Annabel's Party

We had Annabel's birthday party on Saturday.  She looooves mermaids lately and was a big fan of swimming all summer, so I thought we'd do a mermaid swimming party.  The only problem with that is you never know what the weather is going to be like in September, so I booked the indoor pool at the Jones Center.

The kids had a lot of fun swimming..

Shiloh had his first swimming experience.

But their favorite part was the water slide.  I tried to get a picture of everyone going down it, but most of them turned out blurry.

I love this one of the birthday girl.  She had been pretty pouty most of the party because she was mad about not getting her cake at the very beginning.  Jon finally talked her into going down the slide with him and she was finally all smiles.

It's a good thing we'd booked an indoor pool, because it was 50 degrees that morning.  However, it was stifling hot in the pool area, so these girls had to go outside and cool off before it was time for cake.

 Everyone singing to her was her favorite part.

Adeline was so excited to get the mermaid.

We are blessed with so many sweet friends.

Adeline the lifeguard.

We are so thankful that both sets of grandparents and Uncle Shane, Aunt Juliet, and Murry all were able to attend the big shindig.  We are so loved.

It was a fun celebration of our sweet Annabel.  Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Annabel!

Annabel turned 2 yesterday and we celebrated all day long.  Adeline and I filled the hallway with balloons before she got up, then burst in her room singing "Happy Birthday".

She was so excited!

Of course we needed a new outfit letting everyone know she's 2 now.  My sweet and talented friend, Shannon made this dress for her.  Annabel got so many compliments on it.

Then we all three went to get our haircut because it had been a loooong time and it was the first day Ms. Amberley was available.

Afterwards, we went with Shannon, Westin, & Reagan to Gymnastic Joe's in the mall.

And Westin, Adeline, and Annabel got to ride the fun little carousel there.

We ate lunch at our favorite, CFA, in the food court, then headed home for naps.  When Daddy got home it was time for her to open her presents from us.

She got a brown-haired, blue-eyed cabbage patch doll and a double jogging stroller for her babies.

We had steak for dinner (one of her favorites) and cupcakes afterward.  She blew out her candles for the first time, too.  We had blue and pink cupcakes; she chose blue.

Then we went on a walk to the nearby elementary school and played on their playground until it got dark.

We continue birthday celebrations right up until bedtime around here.  The girls got to take a bubble bath in Mommy's big bathtub.

And she went to bed, happy as can be, in some new pajamas with Cinderella on them, just like her Big Sister!

What a fun-filled day!  You fill our lives with joy, Annabel.  We couldn't imagine life without you.  We love you so very very much!

I'll leave you with a few of my favorites from her 2 year photo session with the very talented Amber Dickey.

Thank you, Amber, for capturing our little girl's sweet, happy spirit.

September Weekending

As rare as it is for us in the fall, we had a weekend where we really didn't have anything planned, and it was so nice.  My aunt and uncle came in town to visit my cousin who just recently moved here, so they came by Saturday morning to bring Annabel her birthday present and to eat breakfast with us.

Annabel was so excited about her new Ariel doll and matching dress-up dress.

After breakfast, we met Ashley, John, & Henry out at Farmland Adventures.

Annabel was scared to ride a pony, but Ashley talked her into it.  She liked it once she was on, but had a death grip on Ashley's arm the whole time.

These cute little birthday buddies just love each other.  Henry turned 2 on Monday, and Annabel turns 2 today!  I can't believe it!

Annabel got to hold a baby pig.  It squealed like crazy, and she thought it was hilarious.

A miniature maze we couldn't get the kids off of.

Then it was time to go on a tractor ride to feed the cows.

Adeline was so fast sticking these tortillas in their mouths, that I never got a picture.  I did catch her laughing at her daddy getting the cow to stick out his tongue.

Farmland Adventures is such a fun place to go here in NWA.  There's so much to do there, you could easily spend all morning. They also have a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, which we never got around to really checking out.  We'll be back before the season is over, though.

I'll leave you with a picture of this cutie trying on her Daddy's boots.

Let's hope she never grows into them!