Long to Short(er) Hair

Almost two weeks ago, I had finally had enough of all the hair. Washing it, combing it, picking it off the furniture...I had had enough and decided to get it chopped off! Well, some of it anyway. Kendal is insistent on growing her bangs back out, so her hairdo needed a little help, Payton had been asking to get hers cut like her one of her friends (which is similar to mine) and Bransyn just about had to look up to see out from under her bangs. Daddy's only input was that it couldn't be cut above their shoulders...there went Payton's request. :)

FRONT SHOT BEFORE

FRONT SHOT AFTER

BACK SHOT BEFORE

BACK SHOT AFTER

Payton wanted me to take her pic pretending to be sad because she got her hair cut

Bransyn, not to be outdone, had to have one with her pretending to be mad

Silly girls!! ;-)

Until next time...

"Jesus To The Rescue"

July 6-9, the girls had Vacation Bible School at our church. Always a fun time learning about Jesus, fun songs, Bible verses and being with friends. Plus...Mama got to at least get rid of two them for a few hours each day for a week. ;) Here are some pics of their week...

performing their songs

SWEET FRIENDS!!

Until next time...

Wacky Hair

Two weeks ago, Kendal and Payton attended Vacation Bible School at a local church and each day had a different "theme" such as camo day, sports day and...WACKY HAIR DAY. I asked the girls if they wanted to wear their hair "wacky" or normal. Kendal wasn't sure and Payton wanted it wacky so while Kendal made up her mind, I went to work on Payton's hair. While doing her hair, Kendal decided she wanted her hair wacky just like Payton's. Here's how they turned out....

The "do" started hurting Kendal's head so one of her leaders ended up undoing hers for her. Poor lady! Payton left hers in until bathtime that night. They even went home with a friend afterwards and Kay had to stop at Walmart on her way home and walked around Walmart with her looking like that. I'm sure people were giving them some funny looks! :)

Until next time...

Kendal's 8th Birthday

Kendal's birthday was June 7th and fell on a Sunday this year, so this particular Sunday was a little crazier than usual. Last July at VBS at our church Kendal got saved and soon after started talking about wanting to be baptized. We would talk to her about what that means and ask her questions and while she seemed to "get it", we didn't push the issue, we just told her that when she was really ready she would have to go forward at church. About the end of April, she said out of the blue one day that she wanted to go forward for baptism. Jeff wanted to be there, obviously, so we had to wait for his next off weekend which just so happened to be on Mother's Day. She went forward during the invitation and after the serivce our Pastor talked with her for a little bit and felt that she understood the meaning of baptism and told her to "pick a day". Well since her birthday was on a Sunday and Grandma and Papa S would be visiting then, she wanted to be baptised on her birthday. So that's how her birthday started, quite appropriate, I think!

She looks a little nervous

Getting the nose plugged :0)

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Mark 1:8

Rushed home to snap a few pics while we still looked nice, scarf down some lunch, finish getting things together and heading to her party which was at the pool again this year. Perfect place to have a summer birthday party!

Kendal with her friend Maggie

friends, friends and more friends

The whole gang ready for cake and singing Happy Birthday

It ended up being a little windy and we couldn't get the candle to light so she had to pretend to blow out the candle. Hope she still gets her wish! ;-)

Chocolate cake...YUMMY, YUMMY!!!!

Too cute Bsyn

Payton, Kimberly and Bransyn

Back home...dressed and ready to open presents

Happy with all of her gifts!!

Payton being goofy with the goggles and she wanted me to take a picture

Even goofier! Boy, she sure can get that mouth into quite the frown!!

Bransyn had to be part of the action with her goggles that are totally upside down. Weirdo!! :)

I made flip-flop cookies out of Nutter Butters and these were what were left. They looked super cute, although in this pic...not so much! The frosting looks like cement instead of the purple color they actually were. Oh, well! :)

Until next time...

Last Day of School

Yes, the last day of school was a month and 3 days ago. I just haven't taken the time to update, but a certain friend (ALLYSON!) will occassionally give me grief about my un-updated blog so I am finally taking the time for the much needed update even though it means staying up late! :)

The girls and I went to the school for the end of year class party which is fun, but also a little sad. It's means another year has gone by and our girls our getting older *sniff,sniff*, it means homework will be a little harder next year, it means that friends won't be seen on a regular basis, it means that all three of them will be home and will get on each other's (and mine) nerves, it means finding things to do that don't require too much money or having to be out in the heat and this time it even means that on the first day of school, I will be leaving two of my girls there all day.

Picnic lunch outside, which was a little too warm for my taste, but the kids loved it and that's what matters......I guess! :)

First round of sunflower seed spitting contest. It was supposed to be watermelon seeds, but a SEEDLESS watermelon was accidentally bought instead (HA!) so some improvisation was required. One little girl cracked me up because she chose not to participate because she said that ladies don't spit. HAHAHA-HA!!! My "lady" didn't care she was out there spittin' as best as she could.

She made it to the final four and ended up in fourth. But we are talking about a SPITTING contest so fourth is good!

