Alexandra's First day of Preschool

My baby girl started pre-school last week and she was so excited. She had no issues with leaving her "mommy" and when I picked her up after her first day she said "I love my school." She has been 3 times now and is really enjoying her Independence! Such a sweet little girl... The pics once again aren't in the order that I put them, but you get the idea.

Waving goodbye to Mom and Sam. Looking for her name...

Walking into school.

Happy 4th of July 2010

We have a tradition of going to Justin's grandparents lake place for the 4th. We take our camper and sleep in it because so much family comes that there isn't enough room for everyone. After being up there for 3 days though it started raining and would not stop, so we loaded up and came back to our house. The girls and I made our annual 4th of July cake and we went and watched fireworks on the river. It was still a great 4th even if it wasn't exactly the one we planned!

Happy Easter 2010

My pretty girls on Easter Sunday!!! I will eventually get caught up on this blog! My scrapbook well that is another story! :)

Did the Easter bunny come?

It's Mine!

This year has been a year for many changes for our family, with the biggest being that WE MOVED. We only moved about 5 1/2 miles from our old house but it was enough that we have changed our grocery store, our pharmacy, our restaurants, etc... It has given us an excuse to explore more of this city that we have spent our lives in. It just goes to show you how "comfortable" you get to your surroundings! The girls have adjusted quite well to the change. They absolutely love the new house and upon moving in decided that they needed to share a room. You buy a bigger house so that your kids can have more room and they decide they want to sleep right next to each other! Go figure! I hope they always love each other so much! Another change is that my Sweet Sam turned 5 a couple of weeks ago (pictures to come). That is such a milestone birthday, I just can't believe how fast 5 years can go by and just how much she has blessed our lives! Her birthday is just a couple of weeks from the cut off so we made a big decision and decided our little princess would wait one more year before we send her off to kindergarten. It was a hard decision but is one I think we will be happy with. On another note our Alexandra turned 3 in March and so in 2 weeks she will be starting pre-school. She is so excited. She has watched Sam get to go to pre-school and I told her a couple of days ago that pre-school is all hers now. I also told her that she would be making new friends and have 2 teachers. Clearly this all excited her because the first chance she got I overheard her telling Samantha "did you know that preschool is mine now?" "Did you know that I get to go to school and make new friends and have teachers and a classroom!" Sam started to try to tell her no its not yet and she again said "nope, Mom says preschool is Mine!" How sweet is that excitement!?

Alexandra 3 year old pics

My sweet 3 year old

My baby girl turned 3 on March 16th. I am not quite sure how 3 years can go by so quickly I mean wasn't she just born last month!?! She wanted to have a jumping party this year so that is what we did and she had such a great time...

3 things that I love about my 3 year old:

1. She has the biggest brown eyes that once directed on you will totally melt your heart.

2. She has a sweet giving spirit.

3. She has the most easy going/fun personality. She wakes up with a smile on her face!

and one to grow on: She loves to laugh and her laugh is contagious!

She recently asked me "Moma when we pray does God hear us?" I told her of course, and all I can think is God certainly answered our prayers for her and her sister! What a sweetie! Alexandra you are a very loved little girl! Happy Birthday to my 3 year old!

Moving

It has been a busy year for us and that is why I am just now uploading pics. Here are some of us getting to put our sold sign up on our house! We loved our first house but have settled in well into our new one and it already feels like "home!" I thought I would be upset about leaving our house that has so many good memories but have realized that my girls and my honey are what makes where we are a home! I am blessed beyond measure!!!

Valentine's Day Party

Samantha had the cutest little pre-school class this year! They are such a sweet group, these pics are from the Valentine's Party!

Long Lost Blogger

Ok clearly I have been a terrible blogger so since there is no way to actually catch up I am just going to post pictures and I will try once again to be a better blogger. For whatever reason when I upload these they don't stay in the order I want, but oh well you get the point. More to come, since this only gets me up to December!

Samantha's first dance recital

Alexandra's first dance recital.

Santa playing train with the girls at Bass Pro.

They were excited to tell Santa what they wanted.
Samantha Singing at a Nursing Home with her pre-school class!
Gingerbread houses...
Samantha's Thanksgiving feast at pre-school...
Samantha, Mommy, and Ethan.

Fun Fall Pics

Daddy and the girls made a scary pumpkin!
Carving a pumpkin...
Samantha at her pre-school halloween parade.
Samantha and Alexandra at Sam's class party.
Alexandra and grandparents at trunk or treat at church.

