Just some random pictures for everyone :)

I just had a few pictures that I wanted to share of Ansley being her usual adorable self. :)

In recent weeks we've been tackling potty training and she's been doing fabulous! My parents were a little extra excited so they bought her this doll that goes potty and has a toilet/sink. It was her congrats on being a big girl present...lol Anyways, these pictures are from when we first opened the box! She LOVES this doll!!



She has had this toy train since she was a baby and still loves it. I have no idea how she got herself in there but she was having a blast "riding" her train!

And last, this is our princess dressing up. :) I just think she looks so grown up in the picture. She's really turning into a beautiful little girl!

Rainy day at the Pumpkin Patch!

Yesterday, as Ansley and I were lounging around being bored she saw a picture of a pumpkin on TV and started talking about going to the pumpkin patch. I was a little shocked that she knew or remembered what a pumpkin patch was but I thought "why not?!" so we got dressed and ready for the pumpkin patch. As we were getting ready it was sprinkling a bit but I figured a little rain won't kill us. So, we leave the house and about a mile down the road the skies opened up and it began to pour! I was thinking that perhaps our trip would be cut short but once we got there it had stopped. We went out to the patch and picked 2 smaller pumpkins and a medium one (Mommy didn't want to have to lug a huge pumpkin up the stairs...) Then we went to the farms little store and while inside it started to pour again! we had made it just in time! We picked up a couple of apples and mini pumpkins to decorate with along with a pumpkin painting kit.



We got home and I washed our pumpkins and sat Ans in her chair with her pumpkin and paint and she went to town while I painted the other two. It was a really fun afternoon and I know we'll go to a pumpkin patch a couple more times before Halloween!

Future Makeup Artist to the stars!!

So, my darling, sweet daughter decided that while I was showering today she would practice for a future career as a makeup artist. I think she was going for a smoky eye since she was using a very dark smoky gray eyeshadow. I think Ansley needs some lessons on application techniques before she goes public. :)

The Dental office is such a fun place to go...

Well, I let my teeth go long enough that I no longer have a choice about it and have to get them fixed. Yesterday as I was eating a taco I felt something rock hard in my mouth and as I removed it I realized it was part of my tooth. I immediately called my dentists office and made an appt for today. Thank God for my friend Megan. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have her and her willingness to watch Ansley at the drop of a dime! So, I went to the dentist and come to find that the tooth that broke needs a root canal so that will be happening next thursday. But, while I was there they decided to go ahead and start on filling the 10 (yes, 10 :( ) cavities I had. They filled 4 today and it was the first time in my life I had something major done to my teeth. I was scared to death but once they got me settled it was SO easy. I wish I had done this years ago. I am not afraid to have the other cavities filled now and from what the dentist said the root canal isn't going to be horrible either once I'm numbed up. The worst part of the entire thing is that the military dental insurance is horrible and so Russ and I are having to pay A LOT out of pocket for this to be done (which is one of the reasons I kept putting it off.) oh well, I figure now my teeth will be healthy and it will just be a matter of keeping them that way!! So, just keep me in your thoughts and prayers that the root canal next week goes smoothly. :)
My final word for this blog is this...
SEE YOUR DENTIST REGULARLY AND AVOID THIS MESS!!!

She's following in Mommy's footsteps!

She loves to sing just like Mommy :) This was too cute not to share. Tonight she got all dressed up and I told her to put on a show for me so she stood right in front of me and sang her ABC's with all her heart. She even bowed for me afterwards! she is definitely just like me. :)

The Doodlebops!!

Yesterday Ansley and I went to see the Doodlebops (a preschool rock band/TV show). We saw them in Alabama in December and Ansley loved the show so much that when I found out they were going to be here I bought tickets! Once again Ansley had a blast. I think she even loved it more this time just from being a bit older. She danced and screamed and clapped through the entire show! The show was held outdoors at the Puyallup fair (HUGE fair). The weather was supposed to be cloudy and rainy but it turned out to be beautiful! We walked around the fair and looked at all the animals for about 2 hours before the show started. Needless to say when we finally got to the car after all that walking/dancing/screaming and being in the sunshine she passed out! It was a fun afternoon and it's always great to see Ansley get excited about something. :) She still hasn't stopped talking about it!

