Brownies and Swimmers

For this year's activities the girls are doing swim team, and Lane wanted to do Brownies, too.  I'm pretty proud of how well they're doing with both things, given the bigger load they each have at school this year.

Swim is M W F for an hour each day, and Brownies usually meet two Thusdays out of the month.  Swimming takes a lot out of them, but it's such great exercise and they both love to swim so it's a win-win.  This past Wednesday just after practice Lane said, "Mom Coach Vince worked us so hard, can we just go home?"  Ha. 

Last night at Brownies the troop made sit upons, and it was held at a fun park near our house. There were three girls that couldn't come to the activity last night, so Addyson told the troop leader that she was happy to make those girls their sit upons.  She's such a sweet girl.  It was a great day to be outside.  I think this will be a great school year for these ladies!

Fun n Stuff

Addyson had her birthday party last night.  She invited her friends Regan, Sarah and Emily.  We took them to Fun n Stuff then back to our house for a sleepover.  Fun n Stuff is a place where you can do Go Carts, putt putt golf, bowl, rock climb, roller skate, laser tag, and other things.  Our girls love it.  Last night was lots of fun, I think all the girls had a blast.  We got home pretty late but still needed to do cake and presents.  I let the girls stay up pretty late, 1 AM in fact.  I think we're all pretty wiped out today!  It was worth it though.  Addyson thanked us a few times for letting her have the party, and she certainly deserved it!

Sting

A few years ago in preschool Lane got stung by a wasp.  She was out on the playground and it was pretty traumatic for her.  Her teacher called and told me about it, but said Lane was fine and wanted to stay at school the rest of the day.  Since that happened she's been leery of anything that flies around her.  So it came as no surprise that when she got stung a few days ago that she completely freaked out.  She and her Dad and Addyson were playing kickball in the front yard when a wasp got her on her thigh.  Poor kid.  I felt terrible for her.  We got her inside and iced it then put some medicine on it.  For a few days the area on her thigh was pretty red and swollen, and she had zero interest in going back outside for a while.  

This morning I was in her room after she left for school and found a little page in a journal she had written.  I thought it was pitiful but sweet.  I love how she wrote down how she was feeling.  Oh how I love her.

Addyson is 11!

Where do the years go?  It amazes me that our oldest is now 11, and pretty much going on 25.  This girl is beautiful with her golden brown hair, freckles, and blue eyes.  Wow.  But her beauty really lies within.  She's incredibly smart, so funny, can make friends effortlessly, she's athletic, and she's also a really good friend, not only a daughter.  We are blessed to call her ours!  

We celebrated minus Ryan this year, but he surprised us all early by coming home from his work trip a bit early.  What's a birthday without your Dad??  

The night before Addyson's actual birthday, we met the Millers at Chick Fil A and they brought her the neatest present; two books in a series that Kathryn knew she'd love, and a $25 iTunes gift card.  Score! The next day I brought chocolate eclairs up to the school for her class birthday treat and brought her even MORE Chick Fil A for lunch.  

When she got on the bus that afternoon, she texted me to tell me she had fallen down the stairway at school just before Science class.  Poor kid!  I can only imagine how scared she was when that happened.  Thankfully, she only had some bruising on her arm and leg and nothing else.  

That night I took her, her friend Sarah, and Lane to Macaroni Grill for dinner. You can't go wrong with that place on your birthday.  

Just after we got home we were greeted with a cool rainbow, and Dad in the garage.  That might have been the best part of the birthday girl's day.  Ryan had been gone the entire week so getting to see him on her birthday was a really neat surprise.

We capped the day off with cookie cake and candles.  It's fun to be 11.

Birthday Bed

For her birthday this year, Addyon asked for a bedroom makeover and new furniture.  She found a cute loft bed set from Pottery Barn Teen.  It was really neat but way too expensive.  She showed it to Ryan and after he looked at it he told her he could make it.  I wasn't surprised because he can make pretty much anything.  He got on it right away, and after many trips to The Home Depot, he got it finished.  It took him about 3-4 days, which is crazy.  I really don't think there's anything he can't do!  In order for the bed to fit, she and Lane had to switch rooms because of the ceiling height.  That's been a big job, too.

We also got Addyson new drapes for her window, Grandma and Grandpa Fackrell gave her a cool bean bag chair, and she got a few other decorative things.  I think it's a neat space where she'll like to do homework, study, hang out, and bring her friends.  So much fun for an almost 11 year old!