She's Cute, She's Spoiled, She's One

The birth of every baby is special but Lucy's is one that I would actually repeat.  No joke, I would go back and do it all again in a heartbeat.  Partly because it was the easiest delivery (not labor, Addie gets major points for that one) and partly because I want her back to her little 7lb 12oz body.

I haven't shared these pictures before because I felt like I didn't look my best, but a year later I'm sharing part of the best moments of my life.  The look on my face is probably the same one most women have after birth.

Funny little story first.  You know these mom's that looks all glamorous after giving birth and have these rockin' outfits in their pictures?  Well, that is never me.  With Lucy I wanted to get a cute picture with my new one wearing something I could be proud of.  Instead, everything went so fast that I was lucky to be wearing anything, even if it was one of Jared's old ratty t-shirts.  I remember telling Heather while I was about to give birth that I wish I was wearing something better.  She told me something along the lines of "you're ridiculous, now let's have this baby".  

And why do we insist on photographing poor babies when they are just minutes old?  Kimber just saw this picture and said "ooooh.  Mom, who is that baby?"

 But I love her and want to squeeze her more and more everyday.

Happy Birthday Luc!

Moving On

First Day

Last Day

There was nothing bitter-sweet about the last day of school for Addie.  It was all sweet!  She is ready to move on   She was most excited about finding out who her 1st grade teacher would be.  Our good family friend, Jean Ellsworth, has been teaching for almost 30 years and her and Addie has become great friends.  I remember when Addie was a baby and I asked Jean if she would still be teaching because it was very important to me that Addie is in her class.  She promised she would.  When I opened her report card and saw that her teacher would be Ms. Ellsworth, Addie and I were so excited!

Watch out 1st grade!  Here she comes!

Our Fourth, Part II

At the beginning of summer the girls and I sat down and make a bucket list.  42 things they wanted to do before school starts.  The girls showed it to Aunt Jeanie one day and she took the initiative to help them check off some of their items.  So far they have gone to McDonald's for ice cream, gone to the park, got pizza, made s'mores and on the 4th had a BBQ.

Addie got to choose between hamburgers and steak and naturally she chose steak.  And let me tell you it was delicious.  Not only filet mignon but yummy potatoes, cowboy caviar, salad and an awesome veggie tray.  I brought watermelon and some yummy brownies.

The girls used up all of the olives on the veggie tray by putting them on their finger tips so Uncle Kenny went to the store and bought them each their own can.  He also bought them each their own package of Oreo's, even little Lucy, and two huge things of Hawaiian Punch.  These girls are seriously spoiled by their Aunt and Uncle and Cousin Lana. 

We ate with Annie, Uncle Marion and Aunt Holly, Aunt Jane and Marissa, Uncle Kenny, Aunt Jeanie, Lana and Jermone and his wife Tara.  Jermone is the head mechanic next door at Maclaran's.  He is always so good to my girls and they think the world of him.

Our Fourth

Of July that is.  Not child.

Our holiday started on Friday night, the 1st of July.  Annie came to Taylor and Jared's sisters family also came up to celebrate.  My girls, Jared and their cousin Rhett all crashed on the lawn in the backyard. 

 You know it's the 4th of July when you see sleeping bags scattered all over everyone's backyard.

It's a town tradition to blow the anvil at 4 am sharp and wake up the town.  As hard as you try you cannot sleep through it so you might as well get up and join the festivities.  I even broke my number one rule and woke a sleeping child.  Yes, Lucy joined us and by 5:00 we were out the door in the parade of people following the anvil.  Sadly in the eight years I have lived here this is the first time I joined the hundreds of crazy people who parade around town honking their horns, throwing water balloons and watching the anvil blowing.

The kids piled in the back of the truck and had a great time.

By 7:00 breakfast we over and the kids were asking to go next door to Uncle Marion's house to throw water balloons.

 

Saturday also happened to be Marlene's birthday so the kids and I went to the cemetery to do a little decorating.

 

Then it was off to Grandma Miller.

  By that afternoon the Kimber and Rhett were zonked out!

That night we had a yummy BBQ then hit the Rodeo for a few minutes before heading back for fireworks.  The kids had a great time playing with sparklers and watching the show but by the time 10:00 rolled around they were exhausted.  Addie went strong all day but started begging to go to bed.  The next morning I had to wake her up for church and she was still exhausted.  I promised her that if she would just make it through church she could crash when we got home.  The second we walked in the house after church she changed her clothes, got in bed and took a four hour nap.

I'm so glad the Fourth only comes once a year.

Lucy...

Is sweet in the morning

Is always curious

Has the cutest little smile

And the most contagious laugh

And don't forget those blue eyes

Teacher

Addie is always anxious to share the things she learns at school and lucky for her, Kimber is a great student.  She patiently sits and listens as Addie instructs her. 

She's a great little student and can hardly wait for her turn to start Kindergarten. 

Sisters

I love having sisters.  They are truly my best friends.  I hope my girls know how lucky they are to have this special bond.

 Yesterday I sent Addie and Kimber to their room to pick up before dinner but a few minutes later heard them in the living room together.  I went to see what was going on and send them back to their room when I found them on the back of the couch looking out the window and talking.  They were telling secrets.

They were having a deep discussion on dinosaurs and important things like that.  The room could wait, the moment was too sweet to break.