Ashlee lost her 2nd tooth!

Really....and she's not even 5 yet!  She has the cutest big gap in the bottom front.  Adorable!

My little swimmer

At the beginning of the summer, Ashlee would not even get her face wet.  If water splashed on it, she'd freak and immediately yell for a towel.  She had NO desire to go under water, jump in the pool or anything that would come close to getting her face wet.

After a summer of pool fun, my little pumpkin is officially a FISH!  She LOVES jumping in the pool (see video above), putting her head under water (in the bathtub too), and swimming around WITHOUT goggles!  She still plugs her nose, but she is getting better at holding her breath all the time.  I am so proud of my peanut and how she is overcoming her "fear" of being underwater.  At the beginning of the summer I told her I was not going to put her in swim lessons until she would get her face wet.  The other day at the pool she said to me, "Mommy, I'm ready for swim lessons now!"  It amazes me how that selective remembering works! :)

Ashlee and her buddies Lenja and Landon.  Funny, all 3 of them are December birthdays!

Daddy and Ashlee at the pool!

Ashlee has her first loose tooth!

It seems a bit early, but yep, its loose!  Bottom, front, left side.  Ashlee is SUPER excited for it to fall out and the tooth fairy to come.  She asks me every day how much longer till it falls out.  It was so cute, today she said, "Mommy, I know what I want to be when I grow up.  A tooth fairy."

More zoo fun in 2011

We just love the zoo!  Here's some pics from our 2nd trip of 2011 with Ashlee's buddy, Tyler!

VBS June 2011

Ashlee attended her first VBS this year at Southeast Christian Church.  She had so much fun playing, learning about God, singing, and playing some more.  When I asked her what she learned, she really didn't have much to say, but she sure could talk about the bounce house, water fights and bean bag toss! :)

Ashlee, Tyler and Austin on their first day at VBS

My little pirate!

This is what happens....

When you let a couple of 4 year old girls get a hold of the camera!!

Last day of Preschool and Field Day

Ashlee has had such a great time in preschool this year.  Not only has she made good friends, had fun, and had wonderful teachers, but she has grown so much socially and educationally.  Some of her favorite projects this year were watching caterpillars cocoon and turn into butterflies, going on a field trip to the museum, planting her own flower seeds and watching them grow, and the daily job chart.  Let me tell you about the "job chart".  Those little kiddos loved that thing, I think it gave them a since of responsibility and purpose! Everyday Ashlee would tell me who what her job was, and what Lina's job was, and Trinidee's and David's and on and on.  The most coveted job of all was the "Weather Bear Helper".  Don't ask me why, but the kids loved it when that was their job! 

So, after only 1 year of school, se is no longer my insanely shy, timid girl.  She has gained so much confidence (as witnessed at her dance recital) and learned so much (as seen when she writes her name and knows all her letter sounds).  We are going to miss alot of her dear friends next year as they move up to Kindergarten, but I know she will have no trouble making new ones.  I look forward to another year of her learning and falling more in love with school!

Ashlee, Lina and Trinidee at the museum

Ashlee, Trinidee and Lina at their last day of school

Ashlee's preschool class

Showing off her certificate at Field Day

Ashlee, Natalia and Lina at field day

You go girl!

Me and my girl at Field Day

Getting a good tickle from dad!

Little peanut all dressed up on her last day of preschool, 2011