Five on Friday

1. Leighton is doing awesome at her new gymnastics class. These are few little videos of her skills.





2. Can you believe this little singer has been asking to go potty and then actually going?! :) She's not yet 2 and over the last 2 days has consistently gone to the potty. Looks like I am going to be doing some serious potty training in the not-too-distant future. Good thing I only have 14 days of work left for the year (not that I'm counting)!



3. Only 14 days of school and I can't wait! I can't wait to spend my days with my kiddos...doing just what we did last year...

We went shopping...



And spent time at the baseball games...



And cooled off at the sprinkler park...



And just played together (because that's what "seesters" do best)!



And we love to hang at the pool...



It's where we spend most of our days.



But our very favorite is to be at the lake!



4. I have my 6 month scan on Monday. I'm already dreading it.

5. Leighton loves to pick up her sister these days....and truth be told, Ainsley loves it too!!! Are they not the cutest!? :)

Five on Friday

I've really been slacking on this blogging thing. So the easiest way to catch up is a Five on Friday!

1. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I can put into words what this family means to me (Aaron, Leighton, and Ainsley). The friendship we have with the Hawthorne family has become such a blessing to us. We love being with them, their honesty, their openness...honestly, just everything about them. Our families are so similar (maybe that's why we get along so well). Cory is pretty laid back like Aaron. Colleen and I are type-A, talkers! :) We come by it naturally, I guess....we are both SLP's. And to top it off, Delaney and Leighton have similar personalities as do Cami and Ainsley. The Hawthorne crew made the trip from St. Louis last weekend and we all had so much fun! We love you Hawthorne family!!

The girls all jumping...



Cory and Cami on the boat.



Ainsley and Aaron



Love this reflection of the guys and a sea lion in the water too!



Ainsley loved this little monkey



Too cute!



This is the best one of the 4 girls!!! Ha!



Unless you count the back of their heads! ;)



My sweet Leighty



Delaney, Leighton and Cami



This picture cracks me up...check out how thrilled Ainsley was for this bird to fly down and meet her!



2. As Ainsley and I drove to get Leighton at school this week, she couldn't stop asking "Sissy, where are you?" (said in a sing song voice as if she were playing hide and seek and Leighton was with us). It is a privilege to be able to witness this sweet friendship. It is the most precious thing I've ever been a part of!



3. Aaron's 5k was a huge success! Way to go Aaron! It was freezing (yep, 50 seems like freezing to me) that day and windy...but we managed to have some fun despite the cold! :)





4. Aaron claims he can dance. I beg to differ. I'll let you decide (and yes, I'll have lots to un-do when the girls get older and I tell them they shouldn't dance like daddy)!




5. It's Good Friday and Earth Day. So, we took the day as a family and went on a nature hike. Here are some things we spotted on our hike.

Five on Friday

1. It's been a long stressful week for me at work. I've just been "getting by" lately. I'm hoping the 70 and 80 degree weather this weekend will get me out of the funk I'm in. Hopefully I can spend my weekend playing, loving on my family, and getting lots more fun pictures like this! :)



2. Leighton starts her new gymnastics class on Tuesday! I am so proud of her for moving up to the next level. She is super psyched about the new class too. This is her sweet class and her coach of 3 years. Leighton wouldn't let go of Ms. Alana when we left on Tuesday. We all had tears in our eyes. Ms. Alana, we sure are going to miss you!!

From Left to Right: (Back Row) - Alana, Helene, Lauryn, Natalie, Leighton, McKenzie
(Front Row) - Olivia, Madison, McKenna



This is Leighton and her best friend Lauryn when they started gymnastics. Look how tiny they were!!!



3. A few posts back I documented our Disney trip. I tried writing Ainsley-ese but it doesn't do her sweet voice justice.



4. The YV 5K is coming up this month! I am wishing I had trained for it. Come run, come walk...just come out and support a great cause!



5. Ainsley got her hair cut this week. I just love my girls with short hair. Leighton will not allow such an idea anymore so Ainsley will have to endure short hair until she tells me differently. Come on, isn't she precious?! :)

Five on Friday

1. It’s been in the mid sixties most of the week. It is hard to believe the beautiful spring weather we’ve had after the 3 inches of snow we got a week ago but I’ll take it!

Leighton enjoying an afternoon at the park

Ainsley in her wagon on one of our family walks.

2. We have 23 days until Disney!!

3. Leighton and Ainsley think eating snow is the best thing since sliced bread. We have made it a habit to make snow cream once they are finished playing outside. Can you believe that neither Aaron or I had ever had snow cream growing up!?

