Cousins

This post is sort of a hodge-podge of cousin pictures from the last couple weeks. My girls truly enjoy spending with their cousins more than anybody else in the world. They think their big cousins are the coolest people around and that their little cousins are the funnest! I am so thankful that they have their cousins so close by!

On October 1st, Caroline turned FOUR! She had a super fun party at a pottery shop where all the kids painted a piece of pottery!!

Having a blast as they painted!

Claire and I made a special frame for Caroline with stickers that spelled out both girls' names and Claire was able to leave a spoken message for Caroline that she can play over and over!

I think Caroline loved her gift!

Caroline & Catherine came over yesterday and the girls had so much fun playing in the leaves! Oh, the simplicity of life when you're a child! It is so sweet to witness.

A leaf fight!

This is quite possibly my favorite photo of all time! I love the expressions on their faces! PRICELESS!

Cute little cousins!

Today we went to Caroline's last soccer game. Claire has been begging to go and she was Caroline's biggest cheerleader!

Some of the cousins snuggled up watching a movie in Uncle Shawn & Aunt Kristen's bed!

Wedding Preview

These are photos taken before Beth's wedding. Many more pics to come!

Flower Girls!

~the wedding party~

Beth was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen and her dress was stunning... the details were amazing!

What a beautiful fall day for a wedding!

Wedding Rehearsal

On Friday, we had the wedding rehearsal and dinner for Aunt Beth's wedding. The girls have been so excited about being the flower girls in their Aunt's wedding!

My friend, Jeni, made these flower girl shirts for the girls to wear to the rehearsal! So cute!

Going down the aisle... they made me nervous for the real thing. I wasn't so sure how it would go, but they did a great job on the big day!

Aunt Bethie & Papa practicing their big walk down the aisle!

I got teary eyed at the rehearsal. Hard to believe Beth was getting married. She was just an eight year old little girl when I started dating Ben. Time has gone by so quickly!

The pretty Cutting girls!

Aunt Beth gave the girls a bag full of goodies. Jeni made the bag to match the girls' flower girl shirts!

We had a delicious rehearsal dinner at Mamma DiSalvo's. Mmmm!

The girls loved the flower girl books Aunt Beth got them! (I put the girls' hair up in foam rollers the night before the wedding!).

Apple Picking

The girls and I went to an apple orchard with some friends from church recently. We had so much fun picking apples, looking at the animals and hanging out with our friends on a beautiful fall day! Fall activities are so much FUN!

L ro R: Anna, Claire, Olivia, Elliott, William, Landon, Madilynn, Caleb and Sara Beth.



The girls in the orchard!

I love how the apple matches the green apple on Anna's shirt!

Pumpkin patch!

So happy!

Our Future Vet?

You decide for yourself!!

I wonder if she loves animals??

Dental Exam

Listening to Sally's heart and lungs with a stethoscope.

Using an otoscope to check Sally's ears!

Open up, Sally.

Anna was pretending to change Sally's bandage. She watches every move I make when I do a dressing change!

OUCH! Sally got a "shot" from Dr. Anna. Sally was such a great patient!

Sally the Greyhound

As many of you know, we took in an injured greyhound named Sally last Tuesday. She sadly had her foot caught in a heavy steel door while she was being trained at a correctional institute. Her foot was pretty well mangled and due to the extent of the injury, a toe had to be amputated. She was in so much pain initially, but it has been so neat to see her progress and witness her sweet personality blossom over the last week. She has been such a trooper and acted like such a little lady, even through the pain. Needless to say, we have fallen in love with this sweet girl. The girls have loved having her in our home and I feel so good that my girls are able to see, in action, compassion for animals in need. What a great, hands-on way to learn this valuable lesson!

Look at this face!

Sally's poor bandaged foot. Thankfully, she has been healing well and my vet, Dr. Langenderfer, has donated her expertise and supplies to help me with the dressing changes. Another reason I LOVE Dr. L!!!

They love each other! Look at them eating out of the same bowl! Greyhounds know another greyhound!

This is a typical morning at our house right now. The girls love to cuddle with Sally while they watch a cartoon!

Claire is very protective of Sally. Sally has two mommies!

Disney on Ice

I surprised the girls with tickets to go see Disney Princesses on Ice! We had a fun girls' night out together and the girls were enthralled with the beautiful production. Disney does a pretty amazing job with their shows!!! Claire & Anna watching the show!

Snow White and the dwarfs

Beauty & the Beast

Mickey & Minnie

Me with the girls at intermission (ignore the $25 in snow cones the girls are holding... GEESH. How can you say no? I am still shaking my head that I spent that much money!!!).

Cinderella and the mice

The finale with all the princesses and princes. What a fun evening!