LONG WEEKEND

Audrey was excited about the long weekend because she went to spend the night with LiLi tonight. Audrey and LiLi are two peas in a pod and always have fun together. The picture below is Audrey waiting on LiLi. When I told her LiLi was leaving Monroe and on her way to pick her up, she immediately put on her backpack, sunglasses and purple "choker" necklace. All three apparently necessary for the road trip!! She is such a funny girl.
Abby was also excited to have her parents all to herself. We had dinner with Poppa and Honey and Uncle Drew and Abby was so much more animated and social than usual. We think she just did not have her sister around to compete with! On the same note, I think she also misses her sister when she is gone. Caleb and Audrey went to "God's Country" (Springhill) Friday night for the football game. Abby was pretty bored that evening without her sister. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the break!

When Caleb saw this picture of Abby he asked why I allowed her to have a coffee cup in her hands. She doesn't - it's just a candle.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend. I thought I might have evacuees coming this way, but they are hard headed and only went as far as Baton Rouge. Everyone say a prayer, please!

PICK YOUR BATTLES!!!

So, are you familiar with the phrase "pick your battles?" I have found that I have done that A LOT since becoming a mother. This morning is a wonderful example of having to pick my battle. Mornings are usually hectic at our house and today was no exception. Audrey is usually grumpy and it takes her a while to wake up. Abby, on the other hand, wakes up laughing and smiling. When I tell Audrey it is time to get dressed, she moans/cries and falls to the floor (she is slightly dramatic). Well, she won the battle this morning. Pictured below is Audrey before we left for school. On the way to school she said, "I will still let people call me Audrey even though I am Snow White." What do you say to that? Nothing.

SO GROWN UP!!

My sweet girls are just growing up! In the picture below, you will see that Abby is playing chess and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at the same time........only the very smart can do that! I know you are thinking "why does she have a chess piece in her mouth?" Well, that is part of her strategy!

Audrey decided she wanted to dress herself today. I admit this is hard for me. I LOVE dressing my sweet little girls in cute outfits, BUT I also know it is important for them to be able to express themselves (yes, I am a Montessori momma)! So, I let her do it. In case it is hard to tell, I will describe her outfit. She has on a pink mermaid t-shirt from our Florida vacation, pink shorts, pink striped Hannah Montana socks and pink sparkle shoes. Can you guess what her favorite color is? I also let her fix her hair so it has a variety of clips in it.Before I end, allow me to apologize for the unmade bed in the background. Not high on my list of priorities!

Back to School

This is beautiful Audrey before heading out to school for her first day this year. Caleb took her to school this morning and I picked her up. Caleb told me she was a little "clingy" this morning until Ms. Lauren (one of Audrey's all time favorite people) took her. When I arrived to pick her up Ms. Tasha told me that it took about 5 minutes for her to warm up, but after that she was fine. Actually, Ms. Tasha said "she is so funny and likes to be silly." Sounds like Ms. Tasha already has her figured out!

I cannot believe she is 4 years old. It makes me a little sad that she is not my baby anymore - but what a fun little girl she has become!!

It's Just Wednesday

A friend gave us a HUGE container of clothes for the girls. They are too big now, but will fit someday. So nice! I love to pass our clothes down, too. They are so expensive and at this age they grow out of them before they wear them out. This is Audrey after she rummaged through the container and put together this stylish outfit (minus the hat, she already had it and apparently thought it would look good). Too funny!

Audrey goes back to school tomorrow and is SOOOO excited. She loves school. Last year she just referred to it as "flower" school, so I asked her today if she was ready to go back to "flower" school and she said, "It's Wildflower Montessori School, Mom." She then went on to say, "Mom, I am BEGGING to go back. I cannot wait." Will give a report on her first day back on tomorrow's post.

Aunt Mary

Audrey and Abby were able to visit with their Aunt Mary today. Aunt Mary is Caleb's sister who lives in Olympia, WA. She was in town so we went over to Bossier to Jennifer's house (another Caleb sister) to visit. We had a great visit. I only wish Mary lived closer. She's a lot of fun and she and I have a lot in common. But for now, we will settle for visits. Just know that you are loved and missed in Louisiana, Mary!

Audrey and Megan stayed outside most of the afternoon with the older cousins (thanks, Tracy and Tyler) and Abby hung out with the adults and watched Dora. In the picture below, you can see Mary trying to coax Abby over with a doll, but with no luck. Nothing comes between Abby and Dora. Don't worry though, before the afternoon ended, Abby was in Mary's arms!
In the following photo, you will see just how intense she is when she watches Dora. She is so absolutely precious, right??!!

By the time we left, Abby was worn out. She was fussy, tired and hungry. Audrey, being the sweet big sister, was giving her a life lesson: "Abby, baby, I know you are sad. You want to stay and play with Megan and Buddy (the dog), don't you? It's okay, sweetie. We will come back again and play. All good things come to an end. That's just life."

What sweet, funny girls we have!!!

"It is a Crazy World in this House" -Audrey, age 4

Tonight I found Abby in her room pulling clothes/blankets out of the drawers of her changing table. When I went in her room, she was attempting to put on a pair of socks (with Ariel the mermaid on them). Audrey came along and helped her. Notice the turquoise socks on her in the picture?

Later, Audrey decided to make a "blanket floor" for dancing. Abby was not being very helpful and kept messing up the blankets. Finally, Audrey looked at me and said, "Abby is really frustrating me, but I keep remembering that 'love is patient, love is kind.' " So, not only can she quote the Bible - she can use it in the correct context. I will say it again.......genious.

