PlayDate!

Our wonderful friends Saradee, Haddee and Emmee Kate hosted a Christmas playdate on Dec 21st.

It's JUST what we needed.  A quick break from all things planning and getting ready...to just talk and hang out.

Ainsley stayed pretty close to me for the most part, but she said she had a really good time! (mommy did too!)

Saradee, being the most creative person I know, put together some fun activities.

The "big kids" got to decorate gingerbread cookies.

All of the cookies were so creative!

Then we all had some lunch.  There were PB&J sandwiches for the kids and taco soup for the mom's. (which was delicious!)

Then all the kids had a book exchange!  Everyone brought a wrapped book and exchanged with someone else.

Ainsley's school class did this...so she really "knew" what this was about.  :)

She LOVED her book.

She got "Night Before The Night Before Christmas"

We both had a really good time and want to thank Saradee, Haddee and Emme Kate for hosting such a wonderful playdate!

Ainsley had such a good time...this is what she looked like on the way home!

This is when I stopped at Sonic on Hwy 9....

...and this is a little further down at the stoplight into Blanchard. (as you can see, she lost the bink!)

And the time has come...

Ainsley's last day of school for the semester was Dec 7th.  I stayed so I could take some pictures of her in school...now that she likes it! 

I tried to get most of her favorite teachers, but you know Ainsley, she had to have me watching her ALL THE TIME!

The class does Learning Centers first.  There is Art Table...Writing Table...Game Table...and an extra table that has a different name depending on what they're doing that day.

Here is Art Table...

Look how FAST she's coloring!

This is Mrs. Owens....Ainsley's FAVORITE teacher

And Game table 

Ms. Kristen teaching them how to play dominos (the preschool version, of course)

And Writing Table\

Tracing her S's

And on this day....Playdough Table

This is Cooper.  Ainsley is very fond of him.  (;

While I took this picture, I told her to make sure Cooper had some playdough to play with, too.

He then proceeded to look at me and say, "I don't care.  I gave her all mine."

Isn't he sweet?!?! 

I don't know who he likes better, me or Ainsley, but Cooper sticks by us almost the entire time I am there...everytime I am there.

They decided to play alone during the bathroom break. (leaving me to fend for myself with jumping boys!)

The snack for today could be made into a snowman!

included hot chocolate of course!



Cooper is sitting at our table...and Ryann (Ainsley's favorite friend) is sitting across from her.

She doesn't stray far from her favorite friends!

After snack it's time to go outside!  I wasn't excited about this part, but I just rolled with it!

She really wanted to go outside and play...with Cooper. They rode their tricycles the entire time.  She didn't get very far on the grass, but she sure tried!

Next it was time to give away our goodies and do the book exchange.  I think Ainsley was getting a little tired, because all of a sudden she clammed up and started getting shy.

She really just put the books on her legs and Cooper took charge.  (What a guy to let her sit and him do all the work!)  She got Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer book...AND SHE WAS EXCITED!

The Whole Class!

BR: Ainsley, Tulsi, Addi, Jared, Domini, Kaiden, Denver, Cooper

FR: Alexis, Miley, Madison, Jayla, Ryann, Eshaan, Jaden

(Our friend Eshaan is moving back home to India over the break...and we will miss him very much!  I got to become friends with his mom, and personally I was very sad to hear they were going)

Ainsley didn't want to tell her teachers goodbye...but she told me she would miss them.

As a goodbye present, I helped Ainsley make these pendents for her teachers that wouldn't be coming back in the spring semester.

I didn't get to talk to them...so I hoped they liked them!

And for our friends we created a little goodie bag

All was well and I hope all her friends and teachers have a FABULOUS HOLIDAY!

Here are all the goodies we came home with...

Poppy-do

08/12/1940-12/10/2006

I miss you everyday!  Every. Day.

Dance Recital

Ainsley first EVER dance recital was this past Saturday!  I was so nervous!  She is so shy I didn't think she would do anything.  Miss Emily and I worked very hard to make her feel comfortable.

She like getting all dressed up and getting to put make-up on.  And, of course, I was one of the "stage moms", so it helped that I got to stay with her.

And it helped that KK was there to be her friend.  KK is all about performing!!

They were just so beautiful!

In the end, KK was spectacular and Ainsley STOOD right beside her.

I was just so happy she STAYED on stage.  I didn't care if she danced, as long as she got up there I was happy.  (baby steps....baby steps...)

At the end, Miss Emily told me to just walk out on stage with her so she would take her bow.

She did "a little" bow. 

I'm so proud of my little ballerina.  I can't wait until the spring!

Miss Emily gave her students a heart ornament...which directly up on my tree...and Ainsley just LOVED it!

 

And Miss Emily...you are fantastic!  With such a sweet voice and much patience, you helped my little one to LOVE dance!  THANK U!



Wildlife

Every week Ainsley's class has a new teacher for the week.  And a new theme to learn.  This week was wildlife...and Mrs. Toland had someone from the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation come and teach the kids about animals in Oklahoma.

He taught them how to tie a knot.

And how to use a fishing pole correctly.

(the kids were so excited about this part)  It was REALLY cold outside this day, but we braved it and learned how to cast.  Ainsley was so excited because she already knew how! (thanks to daddy!)

Once we defrosted, Mr Snow let the kids touch some animals furs to they would know what all the animals felt like.  It also had a picture of their paw prints so they could learn to recognize them.

Ainsley really liked everything.  I guess she is going to be like her daddy and enjoy the outdoors.

Thanksgiving 2010

Every year we have 3 or 4 Thanksgivings.

The first one this year was in Haskell, OK.  This is where Joe is from.

I had to work, so Joe and Ainsley got up early and headed out.  It's about a 3 hour drive and Ainsley told her Daddy and maybe they should take and airplane to Grandma Carmen's house!  :)

But she always has a good time.  She gets to play with all of Grandma Carmen's animals and gets to see her cousins Brady and Baxter. 

They decided to stay the night since Ainsley was having so much fun...

I think they put Papa to bed...not the other way around!

(Ainsley, Baxter and Brady)

We had Thanksgiving at Mammy's the next day...but we always forget to take pictures!  It's because we are too busy playing!

On Thanksgiving Thursday, we go and have lunch with Grandma Margaret's family.  We only get to see this family once a year, so it's always good to catch up.

We ate so much good food and spent time with some wonderful people.

Ainsley brought some toys and was so nice to share them with her cousins.

(Ainsley and Olivia)

We are so blessed to have so many people in our lives to spend this holiday with.

I can't imagine not being "so busy" during the holiday season.  God has blessed us far beyond what we deserve

Let's dance!

Here is a video of Ainsley and KK doing their favorite dance in dance class!

ENJOY!