The girls with Kendal's teacher, Mrs. Potter

When we got home, Payton and Bransyn decided to lay random items all over the living room floor. Each piece had it's own place and they worked very hard to get it just right. They are very proud of their "work", can't you tell!?!

They didn't have as much fun filling these buckets back up as they did emtying them.

Until next time...

Our "Graduate"

Today, our middle baby graduated from the Child Development Center that she has attended since she got her first set of shots and was able to start coming with me at two months of age. I really do not know where the time has gone. How is it already possible that at the start of next school year, she will no longer walk in that door with me and Bransyn every Monday and Friday?!?! I will no longer get to see her pass by in the hall, take a peek at her in her class or Music class or Gross Motor class when she doesn't know that I am even watching her, I will no longer be able to go into her classroom just because I want/need to steal a kiss and hug from her. My heart breaks that those moments are forever gone and will only be sweet memories, but at the same time, I am so excited for the new school "adventures" that lie ahead for her. She will get to be at school with her big sister!! How great will that be?!?!?!

the kids performed a few songs, including a Bible verse song

getting her certificate and "Read to Me Bible" from two of her teachers, Ms. R and Ms. D

Ms. L was sick and couldn't be there :(

During the five years Payton attended CDC, she had 11 teachers that have loved on her, let her be who she is, made her laugh, played with her, comforted her, colored with her, sang with her, been just down right goofy with her and most importantly taught her about Jesus. One of my favorite "things" about this year is that ever since Easter and hearing the Easter Story at CDC (and Sunday School at church), everytime....well, almost everytime....she says her prayers, she includes, "Thank you for Jesus dying on the cross for us and that I will see Him up in heaven."

Payton, we are so proud to be your Mommy and Daddy. I wish I could keep you and your sisters from growing up so fast. I feel like we are missing out on so much because everything is moving so quickly. I can't believe that in a little more that three months we will be walking you into your Kindergarten classroom. Although, according to you, you will not be going to Kindergarten because when you got your four year shots and I was trying to console you, I made the mistake of saying, "It'll be OK, you don't have to get shots again until you go to Kindergarten." Really not my brightest and best Mommy moment. You survived the four year shots, you'll survive the Kinder shots and you'll have so much fun at "big kid school"!! We love you very much and pray for you everyday, sweet girl!!

Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day!

Today has been a very nice Mother's Day at our house. First thing this morning, I was presented with cards, a gift and lots of hugs and kisses from my sweet girls and hubby. Jeff was left alone with the girls for a few hours yesterday and when I got home, Bransyn promptly tells me in her loud, yelling voice, "MOMMY, WE GOT YOU BIRTHDAY CARDS AND A PRESENT!!!" She obviously meant Mother's Day, but we also learned that if we want a secret kept then Bransyn can know nothing!! :) He had braved a card shopping trip and gift trip with the girls...the first time he has done that. My gift was a Starbuck's gift card because while I LOVE Starbucks, I typically won't spend the money on it, so I will definately enjoy my gift. As if that wasn't enough, we went to church where all Mommy's are honored and during the invitation, Kendal went forward to be baptised...I teared up, just a little. She wants to do it on June 7th because that is her 8th birthday. We came home and Jeff BBQ'd an awesome lunch and then I was able to leave the girls with him for a few hours (again in two days) so I could go with my friend to get a pedi, walk Target and WalMart sans kids. What a great feeling that was!

In Bransyn's class at CDC, her teacher's have the kids fill in blanks about their Mommy's. Here is how Bransyn's went...

My mom's name is Ms. Shannon.

She is 7 years old and weighs 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 pounds.

Her eyes are blue and her hair is black.

Her favorite color is purple.

She loves to lay on the couch.

While I'm at school, she goes to her class

and she just loves to eat hamburgers.

I LOVE MY MOM!

It is very intersting to see the answers to these given by a 3 year old. Since Kendal had the same teachers 4 years ago and Payton had them last year, I had to pull theirs out of their boxes to see what kind of answers they gave. Here's how Kendal's went...

My mom's name is Shannon.

She is 3 years old and weighs 10 pounds.

Her eyes are big and her hair is big and brown.

Her favorite color is red.

She loves to clean up.

While I'm at school, she changes kids

and she just loves to eat sausage.

I LOVE MY MOM!

Payton's was a little different. Hers were actual questions not fill in the blank. Here's hers...

1. What is your mommy's name? Shannon

2. How tall is you mommy? EOP her teacher said she asked the question several times and Payton kept answering with "EOP", not sure what that means.

3. How old is she? 4 and Daddy is 6

4. How much does she weigh? She weighs alot

5. What color are your mommy's eyes? Green

6. What color is her hair? Brown

7. What is her favorite food? Hamburgers

8. What is your mommy's favorite color? Purple

9. What does she do while you are at school? She gives her people some food

10. What does your mommy like to do or play? She doesn't play

Some of the answers were right on, some were way off and others made me go "HUH??", but overall I thought these were great and got a good laugh. Being a mommy is the "job" I love most even though it is without a doubt the hardest one. My girls bring me absolute joy and I just love the crazy things they do or say, but especially getting the hugs, kisses and the "I love yous" are what tops it off. I hope all you fellow mommies out there have had a fabulous "MOMMIES DAY!!"

Until next time...