Audrey's Party

How cute is this cake?? Audrey has a serious fascination with mermaids. She loves them! When Audrey decides she loves something....she does so wholeheartedly.



She had a fun party this year! We rented a waterslide and the kids had a blast!! Caleb, on the other hand, put up the slide and took it down, so he was a little hot and tired that day! There were so many cute pictures to chose from so here is a sample.

Yes, the slide was A LOT of fun. Caleb and I got our money's worth. I could not get my sister, Ann, to play, though. The middle picture is Audrey sitting between Rachel Tuten Simmon's two little ones (Anna and Jack). She also has an older daughter, Ellen. Rachel and I played together when we wre that age. The last picture is Audrey and cousin Megan enjoying goodies. In the words of my cousin Camille......"Good Times!"

Better Late than Never

I was not blogging during Audrey or Abby's birthdays this year....so I thought I would show some pictures from their parties. Abby turned one on April 5th and Audrey turned four on July 7th.

I'll do Abby's tonight and save Audrey's for tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures!

Rocking chair from LiLi

Sweet Abby and her Momma

Yummy Cake!

Help Opening Presents

Her Very Own!

What a sweet blessing Abby is to our family!! Too precious for words!

Oh, Pessy Mig, Ploppy Sig

I don't know how it really happens, but it does. In a matter of minutes, Audrey sweet, pink little girl rooms turns into a horrible, terrible mess!! Just like a hurricane has past through. My way to deal with it is to just shut the door and act like it is not part of the house. You know, clean the entire house and tell Caleb I have cleaned the entire house....his response..."what about Audrey's room?" To which I reply, "that's not part of the house."

Well, after being gone for a couple of hours, I come home to Caleb, Audrey and Abby all in Audrey's room. He is sitting on the bed directing Audrey on what to do next. "Get all your books and put them on the shelf. Next, put all of your shoes in the bottom drawer." Both of those tasks could take HOURS for Audrey has a MASSIVE supply of books and shoes. Anyway, I am impressed. Once I have had enough, I finally just go in her room and clean it myself - not even including her - it would just take too much time (I know, not the way a "good" parent does it). Not Caleb, though, he has the patience of Job. As I often say, he is a GOOD man. In the following pictures, you will see what Audrey insisted on wearing to clean her room (anything to stall the process). Her sister, Abby, needed some glasses, too! What cute girls!! Oh, Daddy could not stand it and had to get in on the action, too. SILLY FAMILY!!!

What a Great Day!

Well, today is my birthday! My sweet husband woke me up with breakfast in bed (omelette, bacon, toasted english muffin, orange juice and coffee)! How sweet is that?? Next, I had 2 sweet birthday cards and a cd. I also had lunch and presents with friends at work. Tonight, Caleb cooked supper (actually, he does every night) and surprised me with ice cream cake. He then bathed the girls and got them ready for bed. What a lucky girl I am!!!

I should also add that my sweet sister sent me a bathrobe that I LOVE!!!

Maybe it's not soooo bad getting old.

Sweet Caleb also wrote about me on his blog....check it out. www.theseneyreport.blogspot.com

Let's Try Again

Funny girls dancing on the bed. Notice Audrey's expressions in all the pictures. She is VERY INTO HER DANCING!!! Also, take note of Abby in the last picture - she's had ENOUGH!!!

Dancing Queen(s)

All I can say is, these girls make me laugh so hard! They are sooo precious and I know that Caleb and I are so blessed to have them!

Last night, Audrey was walking around the house and I heard her say to herself...."this would make a good stage." That's right, she was scouting out potential places to "put on a recital." We just may have trouble on our hands! She has also enlisted Abby to join in on the dancing fun.

Eventually, Caleb and I gave in and allowed them to have their recital on our bed. Is that so bad? What is really wrong with jumping/dancing on the bed?? They were supervised!

Unfortunately, blogger will not allow me to upload the pictures........they are funny, though! Maybe another time.

I leave you with this............Audrey (she just turned 4) used the words sweltering and banished (correctly) in the past two days. Pure genius......obviously she takes after her mother!!

Sweet Madeline

Yesterday we were blessed with a visit from Madeline (oh, and her parents too). Madeline belongs to Ashley and Andrew (my brother). She was born 2 months after Abby, so that makes her almost 14 months. Since the day that baby made her entrance, she has been the sweetest baby EVER! She is so laid back and content. Both of my girls are sweet and precious, too, but not so laid back. Abby bursts into tears if someone looks at her (besides her immediate family). Audrey was that way, too, but thankfully, she grew out of it!! I'm sure Abby will, too.

Madeline and Abby both enjoyed playing with Abby's toys. Especially the slide (Andrew, this is your hint to go buy her one)! Audrey was in and out, but didn't really want to play with the "baby" toys. She had bigger fish to fry!

FRIDAY NIGHT

This evening, Audrey was able to do two of her favorite things: ride the four-wheeler (around the block with her daddy) and eat a "peanut butter spoon." LiLi taught her about peanut butter spoons a few years back and she is hooked! That sweet little girl LOVES her daddy and her peanut butter (can you blame her)?

Abby had a good night, too. She also did two of her favorite things: play with the remote control (until she got the batteries out) and take a bath. That sweet Abby LOVES the bathtub. She cries and cries when she to get out!

Hope you enjoyed your Friday night, too! Sleep tight!!