Sunday Funday

Scott has been out of town this weekend so my Mom and I decided to take the girls to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.  This is the 2nd time the girls and I have been and we really have a great time there.  They have so many cool animals to see and a neat aquarium building as well.

 

Presley checking out the tiger!

 Brooke riding the pony! This girl is loving some pony rides these days. She just rode another one yesterday at a festival we went to. 

 Nana, Presley and Brooke riding the train!

 This was SO fun! They have a raised platform where you can feed the giraffes! I didn't see this last time we were here so of course we had to get in there and feed these beauties!

 Looking at the shark and other cool fish they have there.

Swimmer in the tank feeding the fish...they LOVED this!

A Week of Halloween

It's so funny now that the girls are getting older how Halloween has become a week long festivity! The amount of candy in my house could feed our entire neighborhood.  We started last Thursday with a Halloween parade at Scott's work.  They make it really fun for the kids to come to the office and trick or treat throughout the building.  Really cool event.  Both girls had Halloween parties at school where they got to trick or treat and then of course Halloween night.  It is so fun to see their excitement over getting dressed up and it takes me back.  I still remember the pink carebear outfit my mom made for me that was awesome.  It was so well made that I about had a heat stroke in the middle of Mississippi October weather!!  Brooke was Rapunzel this year and Presley went as a ballerina.  They were different characters at the other parties (Spider girl, cowgirl).  We had another great Halloween in our neighborhood and it's so fun to see all the kids growing up together.

A Day at the Biltmore

Two Fridays ago my friend Fallon and I took our kiddos up to Biltmore in Ashville, NC.  Scott and I have been to the Biltmore during Christmas and it is absolutely beautiful but I honestly didn't know what to expect taking the kids up there.  It was awesome!  The drive up the mountains was absolutely gorgeous with all the leaves changing colors and the girls were excited to see mountains!  We went to the "farm" there and the ate lunch in the village and just had a beautiful afternoon hanging with our kids.  After Fallon and her kids left, the girls and I headed over the Estate and we continued to have a fantastic time! Hint:  the Biltmore offers valet parking that literally takes you right up to the house (only $10 for annual members) so it is well worth it!  We went through the 1st floor and the basement of the Estate and Brooke thought it was pretty cool.  We certainly went pretty fast (especially when Presley went under the red rope and was trying to sit on the old historic furniture).  We went out on the grounds around the house and ate ice cream and hung out for about 2 more hours just playing. What a fun day!!

 

 Having fun at the farm at Biltmore!

 My big girl...I seriously cannot believe she is about to be 5 years old. 

 Sistas!

 Brooke, Presley and Kesely hanging with the scarecrows!

 Brooke doing her cartwheels!

 Sweet Kesely!

First Day of School

Both girls are going to school this year and they absolutely love it!! Brooke is going 5 days a week and Presley is going 3 days. Their classrooms are across the hall from each other so they get to see each other throughout the day.  I could not be happier with their teachers and how much they are learning!! God Bless teachers. They truly make such a difference in these little lives.

 

 Brooke's 1st day of school.  K4

Presley's 1st day of school in the 2 year old class!!

Buds

 

Brooke and her BFF Melaina have known each other since they were a year old.  They are 1 month apart and will both be 5 years old in a few weeks.  They do not go to the same school anymore and we sadly don't see them as much (due to work life,etc...) but when these 2 gals get together it is just like they saw each other yesterday.  That is one way I've always been able to tell if someone is a true friends is that when you see them, you pick up where you left off.  Just like no time has passed.  I love seeing Brooke and Melaina play and Presley and Clara are becoming the same way.  These 4 gals have a lifetime of friendship ahead of them and it makes me so happy.  :)

 

 Playing together at the park at one of our good friends birthday parties!

 They said they needed a break.....too hot!

 Clara coming down the slide!  Sweet girl....

 Melaina pushing Presley!

 3 of the 4 gals...

 YUM-O cupcakes!

Our sweet girl!

Mama Suz came to visit in August!

 

Mama Suz came to visit right before the kids started school and we had a great time! We are so excited for she and John John to come for Thanksgiving!! Can't wait!

 

Summer Wrap Up

 

This was such a fun summer and I am now finally getting around to posting a few more pictures!

 

This was Brooke's 1st day of school!

 Playing downtown!

 At a friend's birthday party- she had a balloon Rapunzel made! She loved it!

 Painting on the back porch. My little artists!

 Riding George the Train over at the Pavilion.

 Presley wanting to wear anything that is Brooke's!

 My gals after bath!!

This was such a great summer and there were lots of fun things that happened.   Mama Suz and John John got married, Brooke learned how to swim, Presley loves the water and is getting better at swimming, Presley turned 2, Presley's vocabulary really picked up, Brooke learned how to do the monkey bars, Presley learned how to ride a bike and it was overall a big summer.  It makes me sad at how fast these two gals are growing up!!