Becca's 4th Birthday

I love, love, love birthdays! Love birthdays of the people I love and even love my own birthday. Becca Sue's birthday was on a Saturday this year, and it was so much fun to celebrate it ALL day.

We had a party at the local donut shop that morning. Here's Becca with her BFF...I love the relationship these two have that she doesn't mind that he helps her blow her candles out. Dawson can help but her sisters better not even breathe anywhere near her candles!
Sam found friends with the Warta boys and was entertained all morning. They're teaching him how cool it is to be a boy!
This is her blowing another candle out after our lunch that day...or rather with her eyes closed wishing before blowing it out.
Ok, who gave the boy a cupcake? He's such a mess and so proud of it!
And the birthday girl lounging while we sing to her yet again at supper!
Becca Sue, You are such a big girl. We have had so many changes in your little world over the last six months and you have just gone with the flow...evidence that you are still the easy going little girl I first met four years ago...underneath the stubborn exterior of course! You're still the best surprise God has ever given me. Love you so much...Happy #4 Becca Boo!

Sam's O-N-E

The little booger has been with us for over a year now, and it's so cool to know that the girls are all still as crazy about him as when this picture was taken!
He was so sick the entire week of his birthday which included not only turning the big O-N-E but also his first haircut.
I do believe this was his only smile the entire week. He loved the attention of everyone singing to him.

He wasn't too sure about digging in to his cake...
...but still managed to make a huge mess!
My sweet boy,
I can't believe that you're already a year old. Mommy, Daddy, and all three of your sisters are crazy about you. You're so fun and will do anything for a laugh...including making a mess or getting into trouble! You've never met a stranger and just love life. We love you so much and can't wait to see what God has planned for you crazy boy!

Emily's Preschool Graduation

I'm still totally in denial that Emily is five let alone in Kindergarten. This girl has grown and matured SO much in the last year, it makes my head spin. To say that I'm proud of her just doesn't seem like enough. I'm so very proud of this little booger who always manages to push my buttons every single day!

Here she is at her preschool graduation last May...
Showing off the stone she made for the garden...
Walking in to "Pomp and Circumstance" with her characteristic head cock...
And Becca Sue singing a few songs at her end of the year program early that same day...
They're growing up so fast, but there's no rule saying that I have to admit to that fact!

Mara's 6th Birthday

Mara's 6th birthday party was at the skating rink...the same skating rink I used to go to in middle school. So much fun!
The girls did so good after we figured out there was a such thing as "slow-roller" skates.
Look how little Becca Sue looks in these pictures.
Emily was the dare devil of the bunch. She did not want to hold your hand regardless of how many times she wiped out. You can just see the lack of concern for bodily harm in her eyes here!
Love this picture...I think she wore Papa out!
Blowing out the #6 candle. I can't believe I need to buy a #7 in just two short months!
And here's the present opening frenzy...
I can not believe how fast my baby girl is growing up. She's such a lady, and I couldn't be more proud of the person she's becoming. So here's a happy late #6 birthday little lady...love you so much!

A very important first

First ice cream...very important indeed. And look at that face. He's so very proud of both the treat and the mess!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Phil and Carrie

Mara, Emily, Becca, and Sam

Fast Forward

How in the world did she go from this...
...to this....
...in what seems like overnight.
Seriously.
I'm afraid to take a potty break cause she might be going to college when I get back.

My baby girl turns three.

Catch up post #3.

Becca Sue is now three. We had a great birthday party at Build-A-Bear. Look at all of these great looking kids...
I think this is my all time favorite picture of my baby girl. She was holding her bear's heart in her hands and making a wish. This girl is serious about her wish making...she stayed just like this for a full five minutes!
Heidi, this picture is for the rehearsal dinner slide show in about twenty years!
Look at this sweet face. Is this really the same face that screams "NO" 24/7 and spends half of her days in time-out?
All of the kids had a great time and my three girls still sleep with their bear/bunny/puppy every night.

Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl. You still are my sweet Becca even though everything goes through your stubborn filter. I love you and your little strong will. I pray that God uses that strong will in mighty ways.

Caught in the act....

...of preschool!

Here's catch up post #2. More pictures of Emily and Becca's first day of preschool.

Becca was a little timid at first and had a few rough weeks of adjusting, but she's doing SO good now.
Emily had a horrible adjustment period last year at this time. I wasn't sure I was going to survive with my sanity...well, I guess my sanity is still up in the air! She has grown up so much this summer though. She walked right into her classroom on the first day and didn't even look back to see if I was following.
She was too scared to climb this jungle gym last year, or rather tired to climb this jungle gym dozens of times and ended up in major meltdowns. She scales the entire thing now without even thinking twice.

I'm so thankful for preschool. It's so good for me to get some time to run errands without being the lady who lived in a shoe, and it's even better for Emily and Becca to have some time apart.

First Day of Preschool

This is post #1 of catching up.

I blogged about Mara's first day of Kindergarten here. Just a few weeks later, Emily and Becca started preschool twice a week. Here are my big girls in their obligatory first day of school photos...


LOVE this last one! Especially since these two fight 24/7....it's good to see them looking at each other with smiles on their faces!