Dear Kids,
We sure had a fun Christmas this year! Christmas Eve was special as we celebrate in our "annual" way. We picked up Mimi, Papa and Nana to head to our regular Christmas Eve dinner at Marietta Diner. Wow they sure pack in the crowds. The food is always yummy and they give you enough to feed an army. In fact, my dinner fed me and all of you. We also split some dessert after and Katelyn was thrilled to get the strawberry cheesecake. After dinner we headed to Life University for the Christmas lights. It was a rainy day so we weren't able to get out of the car and walk around but we still enjoyed the pretty lights with the family. Once we arrived home, each of you opened up 2 gifts. Mimi spent the night so she could join us in the morning.
We started at 8 AM which wasn't bad at all. I heard some whispering outside our room and found you (Katelyn and Meredith) looking over the balcony at the tree below with toys. Katelyn ran in the room and was so excited about what she could see. Drew hadn't gotten up yet so I suggested to you (Katelyn) that we get him, too. You ran in and said "Drew, Santa came, he really came" and Drew flew out of his crib. We did have the railing down but I've never seen someone move so fast. He flew over the rail and onto the floor, jumped up and was ready. All 3 of you ran downstairs while I videotaped the happenings. Katelyn pointed out everything that was easy to spot showing you (Meredith) and you (Drew) exactly what Santa brought you this year. You (Katelyn) spotted your Nintendo DS and was very happy. You (Katelyn) started looking for the Zhu Zhu Pets you had asked for as a Christmas gift from Santa. You knew they had to be "somewhere". You eventually found them set up in the kitchen and were so thrilled. All 3 of you played with them for quite awhile. Drew also loved his BatMan Cave which he fondly refers to as his Batman Dollhouse. You (Meredith) received a new Leap Frog Game based on the Princess and The Frog movie which you played most of the day. Everyone seemed thrilled with their "loot". Later that afternoon we headed to Mimi and Papa's house for another round of gift opening. More great things were received along with an amazing Christmas Dinner prepared by Mimi. The largest prime rib we have seen, the creamiest mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, croissants and corn. It was an amazing meal followed by yummy dessert. We had such a good time with the family and were exhausted when we arrived home. We had to pack for our big TN trip the next day. It's tough to pack for a lake, water park and ski trip all in one but we did it! You all finally went to bed (later than normal) and I know will continue to have a wonderful Christmas holiday. It was a very special day with three very special children!
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Tooth is LOOSE!
Dear Katelyn,
You finally have your first loose tooth and you are so happy! It happened on Mimi's birthday so we will always remember the exact date. You were eating an apple for after school snack and bit into it. Next thing I know you're running into the family room where I was sitting to tell me you had a loose tooth! You started moving your whole body in your excited shake moment. Even your friend Regan commented on how you move everything when you're excited. I sure hope you always shake that way with excitement. I imagine the day you are asked to Prom, the day you graduate, the day you get engaged and the day you find out you're having a baby of your very own. I hope you shake all the way down to your toes. I love seeing excitement throughout your whole body and can't wait to see you with a toothless grin. I know we have a ways to go but they normally come out one at a time so soon it will be 1 down and 3 to go!
Also, you told me you were planning to hold onto your tooth (and teeth) rather than give them to the Tooth Fairy because you don't want to let them go. I'm really not all that surprised. You definitely hold onto things tight.
Another milestone....time really does go by so quickly. I love you so very much and cherish every time something new happens in your life. It is amazing to live life through your eyes.
Love,
Mommy
Monday, November 16, 2009
Meredith Turns 4!
Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Meredith, Happy Birthday to YOU!
I can't believe you turned 4 this weekend. Wow, how time really does fly. You are getting to be such a big girl. Just tonight you were up late once again and helping me clean the house and do laundry at 10 PM. Part of me actually enjoys our late nights although I need to eventually get you on a schedule which will work for next fall when you're going to school early. We've got time! Right now I'm just enjoying having time with just you. We hang out and even still rock in the chair upstairs. You tell me the sweetest and funniest stories late at night. This time with you is something I'll always cherish because I know you don't get a lot of time alone with me.
