Ice Skating!

We took the girls ice skating at the Memphis Zoo this past weekend. Ever since they went ice skating at Rockefeller Center over Thanksgiving, it's all we hear about (particularly from Sophie). 

Can you tell she was happy to be there?!?!?

John with all 6 of his daughters. Our three, obviously. Plus Lisa (our nanny), Madison (Ryan's best friend for the past 8+ years), and Sydney (who just played "Annie"). 

This made me laugh because even when Sophie would bust her little bum, she'd still just smile and laugh and get back up to do it all over again. 

We can't wait to go back again!!!!

The many faces of Miss Ella Bella

So sorry for the blogging hiatus! Once we started rehearsals for "Annie", it was all I could do to keep the laundry washed, the house (semi) clean, dinner cooked, etc. Blogging was the last thing on my mind! This is such a fluff post, but I gotta get my feet wet again somehow.

Of all of our girls, Ella is definitely the biggest ham! She sees the camera and is instantly posing. She makes me laugh, though, because she wants to look through all of the pictures to see which ones "aren't cute". It's hard to stay focused on being mad at her when she's flashing one of these faces at you!

I love this one because you can see the big gap where she lost her two bottom teeth. So sweet. She really does just want her two front teeth for Christmas!

Backstage at "Annie". What a silly little orphan. 

She said this one was "cutest". I tend to agree.

This is the face we see when the princess isn't exactly amused with whatever we have said to her.

Caught her off guard while she was giggling. This is one of my favorites.

School Rules

Our little Ella bear is our rule follower for sure. She knows what she is supposed to do and she makes sure that everyone else knows as well. I hear the school rules at least once per day - usually more than that.

JK

Ella is in her final year of preschool before making the move to kindergarten next year. (Mommy is going to have to be put into a padded room!)  She loves to tell anyone around that she is in "the smart class" at school. Not really sure where it came from, but I am guessing that her teachers tell them often that they are a smart group of children. :-) 

She is flourishing in school this year and we are blessed with a couple of phenomenal teachers. We struggled for a number of weeks with the adjustment - lots and lots of tears for Mommy when I would drop her off. She thought she had me wrapped around her little finger - feeling so very sorry for her. What little miss drama did not realize was that I could see her turn the waterworks OFF the instant she crossed over the threshold from the hallway to the classroom. Little stinker!

Anyway, now that she has gotten that out of her system she's doing beautifully. They are learning to write uppercase and lowercase letters. She works on homework every afternoon. She has even gotten to be the "mystery reader" in class on a couple of occasions because she is reading so well on her own. I am pretty sure she's just trying to keep up with big sisters, so the reading is top on her list of things to learn to do independently. 

Travels

So I mentioned earlier in the summer that all of our travels were coming late this year. They were all phenomenal trips. Our trip to NYC at the end of July was one of my favorites to date. John was there on business, so I joined him after his meeting for a few days. 

Eating an early dinner at one of our very favorite restaurants there - Pigalle. The French onion soup is the best on the planet. 

We met up with John's sister and saw "A Little Night Music" with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch. Can you believe Bernadette still looks that good?!?!?!?

Times Square - on the way to see a matinee of "Memphis"

 Plays Gator in "Memphis"

Plays Delray in "Memphis"

Plays Huey in "Memphis"

This was John's 3rd time and my 2nd to see "Memphis" - truly a wonderful show. The music brings me to tears every single time I hear it. We are so excited for the national tour to kick off in Memphis next year. You can bet we will be at the Orpheum more than once while it is here!

We did get to see "Promises Promises", but the stage door was a MOB SCENE afterwards. We expected that to be the case because Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenowith are both starring in it. The show was phenomenal and hysterical. So sad to find out that it is closing in January. 

John and I spent an afternoon aboard the USS Intrepid, which has been turned into a museum. It was an amazing experience. We definitely want to take the girls aboard when we go back to NYC in November. 

There were so many things to see. There was no way we could cover it all in our four short hours there. Like I said, our trip was wonderful. I so enjoyed spending that time with John. It was awesome to see Laura a couple of days that we were there. The city is so special to us because John proposed to me there. I am just thankful to God for blessing us with the means and the ability to enjoy that time together. 

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." - Psalm 5:11

Flying!

Time is flying. My baby no longer looks like a baby. Wouldn't you agree?

