Rose brought the art easel into the living room all by herself and turned it into her own personal little couch.  She went upstairs and got sissy’s big pillow and lined the frame to make the perfect-sized couch just for her.  Mike and I were looking at each other like, “How did she think to do that?”  Rose is a mystery to me at this point; a bag of tricks; a mile a minute; quick thinker; adapts well to all different types of situation.  She truly amazes and surprises us everyday, while we’re not necessarily looking.  She’s witty, clever, and knows how to play the game to get what she needs/wants.  Resourceful third child.  I’m so excited and interested in what kind of things Rose will be good at and like to do.  She’s really cool!  And so is her little twin friend, Katie!!!  Katie is the third child in her family too, and they are two little peas in a pod!  They love each other a lot and play like sisters; good times!

 

While the boys were off playing in the trees, Anna Kate was busy discovering the egg contraption Mrs. Paula set-up for the kids to explore.  Anna Kate couldn’t stop talking about how much fun the egg drop tunnels were!  Such a clever idea, as always!

After outside play, it was time for the birthday girls to make their birthday cupcakes.  Mrs. Paula let’s each birthday kid make their cupcakes for the class on their birthday.  It’s such a neat tradition, and the kids love it!  It was Anna Kate, Brielle, and Mrs. Julie’s birthdays last week, so the three of them had special time together baking their cupcakes!

I love this picture of Mrs. Julie and Anna Kate smiling at each other.  I’m pretty sure this picture happened right as Mrs. Julie was asking Anna Kate if she wanted to take a turn stirring the mix.

Great picture, Mrs. Paula!  The girls are deep into their cooking project!

Brielle’s turn to mix!

 

Awww, such sweet girls!  Happy birthday Mrs. Julie, Brielle, and Anna Kate!!!

 

Another day last week, the kids got to enjoy one of Anna Kate’s favorite activities… painting!!!

 

She simply loves it!

And then there was another zoo day!  I’m telling you, Anna Kate’s school is so amazing, and we are so blessed she gets to do all this fun stuff at school!  And you can’t imagine the things that I don’t show you guys on the blog that they do as well.  She brings home the most creative letter art.  We have a box full of all of her letter creations.  And… Mrs. Paula does a letter book and journal for them in the form of a scrapbook of all of their experiences throughout the year.  It’s unbelievable!

Looks like he’s snapping his fingers saying, “Aww man!”  I love this picture!

 

King of the jungle!

Mike and I were trying to guess how many zoo visitors sing, “When I was a young wart hog…” from Lion King when they pass this little fella each year!?!  Lol…

 

The zebras are always a hit!

I couldn’t believe the tiger meat was just hanging up there like that.  It would have been so neat to watch them jump for it and chow down!

Anna Kate is always very precautious of everything at first…

but once she understood the great white tiger couldn’t get out from behind the window, she stepped a little closer to observe.

Love these sweet little faces!

Had to include these pictures, because the rhinoceros was Anna Kate’s favorite animal this visit!

Can’t forget the elephants!

What an awesome week at pre-school!  Hope you enjoyed these pictures of Anna Kate discovering new things as much as we did!  Go girl!

 

The girls got to model over spring break… they loved the excitement of downtown Ft. Worth!

  

Noelle knows not to climb up the wall of a set but couldn’t help it just this once… she is still a kid after all!

 

Anna Kate had a blast following her big sister around!  The girls had such a fun experience doing this together!

 

The girls loved every minute of the spotlight, as you can tell!  I’m going to post lots of our modeling ads on the blog from the past and the present… first part of the summer!

 

  

Anna Kate, we loved celebrating your birthday week with you!  You are such a little joyful daughter!!! You call yourself the middle child and your sisters the “side children.” That’s hilarious to me. I’m a middle child and never thought of that. If you get upset, you’ll say to Noelle, “You’re just a side child!” She’ll say, “No, I’m the first child!” But you guys love each other hard too! During your 4 year old shots, all you wanted was, “Sissy!!!” You kept calling out for Noelle through your tears. You guys cuddled the whole night when she got home from school that day; and don’t forget Rose!  She looks up to you in ways that are so special! She’ll just come and lay on top of you, and you will chuckle with joy! You love taking care of her, holding her hand, and leading her into another room to play. She totally trusts you and when you are there, she feels safe and comes alive! To Mommy and Daddy, you exemplify FUN and happiness!  You are not old enough to feel heart-broken yet.  I watch and learn from your innocence!  Nothing phases you or gets to you… you are just like your Daddy!  You guys have a special gift that protects you from the harshness of the world.  It’s something that can’t be taught.  I pray you use it to live a stress-free and happy life, being a cheerful example to everyone you meet, while displaying empathy along the way (which you’ve got lots of too)!  

… which brings me to your soft side!  You are a sweetheart, that’s all there is to it. Everyone you meet  couldn’t agree more! Sometimes when you get in trouble and upset with us, after you’ve had a time out and say you’re sorry, you’ll add, “It’s okay, I’m just a little girl… I still love you and I still care about you!”

Several times during the past couple of months when I’ve been changing Rose’s diaper, you’ll come sit next to me and admire her. You will say how much you love her and pat her tummy, and it’s all so sweet. Twice you’ve said, “I love her born feet!” It took me a while to get that you were saying you love the feet of a newborn, or in this case, Rose’s. Apparently, you’ve heard people say “I love newborn feet!” and so you say “born feet” trying to copy. Cute thing is, Rose is 2 years old now, and you are still admiring those “born feet.” That’s just how sweet you are!

