Finally some SNOW!

We've had so much ice this winter we were beyond thrilled to finally get some real snow.  It wasn't a ton but enough to play in.  We did some sledding and made some snow angels.

She got holes

For years Essie has been torn between her desire for earrings and her fear of "holes".  She sees cute earrings everywhere we go and says "I'll get holes when I'm older and not scared."  We honestly had ZERO expectations for her to ever get them done.  She is a slight worrier...much like her momma.

 A few weeks back I ran to Target after picking her up and she announced "I wanna get holes tonight momma!"  She was very, very insistent on getting them.  I convinced her to wait til Saturday when we would be in Little Rock for the Big Buck Classic.  YaYa made her an appointment at Merle Norman when they would have two girls there to do it.

We started the day at the Big Buck Classic and she had a blast bow-shooting and jumping.  As the time drew near for us to leave and go to the jewelry store she began to get nervous.  We got there and she got to pick out her earrings...cute rainbow flower ones.  She then had to sit in the chair...on my lap and she immediately covered her ears with her hands and would not take them down.  After about 30 minutes of her "not being ready" I finally told them I would hold her arms down and to just do it.

She was sooooooo mad.  Bless her heart she cried and cried and cried.  I know it hurt and she was so upset with me.

Afterwards we went to get ice-cream and she finally cheered up and was so beyond thrilled with her new earrings.  She kept saying "I can't believe I got earrings!".  After that we went to the mall and bought several new packages of cute earrings.  She has done so awesome with them.  She can twirl them herself and lets us clean them without any trouble at all.  She's counting down the weeks until she can change them out now.

Gym day and a Birthday Party

Travis and I were both off work Monday.  Essie's school was making up a gym class so we got to go watch.  We haven't seen her in gym in a very long time so it was a real treat for us.

  

Afterwards we went back to school for her friend Eli's birthday.  It was a snowman theme with pin the tail on the snowman and a snowball fight with marshmallow shooters!

Play date

We are STILL battling the whole Essie sleeping in our bed battle.  Honestly I don't mind her sleeping with us at all...I love feeling her cuddle next to me and waking up with her little head or feet propped on me.  But it drives Travis crazy and I know it's a bad habit we need to break.  She's been sleeping in her bed...all by herself...without anyone sitting on the floor beside lately so she earned a reward.  She chose to have a friend over after school.  So today I picked Essie and her BFF Abigail up, we went to Sonic for milkshakes, sang along to Frozen, played hard, and even did some homework!  These two are a mess and are pretty much inseparable at school.

Just winter randoms

After having a week of ULTIMATE COLD ever, we had a nice Sunday a week ago so we spent some time at the park...

We also went down to Pine Bluff this past weekend for Peepaw's birthday and Essie loved visiting him and getting to play with the Little People toys.

Today the hubs and I were both off work so we got  to see Essie at big gym and go with her to school for a birthday party! We haven't seen her at gym in a long time so that was a nice treat for us.  He friend Eli had THE cutest snowman party at school complete with a snowball fight outside with marshmallow shooters!

4 and a half

Essie how is it that you are FOUR and a HALF...you will be 5 in 6 months!  U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E!!!

 I will be registering you for kindergarten in just a few months...even though I am secretly thrilled to my core about you being in kindergarten with me, it makes me super sad as well.  You are growing up so quickly.

Anyways...this is what's going on with you...

• You are very independent in some ways...especially when it comes to getting dressed.  You will NOT wear pants, leggings, tights or anything along those lines.  Even when it's 40 below zero you will wear a skirt, or tank top.  We have to force you to wear tall socks or legwarmers.
• You are still obsessed with princesses...mostly Elsa and Anna from Frozen.  You are already planning your Frozen birthday party.  

• You love playing babies, Barbies, and dolls.
• You love all things tiny...small toys especially.
• You are very social and love making new friends.  It makes me so happy to see you able to approach new people without being intimidated.

• You love to sing...we seriously need to get you a karaoke machine.  You sing along to Frozen soundtrack everyday in the car.
• You are a super picky eater.  
• You want to go to Branson....a lot...and DisneyWorld.

• You have started enjoying going to church.
• You are a bit of a worrier.
• You are terrified of bugs and most animals.
• You just graduated to a big girl booster seat and you are so proud.
• You are obsessed with art right now...you love to draw and write.
• You beg us for a brother or sister all the time.
• You are the love of our lives...we cannot wait to see what the year has in store for you!

Christmas Vacay...

We've been spending our Christmas vacation hanging out, relaxing, shopping for clearance deals, cooking, and eating.  We even made it down to Jonesboro to visit our besties the Clairdays and get some Chuck E. Cheese time in...