Little - Big Girls

My little girls are getting so big and doing so much more than I am ready for!

Eva has decided in the last few weeks that I am no longer good enough to feed her anything. 

I was fine with this for Olivia and even Annelyse, but with Luke and now Eva, I would like more control over this and would like the least bit of mess as possible.

She does love the fact that she is a big girl now.

Another first, recently, is Eva has enough hair for PIGGIES!!!!

I think she looks so much like Olivia did, when she was this age, with pig tails.

Annelyse has become my little buddy since the older two have been in school.

She is my little sidekick.

I have learned so much about her since August. I would have probably overlooked certain characteristics of her if Luke and Liv were home all day. I am so thankful to get this opportunity with her.

On this day I was making chicken soup, so I gave her some celery, carrots, a few bowls and a kids knife to keep her busy. 

Oh and to make her feel helpful, I put some flour and water in a bowl so she could make her own little concoction of messy goo. (smile)

OH my little girls are getting too big!

Time for a Little Basketball

It's the start of a different season for Luke. 

BASKETBALL!!! 

He was excited to have his first game and this mom was excited to have a sport that was INSIDE!

He did a great job guarding his man.

 That was his job so that's what he did. 

I can't wait to see him grow in this sport.

 I really hope he enjoys it cause I would love to be a basketball mom!

Way to go Luke! 

Good job with your first game!

Livy's BIG Day! CHICAGO!

Since Liv has a birthday so close to Christmas, her Grandma gave her a pretty special birthday/Christmas present this year.

A trip to Chicago to get her very first American Girl doll!

She was so thrilled and could not wait to go!

The night before we went, she was reminded and was at first confused and then was so excited she was giddy and would not stop talking until bed time. And then some.

She asked if her cousin Kenzie could go with her since they both had never been on a train, to Chicago and at the American doll store.

They were both so quiet but so excited for all of their firsts!

My mom had Dianne and Sue(buddies who take an annual Chicago trip together) go with to help navigate.

We hopped on the train and were ready to go!

It was an extremely COLD day but we were layered and ready for whatever it took to get this excited 6 year old to the store of her dreams.

Such a special Grandma/ grand kid moment.

Before we found her a doll, we swapped trains and ran over to the blue line so we could arrive at the Macy's store to see the large Christmas tree. The train took us straight in to the store so we missed the cold for a few more minutes.

On our way out, we made sure to show Kenzie and Livy the decorated windows.

The picture below is a replica of the tree at the Walnut room that we just saw inside.

After the windows, we found a taxi that was taking us to our next stop. 

I could only get a pic of Liv cause we were so crammed in I could barely move my head and arm to take a pic. 

It might have been one of the funniest moments of the day.

We were just glad that Sue sat in the front because none of us could get into our purses to pay the driver.

We had arrived and Liv could not get in this store fast enough. 

And off she went with her grandma. 

It was so cute. I could not keep up with her. As soon as I would find her she was off somewhere else.

She was trying to find her favorite doll.

Saige was the doll she wanted but we were three days too late because Saige was gone and a new doll of the year was out and ready to be bought. I was oblivious and didn't realize the doll she really wanted was only here for a year and then gone. I felt so bad for her but she takes news so well and was a big girl and cheerfully picked a different doll.

It didn't take much for her to decide which doll was the one for her.

She was all smiles and could not wait to get that doll box in her hands and get it in a bag.

Grandma made sure she had all she wanted to go with Isabelle and they headed for the checkout!

Liv knew she wanted that bag on her very own shoulder no matter how heavy it was. 

It was so cute watching her like all the other girls that were bigger than her. 

She was so thrilled!

After a full day, we were STARVING and walked across the street to the Cheesecake Factory.

I have to say, it is just WONDERFUL going to Chicago with these ladies! 

They know just where to go!

And again. A little girl so thankful and happy to be out for a full birthday/ Christmas gift day.

After a late lunch and a quick few blocks walk to Garretts popcorn in the freezing cold, we jumped back on a train for home. 

