Happy Birthday Macie!

Dear Macie,

Oh Macie! How do I even begin this letter? You are our firstborn, our 'guinea pig', our oldest. From day one, you have always had to have attention. Maybe it was because you were Momma Donna and Papa Dave's first grand baby, or Ninny and Pop's first grand baby in about 10 years. Either way, you loved and ate up everything!

Once I found out you were on your way, I was so scared. Your dad and I were just kids ourselves. Once you came, we all three grew together. You taught us responsibility like nothing we have ever experienced. You had your moments as a baby, most do. You had colic and kept us up all hours of the night. If it was any other child, I am not sure I could continue with it. But since you were mine, I wanted nothing more than to continue to be your mother.

You taught us what unconditional love for your children feels like. You tested and still test us daily. But even in those moments, through the hardest of struggles with you, I can feel nothing but love for you.


You are definitely a talker. As a phrase goes, you get it honest from your dad. While at the Magic House, I read the average four year old ask an average of 437 questions a day. I don't doubt it! There are moments I would just like silence, but then I try to remember that some people would love to have a little girl asking questions instead of silence. Nothing gets by you, Macie. You listen to everything and always ask questions. Continue to do that, it is the only way you will learn.

This year may have been the hardest for me. You started kindergarten, which is great! As your mom though, I worry. You are so sensitive and get your feelings hurt easily and I know how school can be. However, like always, you shocked me. You have handled everything that is put in front of you like a little girl should. You make me so proud!

So many things you do remind me of myself now. You cry at movies, like when Simba's dad dies in The Lion King. You are constantly on the go, but you can blame you? Your parent's are too. You have to be involved in everything, from cooking to talking to whomever I am talking to on the phone. I can't say that every day is easy, but I cannot look back on way day of your life and not think of a good memory shared with you.

I pray you grow up happy and healthy. Continue acting like a little girl. I pray you also continue to want to learn, whether it be general school things or deeper meaning things, such as God. You have helped your daddy and I grow in ways you will never be able to understand. I love you with all my heart.



Love,
Mommy

Christmas 2007

The last week or so has been busy, active, and crazy. Holidays = non stop hustle and bustle. I just couldn't get into the spirit this year. I was at first, but then it just dwindled down. Everything that is usually fun and exciting was just another thing on the to-do list. Something was definitely 'off' this year. I hope next year is better. But, in the end, it all turned out great!

Last week, Macie had her Christmas party for school. And me, being the great mother I am, (wink, wink) was the one in charge. We played a few games, which I have a great one if anyone needs ideas for next year, ate yummy treats and pizza, and had goody bags. I was stressing, as usual. The holidays for some reason crept up on me and I am a million things to do and little time to get it all done. But it got done! Miraculously, it always gets done. Thanks mom for your help!

Saturday morning, we woke up and started on our gingerbread house. I have always wanted to do one of these with the girls, but have never got around to actually buying a kit. There is no way I could hand make a house, so we got the kit. It was so much fun! I did the icing while the girls decorated it with the candy. It turned out really cute!

Jeremy took the girls to the mall for a while Monday afternoon so I could wrap presents. Here it was, Christmas Eve, and I hadn't even started. Whitney came up to help...thank you! We finished all of the gifts before the girls even walked in. Whew! One more thing I could check off the list.

We then went to my mom and dad's for Christmas Eve. Dinner was delicious - ham, pork chops, fresh green beans, brussel sprouts, crescent rolls, baby carrots, mashed potatoes, kettle beef...the list goes on and on! After stuffing our belly's, we opened gifts. The girls and Ethan came out like champs...Thanks mom and dad! Us girls got quite a bit also. Mom and Dad still spend the same amount, if not more, on us now as they did when were little. Plus the grand kids. You do too much! Thank you!

Christmas morning, we opened gifts at home. The girls came out again like champs! A blow up jump around thing, scooters, games, puzzles, Diego, baby dolls is among some of the toys Santa delivered. Then went to my grandma and pop's. A great time was had by all. It is always nice to just sit around and catch up with family you don't see as often as you like.

Then it was off for another Christmas celebration at Jeremy's mom and dad's. We ate some more, only this time it was fried chicken, swete potatoe casserole, corn, rolls, yummy cheese dip, and fresh veggies. Then talked some more and opened even more presents. They do way to much for us all as well! The kids love all of their toys! Our living room looks like the Wal-Mart toy isle exploded in it. Tonight, my mission is to open and organize their gifts. I am starting a 'trial run' of a new method for the toy room clean up time.

So that is all for now. I hope all of you had a memorable Christmas!

I apologize, this post was not very interesting or in depth, just wanted to jot down our holiday schedule while it was fresh on my mind.

Macie turns 6 on Friday...time for another letter! Stay tuned....

Crazy: may refer to a state of general mental disorder or insanity.

I have so many things I want to post but my mind is so overloaded with information and that always growing to-do list that I cannot think clear.

To help, I will take advantage of my Christmas bonus (!!!!) with a little retail therapy. I got full permission from my dear husband to spend it however I choose.

Watch out!



(Source: Wikepedia)

Cute Little Tails

Macie had her Christmas program at school last night. Due to the seating issues they had, we don't have the greatest pictures. In the picture above Macie is the third one from the right, all perched up. The kindergarten class sang a few songs. The boys were donkeys and cows, while the girls were sheep. They even had tails and ears! They did such a good job and it was so cute. I have it all on video and if I can figure out how to post it on here, I will.
Here are a few more pictures:





Here is one of Zoa, playing with my mom's glasses. I think my mom was putting chapstick on her. She loves playing with lip gloss and chapstick, which she refers to as "lips".

