Monday, September 22, 2014

Keeping up with the girls

It's crazy how fast the girls change.  Lily gets more onery every day and Ainsley is changing and learning new things at an even faster pace now that she's started school.  Ainsley is loving school and doing so good.  Elisha says she does very good at school, but there are days I'm convinced she uses all her "good girl energy" at school, because there are days where she can be awful as soon as she gets home.  The kids earn "Trojan tickets" at school for being good.  Once they earn five tickets, they get to choose their reward.  They can pick a prize, wear a costume to school, or wear their pajamas to school.  I don't know how many tickets Ainsley's earned, but I'm starting to think she's the class pet.  It seems like she's getting a note sent home every few days that she's earned five tickets and what she picked for her prize!  She's wore a costume and her pajamas to school already, as well as brought home a few prizes.
She picked out her Minnie Mouse costume to wear to school!

Little sister checking her out

Ainsley was so excited about riding the school bus at the beginning of the year, but her attitude quickly changed.  She came home one day a few weeks ago and asked if I would pick her up from school the next day.  I told her that I couldn't because I had to work, and she needed to ride the bus home.  I asked her why she didn't want to ride the bus, and she told me "it's bumpy."

She's come home from school talking about two little girls, Adalynn and Macy.  I ask her if she plays with other kids, and she just tells me she doesn't remember their names.  She absolutely loves Miss Elisha and Miss Amy.  I don't think she cares for the bus driver, Miss Connie, but we're working on that.  By the time she gets home from school, she's exhausted.  She hasn't been fighting me when it's nap time.  She'll lay down and usually sleep for an hour and a half to two hours.

Daddy came home early one afternoon after a rain, and Ainsley had a napping buddy!
Ainsley and I went to Carlinville one afternoon for my hair appointment.  My internet had been all day, so we took off a little early and had an ice cream date!  She thinks Coco Bongo is the coolest place, and loves when Ashlee puts purple in her hair!




Ainsley's recently been telling me that she wants to be a cheerleader when she grows up.  She says she wants to be like Abby and Jordyn (Lisa's daughters), who are cheerleaders.  I've already warned her that Mommy won't be able to help her with that, and she'll have to find someone else to help her with cheerleading!
cheering with Minnie Mouse!
Lily hasn't learned many new tricks lately.  She's actually reversed in some things.  It seems like she's talking less now than what she was.  She has learned "sissy", but it's hard to get her to say it.
Lily loves going outside, her baby dolls, and her big sister.  If Lily goes with me in the morning when we drop Ainsley off at school, she's lost when we get back to the car, because Ainsley isn't with us anymore.


Books are still a favorite of both girls.  It's not uncommon to see them sitting somewhere looking at a book.  Lily's started patting a seat where she wants you to sit down so you can read her a book, or just plopping down on your lap if you're sitting on the floor and bringing a book to you.



We've been playing outside quite a bit, trying to enjoy the last few weeks of summer.  Ainsley's getting better at pedaling her bike and tricycle, and has become a pro at playing ball.  She can hit the ball pretty good!



 
Lily likes eating the chalk....especially licking it off her fingers.




Photobomber!
I had to take both girls to the doctor last week.  Ainsley had a weird rash on her stomach one evening, which then led to her face.  The doctor said it was something viral.  Lily had a spot on her back that was eczema.  Some creams cleared both of them right up.
checking out the fish while waiting at the doctor's office
Last night before bed, the girls were getting along really well.  I caught them drinking their milk, playing with each other's hair.  Then, a few minutes later, they were holding hands watching Mickey Mouse.  Talk about melting my heart!!!!

Weekend Fun

Last weekend was packed full of fun.  We started Saturday morning with Ainsley's dance class, and then ran home to change clothes and grab a quick lunch before heading to visit Grandma and Grandpa Bowman before JD's birthday party.  The girls were both so good all day and didn't hang on me, like usual.

JD had a Lego Star Wars birthday party and it was a beautiful day for it!  The girls liked playing with all the other kids and all the attention.






Playing Star Wars
Both girls got a few rides on the golf cart, and neither one wanted to get off.  I didn't think Lily would ride on it, but she didn't want to get off Gabe's lap!



Playing bags with the big kids
We left JD's party and headed to Aunt Di's.  Lily fell asleep as soon as we got in the car, so she had a nice nap in the car while Ainsley played with Joelle.  Ainsley loved all the stuff to do at Aunt Di's, and didn't want to leave!

 
I finally convinced Ainsley into leaving as Lily was waking up.  Our day wasn't over yet. We had one last stop to make.  We stopped at Jeremy and Kathleen's to roast hot dogs before going home.  Lily liked playing Xbox with the guys.

Lani has a few neighbor girls that she's always playing with and Ainsley loves playing with them.


A day at Grandpa Bill's

The girls and I spent an afternoon at Dad's a few weeks ago.  Joel was recovering from the Fast Eddies trip the day before, so he stayed home.  Dad's birthday was a few days before, so we took him some presents.  
Lily loves her Grandpa Bill....she's happy as long as she's away from Uncle Tanner and Jake!
It was a super nice day, so we headed outside with the girls.  They loved running around the big yard.  It's so much different than our little yard with a street right in front of it!  Ainsley was able to help pick up sticks and Lily just followed everyone around.
Trying to fly a kite, but there wasn't enough wind!

Helping pick up sticks

She drug that big limb all the way to the pile all by herself!


There were lots of butterflies, and Dad was able to catch one in his hat for Ainsley.  Ainsley was so excited that she was able to hold the butterfly.  "Holding" the butterfly ended up slowing the butterfly down a little, so Ainsley was able to catch it over and over again, which led to lots of squeals and giggles!



Lily caught the butterfly....after that, the poor thing barely flew...


Dissecting a butterfly.
 
A grasshopper!

She only liked the grasshopper for a second and then was scared of it!
As we were leaving, Ainsley started getting upset.  I asked her what was wrong, and she said we didn't sing Happy Birthday.  So, I told her to go in and sing to Grandpa Bill, but I should have known better.  She was even more upset when she told me he needed birthday cake and I replied that we didn't have any.  What's a Mom to do?!  I found a twinkie and a match in the kitchen, and viola...birthday cake and candles!

 
Thomas and Jamie showed up with Hudson as we were getting ready to leave, so we stuck around for the kids to play for a few minutes.  Hudson didn't like Ainsley and Lily ganging up on him, and I don't blame him!
Lily smacking Hudson....her day is coming!