Ainsley is SEVEN

Seven sounds so much older than six. and every time I write seven or buy something with the number 7 on it, I have to stop and make sure thats right. How can this be 7 years ago? 
Ainsley is weighing in at 44 lbs and 45.5 inches  She has lost 3 teeth, one being her front tooth leaving her with an adorable lopsided grin.  She is wearing size 6/6X clothing and size 12 shoes. 
She is developing into a smart, funny, thoughtful little girl. She has a love for all things gymnastics and has worked really hard this past year on her gymnast skills. I can't get her to play any other sports
She is in her second year of Spanish Immersion and when I witnessed a conversation between her and her Spanish teacher, I could not believe they were carrying on a conversation in a different language. She is learning to read new words every day. She sits down to read her beginning reader books and can even read my text messages I send people from my phone (cue the censoring). She leaves us notes around the house with instructions to circle yes or no when she wants something. 
Her confidence is growing a lot this year. While she still would never get on a stage or willingly let people watch her perform, if she is around people she is comfortable with she will let loose. She loves to perform for Nanny and Pop and when she is around her close friends we can't believe how loud she is. 
She has made lots of good friends at school and we are so grateful for that. She has a really good group of kids with really good moms that I have gotten to know. I find letters from her friends in her backpack almost every day, filled with rainbows, kitties and other things she loves. 

Favorites (unprompted asked just now) 

color- light blue food- butter noodles  song- Boomerang  school subject- art  friend- Anna Beth & Emma Wilhoite  activity- play school  place to eat- "volcano" (hibachi) candy- ring pops  movie- Frozen 2 snack- butter pretzels 

Life Lately

January is always the month where I have trouble remembering what day of the week it is, what time school starts/ends, and what in the world do I make for dinner every night. But helping us get over the Christmas hangover has been cuddly little Max. Who burrows under the covers and sleeps right next to me every night. Waking me up at 5am every day eating my hair. 

Parker has been working hard at writing his letters and at school he managed to (sort of) write his whole name. 







We went to Excite Night at rupp arena and both my kids loved watching the UK gymnastics team compete. We met up with several of Ainsleys school friends for dinner before and then sat with them. We even made it on the Jumbotron which the girls thought was the coolest. Philip was working so Parker was the lone boy but he didn’t mind too much:) He did however call 911, on accident, from my phone at dinner. 

We got to visit our Browning friends who we haven’t gotten to see in much too long. 

We celebrated Aunt Rachels birthday at Nanny Pops, and Parker entertained us all with tape.

Philip snuck in a surprise lunch with Ainsley at school.

And Maxwell has gotten more snuggles than he thought possible. And the kids have gotten more scratches than they thought possible. He never does it meanly, just hasn’t figured out his claws yet. 

It still hasn’t snowed but it has rained and been unusually warm for January. We are hoping we get a big snow at least once this winter! 

hello 2020/ Wilderness Trip

We finished out Christmas break with some playdates, seeing family, and hanging out at our house. It's been quite the task keeping the house clean but the kids have loved being at home together (well, 75% of the time).



Philip worked on NYE and so the kids and I went to a neighbors house for a bit. We were all asleep well before midnight. Then on the 2nd, we cashed in on our gift from my parents and headed to Wilderness in the Smokies! We have all been looking forward to this trip and the end of break was the perfect time. So we packed up our critters, dropped them off in Richmond, and made our way to TN.


My kids love bunk beds. the took turns sleeping on the top bunk.

We made it to the water park!


Poor Parker wasn't tall enough to do the big slides and he was pretty disappointed. But he had a great time punching every wave in the wave pool and swimming in the hot tub.



The arcade area is huge there. The kids loved the play area, and the big kids loved the arcades. Ainsley and Parker had fun bowling, putt putt-ing, and riding the froggy ride. Ainsley tried rock climbing and then A and I did laser tag. Parker had several favorite arcade games and just wanted to play them the whole time.











Philip and Matt hit up the arcades after the kids went to bed and Philip clearly has a problem (see the amount of crap we lugged home).

We left with two very happy and tired kids (and a new switch game).
It was a great two days of family time and we are not looking forward to setting the alarm clock tomorrow. But we couldn't have asked for a better Christmas break.