Thank you!

This year I decided to let (make) Presley write her own thank you notes after her birthday. When we started, I did not realize what a daunting task it would be. We still have five more to write, so if you haven't gotten yours, it's coming! It's been a good lesson for all of us (patience) and a great mid-summer review of her letters. Not to mention really slowing down to see and appreciate what her friends got her!






Here are just some of the things Presley said before, during, and after our card writing sessions.

"I wrote that with my eyes closed.
I need a break.



Who's name is the shortest?
I need to stretch.
I'm tired!!!


How many more?



I just want to write 'Pres'.
It's cold.
What's Victoria's favorite color?(to write that one in that color)
Can Teagan have a turn?
How do you write an R again? (when I know she knows that one!)"

She was surprisingly A.D.D. and really sought out to cut corners. That apple fell straight off Price's tree!

Price was no better, I tried to get him to take a turn helping her and he basically guided her hand for each letter. Uh no!

Some looked pretty rough! Some were pretty good. I wrote a little note on the back myself too!

We'll see how next year's go!

My big girl

My eldest is now five! FIVE years old!! I STILL am having a hard time believing it! She's quick to remind me though, and whomever we meet, that it is true! She really feels like a big girl, and rightfully so!


We had a waterballoon party, per her request, at the spray park. Of course I feel like I didn't take enough pictures or talk enough with each of the guests. But overall, I think it was a successful celebration!


Here are the invites! They turned out super cute!

I was a little hesitant to put this on the back (per Price's request), but I went against my better judgement and humored him. :)

This is Presley's friend from school. They have the same name. Aren't they just cute!

FINALLY it was time for the waterballoons! There were moments of frenzy. As Price and I were filling them all up, we were thinking about how long it would take the kids to tear through them. I'm glad to report it was more than 30 seconds! The bruise on my finger and the blister on Price's finger was totally worth it!




Before they began, I had to give the motherly rules, "don't throw it at any one's face, aim for the feet, we're all friends, play nicely, GO!!"

But uh, clearly someone wasn't listening. Not sure whom she was aiming for... but she was serious!!

We are still working on our thank you cards. I'm letting Presley help me this year (to work on her thankfulness and her writing). The rest of the day, Presley kept saying it was the "best birthday party ever!"

Rockwall Dog Park

There's now a dog park in the 'hood! We check it out finally and it was great. Mav ran until his little heart was content, met a few pups he could chase, and utilized all his energy.

There was ample shade which was wonderful! The only complaint I had was there was a muddy trench that drained water going through a part of the park and he loves mud. Surprisingly though he steered clear and remained clean and dry for the most part.




We're back home and he's looking really tired! Hopefully we can make it part of our routine and that'll keep shoes out of his mouth and his defiance at bay. This dog is such a handful and crazy as hell. If I were the giving up type (and the girls wouldn't be devastated) he would have been re-homed a long time ago. He's got it in him to be a good dog, we just have to find it within us to bring it out. Meanwhile, I'm praying for patience and getting a shock collar! :)

We have crabs!

Lol. Hermit crabs! (Pardon my animation, I've had an Odouls tonight!)

We went to a store with this huge display of hermit crabs. The girls were mesmerized! So they bugged us until we relented and so far it hasn't been horrible (as in messy, stinky...as crabby as I thought it would be).





Presley did put hers down the other day in the house and then forgot where she put it. After looking for it for about ten minutes, I rounded the corner and saw it climbing down the arm of the couch. The next time, I made her play with them outside.




Teagan's hermit crab just changed shells. It was a fun discovery this morning. In this picture, Teagan's actually holding Presley's. So we are thinking that one (the soccer ball) will take the green shell soon!

Presley named hers Slinky. Teagan named hers Poopoo or Poophead (depends on the day).

Rrrrarrhh

Awhile back, when Pres got her "mouth jewelry", Teegie Weegie got her teeth cleaned.

She loves anything tiger related, so she picked these frames.



She honestly could not have been more chill!




She got rave reviews on her behavior and was cavity free! Whoohoo!!

Lil artist

I'm loving how Teagan has been drawing lately. It's that perfect stage where they first start drawing people and telling you who it is.

In this picture, she said it was Presley, Teagan, Daddy, and Maverick.



I kinda got a sad/confused face and said, "where's the mama?" and I wanted to add "that cooks, cleans, launders your clothes, bathes, loves and cares for your little booty 24 hours a day, 365?"
I mean the dog comes first?

But she quickly added me to her portrait and I quickly found peace.




And here the artist is next to her fine (and now complete) family portrait.



I love it!

And here's another drawing from yesterday. I just love how funky and artsy it is.



(We doodled on the back which is coming through.)

I'm sure it's something only a mother would love, but it signifies so much more than just her drawing, but her growing up and being such a big girl. In my hormonal state, I just want to hold on to that for as long as I can. However, when she's throwing a 30 minute fit because she didn't get to pour her cereal or she only got two Oreos instead of three, I'm willing to let go and make an exception (or two or three per day).

So this morning she remembered that she wanted to pour her cereal BEFORE I did.


Even though it's a big waste, I know she needed to do that to learn something (gross motor?). Had I given in and let her yesterday, the only thing she would have learned was that she got her way.

Anywho, I got a little off tract from showing off Teagan's art skillz. That's a newfound skill of mine - turn everything into a big ball of emotions. Maybe that's how the dog found a place in the family portrait before me!

It's a...

GIRL!

We are all excited and can't wait to meet her! I don't think we've ever picked a name so fast. But we've about decided on Temple. We actually talked about a "Temple" before there even was one!

(I had a Good Housekeeping magazine cover print framed in our kitchen. The featured author was Temple Bailey. And for another side note, I was named after the author Taylor Caldwell.)

We still need a middle name that starts with an A that flows. We are open to ideas... :)

Some things the girls have said lately that make me smile/laugh/cry:

1. As I was getting out of the bath, Teagan's eyes got big, and said, "Move that towel. Oh my, your baby grew!"

2. During the sonogram and after they said it was a girl, the girls said, "Boys are rough anyways. Like Cash and Madden."

3. Presley asked me why my boobs where getting closer to my tummy. Thanks!

4. Presley said "I love my baby sister, we're going to be best friends."

5. "How's the baby going to get out?" I was like, uh.....