Mother's Day 2013

A morning ritual

Waving goodbye to Papa from the bay window every morning.

Double Date with Dad

To the Chocolate Cafe in May

A Duet

Maggie and Sabrina seem to have a love/hate relationship but now that Maggie is picking her up less and since they have the same passion in baby dolls and purses, it seems to be getting better (except when Sabrina tries to steal a baby or purse that Maggie is using).  On this particular morning in May, I heard an interesting commotion and found them singing/reading together.

Practicing her ABC's

June 8, 2013

"Look, Mom, we're witches!"

Natalie Update

She's growing up fast and starting kindergarten in August.  She will go to our neighborhood school which is two houses down from us~so awesome!  It's 70% instead of 50% which basically means she gets to have lunch at school.  The principal says that it helps them transition to full day in the first grade when they already know the lunch routine.  In other words, they learn to fuel up and eat rather than goof off and play which helps them make it through the whole day.  She's ready.  She's excited.  We are all excited for her.

A quote I heard from the back seat today:

N explaining to M:  It's called a minivan because many people can fit in it.  And many means a lot.

She also recently jumped off the diving board for the first time and now enjoys challenging herself in deeper waters.  She is in level 3 swim class and loves swimming under water with her goggles.  We watch her gain confidence and skill almost daily.  Perhaps we are looking at the next Missy Franklin, one of her heros. : )

Look who's on a big bike

Bye bye scoot bike, she's ready for the big leagues!

A little more than a month shy of four years old, she just decided she wanted to try to ride her big sister's bike when we were at the park.  She hopped on and has never looked back.  I didn't even need to hold on or follow her, her balance was so good.  Here is the video from the first day:

Since then Maggie requested a purple bike to match her helmet and we found one--a match made in heaven! (no pic to show yet)  She asks every day to go on a bike ride and has even riden to the store with the family.

Getting ready to bike ride--with a baby, of course.

She has made this milestone so easy on us.  She has been brave and determined even through multiple falls--we are working on learning to stop.  She is a little too small to hold her bike up at rest.  She never once cried even with scraped knees.  On the first day I suggested we call it a day after a couple of crashes but she continued to get back on the horse (ironic since it took us over an hour to convince her to ride this horse last June in BV.)

Don't let go of me, Grandpa!

You are so brave, Maggie, and it is joy to see the pride in your eyes over this exciting accomplishment.  We are proud of you too!

June 25, 2013

An Efficient Mommy

 It's a rare occurrence that you should find this one without a baby in tow, a purse on her shoulder, a necklace around her neck, and heels on her feet.

  

She is 100% girlie.  I love that about her and I praise God that she is fearfully and wonderfully made just as she is.

Tonight at dinner she looked at me and said, "Mama, do you know how many babies I'm going to have when I am a mama?"

Eight.  

And she's going to name all of them Belle (why not, George Foreman did it.)

I asked her, "What if you need to call one of them to you?"  

She replied that she would simply say 'Belle' and that all eight would need to come to her.

Dusty thinks it's efficient.  Why didn't we think of that?

You are such a loving, nurturing mommy to your dolls and I pray that God gives you your heart's desire and a quiver-full of blessings when you are grown and married.