Wedding Weekend [Or, a flower girl needs a nap]

Our babysitter got married this weekend!  As a teacher, I can usually snag the best babysitters in the area to come to my house on a daily basis to watch my kids while I work.  One fall, one of the girls I had hired to babysit told me on a Friday that she wouldn't be able to work on the coming Monday...or any day in the future as she had just made a dance team at her college.  

Holy headache!  I had the weekend to find someone to replace her.  I turned to my colleagues as work for recommendations for someone who was staying at home, available on Mondays and Wednesdays and good with kids.  A fellow teacher recommended Allie to us and luckily she was everything we could have ever wanted!  Tim and I have joked that she's probably do a better job raising our kids than we are presently doing.  Now that she is married and moving to another state, it is probably in the kids' best interest to send them with her.  I am so grateful to her for the loving she gave to my kiddies.  She started when Durham was a baby and stayed with us for three years.  She came to my house to watch the kids when I was in labor for Wrenn, she's done laundry and dishes for me when she knew I was stressed, and did all of this while going to school and working another job.

She is Super Woman.  Her new husband is luckier than he can ever imagine.  If and when they ever decide to have children, she will be the world's greatest mother.  

She even asked Ainsley to be the flower girl in her gorgeous, country-rustic wedding this weekend.  Ainsley has been seriously excited about the event.  If you ask her, she'll tell you she's not excited, doesn't care, and doesn't even like cowgirl boots, but she's lying.  

It's just her intention to infuriate me, so she negates EVERY. THING. I. SAY.  

Whatevs, little child.  I am the queen of infuriating people, so sit back and watch how it's done, sister.  

I digress. 

We started with the rehearsal dinner.  It was a lovely little affair at the church.  Ainsley informed me that she would only eat pickles and strawberries.  We had a nice little discussion about eating healthy, all the while trying our best to appear civil to each other.  

Why is it so hard to get along with a five year old?  

She received the nicest little present from Allie, a bear and a robe to match the robes given to all the bridesmaids.  I asked Ainsley to try on the robe.  She refused.  We negotiated until she tried on the robe while eating a chocolate-covered strawberry.  

This child.  Ugh. 

Afterward we all went into the sanctuary to practice.  Ainsley wanted me to be near her, but didn't want me to talk.  No advice, no talking from Mama.  Her first time through, she fairly sailed down the aisle and proceeded to sit in the most unladylike fashion possible on the step near the bridesmaids.  It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut and turn off the critical voice in my head.  

Thankfully, someone else took the lead and gave her the advice she needed about walking more slowly.  The second time through, she completely nailed it.  You'd think she's some sort of flower girl pro, with the step-stop-scatter, step-stop-scatter.  She rocked it.  

And she really did love the boots.  Strut, strut.  

She even let me snap a picture with the bear.  

And then it was Saturday.  Ainsley and I used Pinterest to find some ideas for flower girl hair.  Of course, everything I suggested was "yucky."  Once at the salon, she confidently told her hair dresser (a mother of another one of our fabulous babysitters) that she wanted a side pony, a braid that wrapped around the side, and curls in the bottom.  She then proceeded to stare very seriously at the mirror as her hair dresser worked, because getting your hair did is big girl stuff.     

Tone it down a notch there.

 We stopped by the house to pack and annoy the rest of our family before heading up to the church to change.  

I even did her make-up, because I am apparently a little more "Toddlers and Tiaras" than I should let on.  But isn't she just a complete DOLL?  She's just radiant.   

We spent the next couple of hours alternating between getting pictures taken and going potty.  Soon Tim was there with the rest of our crew and my mother, who wasn't going to miss Ainsley's big event and was necessary for man-to-man church defense.  Logistically speaking, if Ainsley got scared and needed a parent or another potty break at the exact moment that Wrenn was having a meltdown at the exact moment that Durham needed a potty break, we'd be screwed without a third.  Thank you to my mother for being my third man!  

The time came for Ainsley to do her thang, and she rocked!  Step-stop-scatter.  Meticulously dropping petals so that they evenly covered the floor.  It was almost too good.  I should rent this child out as a flower girl.  I could make money.  

And then she had the best view in the house.  

