{{Somewhat}} Wordless Thursday!

After posting about Halloween, I realized that it has actually been a really long time since I've done a photo post....time flies when you're having fun! With birthdays and school and halloween and John traveling a ton, I just can't keep up! :) 

G & Charlie hanging out at a friends birthday party at the park 

Johnny's photography....his gator is very important to him

Charlie checking out daddy's suitcase

Boys night out at Monster Jam!! These two had been looking forward to this event for weeks! Johnny had to have a t-shirt and monster truck from the merchandise table....John spilled his drink on his leg....and upon getting home around 11:00 Johnny woke this mama up to tell me all about it (he didn't even fall asleep on the way home--he was that excited!!). I'm pretty sure they will be making this a yearly trip. 

While daddy and Johnny were at Monster Jam, Mellany, Charlie and I made brownies and visited with the neighbors for a bit. 

Taking care of Oreo for the weekend 

Johnny's photography....his new monster truck Grave Digger

Muffins with Mom at school....and a book fair....I'm not sure who had more fun, me or her?! It was also definitely apparent to me that Mellany is very much a social butterfly. 

Charlie's new favorite place

Our Charlie is one determined little boy. I had him securely fastened in the cart and he wanted something that he couldn't reach so he just turned himself completely around! (He was promptly turned back around after documenting the event. At no point was he in any danger.)

My boys and their automobiles

Another of Charlie's favorite places

But the pantry is by far the best....I mean, who doesn't want to have a chair in the pantry?!

I know that these times are numbered...

Painting pumpkins with neighbors. We painted them teal to let trick or treaters know that we were an "allergy friendly" house

Papa & Teresa came to visit! 

I turned 32....

A trip to the mall to play and eat pretzels is definitely in order when colder weather comes

Johnny's photography! 

Halloween 2017

Halloween gets more and more exciting as the kids get older. Our house had more halloween decorations this year than ever before and the kids started counting down for Trick or Treat on October 1. Needless to say we had such a fun time celebrating and the kids are already talking about next year! 

Trunk or Treat
John had to take a trip out of town this year over trunk or treat so I accepted the challenge (with some help from Kelley and her family thank goodness) and headed to the church to spend the evening. Everyone had a blast walking from table to table looking at the different themes and enjoying some treats.

Trick-or-Treating!
The Okos family came to join us this year for trick or treating and everyone had so much fun! It was pretty cold so Charlie got to stay with mama and pass out our goodies; he was VERY in to handing them out too--he would literally cry when I would shut the door when there weren't any kids around. The bigger kids came back after about 45 minutes with bags full of candy, ready to dig in!

Kids & Costumes: Simon-Combine, Charlie-Batman, Johnny-Police Officer, Mellany-Princess Elena of Avalor, Charlotte-Fairy Princess riding a Unicorn 

Mellany: #6

Our spunky and joyful Mellany turned 6 on us this year. These past 6 years have been the best years of our lives because of her! She is absolutely the best daughter and we are so thankful to God that she is ours!

Here's a little bit about our Mellany:

