Dollywood, here we come

On the way home from VA yesterday, we made a little detour by Dollywood for some fun with Carrie, Robbie, RuthAnne, and Will. Our time was cut a little short by a massive rainstorm that rolled through, but we all had a good time.

This is my favorite picture of the day - riding the tram into the park. These kiddos were so excited and they were ready to go!

Alena missed riding some of the bigger rides by one inch but she had a good time on the ducks with Eden.

Two little carousel riders - Mya surprised us the most by enjoying all the rides she was able to ride.

While this ride that takes you up and drops you at random times was both Gabe and Mya's favorite - Eden was not a fan. In fact they stopped the ride to let her off due to her screaming.

Alena and Will were good little riding buddies.

Thanks Robbie and Carrie for taking us with you - we all had a great time!

Celebrating the May birthdays

We've been in VA this week for a little vacation and while we are here we celebrated
all the May birthdays in our family - Grandmama, RuthAnne, and Alena.

Cupcakes were enjoyed by everyone.

A little redneck-water play.

Some enjoyed riding on the lawnmower with Grandaddy although Will wasn't very sure about the loud noise.

Apparently cupcakes weren't enough because Chrisa and Sam also treated us to homemade chocolate ice-cream. Eden thoroughly enjoyed hers.

A little bit messy

This girl likes her spaghetti. On this evening she ate 3 helpings.

Celebrating Alena

Four is such a fun age. To say that Alena was excited about her birthday would be a major understatement. All day we heard, "Now that I'm 4, I can open the garage door. Now that I'm 4, I can learn to read. Now that I'm 4, I can hop on one foot." Over night she was transformed to a "big girl." We had a little party with her bestest friends.

There was much debate about the cake, but she finally decide on chocolate/vanilla swirl with chocolate icing.

This picture isn't very clear, but Alena was so proud to get her own crown, "With a letter A." (Mya has one with an M.)

Yes, she ate the entire thing, except for the one-bite-apiece she gave her siblings. I will say it was on a different day than she consumed the above chocolate cake.

This was Alena's first year answering the "birthday questionnaire." It was quite entertaining to do this with her.

How old are you today? 4

What is your favorite color? blue

What is your favorite food? cantaloupe

What is your favorite book? Curious George

What do you want to be when you grow up? a Star Wars person

Where is your favorite place to eat out? Chillis

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? do school

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? draw/write a picture

What is the best thing about having Gabriel for a brother? because he plays with us

What is the best thing about having Mya for a sister? because she always plays with me

What is the best thing about having Eden for a sister? she runs and plays tag

What is your favorite thing to do with your friends? play with my snap doll

What can't you wait to do when you get bigger? go to school

Where is your favorite place to visit? Grandmama and Grandaddy's

What do you love about going to Mathu and Pathu's? eating egg rolls

What do you love about going to Grandmama and Grandaddy's? they have a toy doll house

What is your favorite thing to play? Mya is the princess and I'm the prince

What thing do you most dislike doing? getting my clothes on (to clarify this is changing clothes from pjs in the morning. She doesn't run around naked!)

What is your favorite part of the day? school time

What would you do if you could stay up all night? watch a movie

Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? to Target

What makes you happy? my friends being here

What makes you sad? when I get in trouble

What do you wish you could do? play a game

What made this the best birthday ever? the cake

The big 4!

4 years makes a big difference

Happy birthday Alena Noi. We hope you have a terrific day. Love you lots!

Bring out the water

We've had such a mild, cool spring, but this week has brought some hot weather. Gabe was at a friends this afternoon and the girls spent all afternoon out on the deck enjoying playing in the water table.

Happy Mother's Day to the best mother ever!!!

Happy Mother's Day to you. We hope you will have a great mother's day. We hope you will not be disappoint for what we have for you. We hope you will enjoy more Mother's Days. We love you!!!

What's the opposite of...

Mya trying to teach Alena all about opposites: "I'll give you a word and you say the opposite. Like hot and cold or day and night. Do you understand?"

Alena, "Yes!"

Mya, "Okay, what's the opposite of boy?"

Alena, without even a pause, "Bad boy!"

After Mya huffs and says no Alena replies with, "Good boy!"

I think we'll have to work on this a little more...,