Molly

Kindergarten promotion

Posted in Molly, School, Video on June 15th, 2013 by c-had – Be the first to comment

Download: Normal Quality | HD Quality

Molly had a kindergarten promotion ceremony at school to show everyone how much they learned this year. Molly was selected to be one of the three kids to introduce the ceremony, which she was very excited about. The classes sang a couple songs each, and then all five classed joined together for the grand finale. The house was packed, and the kids did great.

Our little flower girl

Posted in Celebrations, Leah, Molly, Trip on June 4th, 2013 by jen – Be the first to comment

We headed to Atlanta this weekend to attend Mike and Mary's wedding, which featured Molly as the flower girl. We flew in on Friday and then headed to the church for the rehearsal. Molly was very excited.

Rehearsal

Not only did we get to join in the wedding festivities, we also got to see cousins. Molly and Leah were thrilled when Emmie showed up.

Cousin time

The rehearsal dinner was held in a great outdoor space, and included yummy barbeque from Jim 'N Nick's. After dinner, Brian (Mike's dad) made sure to embarrass Mike with a walk through his life so far.

Embarrassed

They also had some fun stuff for kids of all ages, including these foam swords.

Swordplay

There were also quilt squares that guests could sign or decorate, which Jan (Mike's mom) plans to put together for the bride and groom.

Quilt squares

A bunch of cousins. They cross generations and don't include others, but I believe the one thing they have in common is that they were all unmarried (at least for the next few hours).

Unmarried

Our little flower girl on the day of the wedding, just after putting on her dress and having her hair braided.

Ready to go

I made the majority of Molly's dress in March, but finally brought out the machine again last week (after packing it away while selling the house) to finish the dress for Saturday's wedding. Mary sent the sash to match the bridesmaid dresses.

The key skill required for being a flower girl is patience. Molly was outstanding in this regard. Here she is patiently waiting for pictures to begin before the wedding.

Waiting patiently

Molly posing with the bride and groom.

With the bride and groom

Each bridesmaid had a bouquet with a different color of daisy. Molly was very excited that her bouquet had flowers of all the colors of the bridesmaids.

Flowers

When Molly was in the picture, people would often try to get her to smile. So, when she was done being in pictures, she decided to help the photographer out in getting others to smile. She made an excellent assistant.

Smile!

The four of us, ready for the wedding to start.

Us

Final instructions before heading down the aisle.

Final instructions

Here comes our little flower girl.

Flower girl

She made it. Now we just need the bride.

Up front

Molly did a great job standing still and paying attention at the front for the entire ceremony. She even laughed at the pastor's jokes.

Funny

After the wedding picture with cousins and grandparents.

Cousins and grands

Lots of flower girls across the generations. Anne was Susan's, Michelle and I were Anne's, Maggie was Michelle's, Maddie was mine, and Molly now joins the group.

Generations of flower girls

In addition to the wedding cake at the reception, they also had blue velvet cupcakes (because red velvet just doesn't work with Auburn and Georgia Tech grads!). Molly, of course, mostly focused on the icing.

Cupcakes

Leah caught the ear of her Uncle J.

Deep conversation

And finally, a bubble send-off for Mr. and Mrs. Batson!

Bubble send-off

A trip to the Zoo

Posted in Leah, Molly on June 2nd, 2013 by jen – Be the first to comment

We went to the National Zoo on Memorial Day (which was so crowded they had to close the parking lot within 30 minutes of opening). Our first stop was the Great Ape House to check out the gorillas and orangutans. When we left the house, we found that a couple of the orangutans were climbing high above our heads. It was very cool.

Orangutan crossing

Our next stop was the carousel. The girls always want to ride on the carousel when Chad's around, as I get motion sick and consequently won't ride them.

Carousel

One of the animals the girls were excited to see was the flamingo. So, Molly made a beeline to ride on one when they let her through the gate.

Flamingo ride

Of course, Leah couldn't just smile nicely at me while I was trying to take a picture.

Wacky Leah

Looking at lions and tigers is fun.

Having fun

Hi down there, Leah.

Hi down there

Turtles are fun too.

Turtles

Along the new American Trail, near the seals and sea lions, they had a splash pad with a small tidal wave. Molly loved it. Leah, not so much.

Splashing around

Molly got up close and personal with a couple of California sea lions.

Sea lions

Leah enjoyed being inches away from this meerkat while it was playing with its makeshift toy made from a toilet paper roll and a couple of Dixie cups.

Meerkat manor

The girls ended their day posing in the zoo sign with their new stuffed panda bears.