 And if you've ever been in a wedding, you know what comes next...pictures!  I mostly stayed away from this and hoped Ainsley was cooperating.  We sent Wrenn with my Mom for the night, let Durham play in the church nursery, and soon it was time to pack up for the reception.  

She even let me snap one more picture before we left.  

The reception was at the cutest little barn out in the middle of nowhere.  It was laid back and perfect for our little man, who just so happened to be looking a little country in his plaid.  We found our seats, stuffed ourselves with crackers and cheese, Tim and I got enough to drink to ease the pain of being at a wedding with a three year old, and the party went on.  

Durham was wiggly.  Ainsley was in desperate need of a nap in order to improve her listening skills, but you know what?  We only had two kids to watch!  It was like a vacation!  No diapers, no sippy cups.  Lots of walking around the parking lot to get their wiggles out.  It's so hard for little ones to wait for food, wait for cake, wait for dancing, but they did great.  

Handsomest boy ever. 

 And after supper?  Dancing!  Turns out I have a boy who likes to dance.  It's pretty obvious that Ainsley likes to twirl and shake her thang, but Durham loved the dance floor as well.  He and Ainsley danced fast and slow, attempted line dances, did the YMCA, the chicken dance, you name it.  

They danced for at least an hour and a half, only stopping for a few potty breaks and one cake break.  

Dancing boy.  

Another of our former babysitters was sweet enough to dance a few songs with Durham.  From then on out, Durham only had eyes for her.  Even Mama was told, when trying to dance a slow song with Durham to take a hike.  "No, Mama.  I want THAT ONE."  He pointed to his choice, and clung to her like a spider monkey for a good three songs. 

As it got closer to ten, we decided to cut out before an epic meltdown could ensue.  The kids got a photobooth picture with Allie, I got super emotional about leaving and saying goodbye, and then we packed the kids up to go home.   

We have been outrageously blessed to have Allie in our lives.  She made being a working mama so much easier.  We love you, Allie.  Good luck in California and best wishes on your marriage!  

Disco Dancer

This was Ainsley's first year in dance.  She took a tap and ballet class that practiced on Wednesdays for 30 minutes each.  It's amazing how busy we seemed having only one child in one activity.  What will we ever do when three kids are in more activities?  I can't even imagine.  

Getting ready for her first practice. 

We were delighted by several living room shows throughout the year.  

Finally it was time for dress rehearsal.  Make-up, costumes, the big stage.  

Ready to go on stage for the first time!

I had volunteered to be a room mother, which meant lots of snacks, coloring and potty trips.  

Coloring to pass the time.  Four hours worth of time.  

Costume change and ready to go on stage!  

Grammy and Papa bought her some flowers for after the big performance.  

We ended the year with a performance downtown as a part of a community event.  She loved being able to show off her dance skills to friends and family who happened to be walking by.  

Super serious.  

Third Child Tribulations

Wrenn's a girl on the go.  She gets to tag along as we take family adventures to parks, zoos, ball games, parades, and parties.  Unfortunately I mean it when I say "tag along" as her presence at all of these events only happens if we are too lazy or unable to find a babysitter.  We typically choose to leave her behind whenever possible just to lighten the load.  

Poor thing.

She'll have her chance someday, but right now, she's just safer in the prison-like confines of our home.  I'm sure there are other parents out there with more kids who leave the house all the time, safely providing exciting experiences for their children.  

Not us.  We'll get her a babysitter just so we can preserve some sanity.    

However, there are times when we do take her with us to family outings.  The rule is generally that she must stay in the stroller.  We can barely manage the big two, so letting Wrenn out of the stroller is just plain dangerous.  

Here are a few shots of Wrenn having a super fun time while leaving the house.  

Here's Wrenn having a picnic at the park right next to a playground where her siblings were allowed to play.  

Enjoying the hot air balloons.  It was a good two hours of hot air balloon fun.  She stayed in the stroller the whole time.  

While at her sister's T-ball game.  I'm not exaggerating when I say only her grandparents ever get her out and let her walk around.    

 I know better than to let her out of that stroller.  The picture below captures her strut when given an inch of freedom.  She will confidently walk off into the sunset, never looking back to see if anyone is coming with her.  If she comes to a gate, she'll attempt to scale it.  If there's a curb, she'll hurtle herself over it.  She is my most determined, assertive, independent spirit so far.

Back off, Mom.  Danger is my middle name.  I got this.