First Jeep

I am having to back track a little with my blog posts since I can't seem to keep it updated currently. I wanted to post a few pictures of L and E getting their big birthday gift for their birthdays.

We had asked our family if they were interested in going in with us on a motorized pink Barbie jeep. The girls had seen it and been asking for one for a while. We thought it would be the perfect joint gift for them, and everyone was so sweet to help us get it for them.

They were so excited, and have had the best time riding that jeep up and down the streets of our neighborhood. I feel like I keep seeing a small glimpse into our future when I see them driving down the road together. :)

All the birthday gifts waiting for the girls to find!

Walking in to discover their big surprise

So excited!!! They love it!

Happy 6th Birthday to Lainie!

Six years ago today, we were blessed with a precious baby girl! She was 9 pounds, 2 ounces, had a crease across the top of her nose, cheeks that hung over the doctor's fingers, puffy pink lips, and a head with a hint of peach fuzz. She was our Laura Elaine. Our first baby girl, and the child that made Justin and I officially "Daddy and Mommy."

Six years later, she is now our jumping bean, our brownie, has the best giggle, and a smile that lights up a room. She loves pink, rainbows, all animals, any craft, and gymnastics. She's a little bit bossy, but very bashful too. She's our Lainie Bug, our LB, our Lanes. She is our very favorite 6 year old in the whole world! Happy Birthday to our girl!

Lainie and Emmie's Birthday Party

Lainie and Emmie decided that they wanted to celebrate their 6th birthday and 4th birthday at My Gym this year. I took them to pick out their birthday cake, and they both decided that they wanted a princess cake. I was pleasantly surprised when they both picked the same cake!

They were both so excited about their party this year. I think we have been counting down the days since about March. :) We try to make each birthday special on their actual birthday, but have definitely enjoyed having a joint party for both of them since their birthdays are so close together.

This year ended up being quite the adventure. We walked in the door and realized very quickly that there had been a mistake. The Gym had us as a cancelled party, so they were not expecting us at all. Needless to say, they double-booked the time of the party, and we ended up celebrating with another little girl. Two parties at the same time meant celebrating with about 35 kids! It was crazy! Thank goodness the girls didn't care, and everyone had a blast.

All dressed and ready to go celebrate!

Silly birthday girls

Princess Cake

Making their wishes

Some of our party guests.....
Jonah and Scott

Dayne, Savanna, Hudson and Kensley

Annabelle, Addie Grace, Cade and Brody

Frances

Jake, Reagan, Caroline and Evelyn

Judah, Graham, and Levi

Maddie Grace

Sweet Belle enjoying a cupcake

Cade loving his cupcake too

Party fun!!

Riding off in style!

Lainie's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday was Lainie's 1st day of Kindergarten. She only went for 1/2 of a day and it was only the girls in her class. She loved it! She got in the car and said, "Mom, it was so cool!" She was chosen by her teacher to be line leader all day, so she was super excited about that. She also went to the playground, bought lunch at school (pb and j, carrots, apples, and chocolate milk) and went to P.E. She really likes her teacher, Mrs. McGrath and said that she is "really sweet."

I honestly can't believe that she is in school. It hit me at parent orientation that this was no longer preschool. She walked into her classroom like such a big girl and didn't cry a tear. Justin and I are so very proud of her. We really think that she is going to have a great year. Today is her first full day, and it has been so long! I can't wait to get my hands on our sweet girl in an hour.

Her class is decorated in monkeys, which is perfect for her. Monkeys are her favorite animal, so I love that everything in her classroom has a monkey theme. I have prayed and prayed for her teacher, as well as her peers. I totally trust that God has His hand on her and I am looking forward to all the adventures that this school year holds.

As we were walking out of the school building, Emmie said, "I sure am going to miss Lainie." They truly are best friends, so I think she really will miss her sister. However, I am going to do my best to make sure I spend lots of quality time with Em and El while they are home with me during the day! It is SO different with just two girls in the house.

Lainie and her teacher, Mrs. McGrath

Totally put the wrong years on the sign. Ugh! I blame in on nerves and stress. :) 2012-2013

Our big girl!

She's a monkey!

Sitting at her desk for the first time

Greycie

The girls and I love to go to Petsmart every now and then to look at the animals. It is something fun to do that is close to home and free! About 2 weeks ago, I decided to take them to see the animals since Riley needed dog food. When we got back to the cats, there were several precious kittens. That was actually the first time that we saw kittens in that store as they usually have adult cats.

While we were there, they had let most of the kittens out of their cages to play in the "playroom." However, there was one grey kitten left alone in her cage that was absolutely the cutest and sweetest thing. I thought she was precious, and when I saw her name, I knew she needed to come home with us. Lainie has wanted a kitten for a long time, but it just hasn't worked out for us to get a cat up until this point.

We left and I told Justin that night that I had seen the cutest kitten named Gracie that day with the girls. He just rolled his eyes since I frequently come home talking about some cat I saw. We decided to take the girls to see Gracie again and play with her that weekend. When we took her to the "playroom," she was so sweet and very laid back. She really wasn't that playful. I honestly think she was the most calm kitten I had ever been around.

We left on Saturday and said we would think about her. Her foster mom was there and said that she was really sweet, and everyone loved her. She also mentioned that the reason they didn't let her play with the other kittens was because she would get scared and didn't like when they would be rough with her.

I couldn't stop thinking about Gracie, so on Tuesday, we went to see her again and decided to bring her home. She is the sweetest cat! Justin said we might as well have bought a stuffed cat because she is so laid back. Ha! I did change the way we spell her name just because I like Greycie since she is grey. :) Here are a few pictures of the newest member of our family....

Something's Missing

On July 29th, this sweet girl took her first little step into becoming a big girl. I can hardly believe she is about to start Kindergarten, but when she lost her first tooth, I truly felt like my baby girl officially became a big girl.

Her bottom tooth had been loose since the week we were at the beach, but it decided to hang around for several weeks. Lainie told me the day she lost it that it was bothering her, and when I looked at it, it literally was laying completely flat and forward. It was all I could do to not pull it myself.

That afternoon, as she was sitting on the couch watching a movie, that first baby tooth finally came out! She couldn't look any cuter with that missing tooth. :) And of course, she was thrilled when the tooth fairy came to visit that night.

Floaties and Such