Happy 5th Birthday, Sweet Allison

It is so hard to believe that my sweet angel is five years old.  What a blessing you have been to our family!!  Your amazing kindness and wonderfully sweet spirit bring so much joy to all those around you.  You are such a caring young lady and you love people.  You go out of your way to speak to people and give the sweetest hugs to all those you love.  I pray that you will keep that sweet spirit of kindness always.  

You celebrated your special day by going swimming with Lauren and Daddy the morning of your birthday.  We had a family party in the afternoon with the Cinderella cake you requested.  You got a dollhouse, complete with rooms of furniture for the house, Barbie dolls, princess dolls, a bathing suit, princess panties, clothes, money, a princess make-up case, nail polish and nail stickers.  It was truly a girlie kind of party!

We certainly missed Uncle Bill at the party.  He was running in a race in Ashville.   I missed him most because he wasn't here to help take pictures.  Here are a few pictures we got of the day.

Allison opening her gift from Lauren, the princess make-up case.  This is my favorite picture of the day!!

Allison with her Cinderella cake

Enjoying some cake

Allison with her doll house.

Happy Birthday, my angel Allison.  May God bless your year with many wonderful and exciting new adventures!!!  I love you~!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I woke up this morning to Allison standing by my bed and whispering, "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!"  Then Lauren came in and pounced on the bed in her ever-exuberant style saying, "Happy Mother's Day!"  How did I ever deserve such pure, unconditional love from such sweet little girls?!  Lauren couldn't wait for me to get up and look at the gifts she had for me.  She had a bag of goodies she made at school and was so anxious to share them with me.  The bag included coupons for special things she would do for me, including helping me do the dishes, giving me a kiss, and giving me five bucks!  She had written a sweet letter and also made this card that I scanned in to remember from this great day!  The bag also included and pre-packaged cinnamon roll and a tube of flavored lemonade drink mix (a interesting combination;)).  She was so proud to give me breakfast.  We decided that I would wait to eat the cinnamon roll because we were going to church to enjoy the Pancake Breakfast for Mothers.

Here is the sweet card Allison made for me one day last week at the gym!  She did a great job saving it to show it to me today.  

She made this bookmark for me at school.

We celebrated Mother's Day with Bill's mom and our sister-in-saw last night at Aubrey's.  Bill did a great job planning it for Saturday evening.  We had such a relaxed time enjoying our dinner together.  

The only sad part of my Mother's Day was the fact that I didn't get to see my own mom!  I was having a pretty sad little pity party for myself for the last several days because I didn't get to see my mom.  But things are about to get crazy over the next few weeks before we leave for the beach.  Mom and Dad have to make 3 trips down next week, so I realized I should just be thankful for my blessings, for I am truly blessed with a wonderful family!!!  I missed you Mom!!!  I love you very much!!!

I can't end this post with out wishing my wonderful brother and very, very Happy Birthday tomorrow!!!!  I love you, brother!  You are the best!!!

Field Trips

Both girls went on field trips this spring and I am just now getting around to blogging about them.  Allison's preschool class went to the Children's Museum in Oak Ridge.  We went there with Lauren's class a couple of years ago, so Allison remembered a little about it.  She couldn't wait to get to the life size doll house.  I must admit, that's one of my favorite parts of the museum, too!  The trip was around Easter, so they got to have an Easter Egg hunt along with a picnic.  

Allison in the doll house living room

Allison and Chase...I was taking this picture of Allison outside the dollhouse and Chase ran up and jumped in the picture!

Allison and Chase

Allison outside the Dollhouse exhibit

Allison and Carisma at the water room

Carisma, Wynsar and Allison waiting for the egg hung

Carisma, Wynsar and Allison singing a song

 Lauren's first grade class got to go to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg.  I was so happy that it was on a Friday so I could go with her.  We had a great time.  So many parents went on the trip that I only had to be responsible for Lauren and her best friend Emma.
 

Lauren and Emma

BFFs Lauren and Emma

Looking at the fish

In the tunnel

Emma & Lauren

Savannah, Lauren & Emma

Lauren, Emma, Jake, Brook H, & Maggie

 When we left the Aquarium, we met Bill, Brother, and Allison for our first trip to Dollywood this season.  The weather was absolutely perfect and we had a great time.

Allison 

Allison & Lauren

The girls love the bumper cars.  Allison was just belly laughing the whole time.  She loved bumping in  to brother and Lauren.

Lauren rode the Dizzy Disc with Uncle Bill.  That girl is pretty fearless!