2 Wheels

Last year we bought Amy a big girl bike (it still had training wheels but it had room to grow). She rode around on it a little and loved it but it was a little too tall for her. So she didn't get a lot of practice and she didn't want to try it without the training wheels. Now that the weather is getting better we decided to pull the bike out and get her riding. Yesterday she rode it around for a couple hours with the training wheels still on and today she decided she wanted to try without them. So, I took them off and took her to the path we have behind our house. I held on for a little bit but the first time I let go she did amazing. I couldn't believe it. She was obviously ready and I didn't even realize it.

Sorry about the shaky camera. I was trying to watch her through the camera and walk at the same time and then I was worried about her falling so I wasn't paying attention to keeping it still.

She wanted to go down the hill so here is the first time down. She did it many times after this.

Ear Piercing

Amy has been asking to get her ears pierced for a while now. I have been putting it off because I knew it would make her look so much older and I am having a hard enough time accepting her growing up so fast. I finally decided that it was time. She was so excited.

They sat her in the chair and gave her a teddy bear to hold. I tried to prepare her. She knew it would hurt but just for a second.
Ready...Set...

first one done...and tears

So for the other ear she sat on my lap. She did so good on the second ear and didn't even cry.

This picture cracks me up. She looks traumatized for life....and then like 5 seconds later we got the picture below. All better!

She was so excited to show off her earrings at school the next day. She loves looking at them in the mirror.

Amy's 6th Birthday

Amy had quite a fun birthday weekend. On Friday night she had a friend spend the night. They played with barbies and then dressed up in all Amy's costumes and gave us a fashion show. Then I blew up an air mattress and put it in Amy's room. They ate popcorn and watched movies and all we heard was the giggling in the other room. They had such a fun time.

Goofy girls!
On Saturday we had a birthday party at the bowling alley. I forgot how noisy bowling alleys are and then add 13 five and six year olds and it is crazy. Amy had such a fun time though.

Here is Amy with a few of her friends. Amy is up. She has way better form than I do. For those of you who have seen me bowl...you know exactly what I am talking about.

Here is Amy with her Hannah Montana birthday cake.

I didn't ask the bowling alley if I could light the candles. I didn't want them to say no. I looked up and saw all the smoke alarm sprinklers. You know how in movies they are so sensitive and are set off so easy. I kept picturing them going off just as I was lighting the candles. Thankfully everything went smoothly.

Blowing out the candles.

Opening presents

I was so exhausted after the party. All three of us went home and took a nap. It was worth it though. I think Amy had a fun time.

6 years old!...Where does the time go?

Be prepared...this is a long post. This weekend we have celebrated Amy's 6th birthday and I am just amazed at how fast the time has gone since she was born. I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of the last six years. I didn't think it would be hard to pick out pictures but it was so hard and there are a lot of them so sorry if it is too long.

February 26th 2003 Amy Elizabeth Hopkins was born. She was a whole month early.

I love this picture of Mike holding her in the hospital. There is just a look that a man gets the first time he becomes a Daddy and holds his child.

3 weeks old

4 months old

7 months

She was crawling around everywhere

10 months

Taking her first steps

Happy 1st birthday!

Right after her first birthday her hair got really curly.

14 months
16 months

Happy 2nd Birthday!

This is the funniest video clip. Amy has always loved to dance. This is the end of the movie Hitch where they dance down the aisle. Amy loved it and tried to copy all their moves...it cracks me up. She wanted us to play it over and over again.

First trip to Disneyland
Amy has never been afraid of the water. If she was in the bath or in the pool she was happy. She learned to swim almost by herself at 2 1/2 but she could do it on her own at 3.
This is her first ballet reciatal. When she is in the mood, she comes up with the funniest poses.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Such a cutie. I loved this shot.

Happy playing in the sprinklers.
Amy swimming at Grandma and Papa's house in California.

Leo Carillo Beach
Amy was a flower girl at her Uncle Matt and Aunt Megan's wedding. I don't have a lot of pictures because I was in the wedding and didn't get to carry my camera around. At the reception she danced the whole time...and I am not kidding. She took off her shoes and danced with probably everyone there.

Happy 4th Birthday

When my Dad retired he took us all to Hawaii. Her favorite thing was the hoola dancers so she had to get her own outfit.

She loves to make silly faces. For every picture I get of her smiling, she wants to do a silly face picture too.

She got to hold her cousin Seth for the first time.
Strike a pose

Fishing on one of our camping trips.

Fourth of July

Meeting her horse Sunny for the first time.

First day of pre-school

Pumpkin Patch

Amy with Uncle Matt's dog Wilson.

Happy 5th Birthday!

This has been a very busy year for Amy. She got to try new things and go to lots of fun places
She took her first ski lesson and really loved it. I think I was more nervous than she was. Amy even learned how to get on an off the lift.

Amy really wanted roller blades for her 5th birthday. So first she practiced on the carpet in the house, then moved on to the kitchen, then the sidewalk. She even roller bladed to pre-school one day. I promised her that when she had practiced enough I would take her to the skating rink. This is her first time out and thankfully it was not crowded. I was so proud of her.


We did lots of camping over the summer. You can't go camping without roasting marshmallows!

In June she graduated from pre-school. I know they make too big of a deal when it is just pre-school but she had fun. Her teacher loves Disneyland so instead of a graduation hat they had gold Mickey hats. I loved it.

Below is the video of her class throwing up their hats.


Hawaii

In June one of our cousins on Mike's side of the family got married in Hawaii. It was so fun to be able to spend time together in such a beautiful place. Amy was able to try new things while we were there too...

She climbed a coconut tree and made it to the top...

Learned how to snorkel with her daddy in sharks cove (close to North Shore)

She met her new cousin Lexi...she loved her from the first moment...

and she got to be a flower girl for her cousin. What a trip!

She spent some time up at the ranch this summer. She loves riding her horse Sunny and even got her first offical riding lesson. Sunny is such a good horse and Amy is so lucky that Grandma and Aunt Vicki take care of him...thank you!!

In August she started Kindergarten. She really loves school and cries when there is a holiday. I will enjoy that while it lasts.

Well that sums up most of the year. I can't get it all in.
I will post pictures of her 6th birthday soon.