Allyson sings Frozen

This girl LOVES to sing and LOVES the movie, Frozen!!

The Rock Wall

There's a rock wall at the gym where we are members. Nicole fell in love with it first. Allyson just recently hit the 45-pound minimum weight. She was too afraid at first, but the other day she began climbing! This is her first time going up the wall.

Allyson singing in the car

Here she is, singing away to her own made-up song… 

I love when she sings worship songs she's learned. Here she begins making up a song and then incorporates, "At the Sound of Your Great Love," and goes back into improvising. 

Mallory likes lemons!

She doesn't even seem to realize it's sour!

Mallory goes after the spoon!

Mallory isn't going to just sit around waiting to be spoon-fed!

Cookie Run

The girls make a "run" for their guinea pig, Cookie. 

Allyson sings Frozen in the car

There will likely be many, many posts of Allyson singing. She sings all the time. Especially in the car. It often brings a smile to my face and I just want to capture the moment that, I know, will be gone all too soon.

I know it's not exciting (well, maybe it is, lol) to watch me driving. But it's safer than trying to video backward! Plus, if Allyson knows I'm taping she gets silly or self-conscious. 

Morning time with Mallory

Just had to show some happy play time with our smiling Mallory.

Mallory driving her first car

This is Mallory driving the car Papaw & Nana bought her for Christmas. (I have a ton of videos I still have to post from Christmas!)

Conversation with Mallory during snack time

Allyson Day!

Today was Allyson Day! I wasn't so great at taking pictures. Daddy was working so I had all three girls. We heard about a free, coached ice-skating event downtown. Unfortunately, our friend gave us the wrong time so when we arrived there was just 10 minutes left! 

I got them laced up right away but, since I had Mallory, there was no way to get on the ice with Allyson. (Nicole can get around on her own okay.) Allyson came off the ice right away and didn't want to skate. Fortunately, I found a coach in the middle of the ice and sent Nicole to bring her back. Here, this wonderful girl (Named Ally!) brings the bright smile back on my little girl's face for "Allyson Day."

After ice skating we walked down to the square where Daddy was working. The girls played while Mom & Dad got a chance to just visit. Then the girls went for tea at the Mud House, a quick playtime at the park (it was a beautiful day!) dinner at San Francisco Oven and home for a movie! Whew. Don't you wish I had pictures?

I do have video of Mallory loving the swing!

Oh… I know why I didn't have pictures. Because they would not have been pretty. Mallory kept having blowouts! Mud House is a perfect way to describe. Only, the Mud House (a favorite coffee shop) doesn't have a changing table. Fun. By the time she had another at San Francisco Oven I didn't have another outfit for her. She got a bath in the sink and went home in a diaper and blanket. But she didn't seem to mind.

Allyson Interview: "I Want to Marry Bono"

I love having conversations with Allyson. I love this one because she's just five. If it were ten years down the road, it wouldn't be cute at all. Today she came home from preschool to tell me she wants to marry her classmate, Bono. Yes, Bono. As in the singer. Hey, it could be his older brother, Elvis. (I'm not kidding.) I'll let her explain. (Forgive the bad manners… I was focused on getting the story.)

Junior Bible Quiz JBQ

Nicole is in her third year of JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz). She had another great year. Here she is competing. So proud of her!

The kids can "interrupt" the question at a certain point (different for each question) but they have to finish the question and then answer it. 

Here she gets a "quiz-out." Each kid can only answers six questions per round (out of 20 questions that are asked). This keeps one kid from dominating. Here Nicole quizzes out… 

Oh, and you'll notice she's wearing a mustache. LOL She got it the day before at her school Valentine party and decided to wear it. Their team t-shirts say, "Ready to answer any question you mustache." So, I let her. :)

Allyson is too young to compete in JBQ. But don't tell her that. She begs us to ask her questions when we are studying with Nicole. Even the coach allows Allyson in on the practices. And she's learning! (Some of her answers are correct; the others are hilarious.)

Allyson's Valentine Tea Party

Carpenter's Kids, the preschool where Nicole, and now Allyson, attend have some very special traditions every year. One happens in the spring … a Valentine tea with the moms. 

There are snacks and crafts on display that  the kids have worked hard to create. 

Love the picture frame at the table!

And place mats.

Daddy helped make a Valentine box for Allyson. Unfortunately, Mommy missed the memo that they were going to use bags and didn't need a box. After the party, for several days, Allyson kept insisting this was her "lunch box" and keeping it in the refrigerator. 

My beautiful Valentine. 

But, the best part, is the presentation!

Allyson's teacher, Mrs. Coppedge.