State Fair

We went to the fair a couple of weekends ago and had the best time. We left the house at 11:00 to get to the 11:30 showing of Disney on Ice and then we went out into the fair with our friends Brandon and Amanda and their kiddos Julia and Ben. All the girls loved the ice show and were very excited to get some fried fair food and to start the riding of the very questionable rides. Justin and I had the best time that we have had at the fair in years. Watching all the kids enjoy the fair made it so much fun for all the parents. We ate, walked around, ate, rode rides, walked around some more, ate again, watched the kids dance to some live music, rode rides again, and didn't get home until 8:30. We were exhausted but very happy. We all slept great and made such fun memories... Thanks for a fun time to the Mudd's!!!

P.S. I have lost my little camera and haven't replaced it yet cause I keep thinking it will turn up, so all the pics were taken with my phone.

Feeding the animals...
Really??!!! What to say!! :)
The girls falling down after dancing to some live music.

So cute!
Samantha and Julia had the best time riding

this ride. Ally wasn't tall enough to ride it!

How do you like the duct tape on the ride??!!

Don't those little smiles just warm your heart!!
Sam, Ally,and I and Brandon and Julia in the background.

Daddy Date Night

Last week at preschool was Daddy date night. All the Daddy's in Sam's class at preschool took them back up to school from 7-8. They got to show off their classroom and all the things they had made for them for this special night. Justin got a new coffee mug, a handmade tie, some pictures, and a laminated paper that listed all the things that she knew and liked about her Daddy. It was totally sweet. Samantha asked for a week "is it time for my Daddy date night tonight?" Samantha even got to give her Daddy a haircut and a shave... Attached are pics of their fun night, they got out of order, but oh well...

Showing Daddy how his hair looks.
Samantha giving her first haircut.
Leaving to go on their date.

Firsts

It is virtually impossible to get my girls to look at the camera these days... So here is one of them looking at whatever they wanted! It was Sam's first day of Preschool and she was so excited. Remember that exciting feeling you would get when you were a kid about going back to school well I actually had it yesterday and wished I could have stayed in the class with her! Ally had her second dance class yesterday and seriously have you ever seen anything look cuter in a leotard? Life has become insanely busy at our house recently with dance classes, pre-school, awana, library visits, zoo, aquarium, etc... That doesn't even count all the stuff that I have going on for myself now, but this blog isn't about me, and besides every Mom could say the same thing. I will post more pics soon!

My 4 year old!!!

My sweet baby girl is now a 4 year old. I really can't believe that it is possible for 4 years to go by so quickly. It is so cliche, but it really seems like I just had her. She and her sister are my biggest accomplishments and I am so very proud to be their Mommy. So in honor of Samantha's 4th birthday here are 4 things I love about my little girl.

1. She has a very tender heart. She is sensitive not only to us, but any living thing. She is beautiful on the inside and out.

2. She is flat out brilliant (can you tell I am her mom). I love this age we actually sit around and have great conversations, she amazes me with her curiosity for knowledge.

3. I love how she loves to snuggle up to me and go to sleep. Its so sweet since in general she usually doesn't like to cuddle.

4. I love how she tries to take care of her little sister and teach her things... so cute to watch!

and 1 more to grow on

5. I love how she already loves the Lord. She has such a sweet spirit about her and enjoys praying every night for our friends and family.

Your Daddy and I love you very much sweet girl!! Happy 4th Birthday Samantha!!!

First trip to the Dentist

Samantha had her first dentist appointment, and she did fantastically. We promised her lip gloss if she did a good job, and of course she got it in 3 colors and was so excited. I am so proud of my little girl...

Happy 4th of July

Samantha and Daddy waiting for fireworks.
Making our annual 4th of July cake.
Ally headed to the neighborhood parade.
Samantha riding her bike in the parade.

I have been such a terrible blogger but we have been having a busy busy but very fun summer. The girls have been so active we have been camping, making zoo trips, gymnastics, swim lessons, summer movie club house, library reading club, aquarium, and summer bowling. Justin says we play everyday, but hey your only a kid once right?? :) We had such a fun 4th of July. Our neighborhood does this adorable little parade for the kids. They decorate their wagon or bike and get to ride around the block and show it off, and then at our park they have hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, etc.. It is always fun, this year it rained, but the girls still had a blast. We also went and watched fireworks and this year the girls really got into it.