Happy 6th Birthday Audrey

Dear Audrey,

Have I told you lately how much I love you? How proud I am of you? How I love watching you cartwheel everywhere you go and whip out a random headstand on a whim.  I don't know how I got lucky enough to be your mom, but I'm so grateful I am.  You are now 6 years old, and you are my wonder woman kid!

You insist on your own sense of fashion, which often includes as much layering as possible, and your own hairstyle (again with the layering of headbands and bows).

 

Like your mommy, you love to sleep. 

Like your daddy, you have an amazing sense of humor.  You are independent, bright, and confident, yet so hesitant and careful at times. 

You are known for your funny faces and silly mannerisms.



This hasn't changed since you were little. . . . (aka "the stinkeye")

We call you the "baby whisperer" and the "toddler entertainer".  You LOVE playing with your younger cousins and brother, and boy do they love spending time with you.  You "fill buckets" as you say.

Here’s to another year of adventure and growing.  I can't wait to see what you accomplish as a 6 year old.  

Love, Mommy

Colored Eggs, 25Cents A Dozen!

Happy Easter

A letter to my daughter on her 8th birthday

Dear Alice,

Today you are eight years old.  You are now firmly in your mid-childhood years.  It is blustery cold outside today, just like the day you were born.  I say this every year, but I can't believe 8 years have passed so quickly.





Second grade fits you well.  You are becoming more aware of the world and learning how to deal and cope with your growing emotions.  I love the way you work through fears (with your strategies as you call them) to push through your doubts.  You juggle between your over-confidence and uncertainty all while keeping an amazingly positive outlook on the world.



This hasn't changed one bit since the day you were born.

You get things, and continue to get things more and more everyday.  So much that I sometimes have to catch my breath.  While you are proud of your independence and love self-sufficiency, it terrifies me. You will be my first tween, teen, first to drive, and first to vote--these firsts will span over the next ten years until you're an adult.  These days will be numbered and empty nesters warn me to breath, pause, and be present.  And if I forget or lose sight of the moment, you, my love, are the first offer me a reminder (or a guilt trip!).

Thank you for teaching me about patience, American Girl dolls, double digit addition with regrouping, freeze dance, high ponytails, side ponytails, side braid to a ponytail,

soccer, a sense of wonder, honesty, kindness, legos, bedtime stories,

 buttered noodles, and how to "nae-nae", but most importantly, how to love a child unconditionally. This year I will remind myself to breathe, pause, and be present more.  To take in your wonderful personality each and every day with patience, kindness, and love.

You are incredible and a gift to this world .  Happy 8th Birthday Alice Catherine.  

Love, 
Mom

Santa has Arrived!

What a wonderful Christmas!  This year, we decided to host Christmas dinner at our home.  My parents were in Boston with Jay & Cait so we celebrated with The Sanchez family, Tommie & Mia (Brandie was at work), Tom & Cathy, & Carl.  We filled up the house and I pulled off quite a tasty gluten free dinner.

For Alice, it was the year of the Legos.  Legos, legos, everywhere.  In couch cousins, in the carpet, inside my shoes. Every.where.  

Audrey got her Monster High Draculora doll.  This is her favorite monster.  When I asked her why, she told me it was because she always wears her hair in piggies.  :)  

Emmet got a little tool bench.  Can't get this kid to sit still for any pictures. 

Andy's "cancer" hat.  Need to keep him protected for long days in the sun working for the parks department.  He's thrilled to wear this beauty.  

Merry Christmas!  

Merry Christmas!

It's been WAY too long.  I'm starting my New Year's resolution a bit early.  I need to get back into blogging and documenting the day to day memories that pass too quickly.

So, today is Christmas Eve.  

Today we spend time together as a family of 5 + a puppy.  We went to Potter's Bridge park to enjoy a walk with Banjo with our 55 degree weather (crazy!),  enjoyed Christmas Eve mass (in the lobby as always with Emmet the toddler-on-the-move), and watched The Grinch before reading The Night Before Christmas before tucking the kids into bed. We tracked Santa on my iPhone and by the time the girls went to bed, he was in South America.

We looked for Santa to cross over tonight's full moon, and Emmet spent his evening running around the house saying, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" 

The girls have been told NOT to wake up the parents before 7am.  Stockings are free game, but no unwrapping.  Alice will be up by 5:30.  She never sleeps.  

We've all read the saying posted on Facebook.

"I used to think being a kid on Christmas was the best thing ever, but it turns out that having kids on Christmas is!"  

Not to be cliche, but having kids on Christmas is magical.   I. love. it.

I got a few shots before mass tonight.  When I get the camera out, Emmet decides that it's his time to be impossible.  He was captured in his "just up from a nap I'm grumpy mood," but he's still cute nevertheless!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  

Time to Update

Emmet

Emmet is 16 months today.  We FINALLY have some warm air.  We headed to Forest park for a dinner picnic and some playing.
He calls for "Auddree" and "Alllie", but not Mommy & Daddy
He's fast!  Nearly runs.
He can work a phone or iPad quite impressively.
Remotes & car keys are his favorite prize.
He looks, points, and makes these adorable chirping sounds.  We are always telling each other what his is probably trying to say.
He's still wild in the bath, seriously wild.
He randomly busts out singing "Let it go" from Frozen.  Which he really sings, "Gooooo, gooooo."
Diaper changes are the worst - he thinks we are torturing him.
Favorite saying, "More!"

Alice

She is becoming quite the reader and obsessed with all things Junie B. Jones.  She reads about 3-5 chapter books per week!
She's in gymnastics, but really counting down the days until soccer begins.
She is still Miss Sensitive.
She's decided she's not really into character things anymore, especially Disney Princesses.  She's WAY too old for that.
Favorite saying, "That's just the way I roll!"

Audrey

Audrey is SO interested in letters, words, and numbers.  She is constantly asking, "What's 4 +2?, 3 +3,? and such.  She finds words, asks what the letters make, and is just starting to read!  (She wrote a list of all the words she can spell in the picture above).
She's SO curious.  Our car rides to and from Sheridan are the best.  She's all over the place, but I love tapping into her curious mind.
Last week, at Potter's Bridge Park, we went on a nature walk.  On the walk she saw a "bear cave," "jaguar," a "red robin," and a "squirrel's butt crack."  Yup, that pretty much sums her up!
She wears her socks inside out and mismatched (because of the scratchy things on her toes)
I can't get her to wear jeans - even if I bribe her with ice cream.
Favorite saying,"What the heck?!?"