Happy Thanksgiving

Our house has been crazy over the past several weeks. I'm not sure we've even surfaced for air yet, but I know we are trying;) We jokingly call our family the circus (and if you know us well, then you know how true it is!). So, since we are already crazy and wild, why not have 13 people to our house for Thanksgiving?!...I mean, come on, any smart person would do that to themselves...right?!! HA! Actually, it fit our circus perfectly. The food was delicious (we fried our first turkey and we are ALL alive to say that it was fabulous!) and I must say, we were smart enough to decide Thanksgiving was going to be a potluck...whew, that definitely saved this ring master! We are still trying to collect ourselves and we hope we didn't scare anyone off by our antics, but we had a great day. 

HAPPY (belated) THANKSGIVING to everyone!!

our circus performers sitting down for a second

oh my, did I catch a sweet tender moment between all three?? Say it ain't so...

(it totally didn't last long!)

Sing sing sing

Alley absolutely looooves singing ( as does Kendall) and especially loves singing in the children's choir at my parents church. We were a little hesitant at first to let her go due to the fact it would require us to travel to Richmond most weekends...but it's actually worked out quite well for us. We haven't made it to every practice, but Alley has been able to learn the songs and learn all the other things they are teaching the young kids. I am actually really glad that we decided to do this. Alley has made some great new friends and she's learning so much about music, not just singing. This past Sunday, the children's choir had their first "performance" of the year. Alley had been talking about it for weeks and was so excited about it. I was secretly wondering if she'd even make it into the choir robe when she truly realized what they were expecting her to do. Alley is our reserved and shy child. I was pretty sure she wouldn't even go up front, let alone sing during church...boy did she prove me wrong!

HEre's the whole group practicing before church...yes, it was absolutely hilarious watching a bunch of 3-6 year olds singing (or staring at each other)

Alley making up her own words I'm sure;) She kept telling me the words to the song were "please me oh shepherd, please me..." - ooooookay

her best bud, Jack...Alley loves getting to see Jack at choir. Apparently they get a little out of hand sometimes and forget they are suppose to be listening during practice...I think I hear Andy cleaning his gun....

Alley all dressed and ready to perform

My sweet cherub;)

She did wonderful during the performance and sang the whole time. I can't say she got every word, but she did awesome for someone who only went to a few practices. Besides, someone had to blow kisses to Papa during the whole song;) Such a sweet loving little girl! I can't wait to see how it goes next time! Papa, get ready for some more kisses;)

Party, Party, Party

Sunday we celebrated Alley's 4th birthday with a little party. Alley was so excited that every second for the past week she asked, "is today my birthday?". The funny thing was that Alley kept calling her birthday party a party AND a playdate. We kept correcting her but she'd get so mad and say, "it's a playmate too!". Okay Alley, I wave my white flag;) 

We had a blast! We did it very simple this year. We had pizza, fruit and cupcakes:) The cupcakes were decorated with sprinkles and little flowers...Alley couldn't decide what "theme" she wanted this year and frankly, I wasn't quite on the ball this year, so we settled on a "flower" theme:) Alley had tons of fun with her two friends, Ava and Virginia. Alley has missed them so much since leaving daycare...

These two are putting their party faces on...yoo-hoo, let's get this party started...

a sisterly squeeze...minus the tiny one (she would have been squished!)

patiently waiting for her party to start...I hated to tell her that she had several hours to wait...so we just had a photo session instead;)

Alley decorated her cupcakes...

The party has begun and the food is being devoured;) You go birthday girl!

all the little ones eating at their "little" table

the three musketeers:) Oh how much fun they have together!!

Alley got this fun hat from the WA Alley's...we love how it resembles Abby's hair from Sesame Streets "Abby's flying fairy school". Too cute:) 

Kendall had to get in on the action;)

as did Garrett...but he doesn't look to happy wearing it

as did Papa...we actually put it on him while his hands were full;) Muahaha..

This is basically the face Alley had every time she opened a present...I felt like she was saying, "This is my favorite, I've always wanted that!"...:)

Time to sing and blow out the candle

Kendall is obsessed with my mom! She wants nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with any of us when Mimi is around. It's hilarious...here she is trying to be Mimi:)

Our little chunk has been all grins and coos recently. Here she is just hamming it up

Oh so serious

If she's not smiling, this is what she is doing...we can't be teething already?!?!?!!

Just a picture to show you how long this thing is. She goes on for miles!!! She is fitting into the length of 6 month clothes, but they are swallowing her in all other ways. Man, I thought my other two were tall!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet, wonderful and grown-up little girl!! We love you!

4 going on 14

Wasn't it just yesterday I was holding this little one??

When did she turn into such a big girl???

Wow, four years have flown by...I'm scared to think how fast the next several will blow by! Alley has turned into such a sweet, caring, helpful, empathetic child. She just amazes me every day (and frustrates me too;) ). I absolutely LOVE this child!! Here are some "stats" about Alley at age 4:

• You can spell your first and last name, (and you like to do it every other second...."mommy, ask me if I can spell my name") as well as write it without any help
• You are super tall....your waist is a 4T but those legs go on for miles, so we've put you in 5T
• Your hair is WILD! You have a head full of spiral curls but a thin layer on the top that refuses to do anything but frizz...I got so fed up with it that I chopped it off over the weekend and now it's chin length and just adorable:)
• You love to tell people what to do....I have no idea where you got that from;)...and then "help" them accomplish what you just told them to do
• You are a sweet older sister and both younger ones just light up when you talk to them and/or play with them
• You LOVE school 
• Your favorite color changes daily
• You are becoming a little picky about what you will eat...the only problem is that one day you'll eat something and say it's your "favorite" and then the next day say you don't like it...not cool...
• You are very empathetic, which sometimes makes you a little more emotional than others...but it's such a great gift that i know God will use for His glory in the future
• You do NOT like clothes that are "tight"...socks, pants, long sleeves, bathing suits, shoes...okay, whatever touches your body! But after I force you into the clothes, you are fine...I know, I know, I'm so mean;)
• You look sooooooo much like your daddy that it's crazy!
• You love to dress up and dance to your music...but won't do it in front of others...oh you are so my child;)
• You think I sing like Alison Krauss...oh I just love you;)
• Right now your favorite foods are fruit snacks, yogurt, raisins, grilled cheese and pizza
• You tell us you're going to marry Ethan Sterling...I am sooo all about that arranged marriage, even though he is 6 years older;)
• You hate it when daddy goes to work and always asked if he will stay
• You are amazing on a horse...and act like you've been riding longer than you've been alive...and you keep asking us to buy you one...uum, I wish we could!

We all love you Alley and can't wait to see what this year brings!!

Smiles and giggles

Mary Cate has been giving us plenty of sweet smiles and giggles recently, but I haven't been able to get them on camera. Well, today I took advantage of Andy being home for lunch and got some really cute smiley pictures of our resident squishy:)

Earlier today, I asked Alley to hold MC while I got snack ready...she acted like a pro and pulled MC into her lap and held her like this the whole time...sniff, sniff, she's really turning into a big girl!

when daddy got home, the fun began

check out the size of those eyes...beautiful blue:) 

I'm feeling cheated here...Alley and MC look like Andy...and Kendall looks like my little brother...what??!! I get nothing for carrying and delivering them??!! (sigh...)

Alright, now that's what I call a happy puff-a-lump!

so maybe she takes after me with the size of her cheeks...but nothing else;(

still grinning, even after being hit in the head by her big sister...

checking something out

We definitely have another McPherson baby on our hands...my dad said that we'll just have to have a fourth and hope it looks like me....uum, yeah, I don't want to talk about that!! Oh lord save us...