Eating out

Why our family is banned from two or three eateries in Memphis....

"All Shook Up"

John and the girls are in another show together at the Harrell right now. My travel schedule created too many conflicts for me to join them on the stage this time. :-(

Here are the girls ready to go on for their jailhouse scene ("Jailhouse Rock").

A 2 and a 6

Sophie started 2nd grade today!!! And then came home and lost her 6th tooth!!! What a big day!

Seven?!?!?

Dinner with sweet friends. Happy birthday to Sophie (tomorrow)! Can't believe she's already seven.

Is it really true?

How can it be that my girls head back to school just FOUR weeks from tomorrow??? Oh, it hurts my feelings. Ryan will be a junior and our sweet little Soph is headed to second grade. I am still trying to decide which one makes me feel older. We're not even going to talk about the fact that this is Ella's last year of preschool before she heads to kindergarten. They're gonna have to put me in a padded room at that point.

We are having a wonderful summer. Busy, but wonderful. Our yearly journey to see the Big Mouse was put on hold this year. But it won't stop me from looking at pictures from last year and smiling!

The girls just finished "Kids Kabaret" and now are in rehearsals with their daddy for "All Shook Up". "Kids Kabaret" was a fabulous experience for the girls. It was a wonderful experience for John and me to get to watch them just blossom on the stage. This little blondie had enough personality for about three or four little girls! Guess we could have seen that one coming. :-)

Ryan worked backstage for the show, so it was wonderful for her to get a new respect for the crew who works so hard to make it a great show.

John and I are headed to NYC this month. He has to go for work and it just so happens that I am going to be able to tag along. It's one of my favorite places in the world. I just love it. I love being there with my husband. It's where he proposed to me. We love Broadway. We get to NYC and it's like time moves so slowly. So funny to be in a city that's so fast-paced but feel like you have all the time in the world there.

We are also taking Sophie to North Carolina to see "Annie". It's her first "big girl" trip with just Mommy and Daddy. She's so excited, and so are we. We are literally going for about 36 hours! Fly in, eat dinner, see the show, go to bed, and fly home the next day! What an adventure. :-)

Then I'm off to Orlando for MOPS convention with some great gals from church. I've been once before and have been looking forward to this trip all summer. So, after a summer spent at home, I am packing three separate trips into a span of about two and a half weeks. Exciting and stressful all at the same time! 

Then John and I will head to California right after Labor Day for the annual Fox trip - always a WONDERFUL time. They take very good care of us. We get completely spoiled for five days. Our kids get completely spoiled by a sitter for five days. We reconnect with old friends. We spend time together. We come home refreshed and reconnected. It's always a special time that we are so very grateful for. This year is even more special because we get to stay an extra day in LA with some very special friends. Can't wait!

We've been planning a big surprise for the girls and were finally able to reveal it to them this weekend. We are taking them all to NYC to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thus, no trip to Disney World this summer. We are all so excited. It will be Sophie and Ella's first trip to NYC. It cannot get here quick enough. Broadway shows, Central Park, Museum of Natural History, Broadway, shopping, and a parade to rival all other parades!!!!

So, summer is going to end quickly enough. But we have lots to look forward to in the fall. :-)

Afternoon Delight

What's better than an afternoon at Ben & Jerry's? An afternoon at Ben & Jerry's that cost us nothing! The girls were in a neighborhood parade with their very best friends on July 3. The prize for first place costumes and decorations was a Ben & Jerry's gift card. They had such fun that morning and again today - picking out their treats and toppings and paying for it all by themselves. Sophie told me it was even better because it was at "Aunt Erin's ice cream store". I tend to agree, my love. I tend to agree.

Erin's Story

This is the link to the story that Fox 13 did on Erin's death and the dangers of drowsy driving. Mearl Purvis did an unbelievable job. I knew I could expect it to be good, but it turned out to be PHENOMENAL. Please continue to pray that the Lord will open doors for me to take Erin's story to anyone who will listen to it, and that they will think twice before driving drowsy because of her. 

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/070110-family-speaks-out-on-dangers-of-drowsy-driving

Christmas in June

All she'll want for Christmas is her two front teeth!!!!

Summer Fun

Watching big sister at swimming lessons. Sophie is officially a fish!