Much needed update :)

Well, it's been probably 6 weeks since I updated (and my Dad has been bugging me :)) I figured it was about time to update our blog with the 5 million things that have happened since I last wrote.
I guess we will start with early August. My parents came to town and as always spoiled the heck out of Ansley! Russ and I left for Las Vegas on the 11th for a much needed Mommy and Daddy get away! We had a blast. We saw 3 shows, first was one of the shows in our hotel about vampires. We got free tickets so we figured why not?! It was pretty good but I was a little disappointed for it being a "Vegas" show. The next night we saw a Cirque De Soleil show "Zumanity" and it was fantastic! It was a mix of humor and amazing acrobatics, I would recommend it to anyone as long as their not too conservative...(it was a pretty sexy show...) and our last show was the one we were looking forward to the most. Wayne Brady (from Who's line is it anyways? and he now hosts "Don't forget the lyrics") he was absolutely the funniest man I have ever seen! Russ and I both were crying from laughing so hard and we DEFINITELY recommend seeing him to everyone! If he is still in Vegas next time we go we would go see him again, for sure!
When planning our trip I had a brilliant (at least in my mind :)) idea for Russ and I to renew our vows! I mean, what better place than Vegas?! We also figured with all the separation we have had in our marriage with deployments and schools it couldn't hurt to refresh our marriage. So, I made arrangements for our vow renewal on August 13th. It was beautiful and romantic. The little chapel we went to were so accommodating and sweet and the photographer to many more pictures than we paid for and they are all wonderful. Here are just a couple of our favorites...


Anyways, the trip to Vegas was a lot of fun and it was great to have some one on one time with Russ. It felt really good to be able to hold his hand instead of pushing a stroller. :)
Just before we left for Vegas we got word that my Aunt Betty (my Dad's sister) had an aneurysm in her brain burst. Before we left she wasn't responding to people and didn't remember anything. It was touch and go for a bit but I'm happy to say she is recovering. Anyways, the day after we returned my parents left for Nebraska so Dad could see his sister. We had made plans to go down to Seaside Oregon for 5 days (all 5 of us) and Dad decided that even though he and mom wouldn't be there We should still go. So after dropping them off at the airport we packed up and drove to the beach. We stayed at an adorable little rental house that was less than a block to the ocean. Ansley helped Daddy fly her first kite and just loved it! here's a couple pictures of Seaside...



My parents returned from Nebraska a couple days after we got back from Oregon. They stayed a little longer so that we wouldn't have to worry about Ansley when all of the Deployment stuff started happening. It was a blessing to have them here.
A couple days after being home we got to go to the Dr and see our new baby for the first time! It was awesome that Russ got to be there before leaving! Here is our little "Squirt" at 8 weeks...



About a week after we returned from the beach Russ deployed for his 3rd year long Iraq tour. It was a horribly sad day and I'm so so thankful that Ansley didn't have to be at the deployment ceremony. There were so many children there just crying hysterically and screaming for their parent. It truly broke my heart and I was so glad Ansley was safe and sound peacefully in her bed at home. So, Russ and I said our goodbyes and he marched off to the buses. After a moment of gathering myself I went outside to watch the buses leave and as I stood there I would have sworn the soldier in the front row of the bus was waving at me. So I made an I love you sign with my hand and he did it back. I knew it was Russ. :) so for about 20 minutes I stood in the rain making gestures back and forth with him. It's a nice memory to have rather than tears. I didn't really take many pictures that night. but here are a couple before we left the house...


So, Russ has been gone for almost 4 weeks now. Ansley and I are adjusting and getting back into our routine. I'm 12 weeks pregnant now and have another Dr appt on the 3rd. Ansley is now in a big girl bed (a canopy bed even!) and as of a few days ago she's potty trained during the day at home! I think I have found a Preschool for her to attend 2 days a week for 2.5 hours. It's a small preschool run out of a church and is within our budget. I think she'll really benefit from being around other kids and she is so smart I know she'll soak up what they teach her like a sponge! (she does 70 piece puzzles with a little help and 30 piece puzzles alone with absolutely no direction!!) I also think her being in preschool part time will be good for her Mommy's mental health...hahaha :) it will be nice to have a little "me" time now and then.
I am still singing in the church choir and we're having a little concert "The life of Christ" in late October. We're hoping to raise funds to expand and develop the music program at our church. I am looking forward to it!
Ansley and I are going to Alaska for 6 weeks from before Thanksgiving until right after New Years. I am really looking forward to being around family, especially with Russ gone around the holidays. We are only able to do this because of the generosity of my parents who got our tickets and my great friend Megan who is going to take care of my furbabies while we're gone.
Russ is doing well and is at his post now in Balad. His unit still doesn't have a mission as of now but we'll see what the future holds. He should be getting internet in his trailer in October so he'll be able to keep in touch with everyone a lot easier. He misses everyone very much and I know he always appreciates getting mail of any kind so please write him! :)
I will try to be better about keeping this up to date. Life has just been a bit hectic lately and it seems to be slowing down finally! I hope everyone is doing well and know that you are all in my prayers every night.
Here are just a few pictures of Ansley I wanted to share. :) Love you all!!