4 Years, 7 Months...Birthday parties and movies and visits!

I am still so thrilled to be a big sister.  I really can't wait.  I'm excited to play with my baby brother or sister.
I got to go to a lot of birthday parties this month.  First, was Ashley's.  We got to paint pottery!  I painted a mermaid that looked like Ariel.  It was really hard to be around other kids I didn't know.  After the party, we ate lunch and played at Ashley's house before going to visit my grandparents.  I got to go in Papa Ron's pool, but it was too cold to do any real swimming.  The next weekend, we had Carrie's Fairy birthday party at Flipz.  I love going there!  It was so much fun!  After that, we went to my cousin Corinne's birthday party. 
We had a really nice visit from Auntie Heather, Uncle Sean, Ashley, and Ian the next weekend.  It was so nice to have them here.  We also went to a couple of BBQs for Labor Day.  I got to play with my cousins too.  Mommy also found the movie we have been looking for all summer-My Little Ponies-Equestria Girls!  I'm not sure if Mommy or I were more excited.  I loved the movie so much and want all the dolls for Christmas.  Anytime I want something, I tell Mommy and Daddy to "put it on my list." 
We went to a couple of events at Daddy's school.  We went to the Fall Sports Kick-Off and got to see all the sports.  I loved seeing the cheerleaders!  We also went to a game at a softball tournament.  I really love the Thunderbirds!
One day this month, I got in trouble twice at school.  First, I stuck my tongue out at a new girl in our class.  I told my teacher it was because I missed my Mommy and Daddy.  I was totally playing her!  Mommy said I may have been tired, but that is no excuse!  Shortly after that, I wouldn't share puzzle pieces with my friends and caused a big problem with a group of kids.  Mommy and Daddy both talked to me and were both very disappointed in me.  I have been fine since then.  The next day, Mommy was on jury duty and it ran late, so Nana Arden picked me up from school.
Mommy and Daddy took me to the movies and we saw Epic.  I really liked it a lot.  We had a family movie night this past weekend and watched Despicable Me.  That was pretty funny too.
When I was at HyVee with Mommy, I told her, "I need to cut back on my sugar."  When we got home and Mommy was going to tell Daddy what I said, I changed my story.  Then I said, "I need to go forward on my sugar!"  I was also noticing my scabs from a recent fall, and told Mommy, "My scab is like a crusted up raisin!"
Comfy

 Paining Arielle at Ashley's party

 Ashley and I started a band

 Like Daughter, Like Mother (except the thumb sucking!)

 Fairy princess (from Carrie's birthday party)

 The Three Amigos/The Three Muskateers

 More fun in the shower!

 Still love that baby!

4 1/2 Years...Big News!

I have big news to share with everyone!  I am going to be a baby sister around my birthday time!  I am so excited.  It doesn't matter to me if it is a girl or a boy.  "If it is a girl, I'll have a sister.  If it's a boy, I'll have a brother."  I have had a lot of fun telling everyone my big news.
I got to go to two different princess plays this month.  Mommy and daddy took me to see The Little Mermaid.  I was scared to get up on the stage to get my pictures taken with Princess Merida and Princess Aurora, but I got up on stage to tell everyone about the play!  I also went to a "Tea with Belle" that was more like games, but it was a lot of fun with Carrie.  We saw Beauty and the Beast the next day.  Of course, I had to see both movies!
I took the next level of swimming lessons and passed!  I'm still a little scared to jump in the water, but I really am getting more confident when I am in there.  Mommy took me to the ARC to go swimming right before she went back to work.  I also went to the Little Gym a few times and enjoyed it much more than Flipz.  I wasn't as scared.  I finished my 26.2 Kids on Track marathon and got lots of prizes and a t-shirt.
I also had Nana Arden and Papa Rodney move right into our neighborhood this month!  They will only be here until their house gets built, but it is really nice being able to walk right over to their house.
Mommy and daddy took me roller skating for the first time.  I was really scared, but mommy and daddy said I did great for my first time.  I used a walker at first, but after practicing on the carpet, I was able to go on the floor without it and only holding mommy's hand!  That night, we went to a BBQ for daddy's work and I had a lot of fun with the kids there (after being scared to go, of course!)
I got to go to spaghetti on the table at mommy's friend Carolyn's house.  I helped make the spaghetti.  She put the spaghetti right on the tablecloth and we ate it with our fingers!  It was so much fun!
I had a little cold my last week of summer break, but I'm doing OK.  I'm back at pre-school full time now and I really like my teachers.  I keep talking about next year when I go to kindergarten.  I am so excited!  I have so many things to look forward to!

