Here we have Rose Pond and Harper Banks giving some cousin love!

This age is so hard because they are always on the move!

Someday the Banks and the Pond will meet up for a smiley face picture!  They just have to decide they want to!  They’re still precious!!!

 

Rose nestled right into Aunt Jojo when she arrived on Friday!

 

We had some extra gardeners in the yard tonight!  Anna Kate and Jackson were working so hard to add their special touches to the flower bed!

 

So proud of all of Jax’s hard work at the hospital comforting his patients!!!  There are so many amazing stories of the good he does up there…

*The girls claim Jax as their own and if anyone asks them if they have a dog, they say yes and tell them that he lives with their grandparents.  We all love Jax!!!

 

Right as we were leaving the house to head to the game, Lesleigh came by to say “Hi!”  We had a lot of special visitors last week to come out and cheer on Noelle!

Her little cousin Harper, for starters, and Aunt Fancy Nancy, and of course, the Ra!

 

Surprise!  Surprise!  Look who popped into town for a visit!!!  We had soo much fun spending the weekend with Uncle Jim and Aunt Joe (my mom’s sister).  And of course, here’s Poppa doing “Swing ‘em high, Swing ‘em low” with Anna Kate as he does with all his grandchildren!

The colorful cheering section!!!

 

Noelle showed up to the game (she came with Autumn) with this awesome glitter tattoo.  It stayed on all week, even in the shower, and it still sparkles and looks just like glitter!  They got them at Magic Time Machine… we’ve got to go!

Here’s the tunnel!

Noelle had one great assist today before the ball was hit into her chest and took the wind out of her.  It was a hard hit.  She said, “Mom, I’m shaking all over.  I didn’t know balls could be that hard.” She was a good sport and got back in once she could breathe again.  She finished out the game hustling and giving it her all!  I’m always so proud of her for doing her best!

It was our turn to bring drinks, so I had fun crafting it up with our turn.  The girls were so appreciative; it was so worth it!  Noelle said she couldn’t wait to put it in her play kitchen… so that is what we did!  Fun little souvenir from the game!

Noelle was soo proud of her drink!  We took Crystal Light pink lemonade for them to mix in their water.  They loved that!  They worked hard and needed a pick me up!

 

Landry and Noelle are friends, teammates, and classmates at school!  She’s such a sweetie friend!  Noelle told me the other day, “Landry’s got a special talent… she’s a great laugher!”  They are all so cute.  I love kindergarteners!  Here’s the gang headed on to the next thing!

Thanks everyone who came out to the game on Saturday to watch Noelle play!  You made our girl feel so very special and loved!  She was giddy because she was so proud of each and every one of you!  Thanks again!

 

 

 

 

I’ve told you guys before, I probably take pictures at about 1/3 of the outings/play dates/things we do, mostly because of time and energy.  I know I do a lot, but I’d like to do more…

And then I got an iPhone, and all of a sudden, I’m taking pictures I never would’ve taken without it!  Most of these pics I took with my new phone, so maybe I’ll capture even more of our memories on film for the girls to see, remember, and enjoy! (and all of you guys who read our little scrapbook blog)

 

Noelle and Chloe are great play mates, and it’s so easy to get together because we’re neighbors! 

 

We had a play date a couple weeks ago with Ysa and baby Teige… the cutest little guy on the planet!!!

 

And these gals are pretty cute too, if I do say so myself! 

Noelle loves art classes at Van Grow!  It is one of her favorite things to paint and create.  I think this is actually Noelle’s strongest talent so far… and she loves doing it!

These are some phone pics from the Sea Life Aquarium when we were on Noelle’s field trip!

These little guys are sharks that clean the floor beneath the sting rays.

Noelle and Emily in a fish tank!

They had a color changing light in this tank, so these jelly fish kept changing colors.  It was beautiful to watch, but confusing for the kids because they thought the jellies were doing it on their own and that it was a special thing jelly fish do… oh well, it was pretty!

When we left, we asked the girls what they learned, and Noelle said that the sea horse males carry their babies in their tummies.  That made a big impression on her.

Sweet picture of my daughter looking so much like my brother at Easter.

I made necklaces for the 4th graders at Noelle’s school for a girl power program I’m helping out with… so excited about that!

Noelle makes her bed every single day.  We don’t make her do it or even ask her to, she just does it all on her own!  What have I created?  She’s a neater neat freak than me… and I love it!

Havin’ fun at Noelle Stout’s birthday at Pump it Up!

 

We took a picture of Shiloh and Anna Kate because they suck the same two fingers on the same hand and are the same age… crazy!  Anna Kate was very scared in the wind machine… right after this picture, she got out and wanted to go right back in, of course!

 

Dress-up fun with Autumn!

                             

Rose had her first play date all by herself at Lesleigh’s house a few weeks ago.  Here’s Rose hanging out on Lesleigh’s bed! (Lesleigh’s 9 years old and loooves baby Rose)  Rose looks so proud of herself, like she’s getting to do something really special!

