Our Snaggletooth

Anna-Kate is so excited!!  She lost her first tooth yesterday!  It has been loose for several weeks.  It was hurting even as she bit into soft things, so Dad said, "Anna-Kate, want me to pull it?"  3 tries and Daddy had pulled Anna-Kate's first tooth!  A paternal right of passage on Father's Day for Will, and Anna-Kate's long-anticipated moment come true!

Getting to Know the Outside

 I hibernate a bit during winter, so spring has been good for all of us!  Bethany loves going outside!

Grass, however,

uummmm, Mom, what is this stuff?

Seriously, what is this stuff?

Now, this is awesome Mom!

blowing kisses

Bethany is so proud when she gets to hang out with the big kids!

Going on walks, playing on the patio, swinging

Mom!  I love the outside!

Saying Goodbye to 1st grade

Mrs. Pyper's 1st grade class

assistant teacher Mrs. Penwell

This has been a fun year for Anna-Kate!  She has learned so much!  Her reading has absolutely taken off.  She says that social studies is her favorite subject.  Her favorite unit was the "Around the World" unit, which I loved too!  I got to go to her class and share all about Malawi.  She also loves art, writing, and school in general.  

I love then and Now pictures!  Look at my girl registering for Kindergarten (January 2014) 

and now leaving 1st grade (June 2016)

One Year Photo Shoot

The Simmons Family 2016

Anna-Kate (7), Benjamin (4), Bethany (1)

As Bethany turned one, I couldn't wait to plan a photo session for her and the whole family.  Making it even more special was that Ashley took the pictures!  

Behind the scenes...

Celebrating Anna-Kate

Anna-Kate, it's your 7th birthday!! 

Let's celebrate!

We read recently the American Girl Grace books.  Grace visited France in the first book, and did a lot of baking in the books.  Anna-Kate already enjoyed baking, so the books just added a love of Paris to the list.  Insert Anna-Kate's France birthday party!

We prepared 'Anna-Kate's Birthday Patisserie.'

A chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream icing

Mommy's planning with Daddy's drawing talent

vanilla macarons with chocolate icing, raspberry icing, vanilla icing

ah, pretty macarons

Anna-Kate insists on party favors:

Chocolate Eiffel Tower lollipops

Happy birthday dear Anna-Kate!

Happy birthday to you!

We ate and opened presents in the front room

As a party game, Will drew the Eiffel Tower for the wall, and we put up blank mural paper.  The kids (classmates Brady, Peyton, church friend Hannah, and cousins Camden, Anderson, Evelyn) got to create Anna-Kate's French mural.

What a Sweet party for our great girl!

We saved a little present for Anna-Kate's actual birthday morning. Giving Anna-Kate a gift is the best.  Her reactions never disappoint! 

A few of her favorite things:  Shopkins, hand sanitizer with cute holder, and a new American Girl book

Then, for supper on her birthday, she got to pick the food.  Sushi wins for another year!  We tried a new restuarant, Cow Fish.  Oh my, wonderful!  The food was amazing.  The atmosphere was great. Absolutely going again!

Truly our pleasure to celebrate you, our girl!

Benjamin's First Allowance

As Benjamin turned 4, he started earning an allowance.  He is responsible for getting himself dressed in the morning and helping set the table at dinner.  Just like Anna-Kate, he earns $1 for spending, a quarter for his piggy bank, and when he starts going to big church, he'll get a quarter for the offering plate.

Benjamin was so proud of himself for having his own money to spend at Target!!  

So.proud.

He walked through the toy section getting ideas.  Somehow he had saved up $19.  He bought a rescue fire truck, a claw arm, and a little car.  

Love my little spenders.