• Mellany still has excellent manners......yes ma'am, please, thank you, no sir, excuse me....she rarely has to be reminded which makes me feel so good
• She is our artist! She can draw very well, color, paint, chalk, stencil....you name it this girl will do it and is better at it than me. She's soooo creative and truly loves it! 
• She has a special bond with each of her brothers! Making Charlie laugh is a daily ritual...she loves to go in and talk to him after he wakes up in the morning and if we are parked  somewhere in the car and Charlie isn't happy about it, she will unbuckle and entertain him.  Johnny is her #1 buddy. She loves to teach him anything he will sit and listen to and she loves to set up pretend scenarios for them to play (house, school). She gets him to play dress up with her and she will even play cars/trucks/tractors with him. They have started having "sibling moments" though where they would rather play by themselves than with each other. 
• Barbies and her dolls (Ashley and Baby Karen) are definitely her most favorite toys. She is still into all things animals (puppies specifically), princesses, dress up, books, puzzles and her kitchen. Legos are also becoming a new favorite toy.
• She loves to swing on the swingset! Riding her bike and scooter and jumping on the trampoline are a close "second" when it comes to playing outside. 
• She is gradually wanting more and more independence. She likes to check the mail by herself, she likes to walk to neighbors houses by herself, put things in our shopping cart by herself....our baby is growing up on us
• Mellany is a girl of routine....she has one of two things for breakfast, one of two things for lunch and would prefer this same for dinner but that is usually our time to "push" the kids a little for trying something new. She has grown so much in this area and has really "embraced" at least trying foods and eating 5 bites. 
• She loves to sing and can make up a song about anything. 
• Mellany is really enjoying Kindergarten. She comes home every day and tells me about the new friends she made, the letters and words they learned, etc. etc. It makes my heart so happy that she loves school. 
• She loves riding the bus to and from school. In the morning she likes for us to walk her down to the bus stop but in the afternoon she has asked me to stay at the house on the porch and wait for her....(remember how I was saying she is gaining independence??....)
• She is a social butterfly and doesn't know a stranger-she will play with anyone who wants to! Once you get her talking, she doesn't stop and wants you to come to her house and play for the rest of the day. I hope she continues to love people! 
• She loves ballet and swimming
• Mellany can dress herself completely tie her shoes all by herself. She is very specific on what she likes to wear though. For example: dresses must have a good twirl, shoes are good if her feet don't slide in them once they get sweaty and pants cannot have a button or snap-preferably no jeans.
• She still loves to know what is happening in advance and uses her calendar to know what we will be doing the next day, week, etc. She has gotten to know her months, days of the week and dates very well. 
• Following directions comes very easily to her. We can give her several specific directions and she will follow them to a "T". She will also make sure that Johnny is following the directions :) 
• Her patience and attention span are incredible! 
• She loves shopping and going to the movie theater
• She loves to snuggle and having a good blanket to snuggle with makes it even better. 
• Mellany is a perfectionist. She will get really upset if she is drawing a picture, for example, and it doesn't turn out the way she wants it to look. She can be very hard on herself and bring herself to tears. 
• She has excellent handwriting
• Mellany can shower by herself!!!!!! She occasionally needs some help lathering and rinsing her hair and a gentle reminder that the water is running so stop playing.....but she overall does a great job! 
• She loves to play board games
• She has an impressive attention to detail
• Her love for reading still exists and has even started reading books herself; she is starting to identify sight words in sentences and paragraphs
• Her favorite cartoons are: Shimmer & Shine, My Little Pony
• Her favorite movies are: Descendants, Inside Out
• At this point in life, I would say the odds of her being either a teacher or a veterinarian are pretty good! 
• She can do simple math equations

6 Year Wellness Exam

Weight: 46lb

Height: 48"

Blood Pressure: 98/62

Mellany's 6 year wellness check was perfect. Dr. Fahler talked with her and I about her eating habits, growth (especially how tall she is!), how she's liking school, ballet, art, her brothers, her friends, reasons she might be urinating so frequently again and just life in general. After giving her a physical exam, we were ready for her flu shot. Mellany had been "preparing" for several days but the moment the nurse walked in the poor girl got anxious all over again. After talking her through the process again, she was able to relax, lay down, hold my hands and count with me.....we didn't even make it to two and the nurse was done! She didn't even cry a single tear! She was proud of herself for being so brave and I was too!

We got our stickers, walked out of the dr office and headed straight for Gigi's Cupcakes!





On her actual birthday.....

She chose a unicorn design for her cookie cake

And donuts for her birthday breakfast.....Johnny made sure he picked his out

Her teacher sent me this picture of her passing out her birthday treat in school.

"Happy Birthday" she got to put the candles in all by herself this year

Opening presents from mom & dad, Johnny, Gammy (who even got to join in on the celebration with us this year)& Nana!

Birthday Celebration

Mellany really wanted to share her special celebration day with her friend Charlotte (and of course Gammy too). After picking up Charlotte, our first stop was lunch/playing at McDonalds.

We were then off to paint pottery. Charlotte picked a fairy princess riding a unicorn and Mellany picked a cupcake jar. 

This was Mellany after the day's events....totally worn out!