AnLi's 6th Birthday

How did 6 get here so soon? I can't believe how fast this time has gone by!
AnLi had a great and busy day.

We started with her birthday shirt I made for her.
A crown and bling - nothing better.


She opted for a giant Eileen's cookie this year instead of cake. The girls LOVE these cookies!
Sneaking some frosting


One of her many "favorite" gifts - Junie B. Jones books.
Very exciting for her!


Ginger even got in on the fun. :)


Loves the singing




Hugs and kisses for Nana




Thanks for all of the birthday wishes for AnLi! She had a another great birthday!!

More Fall Break

The girls have had a GREAT fall break. The third day they got to go shopping with Grandma and Grandpa for new cowboy boots and hats, have dinner and go to a movie. Do you think they're spoiled at all?
Thanks!

(I was working when they got back and Brian was in charge of pics)

And while they were out shopping, we had a turkey in our backyard. He flew up on the fence and then about four or five others were in the tree on the other side of the fence. Crazy!

Fall Break Day Two

Last Friday we went to my sister's and my niece Jessica spent the afternoon giving the girls horseback rides. They LOVED every minute of it and never stopped smiling.
Thanks, Jessica & Kim!

Swimming

Swim lessons are the girls' favorite activity. They are both little mermaids.


AnLi with Miss Katie


Carli with Miss Katie


When they get to the end just for scuba diving, which is 20-some feet deep, they think they are cool stuff. AnLi "can't wait" until she can take scuba lessons, but the junior PADI courses don't start until you're 7 years old, so one more year. But she asks about once a month, just to make sure they haven't changed the age limit.


AnLi has been taking lessons from Miss Katie for about four years. She loves her soooo much!


Waiting for the slide

Apple Orchard

The girls are off for fall break Thursday and Friday, so we met up with Aunt Beth and Nana at an apple orchard to play, pick apples and pumpkins. It was a perfect fall day!

We picked PLENTY of apples!










The rotten apple slingshot. They decided two worked better than one.


Silly faces!

Kindergarten in full swing

The girls are LOVING school! The first month and a half they were soooo tired when they got home. Just completely exhausted! They were asleep by 7:15p and a few times I had to wake them at 8a. Things are better now and they're getting used to their long days.

First Day of School

Playing around before school - picture day

Spring Update

Very, very long overdue - yes, I know! Excuse the long post, but I've got some things that I NEED to post. And, yes, this is just spring pics! School will be starting in a couple of weeks so I have to get caught up.


Carli's 5th Birthday

Carli had a great birthday! She was soooo excited to be 5 like her sister. For months we asked what she wanted for her birthday, and even up until that day all she wanted was a birthday cake. We assured her that she would get a cake, but what did she want to unwrap, as in presents? Still the same answer - CAKE. So, she ripped through those presents and just wanted her cake.

We went to the mall to get her ears pierced, but she opted out. The offer's still open, so we'll see.

(And no birthday would be complete without Aunt Beth sending Silly String.)





END OF PRESCHOOL

The end of preschool brought many, many activities at AnLi's school. That was the best part about her preschool - just the small, family atmosphere. She had an incredible teacher that AnLi just loved. Miss Miller cried and cried the last week of school. She and AnLi have exchanged notes during the summer, and the girls also went to a dinosaur camp she was teaching last month.

They had a week of dressing up. I've included a picture from "Crazy Hair Day" - AnLi's palm tree hair.

The mother/daughter tea is always cute. Yes, my drama queen REALLY gets into the dancing portion.

And then there was the end of school park day and the school carnival.

At the carnival the girls got to enjoy their first ever sno-cones, which they LOVED!





Preschool graduation



We've had several trips to the zoo this spring/summer.





And we saw "Shen Yun" in May. It didn't start until 7p, so Carli fell asleep before intermission, but AnLi sat on the edge of her seat for most of it. She was thrilled with the whole thing and keeps asking to see it again. Who knows if they'll tour this way next year.



And, of course, we have been swimming - A LOT! It's been a hot hot summer and the pool has gotten a ton of use.



This pic of Carli cracks me up! Who knows what's got her laughing so hard.



Carli has lost three teeth this summer. The bottom two were "shark teeth" for a couple weeks, but they did finally fall out and the permanent ones have moved up into place rather quickly. The tooth fairy came, but we have never had a tooth to put under her pillow. She wakes up in the morning and she's lost them. We've searched all over her room/bed, but have never found them. Did she swallow them in her sleep?

Also, Carli got a super cute short haircut. When we got home from the haircut, the girls were supposed to go upstairs and clean their rooms. AnLi called me up for "inspection". When I went by Carli's room, she wasn't in there nor was her room clean. I found her in my bathroom with piles of hair. She decided she'd add her own touches to her new 'do. It actually still looks really cute!



Enjoying some popcorn and a movie after a day in the pool.



And do you believe after four years, other than nieces, sisters or grandparents, we've NEVER had a babysitter? This summer we've had Dani come over about once a week. The girls have LOVED playing with her and getting a break from mom. :)



Vacation Bible School was a HUGE hit! They are still singing the songs and doing their Egyptian dances.



AnLi decided earlier this year she wanted to take tennis lessons. I have NO idea why. We don't play tennis or know anyone who does. We asked Carli if she wanted to take lessons also. She didn't know what tennis was. So, we said she could watch the first lesson and decide then. About 30 seconds into she said, "No, I don't think so. Maybe when I'm older." LOL!

AnLi's been taking the lessons off and on throughout the summer, and wants to continue this fall, but with everything else she wants to do, something has to go, so tennis will be put on hold for a while.



Swimming pool gymnastics




Sorry for the very long post! Thanks for watching and waiting. :)
Now I'm off to catch up on all of my fellow bloggers' blogs. I might be here for a while!

Next up - Summer!