We have loved getting to know the Banks family this year!  www.bundleofbanks.com  Braxton is the sweetest little boy, and his party was super great awesome, super great!

My sweet junior PTA group visited the fire department last week, and we had a blast and learned SO much!  We brought the crew new stainless steel cookware to show our support and say thanks for all of their hard work and sacrifice!

 

After checking out lots of cool equipment on the outside of the truck, the girls got the full experience inside the truck as well.  The captain was showing some of us moms how the machines are all inside of their chairs.  From the time the bell rings until they are pulling out of their drive-way is a total of 2 minutes.  They run and jump in and then latch on the big oxygen tank and equipment once they are already seated and buckled.  I don’t know if you can see it or not, but there is a big hole in the chair that the oxygen tank fits it, making their backs flat with the seat back, even while wearing their equipment.  Once they arrive at the scene, they pull the yellow bar on the seat cushion, and everything is released with them and they are good to go fight fires!  So while the truck is on the road, they can finish getting all hooked up to their equipment, not wasting a second! 

They did a demonstration of how the stretcher gets on and off the ambulance, and Anna Kate was hooked!  It’s completely electronic these days.  No more heavy lifting, which means less injuries and a gentler ride for the patients.  It was all so efficient!  I wanted to mention this because Anna Kate said seeing the stretcher demonstration was her favorite part!  It was pretty cool!

 

Rose had a blast driving the big fire truck, but Anna Kate was too timid.  Some things she is just not interested in doing, and this was one of them.  She had fun checking everything out with her feet on the ground!  Rose, on the other hand, didn’t want to get out!  She’s always up for anything that’s adventurous!

I love how the girls stick together in crowds and take care of each other!  All the Pond girls love being together and feel safe when one of their sissies is close by.

 

Lastly, we got a tour inside the fire house!  It was so fun hearing all of their stories, recipes, seeing their living room, kitchen and even bunking quarters.  We had a total blast, and Anna Kate picked up some souvenirs (and asked if she could take some home for her big sissy too, aww).

Anna Kate was upset because Noelle didn’t get to see everything, and after one of the firefighters overheard her talking to me about that on our way out, he told us to bring her back one weekend to check it out!  They said they love visitors, so we will definitely be back!  What a fun little educational outing!

*This was weeks ago!  I’m way behind on blogging! 

 

Here’s Anna Kate’s little short and sweet blog post from her time at school in February!

 

Making homemade play-doh, probably her favorite activity ever!

 

Upper and lower case letters one week and graham cracker, cream cheese and fruit roll-up flags for President’s Day!

 

Anna Kate wasn’t there the day of “Where the Wild Things Are” reenactment but since this is an absolute favorite, we roared our terrible roars and gnashed our terrible teeth big time at home! 

 

Everyone loves some good outdoor instrument time!  What a genius idea to play instruments outside!  I bet the kids were as loud as they could possibly be; Love it!  Anna Kate loves a good photo-op!  Ham it up, girlfriend!

 

Here are a couple other activities that went on at Mrs. Paula’s this month!  You can’t imagine all that she does with her students.  She shares at least 300 pics a week with us parents and my pics don’t even skim the surface!  The whole pre-school she’s got going is simply awesome!  I’m pretty confident there is no better preschool in the entire world.  As Noelle always says when someone gets to do something super special, “Lucky ducks!”

*If you are in the area and are a personal friend, contact me for more info if you’d like your kiddo to join in the fun!  Mrs. Paula always has a waiting list going of super great awesome kids! 

This picture is sooo sweet (and even though Harper isn’t looking in this one, you guys get to check out her UH-MAZING curls)!

 

I love being Auntie Momo (the kids named me that, and I love it so much)!!!  Can’t wait for our Ebert cousins to arrive on the scene this summer!  But for now, I’m counting the days until Easter when I get to see these beauties again!!!

 

Here are my folks with their state-side grandbabies (and Rose the flying machine on the left)!  Thanks for everything, Poppa and Rara!

Ava, Noelle, Carson, Hannah, Emily and Brianna rocked it out with their cheer/dance to Dynamite at their school talent show a few weekends ago.  Every Monday this semester, these girls came over to our house and danced their little hearts out.  I have never been more proud of any group of kids before.  It was so neat watching them work together toward a goal and have fun in the process!  Noelle has the sweetest friends I could ever hope for!

 

They were sooooo excited waiting for the show to start! 

Here’s a picture of all the acts in the talent show.  The kids have to be in 2nd grade to participate, so Noelle’s looked forward to being in it for the past 2+ years, ever since she started elementary school!  So thankful she got to participate with her friends.  It was neat seeing her get to do something she’s looked forward to for so long! 

 

The girls’ Bobcats teammates, Reece and Kinsley, from another elementary school, came to support their friends; That was super special and memorable!  Thanks to our family and friends who came out to support Noelle!  She had a total blast!

 

Happy Birthday, sweet baby Rose!  We can’t believe how fast the time has passed and that you are already 3!  You bring so much joy, fun, and laughter to our lives.  There’s no other way to describe you than to say you are totally precious in absolutely every way!  It’s going to be so fun seeing what all you come up with in your spunky little life!  You always wake up each morning ready to do whatever we have in store for you, with such an excited demeanor.  You are a good girl but equally stand up for yourself and know what you want, which is huge!  We watch in awe of you and are going to do everything we can to support you in all that you love!  We love you to the moon and back, Rose.  Always and forever, Daddy and Mommy  Cheers to the Terrific Threes!!!