Our weekend was a lot of fun. You had your first 'real' party. You were so excited and talked about it for weeks. We arrived at the bouncy place and you were ready for fun. Lori made you a Dora and Boots cake which turned out awesome. We enjoyed chicken nuggets and other sides for a fun lunch with friends after bouncing. We invited everyone over to our house after the party to open presents and you were thrilled with all the great toys you received. You haven't put down your Leapster 2 for very long all weekend. Later we went out with Mimi, Papa and Nana for a Japanese Steakhouse dinner celebration. You were so shy when the staff sang Happy Birthday to you. The next day Grammie and Grandpa stopped by with even more presents. You were thrilled to get another new baby doll and made it a point to tell me you got another one even though I had told you I thought you already had plenty of them just a week ago :^)
I look forward to seeing how much you grow from age 4 to 5. So much is going to happen over the next year. I bet you'll learn how to ride a bike. You'll have your first dance recital in the spring and you'll start Pre-K 5 days a week in the fall. Maybe we'll get you swimming over the summer. So much to learn and I know you'll soak it all in.
Your curly hair, perfect smile, crazy girly personality makes you so unique. People are drawn to you where ever we go. I beam with pride that I get to be your Mommy. There are times when I get very frustrated especially when you're getting creative with things at the house like my make up but I realize you are a child who just can't sit still. You constantly are looking for the next thing to do.
So here's to my ~
Wizard of Oz Loving, Dora liking, Ne Hai Ki Lan (not sure of spelling) obsessed, Lady GaGa Dancing Queen, Pasta Eating, I'm not your friend saying (to her brother normally), Potty Mouth Blessing 4 Year Old who I adore more than life itself.
Can't wait to see what the world offers you my darling and what YOU offer the world.
Love,
Mommy
I can't believe you turned 4 this weekend. Wow, how time really does fly. You are getting to be such a big girl. Just tonight you were up late once again and helping me clean the house and do laundry at 10 PM. Part of me actually enjoys our late nights although I need to eventually get you on a schedule which will work for next fall when you're going to school early. We've got time! Right now I'm just enjoying having time with just you. We hang out and even still rock in the chair upstairs. You tell me the sweetest and funniest stories late at night. This time with you is something I'll always cherish because I know you don't get a lot of time alone with me.
Our weekend was a lot of fun. You had your first 'real' party. You were so excited and talked about it for weeks. We arrived at the bouncy place and you were ready for fun. Lori made you a Dora and Boots cake which turned out awesome. We enjoyed chicken nuggets and other sides for a fun lunch with friends after bouncing. We invited everyone over to our house after the party to open presents and you were thrilled with all the great toys you received. You haven't put down your Leapster 2 for very long all weekend. Later we went out with Mimi, Papa and Nana for a Japanese Steakhouse dinner celebration. You were so shy when the staff sang Happy Birthday to you. The next day Grammie and Grandpa stopped by with even more presents. You were thrilled to get another new baby doll and made it a point to tell me you got another one even though I had told you I thought you already had plenty of them just a week ago :^)
I look forward to seeing how much you grow from age 4 to 5. So much is going to happen over the next year. I bet you'll learn how to ride a bike. You'll have your first dance recital in the spring and you'll start Pre-K 5 days a week in the fall. Maybe we'll get you swimming over the summer. So much to learn and I know you'll soak it all in.
Your curly hair, perfect smile, crazy girly personality makes you so unique. People are drawn to you where ever we go. I beam with pride that I get to be your Mommy. There are times when I get very frustrated especially when you're getting creative with things at the house like my make up but I realize you are a child who just can't sit still. You constantly are looking for the next thing to do.
So here's to my ~
Wizard of Oz Loving, Dora liking, Ne Hai Ki Lan (not sure of spelling) obsessed, Lady GaGa Dancing Queen, Pasta Eating, I'm not your friend saying (to her brother normally), Potty Mouth Blessing 4 Year Old who I adore more than life itself.
Can't wait to see what the world offers you my darling and what YOU offer the world.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Drew Turns Three!
Dear Drew,
We had such a wonderful birthday celebration with you. It was so obvious how much you loved every moment. You kept telling everyone it was your "Happy Birthday". It seemed to go on and on as you were getting more gifts each day. By the end I think it lasted a whole week. You loved opening the gifts and had a blast blowing out the candles on your cake. We did not have a party with friends this year but will make up for it as you get older.
