Goodbye Pacis!

If you have been around Kinsley much over the past 2 years, chances are you have seen her with a beloved "paci". She is quite fond of them. To be honest, I knew it was going to be a challenge to part with them. However, last Thursday I was ready. She also has developed the habit of tugging and twisting her hair while she has a paci, so I thought if we got rid of one, maybe that could eliminate the other. (The verdict is still out . . .)
So, Thursday night we bagged up the pacis for the paci fairy. We packed a bag, put them on the porch, and decided to wait until the next morning. For those of you unfamiliar with the "fairy", she comes to take away your pacis to deliver to other little babies. In return, she leaves you some sort of present. (Kinsley requested Chocolate when daddy called to tell her to come pick them up.)
At bedtime, the tears began. Luckily, when we went to the porch to retrieve a paci, the fairy had already come and gone. Instead of going to bed with a paci on Thursday, Kinsley went to bed with a chocolate bar, pack of gum, and a dum dum sucker. In her mind, that was a fair trade for two years worth of love of her pacis. Naps have been a little difficult, but overall she has done great.
Other recent events: Seeing Santa at the mall for the first time this year. The girls were amazed. I will say, the Santa at Oxmoor mall just might be the real deal - Ella gave his beard a little tug to check and make sure. Made this Miracle of 34th Street loving mommy so proud!
Daddy daughter lunch date at Ella's preschool was a special day last week. Ronnie loved the lunch Ella packed for him - including an Ale 8 :)

Family Halloween Fun

Late October brought some fun times to our house. Some of our fantastic friends, Forrest and Margaret, were married Oct 23rd. Ronnie and I would like to let you know that we have now seen 2 of our matchmaking endeavors make it to the altar. More than anything, it is so exciting to see two well derserving individuals find their mate. They asked Ella to be the flower girl, and our sweet girl did a fantastic job. She was a trooper, and it was a long weekend. She is a pro at the flower girl responsibilities, though, and looked beautiful. On a side note, the day before she got some "Twinkle Toe" shoes. (If you aren't familiar with them, it is like a disco party in a shoe.) Although she really wanted to wear them for the wedding, she decided against it, saying the crowd needed to watch the Bride and not her, and in her fancy shoes, they would all look at her. Kinsley was also not a big fan of the fact they didn't sell the shoes in her size. Daily, she asks "Where my fancy nancy shoes?"

Halloween followed the next weekend. We made the trip to Caneyville for Trunk of Treat. I already don't like to think about it that next year Ella will be in school and our on a whim trips will be few and far between. Our family decided to be the 2 little monkeys jumping on the bed + the dr. + the mama. It would have been too obvious for me to be the mama, so we did a little switch up for our church's trunk or treat. The girls loved that we all dressed up - probably started a new family tradition.

Of course, the girls didn't want just one Halloween costume this year. So Friday night, we headed out to dinner with our two fairy princesses. (Two days before Halloween. But when you are 2 and 5, all outfit options are super cute!)

Slow Down!!

Recently, Kinsley celebrated her 2nd Bday. That's right - the big 2. How is it even possible? Wasn't it just yesterday that Ella was turning 2 with her "geen" (green) bday party, and Kinsley hadn't yet joined the Cordrey clan? Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't turn back time for any amount of money to pre-Kinsley days . . . unless it was to relive all the great moments we are experiencing. I am thrilled that we get to enjoy special moments together. I just hope that in 20 years I can say that we enjoyed the time and didn't take moments for granted. I know it will pass so quickly (and if I had any question about that one, more experienced moms that see us anywhere in public tell me that - atleast once daily!)

We left the day after Kinsley's birthday to go spend a week at our favorite beach location. Panama City Beach, FL. I know, I know - there are probably hundreds of "nicer" beach locations. Not a single one, though, holds the memories of PCB - especially Dunes of Panama. From playing Encore by the beach with good friends, spending so much time in the pool playing "sand removal" that my eyes burned, Baskin Robbins birthday cakes, sharing D403 with more friends / family that I can remember, the list goes on and on. And that is just from my childhood! Now I get to relive special moments there with my girls and it is fabulous! Kinsley was thrilled with games and rides, and made sure grandad knew she could spot them independently every time we passed either! Ella enjoyed the pool, learning how to swim underwater. (Ok - let's be honest - she really enjoyed the store by the pool where she got to pick snacks. She did practice swimming, though!)

Now our travels are done for the most part for awhile. Home to enjoy the fabulous season of fall. Don't worry - pictures to come of this fantastic season and the most beautiful girls enjoying some nature moments!!!

Good memories!

This weekend has been beautiful, so we have tried to enjoy some outside time. Yesterday, I took the girls to Henry's Ark. I can't really even think how to explain this place. It is a cross between a zoo and farm, where the girls are especially partial to the animals roaming free. Kinsley especially loves hugging and kissing the goats (yes - you read that correctly). Ella enjoys petting the deer (and being the big sister who carries the carrot bag and shares with Kinsley as willingly as she chooses!!)

