Noelle and Chloe were having fun wearing silly things to school and oh my dear! This child is going to wear high heels like tennis shoes.  She tries them on everywhere we go and doesn’t want to take them off when it’s time to leave.  Fancy Nancy, help!!!

Noelle loves to sleep in braids and wear her hair wavy the next day at school; it’s cool!

A lizard followed the girls and me inside this week after lunch… lots of squealing, lots of fun!  The picture on the right is Anna Kate after eating her first s’more!  She loved every last sticky bite!

Rose LOVES playing on the iPad!  It’s crazy how fast they pick everything up!  It’s the perfect way to engage a kid because it’s something they can touch and feel, literally hands on.  So thankful Mike won our iPad because our girls are learning so much and have enjoyed it immensely.

Thank you Kay Kay and Grandpapa for taking us out to eat for Mike’s birthday and all his fun presents!  Here’s Mike enjoying (about to share) his chocolate flan with the girls… he’s the best!

Daddy got lots of little presents for his birthday!

I had to post a picture of the red velvet cake I bought for Mike that went all wrong!  Like seriously, what the heck does it say?  It’s supposed to say, “Happy Birthday, Daddy”… it did make me laugh though.  When we picked it up, Noelle said, “Mommy are you sad about Daddy’s cake?”  I said, “No, just confused,” lol!

Happy Baby, Happy Daddy, Happy Week!!!

I asked Julia and Anna Kate what they were talking about.  They said, “Our boyfriends!”  I said, “Who has a boyfriend?”  And they said, “We both do!”  Silly girls!

The not-so-glamorous part about a park play date!

Good times!

My friend Tanna is having a fun countdown full of 10 activities she wants to do with her girls before her baby Audree is born.  One of the things on her countdown is: Pj Party with the Ponds, so today, that’s what we did! 

The girls had such a blast!!!  Anna Kate said, “This is the best pj party ever!”

After lunch, we went outside to play and make a craft!  The girls were in heaven!

Cerly put this cone on her head and walked around saying, “Happy!”  It was so cute!!!

What a fun day!  Tanna’s getting closer and closer to meeting her 3rd little girl… so excited for their family!  I think this was #7 on her Countdown list until Audree’s birth! 

The girls couldn’t wait for Daddy to get off work so we could go celebrate!

We had fun taking pictures and playing outside before dinner.

Rose is a little camera shy but not her big sissy, ha!

Go girl!

Noelle always watches over Rose… she’s the best big sister ever!

Anna Kate is my picture girl these days… she wants me to take her picture even more than I already do, lol!

The girls picked out their outfits for dinner; they love being fancy!

Thanks Noelle, for taking our pic… you’re getting so big and have always been my faithful little helper!

They had nothin’ left for Mommy, lol! 

We had an awesome dinner Thursday night with Kay Kay and Grandpapa (thank you so much for the delicious meal and birthday presents for Mike) and Mexican flan at Gloria’s on his birthday!

Daddy got lots of little presents for his birthday!

I had to post a picture of the red velvet cake I bought for Mike that went all wrong! Like seriously, what the heck does it say? It’s supposed to say, “Happy Birthday, Daddy… it did make me laugh though. Noelle said, “Mommy are you sad about Daddy’s cake?” I said, “No, just confused,” lol!

Happy Baby, Happy Daddy, Happy Birthday Week!!!

Noelle made Mike this birthday card at school, and she met him at the door when he got home to give it to him!

A friend at work drew this on the front of a card that everyone signed for him.  It’s so cool!  I told Mike he should frame it and put it in a collage on his office wall…  fyi, Mike designed a billing system he named “Kiwi” up at work, so that’s why Jonathan drew a kiwi on the computer screen. 

• Hi best friend,
• I hope you have a great day!  Can’t wait to celebrate you and all you mean to us!  You’re the best!  We love you… I love you so much!!!
• ~Melissa

This is a picture of the girls at the park yesterday.  Rose is 18 mos. Anna Kate 3 1/2 and Noelle 6 1/2.  Current Noelle has changed her style a little, can you tell!?! Lol… I love it!

This is Noelle and Anna Kate wearing the same dresses however, Noelle was 4 1/2 (a year older than the current Anna Kate pics) but Rose is the same age as Anna Kate (in this pic, Anna Kate is 18 mos).  I think it’s crazy that Noelle in this pic and Anna Kate in the first picture are doing the same pose.

First Picture Rose (18 mos) and Anna Kate (3 1/2) 2012

Second Picture Anna Kate (18 mos) and Noelle (4 1/2) 2010

Rose was chewing on a cracker and standing there was about all we were gonna get… at this stage in the game, I’ll take it!  Anna Kate and Noelle have the same noses and cheeks and maybe Rose too.  I see more resemblances between Noelle and Anna Kate when I compare them around the same age as opposed to in real life.  Right now, to me, they don’t look that much alike, but in these pictures, I think they look a whole lot alike.

Anna Kate has always been Miss “Smiley!”  That’s why I have so many great pictures of her… she’s always asking me to take pictures and is so genuinely happy!  The main thing I’m noticing comparing all these pictures is that Rose’s hair is darker than Anna Kate’s was when she was her age, so maybe Rose’s will stay dark.  If so, that’s cool!  I think blue eyes and dark hair will look stunning on Rose.  I love that each girl has their own look even though you can tell they are sisters.

This was one of my favorite fall pictures of 2010.  Noelle was all personality and Anna Kate was a little timid/reserved, which is the way they are now too.  They are all so unique and special… I love you guys so much!!!

(Now I’m trying to figure out where I put those shoes 18 mos old Anna Kate is wearing so that Rose can wear them too, lol!  See the benefits of comparing… you remember what you have… and you don’t have to buy new clothes!)

The Pond girls never pass up an opportunity to go to Yogurt Zone, especially when it’s Spirit Day, AND they have orange sherbet on the menu!

I love this picture of our littles!  Anna Kate and Rose are sweet to each other but don’t interact much.  It’s interesting.  However, I caught them cuddling on the couch and was so excited they were giving each other attention!

Noelle and Hanna had fun hanging out and Rose was all over the place!

Lately, I’ve been calling Anna Kate “Sweetie Kate!”  I think we’re coming out of a terrible 2/3 phase, and I’m so excited!  She’s so great!!!

Did you notice all the orange on their cute lips and cheeks?  Before these pics, I wiped them with a wipe, but it actually stained their mouths for the night.  Oh well, it was worth it, evidence and all!  Have a great week!

It was rainy most of the weekend, and the PondFam5 was tired!  We stayed close to home and relaxed together.  It was nice!

Today Tanna had her baby shower for baby Audree, her third little girl!  We had a special time celebrating this precious baby!  The “Just Think” poem to the right is the front of the card I gave Tanna today.  It’s crazy how I found this card for her… I shouldn’t have even been in Hobby Lobby when I found this card but had a few minutes to burn until I picked up Anna Kate.  I had a coupon and was just browsing (which never happens), until I thought it would be neat to get a card card for Tanna.  Usually I just use one of our calling cards or some little To: From: card, but I was drawn to the card section for some reason.  This was the first card I picked up, and as I read it, I knew it was a special message God gave me for my friend and her daughter (and Rose and me too).  Being the third girl is intimidating (I can only imagine) to have to live up to your big sissies, but I want to instill in Rose that she is one of a kind, compared to no one, and is here at just the right time in history to fulfill His special purpose… as is Audree.  Tanna and I share a special bond having three girls!  Can’t wait to meet your third beauty, Tanna!  Your mom said it right today at the shower, “We are so blessed!”