Taylor's one year away from double digits

This beautiful young lady turned 9 this week.  Isn't that just unbelievable?  She has taught us so much.  Some days I think she's smarter than Shannon and I put together.  And then there's the little girl who still loves her American Girl doll and her Lalaloopsy.  What a sweet heart she has become.  I wouldn't trade anything for these last two years that I got to spend so much time with her while homeschooling.  Are there days when I'm absolutely nuts?  ABSOLUTELY!! But all in all, I feel like I know her so much better than I did.  She is learning constantly (sometimes when I wish she wasn't), but she's learning none the less.  One day I'll look back on this picture and think what a little girl, but now, I look at it and think she looks sooo grown up.  Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

Plugging along in school

We've been hard at work with school lately. Caroline is loving going to "pwe-school." It must be something about her age, but suddenly so many things are coming together in that little brain of hers. It's so fun to hear her explain how things work to me. Boy does she have a personality!!! The big girls (Taylor has asked me to stop calling her that, so don't tell her) went to a great art class last week. This was their interpretation of Ps 113:3.
I found this super sweet note this morning. That right there will melt your heart any day. Poor kid is going to spell like her mother. ;)

WPS!!!

We had a fantastic time in Auburn today with Papaw and Gran. The girls were great sports. In fact Anabelle was upset that we left with just a few min left to beat the crowd. Most importantly, we WON!!!

Working Hard and playing Hard

No words. Just a happy happy day! Thank you Lord.

This one is somethin'

Can you see her scheming in this pic?  I'm sure she is.  Looks pretty innocent, but wow.  Lately this one has been on a roll.  She's one like none other I've had.  Last night she got out of bed (a major no no at our house).  As I was calling her in to the living room to get her punishment I heard her talking to Taylor in the kitchen.  I questioned her, "What are you doing out of your bed?"  Her answer, "I had to tell Taylor that Anabelle came in my room and said I was soo snobby." Hmmm....Ok.  She took her punishment and went on to bed.  So, I called Anabelle and asked about the situation.  She was in shock!  She said, "Caroline came in MY room and said, 'Anabelle you are so snobby! What does that mean?"   If you're keeping score that's stealing and lying for munchkin.  We called Caroline back into the room with us and asked her to explain.  She stammered and wimpered and then with a manipulative little grin on her face she said, "uuuummmm....How 'bout this....I am sooo sooo sowwy."

No words.  I have no words.

First day of school

Caroline had her very first day of preschool this week. I've been sending three year olds to this same sweet school for so long. It's hard to imagine that it's already her turn. She was soo excited!! She just bopped out of the car with no nerves showing.
And apparently she was very fond of one particular toy phone. BECAUSE she snuck it home in her bloomers!!!'. Shannon found it about thirty min later while he was putting her in her carseat. I can't imagine what the sweet carpool lady was thinking when she felt it while buckling her in. What in the world? I'm raising a kleptomaniac?? That a bold move on your first day of school. Needless to say she got punished and will be walking in so that I can watch her return the phone and apologize. WOW!

School starts

We have been going strong at school for a couple weeks now. WOW, two is definitely more than one. They are both doing so well. They really do love school. Anabelle just can't understand why I won't do school on Sat and Sunday. Bless her!

VBS

Ok fine! I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger! Lately it seems like everyone I talk to has to say, "Anabelle's bday was in May! Get to blogging!"
So I can't start without including VBS, so here goes.

Anabelle is six!

My Anabelle Claire is six. And boy is she six! She says that talking us her talent and she's not lying! She also describes herself as sassy. Couldn't be more right on that one either. She just finished kindergarten and will be a big first grader in the fall. She loves her sweet best friends and her sisters. she is funny and sensitive. She loves to jump on the trampoline, play with her AG dolls and do her "bible study."She is the be all end all to her little sister. They like to call themselves twins. I will cry when her prayers no longer include the phrase, "Thank you Lord for all you have gaven us." our sweet Belle Belle!

Easter

Yes, it is almost a month after Easter and I'm just posting pictures.  Been much too busy living life. 

