We're Getting a Puppy!

Dear Kate and Abby,

You asked.  You begged.  You pleaded.  You've proved time and time again, that you do, indeed, want a puppy dog.  So... WE'RE GETTING A PUPPY!  Mommy and Daddy decided a while back that we'd get a puppy for Christmas.  You can't always plan the timing on puppy dog availability, so we will be getting our puppy a couple weeks before Christmas, but nonetheless, this IS a Christmas present from Mommy and Daddy.  We did lots of research and decided a Golden Doodle was the best fit for our family.  We wanted a big puppy, but not huge.  We wanted a smart puppy.  We wanted a VERY friendly puppy, especially with kiddos.  And, of course, we wanted a cute puppy!  Golden Doodle summed it up for us!  So Mommy and Daddy put our name on a local breeder's list and we found out the mommy puppy was having babies.  We were so excited and Daddy was just itching at the seam to tell both of you but I said NO.  Not until we knew absolutely for sure and picked it out.  So we waited, and Mommy yelled at Daddy a couple of times, and finally the lady called us and said we could pick out a puppy!  I told you Daddy had a special surprise for us and that I didn't know so we met Daddy after work and drove to the farm where our puppies were.  Now, keep in mind, Abby, you have BEGGED for a puppy for over a year now.  It's all you say you want for Christmas and every dog we pass, you want to pet and then say "I want one like that".  And Kate, you LOVE petting all puppies, so I just knew this surprise was going to be the ultimate surprise forever!  We pulled up to the farm and I got out my camera to record Daddy telling you two the good news.  I let Daddy do it because he was nice enough to wait until then to tell.  Here's what happened...

I'll say it again - ANTICLIMACTIC.  What in the world??!!  Daddy will never be allowed to handle surprises again.  It's like you two were being sentenced to jail or something.  I was so disappointed in the level of excitement from the 2 of you!  Ha!  To say the least, I put the camera away and explained the situation a little better  and then we actually got to hold the puppies!  NOW WE'RE TALKING!!!

A little hands on action gets everyone excited! 

 Here's the Mommy.  She was so sweet and loved playing fetch with both of you!

 And she loved her babies!

  So did Katie Bug! 

 

 And we could not get Abby to walk away from the puppy love!

 

 So sweet!! Mommy cannot wait to get our puppy home!

 So after much debate (not really!) we decided on this puppy.  He's a boy, which seemed to cause a bit of confusion for you, Abby.  I think you wanted a girl, but you quickly changed your mind once you learned we could either get a boy or nothing!

 We got to go outside and throw the ball to the mommy for a bit and talk to the owners and by the time we left, we were all giddy with extreme excitement.  Since then Abby, you have told EVERYONE that you are getting a puppy dog, after halloween and after Thanksgiving.  And Kate always repeats it after you say it!
We will get to go back in a couple of weeks and have a couple play dates with our pup and then the weekend after Thanksgiving we get to take him home!! HOORAY!!!
Now, we have to decide a name.  Abby, you thought Elizabeth, Noodle and Lovey were good names.  Daddy suggested Tee and Mommy thought Knox was a good one.  Right now, Knox is in the lead, but we haven't put a definite name on him yet.   But let's be honest here, we know he will be called Knox :)
YAY!!!! WE'RE GETTING A PUPPY!!!!
I know both of you will love that puppy so much, almost as much as I love both of you!

Field Trips, Hair Cuts and New Friends

Dear Abby,

This week was full of fun!  You had a field trip to Gentry's Farm with your classmates and thanks to Uncle Jaybee watching Katie Bug, Mommy got to go with you!  You were very excited and could not make up your mind on who to sit beside!  So many friends at school! 

We rode the hayride to the pumpkin patch where Farmer Gentry talked to us about different types of pumpkins, then you got to pick your own!

You helped Kaityln pick one out, too!  She was trying to get the biggest one but you convinced her to get a cute, small one.  Her mommy was very thankful for that ;)

We continued the hayride over to the barn where you and your friends went C-R-A-Z-Y!