You are hilarious every single day!!!  I try to get it all in your journal but you say and do way too many funny things in a day.  I wish I could think of everything there is to shout out to the world just how cool Anna Kate Pond is! We are so excited you are here and love watching those big brown eyes sparkle and dance with excitement for each new day! Thanks for hanging out with us! We love you forever and always, Cutie Kate!!!

 

On Saturday, March 16th, Anna Kate’s real birthday, we went over to Grand Papa and Kay Kay’s house to celebrate Anna Kate!  Thank you guys so much for hosting our Pond family for lots of birthday fun and surprises!  Anna Kate takes care of Noemi, just like Rose; so sweet!

Time with Daddy’s family is always fun and special!

 

Wow, Kay Kay… thanks for the great birthday dinner!  It was all of Anna Kate’s favorite things!

So happy!  The gift that keeps on giving.  Birthdays are my favorite!

 

Go sissy!!!

After all the present fun had come to an end, Rose was ready to call it quits!  Lol, she always lays on something random when she is tired and ready to go to sleep.  She fusses all day long, but she will never fuss to go to sleep.  We’ll just find her laying on the counter top (I’m not joking) or anywhere she feels like relaxing.  I wonder if she likes hard surfaces because she has slept in the pack n’ play since day 1 until now.  She hates cuddling in our beds… and I’m thinking it’s because they are too soft.  We need to transition her into the toddler bed soon.  It’s a little bit softer, so hopefully she’ll get used to it.  (this was random… I’m so behind and so tired)  I’m trying to get caught up before Easter but I’m at least a week behind.  We’ve been SO sick and SO busy lately.  We’re good though; crazy good!

Noemi and Rose are always soooo cute together!

 

These pictures are just totally adorable!

 

Here are all of the Pond girls playing outside before Anna Kate’s party on her birthday at Kay Kay and Grand Papa’s house!

This about sums up the girls’ personalities right now, lol!  They were so happy in the car on the way to their grandparents’ house; I had to capture their excitement!

 

Some of our very best friends, the Christian family, were in Texas this week for a wedding, and we were blessed to meet up with them for lunch on their quick trip.  It was a drive for all of us, but there was no way we were going to be in the same state and not see each other, even if it was just for lunch!

 

Bailey and Noelle are growing up so much and getting so big!  Still two peas in a pod… (Flashback pic of these two from ‘07)!

 

Sadie and Anna Kate are just as connected in their little hearts as Noelle and Bailey, and all four of them dote on baby Rose.  It’s the sweetest thing ever to watch all their love grow and continue to be so genuine, even though their time together is few and far between since Bailey and Sadie live in Georgia now.

Here are all of the Christian family’s Texas buddies (that we love seeing too) posing for a group shot!

 

Mary, Ben and Will’s mommy (orange shirts above), is pregnant with boy #3!  Anna Kate was so excited there was a baby in Mary’s tummy!  Yay, Coker family!  Anna Kate gave Sadie a best friend necklace that said, “Friends Forever.”   They were figuring out how the pieces connect and were so excited to take a little piece of jewelry home to remember their time together!

              

This is us!  I love this picture, because when we hang out altogether, it looks exactly like this all of the time.  The kids are always playing and happy, and Amanda and I enjoy them so much (with cameras in hand)!

  

Friends of the heart, so connected and having fun!

 

Bunny ears are huge right now… the Pond girls LOVE it… just in time for Easter, ha!

 

I love Rose having a blast with the bunny ears in the first picture (laughing away) and how Bailey is totally taking care of her in the second picture.  It’s like they’ve always known each other too… well, they have! 

                 

This was the first trip that I can honestly say deeply pained my heart on the way home.  Just seeing the kids together in their bliss broke my heart that we are half a country apart from these loved ones.  It makes every moment with them magnified and treasured, for sure!  We love you guys with all of our hearts and look forward to the next time we can be home together, because home is where your heart is, and you are definitely there!  XOXO

We had so much fun swimming at the hotel with Anna Kate’s friends at her party!

 

Payton and Rose and Mommy and the birthday girl!

Juila, Brylee, Anna Kate, and Noelle

 

Malia and Rose, both doing their thing!

Rose, Anna Kate, Brylee, Avery, Payton, Landon, Noelle, Emily, Julia and Malia

Anna Kate and I were swimming away in the pool together!  She’s so cuddly in the water because she’s not letting go for anything!

Watching the bubbles splash!

Payton, Anna Kate, Avery and I had a blast going in circles together (over and over again, lol)!

 

Love Rose’s new swimsuit!  Landon and Anna Kate are the sweetest little play mates.  I could take Landon (and Logan) home with me in an instant.  The Pond girls are in love with those little boys!

After the party ended, we got in our pjs and came down to tell Miss Amber, the front desk hostess, good night!  She was amazing!

 

The girls spent most of their time in the hotel room ordering more hotel rooms and room service from each other.  There were two phones in our room that echoed into each other (you could actually hear the other person talking through the phone connection), and the girls thought it was magic.  I forget they’ve rarely seen phones with cords on them in their little lives, so they were fascinating to them.  When I asked Anna Kate what her favorite part about her hotel birthday was, she said, “Talking on the phone!”