 My annual driving picture

 Before seeing The Little Mermaid

With Princess Merida

 With Princess Aurora

 Visit from Stacey, Jaxson, and Harrison.  Here I am practicing my big sister skills

 Singing in the rain

 Splashing in the rain

 I love my daddy!

 With Carrie before Tea with Belle

 Me with the cast of Beauty and the Beast

 Me with Belle and Prince Adam

 Look at our pretty curls (thanks Valerie!)

 I already love my baby brother/sister!

 Say what?

 Playing hopscotch

 Look who joined the game while I was sleeping!

 I could blow bubbles all day long!

 Kara helping me hit the ball at the BBQ

 Helping make the spaghetti

 There was a miniature pot belly pig at Spaghetti on the Table

 This is the way to eat spaghetti!

 Learning to roller skate

 It's fun when you aren't falling down!

 Here we go!

 Worn out!

Learning I am going to be a big sister

On stage at The Little Mermaid

4 Years, 5 Months...Summer Fun!

We've been doing so many things this summer!  On the second last night of swimming lessons, I decided to put my face in the water.  I loved it so much, my teacher couldn't get me to stop!  Needless to say, I passed and will start the next level next month.  I decided I didn't want to continue with gymnastics because I was scared to flip on the high bar.  We had several visitors-Jill and Crosley, the Kosher family, and Lillian and Grayson.  Too bad we were having too much fun that mommy forgot to take pictures!  I went to Aunt Mary and Uncle Duane's house and got to pet horses and ride a 4-wheeler.  Next time, I get to ride the horses!  We also went to mommy's cousin's get together and had so much fun!  I got to show off my swimming skills and I got to drive a mini car, right into the woods!  We also went to a couple of baby showers.
I also visited the dentist's office for the second time and I was a great patient.  I got to get something out of the prize drawer!  I got brave and climbed the fence to our garden.  When I was getting out, I slipped and fell backward in the garden.  I hit my head really hard on the wood beams, and scratched up my wrist and knee pretty bad.  I fell on the concrete during a walk the next day!  Mommy and Daddy took me to Bonkers and I had fun playing the games and did some climbing there.  We went to Nana Arden's for the 4th of July, and then got to see lots of fireworks right outside our house!
The next week, we took a trip to Arkansas and visited mommy's friend Stacey (and Ryan and Jaxson and baby Harrison) and daddy's Aunt Marge and Uncle Dave.  I had so much fun with Jaxson.  We became instant friends!  We got to swim in the lake at Aunt Marge and Uncle Dave's house.  I even jumped off the dock once, but got water up my nose.  Then, Papa Ron and Nana Carol came to celebrate mommy's birthday. 
A couple of funny things I have said, "I am looking for toasters on the tree." (Toasters=dried up sap).  "Can I have one of those Punch Canadians?", asking for a Hawaiian Punch popsicle.  Can't wait to tell you about next month!
Visit from Nana Arden, playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos

 Petting the horses with Aunt Mary

 Ready for my 4 wheeler ride!

 With Papa Ron on Father's Day

Swimming lessons

 I passed swimming lessons!

 Driving mommy's cousin's son into the woods

Visiting the dentist

 Shooting hoops at Bonkers

 Riding a motorcycle at Bonkers

 Painting clothespins for a project

 Modeling with the hydrangeas

 "I mustache you a question..."

 Chilling on the way to the spray park

 Swimming in Jaxson's pool

 Mommy now believes in arranged marriages!

 Jaxson showing me his garden (That's a Grandma Kathy pose if mommy ever saw one!)

 Enjoying homemade ice cream.  The Kaden's really spoiled us!

Becoming brave and jumping off the slide

 Now sliding head first down the slide

 

 Stacey reading us a book

 Feeding the fish at Aunt Marge and Uncle Dave's

 Entering the water

 This isn't so bad!

 Actually, I really like it!

 Especially when Jaxson is in the water with me!

 Everyone swimming

 Jumping off the ladder

 Splashing mommy

 Family group picture

 Crazy shower hair

Relaxing on our couch

Jumping off the dock with Daddy

 

Driving the mini car