Happy 6th Birthday Peyton!

Peyton celebrated her 6th birthday with tons of celebrations during the month of December.

Since her birthday is Dec. 29, we usually have her party early in the month so her friends can attend before they are busy with the holidays. We had her party at The Tree House Children's Museum and the kids were allowed to run around and play in all the different rooms. One of their favorites was the "medical office" where they took turns working on Shawn and Aunt Christy. Her Hello Kitty theme resulted in a lot of pink and purple and caused her cousin to say "this is the pinkest day of my life."

On her actual birthday, we took her, Emily and her good friend Emilee to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." Everyone loved the movie and the girls loved The Chipettes, especially their songs and dance moves. Later that night, we had pizza and I made a cake for her. We had lots of friends and family come over and we ended having a bigger crowd than we first imagined, but it was a lot of fun.

Today, I took Peyton to get her very first pedicure (a good excuse for me to get one as well!). She absolutely loved it and quickly acclimated to the life of being spoiled and pampered. She got her pedicure and then had her fingernails painted. I think I've created a monster!

Merry Christmas!

Our family enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season, filled with visits with family and friends, food and lots of presents! We visited with Aunt Colleen earlier in the week and exchanged Christmas presents. The girls then spent several days in West Monroe with Shawn, playing with some of their new friends from church. Everyone came back home just so we could get ready to drive back to West Monroe together to attend two Christmas Eve services. We drove home that night to get ready for Santa. The girls were tired from the trip home but were excited to get back home into their PJs and leave cookies and milk for Santa.

The girls must have been really tired from the trip because they didn't wake up until 8:30 a.m. Christmas morning! Of course, neither Shawn nor I minded. Once they were up, they raced us to the living room to see what Santa had brought. The girls were excited to find all kinds of things under the tree including new PJs, a Barbie house, digital camera and Hannah Montana Movie for Peyton and a Winnie the Pooh laptop computer, baby doll stroller and other goodies for Emily.

We barely had time to open and play with everything before we headed to Franny's for Christmas breakfast with all the family. Peyton got a cool "Plasma car" and Emily got a fancy new Schwin tricycle that drives superfast! Our next Christmas stop was dinner at Grandma and PawPaw's with all our cousins - Jacob, Brandon, Allie & Zach. The kids had fun playing together and making a gingerbread house. The girls got glittery shoes and matching sleeping bags with a flashlight and water bottle. They are ready for Daddy, PawPaw or Uncle Patrick to pitch a tent in the back yard and go camping outside!!

We've spent the last couple of days throwing packages away, finding a place for all of these toys and clothes, visiting with other friends who have come into town and popping fireworks! We all need a holiday from the holiday - now, it's time to get ready for Peyton's 6th birthday this Tuesday.

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's a boy!

We just learned last week that we're having a boy! Shawn and I had a doctor's appointment and ultrasound last week. They don't let the dads in during the first part of the ultrasound, so when the technician left to get him, I couldn't help but sneak a peek at the screen to see what we were having. It didn't say on the screen, but I was pretty sure I knew that what I was looking at was a boy! She and Shawn came in and when we both looked at the full screen, it was pretty obvious.

We are both really excited about having a boy, especially my husband, who has always wanted a boy. Now, we're starting to think about getting ready for baby - it really won't be that long before we welcome Henry Cooper Hornsby.

Happy Halloween!

As usual, we ended up with way too much candy during our week-long Halloween festivities. Peyton started off the week by having tubes put in her ears during day surgery. We had to get up early and being put under is a little nerve-wracking but by the middle of the day, she was doing great.

Peyton enjoyed a Halloween party at her Kindergarten class and got plenty of goodies - we made Frankenstein brownies for her friends at school. On Friday, Emily took the day to spend with Daddy and went to see Playhouse Disney Live to see all of her favorites - Winnie the Pooh, Darby, Handy Manny and Mickey and Minnie. Peyton and I went to a church Halloween party where we ate dinner, participated in games and crafts and trick or treated. She got waayyy too much candy and even won a real goldfish to take home. Unfortunately, "Goldie" didn't make it through the night. Not sure what happened but we'll have to try again one day soon.

On Saturday, the girls went to a birthday party of their good friend, Emilee Hall and then we quickly changed into costumes to head up to Witch Way to Main Street in Natchitoches. The girls were princesses this year - Peyton was Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Emily was Snow White. Tons of people showed up at Witch Way to Main Street and the girls enjoyed seeing all the different costumes and getting more candy. We are done with trick-or-treating!! We have enough candy to get us through the rest of the year!!!

