Treasure Hunt

I was searching for the library books we brought home only just today. I knew they must have slid behind/under the girl's bed during rest time, and I was suspicious we might have lost an old iPhone we use for games under the bed as well.

I pulled out the drawers and slid out the rubbermaid containers of too big/out of season clothes. But my baby belly greatly inhibits my ability to bend over and makes it impossible to crawl on it under a small space. The swiffer wasn't cutting it. So Anne Perry came in, put on Paul's head flashlight, and eagerly crawled under their bed!

But her sisters would not be outdone by her!

Addie came in with a flashlight, they all switched up gear and kept pulling things out from under the bed.

They dust-busted the dust, tossed out the toys, and slid out the books...and would have stayed and played longer had dinner not been ready!

One Mr. Potato head ear, two iPhones, three misplaced library books, four hair rubberbands, six old pacies, eleven books and more dust bunnies than I care to count later...we had a clean under-the-bed!

I have since shoved a sleeping bag down along the side of the little girl's bed to hopefully prevent so much (their pillows included) from slipping down and under. Thing is, it can also slip down the ends. I guess our little swiffers will just have to grab flashlights every so often and go on a treasure hunt!

Happy Birthday Party

the little girls love them some Pump It Up (think three huge jumpy jump blow up things, indoors, ridiculous amount to have a party there). but it's a good thing we didvbc it rained cats and dogs that morning! they were so very excited and so gracious and grateful to be going to their birthday party. it was absolutely precious in so many ways to see them be so joyful to celebrate with all of their friends! so i'm very thankful we sucked it up and had it there.
because look at these happy girls!

anne perry has always been our dare devil. i have a feeling she'll be my roller coaster buddy one of these days when she's tall enough!

but it wasn't until a few visits ago that audrey kate would make it all the way up the slide and down on her own. 

and she loves it now! there were lots of sweet friends to enjoy it with us. some big ones...
and some little ones...

sweet big sister enjoyed herself thoroughly as well!

and i love seeing her sweet smile too! finally everyone had had enough and we attempted a picture. anne perry melted before it. audrey kate during it. but we got a semi-smiley one...
...and a silly one!

everyone hopped into the party room for some pizza...

capri suns and cupcakes!
(thanks to Jellybean Paper for the darling cupcake toppers!) neither girl was too sure about sitting in the big birthday chair...

but audrey kate was quick to warm up to it...

...while anne perry wanted to sit back at the table and insisted on holding my hand while everyone sang happy birthday! (it was pretty sweet, i'll admit, even though it fully prevented me from taking a picture of her.)

and then things got a little silly ;0)

for everyone! finally Anne Perry climbed up in the birthday chair with a few friends

and thoroughly enjoyed herself! then again, so did addie and her friend Will.
i'd have to say it was a great success. everyone left full of pizza and cupcakes. it finally stopped raining. we collected quite a few bags and cans of dog and cat food for our humane shelter. and our sweet girls had the best birthday ever!

we then got to spend the rest of the day and sunday with grandpa, ms. gail, gramma, papa al and rierie celebrating these little girls! perfect weekend!

Happy 3rd Birthday Anne Perry & Audrey Kate! I can't imagine two more grateful, more loving, more precious three year olds! we love you!

Growing Up...

these sweet little girls had their last day of K4 and 2 year old Mother's Morning Out on Wednesday. I told them I was taking my real camera & wanted to take a picture of their last day. I was assuming at school. Anne Perry plopped down on the top step and inquired why we weren't taking a picture right there. So we did...

There were squeezes.
And attempts at a smiling picture. All of which quickly erupted into crazy silliness!

which wasn't too too different than it was a mere 9 months ago. only 9 months for these babies to turn into little girls.
Until we finally got just the sweet smiles.

This big girl has grown up so much. From the almost 4 inches she's grown in height to her handwriting to her reading...she's learned so much this year. Lots about how to be a good friend...and more than I'd prefer about what kind of friend she doesn't want to be. She loves learning and especially reading. She tries and often times succeeds at reading anything her sweet eyes can find...and frequently shocks me with what she can decipher. Her little world is about to be rocked with starting kindergarten and welcoming a new baby brother in August, but I have no doubt she will grow and stretch as we go. I love this five year old more than my heart can hold; and I'm so thankful she made me a mommy!  I can't believe I dropped these two little munchkins off in August. They were so tiny! Anne Perry has loved every minute of school! She begs to go to school and is sad when it's not her day, but still has so much fun playing with mommy. She sings with any song on the radio or tv or at church. She loves dancing and can swing those hips like no other. I think the biggest accomplishment of the year is full time panty wearing for this little girl! She approaches life with such exuberance and passion. She gives the biggest hugs and sweetest snuggles! I think of the three, Audrey Kate has changed the most in appearance. She's gone from a squishy cheeked baby to a little girl in nine months. She also loves school, but isn't as enthusiastic as her sister about going. I often times left her in tears and waited outside the room to make sure she settled down before leaving (she always did)...she might have been a daddy's girl for the first year of her life, but she's pretty tight with her mama now. her vocabulary, language and enunciation have grown leaps and bounds. She loves to talk, but it's her thoughts and her words! She's also in full time panties and could be at night too...waking up dry every morning. And this girl can run and kick a ball better than some kids twice her age! Where did my baby go?   We are so thankful for all of the girl's teachers this year. They embraced our girls where they were and helped them grow and mature in their own ways. They loved them and their all of a sudden crazy pregnant mama.

And we are so thankful for these three precious girls. God has blessed us so richly! Everyone is thrilled we get to welcome a little boy into our family, and so are we; but I cannot imagine life without these loud, drama-filled, question-drilling, sweet-sharing, fun playing, dress-up loving, full life living three little girls!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! 2 Peter 3:18