My baby is 4!!!!!!!!!!!

To mark this grand occasion my blog is getting a new name! Thanks Marianne for the cutie name!

I took the day off of work so I could take cupcakes to Reese's school. I decided to color them blue to go with the Spider-Man theme. Some of the kids were so thrown off by the blue cupcake that they just stared at it. The teachers actually had to tell the kids that it was OK. It doesn't phase Reese; I guess she is used to my crazy baking. I honestly don't know how the teachers do it. I spent about 45 minutes there and it was exhausting!!!

Reese got to be the line leader all day long. I actually got tears in my eyes that her teacher allowed her something so special for her birthday. Reese gets very excited when she gets to be line leader

Reese with her teacher Mrs Wilder. So, far I really like her. She teaches independence and Reese has learned so much! You should hear her sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is the cutest thing ever!!

Mrs Wilder had me take a picture of these kids. They were COVERED in chocolate. I know that the parents will really appreciate that! After I took the picture they swarmed me and wanted to look at the picture. I think it is so funny that kids automatically expect that. If we wanted an instant picture it was a Polaroid!

Reese eating her cupcake

Reese got to choose 3 friends to share a special table.

My mom buys Reese a cupcake every year for her birthday.

Holy cupcake! In case you are wondering it came from Publix. Oh the shame!! It wasn't organic!!! ;-)

My mom asks for a taste and Reese pulled it away from her

I played around with zoom bursts on the extra cupcake.

Six Flags-The birthday weekend continues!

The birthday festivities continued and we went to Six Flags. There was about an hour that we had to wait in a restaurant because it stormed. Reese actually used that as rest time and wanted to be covered up with a towel and she laid on me. It was a great moment because she rarely wants to do that anymore. Our first ride of the day was the log ride. The big hill at the end surprised her and she didn't like that too much. The rest of the day she asked if rides had any hills.

She was pretty bored with this kiddie ride

The airplanes were fun!

I love her looking over her shoulder

Getting ready to ride in the ferris wheel

She loved the swings!

She was kind of over the picture taking :-)

Playing at the Thomas the Train Playground. She started swinging through this like a monkey and the staff made her stop. I thought it was adorable!

Not quite sure what she was trying to do here...

Thomas!

Driving Bertie (??) the Bus

I was playing with extended shutter times. I thought it was cool that you could see the windows perfectly even though the beams and lights were in the way.

Ending the day with a big ole sucker

A really messy sucker...

Reese's 4th Birthday Party

Reese had a Spider-Man themed birthday party this year thanks to Mr Brady Ward. Reese went to his party in June and ever since she saw that party she insisted she needed a Spider-Man party as well. Next year Brady is having a princess party! :-) We decided to have Willy's cater it again so we wouldn't have to worry about the food again. I found myself with nothing to do about 2 hours before the party. That never happens!!

A big thank you to Michelle for taking the majority of these pictures. I would have gotten nothing!

Allison with adorable Evan

Her Spider-Man cake. He is supposed to be climbing up a wall. There is a second Spider-Man just to observe

Reese loved everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her. Her poor piggy tails didn't hold up very well after jumpy in her jumpy house for an hour. Just a side note, did you know that "Happy Birthday" is copyrighted and to sing it in public you have to pay royalties? That is why restaurants change up the words.

Blowing out her candles. It took a couple of tries.

Licking the icing off the candles. Is it just instinct to want to do this??

Brady and Reese. Other than baby Evan Brady was outnumbered!

Ella, Brady, and Reese

Chowing down. She ate hers in no time flat. We even gave her seconds.

She didn't appreciate the interruption :-)

Opening all of her presents

We had a blast and it seemed like it was over so quickly. It was total chaos and so different from last year. There were kids running around everywhere and having the best time. I wouldn't have changed any of it for the world!

Bribery

Reese has been getting out of bed A LOT lately. She does it when we put her down and during the night. David is out of town so I really just needed a good night's sleep. So, I decided to bribe her. Now what I offered was really just horrible but I thought it might be good enough to work. So I told her if she stayed in her bed and went right to sleep and stayed asleep she could have a fudgesicle for breakfast. Yes, yes I know that's just horrible to offer your child something like that for breakfast. But, people I was DESPERATE. And it is sugar free. :) So, we go over all of the things she must do in order to earn this treat. I have confidence that it is going to work!!

I tuck her in and give her a kiss good night and I park my tired behind on the couch. 5 minutes later Little Miss Thing comes out of her room and says "Mommy, I need to tell you something. Chocolate popsicles aren't good for me so I'm just going to eat my breakfast in the morning."

***SOB***

ONE DAY!!!! ONE DAY I will outsmart my little girl. I wonder how old I will be and will I be of sound mind to actually know it???

First Dentist Visit

Reese had her very first dentist visit. I really do get the Worst Mommy of the Year award for this one. I should have taken her a long time ago. She was really nervous to get her x-rays done but I was able to get her into the chair. Then came actually seeing the dentist. It was a really tall, muscular guy so Reese was completely intimidated, but she finally came around. Then it was time for the teeth cleaning. So, she had to get into another chair and I think she had it by then. This time she didn't just whimper but she started to get some tears. So, the hygienist just brushed her teeth with a regular toothbrush and showed her all of the tools for next time. I hope she does better! I didn't get any pictures because she was so nervous I didn't think she'd appreciate the camera in her face. We did get in and out in 30 mins. Pretty good!

Portrait Session

POST 100! WHO HOO!!!

We had our annual portrait session today and I was really excited for Ann to shoot it. It was a misty, overcast day but the rain held off. Ann got some great shots and I can't wait to share! But, I had to share some pictures I got later that day.

We told Reese that for her hard work she was going to be able to have ice cream as a special treat. Well, our photography session was over at 10:30 and nothing was open. Reese wasn't happy that the "ice cream store" wasn't open when she wanted it to be. So, we met Fran and friends for her birthday lunch. On a completely side note I just have to say that I love the way Reese says "Aunt Fran". It's so country :). Anyway, we went and ate ice cream after lunch and these are the pictures I took with my camera phone.

I didn't even have to ask her to cross her legs like this. I saw her sitting there and had to take a picture. I tried to get her to cross her legs in her session, but she refused.

A new name!

I have a new name for my blog thanks to Marianne! You guys will have to wait to find out what it is :) Reese's birthday is at the end of the month.

Marianne go to my hat website and let me know what you would like. http://theknittednoggin.blogspot.com/ The name is super cute and you are so creative!

Reese and Jack sitting in a tree...

So, Reese told me this morning that she has a boyfriend named Jack. So, I then ask her if she has kissed her boyfriend. I just wanted to know what she would say. She looked at me like I was crazy! She said "No mommy! We're not married! You only kiss when you're married." So I asked her "Can I kiss daddy?" She gets this look of concentration and says "Um, yeah. You're married. It's OK. You can kiss daddy." So there will be no K-I-S-S-I-N-G going on in any trees any time soon! Thank goodness!

I do however see a tree outside my window that looks pretty sturdy...."Oh David...."

First day of school!

Today was Reese's first day of Pre-K. She is going to the same place she goes to daycare but it was still a very big day. Her school actually goes up to 7th grade. So, if we don't move in the next year she may continue here. I'm hoping to get some better pictures of her in her uniform. Her chapel uniform is adorable!