Ainsley's Last Day at SMH

Since I recently left SMH to take a new job, we decided Ainsley wouldn't stay at Saint Mary's Hall. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, as we all loved her classroom, her teacher and her friends. However, it was the best decision for our family for many, many reasons. Ainsley's class and teacher were very upset to see her leave, so they decided to have a party for her on her last day. They sang her favorite songs, ate some of her favorite foods and watched a sweet photo collage/video put together by her teacher. I cried the whole time...especially since Ainsley's best friend's mom came up during the party, because she was so sad we were leaving. I have come to adore this woman and her daughter. We've vowed to get the girls together as regularly as we can...I hope we stick to it...I would love to see these two stay friends for many years.

All the kids sit "on the line" before they start singing.

Here they are singing a song about colors...the kids get to stand up and point to the color mentioned in the song if they're wearing it...Ainsley had a particularly colorful shirt on, so it worked well for her!

Ainsley's teacher, Mrs. Hinson, and some of her sweet classmates.

Ainsley got to pick the songs today, so she picked one about walking through a spooky forest to a spooky house...kinda surprised me that she picked this, actually...

The kids chowing on Ainsley's favorite cookies. On the far left is Luz Elena, Ainsley's best friend as well as Sam (center) her other good buddy from school.

Halloween

We took the girls trick-or-treating in my in-laws' neighborhood since we have no sidewalks or streetlights (did I mention were trying to sell?)...Ainsley LOVES Halloween since she gets to dress up like a princess and get candy. Addison...yeah...not so much...

Addison stayed in her costume all of about 2 minutes before screaming so loud that we just put her back in her regular clothes. No problem. I didn't need that $20.

Here are the kids in my mother/father-in-law's living room with Ileana, Jeff's super sweet girlfriend, whom I sincerely hope is going to be my sister-in-law before too long.

Here is Ainsley with cousins Sawyer (Batman) and Carter (Skeleton Man?) right before we started trick-or-treating.

And here are the lit pumpkins...kitty first...

and puppy...

Pumpkin Carving

Ainsley decided she wanted to carve pumpkins this year...and I stupidly said yes. We went to one of the local church pumpkin patches to select the pumpkins. After she walked up and down the lot for about 30 minutes, we were finally able to leave with two pumpkins she decided were acceptable.

Then began the task of selecting the designs. Since Addison loves puppies, she decided Addison's should be a puppy pumpkin. Then she decided she wanted a kitty. Okie dokie. Now what?

I found these really cute designs online and thank goodness they weren't too difficult, because an artist, I am not...but take a look...

Ainsley's kitty design and Addison's puppy design

Ainsley decided she wanted to do this part herself. She did most of the kitty and all of the puppy. She was quite a trooper!

Here is the kitty after all the holes were punched. Lookin' good!

Whew! One down, and one to go...

Ainsley did this one completely by herself...I thought she did an amazing job!

Here is the puppy once I cut it all out...hopefully they still look this good on Halloween!

Fiesta!

Today SMH had its annual fiesta carnival. My good friend Laura planned the event this year, and she did an amazing job. Ainsley had SO much fun! It starts off with a parade for the little ones. Ainsley was invited to ride along with her good buddy Jacob in his spaceship. His dad is going through diplomat training in Washington, DC and sent Jacob a space suit and helmet for his birthday, so I told his mom Ainsley could be the test monkey for the ship! She had a ball!

Then she hooked up with her friend from class, Sam, and they ran around the carnival together until we all ran out of ride tickets. It's always a fun event and one Ainsley looks forward to each year.

Ainsley and Jacob in the spaceship. His costume was pretty cool!

Ainsley and her sweet friend, Sam. Small world...Sam's mom used to work with Derek.

Ainsley's teacher sweetly let Ainsley crack a confetti egg over her head during the carnival. She totally played it up and acted surprised. I love this woman.

Ainsley enjoying a rare quiet moment while having some ice cream. The sugar was high, but she and Sam ran off most of it while we tried to keep up!

Pumpkin Patch!

There is a pumpkin patch in Medina we've been taking Ainsley to for four years now...it's really cute and has lots of stuff for the little ones. There's face painting, pumpkin painting, a hay maze, a petting zoo, hay rides, all the food you can eat...and much more!

This was Addison's first year to really participate since she was so little in 2008, and she seems to love it just as much as Ainsley...looks like we'll be coming back again!

Ainsley didn't QUITE get the idea...

Our sweet girl posing for the camera...she LOVES having her picture taken!

Then there's her sister, who will not sit still long enough for a photo most times...

Ainsley loves going to the petting zoo...here she is holding a baby chick...she loved it!

The girls decided they wanted to paint pumpkins. Here is Ainsley after PAINstakingly selecting her pumpkin.

Here is Addy painting hers...shortly before she shoved her whole hand in the paint cup.

This was as close as I got ALL DAY to getting Addison to look at the camera...ah, well...there's always next year...

Addy and Her Books

Just a cute photo I loved...

Addison Demolishes Spaghetti

We decided (stupidly, apparently) to take the girls to dinner tonight at The Olive Garden. We pass it every day on the way home from school, and decided it would be a nice change of pace. I ordered what I *thought* was the same dish for both the girls...pasta with butter...and that's what Ainsley got. Addison, however, was served pasta with tomato sauce. Let's just say she *really* liked it...

Ainsley very sweetly eating her pasta.

Addison inhaling her pasta like we lock her in a closet and starve her during the rest of the week...

You can't see it in this photo, but she has red sauce on her shirt, shorts, shins and shoes. It was completely disgusting getting her out of here and in the car.