Back to life...back to reality...

Wow! Summer has passed and we are back to busy-ness! I haven't had a lot of time to blog lately so here goes...

In August, our precious niece Makayla was born!

Here are the girls ready for church!

Finley came down with a fever virus. She never falls asleep on me!

We took the girls for a family date night to Macaroni Grill. Finley was running fever so we sat outside.

We renewed our membership at the zoo so we can enjoy some Fall zoo time! Can't wait for Boo at the Zoo! (Oh, and Addi got bitten by a Lorakeet as she does every time we feed them. You'd think she'd learn to not put her finger near their mouths.)

This was Finley's first time walking at the zoo. She had a blast and didn't want to ride in the stroller. She was Ms. Independent!

We remembered the girls' bathing suits. They loved playing in the fountains!

Jett, Dartmouth, and Grandpa came with us.

I had to include a picture of my new Hairless Dumbo rat (a classroom pet). Isn't she neat?!

Addi met her new teacher Ms. Suzie and is having lots of fun in her 4K class.

We celebrated Braden's 9th birthday at the lake. Aunt Glenda brought her homemade ice cream maker. The girls helped make it! It was delicious!!!!

Emily is like a sleeping pill for Finley. Fin always takes the best naps on her!

Eme and Addi begged to have a sleepover so brave Julie took them to her house to spend the night. They had a great time and played well on Sunday night but Monday was a different story! Julie said that when she finished drying her hair she came out and heard the girls fussing and Tucker putting them both in timeout :-) That's all they needed to remember their manners and play nicely again.

Finley's hair is long enough for a small ponytail, though it doesn't stay put for long.

more lake pics (they got out of order)

This was Finley's first time walking at the park. She climbed up the slides, ran around, and had the best time!

back to the lake pics

The kids had so much fun hitting the piñata!

the birthday boy

Eme and Addi begged to sleep together on the blow up mattress at the lake but we decided it wasn't the best place to try that.

Hopefully it won't be so long before I blog again.

The princess is 4!

I don't know where the time has gone, but our little Addi Bay is 4 years old! What amazes me is that she will start Kindergarten next year (at 4 years old). It is hitting me hard that she is a little girl now. No more baby Addi!

Here are some things about Addi:

1. She cracks us up with the things she says and the vocabulary she knows. Sometimes I think "Where did you learn that or hear that?"

2. She loves to laugh and is good at making others laugh, especially her baby sister.

3. She is an extremely picky eater. Her plate always consists of cheese, turkey, strawberries, crackers, and sometimes yogurt. We make her taste our foods but that often leads to meltdowns and dry-heaving!

4. Her favorite restaurants are Sol Azteca, Chick-fil-A, Domino's, and Pizza Hut.

5. She is a "techy" and can work an Ipad, Ipod, and Iphone better than any adult hands down!

6. She loves animals! She helps her daddy pick up and weigh snakes. She also holds rats, mice, geckos, worms, salamanders, etc.

7. She enjoys taking gymnastics and previously took soccer.

8. She knows how to pitch a good "fit" when she hasn't had a nap.

9. She is known for mixing up various songs and putting them together, such as "Chinkle, chinkle little star, how I wonder what you are. Uppa Buppa world so high, knick knack paddy wack give a dog a bone, we are weak but He is strong." or something like that!

10. She is the light of her parents' lives and loved by so many! She is an absolute JOY and we love her so very much!

Addison's 4th birthday party!

Today, we celebrated Addison and Emerson's 4th birthday! I can hardly believe the girls are almost 4 years old. 4 seems like a regular "kid"- not a baby anymore. We had the most fun! The weather was beautiful, we had tons of friends and family come...just perfect (though it could've been 10 degrees cooler!). Here are some pictures from the day:

Julie thought of every detail in decorating for the party. Wish I could be so organized...

Are they cute or what?!

Addi's friend, Taylor, came! She loves Taylor and has missed her this summer.

Addi's friend, Davis, came. They are moving on Sunday so it was so sweet of them to come to the party. I wanted to get pictures of all of the kids in front of the "wanted" poster but wasn't able to.

Ms. Tish, Finley's teacher (Taylor's mom) kept Finley busy and happy!

Addi's cousin, Riley, came!

Addi with Taylor and Thomas, her buddies!

Caroline had a ball digging for gold. She missed the horses b/c she spent so much time digging!

The horse lady brought this precious pony. It wasn't tied up on anything and it just walked around eating grass. It was so gentle! The kids petted it and walked around it. So neat!

Cousin Dartmouth

Tucker borrowed this trailer from a friend and Randy drove it. The kids had so much fun riding around the lower parking lot!

Fin's first time sitting on a horse (we didn't let her ride).

James was drawn to this pony. He picked up the leash and walked it around. It was hysterical! Leigh let Katherine take a ride on the pony as James led them.

Our sweet girls ready to blow out the candles.

Jett and PawPaw

Thomas and Elise Rose

Love this picture!

Finley loves Emily! Sweet Emily and Aunt Glenda helped set up for the party Friday night. They also spent the day today helping and cleaning up.

We didn't open gifts until we got home. Addi was having too much fun playing with her friends!

She had a great time opening gifts and couldn't wait to play with everything! She is going to be one dressed up, made up, princess with every accessory possible!

Thanks to everyone for making our sweet girl's birthday party so much fun and so special! We are truly, truly blessed! And now, we are about to CRASH!