Reinda and Papa's Farm

Mom and Dad had a work trip, so Ryan and I got to spend some time at the farm with Reina and Papa. Here are some highlights....

1. Learning to peep outside (btw...not okay when you are in a neighborhood or at the park with Mom)

2. Barbies playing in the hot tub (Papa now calls it the lukewarm Barbie pool)

3. Watering Larry the Lizzard (He is really a metal lizzard that lives on the deck, but likes to play in the water).

4. Other fun adventures like four-wheeling and walks to the creek.

Reina and Papa said they were realy tuckered out when Mom and Dad came to get us...wonder why?!

Barbie Can Fly...

On the way to Nanny's house this morning, I told Mom Barbie can fly. Her purple dress is magical and makes her fly. Mom said that she shouldn't fly on the interstate...it's not safe, but let her fly while we were driving on Nanny's road.

SPANK-A-MA-DOO-DLE

It is a funny word I made up...You can say it when you feel silly or spicy or sad. Mostly I like to call my friends this as a lovie word.

A Prayer at Panera

You can't see God, but He lives in your heart. God hears your prayers, so I thought last weekend at Panera I would say a wonderful prayer for our "cakes."
It went like this (with eyes closed, brow furled and hand motions) in a not real quite voice:

God is great, God is good...let us thank him for this food.
Thank you for Halloween...it was so fun. I love to be a mermaid.
God, thank you for Abby's birthday at Fun City...I love her sooooo much and love the clown game I played with Daddy and the slides!
And thank you for letting Dad take me to the Razorback game at night. I hope we can go there again. And please be with our family.
In God Names, Amen!

Valentines

When Dad took us out for a Valentine's dinner, I thought it would be super yummy to make a spagetti taco. Mmmmmmm...now that is tasty! I just love holidays and was so excited to tell everyone in Target (real name: The Popcorn Store) and other random people "Happy Balentine's Day!"
Mom and Dad got me a new Princess hat...and I love it because "Princesses never have to clean their own room!"

PARTY

For my birthday this year we went to nastics played, and of course had cake. It was great fun! Did you know there are some kids in the world that don't have toys? All my family and friends brought toys and things for 'medium' kids that don't have much.

Here is what my friends brought:

89 tubes of toothpaste
78 toothbrushes
50+ little toys
lots of little bows and rubber bands

That is a lot of stuff for kids! THANK YOU! My family still spoiled me with presents. And by the way, I've been telling lots of random people that some kids don't have toys so we need to send them some. Thanks everyone for loving me and helping me celebrate! Our friends at church are going to take everything to the kids in Mexico.

4 years old!

90 seconds with AES:

What is your favorite TV show?
-Word World and Scooby Doo.
What is your favorite book?
-Where the Wild Things Are (Dad's favorite too)
What is your favorite color?
-blue and pink
What is your favorite to eat?
-cucumbers, cashews, poms and donuts (with chococlate and sprinkes)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
-A mermaid

Now that I'm 4, I like mom to give me things in 4 (like 4 crackers for snack).

From Mom: Ad, we are super proud of you! And so thankful God let us keep you 4 years ago. You were so sick when you were born and God made you well! Our lives have been so much happier having your silly, sweet and sassy spirit around. We Love you!

Christmas

Santa knew just what I wanted...Belle and the Beast!
homemade cookies-bites=Santa was here

Twas two days before Christmas and we went to Reina and Papa's house. Uncle Nic and Aunt Paige were there too. Matt, Mary and Megan came over and we all opened presents. They are just like family and always get me the best pjs. They got me Dora pjs this year, with furry stuff. I was so excited, I stripped right down and put them on.

Santa called while were there and he told my Papa, "He had trouble getting a word in edgewise." Here I am talking to him on the phone. Reina and Papa got me a fabulous robe (rope) with and "A" and a crown on it so I could have a robe just like them.

Here I am on the swing set Reina and Papa gave us. Daddy and Mr. Dirk put it together when it was really cold. Dad said that Papa wasn't kidding when he said, "Some assembly required!"

Then we had Christmas at home (see above) and with Grams and Pa. They gave me some amazing princess stuff. I played princess for hours and hours!
I can't wait until next Christmas. I'm already asking how many days!

A few things about Christmas...

1. Santa is not the daddy of baby Jesus.
2. Three Wise men brought Jesus a toy cucumber.
3. First you pick out your Christmas tree. Then you put lights and ornaments on with Dad. And finally, you look at it and sing..."We Wish You a Merry Christmas!"
4. Santa is coming in 5 minutes!
5. My favorite song is "Away in a Manger!"
6. Christmas parties are fun!
7. Real Christmas parties have Princess fruit snacks.
8. I am good at picking bows and "writing" labels for presents.
8. It is not a good choice to draw on the door while Mom is wrapping presents, even if you get bored. Cleaning a door isn't very fun!

Gobble, Gobble!

Last Thanksgiving Grams taught me how to make turkey cookies. So, this year we made them again and took them to Grams and Pa's house for desert. I wore my Indian headdress, noodle necklace, and took my drum to set the mood. It was a good time! Chase and I sat at the "kids" table together and played a lot of hide and seek. Of course, I did the annual "eat olives off your fingers" trick. And everyone was so nice to eat my turkey cookies. I was very proud to have made such a tasty treat.

Turkey Cookie "A"..Mom's design

Turkey Cookie "B"..my design. Mom said it was an abstract turkey. Dad said it looked like it had been in a hunting accident.