It was a great field trip on a beautiful morning!  We will miss these sweet little trips next year when you are in Kindergarten!

After the pumpkin patch, we headed to get your hair cut!  Mommy has been wanting to get your hair cute for a while now, but you did not at all. You wanted it long, long, long.  Then, one morning, you just decided to get it cut, so I jumped on the opportunity!  It was beautiful long, for sure, but it was becoming very hard to keep up with, especially because you are so tender headed.  It also takes a very long time to dry, like Mommy's, and with winter approaching, we just didn't want to deal with all that!  So, off we went!! And to our surprise, you got to get it washed this time.  Apparently when you are 5, you get it washed.  You were a little nervous at first, but I convinced you it was the best feeling in the world!  I love getting my hair washed by someone else :)  You also loved your little towel updo afterwards!

And, drum roll please............ TA-DA!!!! Short hair Abby!  Actually, it looks shorter than this because the hair dresser straightened it when she dried it, but nonetheless, super cute - and man alive you look super old!!!!

On Wednesday, we met up with Cole (and Chloe, of course!) for a little birthday celebration!  Cole had a big party planned, but it happened to be the Fall break weekend and most everyone had vacation plans, so Miss Auburn decided to switch up the party and invite us all to Sonic (and their playground!) to celebrate.  Let me just tell you, this was the most brilliant idea ever.  EVERYONE loved it. We all met after school let out and you kiddos got yummy ice cream cones and played and played and played! Perfect idea.  It's the impromptu ideas that always are the best, huh!  

As I mentioned, your Fall break was starting that weekend.  While we didn't have out of town plans, we did have plans for friends to come visit us.  Daddy's friend Ghosh and his family came in from Atlanta to stay with us.  He brought along his 3 1/2 yr old daughter, Annabelle, and 9 month old, Oliver (and his lovely bride, too!).  They got in Friday evening and we were all starving so we took them to our favorite, Mexican!  They loved it just as much as we did and even introduced us to the guacamole, which was SO GOOD.  I have no idea how we've gone there for 5 years and never had the guacamole!  Saturday morning rolled around and we took them straight to Gentry's Farm.  It was unusually warm that day (boo!), but we still enjoyed the hayride and all the other fun it has to offer! 

You did not get to ride on the tire swings when you went on your field trip, so you were thrilled to hop on them this time!!

You even showed Annabelle how to ride!

And waited patiently with your little sister...

Then, you got the idea to get underneath, so two people could ride at a time (and reduce your overall wait time!  Pure genius!)

And, little sis had to do it, too!

We got measured up and played a little on the playground - and look, you grew!!!!

And then guess who popped up?!

 RYAN!!!  They had been at the beach all week and made a surprise visit to Gentry's that morning!  You two set off through the corn maze and then peeking at all the caged birds!  And, you decided to eat all their popcorn...

Everyone played on the big play ground for a long time and then it was time for us to head home with our friends, or at least to lunch.  On the way out, you decided you needed your picture taken :)

which included a scary face...

and then a sleepy face...

And that just made Mommy take even more pictures :)

and that just made you make more scary faces!

After Gentry's, we headed to Gray's, the new restaurant.  We LOVED it!  It was our first time going and we will for sure be back.  Such a yummy twist on southern food, and the drinks were glorious, you know, like the water and milk :)
After Gray's, we headed home to put the babies down for a nap and you girls rested by watching a movie while the grown ups watched some football.  Daddy made some yummy wings for an afternoon snack and then all the kiddos were fed and put to bed early while the 'dults grilled burgers and had some fun on their own.
The next morning was pretty low key with a trip to the park that morning.  Annabelle loved our park and you showed her all your signature moves...

Annabelle and her family left from the park to head back home and Daddy and his girls grabbed some lunch and headed home to rest.  It was a great week of fun!  We love having friends over and love even more when you girls play so well together.  Love you!