The First Snow of the Season

We finally got some snow! I am a snow lover, but I like it when it really snows. Nontheless, our girls took full adavantage of the weather and played outside Sunday morning. They had a lot of fun, even though it was so cold. The wind was horrible. Here a the few pictures I was able to take. They aren't the greatest because we still don't have a real camera, so I am using my phone.

Taking their time walking

Our Little Toddler

Spreading the Christmas Cheer

Last night, as planned, Jeremy and I completed most of our Christmas shopping. (Thank you Whitney for watching the girls!) After Target, we went to Sam's Club to see if they had any toys. While we were browsing, I went to see if they had Eat, Pray, Love. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, has been on Oprah two times discussing the book and I have always wanted to get it and read it. After having marriage problems that ultimately ended in divorce, she lost focus on herself and went on a worldwide journey to find herself again. She went to Italy to eat, India to pray, and Indonesia to learn to love again.

I picked the book up and went to check out. Jeremy stayed back to pay while I went to get the car. He came out and told me that a family wanted to buy it for him. After much hesitation, and explaining that it was his wife's book, he allowed them to purchase it. We told each other we have to pay it forward now.I saw them leaving and after telling them thank you, they told us to have a Merry Christmas.

Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

The Joy of Christmas Shopping

Tonight, Jeremy and I will be on a quest to start and finish our Christmas shopping. For some reason, I did not start early, as in the day after Thanksgiving. Now, we are lagging. The girls have their little things they are into. So I am sure Macie will be getting a lot of Hannah Montana stuff.

She also like High School Musical. I have to admit, it is a little strange to think my child likes something with "High School" in it, but it is better that some other stuff she used to like. You can only watch Dora so many times before you start to lose your mind!

Zoa is another story. She is getting to that point where she likes Dora, Diego, and Boots, oh my! She loves Diego, the poor child has always preferred males to females, so I am sure she will be recieving a lot of him. She is also enjoying baby dolls more. She knows how to 'feed' them, 'change' them....and so on. They both really want this baby doll that swims whenever you put her in water and since I like getting them bathtub toys, I bet they will get this. It is a cool concept, as soon as she hits the water, she takes off swimming. At least that's what she does in the commercial. We will see if she really 'takes off' at home. This could be a big disappointment.

And this, this is something I would buy if I had money and desperately needed something to spend it on. The Wii is sooo much fun!

Ahhhh, the days of a disposable income!

We are normal after all!

I took Zoa to the doctor today and basically her feet turn slightly inward. This is comfortable for her so naturally she will trip over herself quite often. If the problem does not correct itself by the age of 5, then we will discuss further options. As for her fingers and such, she is just super-sensitive.

She is in the 90th percentile for her weight and 95th percentile for her height. (We have tall babies!) "Perfectly proportionate." :)

And that's that.

Prayers please...

I have a prayer request. I called the doctor about Zoa always falling. She doesn't fall really, but just trips all the time. I talked to her pre-school teacher and she has noticed she is definitely more apt to fall than the other children there her age. For goodness sakes, she has a knot on top of her other knot on the same spot the concussion was. She also has a bruise from another knot she got. I am going to get her checked out on Monday to make sure everything is okay becasue I know this could be a sign of something worse. She also is really sensitive when it comes to her arms and legs. Her teacher said if someone accidently steps on her fingers, Zoa cries more than any other child would, like she got them broken. She has always been extremely picky when it comes to different textures so I don't know if this is related or not. I am doing this just to be on the safe side...

I would appreciate any and all prayers that everything goes well and I don't give the doctors the impression that I am an overreacting parent. I really think it is nothing but if it did turn out to be something, I would never forgive myself. Hopefully, we just have an accident prone child who has a low pain tolerance.

It's that time of year...

It is so cold outside. Yesterday morning was 47 degrees when I got in my car and mid-afternoon it was 34 degrees. Brrr. I hate cold weather. Unless, there is snow and ice. Then I love it! My poor girls still have not been able to build a decent snowmen. Maybe, one day.

Last night, I was on the phone with a few customers (Herbalife) and in between calls, Macie wanted to read to me. I told her I can walk around and listen at the same time and she went crazy! I told her to calm down and sit at the table where I will join her. She looked up at me and said "I am overreacting, aren't I?" Ha! Ha! I have no idea where she learned that...she said she just knows it.

I finally put everything down and took the girls to look at Christmas lights while Jeremy was still at small groups. We just simply drove around and they were the happiest children! It was somewhat realxing to me so it worked out perfect!

Once we were home, it was bathtime, snacks, and laundry. It never seems to go away...just like Zoa's knot. She tripped and fell again last night on our hardwood floor and got a new knot on top of her old knot. Shocker.

Tomorrow's Friday...woo-hoo!

Zoa's Birthday Party, Movies, and Christmas Lights, Oh My!

Like a mentioned before, Zoa's birthday party was a huge success! The birthday girl requested Diego, balloons, and cupcakes. She was very happy and excited. She kept asking me when we are going to sing Happy Birthday to Zoa? It was so much fun. We had a small crowd which included aunts, uncles, grandparent's, great-grandparent's, cousins, and friends. I only have a few pictures today, so I apologize if you don't see your picture on here. Thank you mom for the spaghetti. It was great! Whitney and dad, thanks for the pictures!

Zoa showing us how old she is.

Zoa's cousin, Ethan.

Big Sister Macie

One more of Zoa!

On another note, our weekend was great! I highly recommend that you see the movie 'Enchanted". Amy Adams is perfect in it and if you have little girls, this movie will not only entertain them, but you as well. Jeremy and I took our girls, plus our niece Havynne. They loved it! I cannot say enough good things about it!

After that, we went to see the house on Kent Street. If you live around my area, you will know what I am talking about. This house set up their Christmas lights to blink to the beat of the music on a certain radio station. It has become something for us to do whenever we pass the area.

That's about all for now! Have a good Monday!