Fall fun with the Morgans

We enjoyed a great, cool weather weekend at the zoo with our dear friends the Morgan family. Ms. Nancy and her two boys - Alex and John met us at the zoo for a fun day. The Morgans are getting ready to move to Florida so we wanted to enjoy one last outing with them before they make the big move to the Sunshine State. Alex and Peyton grew up together - when they were babies, they shared a nanny and have been best friends ever since. Peyton and Emily followed John around the entire time, trying to pick him up, hold his hand and take care of him. Many of the animals were out that day, which was great for the kids to see. The zoo had all of their fall decorations on display, so we were able to get some great pictures. We then enjoyed a great lunch. It was a great day and a great way to spend one of our last play dates for a few months. We are making plans to get together in early 2010. Best wishes to the Morgans on their big move - we'll miss you!

Fall Field Trip

Peyton's Kindergarten Class had her first field trip this week. They went to the parish fair to look at the animals - she sat on top of several horses and donkeys and held different animals like a baby bunny and chick. We even ran into our cousin, Jacob! Her class then went to the park to play and enjoy an outdoor picnic. Their last stop on the field trip was a pumpkin patch where they played with the pumpkins, crawled through tunnels, heard a story, ate pumpkin seeds, ate cookies and "pumpkin juice" and did a craft. Our whole family went on the field trip and Emily just inserted herself into the mix the entire time. Anything the class did, she did also, like she was one of them. We all had a good time and enjoyed the nice sunny (and cooler weather), a much welcome change from the rain!!

It's pumpkin time!

The girls and I finally had the chance to get to West Monroe so we could visit dad's pumpkin patch at church. They had great fun searching through the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for inside our house, outside our house and of course, to carve. Emily and Peyton fell in love with every other pumpkin they came across, so we have plenty of pumpkins for the fall season. They also had a great time crawling through a wooden maze surrounded by straw. They thought that was so much fun.

Later that day, we went to the Ouachita Parish Fair. This was Emily's first experience at a fair and riding real rides. She surprised all of us and was more brave than her sister at first. She rode a few things without her big sister sitting by her. Peyton finally warmed up to the idea and had tons of fun on the rides, especially the fun house of mirrors. Peyton, Emily and Shawn spent the last ride on a "crazy airplane" that went up and all around. All three of them complained of a stomach ache after the ride was over.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Peyton started her first day of Kindergarten this week. She only goes to school two times this week and then starts on Monday with the entire class. She was really excited the night before - I baked a "back to school cake" for the family and we read a Kindergarten book before we went to bed. In the morning, she was excited to get dressed in her uniform and insisted that my mom do her hair. The entire family took her to school that morning, and her teacher was waiting for us at the front door. She came home that afternoon and reported that she liked her teacher and was excited for school, especially to learn how to read. On her "first day of Kindergarten" coloring sheet that she brought home, she was asked to give her teacher a sentence about she felt on the first day - Peyton reported that felt "a little shy." Of course, Emily wanted to be just like big sister, so she had to bring a backpack to school and she cried, wanting to wear a uniform to school, just like her sister.

Our two dancers

With school about to start, it also means the start of another year of dance lessons. This year, both Peyton and Emily are taking ballet/tap. Peyton moved up to a "big girl" glass with girls 5-8 years old. She has her same teacher as last year, Ms. Stacy. Peyton looks very grown up in her leotard and tights.

Emily is in the Tippy Toes class for those 3-4 years old. Tonight was her first night of dance and she wasn't scared or nervous - she walked right in and let me walk out of the room. I think she is used to seeing Peyton do this so she knew what to expect. At the end of the class, we got to watch the last few minutes to see what they learned. Emily could plie, posse and a few other ballet moves. She looked too sweet in her leotard and was very excited to get a sticker at the end of class.

Both girls are excited about dance and to find out what song/costume they will be performing in the spring at their recital. Oh yeah, Peyton is also excited about getting a bigger trophy this year!

Taking Care of their Babies

Both girls love to play with their babies, and the other night, the girls lined up every stuffed animal they could find along the room of Peyton's room (in order from smallest to largest). Peyton proceeded to read stories to them while Emily grabbed as many kitchen supplies from my cabinets as she could get her hands on. She was in charge of feeding the babies. They had such a good time playing and kept themselves busy for so long, that I had to go in the room to see what they were doing. When I saw what they had done, I had to snap a few pictures.

