Random February Fun

We have been busy.  This (school) year has been a crazy one.  I am so ready for summer and it is only February.  The girls get busier and busier each year as they grow and try out new activities and interests.  But, they are learning a lot and getting to try out lots of new things.

For example, Lauren's brownie troop volunteered at Harvesters on night.  They filled several bags full of apples for almost 2 hours.  They worked very hard.  

Those boxes behind them are still full of apples that need to be put in bags for those in need.  Her troop did a great job and worked so hard that night.  

Wednesday afternoons are absolutely crazy.  I get home by 3:30 on Wednesday's to get the girls off the bus and start our evening.  Lauren  has Religious education and Addison has dance.  We cram in homework and snacks before heading out the door for the night.  

Addison loves her Daisy troop that I am leading and Lauren is my junior leader.  She loves it as well.  

Every Wednesday afternoon, Addison takes a little nap on the way to dance class.  

Lauren wrapped up her Winter soccer season...Spring soccer starts next weekend!  Oh my.  But, she loves it and is having fun learning a new sport.  

I snuck up to the school and had lunch with the girls this month.  

I love seeing them at their school surrounded by their friends.  

We have sorted and delivered over 400 Girl Scout cookies! 

I was able to help at the Valentine's Day parties as well! 

And all these friends of Addison wanted a selfie....OMG it was so sweet!  We all tried to cram in front of the camera.  Adrianna, Ashley, Addison, Jenna and Sierra!  

Lauren got her cookies a few days later and all the sorting began.  

Addison has one more week of swim lessons and she has done great...and she loves them! 

Addison and Jenna were invited to Maya's birthday party and were thrilled.  These girls have been friends since the infant room, but are at different elementary schools now.  

Lauren is shining as my junior leader.  This picture melts my heart.  I love it.  

I snuck up to Addison's school to take her to the book fair and then I hung out in her classroom for a few minutes.  She showed me lots of wonderful things.  

Mark and I have no idea how to do 3rd grade geometry without the help of Google and Aunt Chris (the middle school math teacher.)  You can see my answers scribbled in small writing there...I am so ready for 3rd grade to end :)  

We enjoyed a small snow fall, but it was enough to go to the big hill and sled and it was so much fun.  So, there you have it.  A look at the random things that have been happening this past month.  

Lauren's Birthday

(This is a guest post, written by Lauren herself.  I decided not to edit it and leave it just how she wrote it!  It's perfect!) 

It was my birthday on February 6th and i was really exited at school i got to sit at the teachers desk all day and got to drink pop at here desk finally school was fun but, we had a ? mystery reader?guess who it was wait i want to tell you it was my mom it was really fun and on my birthday my friend Jordis had a birthday party and it was a hockey game, obviously she loooooooooves hockey and also we went out to dinner at 54th street and we had Jordis's birthday in the ice box sweet and got free food and i got drama and clothes and a volley ball and i had a sleep over with my friend Grace and we went to get our nails  done at foxy nails and went bungee jumping at the mall and made cupcakes and watched a movie i had really fun on my birthday and i wished everybody wished me a happy b day LAUREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lauren's Birthday Celebrations

Well, better late than never.  Lauren had a birthday about a week and a half ago.  We celebrated on her actual birthday, then she had a sleep over party on Saturday night. 

She wanted to open one gift Friday morning before school.  She opened Addison's gift, this Digi Bird.  It's quite lovely how it sings and chirps all day long.  

Then she ended up opening all her birthday gifts...why not?  In her Christmas PJ's after all! 

This girl has begged for MU clothing, and much to my dismay, I can't seem to steer her towards KU stuff :( So, I bought her a MU zip up jacket that is just her style.  

Then on Saturday night she had her sleepover party with one other friend, Grace. 

Grace had a birthday a few days before Lauren, so we sang happy birthday to the two of them! 

We had a ton of fun things planned for the night! 

The girls started off getting their nails done! 

It was only $5 to polish their nails, and they both got the cutest flower design on each of their hands. 

Then we hit the mall for the trampoline jump thing!  

Next up was dinner at Costa Vida. 