Zoo sign

Centennial Park Field Trip

Posted in Molly, School on June 1st, 2013 by jen – 1 Comment

Chad chaperoned a field trip with Molly's kindergarten class to nearby Centennial park. Howard County Recreation and Parks put on a very good nature program for the kids. They started by passing around some animal things, such as this fox fur.

Centennial Park Field Trip

Molly's favorite thing was this turtle shell.

Turtle shell

The kids then headed out to a field to catch some bugs. Molly and Alia found a small beetle. Chad was impressed that all the kids got into it and no one was scared of the bugs.

Bug catching

It was nice to have a little father-daughter lunch.

Lunch time

They then walked down to the lake to look at all the birds there. They saw ducks, geese, blue herons, and many other birds.

Water fowl

There was also some time where all the kids made their own butterfly craft. Alia seems impressed with Molly's.

A craft

After the program was over, all the kids flew to the playground. It's quite a site to see 80 or so kindergartners in tie-dye shirts attack a playground with full force.

Play time

Molly was all over the place, having lots of fun.

Hi Molly

Climbing

Molly's class, hot and sweaty, ready to head back to school.

The class

Just a glimpse…

Posted in Leah, Molly, Sports on May 31st, 2013 by jen – 1 Comment

The girls had their ballet photos recently. Leah loves wearing her snowflake costume, but it leaves a trail of feathers wherever she goes!

Sneak peak of our snowflake

You can't help but smile at her.

Such a cutie

Molly's ballet class will be dancing to Be Our Guest, so there will be 10 smiling Belle's dancing on stage.

Be Our Guest

More to come in June…

Mother’s Day singing

Posted in Church, Molly, Video on May 30th, 2013 by c-had – Be the first to comment

Download: Normal Quality | HD Quality

Molly and her choir sang three songs at church on Mother's Day. Note that the loudest voice you hear is generally Molly.

Budding Actress

Posted in Molly, Video on May 29th, 2013 by c-had – 1 Comment

Download: Normal Quality | HD Quality

Sorry for posting this so long after the fact. It's been a busy year.

In addition to the pictures of Molly making her theatrical debut in a production of Itty Bitty Beauty and the Beast, I got a bit of video of her performance. Enjoy!

Spring is in the air

Posted in Leah, Molly on May 9th, 2013 by jen – 1 Comment

We've tried to take advantage of some nice, Spring days lately and play outside. Molly tried skating a bit.

Roller skating

She then moved on to biking for the first time this season. She had some trouble here, though we did eventually figure out that she needed the seat raised, the tires inflated, and one of the training wheels adjusted. Once that was done she had a much easier time.

A bit of biking

We had some fun throwing the disc around as well, though Leah didn't exactly throw this one very close to her target (Daddy).

Frisbee

At some point, Leah decided she didn't want to throw the Frisbee any more for no apparent reason.

A little pouting

It didn't take her long to cheer back up, though.

Cheered up

The most fun game of the afternoon was likely "pull the tree branch." This involves a child standing on a step stool and pulling a tree branch, pretending to be a monster.

Pull the tree branch

And if you really pull the tree branch down, you can…

Pull!

…let go of the branch and watch it spring up into the air.

Let go...

Celebrating Easter

Posted in Celebrations, Leah, Molly on April 6th, 2013 by jen – Be the first to comment

Molly's birthday weekend was also Easter weekend. The girls were excited to see what they got in their Easter basket. So excited that they made sure we were up a little early.

Easter morning

There were also some Easter presents from Aunt 'Chelle, Uncle J, Emmie, and JJ, including these fun eyes.

Presents from afar

We had a nice Easter service, a great lunch at Grams's, and some good family time. Happy Easter from The Sellers!

Happy Easter!

Now she’s really 6

Posted in Celebrations, Leah, Molly on April 5th, 2013 by jen – Be the first to comment

It's the morning of Molly's actual birthday. Molly's got on her birthday crown and it's time to open presents. Why is she hugging her sister so excitedly?

Sister hugs

A new umbrella! Leah picked it out herself, and Molly is thrilled with it.

A new umbrella

Molly requested to go to Red Robin (yum!) for her birthday dinner as they sing. Here she is eating her birthday dessert after the singing.

Birthday dinner

We then headed home with aunts, an almost uncle, Grams, and Grammy to have some more treats and open presents. Molly is really excited about this Hello Kitty karaoke machine from Aunt Caroline. Her mom and dad are slightly less excited…

Exciting present

Molly has not yet embarked on a sleepover, but she's now ready with this Hello Kitty sleeping bag from Aunt EA and (almost) Uncle Scott.

Sleeping bag

Birthday cake at her party, ice cream sundae at dinner, and now a cupcake as well. She's one happy 6 year old!

More treats