Today we took the girls to Familypalooza at Southeast Christian. Pony rides, inflatables, cotton candy, snow cones, and craft time - wow! We left with both girls crying - the sign of a really good time had by all.

Happy Labor Day!!

Vacation

We recently came home from summer vacation, which was fantastic! The first week we spent in Gulf Shores with Ronnie's side of the family. It was great - the girls had a great time with their grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and getting spoiled by all the attention! The four of us shared a room, which proved to be interesting sleeping patterns for us all. The first night, Ella was laying in bed with Ronnie and I and out of the blue said, "This is like the worst night ever. Let's go home!" We all started rolling. We adjusted, though, and by the end of the week, everyone managed to sleep through the night!

Then we left there, and traveled to Panama City Beach, FL. Ronnie and I consider this the perfect vacation location. To many, it is known as the "Redneck Riveria". However, we love it!We have decided it is because of the familiarity after spending so many vacations there. I practically spent every vacation at Dunes of Panama, D building, since before I was Kinsley's age. Apparently, it is good enough for the President, too! When we got there, we realized the Obama's were in town. So, of course, we had to set out to find them! We found them at Baypoint, where we saw lots of secret service, police officers, yellow tape blocking off their pool, and no first family. Ella said, "Who are these Bama's? (spoken like one would refer to the slang for Alabama). She was ready to head to the capital of PCB - Walmart! Don't worry though, we did manage to catch a glimpse as they were leaving town. We tried to make this week as low key as possible and we were pretty successful! We ate at the condo, enjoyed the beach, and just relaxed. My sweet girls probably wished I had taken a break from the camera, too, but that would just be asking too much!

Ella enjoyed putt putt (Kinsley - not so much. By the 10th hole, she had thrown her putter three times, and thrown her ball too many times to count! I believe she was over it before we even started.) The girls loved playing games, earning tickets to win prizes (A.k.a. mom and dad paying too much money for trinket junk), and playing at the pool. To be honest, there aren't a lot of major details to share about the week because it was just that laid back . . . exactly how we wanted it!

I'm in Love!

That's right - head over heels in love with the newest pics of my sweet girls! I think it was pure coincidence that I came across this gold mine of a photographer. Through the power of Facebook (I make it sounds like a super hero!), I saw incredible pics from a friend's recent wedding. After an email, I found out her fantastic photographer lives right here in the same town! A few phone calls later and we were all set. I met Mary Beth at Louisville Pres. Seminary. She took a few family shots, then let the girls just run and explore. Here are a few of my favorites. We ended up with a CD of 189 and I love each and every one. She did an amazing job of truly capturing each girl's personality.

I am often amazed by God and his wondrous creation. One of the millions of things that amaze me is how He creates us uniquely! I see this best through the girls. Same parents, same type of pregnancy, same parenting style, and polar opposites! Ella is gentle, quiet, sensitive, and reserved. Kinsley never sees a dull moment (except for the few I claim for myself while I put her in her crib to nap. That's right - we still have our almost 2 year old on 2 naps a day and it just works!!!). She is so precious, and so full of energy, life, energy, laughter, energy, joy, and energy! They get along perfectly, though, and I feel so blessed to be mom to both of them!

Simple Magic

Ever have that concept that you knew existed, but didn't really know from personal experience? For example - for me . . . magic. I mean, I know what it is, could probably even describe it in generic terms, but to experience it is something completely different. Another one for me - simplicity. I could define it - sure. But to experience it and have that experience as a definition is a whole different story. This weekend, I was able to experience Magic and Simplicity all in one. Magic in watching my sweet girls have the time of their lives catching fireflies with their meme and grandad. Simplicity in the fireflies. Honestly, I don't see that many in our yard here in Louisville. In Caneyville, though, my sweet hometown - there is an overabundance. To my two young girls, it is amazing. Something so simple that I grew up seeing every night is so precious getting to relive it with my own girls. Our summer has been filled with simple things so far - slip and slides, fireflies, freezer pops, smores, backyard plastic pool, just to name a few. How precious to get to experience these things again with my girls - things from my own childhood!

On a recent show that we like (Ok - I will admit it - Friday Night Lights. We love it. So much that we were some of the crazies that even logged on the website when it went away for an entire year - watching for it to return!!) - Anyway, back to story. Recently, the mom was having a conversation with her daughter. Her over indulgent teenage daughter was giving the mom a hard time about pressuring her into what the mom wanted her to do. The mom simply said - "I got my dream. Our family is my dream come true." Then she went on to explain her daughter needed her own, etc . . . That comment resonated with me "I got my dream." I feel the same way. When I look at my life, I realize I can honestly say I received more than I could have ever asked for or imagined.

I think of that verse, "To Him who is able to do more than we imagine . . . " Thank you, God, for my life that is more than I could have dreamed it could be. Thank you for the simple moments.