Ainsley is FOUR

I feel like it was just weeks ago that I was laying on the bathroom floor, in our old house, convinced I was dying from the tiny creature growing inside of me. Now here I am , 4 years later, with a rambunctious, funny, tender hearted, smart, little girl who is such a bright light in our lives. I am so grateful the Lord chose me to be her mom. Despite the fact that I don't parent her the way I always should, she has become such a loving little girl. She makes my heart grow in ways I didn't know it could grow. And I will always love her for making me a Mommy. 

I asked her if she would stay 3 forever and she told me she had to be 4. I asked her why and she said "because God wants me to be 4." She said next she will turn 5 then 6 but promised me she will stop at 6 :) 

Ok, enough with the sappiness. I've been emotional all day, so let's talk about the fun day that was her FOURTH BIRTHDAY. 

cut the last link on her birthday chain! 

She woke up and came down to 4 presents to open. Parker of course wanted to help. She opened her presents and seemed very happy with each gift we had picked out. Then we all had birthday doughnuts ( I think Parker enjoyed his the most). And then we told her we had one more surprise. She sat on the couch and closed her eyes as we wheeled in her last gift. A snack cart! This girl is obsessed with playing pretend, especially pretend store/buying/food. I couldn't think of a more perfect gift for her. 

 

 

 

 

 Parker and I headed off to BSF and Philip and Ainsley were having a daughter/daddy morning. I thought they would go to Monkey Joes or something similar, only to get texted pictures of them at the Newport Aquarium. Anyone who knows Philip isn't surprised by this ;) they had a great morning and Ainsley was so excited to tell me she saw sea horses (my favorite). 

She had so many sweet family members and friends call/text/send videos wishing her a Happy Birthday. Her response (every time) was "Happy Birthday!" :) 

 

 

This evening we met some family at Zucchinis, per Ainsley's request. Luckily they stuck us in a side room so we could be loud and the kids could run free. Ainsley wore her Rapunzel dress and ate her entire plate of spaghetti noodles. From there we walked to Orange Leaf and got dessert. 

 

 

It was such a perfect day celebrating someone who deserves to be celebrated. 

For all the joy and life she brings to this world. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! We love you more each day. 

Vegas

Remember I told you that while I was busy planning a secret trip to Greenbrier, Philip was also busy planning a trip? I wondered why his brother texted me questioning the dates of our trip I had planned. Apparently Philip had contacted him to help with kids, and Brian was hoping the dates didn't overlap. 
Once I learned of the plans for his getaway, I told him no way I would leave the kids twice in one month. But after talking to him and my parents about it, mom convinced me that keeping the kids 2 nights at a time, in two separate weeks, was better than keeping them for a week all at once:) She told me I should go with him, and I finally agreed. 
I have to admit I was not very excited about this trip. Vegas has never been somewhere I have had a desire to go. But, Philip had bought a new race car, called a "Radical" that was living at a race track right outside of Vegas, and he wanted to spend some time there learning his car and doing some training with it before he shipped it here. 
We flew out early Thursday evening and arrived in Vegas early afternoon (vegas time). Philip had rented a convertible, of course, so we picked that up and drove just outside of the city. We arrived at the resort after it was dark, got checked in and a map of the small town. We decided to go find a mexican restaurant and had a late (for us) dinner, then went back and crashed. 

The next day Philip had a full day of racing planned in his new car. He had an instructor for the day who was so nice and apparently a big deal in the car world out there. I spent the morning reading on the balcony, watching the race cars go by, had a massage Philip had booked for me, and watching Philip drive around in his new contraption while I threw question after question to his instructor about this new car. 