I can't believe you are 3 years old! Time is sure going quickly. You are growing like a week and right at 3 feet tall. You are weighing in at about 33 lbs. Quite a bit different from the 18 lbs you weighed at 18 months. Your personality is really shining through. You are always trying to get a laugh/rise out of everyone around you. Your laugh...how contagious and you have the cutest smile. People tell me often how stinkin' cute you are and it really is true. Your favorite expression right now is "OH MY GOSH" and of course I have no idea where you could have possible gotten that from! You are doing so much better in school now that you're in Ms. Lisa's class. You're becoming a good listener and participating nicely in class. You even stopped crying when I drop you off...finally! You love playing outside and riding on your scooter. It's amazing how well you did the first time on a scooter. Now you're scooting around on a Cars' (the Disney movie) scooter rather than a Princess one. You enjoy playing with your sisters and love your trains, trucks and cars but especially love playing with the dollhouse. I guess that's what happens when you grow up with 2 older sisters! We do have some cute pictures of you dressed up in princess dresses. Poor guy. The good news is someday all of their cute friends will be hanging out at YOUR house. Hopefully your sisters won't take out the pictures I just mentioned :).
I'm so lucky to be your Mommy, Drew. I still can't believe how perfectly our lives have ended up. You were the last piece of the puzzle and fit so perfectly. You made our family complete.
Thanks for loving us, thanks for making us laugh, thanks for putting up with your crazy Irish twin sister with the curly hair, thanks for adjusting to our not always scheduled lives, thanks for sleeping in every morning and never waking me up during the night, thanks for all the hugs and kisses, thanks for the amazing smiles and thanks for letting me be your Mommy.
Happy Birthday My Special Boy!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, August 17, 2009
Katelyn Starts First Grade
Dear Katelyn,
Today you are starting First Grade. You are definitely nervous as you tend to get with anything new you take on in life. However, I think there's a part of you that's also excited. You are worried about your new teacher and students in your class. However, I'm not worried because everyone will love you. It's amazing to me how much you have changed since the little girl I put on the bus just a year ago. You are growing up to be an amazing young lady. You are going to do so well in first grade because you will work hard. I look forward to seeing all you accomplish this year and can't wait to have you reading chapter books with me. You have already become such a good reader which started back in Kindergarten. Enjoy your day today and don't let the nerves get the best of you. I'll be waiting for big hugs and kisses when you get off the bus.
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Why I Always Love You!
After a very challenging day when I spent too much time frustrated and pulling my hair out, I've decided to focus on why each of my children is special and why I love them so much!
Katelyn ~
You are a very loving child. You constantly are helping me with the little ones even when it's really not something you want to do. You have a wonderful imagination and come up with the neatest things to sing, play and create. You are a leader and a strong child.
Meredith ~
You say "I Love You Mommy" more than anyone else. You are so passionate and even when I'm furious with you....you're still finding a way to make me smile again. You definitely cause me the most pain right now but also give me so much joy. You are beautiful inside and out.
Drew ~
Your favorite expression is "That's Funny" and you have the cutest laugh. Even when walking around in a purple frilly dress you still are ALL BOY! You are very sweet and just the other day without any prompting said, "I love you, Momma". That's my boy!
After a long day and lots of frustrations...mostly Meredith related....I'm going to focus on the good parts of having my beautiful family. I truly have the sweetest, smartest, cutest kids in the whole world and I suppose you have to take the good with the bad!
Meredith asked me tonight after she used pen on the staircase if I still loved her. And of course, I always love you, Meredith! And I love Drew and Katelyn too, even when you're all driving me nuts!
Katelyn ~
You are a very loving child. You constantly are helping me with the little ones even when it's really not something you want to do. You have a wonderful imagination and come up with the neatest things to sing, play and create. You are a leader and a strong child.
Meredith ~
You say "I Love You Mommy" more than anyone else. You are so passionate and even when I'm furious with you....you're still finding a way to make me smile again. You definitely cause me the most pain right now but also give me so much joy. You are beautiful inside and out.
Drew ~
Your favorite expression is "That's Funny" and you have the cutest laugh. Even when walking around in a purple frilly dress you still are ALL BOY! You are very sweet and just the other day without any prompting said, "I love you, Momma". That's my boy!
After a long day and lots of frustrations...mostly Meredith related....I'm going to focus on the good parts of having my beautiful family. I truly have the sweetest, smartest, cutest kids in the whole world and I suppose you have to take the good with the bad!
