Friday, January 26, 2018

DANCE CAMP AND 100TH DAY

So it was final day of Dance Camp and also performance day! Like I mentioned before Kenny had to leave for market that day. There were a few tears that morning but we made it through! It is always said during the leaving part but everyone cheers up pretty quickly and then we just miss him while he is gone!
Cuddles with the family before Daddy leaves.

Walker and I had to actually go in the grocery store the other day which meant car cart!


Elle's dance camp performance went great and she did such a good job! I didn't get any pictures from the night because I was too busy taking video for Daddy. But it was lots of fun and Walker enjoyed watching the SA basketball game while we waited for the girls to come out! Kenny had me pick up some pretty flowers and put them in a vase and then sent her a handwritten note that we had waiting on Elle when she got home. She was happy that he did that!
Celebrating the end of dance camp with her flowers and note from Daddy.

On Thursday Elle had her 100th day of school! They always make this super fun at school. They let the kids dress up as old people if they want to and they bring a ziplock bag with 100 things in it! We were so busy this week I was glad when Elle was easy going about what I pulled together for her to wear as her granny outfit. I did manage to score her a walker from our friend Ava that we used for pictures but she ended up not bringing it to school which I think was a good idea!  Her teacher even sent me some pictures from the school day! 
Little granny with her walker.



Getting in her granny character.
Granny bun.
Headed to school.
 Collier, Elle and Audrey Caroline 



Holding her bag of 100 Fruit Loops! I originally did 100 Rasinets but she claimed 
to not like Raisinets so we switched to Fruit Loops!


Thursday, January 25, 2018

ELLE'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

Finally recovering from all the celebrating we did for Elle's birthday! Elle always looks forward to her birthday in a major way. If she could skip Christmas and go straight to her birthday she would do it in a second. We probably started talking about her birthday party in the summer. She takes it very seriously! It is also a little bit of a challenge to do something new and exciting because Starkville doesn't have a whole lot of options and then of course it is January and you never know what the weather is going to do! 

After some talking we decided on having a swim party at the indoor pool at the fitness center on campus. I took Elle for a little field trip to make sure she approved which she did and then we got it all planned!  Since it was a swim party we went with a loose mermaid theme and invited all the girls in first grade plus a few that don't go to her school! Lots of her friends came and the party was a total success! Elle was happy which is all I wanted!
The invite for the party!
Mermaid cookies done by my friend Sarah who is so talented!  This was one half of the party favors.
The other part of the party favors were these fun mermaid sequin bracelets that are all the rage!
Mermaid swirl cupcakes with ocean themed toppers.
Having lots of fun at the swim party!
We had pizza and cheetos before it was time to blow out the candles and have cupcakes.



Walker wasn't feeling the family picture!




Blowing out her birthday candles.


Making her birthday wish.
Then we had a little extra excitement. Elle had a loose tooth that Kenny and I both had tried to pull but we really have a hard time pulling teeth. But in conversation with my friend Jennifer she said she was really good at pulling teeth and offered to pull it! Elle was excited. So we waited until the party was over and Jennifer pulled that tooth right out! Elle was thrilled the tooth fairy was going to come that night on top of it being her birthday party days!
Sitting in Nanee's lap for the tooth pulling!

It is out!
After the party we went home to open presents and relax. I made a big pot of chili and everyone went to bed early including the adults! Busy day! On the actual day of Elle's birthday we were excited because Kenny was going to be in town. Normally he misses the actual day due to furniture market. He got up early and went to Shipley's and got donuts for us to eat for breakfast and then also got a ton of donut holes so Elle could take them and share with her class for her birthday treat!
Sleepy eyed and blowing out the candles again on her donuts!
Walker also sleepy eyed but it is always a good day for Walker if it starts with donuts!


Elle had a full day at school and then had dance camp practice after school until 5. Kenny and I came early to watch them perform the dance a couple of times because Kenny left for market the next day and was going to miss the actual performance. After dance camp was over we surprised Elle with her friends being at hibachi and we all had a quick dinner "watching the man cook" before we went home so Elle could open her presents from us.
Posing with her little kitty bobble head the restaurant gives you when it is your birthday.
Sharing her birthday ice cream! Ella was being funny and choosing not to smile.

Elle let us know that she had a great birthday. Kenny and I can't believe how quickly the 7 years has flown by but it is fun to experience each new stage. We love her so much! Happy Birthday Elle!

Friday, January 19, 2018

SNOW DAY! SNOW DAY!

Exciting times here in Starkville! After a lovely three day weekend due to Martin Luther King holiday we got not just one but two days off of school due to ice and snow! We started hearing rumbles of possible snow a few days before hand and were keeping an eye on it all. We didn't really tell the kids, specifically Elle because we didn't want her to get her hopes up. As the weather and supposed snow got closer Mississippi State closed and then later in the afternoon the public schools. Everything was closing but our school is very conservative about closing because so often we close and then nothing happens. But finally around midnight they cancelled school! When Elle woke up the next morning we surprised her with no school! It didn't really matter to Walker because he doesn't go on Tuesday's anyway! 

Around 7:30-8 the snow started falling lightly and then picked up. The kids quickly got bundled up in some clothes I had scrounged up and set out for them in anticipation of the snow! They went outside to play. I should add it was absolutely freezing! Freezing! While they played outside and came in and out to warm up I made a big snow day breakfast!
Kenny and the kids looking out the window as the snow started to fall. They were so excited!


Their first attempt to throw on some jackets and gloves over their pajamas.
A little better. Few more layers.

The kids didn't last all that long because it was so cold! When Elle came in she really wanted hot chocolate and I made some for them to have with their breakfast.
Putting marshmallows in her hot cocoa!

The snow was sticking but it wasn't a really fluffy snow and not super fun to play with. The kids still were happy and had lots of fun! They would go outside and play, get cold and come inside and warm up and then go back out, Every time I would throw all their wet clothes in the dryer for the next round. For lunch I made chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and it was just a great and cozy day! Before the kids got in the bathroom for a nice hot shower we went all went out as a family to play for a little bit and our neighbor Tamra was outside so she snapped a picture of us in front of the house! The next day we really could of had a delayed start for school but they canceled school because of icy roads. It was a sunny but freezing day. Elle had her friend Audrey Caroline come play and they had a great time! Needless to say I was happy when we finally had a normal week day on Thursday! 
Happy to be out playing in the snow together!
Snow as coming down in these.

Love this sweet picture of Elle.
Walker was loving his first official snow he could remember.
Trying to do some snow angels!
Family picture at the end of a snow day!