We left the resort around 2 that afternoon and got into Vegas close to 4. We drove with the top down for a short while, but it was 40 something degrees and shivering wasn't worth it to me. We drove down Las Vegas Boulevard so I could see everything, since I'd never been. We found The Venetian and got checked into our room. We got ready for the night, and then walked the strip. The first thing we saw was a man pulling a stuffed tiger on roller skates. We were like what in the world? He turned around and we saw a fake baby in a baby carrier strapped to the man pulling the tiger, and realized he was dressed up like the guy from the Hangover! I tried to get a picture as fast as I could to send to Whitney, but I wasn't quick enough to get a good one. We also saw Spiderman, Olaf, several Pichachus, Jack Sparrow, the Joker, and some nudity. 

 We had diner under heated lamps on a patio of a french restaurant. The food was so good and we joked it was the best Parisian food we had ever had (neither of us were a fan of the food we ate in actual Paris). After that we walked around a bit more then went back to the hotel's casino. I played my penny slots and Philip played his 3 card poker. Once I was confident we had lost enough money, I told him it was time to go. He wanted one more hand at the poker table. and boy am I glad he did. He ended up winning what I consider a lot of money, so I could leave Vegas a happy girl.

The next day was spent flying home and changing time zones, but we made it home in time for me to put Parker to bed and I was so happy I got to see them both before bedtime:) 

It was a very fun trip and I am very happy I decided to go. We had a very relaxing, carefree time together. And it allowed me to be there as he tested out his new prized possession, which I know was important to him. Leaving my kids is hard for me to do, so thank you to those who cared for them while we were gone. I know they enjoyed getting to spend time with their family while we were off galavanting out West:) 

Life Lately

I feel like once Parker started walking, all of my productivity went out the window :) I struggle with not being able to get anything done in the days that Philip works. some days I feel like not only can I not get anything done, but I am actually counter-productive. for example I was folding laundry one morning, came into the kitchen to find all the tupperware pulled out of the cabinet. I cleaned that up, looked around for Parker and finally found him in the laundry room, all my folded clothes in disarray and sprinkled with dog food. That pretty much sums up most of my days lately :) 

However, I am learning to love these days more than I have before. I registered Ainsley for her last year of preschool and it hit me that before I know it, she will be in kindergarten. I went back and forth about how many days a week to put her in preschool. After talking to Philip and praying about it, we stuck with two days a week. My thinking is- she has the rest of her life to be in school every day. 

pj & pancake day at school!

This past year I also became a BSF leader. It has been fulfilling and challenging in many ways. I am learning a lot about myself, Jesus and the Word. And am making some really good friendships with women around Lexington. Most importantly, we are seeking the Lord's heart. 

The much anticipated YMCA opened just down the road from us (takes me 17 minutes to walk there with double stroller). It has been such a blessing for our whole family. The kids love going to the playroom while I take an exercise class (well, Parker had a few issues but they have been resolved thanks to his feisty mama bear). If Philip is home we will take the kids swimming in the indoor pool, and Ainsley has become quite a little fish. She has also started taking gymnastics there on Monday nights. She seems to really enjoy it, and the atmosphere fits her much better than where she took gymnastics last year. She is learning toe touches, back somersaults, balance beam (doing ice cream scoops), and cartwheels (well some version of a cartwheel). Parker also loves the gym and when it is open, we take him in and let him "play" basketball. Every time we walk into the Y he points to the gym and asks "ball? ball?" 

 Ainsley is at such a sweet yet infuriating age. Disciplining her is a challenge and some days I am at a loss with how to make her grasp what is right. But most of the time, she is a smart, tenderhearted, laughing ball of energy. 

Parker is learning new things every day. His new favorite thing is to use his spoon and fork to eat. he is so proud of himself when he gets food into his mouth with a utensil. He is understanding so much of what we say, yet still not saying that many words. right now he says mama, dada, ball, uh (the first part of uh-oh), and signs more, please, thank you and all done. 

Tonight, we are having "Star Wars" night. We are watching Episode 7, The Force Awakens, each of us with our light sabers, and ainsley is cheering on Poe and Rey (but makes sure we fast forward the part where Finn has the blood). 

Life is exhausting, but good these days:)