Look at that order of nachos!  Lauren ate most of it (of course.)  The girls both had electronics with them and recorded a lot of the activities throughout the night.  It was so fun to sit in the front seat of the car and listen to them talk, record themselves, take pictures of themselves, etc.

After dinner we headed home to watch a movie, decorate cupcakes, and hang out.  

Lauren and Grace had a great time, stayed up way too late talking and giggling, and then not sleeping...

Happy 9th birthday Lauren.  I can't image how fast the next 9 years are going to go.  The first 9 years have been a roller coaster of excitement and fun, and let's be honest....work.  But, we would not trade it for anything.  You are an amazing daughter that we love dearly! 

Father Daughter Dance

The moment you all have been waiting for, Mark returns to the blog.  A couple of weekends ago I took these two beautiful ladies out for a night on the town...or as it is better known, the Lee's Summit Parks and Rec Father/Daughter Dance.   It really was a fun night.  Lauren didn't have any friends to run around with, so she and I danced the night away.  We probably danced to 15 or so songs.  It was so much fun.  Even Addison stopped playing with her friends long enough to dance with me for a few songs.

Ashley got the girls ready while I got myself ready.  Who do you think had the tougher job?  Of course I did...they are so pretty to start with!

After we got ready, we posed for a few pictures.  Ashley really took some great pictures of the three of us.

A pic with Lauren.  Of course, it is just not her style to get too dressed up in a frilly dress.  What you see above is about as dressed up as she is going to get without complaining. But she looks so pretty.  

I can't believe how much this one is growing up.  One time, while Lauren and I were dancing, I looked over to see Addison dancing with her friends.  The catch is....she was dancing like a young lady and not the toddler I still want her to be.  She is growing up right in front of my eyes. 

I like this one.  Just a nice, relaxing, natural pic of the three of us.

Lauren has got to be so pretty...and so grown up looking.  

Of course Addison has to be a bit theatrical with her poses.

Ashley just explained to me this was Lauren fluffing Addison's dress so it looked nice.  What a great big sister.   Additionally, how awesome is that she wanted everything to be just right to go out with Dad?

I am going to let the next few pictures speak for themselves....

So I want to finish with a story.  About halfway through the dance, they always do a father/daughter dance-off.  I know this because I have been to the last three.  Since I know this fact, I also know to stand way in the back so I don't get chosen to represent the fathers.  This year went off as normal, with me in the back of the pack, hiding.  Then, as they always do, they had a second part of the dance-off.  Well, these two, along with Lauren, and some girl none of us know, dragged me out to the dance floor.  When I say dragged, I mean dragged.  I wasn't going out without a fight.  They literally had to pull me out there.  So me and another guy had to dance for 90 seconds.  Pretty sure that video would have a million hits on YouTube if there was one.  Trust me.  All those hits would not be because I can dance.  

It really was a great night.  I had a ton of fun with my girls.   Ashley got a night off (Mom is always the favorite).   And as Ashley always says, the three of us created memories.  For me, it is one I hope I never forget.

Happy 9th Birthday Lauren

You are 9 years old today!  Wow!  I just told your Daddy this week "we are half way there.  We only  have 9 more years of raising Lauren."  I can't imagine how fast the next 9 years are going to fly by.  The first 9 years have been full of so many amazing memories.  I stumbled upon an article this week that talked about this very idea.  We are at the half way point of raising you.  

I have to wonder...have we done a good job?  You are an incredible dancer.  You love soccer.  You can't miss a single Religious Education class.  You are a Girl Scout, and a junior leader for Addison's troop.  You are a star student at school.  You love to read.  You love to listen to music.  You love to dance.  

Don't get me wrong...we have had our moments with you.  You have stomped away mad, slammed a few doors, gave us an evil eye.  But, at those times, we know we are doing the right thing.  

I know the next 9 years will be even tougher than the first 9 years.  We made it through the sleepless nights, the terrible 2's and 3's.  Around 4 you turned into a sweet little girl, and even though you have your moments, you are still that sweet little girl.  You are so kind, thoughtful and caring.  You are a natural little Mom to any child younger than you.  You truly love to take care of others. 

I know the 9 next years will be the best.  I know we are raising a wonderful young woman.  We can't wait to continue to watch you grow and develop into a young lady.  

Happy 9th Birthday Lauren!