Leighton enjoying some freshly fallen snow.

Ainsley must do what her sister does!

Both of them eating away...

I love this shot of Ainsley licking the snow as it fell on her

My sweet Leighton so happy to play in the snow.

4. I tried a new recipe this week. Success! Everyone liked it.

BAKED ZITI

Baked Ziti Ingredients:

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 ½ cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat.
3. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
5. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture.
6. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until cheeses are melted.
8. Serve with a tossed salad and toasted buttered rolls.

5. Leighton was finally able to do her “back walk-over,” on the floor (meaning no mats to prop her legs), without any help from her coach! Aaron and I were so proud of her. She goes about her rotation like it’s nothing, though. I am so proud of her sweet humble personality. Here’s my little gymnast (forgive her hair...I forgot to put it up so her coach did the best she could)!

Five on Friday

1. We have been dealing with some mad separation anxiety (or something of that nature) issues with Ainsley this week. She doesn’t want to nap, isn’t sleeping soundly, and is waking in the middle of the night (or in the wee hours of the morning) just crying for mommy and daddy. She sounds pitiful and our hearts just break. One night it woke Leighton up so she ended up in our bed. Ainsley never could settle down so she and I ended up sleeping in the twin bed in her room. It really made me laugh as I thought about our sleeping arrangements for the night! One thing is for sure, we have now witnessed a little snippet of how strong willed she is!

2. I made this recipe Monday night and everyone loved it. Well, okay, I must confess that a certain little 4 year old wasn’t going to even try it because she doesn’t like "tomatoes"…she LOVES salsa. After a few minutes in her room she was invited back to the table and low and behold she loved it. Anyway, it is so simple that I thought I would pass it along.

MEXICAN CHICKEN
WHITE RICE
TORTILLA CHIPS

Mexican Chicken Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar salsa
1 (16 ounce) package Monterey jack cheese

Directions:

1. In a 9x13 pan, cover the chicken breasts with the salsa.
2. Cover with foil, bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for 25 minutes longer.
3. Cover each chicken breast with Monterey jack cheese.
4. Bake for 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
5. Serve with white rice and tortilla chips.

3. I completed Leighty's transfer letter to come to Oak next year!!! I have to admit that it has caused me much anxiety. This picture pretty much sums it up for me....it is how I still picture my little Leighton and how I feel about her growing up! Really, Leighton is going to be 5 and start Kindergarten!?!?! When did THAT happen??

4. Here are videos of the girls cheering on the Patriots at about the same. It just makes me laugh to hear their language development and how similar it has been.

Leighton cheering...



Ainsley cheering...




5. It's Friday and I'm home again...due to some snow and ice. I could really get used to this! :) Today, the girls have been best friends. They have played together, laughed together, and of course, they've eaten junk food together! In the words of Leighton, it's been the best "relax" day! Or, to quote one of my favorite kiddos ever...we're just being "lazy bones" today. Either way you want to say it...it doesn't matter cause you get the idea!!!

Five on Friday

1. We got snow in Memphis this week!!! Yay! It was so much fun. Only three inches (for my Maine family you know 3 inches isn't even enough to cancel school there) but it was enough to play in, to make snowmen, to make snow cream, snow angels, and to eat! :) Leighton was so excited. She loved every second of it and it rubbed off on Ainsley...she hasn't stopped talking about it and asking for more!

The week before it snowed Leighton taught Ainsley how to make a snow angel in the house. In hindsight, it's a good thing she did! ;)



Because she was a pro when she had to do the real thing!

Leighton was first in the snow to show her one more time though!!

And this is the snowman, ahem, I mean "snow woman" that Aaron and the girls built. There is no denying Aaron is surrounded by girls now...he even adds purses to his snowmen!!

2. I just read on a friend's blog that it is "National Delurking Day." So, come out, come out, wherever you are!!! :) Leave me a comment and let me know who reads this blog.



3. I certainly am raising at least one southern belle. Tonight after dinner Leighton announced that she was sick of the snow (there are only patches left). Aaron and I cracked up laughing. She would never make it through a winter in Maine. But, truth be told, I don't know if Aaron I could do it again either!

4. My girls love Starbucks. It's our little treat on the weekends. Sure, we are Sonic addicts, we stop for happy hour at least once a week. But, Starbucks is also on top of the list. I just wish it were a tad cheaper.



5. Here is my picture of the week...2 of 52 in 2011.