First Communion

Dear Taylor,

Today was such a special day- this is going to have to take a couple posts- but we loved celebrating your first communion with you.  You are absolutely stunning inside and out.  You took our breath away today.

xoxo

mom

Happy Birthday Anna Girl!

My Dear Sweet Anna Girl

In celebration of your birthday, here is one of my favorite poems:

Now we are Six

When I was One,

I had just begun.

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

When I was Three

I was hardly me.

When I was Four,

I was not much more.

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

But now I am Six,

I'm as clever as clever,

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

-A.A. Milne

Anna, you are the most amazing, clever girl.  You are so special to us, and everyone you meet, in so many ways.  You are smart- SO SMART!  You are a reader now, and you love to read bible passages at night, and it is amazing to hear you sound out the words.  You are our social butterfly.  Everyone you meet is your new best friend, because your personality is so magnanimous.  Your sister is so devoted to you, and you are such an amazing care-taker of your brother.  He loves to be with you, knowing you will anticipate and meet his every need.

You have had a tough year with your foot, but you have taken it all in stride.  I am humbled by your strength and resilience every day.  Your doctors, nurses and therapists have all bet that you will change the world Anna, and I am sure of it.

Anna, we celebrate you turning six, and the amazing impact you have had on our lives.  We are so lucky to be your family!  I treasure every moment with you, especially your good night hugs- they are the best.

xoxo

mom

Here is What is Happening.....

Dear Taylor, Anna, and Hudson,

We are doing so many fun things this week!  We are in final countdown to First Communion.  So many pieces of paper to prep for your eating a cracker.  Also, while I am not religious, I don't really understand the fasting part.  Daddy gave a good reason for it, but, um. I'll leave that there.  Anyway, I am literally DYING that we can't take pictures in the church.  Seriously. Dying.  How is that possible?

I hope the professional pics are excellent.

This baby might kill me.  Taylor, this is your faith journal.  I am super happy I never made baby books for you three, but boy, at least if I had made a baby book it would have been long before Pinterest and digital scrapbooking.  Thank god for good tutorials and quick printing at Costco!  We are getting closer to done, just waiting on letters about faith from ONE or TWO people- ahem, Daddy.

We are also working on Mindfulness around here.  Anna, your OT brought this concept to our family and I am excited to work on this with all of us, including myself. 

Because we can't have a post without our little buddy, I am throwing this picture in of you Hudson.  You have a great love for watching two things on Youtube- anything with funny cats, and this hysterical video where "Charlie bit my finger." Hudson, you can't get enough.  You keep saying, "Charlie bite. Charlie bite."  Cracks me up.  

Can't wait for all the excitement this Friday and Saturday.  Hopefully nothing but peace, delicious breakfast at a place like this or this, calm, napping and new sunglasses like these, or these, or even these:)  Gosh I make things easy around here- especially since I won't get credit for any of it anyway.

xoxo

mom

Lifelong Friends

Dear Taylor, Anna and Hudson,

We are so lucky to have wonderful friends.... lifelong friends.  Daddy met K and C in high school, and then lived with K in college.  We celebrated their wedding with them, and almost had the exact same wedding because we loved theirs so much- but wound up heading to Hawaii instead.

Anyway, C and I have become good friends, and share the crappy bond of having both lost a parent almost exactly one month apart.  See- crappy.

We had a FANTASTIC time with them on Saturday night.  You three played with their three outside.  C made you mac/cheese and hot dogs with plenty of watermelon. The adults got to have this delish chicken - the marinade was the best.... and we are having it for dinner tomorrow night.

 Also, this new windex product is amazing.  Thanks C!

 We had a pretty fantastic dance party!

 Hudson lounged on the dog bed.

 These two are the perfect pair.  They were "queens" in this picture. 

 M and Hudson love lounging together.

 Anna and J played Wi.  Everyone happy:)

 Barbie dream wedding.

 Hudson, we kept you up until almost 10:45.  You paid us back by waking up every.single.hour.

Such a fun night for everyone.  We are so incredibly lucky to have such amazing lifelong friends, and even luckier that the three of you pair perfectly with their three.

xoxo

mom

Loungy Sunday

Dear Kids,

After a very late night, an unexpectedly bad sleep from H and a Sunday without plans- we lounged. H, you snuggled up with all your favs: 2 Lightening McQueens, blankie, baba, and the movie Cars on the iPad. (Note- we fully accept that you are getting away with the baba and bad iPad behaviors for far longer than the sisters ever would have.)

So, girls, you were nicely (ha!) playing with Anna's dollhouse so Daddy and I got to lounge for MINUTES! It was perfect.

Xoxo

Friday Funday?

Dear T, A, and H,

I would say the answer is no. Not Friday Funday. It was a long, hot, busy, Friday. Here was the schedule:
7:30-8:10 traffic duty
10 am A pick up
12:30 Mama lunch meeting
12:45 T pick up
1:30 Anna to OT
2:00 T haircut
2:30 Anna to PT
3:30 Anna pick up
4:30 T swim practice
5:15 T pick up

Every other event insert "Hudson have major meltdown"

So, that was the day- oh, and I was trying to work. I look forward to something similar next Friday :)

We finished the day with a great summer salad and pizza muffins.......and a photo shoot. Anna, you finally have a loose tooth!!! I think you almost came out of your body with joy!

Xoxo
Mom

Silly girls

Dear A and T,

Is there a better way to start the day than with you girls + mustaches? Nope!

Xoxox
Mom