All about Mallory

Our oldest girl turned FOUR in June! Yes, I'm that behind on blogging! Anyway. For some reason, turning four just seems so big. We are right around the corner from the big K word that I'm dreading....

This past year, Mallory went to a Mother's Day Out program once a week. She loved going and had a great year learning how to stand in line, raise her hand to talk, sit still in chapel, share toys...you know, all of those important preschool things.

At the end of May, the MDO had an end of the year program. They sang about 3-4 songs from their class. I gave Mallory a piece of gum on the way there and totally forgot to get it from her when we arrived. She also started twirling her hair when she's nervous or being shy. Soooo, the entire performance consisted of her twirling her hair and smacking her gum...and wearing her Barbie dress up ring. Nice. At any rate, it was cute and video worthy. Here's "I've got friends at school...":

Here she is after....where in the world did the last four years go? She is not a toddler anymore, she is a little GIRL!!!!

Our dear friends, the Livers, moved to the metroplex this summer. We love this family. My girls do as well! Shep and Owen went to the same MDO. Poor baby Marley was poked, annoyed and smothered the entire night by two girlies obsessed with babies!!

A little family shot:


Mallory has a best friend. Her name is Bella. If you read my blog (does anyone anymore?), you've probably seen her on it! We met the Smiths about 2 years ago. Actually, I "met" Karen 4 years ago, but that was from stalking her blog. There. I said it. I stalked Karen's blog and then she moved to my city, our sisters became friends, I met Karen, we had babies the same age and tons more in common. It's really not so creepy when you explain it all....promise!

I digress. Mallory and Bella are a week apart. Bella has grandparents that live on lots of acreage in a beautiful area near us. They also have two horses that are famous in our house. "Oreo" especially. When Karen and I started talking about the girls' birthdays, we decided it would be fun to have a joint party. So the plans began for an "Oreo birthday"! I made the invites and Karen did the cake. The rest was easy....let the kids ride the horse and order pizza!

It was BY FAR Mallory's favorite birthday ever!!! It was also the dirtiest Mallory has ever been. I loved it! She and Bella had so much fun. We had lots of their friends there and lots of family as well.

Getting ready to par-tay! Showing off how stinkin' old she is now...sniff, sniff.

Of course birthday girl Bella is a pro at riding Oreo!

Morgan wasn't quite sure. She hung on for dear life and then gave us this face when she was done. There was a smile during the ride....I think:)

The birthday girl! She loved every minute of riding on Oreo!

Some of the girlies at the party. It was H.O.T. that day!

After they blew out the #4 candle!

My dad (aka "Grandpa") manned the slide. It was serious crowd control at times!

The Bankheads and the Smiths. We love this family!

Like I said, we have babies the same age. Morgan and Gunnar are 6 weeks apart. When the four of them get together, they are a silly bunch! I would have put the whole series of these pictures up, but it would have taken up the whole blog. Hilarious, these four.

Happy birthday to Mallory and Bella!!