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth of July in the pool at Patrick's house! Our friends, Ericca and Jack, came over with their girls Abi and Ashleigh and Peyton had her best friend, Emilee Hall, join the fun. All five girls swam all day long an got a lot of sun! Peyton has really turned into the mermaid this summer. Her swimming lessons at day camp really paid off - she swims under water, the backstroke, and can even swim in the deep with no floaties.

Emily was a little hesitant at first and was scared to death for anyone to let her go in the pool. Later in the day, she put on her "Froggy" suit and was good to swim in the pool by herself. She swam all the way to the deep end without any help. All the girls had a great time playing together but were exhausted by the time we went home. We had great food, great drinks and time with our friends - Happy Fourth of July!

Our first major accident

We had our first major accident since having kids. The girls and I were in a hotel room getting ready to go swimming while Shawn was away doing mission work. They were dressed and ready to go, while I went into the bathroom to change. I heard a horrible scream from Emily and knew something bad had happened. I rush out to see blood EVERYWHERE running down her face and immediately panicked.

The wound was very deep, and I knew it would require stitches, though I've never had stitches and never really been around anyone who has. I ran downstairs with an icepack on Emily's head and all of us in our bathing suits. The front desk tried to give me directions to the hospital but I was so shaky, I couldn't concentrate. Luckily, another preacher's wife walked into the lobby at that very moment and offered to drive us to the ER. We went to a local hospital and the ER staff was pretty efficient and helpful. Shawn finally arrived to help, and Emily was fine until they put in the stitches! It took three of us to hold her down while they gave her 10 stitches (not the dissolvable kind but the old-fashioned black thread kind). She screamed, cried, kicked and fought the entire time. Once it was over, she was fine and literally running around trying to get into more mischief.

Stitches just came out last week - that was another battle at the pediatrician's office. She has a pretty nice scar on her head but we're treating it daily and it heals and looks better every day. What a way to start off the summer!

Summer Vacation

The four of us went on summer vacation earlier this month. It started off in New Orleans with a conference for Shawn - we had a slight detour with an accident that required a trip to the ER (that's another blog). We took the girls to the aquarium and then rode the New Orleans street cars to City Park. From New Orleans, we went to Gulfport, MS to spend time on some of the beaches along the Mississippi gulf coast.

My sister joined us at the beach, and we took a one-hour ferry ride to Ship Island National Park where they have a beach and historic site. The girls got to see dolphins jumping in the water and had a great time playing in the sand and in the ocean. It was extremely hot and we all got sunburned, but we had a great time.

First Dance Recital

Peyton had her very first dance recital Memorial Day weekend. We all came out to see her perform - mama, daddy, Emily, Franny, Uncle Patrick, Aunt Colleen and Grandma. Her class did a great job on the big stage, especially since this was the first time they had ever performed without someone doing the routine with them. Afterwards, each student was presented with a trophy, which Peyton is very proud of! She got flowers after her performance and some dance prizes from Aunt Colleen including a necklace/bracelet, Angelina Ballerina books and a dance picture frame. Her baby sister knows the dance by heart, also. After a year of dance lessons, Emily watched enough to know exactly how to do the "Cuddly Duck" routine. Emily has informed us she wants to take dance lessons in the fall. This should be interesting!

Emily's End of the Year Program

Emily's WEE Care Class at nursery school had their end of the year program last week. The children performed by age group for the audience. Emily's class of two year olds sang two songs including "God is so Good." Apparently, that's one of Emily's favorite songs because she shouted it loudly over all the other children. You could only hear her yelling the song even with a microphone in front of the other children. The audience got a kick out of her enthusiasm. She had a great time showing off her class work and her friends. Her class was over last week, but this week, she moved up to the three-year-old class with some of her friends and seems to be enjoying it.

Pre-K Graduation

Peyton and her classmates graduated Pre-K this week with a ceremony filled with singing and dancing of some of the Pre-K students' favorite songs. Peyton loved wearing a hat and dancing to the "Macarena Months." She got a certificate from her teacher, and we all got to watch a great slide show of pictures from throughout the school year. Me, my mom and Shawn's parents all got to attend. We are so proud of her and are excited about her starting Kindergarten.