Day of Discovery

It was a day of discovery for Princess A.

She has grown very fond of her activity gym, and has gotten quite good at grabbing a hold of the hanging toys with gusto.
But while she was straining to kick and bat, she made an even bigger discovery...

Feet!

Who knew these interesting little appendages were way down there?!

That changes everything!

Now, it's not only a tactile affair.

It's a hanging toy...

Double Attack!!!

And as if this discovery of feet weren't exciting enough...

Wait, a, minute.

Something is different.

Could it...?

Is that what I think it...?

IT IS!

Princess A's very first tooth!!!

Congratulations Princess A!

What an exhausting day!

Party of 5

I've never felt like we have "lots of kids," as some people have said. To me, five just feels pretty normal. But every now and then I'm a bit taken back by how far we've come. Tonight was one of those times. I was sitting down to dinner with the kids. And even with Daddy at work and Princess A in her swing, the table was still buzzing with personalities. I looked up from my food at the semi-circle of small people surrounding me and thought, "Holy cow, when did this happen?!"

How blessed I am to be kept in such good company!

:)

Gone, But Not Forgotten

As I was coming up the drive to feed horses on this cold March morning, I was reminded of another cold March morning on this day last year, when I said goodbye to my beloved pony and lifelong friend. She was my first pony as a child, and she lived to the ripe old age of 33. I never would have guessed she'd be around for four of my children to enjoy her! And that long night I spent in the pasture with her this time last year, I was unknowingly, newly pregnant with Princess A. So I guess, in some small way, she crossed paths with Sugar too.

Thank you for all of the years of love and friendship.

You will always be my best pony!

We miss you dearly.

Click here to view my favorite post of Big Sis and Sug together.

Fashionista

"What do you think?...

...Is it too much?"
~Princess A

Saturday Sweet

Saturday evenings are the best! This is what I get to do while Daddy gives the other kids baths and puts them in bed. Oh, how lovely to have two people here at bedtime!!!

Inked

Friday
Bet you'd never guess it was my morning to feed horses and Daddy's morning to watch the kids!

Well, I have always heard it said that you can never get just one tattoo.

"Oh crap! It's raining!"

This morning as Dad was getting ready to go unload groceries from the car, he looked outside and said, "Oh crap! It's raining!"

And from the next room came a chain reaction of, "Oh crap! It's raining!"

Followed by a smaller, "Oh crap! It's raining!"

And a smaller, "Oh crap! It's raining!"

*

Um, words Dad!!! :)

"Ohhhh, a Targeting we go, a Targeting we go...!"

Cinderella would be so proud!

:)

Happy Big 02 Little Sis!!!

Birth Day Edition

I've come to the conclusion that I take way too many pictures! So I'm splitting Little Sis's birthday pics up into Birthday and Birthday Weekend editions. Here is a look at the 2nd anniversary of Little Sis's actual date of birth...

It's become tradition in our house to stay up late the night before a birthday decorating the kitchen, and making a special birthday sign...which will remain on the wall until the birthday of the next family member rolls around.

I'm in charge of wrapping presents, and Daddy makes the birthday banner. I used to make it, but I tend to obsess over getting it just exactly right (go figure) so it takes Daddy a fraction of the time to get it done.

The presents are then arranged on the table for the birthday person to discover first thing the next morning.

Miniature Sleeping Beauty doll...definitely a hit!

During the present opening, Sis received a recorded birthday greeting from Geoffrey the Giraffe, the Toys R' Us mascot.

Yes Sis, I agree. That is a little creepy.

The two pack of prince and princess Barbies was definitely worth the extra $7.00 for all of the fun Daddy had with it.

For those who have been following him on Facebook...

...This was the birth of "Harold the Rejected Toy."

After the present opening, Sis had a special birthday breakfast of Lucky Charms.

Sis's afternoon consisted of lots of rides on Horsey Mommy!

Considering that her favorite gate is a continuous canter, I was pleased that my back held up much better than I anticipated.

We also got a visit from Grandma K, who joined us for ice cream with M&M's and a candle on top!

Then it was back outside to play with her favorite present, miniature Snow White and Prince.

She had one in each hand for the entire rest of the day!

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Sis!

I hope you had a positively lovely day!

CINDEREJECTED!

Big Sis asked me to play Cinderella with her. She gets to be the princess, of course, and I get to be the prince. The interaction went as follows...

Me/Prince: "Hello! May I have this dance?"

Sis/Cinderella (in a high pitched tone): "No. I have to go somewhere."

Me/Prince: "Where do you have to go?"

Sis/Cinderella: "To Target."

*

Ouch! Rejected!

*

Apparently, Cinderella needed to pick up some ice cream.

All she had to say to the poor prince when she returned was,

"Here. Put this in the fridge!"

:)

Nicely done, Daddy!

I got a pix message from Daddy on my phone this morning, proudly displaying his accomplishment. It was my morning to feed horses, so he decided to try his hand at getting the girls ready for the day on his own. Not that he wouldn't normally, but I am usually the one in charge of girl hair. It has become quite an art, and Big Sis especially, likes it that way! I was so impressed, I had to take some pics of my own...

Look at that part!

...and pigtail symmetry!

Nicely done, Daddy!

I just may have to start assigning you a girl or two on Sunday mornings, and maybe we'll get better at making it to church on time!

Our Time

The weekend is winding down, the birthday festivities have come to a close, dinner is on the stove, and all of the kids are peacefully sleeping.

Birthday pics will still be here tomorrow.

Right now, it's time for mom and dad!

Steppin' Out With My Girls

...or with two of them at least. It's Little Sis's birthday weekend. So today Big Sis, Little Sis, and I had a girls' afternoon out. We visited with Grandpa G, spent a long time at the park, and got iced coffee for me and a treat for them on the way home. (Princess A stayed home and took a nap on Daddy.)

I have many more "birthday weekend" pics to post! But being that the house will be waking up in 4 very short hours, I'm off to bed for now.

Thanks for a lovely afternoon ladies!