21AUG11

A few months ago (right before school got out for summer) my fabulous photographer friend Jessica (check her out at Capture Photography) was doing mini-sessions and I decided it would be a great time to doll up the girls and get some fun pictures of them. So Lexi ditched school (Yes pictures are a GREAT reason to ditch school!) we curled their hair got them in these adorable dresses and headed over to Jessica's studio. Both girls were in RARE form just being totally silly. I thought for sure we weren't going to get anything but once again Jessica proved me wrong. Seriously, this girl is AMAZING at what she does! I'm thinking a few 16x20's will be ordered VERY soon! I absolutely LOVE these pictures they just make me smile!! And all you Columbus peeps seriously consider getting some pictures done ASAP by Jess she is 100% worth it!!!

This one is my absolute FAVE from the session. I love everything about it!!!!

05AUG11

Alexis started First Grade today. She has been really nervous that she wasn't going to like her teacher or have any of her friends in her class. We went to meet her teacher yesterday and she seems really nice. Then we found out 3 of the kids from the neighborhood were in her class this year and she was thrilled!! She still had a little bit of a hard night. It took her a while to go to sleep, then she woke up in the middle of the night, and she was up this morning well before I went in to get her. I was just like that when I was younger. I remember being excited but also super nervous every year before school. Even with that she had no problems getting ready and only had to hug and kiss me twice before getting on the bus! I'm so excited for her and I know she's going to ROCK the first grade!

* There are a lot of pics considering it was just the first day of school. I guess it's my blog so I can do whatever I want right!? :)

**After Lexi's bus was 40 minutes late, running after other buses all over the neighbor b/c 2 friends kids got put on the wrong bus, and waiting with other friends b/c the kinder bus was an hour and a half late I was finally able to ask her how her first day went and she said it was GREAT! :) What an afternoon we've had.

All the pics of Lex Ryan needed a couple of her own right!?

Breakfast request this year was french toast. One with honey and one with strawberries and whipped cream.

This was the dress she picked. She looks so big! :) (and a little nervous!)

Warming up to the camera!Silly girl!My pretty First grader.

More Ryan getting in on the pics!

Getting ready to get on the big kid bus!

01AUG11

***Warning RIDICULOUSLY long post!!!***

Today my first born turns 6. She is such a sweet girl. I am amazed at how much she has grown and I love watching her LEARN! :) Here are some facts about Alexis...

-She can read just about anything and loves to do it. Especially reading to her little sister.
-She is SO helpful. She doesn't love every chore we give her (picking up after Tucker is her least favorite.) BUT she has recently decided she is old enough to vacuum and she actually does a great job even though the vacuum is taller than she is!
-She LOVES being outside. Especially in the water and has become a little fish in the water. She still asks fairly often if we can go back to Hilton Head and go to the beach.
-She is a little snuggler. If Travis or I are sitting she will try to snuggle with is and then cons us into scratching her back or arm.
-She is also getting really good and math, telling time, and counting money.
-She is all about sharing especially with her sister. Today she got a card from her Great Grandma Carter which had 5 dollars in it. While putting it in her piggy bank she took 1 dollar and said this is for Ryan's piggy bank b/c she doesn't have as much as me. :)
-She told me today when she grows up she wants to be a ballerina or a missionary. I told her she COULD do both.
-She has the most adorable freckles!!
-She has become appreciative of what she has and what she gets. I was especially struck by this while opening her presents at her party. She opened one and looked at it and enjoyed it. All the kids were excited for her to open theirs so she did move on fairly quickly but I could tell she really appreciated them.

Alexis wanted a Barbie party SO bad! It worked out really nice since we had already decided to have Travis build her a Barbie house. Everyone who asked what she wanted we told them furniture to help fill up her house and she was THRILLED with what she got and even more thrilled when she found out why she was getting all the furniture. (She did get things other than Barbie and she loved those gifts too!)

We had 14 kids here and only 5 of them were girls (2 of them being my girls!) but the boys were very gracious about it being SUCH a girl party. Even if we convinced a few of them that it was okay b/c they got to hit a barbie with a bat (we had a pinata.) We played musical chairs (Lexi's special request) to the tunes of Aqua's Barbie Girl and Justin Beiber's Baby. We also played "pin the sunglasses on the Barbie." I totally forgot to take pictures of musical chairs but the kids really enjoyed playing. It was a great party and I am so grateful for great friends. Thank you all for coming!!

Lexi and the set up.
Special thanks to Jess and Mel for taking pictures for me!

This was the sunglass game. Not gonna lie it was a little creepy. HA!

When you have a military dad things get creative. The kids could see with the blindfold I had so Trav being Trav improvised. That is a Barbie napkin stuffed into the mask. The kids thought it was HILARIOUS (except for sweet Kiera who decided masks of any kind are not okay. I don't blame her even in pink Lexi looks a little scary right?!)

This was the pinata and the inspiration for Lexi's outfit AND hair. She wanted just like Barbie.

Ry's turn. I guess I didn't get a close up of the hook Travis put up. Yes a REAL hook in the middle of our dining room. We don't mess around at the McBride's. We go all out.

I seriously LOVE my friends. She was not the only one to pose with sunglasses just the only one I got a picture of! :)

The kids gathering the loot. (I've decided pinatas are the way to go. Kids get their "goody bags" plus it's a game. So fun!)

I put balloons in just to fill up space (the pinata was HUGE!) Lexi was upset when everyone started popping them and decided to collect as many as she could.

Danny rocking his loot.

The barbie cake. I went the easy route. Sam's is so my friend.

Blowing out her candle.

Alexis and Makayla. Of course Ry had to get in the picture.

This is the first year I didn't have to read her cards to her.

Showing off her apron. Isn't it CUTE!

Travis asking her about all the furniture she got and where she was going to put it all?

She wasn't excited at ALL! We painted it white and the plan is to let her help paint and decorate it. I think it turned out adorable and it will be a fun project to do together.

Wylie showing off his tat. (We did get SOME boy stuff! Girls had barbie tattoos.)

After the barbie house was set up in her playroom (she has been playing with it every chance she's gotten!)

One of her gifts was a barbie salon. Not sure who was more excited her or me!

I just love this picture of Ryan.