We love our story time with Mrs. Peggy!!!  We call her Anna Kate’s teacher, because she practically is!  She has taught Anna Kate so much, and I get to be a part of her learning experience.  We love it!!!

Mike’s been on a cooking streak, and I’m all about it!

This was the best chicken I’ve ever had!

 

The girls and I had errands to run at the mall one day this week, so we had a little fun along the way!

My big girl rode the horse all by herself!

 

After a couple more stops, we headed to the play land to get out a little energy!

This was the first time I’ve ever let Rose out of her stroller at the play land, and she made a loyal friend in no time.  This little buddy followed her around the entire time we were there and played really well with her.  It was so cute.  I texted this picture to Mike and said, “Rose made a friend!”  That’s my girl.

 

Anna Kate and Ava were excited to see each other, and Anna Kate made friends with Landry’s grandma, Ms. Jackie.  The friendship began over a shared love of the color purple (and the rest was history, as in, she sat in her lap for the entire game)!!!

Anna Kate was showing Carson her purple Care Bear necklace that she bought with her piggy bank money (Wilber the pig!)… girls love a good piece of jewelry!

 

Go Skittles!

 

Sisterly love!

 

These girls crack me up!

Noelle had her first kinder sleepover with Autumn last weekend!  It was awesome!  They had a blast, and then fell right asleep and slept the whole night.  Easy peasy!

Night night girly girls!

 

 

 

Thanks Horton girls for playing at the park and going into the wild wild woods with us!  We had a great day and had so much fun… as always!

*When we are out and about during the day while Noelle is at school, my heart hurts I miss her so much!  I wish she were in these pictures too!  She has awesome play date pictures to look back on from when she was 1 & 3, so it’s totally fair… it’s just hard.  We are overjoyed when she gets home each day and are counting the days until summer when we can all be together (every day) again.  Love you, Noelle bug!

 

Don’t you wish you could be this carefree!?!  Noelle’s awesome!  I love you, Bella Shwella! 

 

 

We always love hanging out in Poppa and Rara’s beautiful back yard!!!

We love Easter!  (well, most of us, lol)  I hope one day Rose will look back on these pictures and laugh and know how cute we all think she is, even if she is throwing a fit about absolutely nothing at all!  God love her!

 

Let the pictures begin…

I love this sweet picture of Harper discovering her basket and learning all about Easter fun!  Next year, she will be out there hunting eggs!

                 

Poppa and Rara with their stateside granddaughters.

 

Anna Kate had the most fun hunting eggs this year.  She found a purple one (her favorite color) and kept running around showing everyone her purple egg!

She finally started looking for more after cousin Brittany got her back on track! 

I love our sweet little girls! 

This is more like it… this is how I feel juggling three every single day! (& I love it!)

The girls know the drill and immediately started opening their eggs!

Going for the gold…

Score!  Cousin Linda puts in gold dollars for the kids each year, and they get so excited!

Noelle sharing treats with baby Rose.

 

Kay Kay and Grandpapa and cousin Melissa hanging out with the girls!

I love this pretty picture of John, Nancy, and Harper.

  

 

Here’s the talking tree… this place is full of surprises!  You never know what you’re going to find out here!

Kay Kay and Grandpapa look lovely in their “sweetheart” picture!  We were so happy they could join us this year for Easer.

 

Regan and Emma with Noelle and Rose.

Noelle wanted a “big girl” picture with her cousins this year… so sweet.  We have Brittany, Regan, and Ashley who are all sisters and Olen and Linda’s granddaughters.

At some point every year, you can always find one of the girls riding Brittany’s pink car in the Easter scene inside the family center.

Noelle captivates me.  I can’t help it.  They all do.  Each one.  Every time I look at them, I can’t take my eyes off of them.  Kids are such miracles!

I love Anna Kate’s spunky personality… life is just always so grand and exciting for her!  She’s always so surprised and thankful about the little things in life.

And baby Rose has just about got Easter egg hunting figured out.  Give her one more year, and she’s game on.  However, this year she did find the “golden egg” with a $25.00 gold dollar reward in it!  We got to write her name on the official golden egg for 2012!!!  Go Rose!

 

 

I love my fancy baby girl!  She is such a doll baby!  This is the first time since headbands that she’s worn a bow… I’m so excited she can wear a little pony, which means the bows are back in business!  

 

This picture of Rose carrying her candy in her mouth and a rock in each hand beats all! 

 

The girls got to pick one piece of candy a piece to eat, and they savored every bite!

Noelle takes such good care of Rose, and Rose adores her back!

 

Melt my heart, Anna Kate Pond.  Or steal it one!  You’re such a cutie pie.

Surely Granny and Pawpaw get to see this picture from heaven! 

Tell us about it Rose!  Talk to us.

Brittany telling the girls goodbye.

My Granny would be tickled to have this baby right here on Easter Sunday!

Of course my Anna Katey found the red dirt!

 

My sweet Bella Shwella.  This one is my cuddle buddy right here!  Noelle is so affectionate and loves special attention.  And I love all of the above.

And that’s all folks.  Hope you guys had a Happy Easter this year remembering the death and resurrection of our life giver, Jesus Christ!