Who ever would have thought you could get so exhausted watching your little girl so excited and thrilled for so many big 'firsts' all in one day. I couldn't stop watching her eyes light up for everything we did on this day!

Thanks to my mom for making this day such a great memory!

Daddy - Daughter Date!

A few weeks ago, Rog took little Miss Liv out on their first daddy - daughter date. 

Let's just say that Liv was a bit on the ECSTATIC side and talked about this all summer until it happened.

She was thrilled to go out on a 'date', to get all dressed up, be with her daddy all by herself and go somewhere that was a complete surprise to her.

She had the outfit all picked out and there was no convincing her to wear anything else.

She was even thrilled that I told her I would braid her hair.

It's all she wants these days.

The smile on her face and glow in her eyes shows just how excited she was for this night.

Annelyse thought she was the exception to the rule and was going to go as well.

Not quite.

A little distraction with some toys allowed Liv and her daddy to get on their way.

Their first stop was Steak n Shake.

This might be one of Liv's favorite places. I am guessing it has to do with the shake at the end of the meal though. *smirk

These two always have so many laughs together.

 I think Liv has her daddy's humor. 

After dinner, Rog took Liv to the mall and she was able to pic out some earrings and a nail kit.

(Now that is SOME date!)

This little girl came home with the same sparkle and glow as when she left. 

I think she had a good time!

Luke Is Old Enough For Kindergarten! WHAT?

I can't believe it, but the time has finally arrived for our first born to start school. I remember the last 4 years counting down and saying we have 4,3,2 more years to go and need to figure out where to send him. This last year was a real struggle for us cause up until March, we still had no idea what the plan was. Well, that was until we found out that another child was attending our family. That pretty much sealed the deal as to what we were going to do. 

Sometimes God makes things very clear and after a year of praying, I am glad it was a clear picture on what we were to do.

Luke is attending Troy Shorewood this year and he is THRILLED!

The school is right across the street from our subdivision and so easy to get to.

Last Monday, Luke had to take his supplies to his class so everything was ready for his first day.

I was glad for this so I could see his room, seat and layout of the school and room.

He was so excited and was taking it all in.

Today was finally here and Luke was thrilled. 

I was going to get ready and then wake him up but he was up and ready about a half hour before I had planned. 

He seemed so chill about it the whole week so I wasn't sure if he was nervous about starting school or  not but after this morning, I saw I had nothing to worry about.

He was even ready in time before Rog had to leave for work.

His sisters even got in a picture with him to make this day special.

Well, Annelyse wasn't all that thrilled to take a picture with him so this is the best I could do.

She actually woke up about ten minutes before this picture was taken so I am sure she wasn't thrilled with a change in her routine. (not to mention about 1 1/2 hours earlier than normal)

I can NOT believe my baby is old enough for school. I was thrilled for him though cause it was really hard last year to explain to him why all the other kids his age were leaving on the bus but he had to stay home with me. He just couldn't figure it out. It was hard to let him go but I love watching him so thrilled.

We were even ready and early enough today to run down the street to snap some pictures with Tobin and Jonah Gonda who also started K5 today. They were born one week after Luke and now they are all in Kindergarten.

 REALLY?

Another buddy of his that was born about 2 weeks or so apart from Luke.

Then we were off. 

Dropping Luke off today was an odd experience. I was not completely prepared with the emotions of getting him out of the car and driving off. Not prepared to the extent that I drove off, left the school and instead of going home, I acted like I was back in line for drop off so I could see where he was before he went in to his class.

Yep, I was THAT mom but I didn't care.

I took the girls back home and we enjoyed our day. 

Of course we went about our day talking about the time and what Luke was probably doing all day.

We decided it might be a good idea to make Luke a card, letting him know we missed him.

FINALLY it turned to 3PM and I put the girls back in the car and headed back to school.

I was so glad to drive up and see him standing in line waiting to jump back in the car with us.

And, after telling us all about his day, showing me what he made, the books he got to check out, how lunch went, who he talked to... he asked to go out and play.

As if nothing changed today.

I would say today was a pretty great first day of Kindergarten!

Praying the second day goes just as well as the first!