End of Year Preschool Picnic

Knowing that Ainsley wouldn't be going to Triopia next year for school made the last few days of preschool hard.  I couldn't have asked for a better first year of school with the school, Ainsley's teachers, and little group of friends.  They had a end of year picnic on the last day of school at the Chapin park.  Ainsley had lots of fun running around the park with all her friends.

It ended up being a beautiful day and it was nice sitting under the pavilion watching all the kids eat their lunch and converse.  I knew and kept telling myself that Ainsley would meet new friends next year at school, but it was still hard to sit there and watch her have such a good relationship with her friends knowing that she didn't have any idea her world was about to change drastically.  

Addy and Ainsley

Addy, Inez, and Ainsley

Both classes with Miss Elisha and Miss Amy

Ainsley and Inez

Crazy girls!

Ainsley was very excited when she got a birthday party invitation in the mail for Inez's 4th birthday later in the summer.  It was at Chuck E. Cheese, so that was a huge bonus!  The girls all picked up right where they left off two months prior when we got there.  It was so fun to watch their faces light up and watch them run around and play. 

Maci and Ainsley

Ainsley and Addy

All the girls

 

LOVE Ainsley's face here!

Tagging Cows

Joel took Ainsley with him to tag cows one morning.  She thinks she's big stuff going with the guys.  I got to the pasture just as they were starting to come over the hill with the cows.  Ainsley and Mark were bringing up the rear.

 

By the time Ainsley and I made it up the hill, they already had all the cows corralled, and most in the gate.  Ainsley thought it was pretty funny to watch Daddy chase one of the calves around, though!  Here's a video of it.  Putter (the donkey) was standing behind Ainsley and I the whole time, and was freaking me out a little!  I love how Ainsley cheers for the guys after they get the calf back in the gate.

 

 

 

Once they got all the calves in a pin, and it was safe to go in the gates, Ainsley and I headed in to get a better view.  She was quite the helper, pointing out when she would see a calf that didn't have an "earring".  Mark kept asking Ainsley if she wanted an "earring" like the calves.

We got out of the way when they went to let all the calves out of the pen.  The Mama cows were not happy that their babies were away from them!

 

The guys were thrilled when I told them all to stop so I could get a picture of them with Ainsley.

Mother's Day

Ainsley's dance recital was during Mother's Day weekend, so sleeping in a little on Mother's Day morning was amazing.  Joel and Ainsley ran into town to get me flowers and doughnuts, and I got to sleep in.  Ainsley made the flower pot picture below at school, and it was the best Mother's Day present to date.  Even better than doughnuts!

 Jim and Rita had kept Lily overnight the night before so Joel could go to Ainsley's dance recital, so we headed down there that morning to get Lily and take Rita her gift.

 Grandma Shelly had to work, so we ran into the hospital to visit her and take her a gift. 

 

I managed to get a few pictures with the girls.  I don't know what I would do without them.  Even if they make me want to pull all my hair out, they always know how to make me smile, and know when I need a hug or a kiss. 

  

 

Ainsley's dance recital

Ainsley had dance class every Saturday morning at 9, starting last fall and going through May.  Let me say that again.  9 a.m. every Saturday morning.  Talk about ruining your weekend.  It was hard to get away for a weekend, and ruined any chance of having a lazy Saturday morning.  But, she really enjoyed dance, and wanted to stick with it.  I'm glad she did, because the big recital was absolutely amazing in her eyes.  She still talks about being up on the big stage.  (She's not anything like her mother there!) 

I stressed over having to put her hair in a bun, and Ainsley thought that wearing her hair in a bun was the coolest thing.  I'm glad I don't have to do her hair like that every week for class.  The recital was bad enough.  She takes classes at Sara's in Jacksonville, and the recital made for a long weekend.  We had rehearsal and pictures Thursday night, and then one show Friday night and two on Saturday.  It was a long time for a just turned 4 year old to sit back stage and wait for her next routine, but all the girls did really well.  

 

Heading to rehearsal with hair and makeup done

She loved getting her makeup and hair done, and wasn't the least bit nervous.  I was one proud Mommy!  I was able to snap a few pictures the night of rehearsal.

Ainsley's way over on the other side in front of Sara

Ainsley's in the back row....second girl in.

 

 

During the recital, the girls all sat back in the gym and waited for their turn to go on stage.  Since I was never in dance growing up, I had no idea what to expect.  It was quite the experience.  All the girls brought plenty of toys to keep everyone entertained, which was good, because each recital was around two and a half to three hours long.

 

 

Ainsley didn't exactly follow the dance steps once she got on stage, but neither did any of the other girls.  It was still fun to watch.  During one of her ballet performances, all the girls were suppose to lay down at the end, but Ainsley and Tessa decided they were going to keep standing up.  During another performance, Ainsley started waving to someone in the audience.  We have no clue who she was waving to!

Ainsley's in the back row...behind the girl still laying down.

Waving to someone in the audience (not us!)

Ainsley and Tessa doing their own thing...

There were lots of people that came to watch Ainsley on stage, and she was always anxious before each performance to hear who was coming to that one to watch.  She also got lots of flowers from everyone.  She decided that weekend that her favorite were roses!

We snuck Grandma Shelly backstage, since Grandma had to leave the recital early to go to work

 

That was a BIG hug.  Big enough to smash Aunt Royce's glasses!

 

Daddy and his girl

 

Trying to hold all her flowers....she's actually missing a few bouquets in this picture!

Ainsley started dance back up again in August, and is already talking about this year's recital!