Camping - Koski style

We decided to go camping tonight. So John pitched the tent. We
gathered our sleeping bags, pillows, and lanterns. And we hunkered
down for a night of camping - Koski style. We really are in a tent. We
really do have sleeping bags and lanterns. We do not, however, have
heat and bugs. Because we are in the basement! :-)

Real Conversations

The following conversations have actually taken place in our house over the past couple of weeks. Our two little girls crack me up on a daily basis. For that matter, the teenage girl cracks me up on a daily basis. But these conversations just happen to have taken place with the two little ones.

While playing "make-believe" one day:
Sophie: "Ella, what do you think my name should be?"
Ella: "I think your name should be Sophia."
Sophie: "Ella, no! Sophie is a rock star name!"

After asking me the 1,000th question of the day:
Ella: "Mommy, how do you know everything?"
Me: "Sugar, I don't know everything. I just try to tell you what I do know about everything you ask me."
Ella: "Daddies don't know everything. Just some things. Mommies know more. And girls. Girls know more, too."
Me: "Okay, sugar. Whatever you say."
[This one is even cuter when you consider that Ella uses an 's' in place of every 'th' she comes across.]

On the last day of school:
Sophie: "Mommy, I know exactly where I want to have my birthday party."
Me: "Oh, good. Where?"
Sophie: "At the Polka Dot Palace."
Me (completely confused): "Baby, I've never even heard of the Polka Dot Palace. Do you know where it is? Did one of your friends have a party there?"
Sophie: "No, Mama! The Polka Dot Palace is Ms. S......'s house." (her 1st grade teacher)
Me: "Oh, um. Ok. Does she know that?"
Sophie: "No, but I call it that. Because she LOVES polka dots. And because she's a princess and they all live in palaces."
Me: "Well, darlin', that's really sweet of you to want to do it there. But I'm not sure she'll want to offer up her house for your party."
Sophie: "Mama, I just told you - it's not a house. It's a palace."

Alice

Sophie was channeling her inner "Alice in Wonderland" this morning.
What a goofball!

Quick Sneak Peek.....

Missy e-mailed me some "preliminary" pictures from the shoot
yesterday. I am trying to post them to the blog via e-mail. They are
precious!!!
>
>

Photo shoot

Our sweet Missy came over to take pictures of the little girls. I
snapped a couple pictures of the process with my phone. Ella said this
one was like riding on a "roaster coaster" and holding your hands up
in the air.

Thankful

Lunching with my girl today. So blessed and thankful that I can do
this whenever I want to!!!!

Our little "Molly"

Sophie and Ella were cast in the summer show (a musical review) at the
Harrell. Sophie auditioned last night for a few different parts. She
got the part of Molly in the "Annie" songs. Here she is at tonight's
rehearsal ready to scream at those rotten orphans. :-)

Who needs cups?

When it's so much more fun to do it this way?

Top Tooth.....

......outta here!!!

Field Day

Sophie has field day this morning. It rained buckets this weekend.
Cold and gray and muddy out now. Most of the games are inside now.

I did kind of spit this kid out, didn't I.....

Um, Ella, darlin.....

Pretty sure you ate it all. Every. single. possible. bite. baby!

Bringing ornery back

Oh, yes she is!

Gettin' some learnin' in my head!

Ella and I are spending the day outside soaking up this beautiful
weather. Ella is the teacher. I am the kid. My name is Kid. Ella's
name is Miss Sue. She wants to teach me all about pies. I am 3 years
old. Ella is 35 years old.

Miss Sue told Kid to sit in a small plastic red chair. Kid told Miss
Sue it was too little for her. Miss Sue reminded Kid that Miss Sue is
the teacher and Kid has to obey. So Kid squeezed her silly behind into
that red chair. Then Miss Sue decided that would never work and had
Kid just sit on the floor (or, in this case, the back deck). Then Miss
Sue took the red chair.

Now Kid is in the naughty spot for apparently sitting on Miss Sue's
imaginary friend.

Miss Sue's got some sass to her. Dontchathink?!?!?

Happy Easter

Pics of the girls to come. I took this picture last week before Ella
and I headed into MOPS. She loves to go early each time to help me set
up. Can you see the ornery all over her face? Trust me-it is there!

Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs tonight. All three of my girlies. Having a blast.
Makes my heart happy. :-)