 

Best day of Rose’s life, hands down!

Thanks to all of our friends and family that came out to play with Rose.  You made her feel soooo special!

  

Cousin Harper, Rose, and Noelle getting their play on!

Anna Kate and Malia, future kindergarteners, class of ‘15!  I think they’re ready!!!

  

Cutie Kate, Rose with a million things going on upstairs, and sweet Landon doing their thing!

 

Cousins Saylor and Harper drove a long way to come play; We love you guys!  Bekah Boo’s still got it! 

Sweet Noelle living life to the fullest!  (Pray for her expanders if you think about it.  She’s in pain off and on these days.  So thankful to see her so carefree in this pic!)

 

Noelle and Emily!!!  I love going down those big slides with my babies! It’s FUN!  Pump It Up does adult parties on weekend nights.  I’d love that!

 

One minute Cerly and Rose are climbing a big mountain, the next Rose head dives down the other side.  This.kid.  Scared me to death, but apparently she knew what she was doing.

 

Noelle and Georgia had a blast playing too!  Auntie Monster Momo with baby Saylor and my first baby!

 

Katie arrives on the scene!  How precious is this!?!

We LOVE playing monster at home!  It’s one of our favorite things so it just made sense to bust out the monster gear and play monster!

Rose… makes the world go round!

Noelle, Lesleigh, Anna Kate, and Jillian!  These girls are precious and our girls admire them so much!

Silly faces!

 

Rara and cousin Harper ready for some pizza!  Although parties are always a blur, these pictures make my heart full as I remember all the happy kiddos!

  

Shout out to the party star as she says “ta-da” right back to her sisters!  Anna Kate, Jillian, Malia, Lindy

Brianna, Emily, Avery, Lesleigh, and Noelle

 

Most hilarious blowing out the candles ever!

 

You just HAVE to see the video!  It was adorable/hysterical!  And of course, our baby picked a chocolate cupcake, her favorite! 

Reading cards and opening presents turned into a team effort!  Rose was in heaven.  Thanks for the pictures, Bekah Boo!!!

 

The party star chair keeps us coming back to Pump It Up so everyone can have their special day in the chair!  Our family rule is the birthday girl gets to sit in the chair to eat, sing, and have cupcakes, but when present time comes, it’s a sister privilege.  It is all about the chair, go figure!

 

Miss Kara (Rose calls her Ka-wa) has the best style!  She used to own Ella Bella before she sold it to manage her bro earlier this year.  Right now, I’m coasting on my previous Ella Bella purchases (I even bought their Easter dresses and summer fun clothes last spring).  Kara ran an awesome boutique, and we are so grateful for everything she picked out for the girls!  Not a day goes by that a Pond girl is not wearing something Kara personally picked out for her store and suggested to me.  I miss that, but she’s rockin’ it out doing her thing, and I’m like a proud big sissy!

 

Books from Aunt Sharon and the crew and puppy purse from Berkley and Hudson!

Dance time!  Mike got video of this that I can’t wait to see!  These kids are so spontaneous, fun and happy!  Love them all! 

For party favors, we had several different types of rings, and called them Rosie’s rings!  It was cute and the kids liked it.  They also got to take home monsters that were on the tables.  When I saw this sticker, I knew Rose had to have it for her ring pops!  It is just so totally Rose.  She did her deep belly giggle when she saw these stickers for her favors!

 

Yay!  The big day is here!  Rose has looked forward to her Monsters, Inc. Pump It Up birthday (that’s what she’s called it) ever since she knew what a birthday party was all about!  When we pulled up to Pump It Up, she screamed, “There’s Pump it Up!!!  I found it!”  This baby girl of ours is so precious and so sweet and kind… we were all soooo excited to celebrate Rose!  Her enthusiasm for life has always been contagious!

I’ve had so much fun thinking this up in my head!  It turned out a little differently than I had in my mind, but just as cute!

 

My Rosies!!!

Let the cousin time begin with Anna Kate and Harper!

One thing is for sure about these guys… they are crazy about their grandkids!  Check out Rara’s “Rara” bracelet!  Love y’all!

My baby and me.  This little 3 year old milestone makes me happy and sad, but mostly, super excited!!!  I mean, this is so good!

 

I love that Rose’s shirt in her monster picture says, “Lil’ girl, big game!”  Always and forever, baby Rose.  Do your thing!

 

Imagination station!  Yes, it’s all you think it is and more!  (She’s Elsa)

This baby will always smile for her Daddy!  Will I ever stop calling Rose baby now that she’s growing up?  Probably not.  She’ll always be our sweet baby Rose.  Always.

  

 

 

Getting our monster on!

The table is set… let’s do this!

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So proud of our sweet friend Kara’s little bro, Brandon!  When Noelle saw him on TV today, she said, “I met him!!!”  Buy his lead single on iTunes by clicking the first link above.  You’re gonna love it!  I think it’s safe to say, the Pond girls are all smiles/giggles about it! 

 

Tomorrow, back to party pics, but today, we are celebrating Kara’s brother, Brandon!  GO BRANDON!