 We have a tradition for Easter lunch.  All of us who don't have family close, spend it together.  Now that I say that, it doesn't sound like much of a tradition, but it is to us.  We know that we'll have at least one other family to share an Easter Sunday lunch.  It has really become a special thing to us.  This was our gang this year.  Would you believe that this is only five families?  Boy are we a fertile bunch. 

These are my favorite three photos of the girls from Easter weekend.  Can you guess which picture was taken by an actual super talented photographer and not on my iphone?  Ha!

Birthday girl!

My sweet Caroline is three. Although over a month ago she told a childcare worker at church that she was already three. She is my most stubborn girl. She knows what she wants and often times finds a way to get it, even of that means getting into trouble along the way. She may be slow to warm up to you, but she hugs better than anyone once your in her circle. She talks and talks and talks. I never thought it was possible, but maybe as much as Anabelle. Loves her big sisters more than anything. Loves going to church. Most days insists on very eccentric outfits. She's very specific about what she likes and she likes pattern and a lot of it. Loves to talk on the phone to Papaw and Gran and always wants to FaceTime. :) She eats almost anything, but LOVES sweets and never quits asking for them. There is a sneaky little grin she flashes when she knows shes about 10 seconds away from getting into trouble.
She prayed yesterday for her big sisters saying, "dear God, pwease help Taylah and belle belle make good dejiguns today. Love you God, amen. Bye bye. " I just love her heart.
Our family changed three years ago and it will never be the same.

The American Village

Last Friday was field trip Friday for the Rushing girls.  We took a short drive south to the American Village just twenty or so minutes from Birmingham. It is a colonial village recreation that is totally interactive.

The girls got to do so many things that kept even Caroline engaged.  Here they are pretending to be indians getting ready to board the English ship in Boston Harbor where they threw tea overboard.  The kept chanting: "Rally Mohawks! Raise your axes, tell king George we'll pay no taxes on your foreign tea!"

 They learned a few games that kids played in early American times.

 Then they re-enacted the Battle of Lexington and Concord.  Here is Taylor defending  Lexington against the redcoats.

 Anabelle and Caroline defeated the redcoats and chased them out of Concord. 

It was fantastic.  In the first five minutes we were given a message to deliver to George Washington regarding the redcoats plan to attack.  The actor who played the redcoat was a little too real for Anabelle's taste and she stuck pretty close to me for the first few "missions."  But as you can see, she had no trouble at all chasing the little boys from our group who dressed up as Brittish soilders.  :)

Spring Break!!

Our first few days at the beach were with some of our favorite people. It was great!!! The girls had so much fun playing with their friends and so did Shannon and I. Sooooo blessed to have such amazing peeps. :)

Museum of Art

Homeschooling has been so fun for our little family. Today was a super fantastic day. Shannon was off work so he came with us to the bham museum of Art. Our docent was fabulous!!!! The girls (and I) learned so much. Even Caroline was still and quiet.

Life captured on my phone...again

At this stage in our lives, I've come to realize that the best moments are captured not on my mega awesome camera (that I'm still waiting to buy) but on my phone.  Here are some of my favorite shots from recently. 

This was the impromptu cheerleading clinic I got to witness while waiting on a certain 2nd grader to finish ballet.  There's nothing like watching a big sister try to teach her two year old sister a cheer.  Pure Joy!

Nursery Rhyme day at school.  (try not to notice the demonic eyes of little Bo Peep's sheep).

How fun to watch two VERY small buddies learn to play well together.  Love it!

 I love a random Saturday playdate!  This group, of some of our favorite people, is so good together!

Division using marshmallows.  Caroline loved this math lesson A LOT! 

 These two buddies got a surprise playdate for just a few minutes.  Now that the big girls are in school, they don't get to play nearly as often as they once did.  Stealing moments like this are few and far between.

 Yet another day waiting on ballet to be finished, this Sassy girl asked to be photgraphed in her "FAVORWITE" pink outfit.  It went something like, "mommy, can you take my picture because I look so beautiful?"  Self Esteem for this one isn't really a big concern for me. 

This week is our Global Impact Celebration.  The girls are having a great time getting autographs of all the cool missionaries.  I'm sure there will be pictures to come!