Prayers

Tonight Dad caught me in the hallway, when I was supposed to be in my bed sleeping. Dad asked what I was doing and I told him, "I'm just praying for Ryan. Mom told me Ryan gets a shot and I pray that his head will feel better." (I'm helping Mom take RyRy to his check-up tomorrow)
Dad asked me if I would pray for his work and I said, "Sure!" I said, "Please make Dad's work feel better. In God's name. Amen."

Also, last night Mom was talking to Dad in a "time-out" kind of voice. I asked her if she was "frustrated" with Dad and she said, "Yes." I told Dad to, "Say sorry to Mom and give her a hug right now!" I understand feeling frustrated because Mom made me frustrated last week before we went to the fire station. I told her so and Mr. Mike and everyone else I saw in the morning.

God is Invisible

...but if you pray to him, he will hear you. God lives in your heart. That is what my Daddy says.

Here we are at Roaring River...visiting Grams and Pa camping.

Trick or Trees

That is what I used to say, but now I just ask:
1. Do you have candy?
2. Do you like my costume?
This year, we were almost complete Disney movie. I was Ariel. Dad was Eric. Ryan was a lobster (Sebastian) and Mom was a jellyfish. There isn't really a jellyfish character in Little Mermaid, but we didn't have a Flounder outfit for Mom to wear. Grams came over and took us all trick or treating and I helped hand out candy at our house. I really love candy and especially Pop Rocks.

I also gave advice to other people about what they should be, like:

Aunt Michelle-A pirate
Uncle Marc-Fire
Reina-A squirrel

So Long, Old Friend

Here is a picture of me when I was little with my dog Bandit ("brother"). He got very sick, and went to heaven so Jesus will make him feel better. He was a really good dog. Mom and dad miss him the most, but I miss him too. We have been reading the book 'Dog Heaven' to help cope.

Dear Bandit,
Thank you for keeping mom company while I was in the NICU.
Thank you for welcoming me home from the hospital.
Thank you for cleaning up my snacks when I spilled them on the floor.
Thank you for running fast (and sideways) with me on the trail.
Thanks for wrestling with Jenks and making me laugh.
Thank you for always being nice, even though I sometimes pestered you.
Thanks for taking naps with me and mom on Fridays.
Thank you for letting me pet your ears. They were my favorite.
Thanks for being my friend.

Love,
Addie

A few of my favorite foods...

Pomegranates "Poms" and Edamame, but not together. And don't eat the edamame pod, even if Papa says it is good roughage.

Hospital Trip

Papa had back surgery, so me Mom and Ryan drove a long day and stayed in a hotel to keep him company. I kept asking Papa if he was okay and if he wanted my silky.
I really liked the hospital because they let me ride in the bed to take Papa to surgery. I told the guy with the funny hat to drive faster. Also, the hospital had a whole fridge of pudding and juice for everyone to share.
The hospital was right next to the zoo, so when Mary was watching Papa, Reina and Mom took Ryan and I to see the wild animals. My favorites were the flamingos, giraffes and the one year-old gorilla. By the way, I do a good impression of a flamingo. Ryan slept through the whole zoo, except when we ate lunch and he grabbed mom's fork and flung salad in her hair....that was funny!

Here is a curious bear.

A Bike Ride Adventure

Today Mom and Dad took me on a long bike ride in a beautiful forest with lots of waterfalls. Dad pulled me behind his bike in my rickshaw wagon. I like that the best because I can read the map and tell him to go faster. It was good to have everyone riding again. We used to go a lot, but then mom got in trouble for riding her bike with Ryan in her tummy. Oh, Ryan stayed with Grams and Pa...he's too little for the wagon now. Anyway, we saw a crane, lots of squirrels and fed the fish. We also had a picnic on a big rock and hiked a little.

A first time for everything....

This week we went with Dad to a school where he learned about big water. Mom took me and Ryan to a cave. It was dark and a little cold, but I really liked it. Things in a cave look like the Ice Age movie.
We played mini golf too. Dad showed me how to hold the club and swing, but I think it is more fun to just put it through the obstacles with my hand.
It's still warm, so we went swimming and I pretended rescued Mom. We can't play with the special floaty on the side of the pool. Also, I called the nice lady at the front desk of our hotel a few times. Daddy gave me a talk about not doing this, but I thought I'd try it anyway while Mom was giving Ryan a bath. I had to go to the front desk and tell the lady I was sorry. She shook my hand and said we could be friends.
Mom also took me to a puppet show at the Arts Center about Leo Lionni stories. "Swimmy" was my favorite. It was great because you were supposed to wear pj's and bring a stuffed animal. I have been for 3 shows now, so that wasn't really my first time to go. But after, we got pineapple gelato (that is funny ice cream) and said hi to "pirates" on motorcycles.
Then yesterday Dad took me to the football game. He bought me popcorn and taught me how to do a karate thing with my hand and say, "that's another first down." I cheered real loud for the band and the players. They have time out there, but it is good time out? I don't know why we don't have good time out at our house. I got to ride on Dad's shoulders "all the day long" home. What fun!

Apples and Cashews

I like apples and cashews the best! And going to Silber Dobber City with Grams and Pa. I like riding the biggest rides I can. Ryan is too little, but Mom, Dad and Grams ride with me. I'm not scared (imagine arms crossed and foot stomped) to ride the really big rides, but I can't!

I'm Medium

Mom and Dad are BIG, Ryan is little and I am MeDiUm!