Guess who's learning to read?

I love this kiddo...

I love to see the light in her eyes as she's learning...

I'm overwhelmed with pride watching her learn...

And she's so proud of herself...

I love to watch her love life and all its learning processes...

I have loved watching Sophie Grace this past school year and how much she is soaking in.  And its not just from preschool and learning her letters, how to write, and how to read.  I have loved watching her soak up the Gospel and what it means in her little mind of why Jesus died on the cross.  Now, a lot of the time, when she does wrong...aka, throw a temper tantrum, lie, hit her sisters, talk back to us...which she does a WHOLE LOT OF...its so neat to hear the words come out of her mouth that she is sorry.  And its so neat to walk through the process with her about when she does wrong, its sin, and that's why Jesus died for us.  He came, died, and rose again in order to pay the penalty for our sin nature.  Her eyes get really big, and her childlike faith is starting to kick in.  And, when I throw a temper tantrum, yell, and I'm mean to my kiddos, Sophie Grace ALWAYS reminds me that I'm sinning and that I need to ask for forgiveness...I'm continually put in my place.  It's good for me...and I really do think its good for her to hear me ask her for forgiveness when I do wrong.  It reminds me to rest in the Gospel, because I sure cannot do it on my own.  And, that's the constant struggle, isn't it?  I want to fix my sin nature, but I can't.  Hence, the Gospel....truly thankful.  

Besties...

I have noticed my two oldest girls saying a lot lately that they are best friends.  Camden, when Sophie Grace is at school, will say, "I don't have my best friend"....totally heartbreaking, isn't it.  So, they say this to each other all the time, but then the next minute they will be screaming and fighting over a toy.  This always confuses me, until I remember back to when my older brother and I used to fight about anything and everything.  These girls are at the age where Sophie Grace kind of dominates....aka, she tells Camden what they are going to play and Camden just goes with it.  I'm waiting for the day that Camden rebels against this, but for now its pretty cute that Camden wants to do everything that Sophie Grace does.  In these pictures what you don't see is Sophie Grace deciding that they are going to do dance moves and Sophie Grace deciding that it is now time to dress up.  Their little personalities are becoming big personalities. 

Camden and Darby

I caught a very rare moment...

That is...Camden actually being sweet to Darby.  She usually just shoves her.  Darby was happy she was getting love.

And Camden was proud of herself...

She is pretty dang cute...that's how she gets away with so many things...focus on the discipline, Andrea, focus on the discipline.

And this one is basically going to be rotten because she's so dang cute...

I'm in for it...

Well, I'm showing these happy girlies in these pictures, because last night they were not quite so happy.  Camden threw up in the car...twice...which made Sophie Grace start screaming that she was going to throw up, too.  We told her to look out the window and just relax, and it actually worked...crazy!  Then when we finally got home, Darby was running around and threw up, too.  AHHHHHH!  So, I figured I'd show some cute pictures of Camden and Darby to remind me that they are not gross:)  Gotta love them...

Camden turned the big 3

Birthday breakfast before church for Camden's 3rd Birthday

Celebrating with my family and my sister's kiddos...this is Cole...excited that he's about to get cake.

This is Josh and Camden...also excited that they are about to get cake:)

And this is my sister...isn't she cute...she's going to be so mad at me for putting this on here....muahahahahah!

Yeah for my mom actually buying a cake...what would I do without her?

And she blew it out...she's quite proud of herself.

WE WANT CAKE...WE WANT CAKE...

Just cause I think Darby is extra cute in this picture...seriously...

And this is Emerson...thoroughly enjoying her cake.

Josh's Dad and the girls before her Chuck-e-Cheese Birthday Party in GA.

Camden was entranced by everything at Chuck-e-Cheese.

It was seriously like Disney World for her...

And my homemade cupcakes...because that's the way I roll.

She's an expert at blowing out her candles by now.

My girls are NOT afraid to bust a move.

PARTY...PARTY...PARTY...

Mom, leave me alone...can't you see I'm eating...

Camden in the birthday booth that blows tickets everywhere and she's supposed to catch them.

They put a belt on her to hold her dress down...wise, wise people at Chuck-e-Cheese.

She's thrilled at this point...because she has NO idea what's about to happen.

And then the air starts to blow...and Camden starts to sob.  I felt bad...but I still laughed...is that wrong?

And finally time to turn in tickets for prizes!

So, Camden turned three, and we had LOTS of parties for this kiddo all week.  I think she believes that she's supposed to party for a full week now whenever she has a birthday.  She was thoroughly spoiled and she loved every minute of it...except for the wind tunnel ticket booth...she did not like that.  I put enough pictures on here, so you pretty much get the idea that we had a fun filled week last week.  We definitely love our very lively, extremely excitable, hilariously funny, super-duper spunky three year old BIG girl!!

Hair and Grocery Stores

This hair...oh, this hair...I wish it came from my gene pool.

Isn't it just gorgeous?

She's wondering if she'll have that hair one day...

And see this...this is actually Camden's jail...

See her trying to escape...

So, my middle child, Camden, had this issue when we first moved to Athens a year and a half ago.  She started pulling out her hair and eating it.  But, she never did it unless she was in her bed, so I never really saw her do it.  But, I would find the hair all over her bed, and in her mouth, and in her...poop...no joke people.  It was quite disgusting, actually.  I was really worried about her, though.  I took her to the doctor.  She got all sorts of blood work done.  But they couldn't find anything out of the norm.  Looking back, I think it was her 15 month old way of dealing with the stress of moving.  Well, it got so bad, that I had to cut all her beautiful hair off into a pixie cut (which was actually pretty cute), but it broke my heart.  But, she quit pulling her hair out because she couldn't get a grip on it.  And a year and a half later, her hair has come back even more beautiful!  I dream about one day having hair like hers. 
But, my beautiful haired middle child is also a crazy woman that likes to run away from me in all sorts of public places....like grocery stores.  And we're not talking about just down the aisles.  I'm talking about through the aisles and out the front doors into the road.  Or through the parking lot when we get out of the van.  It's a serious issue.  I honestly pray for her daily that she will not get seriously hurt or get killed before her 3rd birthday....seriously, its on the prayer card I have for her.  So, I put her in her jail cell in the cart.  It makes her sad, and makes her scream a lot...which is fun.  But, a moms gotta do what a moms gotta do.  Just thought I'd give a little glimpse into the reality of raising a 2 year old WILD CHILD...with really beautiful hair.

Process of a morning

 We got Darby up from her morning nap...oh, the cuteness.

 We go downstairs because the girls want to play their version of "ball".

 SG tells me this is the last picture I'm taking because she's ready to play....touche'.

 Darby thinks SG is soooooo funny....seriously, she's cute.

 "The ball is mine...muahahahaha."

 The money shot after the ball has been thrown.

 SG is having fun...

 And Camden is pouting.  I know this is shocking to those of you that know her:)

 That cute little butt and foot...

Don't be fooled.  Darby was a complete pill earlier this morning (teething).  I think this was the only time she laughed all morning.  Hence, I took pictures...of course.

So, in other news, I'm starting my introduction to knitting class this coming Thursday night, and I plan to have my first scarf finished by early Friday morning.  Why, because I'm supermom, and I like to lie to myself and everyone around me:)  Honestly, I'm scared to death because I'm trying something new and I don't want to fail....just keeping it real.

By the way, yes, my girls are going to stay in their pajamas all day today.  And, yes, my two older girlies dress up ABSOLUTELY ANY chance they get.  I don't know how they are my spawn.