Meredith asked me tonight after she used pen on the staircase if I still loved her. And of course, I always love you, Meredith! And I love Drew and Katelyn too, even when you're all driving me nuts!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Summer Fun
Dear Kids,
What a great weekend we just had at the lake house. I hope you all realize (at least some day) how lucky you are to have a fun place for summer vacations. We spent the weekend swimming in the lake, riding on the wave runners and out on the boat. Katelyn, you have become the best cannonballer in the world! Meredith, you are starting to working on your swim strokes and I'm convinced you will be swimming by next summer. And Drew, you're getting more and more comfortable with the water. All of you LOVE the wave runners. We took turns taking you out one at a time and you each loved it. Even when we went a little too fast, you still wanted more. Katelyn, you have become an amazing swimmer as well. It's hard to believe just last year you were getting the hang of it and this year you're swimming under the water. And Meredith, I'm so proud of you for not getting upset when not once but twice I fell in the water unexpectedly off the wave runner with you still sitting on it. The 2nd time, I looked up at you from the water and you looked down and said "It's alright Mommy, I'm fine". Oh how you melt every ounce of me with your sweet smile and curls.
I look forward to many, many more fun times at the lake and other vacations we will take each year. You're such a fun group to be around and even on days when it seems a little crazy to have our family of 5, while on vacation it seems like the perfect number!
And lastly, it's amazing to me how you, Drew, can talk nonstop for an entire 2 1/2 hour car trip. The girls will watch movies or sleep. But Drew, you will talk just to hear yourself talk and will ask the same question over and over again. It's almost as if you can't think of something to say so you just repeat a previouly asked and answered question. I must admit, I look forward to the day when our car rides are a little quieter although I will miss that sweet little voice as it grows deeper over the years.
I Love You,
Mommy
What a great weekend we just had at the lake house. I hope you all realize (at least some day) how lucky you are to have a fun place for summer vacations. We spent the weekend swimming in the lake, riding on the wave runners and out on the boat. Katelyn, you have become the best cannonballer in the world! Meredith, you are starting to working on your swim strokes and I'm convinced you will be swimming by next summer. And Drew, you're getting more and more comfortable with the water. All of you LOVE the wave runners. We took turns taking you out one at a time and you each loved it. Even when we went a little too fast, you still wanted more. Katelyn, you have become an amazing swimmer as well. It's hard to believe just last year you were getting the hang of it and this year you're swimming under the water. And Meredith, I'm so proud of you for not getting upset when not once but twice I fell in the water unexpectedly off the wave runner with you still sitting on it. The 2nd time, I looked up at you from the water and you looked down and said "It's alright Mommy, I'm fine". Oh how you melt every ounce of me with your sweet smile and curls.
I look forward to many, many more fun times at the lake and other vacations we will take each year. You're such a fun group to be around and even on days when it seems a little crazy to have our family of 5, while on vacation it seems like the perfect number!
And lastly, it's amazing to me how you, Drew, can talk nonstop for an entire 2 1/2 hour car trip. The girls will watch movies or sleep. But Drew, you will talk just to hear yourself talk and will ask the same question over and over again. It's almost as if you can't think of something to say so you just repeat a previouly asked and answered question. I must admit, I look forward to the day when our car rides are a little quieter although I will miss that sweet little voice as it grows deeper over the years.
I Love You,
Mommy
Monday, June 1, 2009
Happy Graduation Katelyn!
Dear Katelyn,
Today was your graduation day. Not the pomp and circumstance of what is to come when you graduate from high school but still a very special day. You are now a 1st grader. What an amazing year! You have become an excellent reader, a great speller and your math skills are far beyond your years. Not only are you smart but you are a sweet child loved by your teachers. You made it through the whole school year without having to turn your color one time. You told me on day one you would remain on green all year! You received a special award for knowing all 120 sight words. WOW!
Your Daddy and I are so proud of you. I can't wait to see everything you accomplish between now and the end of your schooling. I know we will sit through many award ceremonies when your name is called often. Keep working hard and more importantly, always be kind. You are such a special girl and I hope the next 12 years go slow enough that we can enjoy every moment of them together.
I love you so much and am so proud to be your Mommy.
Love,
Mom
Today was your graduation day. Not the pomp and circumstance of what is to come when you graduate from high school but still a very special day. You are now a 1st grader. What an amazing year! You have become an excellent reader, a great speller and your math skills are far beyond your years. Not only are you smart but you are a sweet child loved by your teachers. You made it through the whole school year without having to turn your color one time. You told me on day one you would remain on green all year! You received a special award for knowing all 120 sight words. WOW!
Your Daddy and I are so proud of you. I can't wait to see everything you accomplish between now and the end of your schooling. I know we will sit through many award ceremonies when your name is called often. Keep working hard and more importantly, always be kind. You are such a special girl and I hope the next 12 years go slow enough that we can enjoy every moment of them together.
I love you so much and am so proud to be your Mommy.
Love,
Mom
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