Park Day!

 Adelyn loved taking her girls out for a day at the park!  She was so patient and sweet setting them all up and was explaining to me that Kit was afraid of heights and Emily was the leader.

 She wanted all the big girls to hold Lucy on the swings.

 Climbers

So much fun ... Adelyn said "My kids haven't been out to the park in a super long time.  They have been BEGGGGGGING me, Mom!"

 One by one they all rode this with Adelyn.

.  Of course they had fun on their own too.

"I need a picture with MY kids"

So our day started off normal - got the kids up (MY kids!), bathed and was giving Leo, our 4 month old, a bottle.  Before you knew it Eli and Addie wanted to feed Leo.  Perfect.  They took turns holding him, loving on him ... it was so sweet and obviously a photo opportunity!  So... I started taking pictures - lots and lots of them!  Afterwards Adelyn said "Mommy, you have sooo many pictures of me and Leo, but none of me and Kit.  Can you please take some of me and MY kids. " I said of course and she responded "Just me and Kit - I have pictures of me and the other kids - but Kit is feeling left out lately.  She needs some one on one time with me."  Have I mentioned my daughter is   FOUR!?

 

 So we went out in the backyard and took some pictures of Adelyn and Kit --- She loved how they turned out.  She has asked me to print them out and frame them for the dollhouse.

After our photo shoot Adelyn said it was time to take the Kit, Erica and Lucy for a ride to target because they had to buy a birthday present for Ava and Emily (who today are twins - haha).  

 At some point they switched vehicles - not sure why that happened (but I am sure there was a reason .... haha) - but they started giving each doll a turn to ride on Eli's lap -- and then after that dolls turn - Eli would kiss the doll, say goodbye, and grab another one.

  

Look at his sweet, sweet face.  He is learning a thing or two from his sister.   My husband gets annoyed when Eli plays with the dolls - but I just think it's teaching him how to be gentle and sweet.  Someday my handsome little boy is going to be one heck of a good husband and father.

 Lucy (the baby) started crying so Adelyn had to go get her and they had to go home --- Adelyn's words "It's too hard with a cranky baby at target.  We'll try again next time." 

Time to go swimming! Hotel adventure

Picture above is the 'car'  -- love their little feet peeking through - haha!  The bag is FULL of everything they will need for their trip!  What a nice Mommy Adelyn is - she took 5 of her girls to a hotel in Michigan to go swimming!  They all had to take turns, Adelyn set the timer and gave each girl 20 minutes in the pool (thankfully 2 dolls fit in the pool at one time).  It was a bit of a long morning =) but fun !!  While 2 were in the pool, the other 2 big girls had ice cream and waited very patiently for their fun in the sun!  Baby Lucy came along because Adelyn "is still nursing" and she can't be away from her for an entire night.

 Ava and Kit were the first two in the pool

 

20 minutes later Erica and Emily got a turn, too :)  

 

 Emily and Erica waiting patiently for their chance to swim.

  Lucy needed to nurse.

 A very happy Adelyn

Adelyn said that she needed 3 big kids in the pool to hold Lucy up :)  Safety first!

 

 After their swim time it was time to come home, take baths and get in jammies.   No pictures of the bath because Adelyn said "Mommy, that's just weird". =)                      

A photo shoot

 Today Adelyn decided to do a photo shoot with her dolls.   They all got dressed up, Adelyn 'brushed' and styled all their hair until it was "just right" and "perfectly fancy".  Then she asked to borrow my camera ... and the rest is history!

 

Those that collect these dolls might get  wonder WHY I let my 4 year old 'brush' their hair or play rough with them at all ... and the answer is simple:  These dolls are toys.  They are dolls.  Yes, they are expensive, but they are worth the price because they are so well made - they are made to last - they are made to be played with. 

 

 

 Just like I wouldn't buy my kid a bike they couldn't ride - I would never give my child a toy and say "Sorry, it was very expensive, you can not play with it.  Put it on a shelf at stare at it."  What is the point in that!?  That is child TORTURE in my honest opinion!

 

 However, Adelyn does know that these dolls are special and that's WHY she wants to play with them.  They are special and they need love.  And that's what Adelyn give them - everyday.  Love.

 

When Adelyn goes down for a nap, I think I'll be getting out the spray bottle and brush and doing a little maintenance on these beauties.

 

Fun Times !!

The dolls and Adelyn spent about an hour ... not exaggerting ... playing duck duck goose =) 

It was SO fun to watch and def. picture worthy! 

After game time it was time for some pandora kids music and a dance party !!

Graduation Day!

Today was a big day for Adelyn's 4 'oldest' girls --- they graduated from preschool!  Of course that meant an entire performance, including a puppet show, many songs and lots of hugs!  Adelyn was amazing me with the songs she was completely making up as she went along as well as classic "Jesus Loves Me" and "Kindergarten here we come!".  She was instructing the kids to take a bow (picture on the right) and individually went over and hugged each of her kids.  When I asked if she was the teacher or the mommy she responded "I'm both.  They are lucky.  Their teacher is their mommy.  I don't want to be away from my kids for one single minute."

Getting Married ...

Adelyn informed me this morning that she needed to get married, quickly, because she had too many kids and they need a daddy.  "It's too much work to take care of them all by myself, I need to get married and get some help around here!"   - direct quote from Adelyn herself.