell me to go clean the kitchen.  I think it's your OCD talking!
• Every night I say, "Good night, Jelly Bean" to you and "Good night, Peanut" to Caroline.  You always respond to me, "Good night, Walnut."  I'm pretty sure your daddy taught you that, but it makes me laugh every time.
• You've started back to school, and I realized how much you missed it.  You've had nothing but excellent reports since you've been back.  You love your new teacher and all of your old friends are in there too!

Elizabeth, watching you grow and learn new things every day is such a blessing.  You have no idea how much your energy and passion light up our family.  I am so lucky to be your mommy.  Happy 3 1/2 birthday to my vibrant girl!

4 days old

4 months old

8 months old

1 year old

1 1/2 years old

2 years old

2 1/2 years old

3 years old

Tonight before bedtime, she let me snap her at 3 1/2 years old.  Happy half year birthday!

This past weekend...

 we were quite busy!  We started Saturday morning with a hike up Kennesaw Mountain with the Hill family.  For some reason Elizabeth can never remember that the canons are called canons.  She has seen them fired at the reenactments, so she always calls them the wheels with the fire in the middle. Goofy Girl.

  Then we went to Alana's birthday part which was a blast for the kids and the parents!  So much fun, that I didn't even take a picture. Saturday night our sweet friends, the Busbys, invited us over for dinner.  The Wicklines came as well, and we had a good ole time!  These two families are so precious to me.  I love that our kids could just play, play, play all night long.

Anna Kate, Bright, Caroline

Cooper (bless him, he was the only boy), Anna Kate, Caroline, Bright, Marin, Elizabeth

Sunday was Promotion Sunday which basically just means Sunday School starts again and the girls move up a class.  We haven't been to Sunday School since Caroline was born because it was smack in the middle of her morning nap.  Now that she's dropped that nap, we are back and it feels great!  We didn't even realize how much we had missed the fellowship until we went back.  

We relaxed by the pool Sunday afternoon, so we were well rested for school to begin on Monday!

Flashback Friday

This Friday, I'm going waaaaaay back.  The picture file only dates back to 2007 because these were the pictures used in our wedding video.  But the original pictures date back a little bit futher!  I think our girls will love looking at pictures of their daddy from is younger years and seeing themselves in his face! 

Back to School

I started back to school last Wednesday.  The girls went back today.  Elizabeth was so excited.  As we walked in, her friend Lily stopped to welcome her.  They were hugging, giggling, and holding hands all the way into the classroom.  Caroline was even interested in her new classroom.  She sat down to eat in a chair at a table.  Such a big girl!  She just kept looking around at everybody and she didn't shed a tear when I said bye.  That makes it a successful first day drop-off!  I hope they have a good day!!

Swim Party and Champion Kids

On Saturday, we went to the Bentley's new house for Laney's 4th birthday party.  It was a swim party.  The best part was that they hired a lifeguard to watch the kids so the adults didn't have to get in!  It was nice to be able to socialize while the kids splashed around.  Caroline stayed with us since she's not quite independent in the water yet.

Elizabeth loved eating her "dirt and worms."

Caroline stuck with daddy most of the time.

 After church on Sunday, I took Elizabeth to Champion kids because they were having an open gym.  They are a competition cheerleading gym who also teaches gymnastics and dance to small kids.  Some of Elizabeth's friends take classes there and some of my students coach there.  I didn't sign her up because we are pretty full with ballet and swim lessons this fall, but our name was pulled in the drawing and we won 10 free play passes!  She was so excited!

proud of herself for walking on the "big" balance beam by herself

swinging

Camille and Elizabeth loved watching the big kids perform and tumble for us.

Flashback Friday

 Summer (it was actually June) 2006 in Norway

Phone Pics

It seems like most of my pictures come from my phone these days.  Here are a couple of random ones from the past week.

I just couldn't say no to the $3 clearance pool.  The girls love it!

Elizabeth getting the royal treatment.  Her daddy helped dry her toes a little faster after her pedi!

I honestly did not pose them.  I walked in to Elizabeth reading this book to Caroline.  Melted me!

Kathryn and Elizabeth found a book to read after ballet class.